District of Massachusetts
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Registered Sex Offender from Uxbridge Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Uxbridge man was sentenced on March 13, 2026 in federal court in Worcester for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Scott Morrill, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. In October 2025, Morrill pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Morrill was arrested and charged in April 2025.
Morrill utilized a Google account to store hundreds of images of CSAM material. Google identified the use of their services to store CSAM and notified the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. A subsequent investigation identified CSAM material stored both in the defendant’s Google account and on a computer that he possessed at his home.
At the time of the offense, Morrill was on federal supervised release for a 2013 conviction of distribution of child pornography, for which he was sentenced to five years in federal prison.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Uxbridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Leader of North Shore Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Nineteen Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Saugus man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for leading a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine and laundered the proceeds.
Lawrence Michael Nagle, Jr., 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 19 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In April 2025, Nagle pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams of more of methamphetamine; five counts of possession with intent to distribute various weights of fentanyl, methamphetamine and oxycodone; one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition; and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
Nagle, Jr. was one of 27 individuals charged, beginning in October 2022, in connection with a wide-ranging conspiracy to traffic counterfeit prescription pills.
In 2018, law enforcement identified Nagle, Jr. and his brother, Christopher Nagle, as leaders of a DTO distributing various controlled substances throughout the North Shore region of Massachusetts. The Nagle DTO distributed significant quantities of various controlled substances, including, Adderall (both pharmaceutical-grade pills and counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine), methamphetamine, Xanax, Oxycodone (both pharmaceutical-grade and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl), cocaine and marijuana, among others.
The Nagle DTO distributed controlled substances to a network of individuals who would then redistribute the drugs to other traffickers, including separate, but interconnected, organizations.
The investigation resulted in numerous seizures of controlled substances, including: over 74,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, weighing more than 24 kilograms; 591 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine; 1,000 counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl; and 101 counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
In January 2022, a search of Christopher Nagle’s apartment recovered more than 74,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, weighing more than 24 kilograms. On Oct. 25, 2022, a search of Nagle, Jr.’s home in Saugus and two homes he used to store narcotics—one of which was inhabited by Castillo—resulted in the seizure of more than 7.8 kilograms of fentanyl and more than 650 grams of methamphetamine. In addition, two Glock firearms and ammunition were recovered from Nagle, Jr.’s house in close proximity to oxycodone pills. At the time, Nagle, Jr. was a felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
In August 2024, Christipher Nagle was sentenced to 139 months in prison.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Beverly, Everett, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. Nathaniel Yeager, and Samuel R. Feldman of the Criminal Division and Annapurna Balakrishna of the Asset Forfeiture Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.Guatemalan National Sentenced to four Months in Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Jasson Humberto Marroquin Moro, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to time served (approximately four months in prison) and is now subject to deportation proceedings. Earlier in the hearing the defendant pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Marroquin Moro was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025.
On or about May 6, 2025, Marroquin Moro was found in the United States after having been deported to Guatemala on or about June 3, 2014.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Brazilian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Obtain Driver’s Licenses for Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national illegally residing in Boston pleaded guilty on March 6, 2026, to conspiring to obtain driver’s licenses for ineligible applicants, principally illegal aliens.
Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for April 9, 2026. In December 2024, Nascimento De Andrade was charged along with four co-conspirators.
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 branch location, in return for providing the customer with a fake cable bill to provide to the RMV, falsely showing that the customer lived at an address 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 – typically several customers at a time – 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 plead guilty in this case. For their roles in the conspiracy, in September 2025, defendant Cesar Agusto Marin Reis was sentenced to 290 days in prison, and in October 2025, Helbert Costa Generoso was sentenced to 9 months in prison.
The charge of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents carries 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. Nascimento De Andrade will be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Kelly Larco-Ward, 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 is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Massachusetts Man Arrested and Charged with Making ThreatsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Massachusetts man has been arrested and charged with making threats in interstate commerce.
Alden Welch Ruml, 26, was charged with one count of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another. Ruml will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today.
According to the indictment, on Feb. 28, 2026, Ruml allegedly sent an email to the victim’s email account. In that email, Ruml is alleged to have referred to the victim in obscene terms and stated that he would be “happy” when her face is “canoed by an assault rifle.”
The charge of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another 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 Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Looney is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Boston Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former science teacher at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for coercing and enticing at least one underage female to engage in sexual conversations online and requesting that she produce and send child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of herself. Defendant, who also previously worked at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School in Hyde Park and the Brookline Public Schools, possessed CSAM depicting rape of both female and male minors, ranging in age from approximately five to 17 years old.
John Magee Gavin, 35, of Brookline, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In December 2025, Gavin pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor; one count of receipt of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography. Gavin was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025, and remains in federal custody.
According to court filings, Gavin is a former teacher at the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston. Prior to that, he was a 6th grade teacher at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School in Hyde Park and was a paraprofessional with the Brookline Public Schools.
In January 2025, Gavin was identified as the owner of a Discord account who messaged at least 20 underage females between the ages of 12 and 17 years old located throughout the country, including Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, as well as the United Kingdom and Canada. In these chats, Gavin disclosed that he was a teacher, engaged in sexual conversations and often asked the minors to send him pictures of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct – knowing that the children were underaged. He was arrested by local authorities in February 2025 and charged in Brookline District Court with enticing a child under 16, possession of child pornography and other offenses.
A forensic review of evidence seized from Gavin’s Brookline residence revealed approximately 147 files (94 images and 53 videos) on his iPhone depicting CSAM. The CSAM depicted rape of both female and male minors, ranging in age from approximately five to 17 years old.
Further analysis of Gavin’s Discord account identified numerous chats with underage females in which he engaged in online masturbation sessions with the minors; solicitated images from and exchanged images with the minors; and engaged in sexualized conversations with the minors while he was at school.
The chats also included conversations in which Gavin expressed his sexual interest in certain students at Josiah Quincy. In one conversation, Gavin discussed his sexual interest in a freshman student at the school where he was employed as a teacher and fantasied about having sex with her.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Brookline Police Department; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations; and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.Eleven Indian Nationals Charged with Visa Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Eleven Indian nationals have been charged 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 following defendants have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud:
1. Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Mass.;
2. Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
3. Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Mass.;
4. Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Mass.;
5. Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Ky.;
6. Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Mass.;
7. Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Miss.;
8. Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
9. Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio;
10. Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; and
11. Mitul Patel, 40, unlawfully residing in Worcester, Mass.Jitendrakumar Patel, Maheshkumar Patel, Sanjaykumar Patel, Amitabahen Patel, Sangitaben Patel and Mitul Patel were arrested in Massachusetts and released following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston earlier today. Rameshbhai Patel, Ronakkumar Patel, Sonal Patel and Minkesh Patel were arrested and made their initial appearances in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. They will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
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 more elsewhere. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim falsely 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 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 “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Patel allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.
Patel, the “robber,” and the getaway driver were previously charged and convicted. The 11 defendants charged today are alleged to have either arranged with the organizer 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York, 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.
Local Businessman Charged with Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former manager of a Lowell, Mass. temporary employment agency has been arrested and charged with tax crimes that deprived the U.S. Treasury of approximately $980,000 in revenue.
Siharath Panyanouvong, 56, of Dunstable, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of a false tax return. Panyanouvong was arrested today and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, Panyanouvong was the manager of Viscosity Inc. It is alleged that, between approximately 2017 and 2019, Panyanouvong deliberately failed to report more than $3.5 million of Viscosity’s gross receipts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As a result, Viscosity allegedly avoided paying more than $980,000 in federal income taxes.
The indictment alleges that Panyanouvong, often using the alias “Mike Pan,” cashed more than $4.5 million in customer checks. Panyanouvong allegedly used a substantial portion of the cash to operate an off-the-books cash payroll for Viscosity employees and to pay himself.
The charge of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Veterans Affairs Nursing Assistant Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining PPP LoanRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Veterans Affairs Nursing Assistant was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.
Wigenie Francois, 44, of Brockton, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to one year of probation. Francois was also ordered to pay $62,499 in restitution. In December 2025, Francois pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Francois was charged in October 2025.
In April 2021, Francois submitted an application seeking a PPP loan. In the application, Francois made false claims regarding gross income purportedly earned from a sole proprietorship. To support these false claims, Francois attached fraudulent tax documents as part of the application. The PPP loan application was approved and Francois received $20,833. Francois used that money on personal expenses. However, in March 2024, Francois submitted a loan forgiveness application that falsely claimed the entire $20,833 was spent on payroll. Based on the misrepresentation, the entire loan was forgiven.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lunenburg man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Michael Myers, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for June 16, 2026. Myers was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in December 2024 and has remained in federal custody since that time.
In 2015, Myers was convicted of possession of CSAM, for which he was sentenced to two years’ probation by state authorities. He is a Level One Sex Offender.
In August 2023, Myers was identified as the owner of a Kik Messenger account transmitting CSAM files. One of the files depicted a male victim, approximately as young at eight years old, being raped by an adult male. Separately, in April 2024, Myers was identified as the owner of a Reddit account transmitting CSAM files depicting the abuse of a minor male victim. Search warrants obtained for both the Kik and Reddit accounts revealed several chats further demonstrating Myers’ criminal sexual interest in young boys.
During a search of his Lunenburg residence in December 2024, an anonymous private messenger application was found on Myers’ cell phone and showed that several videos and pictures depicting CSAM were sent and received.
Due to Myers’ prior conviction, the charging statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Lunenburg Police Interim Police Chief Jeffrey M. Thibodeau made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Lowell Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Steven Estrada Ramirez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In November 2025, Estrada pleaded guilty to receipt and possession of child pornography Estrada was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024.
Estrada was identified as a participant in multiple groups on a mobile chat application in which the primary purpose of the groups was for users to share and view CSAM. At the time of his arrest, Estrada was found to be in possession of a USB drive containing over 700 video files depicting CSAM, including files depicting children who appeared to be approximately one to eight years old. Additionally, the home screen of Estrada’s cell phone depicted an image of CSAM and the phone contained over 5,000 images and videos depicting CSAM.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Boston Lawyer Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Stealing over $2 Million from ClientsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston lawyer was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for defrauding two of his clients of over $2 million.
Patrick J. Dolan, 60, of North Attleboro and Haverhill, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 39 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Dolan was also ordered to pay $2,022,833 in restitution as well as $2,087,372.55 money judgment. In October 2025, Dolan pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud. Dolan was charged in July 2025.
Between November 2018 and November 2024, Dolan devised a scheme to defraud his clients and other individuals who entrusted Dolan to maintain funds in accounts he controlled for their benefit. Specifically, Dolan stole over $2 million that he was holding in escrow pending the outcome of a family trust lawsuit in which Dolan represented one of the parties. Dolan used the stolen funds for himself and his family members, including by making transfers to shell companies, using funds to make mortgage, tuition and student loan payments as well as using funds to pay for personal items and services.
In addition, Dolan stole at least $87,500 from a supplemental needs trust that Dolan established for another client and used those funds to make a down payment towards the purchase of real property located in Haverhill, where Dolan subsequently resided with his family. Dolan also made false statements to his clients and others regarding the stolen funds, falsified bank statements and falsified accounting records.
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 Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney's Office Files Civil Forfeiture Action to Recover $3.4 Million in Cryptocurrency Involved in an Online Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover approximately 3,444,470 USDT (Tether), alleged to be proceeds of an online investment fraud scheme and money laundering scheme. The cryptocurrency currently has an estimated value of approximately $3,444,470.
In late 2024, the government began an investigation into a cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme that targeted at least four individuals, including two Massachusetts residents, a resident of Utah and a resident of South Carolina. In such fraud schemes, scammers obtain funds from victims using manipulative tactics. The scammer establishes a level of trust with a victim in online communications and then entices the victim into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. The victim’s funds are stolen by the criminal, or criminals, ultimately causing the victim financial and emotional harm. Perpetrators behind these cryptocurrency investment schemes are often located overseas.
As alleged in court documents, unknown subjects initially communicated with the victims through what appeared to be misdirected messages via texts or through encrypted messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram. After cultivating a relationship, the unknown subjects – who usually appear to be one individual, but may not be only one individual – then convinced the victims to invest in an exclusive Ethereum (ETH) investment opportunity that the unknown subjects claimed was backed by physical gold.
The unknown subjects directed the victims to purchase ETH and transfer the cryptocurrency to intermediary wallets controlled by the unknown subjects. The victims believed they were investing in a legitimate platform, when in fact the unknown subjects were instead sending victim funds to intermediary wallets, converting victim funds from ETH into USDT, transferring that USDT to unhosted wallets and stealing the funds.
The government seized 3,444,470 USDT involved in this scheme in February and March of 2025.
It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses. It is also a violation of federal law to conduct a financial transaction knowing that the transaction is designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of criminal proceeds. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency involved in fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and business email compromise fraud scams – should contact [email protected].
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Woburn Police Department and the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN). Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Lyons of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture action.
The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations only.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass. pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Jose Alberto Tejeda Turbi, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for April 2, 2026. In January 2026, Tejeda Turbi was indicted by a federal grand jury.
In July 2015, Tejeda Turbi was convicted in federal court in Boston of heroin distribution and conspiracy, for which he was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. Tejeda Turbi was deported from the United States in March 2020 upon his completion of the sentence imposed.
Sometime after his March 2020 removal, Tejeda Turbi illegally reentered the United States without permission.
In June 2024, Tejeda Turbi was sentenced in Lawrence District Court to two years in prison for assault and battery resulting in serious bodily injury and three years of probation for remaining charges.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad A. Rocheville of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
Quincy Man Sentenced to over One Year in Prison for Bank Fraud and Money Laundering as Part of Stolen Treasury Check RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced On March 4, 2026 in federal court in Boston for bank fraud and money laundering.
Eric Banks, 71, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper 14 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2025, Banks pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and five counts of money laundering.
Banks obtained a stolen U.S. Treasury check for $1,127,331.80 made out to a New York-based company. Banks formed a Massachusetts-based entity with the same name, opened a bank account for that fake entity and deposited the check. Banks then conducted multiple illegal money transactions designed to conceal the source of the funds from the stolen Treasury check. In addition, Banks created a second fake entity and opened a bank account in the name of this second fake entity. Other individuals who obtained and deposited stolen U.S. Treasury checks transferred over $1.3 million to this bank account created by Banks. This was part of a scheme involving seven other defendants charged in separate charging documents:1. Gino Rosario Tyler Alexander Allegra, 31, of Brockton, charged with theft of $861,646 in government funds;
2. Jesse El-Ghoul, 31, of Leominster, charged with theft of $1,355,863 in government funds;
3. Nnamdi Opara, 30, of Woburn, charged with theft of $700,767 in government funds;
4. Gurprit Singh, 34, of Framingham, charged with theft of $2,547,508 in government funds;
5. Amarpreet Singh, 33, of Framingham, charged with theft of $536,214 in government funds;
6. Lonnie Smith-Matthews, 33, of Hyde Park, charged with theft of $150,000 in government funds and bank fraud of $232,588; and
7. Domingo Villari, 49, of Framingham, charged with theft of $1,288,575 in government funds.United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of the Treasury Inspector General; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Needham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Sullivan and Seth Kosto of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the cases.
Nantucket Gang Associate Sentenced to Prison for Dealing Fentanyl and Cocaine in Nantucket and ElsewhereRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Nantucket man who is an associate of the transnational criminal organization 18th Street Gang, was sentenced on March 6, 2026 in federal court in Boston for drug distribution charges.
John Angel, 32, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Myong J. Joun to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2025, Angel pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
Between March 2024 and July 2024, Angel met with a cooperating witness three times to sell approximately 117 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of cocaine and a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun for a combined sum of over $7,000. Specifically, on March 27, 2024, Angel directed the cooperating witness to meet him in East Boston, where he sold “a 50” (approximately 50 grams of powder fentanyl). Later, on July 10, 2024, Angel met the cooperating witness on Nantucket and sold more powder fentanyl together with a quantity of cocaine. During the drug deals, Angel flaunted his prominence as a high-level drug supplier by boasting of his connections in the 18th Street Gang and in one instance, showing the cooperating witness a backpack containing a kilogram of cocaine and a bag of orange pills and, elsewhere in his apartment, what appeared to be another kilogram of fentanyl. At the third meeting, Angel sold the Glock handgun together with a quantity of fentanyl and claimed he could also obtain Glock “switches,” machinegun conversion devices, for the cooperating witness.
The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Suffolk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred Wyshak and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division 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.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national residing in Framingham was sentenced on March 4, 2026 in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Defendant previously deported five times to Guatemala and convicted of illegal re-entry twice.
Ariel Humberto Diaz, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 14 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In October 2025, Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Diaz was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025.
Diaz was most recently deported from the United States to Guatemala in March 2022. Sometime after his March 2022 removal, Diaz illegally reentered the United States without permission. Diaz had previously been removed to Guatemala in May 2014, April 2016, October 2016 and November 2018. In addition, Diaz had previously twice been convicted of illegal re-entry in federal court.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra W. Amrhein and Jennifer Zacks of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Quincy Official Pleads Guilty to Embezzling City FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fitchburg man and former Quincy official pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to a scheme to embezzle funds from the City of Quincy, Mass.
Thomas F. Clasby, Jr., 61, pleaded guilty to embezzlement, mail and wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for June 17, 2026. Clasby was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025.
Clasby was the Director of the Quincy Department of Elder Services (Elder Services) between approximately 1999 and April 2024. Beginning in 2019, Clasby used the City’s purchasing process to pay personal expenses and generate cash for himself. For example, Clasby arranged for the City to pay $8,950 to a music studio to produce recordings of Clasby singing songs; $2,236 to food service vendors for 153 pounds of bourbon steak tips; $4,800 for a Toyota Prius; and $1,658 for a signature, lacquered, mounted and framed self-portrait, all of which were personal expenses.
In addition, Clasby arranged for the City to pay over $38,000 to a New York consulting company owned by Clasby’s friend. The consulting company never provided goods or services to any City department. Instead, Clasby’s friend cashed the City checks and delivered the cash to Clasby at a rest stop in Framingham, Mass., a ferry terminal in Bridgeport, Conn. and at the friend’s New York apartment. Starting in June 2021, Clasby stole the majority of cash receipts generated by Elder Services at the Kennedy Center in Quincy.
The charge of embezzlement 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 charges of mail and wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of interstate transportation of stolen 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
Berkshire County Man Sentenced to Prison for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Adams, Mass. man has been sentenced for sexual exploitation of children and producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Brian Warner, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 28 years in prison, to be followed by seven years of supervised release. An amount of restitution will be determined at a hearing scheduled for June 11, 2026. In November 2025, Warner pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children. He has remained in federal custody since his May 2024 arrest.
Over a six-year period, Warner repeatedly abused a child for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. Searches of Warner’s devices showed that he possessed hundreds of images of CSAM, including imagery of a child known to him.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Arlington Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Arlington man pleaded guilty on March 6, 2026 in federal court in Boston to a drug conspiracy. The defendant conspired with a codefendant, who is a Vice Lord gang member on parole from a state prison sentence during these offenses.
Jonathan Perry, a/k/a “Peazy,” 26, of Arlington, Mass., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for June 2, 2026.
Perry is a relative and coconspirator of Keith Harlow in the distribution of controlled substances. A review of Perry’s cellphone seized during his arrest on state charges on May 29, 2025 revealed that Perry and allegedly Harlow worked together to distribute controlled substances and sell firearms throughout Massachusetts. It is further alleged that, in text message communications with Harlow, they discussed robberies and using firearms to shoot at various individuals. At the time of the alleged offenses Perry and Harlow were prohibited from possessing firearms due to numerous prior felony convictions, including Perry’s youthful offender conviction of manslaughter. At the time of all the messages, Harlow was also still on parole following his multiple concurrent state prison sentences and Perry was on probation for a domestic violence offense.
According to the charging documents, Harlow is a member of a Vice Lords chapter known as the Four Corner Hustlers. Known by his street name “Lord Savage,” Harlow has been convicted of multiple prior armed robberies and, at the time of the alleged offenses, was on parole from multiple six to 10-year concurrent state prison sentences.
It is alleged that during a search of Harlow’s residence on May 29, 2025, multiple firearm receivers, suspected firearm suppressors, machinegun conversion devices, 3D printers and firearm manufacturing supplies were recovered. Approximately 100 grams of suspected cocaine was allegedly found in the residence as well.
The charge of conspiring to distribute controlled substances provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; David E. Sullivan, Northwestern District Attorney; and Athol Police Chief Craig Lundgren made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; the United States Marshals Service; the Franklin County House of Correction; and Massachusetts Department of Correction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Massachusetts Man Arrested and Charged with Falsely Impersonating U.S. Army Veteran for over 30 YearsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Pittsfield, Mass. man has been arrested and charged with falsely impersonating a United States Army veteran for over 30 years to obtain medical care at Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and other benefits.
James D. Sommers, whose age is unknown, has been charged with one count of false statements. Sommers was arrested yesterday in Pittsfield, Mass., where he was staying under the guise of a victim’s identity at Soldier On, a facility that provides transitional housing to United States military veterans. Sommers remains in federal custody and will next appear in federal court on March 9, 2026.
According to the charging documents, beginning as early as 1994, Sommers has falsely impersonated a United States Army veteran who served honorably from 1979 to 1982. It is alleged that Sommers used the victim’s stolen identity to obtain thousands of dollars in Social Security benefits and nearly $30,000 in medical care and medications from VA medical centers. Most recently, Sommers falsely impersonated the victim on Feb. 20, 2026, to obtain medical care at the VA Medical Center in Northampton, Mass.
It is further alleged that Sommers has numerous prior convictions in New York State in 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2011 all under the victim’s name, for offenses including: criminal possession of stolen property; intent to obtain transportation without paying; sale of a controlled substance; possession of a forged instrument; attempted grand larceny; grand larceny; and forgery.
The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield 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.
Mansfield Man Arrested for Unlawful Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mansfield man was arrested yesterday for unlawfully possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. At the time of the alleged offense, the defendant was on supervised release for a prior 2021 conviction for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Michael Kennedy, 48, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and remains detained in federal custody following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, Kennedy had been ordering firearms parts online to be shipped to his residence, including parts utilized to complete and/or manufacture M-16 type and AR-15 type rifle. During a search of his Mansfield residence, it is alleged that numerous privately made firearms frames, a 3D printer and ammunition in varying calibers were located. One firearm, a 5.7 pistol, was allegedly found tucked into the arm of a reclining chair where Kennedy had been sleeping. The pistol was loaded with 22 rounds of ammunition including one round in the chamber. The ammunition allegedly recovered included CBC 9mm ammunition, JAG 9mm ammunition and FN 5.7 x 28mm ammunition.
Kennedy is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to prior convictions in the District of Massachusetts for bank robbery and felon in possession of ammunition and in Norfolk Superior Court for armed robbery and witness intimidation.
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 & Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Mansfield Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Allegra Flamm 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.
Illinois Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Durable Medical Equipment SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Geneva, Ill., man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for a fraud scheme to defraud Medicare of over $2 million by submitting claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that was medically unnecessary, not wanted by the Medicare beneficiaries and tainted by kickbacks.
Kartik Bhatia, 36, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to two years in prison. In August 2025, Bhatia was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of making false statements.
Bhatia worked with Raju Sharma, and other co-conspirators to own and operate a DME company that paid telemarketing companies for DME orders for orthotics such as ankle, wrist, knee and back braces. Often, the Medicare beneficiaries did not need or want the braces the defendants shipped them and, the doctors whose signatures appeared on these DME orders often did not treat these beneficiaries and did not prescribe the DME. After the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a payment suspension to Bhatia’s DME company, Bhatia simply opened a new DME company that engaged in the same conduct.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Graber and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Former IRS Employee Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for filing false tax returns in order to fraudulently obtain tax refunds and stealing Social Security benefits.
Kathleen Mannion, 59, of Lawrence, was sentenced on March 4, 2026 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In May 2025, Mannion pleaded guilty to four counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of a false tax return and one count of theft of government money. Mannion was charged in March 2025.
From 1998 to 2009, Mannion worked as an IRS contact representative in Andover, Mass. Between approximately July 2020 through April 2023, Mannion prepared and filed income tax returns for other individuals with the IRS. Even though Mannion prepared these returns on behalf of other individuals, she did not list herself as the tax return preparer. Instead, Mannion prepared the returns to appear as if the taxpayers prepared the returns on their own. Further, Mannion listed ineligible dependents on the tax returns, resulting in higher refund amounts for which the taxpayers did not qualify without the knowledge of the taxpayers. Mannion also filed forms with the IRS directing that a portion of the fraudulently obtained tax refunds be deposited in her personal bank accounts, which she then used for her personal benefit.
Separately, between April and October 2020, Mannion applied for Social Security retirement, spouse and widow benefits with the Social Security Administration (SSA) via telephone for other individuals. Unbeknownst to these beneficiaries, Mannion directed SSA to deposit the Social Security benefits in her personal bank accounts, which she also used for her personal benefit.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; 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 prosecuted the case.
AmerisourceBergen Subsidiary Agrees to Pay $1 Million for Allegedly Paying Kickbacks to Health Care Providers and Medical Practice ExecutivesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – ASD Specialty Healthcare, LLC, (ASD) doing business as Oncology Supply Company (Oncology Supply), a distributor of specialty pharmaceutical products and a subsidiary of Cencora, Inc., f/k/a AmerisourceBergen Corporation, has agreed to pay $1 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to health care providers (HCPs) and medical practice executives to induce them to purchase specialty pharmaceutical products from Oncology Supply.
As part of the settlement agreement, ASD admitted and accepted responsibility for certain facts providing the basis for the settlement. Specifically, from January 2012 to October 2019, another Cencora subsidiary, International Oncology Network (“ION”), hosted conferences for its “Large Practice Program” members. At the conferences, ION and Oncology Supply employees provided meals and alcohol at high-end restaurants and various forms of entertainment to health care providers and medical practice executives, including rounds of golf and outings at bars and nightclubs. Additionally, outside the conference setting, from January 2012 to September 2022, ASD Specialty Healthcare, through 15 Oncology Supply and ION employees, also paid for meals and alcohol at high-end restaurants and various other forms of entertainment for HCPs and medical practice executives, including rounds of golf and outings at bars and nightclubs. At some of the events, ASD even covered the expenses of the spouses of HCPs and medical practice executives. The government alleges that ASD caused physicians to submit false claims to Medicare and Medicaid induced by these kickbacks.
The claims resolved in today’s settlement include claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States et al. ex rel. Brandon Osborn v. AmerisourceBergen Corporation, et al., No. 20-cv-12018-IT. As part of today’s resolution, the relator will receive 17.5% of the settlement amount.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Ross handled the matter.New York Woman Indicted for Allegedly Smuggling Eight Kilograms of Cocaine from the Dominican Republic Hidden in Duty-Free Alcohol BoxesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly smuggling more than eight kilograms of cocaine in duty-free alcohol boxes via a commercial flight from the Dominican Republic to Boston Logan International Airport.
Stacey Medina Guzman, 24, of Corona, N.Y., was charged with one count of importation of five kilograms or more of cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Medina Guzman appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to court filings, on the evening of Feb. 4, 2026, Medina Guzman arrived at Boston Logan International Airport aboard a Jet Blue flight from Punta Cana. When encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport’s Port of Entry for international flights, Medina Guzman was allegedly carrying a duty-free bag containing two boxes of Chivas Regal alcohol. A CBP K-9 screening the duty-free bag alerted agents of the presence of narcotics.
A search of the bag allegedly revealed that the two boxes packaged as Chivas Regal alcohol had been resealed with glue. When cut open, the boxes allegedly contained 12 bricks of cocaine weighing approximately eight kilograms.
The charge of importation of five kilograms or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin T. Missett and Lauren A. Graber of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former ExThera Medical Corporation Executive Admits to Concealing Patient Deaths from FDA and Company Enters Deferred Prosecution AgreementRead the Press Release
A former California executive was charged today and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with failing to file adverse event reports with the intent to defraud and mislead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in connection with a blood filtration device used on cancer patients who traveled to Antigua for treatment. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the court.
Separately, ExThera Medical Corporation (ExThera) has entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice in connection with a criminal information filed in the District of Massachusetts charging it with failure to file adverse event reports with the intent to defraud or mislead the FDA.
According to court documents, Sanja Ilic, 58, of Carlsbad, California, was the Chief Regulatory Officer of ExThera, a Northern California-based medical technology company. ExThera manufactured a blood filtration device that removed pathogens from a patient’s bloodstream. In or around 2024, Ilic concealed reportable adverse events from the FDA with the intent to defraud and mislead, including the deaths of two patients treated with the blood filtration device at a clinic in Antigua.
Before starting the treatments at the Antigua clinic, Ilic notified some of ExThera’s leadership and regulatory staff of potential adverse events, including “life-threatening” complications, that patients could experience from using the device. Some patients at the clinic in Antigua and their treating physicians reported that they believed those patients had subsequently experienced some of these medical events after being treated with the device. In or around March and April 2024, Ilic learned of the declining health and deaths of at least two Antigua clinic patients, who died within days of each other.
Ilic understood that disclosure of the adverse events could have triggered regulatory scrutiny from the FDA, caused clinical trial partners to withdraw their participation and jeopardized ExThera’s and Ilic’s future financial prospects. At the time the clinic began treating patients in Antigua, ExThera had just secured $10 million and the potential for millions more in future distribution agreements, and Ilic was overseeing ExThera’s first U.S. clinical study involving the use of the device to treat cancer. Ilic and ExThera potentially stood to lose financially if negative adverse event reports related to the Antigua clinic were filed with the FDA. Rather than comply with her legal obligation to report the events, Ilic suppressed this critical information to defraud and mislead the FDA.
Following public reporting about the blood filtration device and after Ilic was terminated from ExThera, ExThera filed several adverse event reports with the FDA relating to use of the device to treat cancer outside the United States.
As part of the DPA, ExThera admitted that, through Ilic, the company acted with intent to defraud and mislead the FDA. The DPA requires ExThera to, among other obligations, provide ongoing cooperation with and disclosures to the Department of Justice, implement a compliance and ethics program to prevent violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act’s adverse event reporting requirements and report to the Department of Justice regarding remediation and implementation of these compliance measures. As part of the DPA, ExThera also agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $750,000, which was adjusted based on ExThera’s ability to pay. ExThera has agreed to establish an escrow account and deposit $750,000 in the escrow account within 60 days. In the event ExThera is not able to pay amounts owed, if any, in civil litigation, related to the conduct described in the Statement of Facts, the escrow amount shall be used to pay amounts owed. ExThera has also agreed to consent to entry of a forfeiture order of $5,694,750.
The government reached its resolution with ExThera based on several factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense conduct, and that the company has minimal remaining operations. ExThera also did not voluntarily and timely self-disclose the conduct to the Department of Justice but did receive credit for clearly accepting responsibility for its criminal conduct, fully cooperating with the government’s investigation and timely implementing remedial measures.
Ilic was charged with one count of failure to report adverse events with the intent to defraud or mislead the FDA. She faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison, supervised release for one year, a fine of the greatest of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3571, forfeiture and restitution. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FDA, FBI, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case.
Assistant Chiefs Kevin Lowell and William Schurmann and Trial Attorneys John Howard and Sarah Rocha of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie Queenin, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit, and Sarah Hoefle for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.
Today’s announcement is the first resolution of a corporate defendant by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s New England Strike Force since it expanded to Massachusetts. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-expands-health-care-fraud-unit-target-health-care-fraud-massachusetts.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Chief Regulatory Officer for ExThera Medical Charged with Concealing Adverse Events, Including Deaths, from FDA; ExThera Medical Corporation Resolves InvestigationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California woman was charged today and has agreed to plead guilty in the District of Massachusetts for failing to report adverse events with the intent to defraud or mislead the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in connection with a blood filtration device used on cancer patients who traveled from the United States to Antigua for treatment.
Separately, ExThera Medical Corporation (“ExThera”) has entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement in connection with a criminal information filed in the District of Massachusetts charging it with failure to file adverse event reports with the intent to defraud or mislead in connection with the device. Today’s announcement marks the first resolution of a corporate defendant by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s New England Strike Force since announcing its partnership with the District of Massachusetts.
According to court documents, Sanja Ilic, 58, of Carlsbad, Calif., is charged with one count of failing to report adverse events with intent to defraud or mislead the FDA. Ilic will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
Ilic was the Chief Regulatory Officer of ExThera, a Northern California-based medical technology company. ExThera manufactured a blood filtration device that removed pathogens from patients’ bloodstreams. Despite Ilic’s experience, training and knowledge of FDA adverse event reporting, Ilic intentionally concealed reportable adverse events, including the deaths of two patients treated with the blood filtration device at a clinic in Antigua.
Prior to the start of treatments at the Antigua clinic, Ilic circulated an email to ExThera’s leadership and regulatory staff demonstrating that she understood potential adverse events, including “life-threatening” complications, that patients could experience from use of the Device. Ilic understood that disclosure of such information would have triggered regulatory scrutiny from the FDA, caused clinical trial partners to potentially withdraw their participation and jeopardized ExThera’s and Ilic’s future financial prospects. Rather than comply with her legal obligation to report the events, Ilic concealed this critical information from the FDA. Ilic and ExThera potentially stood to lose financially if negative adverse event reports related to the Antigua clinic were filed with the FDA.
Following public reporting about the blood filtration device and after ExThera terminated Ilic, ExThera filed several adverse event reports with the FDA relating to use of the Device to treat cancer outside the United States.
As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, ExThera admitted that, through Ilic, it acted with intent to defraud and mislead the FDA. ExThera will be required to, among other obligations, provide ongoing cooperation with and disclosures to the Justice Department; implement a compliance and ethics program to prevent violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act’s adverse event reporting requirements; and report to the Justice Department regarding remediation and implementation of these compliance measures.
ExThera also agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $750,000 which has been adjusted based on ExThera’s ability to pay. ExThera will establish an escrow account and deposit $750,000 within 60 days. In the event ExThera is not able to pay amounts owed, if any, in any related civil litigation, the money in escrow shall be used to pay amounts owed. ExThera also agreed to entry of a forfeiture order of $5,694,750.
The government reached this resolution with ExThera based on a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense conduct, and that ExThera has only minimal remaining operations. ExThera did not voluntarily and timely self-disclose the conduct to the Justice Department but did receive credit for accepting responsibility, cooperating with the investigation and engaging in timely remedial measures.
Ilic faces up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of the greatest of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss. She is also subject to forfeiture and restitution. 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; Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; Roberto Coviello Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Officer of Inspector General; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie A. Queenin and Sarah Hoefle of the Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case, along with Assistant Chiefs Kevin Lowell and William Schurmann and Trial Attorneys John Howard and Sarah Rocha of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section.
More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-expands-health-care-fraud-unit-target-health-care-fraud-massachusetts.
Brockton Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl; Multiple Machineguns and Kilograms of Fentanyl Recovered During SearchesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man associated with Brockton-based Harvard Street Gang (HSG) was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for selling fentanyl to a cooperating witness during multiple controlled purchases. At the time of the controlled purchases, the defendant was on probation for a 2019 fentanyl conviction and on pretrial release for a separate March 2024 drug arrest.
Joshua Tavares, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2025, Tavares pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and fentanyl analogue. In December 2024, Tavares was indicted by a federal grand jury.
As discussed during the sentencing hearing today, in 2023, Tavares was identified as a member of HSG. Tavares conducted six sales of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue to a cooperating witness from September to November of 2024. Over the course of the six transactions, Tavares sold approximately 549 grams of fentanyl analogue to a cooperating witness. All of the transactions were captured on video recording.
After the controlled purchases, an arrest warrant and search warrants were executed on Dec. 3, 2024 at multiple residences and stash houses in Brockton. During the searches, approximately four kilograms of suspected fentanyl, cocaine, packaging materials for distribution of controlled substances and over $89,000 in cash were recovered. A .40 caliber Glock firearm and a 9mm Glock firearm with a machinegun conversion device were also located in the residence where Tavares was located.
A 9mm Glock firearm with a machinegun conversion device and a tactical laser sight was recovered from a stash location along with numerous rounds of ammunition and multiple loaded magazines, including a 50 round “drum” style magazine. Machinegun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “switches,” are designed to convert firearms into fully automatic weapons.
In February 2026, eight members and associates of HSG were charged with drug and firearm offenses. The court papers related to those arrests, refer to Tavares and his membership in HSG. According to court documents, the Harvard Street Gang (HSG) has been subject to federal investigation since 2019. During this time, more than 20 leaders, members and associates of HSG have been charged with state and federal drug trafficking and firearm crimes. Over 100 kilograms of drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl, and over 45 firearms, including multiple machine guns, have been seized. According to court documents, HSG has been involved in gang violence, including shootings, murders and witness intimidation. Numerous HSG leaders, members, and associates have been convicted of drug trafficking and firearm crimes in federal court because of this investigation. At least six defendants have been sentenced to 10 years or more in federal prison, and one member who was convicted after trial was sentenced to 32 years in prison.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Brockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to drug offenses involving methamphetamine and materials for pressing illicit pills.
Tong Tran, 35, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for June 4, 2026. Tran was charged in April 2025.
According to the charging documents, on or about Sept. 19, 2024, Tran was identified shipping a package at a Worcester Post Office. A search of the package revealed approximately 2.4 kilograms of orange pills containing methamphetamine – concealed in the packaging of a children’s toy. A partial fingerprint on the wrapping materials inside the toy’s box belonged to Tran. On April 14, 2025, during a search of Tran’s residence, a pill press, binding agent and additional equipment used to manufacture pills, including pill dyes were located. The search also resulted in the seizure of 3.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately $8,000 in cash.
The charge of possession 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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; 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 Auburn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Stern Therapy Consultants Agrees to Pay $315,000 to Settle Allegations of Causing False Claims to MedicareRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Stern Therapy Consultants (Stern), a New York long-term care therapy provider, has agreed to pay $315,000 to resolve allegations that, between Jan. 1, 2017 and Sept. 30, 2019, it conspired with RegalCare Management Group, LLC, RegalCare Management 2.0 (together RegalCare), RegalCare’s owner Eliyahu Mirlis and RegalCare executive Hector Caraballo, to cause the submission of false claims to Medicare for unnecessary skilled nursing facility therapy services. The settlement resolves allegations against Stern in a False Claims Act complaint the government filed in February 2025 against Stern, RegalCare, Mirlis and Caraballo.
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are inpatient facilities that provide transitional care to patients following a 72-hour or more hospital stay. Federal healthcare programs, including Medicare, reimburse providers for medically reasonable and necessary services rendered to SNF patients. The False Claims Act prohibits individuals or entities from submitting, or causing the submission of, false claims for payment and false statements material to claims for payment from federal healthcare programs.
As detailed in the settlement agreement, Stern admitted that at various times between January 2017 and September 2019, Stern’s therapists provided Ultra High Resource Utilization Group (RUG) SNF rehabilitation therapy services—the most comprehensive and highest reimbursing services—to RegalCare’s Medicare patients after documenting that patients should stop receiving such services, and after patients informed the therapists that they were physically unable to perform and/or refused to perform the services. Stern further admitted that its Senior Regional Director for the RegalCare facilities, who had no clinical experience and no clinical license, certified that a terminated former Stern employee completed Ultra High RUG therapy services for a RegalCare SNF patient without knowing or confirming whether the services were performed by the terminated former employee to justify billing for reimbursement.
The settlement resolves the government’s complaint against Stern. That complaint alleged that Stern caused RegalCare to submit false claims to Medicare for medically unreasonable and unnecessary services to patients of RegalCare’s SNFs. The government’s case against RegalCare, Mirlis and Caraballo is ongoing.
The claims against Stern were brought under the whistleblower or qui tam provision of the False Claims Act. Under the FCA, private parties may sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The relator will receive $61,875.00 from the proceeds of the settlement. The lawsuit is captioned United States and Commonwealth of Massachusetts ex rel. McCormick v. RegalCare Management 2.0, LLC, et al., No. 20-cv-11805-IT (D. Mass).
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General made the announcement today. This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Sharobem and Olivia Benjamin of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Atkinson, N.H. man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for possessing nearly 10 pounds of methamphetamine pills. Defendant led police on car chase at speeds in excess of 110 mph on Interstate 95.
Walter Norton, 46, was sentenced on Feb. 25, 2026 by Senior U.S. District Judge William G. Young to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. In May 2025, Norton was convicted by a jury of one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
On April 3, 2024, law enforcement conducting a large-scale money laundering investigation observed Norton arrive at the residence of co-defendant Jason Hunter in Revere. After Norton left the residence, law enforcement attempted to execute a traffic stop car on Interstate 95. Norton fled from at speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour, driving on the left shoulder of the highway. He hit the median and another vehicle, breaking the axel of his own car, which came to rest in the center lane of the highway facing the wrong direction. Norton then fled on foot carrying a bag of over 15,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, which weighed 4.4 kilograms. He was subsequently apprehended.
Searches of Hunter’s residence and vehicle resulted in the seizure of over 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, additional pills containing oxycodone, over a kilogram of cocaine and multiple kilograms of marijuana as well as $100,000 in drug proceeds.
On Jan. 8, 2026, Hunter was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the 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.
Brazilian National Living in Yarmouth Sentenced for Selling Firearms without a LicenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully living in Yarmouth was sentenced today for conspiracy and engaging in the business of to sell firearms without a license.
Lucas Nascimento-Silva, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley to time served (17.5 months in prison) to be followed by two years of supervised release. The defendant is now subject to deportation. In July 2025, Nascimento-Silva pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
Between August 2024 and September 2024, Nascimento-Silva sold 12 firearms to a cooperating witness without the required license in exchange for cash. Nascimento-Silva also conspired with others to obtain the firearms in South Carolina and sell them in Massachusetts. In addition to firearms, Nascimento-Silva also sold ammunition and magazines, some of which were large capacity magazines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Barnstable Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney’s Office Files Civil Forfeiture Action to Recover Cryptocurrency Involved in Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover 327,829.720952 USDT (Tether), a form of cryptocurrency, alleged to be involved in a money laundering scheme to conceal funds that originated from an online romance fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. The cryptocurrency currently has an estimated value of approximately $327,829.
In Fall 2024, an investigation began into an online romance fraud scheme. According to court documents, in November 2024, a Massachusetts resident was approached on an online dating application. After communicating for several weeks, an individual going by the name “Linda Brown” explained she had a cryptocurrency investment opportunity. Under the guise of legitimately investing the victim’s money, Brown instead tricked the victim into sending funds to wallets controlled by Brown and/or their co-conspirators. The victim found out that the investment was a scam when they unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw their money.
The complaint alleges that victim funds were transferred through multiple intermediary wallets and the cryptocurrency was converted from one type of cryptocurrency to USDT, tactics typically used by money launderers to conceal the true origin of victim funds and ill-gotten gains.
Some of the victim’s funds were traced to multiple unhosted cryptocurrency wallets, which were seized in August 2025. The complaint alleges that all cryptocurrency associated with those wallets was property involved in money laundering.
It is a violation of federal law to conduct a financial transaction knowing that the transaction is designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of criminal proceeds. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and business email compromise fraud scams – should contact [email protected].
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annapurna Balakrishna of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the case.
The accusations in the complaint, and the description of the complaint, constitute allegations that certain property is subject to forfeiture. The United States must prove, by a standard of preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of over $15.5 Million to Compensate Victims of Massive Global Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that the Roger Knox Remission Fund has begun distributing more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also distributed an additional $3.1 million related to the securities fraud scheme to these victims.
Knox, with others, operated the Swiss-based asset management firm Silverton, which was later renamed Wintercap. Through the business, Knox facilitated pump-and-dump schemes by selling massive quantities of microcap securities on behalf of undisclosed control groups who secretly owned the stock through nominee entities formally owned by third parties. The shares were generally held by the nominees in blocks of less than 5% of the issuer’s total outstanding shares in order to evade the disclosure obligations and sale limitations in the federal securities laws. To generate investor demand for the shares, the undisclosed control groups simultaneously orchestrated promotional campaigns to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the shares. Knox then funneled the proceeds of the pump-and-dump schemes — totaling over $137 million between 2016 and 2018—to co-conspirators in the United States and around the world through a complex money transfer system that disguised the source and nature of the funds.
In January 2020, Knox pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges that he engaged with others in a massive global securities fraud scheme. In October 2023, Knox was sentenced to 36 months in prison, and in January 2024, he was ordered to pay over $58 million in restitution to more than 8,000 victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case.
The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the compensation process.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of over $15 Million for Victims of Global Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that the Roger Knox Remission Fund distributed more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. An additional $3.1 million turned over to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the securities fraud scheme was also distributed to the victims.
Knox, with others, operated a Swiss-based asset management firm called Silverton, and later renamed Wintercap. Through this business, Knox helped facilitate pump-and-dump schemes by selling massive quantities of microcap securities on behalf of undisclosed control groups who secretly owned the stock through nominee entities formally owned by third parties. The shares were generally held by the nominees in blocks of less than 5% of the issuer’s total outstanding shares in order to evade the disclosure obligations and sale limitations in the federal securities laws. To generate investor demand for the shares, the undisclosed control groups simultaneously orchestrated promotional campaigns to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the shares. Knox then funneled the proceeds of the pump-and-dumps – totaling over $137 million between just 2016 and 2018 – to co-conspirators in the United States and around the world through a complex money transfer system that disguised the source and nature of the funds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has pursued assets domestically, as well as in the United Kingdom, Malta, Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, Canada, and Switzerland.
In January 2020, Knox pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston. In October 2023, Knox was sentenced to three years in prison and, in January 2024, was ordered to pay over $58 million in restitution to more than 8,000 victims.
“Illegal pump-and-dump schemes cause financial hardship on countless innocent investors and erode the integrity of our capital markets. Not only is my office is committed to identifying fraudsters like Mr. Knox and holding them accountable,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We are fully committed to recovering funds to compensate victims of crime and ensuring that crime does not pay.”
“As Roger Knox whittled away his time behind bars for his role in a staggering global securities fraud scheme that defrauded thousands of victims out of tens of millions of dollars, the FBI’s been hard at work ensuring those victims are compensated for the significant financial and emotional harm they suffered,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “The distribution of $15 million is an important first step in making these unwitting investors whole and putting market manipulators on notice that they too will pay a hefty price for their criminal conduct.”
In addition to forfeited funds recovered from Knox, and funds recovered by the SEC, forfeited funds recovered from other related defendants Eric Landis, Richard Targett-Adams and Morrie Tobin were applied to the Knox Victim Remission Fund.
Previously, in 2022, $1.9 million in forfeited funds were applied to satisfy restitution ordered for over 1,000 victims in a related microchip stock fraud scheme.
The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work diligently to recover additional assets for these victims.
U.S. Attorney Foley; A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service’s Complex Asset Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit, handled forfeiture and restitution in the case.
The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s MNF, which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the remission process.
Former New York National Sales Director Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former New York based sales director for the Northeast region of a mobile medical diagnostics company was sentenced in federal court in Boston for conspiring to offer and pay kickbacks to doctors in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary brain scans.
David Fuhrmann, 60, of Point Jefferson Station, N.Y. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to three years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay $27,225,434.44 in restitution, to forfeit $1,102,725.96 and to pay a $30,000 fine. In April 2025, Fuhrmann pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute.
From June 2013 through at least September 2020, Fuhrmann conspired with others, including two managers for a mobile medical diagnostics company that performed transcranial doppler (TCD) scans, to enter into kickback agreements with various doctors. TCD scans are brain scans that measure blood flow in parts of the brain. Fuhrmann and his co-conspirators agreed to offer and pay doctors kickbacks, some in cash and others by check, based on the number of TCD ultrasounds the doctors ordered. The co-conspirators created purported rental and administrative service agreements, which on paper made it appear as if doctors were compensated for the TCD company’s use of space and administrative resources of the ordering doctor’s practice based on fair market value and not based on the volume or value of referrals. These agreements were shams that hid the true nature of the arrangement of paying per test.
The scheme resulted in fraudulent bills of approximately $70.6 million to Medicare. Medicare paid approximately $27.2 million to the TCD company for the fraudulent claims.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Kelly M. Lawson, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Queenin, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Loan Officer Sentenced to over One Year in Prison for Million-Dollar Heloc SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former loan officer was sentenced in federal court in Springfield, Mass. for defrauding his employer, MassMutual Federal Credit Union, out of almost $1 million.
Brian Socha, 45, of Brookfield, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 18 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Socha was also ordered to pay $902,541.15 in restitution for bank fraud. Socha admitted to defrauding MassMutual Federal Credit Union out of almost $1 million while he worked there as a loan officer.
Socha hacked into co-workers’ computers on over 20 occasions to covertly raise the credit limit and lower the interest rate to below market levels on the home equity line of credit (HELOC) on the home he owned with his wife. Over a period of six years, Socha increased the HELOC credit limit from $135,500 to $995,000 and adjusted the HELOC interest rate from 7.25% to 1.99%. Socha spent the stolen funds on his personal enjoyment and lifestyle.
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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Office is prosecuted the case.
Former CEO of Non-Profit Nursing Home Pleads Guilty to Misapplication of PropertyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former CEO of the non-profit Edgar P. Benjamin Health Center (“EPBHC”) pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges arising from his improper use of EPBHC funds.
Tony Francis, 59, of Needham, pleaded guilty to two counts of intentional misapplication of money from a program receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for May 20, 2026.
Francis was Administrator, President, and Chief Executive Officer of EPBHC, a non-profit entity that operated Benjamin Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility located in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. In and around 2023 and 2024, EPBHC faced significant financial deficiencies that included a shortage of cash and inability to make payroll. In April 2024 the Massachusetts Superior Court ordered the appointment of a receiver to operate EPBHC.
According to court documents, Francis abused his position of trust with EPBHC by intentionally misapplying funds belonging to EPBHC. Specifically, in 2020, Francis used close to $160,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds, that had been provided to EPBHC by the U.S. Small Business Administration, as a deposit for a personal real estate investment. In addition, in 2023 and 2024, Francis arranged for EPBHC to make payments of principal, interest and late fees on a $100,000 personal loan without having approval of the EPBHC Board of Directors to do so. Finally, at various times between 2022 and 2024, Francis drew on an EPBHC line of credit to transfer funds to his own personal checking account so that he would have sufficient funds account to pay his mortgage and personal credit card bills. In total, Francis misappropriated more than $190,000 from EPBHC, although Francis later returned most of these funds.
The charge of intentional misapplication of money from a program receiving federal funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount involved. 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 Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely, Chief of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case along with Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General Kevin Lownds, who was sworn in as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Brazilian National Sentenced for Selling Firearms Without a License and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully living in Framingham was sentenced for conspiracy and engaging in the business of selling firearms without a license.
Victor Santos DeSouza, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to 14 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In November 2025, Santos DeSouza pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
Between May 2023 and August 2023, De Aguiar Ferreira sold two pistols, one with a large capacity magazine, to a cooperating witness without the required license in exchange for cash.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Framingham and Revere Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Brazilian National Sentenced for Involvement in Large-Scale Human Smuggling RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national illegally residing in Worcester, Mass., has been sentenced for his involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle aliens into the United States, money laundering conspiracy and illegal reentry. Case is part of significant international law enforcement operation targeting alien smugglers in United States and Brazil.
Flavio Alexandre Alves, a/k/a “Ronaldo,” 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In October 2025, Alves pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring aliens to and transport aliens within the United States, one count of conspiracy to launder money and one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The defendant was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint with human smuggling in March 2025 and remains in federal custody.
According to the charging documents, Alves was previously convicted of human smuggling offenses in the Central District of California in 2004 and subsequently deported to Brazil in February 2005. Sometime after his removal, Alves illegally re-entered the United States and has been residing in the United States without immigration status.
In April 2022, an investigation began into a human smuggling organization (HSO) operating in the United States, Brazil and Mexico, that smuggles Brazilian nationals through Mexico, across the U.S.-Mexico border and into the United States for financial gain and laundering the proceeds. The investigation identified Alves as domestic-based smuggler for the HSO who joined the organization in 2021. Alves coordinated with co-conspirators in Brazil and Mexico to facilitate the transportation of aliens from Brazil into the United States, launder funds to Mexico to support the HSO and collect smuggling fees paid by or on behalf of the Brazilian nationals being smuggled.
Specifically, Alves was responsible for purchasing airline tickets for aliens – including families and groups – to various places within the United States. This included purchasing airline tickets for Brazilian nationals to travel from border cities to other locations across the United States shortly after the aliens were encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and released from detention. Between May 2021 and August 2022, Alves purchased more than 100 individual airline tickets from Tucson or Phoenix shortly after CBP encounters, to destination cities throughout the United States.
Alves sent money to aliens and smugglers located in Mexico to pay for expenses associated with transit into the United States. Bank and financial records obtained during the investigation revealed that Alves sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in money transfers to facilitate the travel of aliens who were later encountered by immigration authorities illegally crossing into the United States, and paid smugglers in Mexico for their role in the HSO. Additionally, Alves utilized different methods to conceal the nature and frequency of the transfers, including using in-person money transfer services at various locations throughout Massachusetts; providing different variations of his name and home address; and having other close associates conduct the transactions on his behalf.
Alves also collected payments from aliens as the fee for being smuggled into the United States – taking a percentage of the fee as his “cut” and transferring the remainder of the money to other members of the HSO based in Mexico.
The investigation and arrest of Alves was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) Program. JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA is comprised of detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.
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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Brasília, Brazil Attaché Troy Clausen for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement today. Substantial assistance was provided by HSI Offices in Brasilia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia; HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force; and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor, Alexandra Skinnion and Acting Deputy Chief Frank Rangoussis of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section.
Brazilian National Unlawfully in the United States Sentenced for Selling 14 Firearms Without a LicenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Worcester has been sentenced to prison for selling firearms without a license.
Joao Vitor Dos Santos Goncalves Pimenta, 21, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to 27 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In August 2025, Goncalves Pimenta pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
Between July and September 2024, Goncalves Pimenta sold 14 firearms without the required license in exchange for cash. The firearms included pistols and AR-15-style rifles and large capacity magazines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Attleboro Man Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Attleboro man has been arrested and charged for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Gerard R. Proulx, Jr., 59, is charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession of child pornography. Proulx was arrested on Feb. 25, 2026, and made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later that day. He is currently detained.
In 2012, Proulx was convicted of possession of child pornography in the District of Rhode Island and sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.
According to the charging documents, in the summer of 2025, law enforcement investigating the receipt and distribution of child pornography via the internet downloaded multiple files from an IP address determined to be registered to Proulx. On Feb. 25, 2026, during a search of Proulx’s residence, various electronic devices including a desktop computer were recovered. It is alleged that an initial forensic examination of Proulx’s desktop computer revealed over 1500 files consistent with CSAM. Further review of Proulx’s devices remains on-going.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact [email protected].
Because of Proulx’s prior conviction, the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least 10 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 Randy Maloney, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Zacks 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.
Alleged Tren de Aragua Gang Members Charged in Connection with ATM "Jackpotting Scheme"Read the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Venezuelan nationals, alleged to be members of the violent transitional criminal organization Tren De Aragua, have been charged in connection with an ATM jackpotting conspiracy that included robberies and attempted robberies in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. ATM jackpotting schemes typically involve a crew of individuals who travel to targeted ATMs and install malware directly to the ATM’s software programming to force the ATM to dispense all its cash.
Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz and Lestter Guerrero, both 29, have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank theft. They will make their appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. Both defendants are in the United States unlawfully.
According to court documents there has been an ongoing federal investigation into a nationwide conspiracy, believed to be coordinated and committed by members of Tren de Aragua (“TdA”), to steal money from ATMs using malware -- a scheme referred to as ATM jackpotting. TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated in Venezuela in the mid-2000s which has expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere with an established presence in the United States. According to court filings, TdA’s criminal activities include human smuggling, extortion, drug trafficking, kidnapping and robbery. TdA has developed revenue sources through a range of criminal activities, including ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars from financial institutions. Jackpotting proceeds are typically distributed amongst TdA members and associates to conceal its derivation. TdA members often are instructed to split the proceeds from a jackpot operation with 50% earmarked and sent to TdA leadership in Venezuela and 50% divided among subjects conducting ground operations.
According to charging documents, on Feb. 5, 2026, Martinez Gutierrez and Guerrero were arrested in Augusta, Maine following an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery. Martinez Gutierrez is allegedly connected to at least five additional ATM jackpotting robberies across New England, including robberies on Dec. 31, 2025, in Norwich, Conn; Jan. 20, 2026, in Braintree, Mass; and Jan. 30, 2026, in Rochester, N.H.; and attempted robberies on Jan. 14, 2026, in Coventry, R.I.; and on Jan. 19, 2026, in Stoneham, Mass. Guerrero is allegedly connected to at least one additional jackpotting robbery, with Martinez Gutierrez, on Jan. 30, 2026, in Rochester, N.H.The charge of conspiring to commit bank theft 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Division; the Massachusetts State Police; the Braintree, Stoneham, Boston, Dedham, Malden, Somerville, Augusta (Maine), Rochester (N.H.), Coventry (R.I.) and Norwich (Conn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Peter K. Levitt, Chief of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit, are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Student Recruiting Firm and Its Principal Agree to Pay $1.3 Million for Fraud on Federal Student Aid ProgramsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Study Across the Pond, LLC (SATP) and its principal, John Borhaug, have agreed to pay $1.3 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging that they knowingly caused United Kingdom (UK) schools to submit false claims to the U.S. Department of Education. In April 2024, the United States filed a complaint against SATP and Borhaug, alleging that they convinced foreign schools to enter arrangements that violated the federal ban on incentive-based compensation for student recruitment.
“Today’s settlement resolves the United States’ lawsuit against Study Across the Pond and Mr. Borhaug, who used improper incentives in an attempt to influence American students to attend foreign schools,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “My office is committed to ensuring American students are not taken advantage of for financial gain and protecting the integrity of federal student financial aid programs.”
“American students deserve to make enrollment decisions free of the improper influence of third-party recruiters who pursue their own financial gain rather than the students’ best interests,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, Head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to holding accountable individuals and corporate entities who violate the Incentive Compensation Ban and to protect the integrity of the federal student aid programs like the Direct Loan Program.”
“Today’s settlement is a result of the hard work and effort of the Office of Inspector General, the U.S Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Justice to protect and maintain the integrity of the Federal student aid programs by enforcing applicable laws, including the incentive compensation ban,” said Jason Williams, Assistant Inspector General for Investigation Services, U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work together to ensure that Federal student aid funds are used as required by law.”
Title IV of the Higher Education Act prohibits any institution of higher education that receives federal student aid from compensating student recruiters with a commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on the recruiters’ success in securing student enrollments. This is referred to as the Incentive Compensation Ban. The Incentive Compensation Ban protects students against aggressive recruitment practices that serve the financial interest of the recruiter, rather than the educational needs of the student.
According to facts admitted in the settlement agreement, SATP entered into contracts with UK schools that provided that SATP received a percentage share of the American student’s tuition to the UK school in exchange for SATP’s recruitment of that student. Meanwhile, federal student financial aid programs paid those American students’ tuition, of which SATP received a share under the illegal agreement. Sometimes, in response to questions from UK schools regarding whether such tuition-sharing agreements were permissible, SATP entered into purported “flat fee” contracts with the schools instead.
The claims resolved in today’s settlement include claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Hitrost LLC v. Study Across the Pond, LLC, et al., No. 21-CV-10274-ADB (D. Mass.). The government intervened in this case in April 2024. As part of today’s resolution, the relator will receive a share of the settlement amount.
U.S. Attorney Foley, AAG Shumate and DOE-OIG Assistant IG Williams made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian LaMacchia and Alexandra Brazier of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit are handling the matter along with Trial Attorney Allison Carroll of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
Gardner Woman Charged with Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Gardner woman has been charged in federal court in Worcester with fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits for 10 years.
Michelle M. DiSalvo, 53, was charged with one count of receipt of stolen government money or property; one count of Social Security fraud; and one count of false statements. She will appear in U.S. District Court in Worcester at a later date.
According to the charging documents, from October 2013 through October 2023, DiSalvo allegedly received approximately $93,640 in Social Security disability benefits that she knew she was not entitled to. It is further alleged that DiSalvo concealed material information from the Social Security Administration with the intent to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits. Additionally, DiSalvo allegedly submitted a fraudulent lease agreement to the Social Security Administration in October 2023.
The charging document further alleges that DiSalvo omitted her husband from the fraudulent lease because she knew that if she reported living with him, DiSalvo’s husband’s income and resources would have affected the amount of her 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 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. 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 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.
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.
Convicted Felon from Northampton Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Firearm and Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Northampton, Mass. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for firearm and narcotics offenses while on federal supervised release. The defendant was previously convicted in federal court of possessing a loaded ghost gun and ammunition and various firearms and drug offenses in state court.
Gabriel Lebron, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to seven years in prison on the firearm and narcotic charges and one year in prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release to be served consecutively and three years of supervised release. In September 2025, Lebron pleaded guilty to one count each of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin.
On April 9, 2025, law enforcement in Hadley responded to a 911 call about a man in the Howard Johnson hotel lobby brandishing a firearm. Lebron was found in the lobby in possession of a Jimenez Arms, Model JA 25, .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with five rounds of .25 caliber ammunition, including one in the chamber, 10 “snap caps” of crack cocaine and two bundles of heroin. He was immediately taken into custody. At the time of his offense, Lebron was on federal supervised release for a Vermont firearms conviction of possessing a loaded ghost gun with a laser sight and multiple rounds of ammunition, for which he was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release in 2023.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance provided by the Hadley Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
International Student Recruiting Firm and Co-Founder to Pay $1.3M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to the U.S. Department of Education’s Direct Loan ProgramRead the Press Release
Massachusetts company Study Across the Pond LLC (SATP) and its principal, John Borhaug, have agreed to pay $1,300,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing foreign schools in the United Kingdom (UK) to submit false claims and false statements to the U.S. Department of Education in connection with the Direct Loan Program through arrangements that violated the federal ban on incentive-based compensation.
“American students deserve to make enrollment decisions free of the improper influence of third-party recruiters who pursue their own financial gain rather than the students’ best interests.” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to holding accountable individuals and corporate entities who violate the Incentive Compensation Ban and to protect the integrity of the federal student aid programs like the Direct Loan Program.”
“Today’s settlement resolves the United States’ lawsuit against Study Across the Pond and Mr. Borhaug, who used improper incentives in an attempt to influence American students to attend foreign schools,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “My office is committed to ensuring American students are not taken advantage of for financial gain and protecting the integrity of federal student financial aid programs.”
“Today’s settlement is a result of the hard work and effort of the Office of Inspector General, the U.S Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Justice to protect and maintain the integrity of the Federal student aid programs by enforcing applicable laws, including the incentive compensation ban,” said Jason Williams, Assistant Inspector General for Investigation Services, U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work together to ensure that Federal student aid funds are used as required by law.”
Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, institutions of higher education that want to participate in federal student aid programs, including the Direct Loan Program, must agree not to provide any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment to student recruiters based directly or indirectly on success in securing student enrollments. This is referred to as the Incentive Compensation Ban. The Incentive Compensation Ban protects students against aggressive recruitment practices that serve the financial interest of the recruiter rather than the educational needs of the student.
Since 2013, SATP has recruited American students to attend foreign schools in the UK. The United States alleged that SATP knew of the Incentive Compensation Ban and nevertheless collaborated with at least 28 schools in the UK to violate the Ban while those schools were participating in the Direct Loan Program. Specifically, the United States alleged that SATP demanded a commission for its recruitment services, which was a share of the tuition paid by any students the company recruited for the schools. In many cases, this was money the schools had claimed from the Direct Loan Program for the education of American students. The United States further alleged that SATP created sham records to hide these tuition-sharing arrangements from the Department of Education and ultimately caused foreign schools to submit false claims to the Direct Loan Program. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Hitrost, LLC v. Study Across the Pond, LLC, et al., No. 21-CV-10274-ADB (D. Mass.)
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Hitrost LLC. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The whistleblower will receive $240,500 as its share of the recovery.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with assistance from the Department of Education’s Office of the Inspector General, Office of the General Counsel, and Federal Student Aid (FSA) office.
The United States was represented in this matter by Trial Attorney Allison C. Carroll of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian LaMacchia and Alexandra Brazier of the District of Massachusetts.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Dominican National Previously Convicted of Drug Trafficking and Identity Theft Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national who used the alias, “Jose Perez Antonio,” and who unlawfully resided in Dorchester has been charged with 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 charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien with a prior felony conviction. The defendant 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 prison. In 2023, Peguero was removed 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 felony conviction provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney 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.
Member of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Involving Murder and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston area man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.
Takari Elliott, a/k/a “T-Paper,” 34, of Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murder. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for May 27, 2026. Elliott was among 22 defendants charged in May 2023.
Elliott was identified as a member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston. Cameron Street members use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds. Members of Cameron Street have tattoos and wear clothing signifying their membership in the gang. They also post videos and use social media applications to promote the gang, celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang.
Elliott engaged in several acts that supported the Cameron Street enterprise. Most significantly, Elliott participated in the October 2020 murder in Brockton of Manuel Duarte, also known as “Brava.” Throughout the day of the murder, Elliott had been communicating with Duarte over Snapchat urging Duarte to meet him at a home address in Brockton to conduct a drug deal. Another member of Cameron Street, who is now deceased, rented a car in Boston and drove to Brockton, where he picked up Elliott and the pair met up with Duarte at a home in Brockton. Once there, the fellow Cameron Street member emerged from the backyard and shot Duarte 10 times, killing him. The fellow Cameron Street member took the rental car and fled to Boston, while Elliott was picked up by others near the scene of the murder.
Further evidence revealed that Elliott and his fellow Cameron Street member were paid $60,000 to murder Duarte and that they spilt the proceeds.
Elliott’s Cameron Street-related conduct goes back as far as January 2011, when Elliott was arrested in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and masks in a car near Cameron Street with other Cameron Street members. Elliott was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for that offense:
In 2017, Elliott was convicted in federal court in Boston for cocaine distribution, for which he was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Following his prison sentence, while on federal supervised release, Elliott was arrested during a traffic stop in possession of a baseball-sized quantity of cocaine and with the Duarte murder.
Elliott is the 21st defendant to be convicted in the case. The remaining defendant, Clayton Rodrigues, is a fugitive and remains at large.
“This defendant and his fellow Carmeron Street gang members terrorized communities for years. Despite previous arrests, and while on federal supervised release, Elliott continued to sell drugs, carry guns and commit a murder for hire. He has no regard for the law and it appears that he is incapable of learning a lesson. Enough is enough. He is facing a harsh sentence which is more than warranted,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.
“Cameron Street waged a gang war among the residents of Dorchester, terrorizing their community and causing untold grief to countless families and loved ones of their victims. Takari Elliott was a willing participant in the Cameron Street racketeering enterprise, celebrating these killings and dealing drugs across Massachusetts. Elliott then accepted his cut of $60,000 to commit a murder-for-hire. ATF’s primary mission is to target and disrupt violent entities like Cameron Street. Takari Elliott’s plea places an exclamation point on ATF’s long-running investigation into the retaliatory violence,” said Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division.
“Violent gang members who flood our communities with deadly drugs and commit acts of brutal violence will be held accountable,” said Jared A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division. “This defendant was not only responsible for trafficking dangerous narcotics, but also for participating in racketeering activity that included murder. With two prior convictions, he had multiple opportunities to change course and instead chose to escalate his criminal conduct. DEA and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling violent criminal enterprises and protecting the public from those who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”
The charge of RICO conspiracy involving murder provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley, ATF SAC Greco, DEA SAC Forget and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth, Pawtucket (R.I.) and Nashville Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl and Brian A. Fogerty of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
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.