District of Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland – A member of a violent extremist network pled guilty to child sex abuse charges in federal court today, stemming from a November 2025 arrest.

Erik Lee Madison, 20, of Halethorpe, Maryland, pled guilty to the sexual exploitation of a child and cyberstalking. Madison sexually exploited at least 10 minor female victims. 

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

According to court documents, from November 2024 until November 2025, Madison, a member and associate of “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists, used the internet to create and share extreme content — such as gore, violence, and child pornography — to extort and blackmail vulnerable teenagers. Madison used the internet to sexually exploit minor females and encourage them to engage in self-harm. The minor female victims were from various locations inside and outside of the United States.

Madison used the internet to cause minor females to produce or stream sexually explicit conduct, cut themselves with razors, and cut signs and words on their bodies. Additionally, Madison coerced the female minor victims into using their blood to write various signs, along with Madison's monikers, on a wall and then they streamed it to Madison. He also encouraged the victims to injure animals.

Then Madison extorted the victims through a variety of methods, including threatening to harm them and their families, “leak” or disseminate depictions of the victims engaging in cutting and sexually explicit conduct, “dox” the victims and their family members, and threatening to “swat” victims and their family members.'

 Members of “764” use known online social media communications platforms as mediums to support the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and child sex abuse material with vulnerable, juvenile populations. These individuals often conduct coordinated extortions of teenagers, blackmailing the victims to comply with the group’s demands.

Madison faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor. He also faces a mandatory maximum sentence of 10 for cyberstalking. Sentencing is set for Tuesday, June 16, at 11:30 a.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) networks, like 764, that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, AACOPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md. 

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A Texas woman was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison and 20 years of supervised release for conspiring with another person to sexually abuse a child outside the United States.

Anika Bywater, 29, formerly of Gonzalez, Texas, pleaded guilty on Dec. 10, 2025, to conspiracy to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.  According to court documents and information provided at the sentencing hearing, Bywater was living in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, when she and another person created two separate videos of themselves sexually abusing the victim. Law enforcement officers learned of the conduct when they discovered videos of the abuse circulating on the internet.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes of the District of Maryland; and Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division made the announcement.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s law enforcement attaché office in Mexico City and the Washington Field Office.

Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema Sood of the District of Maryland 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Baltimore, Maryland – A Texas woman learned her fate in federal court for her role in conspiring with another person to sexually abuse a child outside the United States.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Anika Bywater, 29, formerly of Gonzalez, Texas, to 25 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. In December 2025, Bywater pled guilty to these charges.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, Department of Justice Criminal Division, and Assistant Director Heith Janke, FBI – Criminal Division.

According to court documents, and information provided at the sentencing hearing, while living in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, Bywater and another person created two separate videos of themselves sexually abusing a young child.  Law enforcement officers learned of the conduct when they discovered videos of the abuse circulating on the internet.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI Child Exploitation Operational Unit for its work in the investigation, and the FBI’s law enforcement attaché office in Mexico City and Washington Field Office for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema Sood and Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds, Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – A Nigerian national received a federal prison term for his role in a multi-million-dollar wire fraud and money laundering scheme.

U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced James Junior Aliyu, 31, who resided in South Africa at the time of his criminal conduct, to 90 months in federal prison in connection with the conspiracy. Judge Boardman also ordered Aliyu, who was extradited from South Africa to the United States to face these criminal charges, to repay $2,389,130 to the victims.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland, and Special Agent in Charge Brian McDonough, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) – Washington Field Office.

In August 2025, Aliyu pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Aliyu acknowledged that he conspired with others, including Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, 31, and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, 34, to deceive and defraud multiple American victims. All three are Nigerian citizens who resided in South Africa at the time of the crimes.

According to his plea agreement, from February 2017 until at least July 2017, Aliyu conspired with others to perpetrate a business email compromise scheme. Aliyu and his co-conspirators, including accomplices residing in Maryland, gained unauthorized access to email accounts associated with individuals and businesses they targeted. As part of the scheme, co-conspirators sent false wiring instructions to the victims’ email accounts from “spoofed” emails, which are messages from forged sender addresses. Co-conspirators then sent messages to deceive the victims into sending money to bank accounts the perpetrators controlled called “drop accounts.”

During the same time frame, Aliyu and his accomplices conspired to commit money laundering by disbursing the fraudulently obtained funds in the drop accounts to other accounts. Co-conspirators moved the stolen money by initiating account transfers, withdrawing cash, and obtaining cashier’s checks. They also wrote checks to other individuals and entities to hide the true ownership and source of these assets.  In total, Aliyu and his co-conspirators attempted to defraud victims of at least $10.4 million, and the victims suffered an actual loss of at least $2,389,130.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI’s Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force and USSS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa, and South African Police Service.  Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing Aliyu’s extradition from South Africa.  OIA and the Department of Justice Canada’s International Assistance Group provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of both Echefu and Simon-Ebo.  Ms. Hayes also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Jamaican national is heading to federal prison for more than three years in connection with a lottery fraud scheme.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Tavoy Farquharson, 34, to 40 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, today, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Judge Hurson also ordered him to pay $3,962,826 in restitution.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Javan S. Wilson, U.S. Treasury, Office of Inspector General (Treasury OIG); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

According to public filings, beginning in October 2020, and continuing through at least January 2024, Farquharson conspired with others to use the mail to obtain money from victims across the United States. Many victims impacted by the scheme were elderly.

Perpetrators use a lottery fraud scheme to lead victims to believe they won a large cash prize through a lottery or sweepstakes. When it’s time to collect the purported winnings, the victim is falsely led to believe that they must pay taxes or other fees in advance.  The victim never receives their winnings, but instead, loses their advanced fees or payments.

In this case, Farquharson and his co-conspirators solicited victims and led them to believe that they won a lottery or sweepstakes. Then they misled the victims to think that they were required to pay taxes and other fees in advance to the attention of Farquharson’s co-conspirators. Some victims of the scheme lost most of their life savings.  In total, the court found that the victims lost more than $3.5 million, with Farquharson receiving more than $700,000 of the victims’ funds.   

Brothers Dwayne Henry, 34, and Wayne Henry, 36, both of Landover Hills, Maryland, along with Nickoy Campbell, 30, a Jamaican national, also participated in the scheme. They all previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Campbell and Dwayne Henry pled guilty to the charges, and earlier this month, they received their prison sentences.

Wayne Henry faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including a mandatory sentence of two years consecutive to any other imposed sentence for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing for Wayne Henry is slated for Wednesday, September 2.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.

Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older, and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available. Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).  This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers through assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis.  The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday.  English, Spanish, and other languages are available.  Learn more about the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at www.elderjustice.gov.  Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, HSI, Treasury OIG, and PGPD for their investigative efforts.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Motsay who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud. 

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Guatemalan illegal alien was sentenced in federal court today to 18 months in prison, for illegally re-entering the United States.

Edgar David Vasquez-Garcia, 34, pled guilty to the charge after he was previously deported from the U.S. in July 2014. He never sought nor obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for re-admission.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.

In October 2023, Vasquez-Garcia law enforcement arrested Vasquez-Garcia in Edgewood, Maryland, on second-degree assault charges. Then in May 2024, a jury convicted Vasquez-Garcia of second-degree assault, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence, with five years suspended.

Vasquez-Garcia first illegally entered the United States through Mexico in July 2014. Law enforcement then detained Vasquez-Garcia, and he admitted he was in the U.S. illegally. Authorities expedited removal proceedings and deported Vasquez-Garcia from Brownsville, Texas. At some point thereafter, Vasquez-Garcia re-entered the U.S. and then traveled to Maryland.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who are prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced an illegal alien from Togo, today, for his role in a money laundering scheme totaling nearly $3 million in losses.

U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Gedeon “Papa Kwam” Agbeyome, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to six years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit money laundering and aggravated identity theft. Judge Maddox also ordered him to pay $2,938,424.65 in restitution and issued a $2.8 million preliminary order of forfeiture. 

As part of the scheme, Agbeyome received at least $2.8 million in proceeds from a business email compromise fraud scheme. Agbeyome used bank accounts that he opened and controlled through shell entities and the identities of other real people.  He then pocketed a portion of the fraud proceeds in exchange for engaging in the financial crime.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG).

According to court documents, from June 2021 through May 2023, Agbeyome participated in a significant money laundering conspiracy that led to the prosecution of at least 14 individuals.  As part of the conspiracy, the co-conspirators created shell entities that did not have significant physical operations, business premises, legitimate business activities, gross revenues, cost of goods sold, nor reported wages for employees.  The co-conspirators used the shell entities to open and control bank accounts that they then used to receive fraud proceeds.

Additionally, Agbeyome admitted he participated in an underlying wire-fraud conspiracy. This scheme involved defrauding a victim trust that was established to remediate environmental contamination at a California manufacturing facility.  Agbeyome also admitted that he used three real people’s personal identifying information in connection with the wire fraud conspiracy.  Agbeyome used the stolen identities to open multiple bank accounts and to conceal his connection to a CashApp account.  Agbeyome and his co-conspirators then used these financial accounts to launder money.

As part of the conspiracy, co-conspirators used a business email compromise scheme to deceive the victim entities. Co-conspirators tricked the victims into sending money to the shell entity bank accounts Agbeyome controlled, and others, through look-a-like email addresses. The victims typically thought they were sending money to contractors or vendors.

After gaining access to the fraudulently obtained funds, Agbeyome engaged in multiple financial transactions in quick succession. He did this to conceal the nature, location, source, and ownership of the funds, and to control the wire-fraud proceeds. These illegal acts helped promote the underlying business email compromises and other fraud schemes.

Agbeyome and his co-conspirators met in person, and used phone calls, Telegram, WhatsApp, and text messages to communicate.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud/Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force, and thanked IRS-CI and EPA-OIG for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry Gruber, Bijon A. Mostoufi, Jared M. Beim, and recognized Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber, for her valuable assistance.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md  and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

Baltimore, Maryland – CVR Management, LLC, a professional services corporation in Greenbelt, Maryland, along with the Center for Vein Restoration, Center for Vascular Medicine (CVM), LLC, and Sanjiv Lakhanpal, MD, FACS, agreed to pay the United States $4 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE for medically unnecessary vein treatment procedures.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the settlement with Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) – Mid-Atlantic Field Office.

According to the United States, CVR, over a six-year period, knowingly submitted claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE for chronic venous insufficiency treatment procedures that were medically unnecessary. Specifically, the government alleges that chronic venous insufficiency can be treated by sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, or endovenous laser ablation.  The condition refers to the improper functioning of the vein valves where blood, which normally should move upwards toward the heart, instead pools in the veins such that the walls of the veins weaken and become distended manifesting as varicose veins, cramping, swelling, or skin discoloration on the affected leg and sometimes as ulcers or skin necrosis on the legs.

The United States further alleges that neither Medicare, Medicaid, nor TRICARE cover the treatment of varicose veins for cosmetic reasons alone.  Treatment for chronic venous insufficiency must be accompanied by certain other conditions and after the patient undergoes a specified period of alternative treatment options that prove unsuccessful.  Between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016, CVR knowingly billed Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE for sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, and endovenous laser ablation procedures that were not clinically indicated and were medically unnecessary.   

“Billing for medically unnecessary procedures saps public confidence in the health care system and is a drain on the public fisc,” Hayes said. “We will hold accountable health care providers that knowingly engage in such conduct.”

“The Medicare and Medicaid programs cover medically necessary procedures, and health care providers are required to submit accurate claims for the services provided,” Dixon said. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and additional law enforcement partners to evaluate and pursue allegations of inaccurate billings to federal health insurance programs.”

“This settlement demonstrates DCIS’s commitment to collaborate with its investigative partners to hold fraudulent providers accountable,” Dillard said. “DCIS will continue to safeguard the military community and aggressively work to help maintain public trust in TRICARE, the DoD’s primary health care program.”

CVR Management, LLC provides health care management services and manages the operations of  the Center for Vein Restoration, a multi-state collection of physician-led vein treatment practices and medical centers specializing in diagnosing and treating vein disease, notably chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.  It operates 16 locations in Maryland.  The Center for Vascular Medicine, a related practice group, specializes in the treatment of deep venous and arterial disorders in the legs, feet, and pelvic areas. CVM operates several offices located in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Lakhanpal is the entities’ CEO and president and CVM’s chairman of the board.

The federal share of the civil settlement is $3,395,634.93. Additionally, the total Medicaid recovery is $604,365.07, with eight Medicaid participating states, and the District of Columbia, slated to receive $325,208.84 of the civil settlement and the United States $279,156.23 of the Medicaid recovery.  State Medicaid programs are jointly funded by the federal and state governments.

This civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Karen Fulton and Jane Doe, both former employees of CVR.  Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The relators’ share of the proceeds of the settlement will be $752,000. The qui tam actions are captioned U.S. ex rel. Fulton v. CVR Management, LLC, et al., No. 15-cv-3591 (D. Md.) and U.S. ex rel. Jane Doe v. Center for Vein Restoration, LLC, et al., No. 20-cv-1943 (D. Md.), respectively.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HHS-OIG and DCIS/DODIG for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tarra DeShields and Roann Nichols who handled this case, along with Investigator Ann Thiel. 

The United States’ settlement in this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a Guatemalan illegal alien after he pled guilty to illegally entering the United States.

U.S. District Court Judge Ajmel A. Quereshi sentenced Jairo Mendez-Miranda, 29, to time served in prison for the illegal entry charge. Earlier this month, law enforcement arrested Mendez-Miranda in Montgomery County, Maryland. The officers then discovered Mendez-Miranda may not be legally present in the United States. Authorities previously deported Mendez-Miranda on two other occasions.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.

According to court documents, on November 10, 2015, United States Border Patrol officers encountered Mendez-Miranda, a citizen and national of Guatemala, in Zapata, Texas. Authorities determined that he entered the U.S. without inspection by an immigration official and he was subsequently deported to Guatemala on November 20, 2015.

On August 2, 2016, Border Patrol encountered Mendez-Miranda again after he illegally re-entered the U.S. near Roma, Texas.  Then on August 9, 2016, law enforcement arrested Mendez-Miranda and deported him a second time to Guatemala.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Sarma who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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The Justice Department announced the seizure of four domains as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt hacking and transnational repression schemes conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The affidavit supporting the seizure warrant can be found here. The seized domains – Justicehomeland[.]org, Handala-Hack[.]to, Karmabelow80[.]org, and Handala-Redwanted[.]to – were used by the MOIS in furtherance of attempted psychological operations targeting adversaries of the regime by claiming credit for hacking activity, posting sensitive data stolen during such hacks, and calling for the killing of journalists, regime dissidents, and Israeli persons. For example, the MOIS used the Handala-hack[.]to domain to claim credit for a March 2026 destructive malware attack against a U.S.-based multinational medical technologies firm.

“Terrorist propaganda online can incite real-world violence — thanks to our National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, this network of Iranian-backed sites will no longer broadcast anti-American hate,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our cyber assets will remain ever-vigilant to root out and deactivate networks that pose a threat to American citizens.”

"Iran thought they could hide behind fake websites and keyboard threats to terrorize Americans and silence dissidents,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We took down four of their operation's pillars and we're not done. This FBI will hunt down every actor behind these cowardly death threats and cyberattacks and will bring the full force of American law enforcement down on them.”

“Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism worldwide, used the seized domains to dox and harass dissidents and journalists, incite violence against Jewish communities, and spread Tehran’s anti-American propaganda,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.  “NSD is committed to dismantling Iran’s cyberwarfare infrastructure and detecting and preventing Iran’s cyber-enabled terrorism.”

“Unleashing terroristic ideology into the cybersphere is a direct threat to our national security.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to collaborating with our law-enforcement partners to identify threats, shut them down, and hold bad actors accountable,” said Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “We will not hesitate to use all our resources and available tools to do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety and security of our nation.”

"The Iranian regime exploits cyberspace to advance authoritarian objectives, suppress democratic institutions, and undermine our national and economic security,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “The FBI will act swiftly, deliberately, and proactively to disable cyber threats to America and use every available authority to ensure those responsible are identified, apprehended, and held accountable.”

The FBI’s investigation revealed that the four seized domains were linked to each other through shared leak sites, Iranian IP ranges, and a common operational "playbook." That playbook includes: destructive and disruptive cyber-attacks; and “faketivist” psychological operations using data stolen via hacking.

The Domains handala-hack[.]to and handala-redwanted[.]to

As alleged in court documents, after the U.S.-Iran conflict began on February 28, 2026, the MOIS-controlled domains handala-hack[.]to and handala-redwanted[.]to published personally identifiable information (“PII”) associated with targeted individuals. The domain handala-hack[.]to also claimed responsibility for hacks conducted by the group. Specifically:

• On March 11, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, claimed credit for conducting a destructive malware attack against a U.S.-based multinational medical technologies firm. The Handala Hack persona claimed the hack was retaliation for “ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance.”
• As of March 9, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-redwanted[.]to domain, posted the names and sensitive PII of approximately 190 individuals associated with or employed by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and/or Israeli government. The Handala Hack posting contained threats indicating the individuals were being monitored, their residences were known, and that consequences would soon follow.
• On March 6, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, posted names and confidential data corresponding to individuals Handala Hack claimed worked for the IDF. The post stated, in part, “Your iPhone 12 Pro Max holds no security for us; we even know your exact location…,” and urged “People of the Axis of Resistance! See these names and respond to these Zionist pigs yourselves.”
• On March 6, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, claimed it stole 851 gigabytes of confidential data from members of the Sanzer Hasidic Jewish community, including “documents of financial cooperation, witchcraft ceremonies, and secret correspondences with Netanyahu ...” The post continued “We warn the leaders and members of the Sanzer Hasidic community: No place is safe for you. Betrayal of the oppressed leads to nothing but disgrace and shame. Expect more documents to be revealed. Handala Hack[.]”

These threats and the related information were not just publicly posted. The FBI’s investigation also revealed that the email account Handala_Team@outlook[.]com was used to send death threats to Iranian dissidents and journalists living in the United States and abroad. In those communications, Handala Hack offered bounties and openly called for Mexican cartel “partners” to commit acts of violence against Handala Hack’s targets. Specifically, on or about March 1, 2026, the Handala_Team@outlook[.]com account was used to email two victims, located in the United States and abroad. In an email with the subject line “Death to [redacted victim names],” the sender wrote:

"We the Handala Hack team, the loyal followers of the supreme leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, declare war on all the enemies of Islam in the West. Our partners, the CJNG [Jalisco New Generation Cartel] cartel in America and Canada have been given a list of our enemies who are responsible for our great leaders [sic] death. [Redacted names], you laughed like hyenas during the [redacted] show. We have hacked and revealed your home addresses in [redacted] and [redacted] to our partners in the CJNG who are in [redacted U.S. state] and [redacted foreign country] now. Both of you will be executed soon, and we have offered a reward of $250,000 for the operatives who kills [sic] and beheads both of you. ALLAHU AKBAR[.]"

The domain handala-hack[.]to was also used as part of a broader effort to intimidate and harass Iranian dissidents and journalists living in the United States and abroad. According to investigators, threat actors associated with the domain directed online threats toward individuals who publicly criticized the Iranian government. In those cases, the MOIS attempts to embarrass and discredit its targets by circulating messages and content intended to damage their reputation. By leveraging online platforms linked to the domain, MOIS sought to amplify its online threats, pressure critics, and discourage independent reporting, while creating fear among members of the Iranian diaspora critical of the regime.

The Domains Justicehomeland[.]org and Karmabelow80[.]org

The domains Justicehomeland[.]org and Karmabelow80[.]org were the official websites of a shell hacktivist entity used by MOIS. On or about July 15, 2022, and September 9, 2022, MOIS actors used the Justicehomeland[.]org domain to claim responsibility for stealing sensitive documents  from Albanian government organizations. The motivation for leaking this information appears to be the Albanian government’s decision to support an Iranian dissident group called Mujahedeen e-Khalq or “MEK.” MEK has, in the past, openly advocated for the overthrow of the Iranian government.

In addition to these enforcement actions, the Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse. Read more about this reward offer on the Rewards for Justice website.

The FBI Baltimore Field Office is investigating the case, in coordination with FBI Cyber Division.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case.

WASHINGTON – Today, the Justice Department announced the seizure of four domains as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt hacking and transnational repression schemes conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The affidavit supporting the seizure warrant can be found here. The seized domains – Justicehomeland[.]org, Handala-Hack[.]to, Karmabelow80[.]org, and Handala-Redwanted[.]to – were used by the MOIS in furtherance of attempted psychological operations targeting adversaries of the regime by claiming credit for hacking activity, posting sensitive data stolen during such hacks, and calling for the killing of journalists, regime dissidents, and Israeli persons. For example, the MOIS used the Handala-hack[.]to domain to claim credit for a March 2026 destructive malware attack against a U.S.-based multinational medical technologies firm.

“Terrorist propaganda online can incite real-world violence — thanks to our National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, this network of Iranian-backed sites will no longer broadcast anti-American hate,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our cyber assets will remain ever-vigilant to root out and deactivate networks that pose a threat to American citizens.”

"Iran thought they could hide behind fake websites and keyboard threats to terrorize Americans and silence dissidents,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We took down four of their operation's pillars and we're not done. This FBI will hunt down every actor behind these cowardly death threats and cyberattacks and will bring the full force of American law enforcement down on them.”

“Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism worldwide, used the seized domains to dox and harass dissidents and journalists, incite violence against Jewish communities, and spread Tehran’s anti-American propaganda,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.  “NSD is committed to dismantling Iran’s cyberwarfare infrastructure and detecting and preventing Iran’s cyber-enabled terrorism.”

“Unleashing terroristic ideology into the cybersphere is a direct threat to our national security.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to collaborating with our law-enforcement partners to identify threats, shut them down, and hold bad actors accountable,” said Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “We will not hesitate to use all our resources and available tools to do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety and security of our nation.”

"The Iranian regime exploits cyberspace to advance authoritarian objectives, suppress democratic institutions, and undermine our national and economic security,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “The FBI will act swiftly, deliberately, and proactively to disable cyber threats to America and use every available authority to ensure those responsible are identified, apprehended, and held accountable.”

The FBI’s investigation revealed that the four seized domains were linked to each other through shared leak sites, Iranian IP ranges, and a common operational "playbook." That playbook includes: destructive and disruptive cyber-attacks; and “faketivist” psychological operations using data stolen via hacking.

The Domains handala-hack[.]to and handala-redwanted[.]to

As alleged in court documents, after the U.S.-Iran conflict began on February 28, 2026, the MOIS-controlled domains handala-hack[.]to and handala-redwanted[.]to published personally identifiable information (“PII”) associated with targeted individuals. The domain handala-hack[.]to also claimed responsibility for hacks conducted by the group. Specifically:

• On March 11, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, claimed credit for conducting a destructive malware attack against a U.S.-based multinational medical technologies firm. The Handala Hack persona claimed the hack was retaliation for “ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance.”
• As of March 9, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-redwanted[.]to domain, posted the names and sensitive PII of approximately 190 individuals associated with or employed by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and/or Israeli government. The Handala Hack posting contained threats indicating the individuals were being monitored, their residences were known, and that consequences would soon follow.
• On March 6, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, posted names and confidential data corresponding to individuals Handala Hack claimed worked for the IDF. The post stated, in part, “Your iPhone 12 Pro Max holds no security for us; we even know your exact location…,” and urged “People of the Axis of Resistance! See these names and respond to these Zionist pigs yourselves.”
• On March 6, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, claimed it stole 851 gigabytes of confidential data from members of the Sanzer Hasidic Jewish community, including “documents of financial cooperation, witchcraft ceremonies, and secret correspondences with Netanyahu ...” The post continued “We warn the leaders and members of the Sanzer Hasidic community: No place is safe for you. Betrayal of the oppressed leads to nothing but disgrace and shame. Expect more documents to be revealed. Handala Hack[.]”

These threats and the related information were not just publicly posted. The FBI’s investigation also revealed that the email account Handala_Team@outlook[.]com was used to send death threats to Iranian dissidents and journalists living in the United States and abroad. In those communications, Handala Hack offered bounties and openly called for Mexican cartel “partners” to commit acts of violence against Handala Hack’s targets. Specifically, on or about March 1, 2026, the Handala_Team@outlook[.]com account was used to email two victims, located in the United States and abroad. In an email with the subject line “Death to [redacted victim names],” the sender wrote:

"We the Handala Hack team, the loyal followers of the supreme leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, declare war on all the enemies of Islam in the West. Our partners, the CJNG [Jalisco New Generation Cartel] cartel in America and Canada have been given a list of our enemies who are responsible for our great leaders [sic] death. [Redacted names], you laughed like hyenas during the [redacted] show. We have hacked and revealed your home addresses in [redacted] and [redacted] to our partners in the CJNG who are in [redacted U.S. state] and [redacted foreign country] now. Both of you will be executed soon, and we have offered a reward of $250,000 for the operatives who kills [sic] and beheads both of you. ALLAHU AKBAR[.]"

The domain handala-hack[.]to was also used as part of a broader effort to intimidate and harass Iranian dissidents and journalists living in the United States and abroad. According to investigators, threat actors associated with the domain directed online threats toward individuals who publicly criticized the Iranian government. In those cases, the MOIS attempts to embarrass and discredit its targets by circulating messages and content intended to damage their reputation. By leveraging online platforms linked to the domain, MOIS sought to amplify its online threats, pressure critics, and discourage independent reporting, while creating fear among members of the Iranian diaspora critical of the regime.

The Domains Justicehomeland[.]org and Karmabelow80[.]org

The domains Justicehomeland[.]org and Karmabelow80[.]org were the official websites of a shell hacktivist entity used by MOIS. On or about July 15, 2022, and September 9, 2022, MOIS actors used the Justicehomeland[.]org domain to claim responsibility for stealing sensitive documents  from Albanian government organizations. The motivation for leaking this information appears to be the Albanian government’s decision to support an Iranian dissident group called Mujahedeen e-Khalq or “MEK.” MEK has, in the past, openly advocated for the overthrow of the Iranian government.

In addition to these enforcement actions, the Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse. Read more about this reward offer on the Rewards for Justice website.

The FBI Baltimore Field Office is investigating the case, in coordination with FBI Cyber Division.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A Virginia woman pled guilty to a superseding indictment in federal court today. The charges stem from her attempt to help her boyfriend tamper with evidence after authorities arrested him for participating in a SNAP benefits fraud scheme.

Dominique Collins, 38, of Stafford, Virginia, is charged with tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. Collins attempted to help her boyfriend Brendyn Andrew, 34, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, alter an email account associated with the scheme.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge David Richeson, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Washington Field Office.

According to the guilty plea, in March 2025, Collins spoke to Andrew on the phone while he was detained at the Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore, Maryland. During the conversation, Andrew asked Collins to delete a Google email account to make it unavailable for use in an official proceeding. Collins then submitted a request to Google to delete the email account.

Collins faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Thursday, July 2, at 9:30 a.m.

In January 2026, Andrew pled guilty to a federal 10-count superseding indictment, including SNAP benefits fraud, possessing unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and witness tampering. Andrew’s sentencing is slated for May 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended USDA-OIG and DSS for their work in the investigation, and the Montgomery County Police Department for its investigative assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy who are prosecuting the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Mexican illegal alien today, in connection with illegal re-entry charges.

Fortunado Cuatlatl-Flores, aka Furtunado Cuatlatl-Cuatle, 44, is charged with illegally re-entering the United States after he was previously removed from the country following a conviction for an aggravated felony.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.

According to court documents, on February 20, 2026, law enforcement encountered Cuatlatl-Flores in Wicomico County, Maryland, while performing an area-enforcement operation. After encountering Cuatlatl-Flores, law enforcement checked the license plate and registration on the vehicle the illegal alien was driving.

When ICE-ERO officers investigated further, they discovered a restriction code that indicated that Cuatlatl-Flores may not be legally present in the United States. ICE-ERO officers then conducted a vehicle stop.

During a brief investigative interview, Cuatlatl-Flores provided a Mexican voter identification card, with the name ‘Fortunato Cuatlatl’ on it, affirming his identity. Cuatlatl-Flores also admitted he is a citizen and national of Mexico who entered the U.S. without permission. Based on Cuatlatl-Flores’s admission, and confirmation of his identity, law enforcement took him into custody. Upon further investigation, law enforcement discovered Cuatlatl-Flores was previously removed from the U.S. twice, following a felony child sexual abuse conviction.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

If convicted, Cuatlatl-Flores faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended Salisbury ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Guatemalan illegal alien received his sentence in federal court today, for illegally re-entering the United States.

U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Cesar Geovany Gomez, 36, to time served (approximately 130 days) in prison in connection with the charge. Geovany Gomez was deported from the U.S. on two prior occasions, and following his latest illegal re-entry, was convicted for first-degree assault in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.

According to court documents, on July 28, 2017, authorities deported Geovany Gomez back to Guatemala, but he never sought, nor obtained, the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for re-admission. The deportation stemmed from law enforcement detaining Geovany Gomez after he re-entered the U.S. without inspection on June 16, 2017. Geovany Gomez had first illegally entered the U.S. through Mexico on March 5, 2012. Then immigration officials ordered his removal through expedited proceedings 14 days later.

After his second deportation in July 2017, Geovany Gomez re-entered the U.S. again on an unknown date. Then on December 12, 2024, after an incident that occurred in April of the same year, Geovany Gomez pled guilty to first-degree assault in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. He’s currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, with all but five years suspended in connection to the assault.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – A Navy Lieutenant Commander learned his fate in federal court today, after a jury found him guilty of cyberstalking his ex-wife and her boyfriend late last year.

The Honorable Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Jason Michael Leidel, 45, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In December 2025, after a two-week trial, a federal jury found Leidel guilty of cyberstalking.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Greg Thompson, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) – Mid-Atlantic Region; Special Agent in Charge Hanna Porterfield, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief Paul Neudigate, Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD).

According to court documents, and evidence presented at trial, on multiple occasions, Leidel sent emails with false allegations to get Victim 1, his ex-wife, fired from her job as a special education teacher at a public school.

Additionally, Leidel sent emails trying to get his ex-wife and their children evicted from their house.  He also repeatedly filed false child protective services claims against Victim 1.  When Victim 1 started dating someone new, Victim 2, Leidel filed false claims, stating that Victim 2 was abusing children. Then Leidel repeatedly emailed Victim 2’s supervisors with false claims to get him investigated and fired.  Leidel harassed Victim 1 and Victim 2 for several years until law enforcement arrested him in connection with this case.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, DOT OIG, NCIS, MCPD, and VBPD. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Sarma and Ken Clark, who are prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted an Anne Arundel County, Maryland, man in connection with child sex abuse crimes.

Shawn Livingston, 38, of Annapolis, Maryland, is charged with two counts of coercion and enticement of minors and 12 counts of receipt of child sexual abuse material. Livingston, an information technology professional, was formerly employed by an Annapolis private school.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with William Ferrari, Deputy Assistant Director, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Office of Investigations, and Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Secretary of State Police, Maryland State Police (MSP).

According to the indictment, beginning in 2022, Livingston utilized several Snapchat internet-based accounts to meet and communicate with minor females. Livingston used the social media accounts to coerce and entice the minor victims to send visual depictions of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct in exchange for money. He sent payments via peer-to-peer payment applications including CashApp and Venmo. Livingston received sexually explicit depictions of at least five minor victims, who were between 15 and 16 years old, and living throughout the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

If convicted, Livingston faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for each count of coercion and enticement, and a minimum sentence of five years and maximum sentence of 20 years for each count of receipt of child sexual abuse material.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DSS and MSP for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven T. Brantley and Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who are prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – An El Salvadorian illegal alien made his initial appearance in federal court today, in connection with an attack on federal law enforcement during a traffic stop.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland filed a criminal complaint against Santos Alvarenga-Rodriguez, 47, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers in Howard County, Maryland.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.

According to the criminal complaint, on January 18, 2026, as Alvarenga-Rodriguez operated a vehicle, ICE-ERO officers checked its license plate. During the investigation, the query returned identification information for Alvarenga-Rodriguez, including a restriction code on his Maryland driver’s license. The restriction code indicated that he may not be legally present in the United States. Then law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and positively identified Alvarenga-Rodriguez.

Law enforcement gave Alvarenga-Rodriguez verbal commands to exit the vehicle, but he refused. Alvarenga-Rodriguez then started the vehicle and placed his hand on the gearshift to put it into drive. The officers continued ordering Alvarenga-Rodriguez to comply with the arrest and eventually engaged him to prevent him from fleeing. As Alvarenga-Rodriguez resisted, he bit an officer on his left forearm and injured another officer by causing a laceration to the officer’s nose.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland woman received a federal-prison sentence today, in connection with a money laundering scheme.

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Tanoa Tanoh, 35, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, to 30 months in prison and ordered her to repay $1,037,762 to victims of the fraud scheme.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office.

In December 2025, Tanoh pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Tanoh acknowledged that she conspired with others to conceal the source of fraudulently obtained funds stolen from victims in Maryland and other states. She funneled the stolen funds through numerous bank accounts she created using false aliases. Additionally, Tanoh opened these bank accounts in the names of non-existent businesses registered with the State of Maryland.  In total, between January 2019, and May 2021, Tanoh laundered or attempted to launder at least $3.8 million, from at least 27 victims, through her various shell companies.

Tanoh opened these shell companies with the State of Maryland by using false identification documents bearing her photograph. She opened “Hoch Investments LLC,” using the alias, Linda Hochman, and “Easy Supplies LLC,” using the alias, Anita Rawlings.  The sole purpose of these companies was to open bank accounts in the companies’ names. After creating the bank accounts, co-conspirators used them to receive funds from victims of romance scams, elder-fraud scams, business-email compromises, and other fraud schemes.

Once Tanoh’s co-conspirators tricked victims into sending funds to her fake accounts, she transferred the fraudulently obtained funds between her own accounts or to others.  These types of transfers make it more difficult for victims and law enforcement to trace and recover the fraud proceeds, which are often ultimately transferred to fraudsters directly scamming victims who are commonly located overseas.  Individuals like Tanoh, who engage in laundering fraudulent funds, typically receive a percentage as a commission.

Co-conspirators Olumide Obidare, 32, and Steven Oseghale, 32, both Nigerian nationals, previously received sentences in the District of Minnesota.  Obidare and Oseghale are currently serving 108-month and 56-month prison terms, respectively, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Each received two additional years for aggravated identity theft. A third co-conspirator, Emmanuel Okereke, 42, also a Nigerian national, is awaiting trial in the Northern District of Ohio.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI Baltimore and FBI Minneapolis Field Offices for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darren S. Gardner and Elizabeth Wright who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Jamaican national is headed to federal prison in connection with a lottery fraud scheme.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Nickoy Campbell, 30, to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Judge Hurson also ordered him to pay $3,074,765.28 in restitution.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Assistant Inspector General for Investigations  Javan S. Wilson, U.S. Treasury, Office of Inspector General (Treasury OIG); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

According to public filings, beginning in September 2022, and continuing through February 2024, Campbell conspired with others to use the mail to obtain money from victims across the United States.  Many victims impacted by the scheme were elderly.  

Perpetrators use a lottery fraud scheme to lead victims to believe they won a large cash prize through a lottery or sweepstakes. When it’s time to collect the purported winnings, the victim is falsely led to believe that they must pay taxes or other fees in advance.  The victim never receives their winnings, but instead, loses their advanced fees or payments.

In this case, Campbell and his co-conspirators solicited victims and led them to believe that they won a lottery or sweepstakes. Then they misled the victims to think that they were required to pay taxes and other fees in advance to Campbell and his co-conspirators’ attention.  The conspiracy caused more than 10 victims to lose money in purported taxes and fees and to lose their winnings.  Some victims of the scheme lost most of their life savings.  In total, the court found that the victims lost more than $3 million, with Campbell receiving more than $500,000 of the victims’ funds.   

Co-conspirators Tavoy Farquharson, 34, a Jamaican national, and brothers Wayne Henry, 36, and Dwayne Henry, 34, both of Landover Hills, Maryland, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Farquharson and Dwayne Henry both face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.  Sentencing for Dwayne Henry is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, and Farquharson’s sentencing is slated for Monday, March 23.

Wayne Henry faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including a mandatory sentence of two years consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing for Wayne Henry is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.

Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older, and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available. Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).  This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers through assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis.  The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday.  English, Spanish, and other languages are available.  Learn more about the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at www.elderjustice.gov.  If you have information about criminal activity in your community should contact ICE’s Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or submit a tip online.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, HSI, Treasury OIG, and PGPD for their investigative efforts.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Motsay who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud. 

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Brooklyn, Maryland, man pled guilty in federal court in connection with drug trafficking and firearm offenses.

Sadontae Barnett, 22, is charged with possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland, and Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Secretary of State Police, Maryland State Police (MSP).

According to the guilty plea, on February 22, 2024, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of a package containing narcotics to Barnett’s residence.  The day before, law enforcement interdicted the package and discovered it contained a large quantity of fentanyl pills.  The package included approximately 40 grams of pills. Barnett put the package in a backpack and armed himself with a Glock Model 36, .45 caliber handgun.  When law enforcement attempted to stop Barnett, he ran and tossed the backpack and firearm before officers quickly apprehended him.

Barnett faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of life. His sentencing date is forthcoming.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI and MSP for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stanton Lawyer and Jonathan Tsuei who are prosecuting this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A 76-year-old Maryland man pled guilty in federal court today to sexually exploiting minor victims living in South America.

William Foster Alger, of Hagerstown, Maryland, is charged with coercion and enticement of a child. A federal grand jury indicted Alger on child sex-abuse charges in February 2025.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Colonel Paul Joey Kifer, Chief of Police of the Hagerstown Police Department (HPD); and Washington County State’s Attorney Gina Cirincion.

According to the guilty plea, between November 2023 and December 2024, Alger used mobile phones and online applications to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce three minor victims to engage in sexual activity. Alger paid the victims’ mothers, through Western Union payments, to send him images of the minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

The victims lived in Ecuador where Alger traveled to frequently. He eventually purchased land in Ecuador and built a residence. Alger’s iCloud account included numerous photos of him at his Ecuador residence with minor victims and their mothers.

Alger faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison for coercion and enticement.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

Know2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters.  Learn more about Know2Protect at www.dhs.gov/know2protect.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, HPD, and the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – An illegal alien, who is a citizen of Romania and Ireland, received a federal prison term today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Fabritio Sardaru, 22, to two years in prison for his role in a Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits fraud conspiracy.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region; Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief Gregory Der, Howard County Police Department (HCPD).

According to his plea agreement, Sardaru participated in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and multiple recipients of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits. In 2022, Sardaru and his co-conspirators obtained EBT information from victims throughout the U.S., including in Maryland, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, New York, and other states. They used skimming devices and other means to carry out the conspiracy.

The co-conspirators played various roles in skimming operations, including acquiring skimming equipment, shipping equipment to co-conspirators, and installing or removing the equipment at the point of sale (POS) terminals at various commercial establishments. They also monitored the activity at POSs where skimming equipment was installed and duplicated victims’ EBT cards using the information collected from the skimming devices. Co-conspirators then fraudulently purchased large bulk items using cloned EBT cards containing numerous victims’ personal identifying information.

On July 21, 2022, in furtherance of the scheme, Sardaru fraudulently obtained $8,770.03 in proceeds. Sardaru and a co-conspirator used cloned EBT cards to purchase 11 cans of baby formula at grocery stores in Howard and Montgomery Counties. Then on the same day, MCPD officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle Sardaru was driving. During the traffic stop, law enforcement uncovered approximately 353 cans of baby formula.

Due to the loss of their SNAP benefits, at least 15 victims were unable to obtain food items until after the replenishment of their funds the following month. The total loss attributed to the conspiracy in Maryland is approximately $343,756.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USDA-OIG, MCPD, and HCPD for their work in the investigation, along with the Maryland Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector General, for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Higgins who prosecuted the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man received his sentence today for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy.

U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Rivers Stewart, 55, to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office; Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

According to court documents, in June 2021, based on confidential source information and surveillance, law enforcement identified Carlos Scovens, 59, of Baltimore, Maryland, as an upper-level drug distributor operating in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. As a result, DEA investigators began monitoring Scovens’ drug trafficking activities and determined Stewart was an associate.

Based on a wiretap investigation and confidential informants, law enforcement also discovered that Stewart engaged in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with Scovens and others. Investigators intercepted calls between Stewart and Scovens discussing the distribution of controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base.

During the investigation, law enforcement observed Stewart, along with Scovens, Keyshawna Ellis, 29, of Baltimore, Maryland, and other co-conspirators using a Northeast Baltimore residence as a stash location.  Investigators observed Scovens and Stewart meeting at this location on multiple occasions.

On April 18, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at the stash location where they recovered approximately 3,645 grams of fentanyl, 1,000 grams of cocaine, 399 grams of cocaine base, and 500 grams of heroin/fentanyl mixture. Stewart possessed approximately 3,645 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of heroin/fentanyl mix with the intent to distribute them prior to the search.   

Additionally, law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple other locations it observed Scovens meeting Stewart and at Stewart’s house. Through the additional searches, investigators recovered approximately $45,413, and $17,925, at separate locations associated with Stewart, which are believed to be drug proceeds from other locations.

On January 16, 2026, Judge Hollander sentenced Scovens to 100 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a detectable amount of fentanyl. In December 2024, Ellis pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a detectable amount of fentanyl. Then in May 2025, Ellis received a two-year federal-prison term.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, FBI, DPSCS, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Jon Tsuei who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore County man pled guilty in federal court today to bribing a Baltimore City official.

James Carroll Erny, Jr., 55, of Glen Arm, Maryland, who is charged with bribery, admitted to paying at least $25,000 in bribes to Joseph Gillespie, a former Baltimore City Department of Finance employee. In exchange, Gillespie extinguished various financial obligations Erny owed to the City of Baltimore.  As a result of the criminal conduct, the City of Baltimore suffered financial losses of more than $145,000.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Eastern Region; and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

According to the plea agreement, beginning in December 2019, and continuing until August 2023, Erny engaged in a bribery scheme in which Gillespie abused his position of trust as a public official for his own personal gain. During this period, Erny — who owned at least eight properties in Baltimore City — routinely paid bribes in exchange for Gillespie delaying, removing, or extinguishing financial obligations owed to the City. This included unpaid citations, tax obligations, and water obligations, thereby causing losses to the City.

Erny primarily paid these bribes by cash, providing Gillespie with envelopes containing as much as $1,000 each while the former City employee worked at the Abel Wolman Municipal Building. Sometimes, Erny met Gillespie in a men's bathroom in the City-owned building to give him envelopes containing cash bribes.  Erny also routinely provided Gillespie bribe payments via Cash App and Zelle.

Additionally, Erny admitted to engaging in a separate scheme to obtain fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans under both the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Ultimately, Erny fraudulently obtained $996,240 in fraudulent PPP funds as part of the scheme, and he attempted to obtain more than a $100,000 worth of EIDL funds.

Erny faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for bribery. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett scheduled sentencing for Tuesday, June 9, at 11 a.m. In February 2025, Judge Bennett sentenced Gillespie to four years in prison in connection with the wire-fraud conspiracy.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, SBA-OIG, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Delaney and Joseph Wenner who are prosecuting the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud. 

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Greenbelt, Maryland – A Russian national pled guilty in federal court today to a charge connected to a ransomware conspiracy.

Evgenii Ptitsyn, 43, administered the sale, distribution, and operation of Phobos ransomware. Phobos ransomware, through its affiliates, victimized more than 1,000 public and private entities in the United States and around the world, and extorted ransom payments worth more than $39 million. Ptitsyn, who authorities extradited from South Korea in November 2024, pled guilty in federal court to wire fraud conspiracy.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, Department of Justice (DOJ) – Criminal Division, Assistant Director Brett Leatherman, FBI Cyber Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office.

According to the guilty plea, beginning in at least November 2020, Ptitsyn and others conspired to engage in an international computer hacking and extortion scheme that victimized public and private entities through the deployment of Phobos ransomware.  As part of the scheme, Ptitsyn and his co-conspirators developed and offered access to Phobos ransomware to other criminals or “affiliates” to encrypt victims’ data and extort ransom payments from victims. The administrators operated a darknet website to coordinate the sale and distribution of Phobos ransomware to co-conspirators and used online monikers to advertise their services on criminal forums and messaging platforms.

Affiliates then hacked into the victims’ computer networks, often using stolen or otherwise unauthorized credentials; copied and stole files and programs on the victims’ networks; and encrypted the original versions of the stolen data on the networks by installing and executing Phobos ransomware. Then affiliates extorted the victims for ransom payments in exchange for decryption keys to regain access to encrypted data by leaving ransom notes on compromised victims’ computers and calling and emailing victims to initiate the ransom payment negotiations. Additionally, affiliates threatened to expose victims’ stolen files to the public — or to the victims’ clients, customers, or constituents — if the victims didn’t pay.

After a successful Phobos ransomware attack, criminal affiliates paid fees to Phobos administrators like Ptitsyn for a decryption key to regain access to the encrypted files. Each deployment of Phobos ransomware was assigned a unique alphanumeric string to match it to the corresponding decryption key, and each affiliate was directed to pay the decryption key fee to a cryptocurrency wallet unique to the affiliate. From December 2021 to April 2024, the decryption key fees were then transferred from the unique affiliate cryptocurrency wallet to a wallet Ptitsyn controlled. Ptitsyn also received a portion of the ransomware payments made by victims.

Ptitsyn faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud count. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, July 15, at 2:30 p.m.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI, along with law enforcement partners in South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, France, Romania, and Europol, and the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center, for its work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Sullivan, along with Senior Counsel Frank Lin of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), who are prosecuting this federal case.

Additional details on protecting networks against Phobos ransomware are available at StopRansomware.gov, including Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Advisory AA24-060A.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man and his California co-conspirator pled guilty in federal court in connection with drug trafficking crimes.

Norville Clarke, 56, of Clarksburg, Maryland, and Daniel Cruz, 39, of Los Angeles, California, are both charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Secretary of State Police, Maryland State Police (MSP); Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

According to the guilty plea, in 2023, multiple federal agencies partnered to investigate a drug-trafficking organization (DTO) transporting and distributing large quantities of cocaine from California to Maryland.  The investigation began in March 2023, when MSP seized a parcel that contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. The parcel was mailed from the Los Angeles area and was destined for Clarke’s auto-repair shop in District Heights, Maryland. Through investigating the source of the parcel, postal inspectors and other law enforcement investigators linked Cruz to the narcotics contained within the parcel.

In January 2024, postal inspectors and other investigators identified a freight-shipment container shipped from Los Angeles, destined for Clarke’s auto-repair shop in District Heights, Maryland. Law enforcement identified Cruz on surveillance footage dropping off the freight shipment at the shipping company in California. The authorities further observed Cruz traveling to Maryland to follow the shipment for delivery.

Postal inspectors and other law enforcement investigators observed Cruz and Clarke meeting at Clarke’s auto-repair shop several days after the freight shipment was sent from California.  Investigators then located the freight shipment in Dulles, Viriginia, where a law enforcement K-9 officer scanned it.  After the K-9 officer indicated the presence of narcotics in the shipment, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the freight container.  Then postal inspectors and law-enforcement investigators located two automobile transmissions inside.  Law enforcement found 20, one-kilogram bricks secreted in the oil pans of both transmissions that laboratory forensic tests later confirmed were more than 16 kilograms of cocaine.

Postal inspectors, DEA agents, MSP officers and other members of law enforcement then executed search warrants at Clarke’s District Heights auto-repair shop, Clarke’s Clarksburg residence, and Cruz’s hotel room in Capitol Heights, Maryland. At the auto-repair shop, law enforcement located an additional 502.4 grams of cocaine and then found two-kilogram bricks of cocaine and $45,730 in U.S. Currency at Clarke’s residence. Investigators later identified an additional nine historical freight shipments that mirrored the original shipment that contained cocaine that Cruz sent to Clarke’s auto-repair shop utilizing the same freight shipping company.

In their plea agreements, Clarke and Cruz both agreed that they were involved in possessing almost 22 kilograms of cocaine in furtherance of this drug trafficking conspiracy.  Clarke and Cruz face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, followed by up to lifetime of supervised release. Cruz’s sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, at 1 p.m.  Sentencing for Clarke is scheduled for Friday, July 24, at 10 a.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, DEA, MSP, MCPD, and PGPD for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Rigney and Michael Jaskiw who are prosecuting this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Gwynn Oak, Maryland, man received a federal-prison term today after pleading guilty to committing identity theft crimes.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Beautiful Life Allah aka “Tezelle Miller,” aka “Tezell Miller,” 66, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, to three years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, false statements, and false representation of a social security number.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea and sentence with David M. Richeson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) –Washington Field Office, and Michael McGill, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG) – Philadelphia Field Division.

According to court documents, Allah used someone else’s social security number to submit a passport application; submitted a fraudulent custody order to apply for a passport for his minor child; and made false statements on passport applications from August 2022 through February 2023.

In August 2020, Allah received a legal passport after he submitted an application. After he received his passport, law enforcement charged Allah with an unrelated criminal offense and issued a warrant for his arrest in Hampton County, Virginia. Law enforcement also listed the warrant in the National Crime Information Center. As a result, if Allah attempted to travel using the passport, he likely would have been arrested due to the outstanding warrant notification.

Then in 2022, Allah started using the identity of Victim 1, an adult male incarcerated in New York. In August 2022, Allah used fraudulent loan documents, a fraudulent birth certificate, bank records, and a W-2 statement — that contained Victim 1’s social security number — to apply for a driver’s license at the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles.

In February 2023, Allah continued using Victim 1’s identification, as he submitted a fraudulent U.S. Passport application in the victim’s name, along with a picture of himself. After Allah submitted the fraudulent application, DSS flagged the application due to fraud indicators. As a result, DSS, with assistance from the SSA-OIG, began investigating Allah.

Through its investigation, law enforcement discovered that Allah submitted a second fraudulent passport application in the name of his minor son. In the application, Allah included a fraudulent New York custody order, falsely claiming he had full physical and legal custody of the minor child. But the child’s biological mother had sole custody.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended DSS and SSA-OIG for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who prosecuted the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for more than a decade for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

U.S. Chief District Judge George L. Russell sentenced David Funderburk, 47, to 125 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  A federal jury convicted Funderburk of the firearm-related offense, his fourth federal felony conviction, in September 2025.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).

On November 3, 2023, BPD Southwest District Action Team detectives conducted routine patrols in the 1500 block of W. Baltimore Street.  While patrolling the area, detectives observed Funderburk on the street exhibiting characteristics of an armed person. Law enforcement then saw him enter a local eatery.  As the detectives watched Funderburk through the front window, they saw him bend down around a corner, pull a firearm out of his pocket — a FN Five-seven 5.7x28mm handgun — and then place it on the floor in the corner of the restaurant.

The detectives then immediately entered the eatery and detained Funderburk. They also recovered the firearm from the corner of the restaurant, which was loaded with 18 rounds of 5.7x28mm ammunition.  This is Funderburk’s fourth federal felony conviction. Because of his prior felony convictions, Funderburk was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Rigney and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sippel who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A former office manager learned her fate in federal court in connection with an embezzlement scheme.

U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Tammy Barcus, 57, of Berlin, Maryland, to 48 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered her to pay $1,793,688.87 of restitution to a victim home builder, and $562,883 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and tax evasion. Additionally, the court imposed a forfeiture money judgment of $1,793,688.87.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office.

According to court documents, from 2016 through 2024, Barcus, a former office manager and bookkeeper for an Ocean City-based home builder, embezzled approximately $1.79 million from her former employer. Barcus used her position of trust to embezzle funds from her employer by issuing more than 500 fraudulently authorized checks from the home builder’s business bank account. She forged the signature of one of the owners on the face of the business checks and deposited them into bank accounts she controlled. Barcus then used the money for vehicle payments, boat payments, mortgage payments, and her personal enrichment.

Ownership granted Barcus, who worked with a high degree of independence, substantial control over business records and financial accounts.  As part of her daily job duties, Barcus had access to payment systems and accounting records that belonged to the home builder. Barcus concealed the embezzlement from her employer and the IRS by making false entries into the business’ books and records.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended IRS-CI for its work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Murphy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Gruber, who prosecuted the federal case, and recognized Paralegal Specialists Joanna B.N. Huber and Shelbe Mascaro, for their valuable assistance.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A former Harford County Sheriff’s Office detective learned his fate in federal court today, in connection with child sex exploitation crimes.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Ryan Christopher Hall, 51, of Woodstock, Maryland, to 36 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for the sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material. Hall, who pled guilty to these charges in December 2025, must also register as a sex offender for life.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr.; Sheriff James T. DeWees, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office; and Sheriff Jeff Gahler, Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

According to court documents, before May 2017, Hall, who served as a detective for almost 30 years, sexually abused two minor children for at least three years.  By May 2017, and through October 2024, Hall sexually exploited the two minor children by capturing explicit images and videos of them by using a surreptitious camera that he installed. Hall is facing related charges for child sexual abuse in the Carroll County Circuit Court.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.  Learn more about Internet safety education by clicking on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

Know2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters.  Learn more about Know2Protect at www.dhs.gov/know2protect.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit for their combined effort and work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Today, a recidivist sex offender pled guilty in federal court to more child sex abuse crimes.

Patrick Daniel McKernan, 45, of Pasadena, Maryland, is charged with the sexual exploitation of a child as he persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police (AACOPD).

According to the guilty plea, McKernan exploited the minor child for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. In November 2023, McKernan produced sexually explicit images of the minor and distributed them on the internet.  The images were found on the dark web, operated by the Tor Network, in a group messaging app related to child sexual abuse material.  In 2016, McKernan was convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  

McKernan faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years and a maximum sentence of 50 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox scheduled sentencing for Friday, May 22, at 3 p.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and AACOPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s recent prosecutions in connection with the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, including sentencing for an illegal alien who resisted arrest.

Hayes announced the prosecutions with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Ajmel A. Quereshi sentenced Cristian Rivas-Bonilla, 27, an El Salvadorian citizen, to time served for an incident stemming from a final order of removal from an immigration judge. Rivas-Bonilla received the sentence after he pled guilty to resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal law enforcement officers. In November 2025, when law enforcement traveled to Camp Springs, Maryland, to find Rivas-Bonilla, he tried to evade HSI agents, taking them on a high-speed car chase.

An El Salvadorian citizen recently pled guilty to an illegal re-entry charge in federal court. Willians Elenilson Beltran-Quintanilla, 39, is charged with illegally re-entering the United States after removal. According to court documents, in December 2023, law enforcement found Beltran-Quintanilla in Prince George’s County, Maryland, after he was previously removed from the U.S.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland also announced an indictment against a 45-year-old El Salvadorian national charged with illegally re-entering the United States after he was convicted of burglary, grand larceny, and abduction charges connected to three home invasions in Fairfax County, Virgina, and was previously removed from the country. According to the indictment, on January 19, 2026, ICE law enforcement officers arrested Kevin Mendez Vasquez, aka “Kevin Estix Lara Henriquez,” while conducting a vehicle investigation in Elkridge, Maryland.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced it filed a criminal complaint against an El Salvadorian national in connection with illegal re-entry charges. In December 2025, law enforcement received a tip that Juan Carlos Rivas-Montano, 45, was working in Hyattsville, Maryland. After a positive confirmation, law enforcement took Rivas-Montano into custody. Authorities deported Rivas-Montano on two previous occasions.

In addition, a federal grand jury indicted Samuel Rios-Rodriguez, 33, a citizen and national of Honduras, who is charged with illegal re-entry into the U.S. According to the indictment, Rios-Rodriguez was previously removed from the U.S. in November 2017. Law enforcement found Rios-Rodrigeuz in the District of Maryland again after he was arrested in December 2022.

A federal grand jury also indicted a citizen and national of Honduras on an illegal re-entry after aggravated felony conviction and removal charge. Carlos Amador Lopez, 29, is charged with illegally re-entering the U.S. after he was convicted for committing an aggravated felony and being removed. According to the indictment, law enforcement encountered Lopez in the District of Maryland again in December 2025.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO and HSI for its work in these investigations. Ms. Hayes also thanked the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted these federal cases.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury convicted a prominent appellate attorney who argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and co-founded the widely read legal website SCOTUSblog, of tax and mortgage fraud.

The jury found Thomas C. Goldstein, 55, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, guilty of tax evasion, assisting with preparing false tax returns, willfully failing to timely pay taxes, and making false statements to mortgage lenders.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the conviction with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, Department of Justice (DOJ) – Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Assistant Director in Charge Darren Cox, FBI – Washington Field Office.

“Goldstein chose fraud and deceit over honesty and tried to cheat the American taxpayer while living a lavish lifestyle.  He gambled that he wouldn’t get caught – and that gamble did not pay off,” Hayes said. “Our office, along with our law-enforcement partners, is committed to holding those accountable who break the law – no matter who they are.”

“I thank the jurors for their service and careful attention during this lengthy trial,” Duva said. “This verdict holds Thomas Goldstein accountable for cheating the tax system and lying to mortgage lenders. Mr. Goldstein is a sophisticated attorney who concealed millions of dollars in income, manipulated his law firm’s books and deceived lenders – all to fund his gambling and lifestyle. This investigation, prosecution, and conviction reflect the dedicated work of the prosecutors and agents who brought this case to trial on behalf of the United States. The Criminal Division will continue to pursue those who evade their tax obligations and mislead financial institutions.”

“This is precisely the type of conduct IRS Criminal Investigation, and our law enforcement partners are committed to deterring,” Carter said. “Today’s conviction of the defendant sends a clear message, that we have the tools and resolve to protect our tax system by investigating, prosecuting, and holding accountable, those who seek to defraud the United States.”

“Mortgage laws exist to protect lenders and borrowers from fraudsters like Goldstein,” Cox said. “His conviction should serve as a message to all prospective homebuyers: The FBI will investigate and bring to justice individuals who try to cheat the system by lying on their mortgage applications, so we can level the playing field for every hardworking American who wishes to buy a home.”

According to evidence presented at trial, between 2016 and 2023, Goldstein served as sole owner of Goldstein & Russell, P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in appellate litigation, including litigation before the United States Supreme Court. Goldstein was also a high-stakes poker player, frequently playing in games involving tens of millions of dollars.

During that timeframe, Goldstein stopped paying taxes on time, as required by law, and engaged in a scheme to evade paying his taxes for 2016. Goldstein took various steps to carry out the scheme, including concealing millions of dollars in poker wins and losses from the government. He also diverted legal fees, payable to his law firm, to his personal bank account to satisfy poker-related debts; directed people to pay his creditors instead of sending payments directly to him; and used the law firm’s assets to satisfy his poker debts. Then he caused those payments to be falsely classified as “legal-fee” expenses on the firm’s books and records. As a result, Goldstein underreported his income and did not pay all the taxes that he owed. Instead of paying his taxes, he spent millions on personal expenses such as poker, travel, and luxury goods.

In 2021, Goldstein submitted false mortgage applications to two separate mortgage lending companies, seeking financing to purchase a $2.6-million home in Washington, D.C. On those mortgage applications — which required Goldstein to list all his liabilities and debts — he omitted millions of dollars of liabilities, including more than $14 million he owed at the time on two promissory notes, as well as taxes he owed the IRS. His false statements to one of the mortgage lenders enabled him to obtain a $1.98-million loan.

Goldstein faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion, three years for each count of helping to prepare false tax returns, one year for each count of willful failure to pay taxes, and 30 years for each count of making false statements to mortgage lenders.

A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The sentencing date has not been set.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the IRS-CI and FBI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adeyemi Adenrele, along with Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Emerson Gordon-Marvin and Hayter L. Whitman, DOJ Criminal Division Tax Section, who are prosecuting this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

# # #

A federal jury in Greenbelt, Maryland convicted Thomas C. Goldstein — a prominent appellate attorney who argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and co-founded the widely read legal website SCOTUSblog — yesterday of tax and mortgage fraud.

“I thank the jurors for their service and careful attention during this lengthy trial,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Yesterday’s verdict holds Thomas Goldstein accountable for cheating the tax system and lying to mortgage lenders. Mr. Goldstein is a sophisticated attorney who concealed millions of dollars in income, manipulated his law firm’s books and deceived lenders – all to fund his gambling and lifestyle. This investigation, prosecution, and conviction reflects the dedicated work of the prosecutors and agents who brought this case to trial on behalf of the United States. The Criminal Division will continue to pursue those who evade their tax obligations and mislead financial institutions.”

“Goldstein chose fraud and deceit over honesty and tried to cheat the American taxpayer while living a lavish lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “He gambled that he wouldn’t get caught, and that gamble did not pay off. Our office, along with our law-enforcement partners, is committed to holding those accountable who break the law, no matter who they are.”

"Mortgage laws exist to protect lenders and borrowers from fraudsters like Goldstein," said Assistant Director in Charge Darren Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office. "His conviction should serve as a message to all prospective homebuyers: The FBI will investigate and bring to justice individuals who try to cheat the system by lying on their mortgage applications, so we can level the playing field for every hardworking American who wishes to buy a home."

“This is precisely the type of conduct IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and our law enforcement partners are committed to deterring,” said Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the IRS-CI Washington, D.C. Field Office. “Today’s conviction of the defendant sends a clear message that we have the tools and resolve to protect our tax system by investigating, prosecuting, and holding accountable those who seek to defraud the United States.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Goldstein, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was the sole owner of Goldstein & Russell, P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in appellate litigation, including litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court. Goldstein was also a high-stakes poker player, frequently playing in games involving tens of millions of dollars.

Between 2016 and 2023, Goldstein stopped paying taxes on time, as required by law, and engaged in a scheme to evade his taxes for 2016. Goldstein carried out the scheme by hiding millions of dollars in poker wins and losses from the government, diverting legal fees payable to his law firm to his personal bank account to satisfy poker-related debts, directing people to pay his creditors instead of sending payments directly to him, and using the law firm’s assets to satisfy his poker debts and then causing those payments to be falsely classified as “legal-fee” expenses on the firm’s books and records. As a result, Goldstein underreported his income and did not pay all the taxes that he owed, while spending millions on personal expenses such as poker, travel and luxury goods.

In 2021, Goldstein submitted false mortgage applications to two separate mortgage lending companies, seeking financing to purchase a $2.6 million dollar home in Washington, D.C. On those mortgage applications — which required Goldstein to list all his liabilities and debts — Goldstein omitted millions of dollars of liabilities, including more than $14 million he owed at the time on two promissory notes, as well as taxes he owed the IRS. Goldstein’s false statements to one of the mortgage lenders enabled him to obtain a $1.98 million loan.

The jury convicted Goldstein of tax evasion, assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, willful failure to timely pay taxes and making false statements to mortgage lenders. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion, three years in prison for each count of helping to prepare false tax returns, one year in prison for each count of willful failure to pay taxes, and 30 years in prison for each count of making false statements to mortgage lenders. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has not been set.

IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI are investigating the case.

Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Emerson Gordon-Marvin and Hayter L. Whitman of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adeyemi Adenrele for the District of Maryland, are prosecuting the case.

Baltimore, Maryland – Eight individuals connected to a Baltimore County-based MS-13 clique, including the leader of a New Jersey gang, now face a superseding indictment in federal court in connection with RICO Conspiracy charges. 

Several members and associates of the MS-13 clique known as “Los Ghettos Criminales Salvatruchas” (LGCS) allegedly committed firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, and robbery crimes associated with the conspiracy.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Maryland; Charles Doerrer, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - Baltimore; and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

The indictment charges Luis “Duke” Melendez Serrano, 19, of El Salvador; Kevin Melendez Serrano, 23, of El Salvador; Alex “30” Pena Martinez, 19, of Honduras; William “36” “Midnight” “Oso” Rivera Nolasco, 19, of Owings Mills, Maryland; German “19” “Viejo Raro” “Raro” Lisandro Benites Moreno, 32, of El Salvador; Melanie “Mala,” Pina Verde, 22, of Owings Mills, Maryland; Joshua Palacios, 18, of El Salvador; and Nilson Montecinos, 21, of Honduras with allegedly participating in the conspiracy.

According to the superseding indictment, prior to his incarceration, Benites Moreno led an LGCS clique in New Jersey. Then, since at least December 2024, Benites Moreno continued leading LGCS even though he was incarcerated in a New Jersey state prison. Benites Moreno facilitated the gang’s firearm trafficking, drug distribution, money laundering, and violence. Additionally, Benites Moreno called into LGCS meetings that occurred in Baltimore County and exerted control over the gang when committing assaults and robberies.

As also described in the superseding indictment, throughout 2025, Pina Verde allowed LGCS members to store firearms and narcotics at her apartment and permitted LGCS to conduct its business from her apartment. She also acted as an intermediary between Benites Moreno – who was in prison – and the non-incarcerated LGCS members.

According to court documents, from at least January 28, 2025, through October 16, 2025, Luis Melendez Serrano, Pena Martinez, Rivera Nolasco, and Kevin Melendez Serrano conspired to knowingly traffic firearms to individuals who were ineligible to legally possess them. During this period, Luis Melendez Serrano, Pena Martinez, and Rivera Nolasco also trafficked controlled substances, including methamphetamine and marijuana.

Additionally, in September 2025, Palacios, Montecinos, and other LGCS members committed multiple assaults and robberies as part of their membership and association with the clique. During one of these robberies, an LGCS member racked the slide of a handgun and placed it against the victim’s head. Also, during these robberies, the LGCS members directed the victims to apologize to LGCS leadership, including Benites Moreno.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.

Additionally, this case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI, ATF, and BCPD for their work in the investigation, along with HSI-Newark and the New Jersey Department of Corrections for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. O’Donohue III and Stanton M.B. Lawyer who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

A Maryland man was sentenced today to life in prison for forcibly sexually assaulting two minor girls in Burkina Faso in 2022 and 2023. After a two-week trial in October 2025, a federal jury in the District of Maryland convicted Fode Sitafa Mara, 41, of four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, as well as one count each of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted obstruction of justice. Mara, a U.S. citizen, was an employee at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, at the time of his offenses.

“The defendant, while representing the U.S. government abroad, violently sexually abused two acutely vulnerable child victims,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His crimes were reprehensible. While no sentence could undo the harm he caused, today’s outcome demonstrates that those who abuse children – domestically or abroad – will face significant consequences in the American justice system.  We thank our partners at the U.S. State Department for helping us pursue justice for these victims.”

“Our message is clear, those who prey on our children will pay a hefty price,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “Mara targeted and abused two innocent young girls, and now he’ll be behind bars for a long time where he belongs. We’re committed to partnering with our community and law-enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served by relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting predators who commit these deplorable acts.”

“The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is committed to protecting the integrity of U.S. diplomatic missions and ensuring the safety of local communities where we serve,” said Deputy Assistant Director George Semertsidis of the DSS Office of Special Investigations. “We will thoroughly investigate any allegations of criminal conduct by those associated with U.S. diplomatic facilities and work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring offenders to justice. This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to accountability and the protection of the most vulnerable.”

“Protecting children and safeguarding vulnerable populations from sexual exploitation and abuse is a core priority of the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG) and we will continue to pursue those who violate that trust wherever they operate," said Acting Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Laura Rousseau of USAID OIG. “With continued oversight jurisdiction over foreign assistance, USAID OIG will ensure significant consequences for perpetrators, holding accountable anyone who exploits their overseas positions — including individuals employed by the United States, aid organizations, or the United Nations.”

“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents in Maryland, with assistance from federal law enforcement partners, demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism in bringing justice for the victims in this case,” said Acting Executive Director John Condon of HSI. “Their relentless pursuit of the facts and commitment to protecting vulnerable children across the world exemplifies HSI’s mission to investigate crimes that threaten the safety and security of our communities at home and abroad. HSI remains steadfast in its efforts to combat child exploitation and ensure that those who harm children are held fully accountable. I commend our agents for their outstanding work and unwavering dedication to uphold the values of justice and integrity.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mara, on multiple occasions, forcibly raped two teenage Burkinabé girls at his Embassy-leased residence in Ouagadougou. Because the residence was reserved for use by U.S. diplomatic personnel, it fell under the United States’ jurisdiction for prosecution. The previous resident of Mara’s residence had developed a relationship with the minor victims and their family, providing them with nourishment and safety. The minor victims lived in abject poverty in a structure without running water a short distance from what became Mara’s residence.

When Mara arrived, he saw opportunity and immediately capitalized on his access to the victims. Mara repeatedly sexually abused them for approximately one year, beginning when the victims were 13 and 15 years old. He used the girls’ mother’s life-threatening illness as an opportunity to demand sex, telling them he could not help them without receiving something in return. Mara provided the girls with phones so he could summon them while his wife was away at work. Mara was also convicted for sending sexually enticing messages to one of the minor victims and for attempting to persuade his housekeeper to lie to U.S. investigators to help him conceal his crimes.

The DSS Office of Special Investigations and the DSS Regional Security Office at U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou, as well as USAID OIG and HSI, investigated the case. The Burkinabe authorities provided significant assistance.

Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ranganath Manthripragada and Brooke Oki for the District of Maryland prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man learned his fate in federal court today for committing child sex abuse crimes. 

The Honorable Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Fode Sitafa Mara, 41, to life in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for forcibly sexually assaulting two minor girls in Burkina Faso, in 2022 and 2023. In October 2025, after a two-week trial, a federal jury convicted Mara of four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, along with one count each of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and attempted obstruction of justice. Mara, a U.S. citizen, was an employee at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, at the time of his offenses.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, Department of Justice Criminal Division; Deputy Assistant Director George Semertsidis, U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); Laura Rousseau, Acting Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG); and , Acting Executive Director John Condon, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“Our message is clear, those who prey on our children will pay a hefty price,” Hayes said. “Mara targeted and abused two innocent young girls, and now he’ll be behind bars for a long time where he belongs. We’re committed to partnering with our community and law-enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served by relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting predators who commit these deplorable acts.”

“The defendant, while representing the U.S. government abroad, violently sexually abused two acutely vulnerable child victims,” Duva said. “His crimes were reprehensible. While no sentence could undo the harm he caused, today’s outcome demonstrates that those who abuse children – domestically or abroad - will face significant consequences in the American justice system.  We thank our partners at the U.S. State Department for helping us pursue justice for these victims.”

“The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is committed to protecting the integrity of U.S. diplomatic missions and ensuring the safety of local communities where we serve,” Semertsidis said. “We will thoroughly investigate any allegations of criminal conduct by those associated with U.S. diplomatic facilities and work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring offenders to justice. This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to accountability and the protection of the most vulnerable.”

“Protecting children and safeguarding vulnerable populations from sexual exploitation and abuse is a core priority of the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG) and we will continue to pursue those who violate that trust wherever they operate," Rousseau said. “With continued oversight jurisdiction over foreign assistance, USAID OIG will ensure significant consequences for perpetrators, holding accountable anyone who exploits their overseas positions — including individuals employed by the United States, aid organizations, or the United Nations.”

“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents in Maryland, with assistance from federal law enforcement partners, demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism in bringing justice for the victims in this case,” Condon said. “Their relentless pursuit of the facts and commitment to protecting vulnerable children across the world exemplifies HSI’s mission to investigate crimes that threaten the safety and security of our communities at home and abroad. HSI remains steadfast in its efforts to combat child exploitation and ensure that those who harm children are held fully accountable. I commend our agents for their outstanding work and unwavering dedication to uphold the values of justice and integrity.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mara, on multiple occasions, forcibly raped two teenage Burkinabé girls at his Embassy-leased residence in Ouagadougou. Since the residence was reserved for use by U.S. diplomatic personnel, it fell under the United States’ jurisdiction for prosecution.

The minor victims lived in abject poverty in a structure without running water a short distance from what became Mara’s residence. The previous resident of Mara’s residence developed a relationship with the minor victims and their family, providing them with nourishment and safety.

When Mara arrived, he saw opportunity and immediately capitalized on his access to the victims. Mara repeatedly sexually abused them for approximately one year, beginning when the victims were 13 and 15 years old. He used the girls’ mother’s life-threatening illness as an opportunity to demand sex, telling them he could not help them without receiving something in return. He provided the girls with phones so he could summon them while his wife was away at work.

Mara was also convicted for sending sexually enticing messages to one of the minor victims and for attempting to persuade his housekeeper to lie to U.S. investigators to help him conceal his crimes.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DSS Office of Special Investigations, along with its Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou; USAID OIG; and HSI for their work in the investigation, and the Burkinabe authorities for their significant assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ranganath Manthripragada and Brooke Oki, along with Trial Attorney Adam Braskich, Department of Justice – Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Baltimore man for child sex trafficking crimes.

Deion “Poppa Fetti” Philip, 33, is charged with two counts of sex trafficking of a child and one count of transportation of a minor.   

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office, Scott Shellenberger, State’s Attorney for Baltimore County, and Acting Superintendent Michael A. Jackson, Maryland State Police (MSP).

According to the indictment, Philip trafficked two minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts for profit. Phillip trafficked one minor victim for several weeks in 2025, and the other minor victim from October to November 2025.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

If convicted, Philip faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for each count of sexual trafficking of a minor.   

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, and MSP for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A 66-year-old Maryland man made his initial appearance in federal court today, in connection with flying an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in restricted airspace.

Stuart Bennett, of Frederick, Maryland, is charged with violating national defense airspace.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Hanna Porterfield, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) – Washington, D.C. Field Office.

On September 8, 2025, a military official reported that a YouTube channel, titled “Area 82 Surveillance911,” posted drone footage of an identified sensitive U.S. national defense facility.

In response, the NCIS conducted a preliminary review of the YouTube channel. Through the investigation, authorities identified videos depicting several identified national defense facilities, including Raven Rock Mountain Complex (RRMC), that appeared to have been taken from an UAS.

A joint FBI and NCIS investigation of the YouTube channel revealed videos that appeared to depict DOD facilities and critical infrastructure to national security. Additionally, the YouTube channel displayed video titles that claimed to identify locations as “classified” or “Top Secret.” This included a folder titled, “Classified Secret Sites” that contained approximately seven videos taken by an UAS flying over U.S. Government facilities.

The FBI investigated the Internet Protocol address overlap of email accounts, a recovery phone number, and email addresses registered with the United States Postal Service. As a result of its findings, the FBI focused on Bennett as the owner of the YouTube channel.

Then the FBI executed a search warrant for Bennett’s residence where they seized a Potensic Atom drone, four micro-SD cards, and a Hewlett-Packard Z240 Tower Workstation. Agents also took Bennett’s computer monitor, which displayed the Area82 Surveillance911 YouTube channel logged in. A review of one of the micro-SD cards seized from Bennett’s residence revealed a video depicting a UAS flight over RRMC.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and NCIS for their work in the investigation, and the Department of War's Pentagon Force Protection Agency for its valuable assistance.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Cameroonian National, who committed crimes against the United States from abroad, received a federal prison term today, in connection with an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme.

U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Anais Thalia Ossele Massaba, 34, to 54 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland.

According to court documents, from June 2020 through September 2021, Massaba conspired with co-conspirators to defraud the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) and other state workforce agencies of more than $1.7 million in UI benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Massaba and her co-conspirators transmitted and caused the transmission of wire comminutions, in interstate commerce, from the United Kingdom to Maryland. The co-conspirators conspired to submit and cause the submission of numerous UI claims using the stolen identities of United States citizens.

Co-conspirator 1 and Co-conspirator 2 were U.S. fugitives. Co-conspirator 1 was residing in the UK under a false identity after fleeing the United States in 2015. Massaba and Co-conspirator 2 were married and fled to the UK, in September 2019, to avoid arrest and prosecution.

The co-conspirators executed the sophisticated scheme while residing in the UK. Beginning in June 2020, Co-conspirator 1 organized a group of individuals in the U.S. and the UK to participate in the wide-ranging conspiracy to fraudulently obtain UI benefits from multiple state workforce agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Massaba and Co-conspirator 2 were part of the UK group responsible for filing false UI claims with the MD-DOL and other state workforce agencies.

While in the UK, Massaba used a computer to file fraudulent UI claims with the MD-DOL. Massaba and others used and controlled two anonymous email addresses, allowing her and the co-conspirators to create linked, disposable email addresses for the fraudulent UI applications. This allowed the conspirators to file numerous fraudulent UI claims and aggregate information in discrete accounts.

In total, Massaba submitted and caused the submission of at least 196 fraudulent UI claims to the MD-DOL using these anonymous email addresses, resulting in approximately $1,708,256 in losses. The two email addresses and the UI claims that she filed represent only a small fraction of the fraudulent UI claims filed by the co-conspirators.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, and HSI Maryland for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared M. Beim and Bijon A. Mostoufi who are prosecuting the case.

The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. Strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.  The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts that use prosecutor-led and data-analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.

For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.  Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md  and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Baltimore man for child sex trafficking crimes. Antoine “Tony” Miles, 57, is charged with sex trafficking of a child and coercion and enticement.   

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office, Scott Shellenberger, State’s Attorney for Baltimore County, and Acting Superintendent Michael A. Jackson, Maryland State Police (MSP).

According to the indictment, throughout September 2025, Miles reserved and paid for a hotel room for a minor victim to engage in a commercial sex act. He also allegedly persuaded, induced, and enticed the minor victim to engage in prostitution and commercial sex act with him.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

If convicted, Miles faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, as well as lifetime registration as a sex offender.   

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, and MSP for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – A Prince George’s County Public Schools employee made his initial appearance in federal court in connection with alleged child sexual abuse crimes.

Xaviour Smith, 28, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is charged with five counts of producing child sexual abuse material. Smith is also the founder of 1101 Dance Academy, Inc., in Temple Hills, which serves youths aged 8-18.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

According to the indictment, between March and August 2025, Smith persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced three minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Smith exploited the minors for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

If convicted, Smith faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of the five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.  

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Oki who is prosecuting the federal case.

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced federal charges today, in connection with a large-scale, targeted law-enforcement operation, resulting in hundreds of federal and state arrests.

From January 20, through January 31, federal, state, and local law enforcement partners brought dozens of federal and state charges against numerous defendants. Through this operation, law enforcement also arrested more than 200 violent fugitives and individuals affiliated with organized criminal activity throughout the Baltimore area. Throughout the operation, authorities carried out various law enforcement actions, including the execution of search-and-seizure warrants, in connection with efforts to fight violent crime and drug-trafficking in Baltimore City. 

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the prosecutions with Ivan J. Bates, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City; Clinton J. Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III, Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor (OSP); and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).

This multi-jurisdictional law-enforcement effort resulted in several federal indictments in connection with drug trafficking and firearm offenses, including:

• Zachary Lewis, 36, Dwayne Hamilton, 45, and Elton Jonray Cruickshank, 37, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine between June and October 2025.  Lewis is also charged with firearms-related charges. The FBI and BPD are investigating this case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.
   
• Donte Sands, 51, and Walter Gardner III, 56, are under indictment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine base. These charges stem from drug activity from April through August 2025.  Additionally, Sands is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, including a .40 caliber handgun, a 7.62 caliber semi-automatic rifle, and a revolver.  The DEA and Baltimore County Police Department are investigating this case.  
   
• Three members of a Baltimore drug trafficking organization are under indictment for drug trafficking crimes from November 2025 through January 2026. Terrel Tomlin, 36, Michael “M&M” McKay, 55, and Keenan Jackson, 39, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The DEA, Carroll County Sherriff’s Office, and Maryland State Police are investigating this case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also sought charges against more than a dozen others for unrelated drug and firearm offenses, along with a Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act Conspiracy in connection with MS-13 affiliated crimes.

This law-enforcement operation also involved Operation Baltimore Safeguard, an effort by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, in partnership with FBI Baltimore, HSI Maryland, and BPD, to arrest fugitives based on outstanding Maryland state arrest warrants. Operation Baltimore Safeguard resulted in a total of 239 fugitive arrests, including eight individuals wanted for homicide, 12 for attempted homicide, 18 for robbery, 108 for assault, 13 for weapons-related offenses, 10 for sexual assault, and 26 for drug-related charges. Among those apprehended six were identified as gang associates. Law enforcement personnel also seized four firearms, along with 869 grams of narcotics, and cleared 264 outstanding warrants during the operation. The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force is a Congressionally funded multi-agency task force whose mission is to focus resources and efforts on the reduction of violence within the National Capital Region. 

Prosecutions from this operation also include charges brought against at least 10 additional defendants for various offenses in Maryland state court.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office; USMS; FBI; ATF; DEA; HSI; USPIS; OSP; BPD; BCPD; Annapolis Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Department; Carroll County Sheriff’s Office; Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; Frederick Police Department; Hagerstown Police Department; Harford County Sheriff’s Department; Howard County Police Department; Howard County Sheriff’s Office; Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; Maryland State Police; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and Washington County Sheriff’s Office for their investigative efforts.

Ms. Hayes also thanked the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the federal cases.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Agency Quotes

Kelly O. Hayes – U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland

“This operation makes clear that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to join forces with our law-enforcement partners to execute the united goal of dismantling organizations associated with driving violence and other criminal activity, and prosecuting those involved to the fullest extent of the law,” Hayes said. “This successful operation shows how collaboration and teamwork help combat crime, thereby making our neighborhoods safer.” 

Ivan J. Bates – State’s Attorney for Baltimore City

“This operation exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration among various levels of law enforcement, all working towards the shared mission to disrupt violent crime, dismantle organized criminal networks, and enhance public safety,” Bates said. “By combining the unique resources and expertise of each agency at the federal, state, and local levels, we are successfully removing violent offenders from our streets and holding drug traffickers accountable. Achieving impactful public safety requires partnerships, and this operation showcases our coordinated effort to make Baltimore safer for residents and visitors alike.”

Jimmy Paul, Special Agent in Charge – FBI Baltimore

“The FBI was proud to be part of this effort, combining agents, intelligence analysts, specialized teams and professional staff, with our dedicated law enforcement partners,” Paul said. “Results from this recent operation build on the progress we’ve made over the last few years to drive down crime and we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to make Baltimore safer for everyone.”

Clinton J. Fuchs – U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland

“The U.S. Marshals Service would like to thank all the law enforcement officers involved in this operation for their professionalism, skill, and dedication.  Successful operations like this one are a reminder of the value of effective federal, state, and local partnerships in protecting public safety and upholding the rule of law,” Fuchs said. “It should also serve as a reminder that the U.S. Marshals Service and all our law enforcement partners will pursue violent offenders wherever they attempt to hide.”

Christopher Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge – DEA

“Violent crime and drugs are undoubtedly connected. Our job is to safeguard the safety and well-being of American communities by actively fighting against all criminal drug networks that inflict harm, violence, and contribute to overdoses and poisonings,” Goumenis said. “Through strategic partnerships with local, state, and international law enforcement agencies, the DEA works tirelessly to dismantle these illicit organizations and, one by one, return the neighbors to the good people of Maryland. We are working for a violence and fentanyl free America.”

Charles Doerrer, Special Agent in Charge – ATF Baltimore

“ATF remains relentless in working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to identify, investigate and prosecute those who threaten public safety,” Doerrer said. “Our agents will continue to work every day to keep Baltimore safe and hold those who perpetuate violence accountable.”

Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge – Homeland Security Investigations Maryland

"Homeland Security Investigations Maryland, in close collaboration with federal partners, supported a surge operation focused on public safety and criminal activity in the Baltimore area. Special agents assisted in the execution of numerous arrest warrants and search warrants for serious offenses as part of ongoing investigations targeting transnational organized crime and illicit narcotics activity. These efforts reflect HSI’s commitment to combating violent crime, dismantling criminal organizations, and protecting the community we serve," Heck said.

Richard Worley, Commissioner – BPD

“Through continued collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners, efforts such as these are delivering meaningful results,” Worley said. “These operations are essential to our crime-reduction strategy and have a significant impact on removing individuals who threaten public safety and our communities. The outcomes reflect the level of safety and security the people of Baltimore deserve.”

Baltimore, Maryland – A 46-year-old man pled guilty in federal court to making threats online. Raymond Pumphrey, of Aberdeen, Maryland, is charged with making threats transmitted by interstate communication.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division; Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Brian McDonough, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) – Baltimore Field Office.

According to the guilty plea, Pumphrey made a series of threatening posts on the social media platform YouTube and other social media sites to spread hateful rhetoric, particularly toward Black and Muslim communities. Commenting primarily on news stories, he advocated for and threatened to participate in the killing of black people in multiple large cities throughout the country. He further threatened to kill multiple politicians and members of their families.

Pumphrey faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, June 29, at 10 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and USSS for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Aubin who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Howard County man for international kidnapping.

Tahseen Dakheel Samo, 36, of Columbia, Maryland, is charged with international parental kidnapping stemming from a divorce and custody battle over his minor child.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office; Clinton J. Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland (USMS); Special Agent in Charge Jacob Cameron, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division – Washington Field Office; and Chief Gregory Der, Howard County Police Department (HCPD).

According to court documents, Samo and his former spouse, who are both U.S. citizens, have family members living in Sweden. In December 2020, while Samo’s ex-wife and their minor son visited family in Sweden, Samo traveled to Sweden to visit the minor victim.

When Samo arrived, he took his son from his former spouse and came back to the United States with him. At some point, Samo texted his ex-wife, “You will never see your son again.”

The minor victim remained in Samo’s custody, thereafter, including during the divorce and custody proceedings that began in April 2024, in the Circuit Court for Howard County.

Then in November 2024, flight records show that Samo and the minor child flew to Denmark, but only Samo returned to the U.S. Samo did not disclose the location of the minor victim to his ex-wife or the court.

Eventually, in October 2025, the court granted Samo’s ex-wife sole legal and physical custody of the minor child. The custody order required Samo to surrender his son to his ex-wife or disclose his location. Samo did not comply with the order, so the court held him in contempt.

On November 29, Samo was released from contempt. Then on December 12, the USMS and FBI arrested Samo in Arlington, Virginia. Authorities later located the child in Sweden on January 27, 2026, and returned him to the U.S.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

If convicted, Samo faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison for international parental kidnapping. 

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI, USMS, Army CID, and HCPD for their work in the investigation, and the Swedish Police Authority for their valuable assistance.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema Sood and Elliot Higgins who are prosecuting this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A Silver Spring, Maryland, woman entered a guilty plea in federal court today, in connection with an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme.

Elizabeth Maria Ceballos, 49, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland.

According to public documents, beginning in at least May 2020, and continuing through at least September 2021, Ceballos, and Vanessa Valdez, 42, of Burtonsville, Maryland, engaged in a conspiracy and scheme to defraud and obtain money by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, in connection with a UI fraud scheme.

Specifically, Ceballos and Valdez used personal identifiable information (PII) of others to submit false and fraudulent claims to the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) for UI benefits.  Ceballos and Valdez then used the UI benefits, which were designated to assist unemployed or underemployed persons due to the COVID-19 national emergency, for their own personal enrichment.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also authorized increased UI benefits.

As a part of her guilty plea, Ceballos also admitted she assisted Valdez with fraud related to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds.  Established by the CARES Act, the PPP — administered through the Small Business Administration — along with the EIDL, helped businesses meet their financial obligations. An EIDL advance does not have to be repaid, and small businesses can receive an advance, even if they are not approved for an EIDL loan. The maximum advance amount is $10,000.

Ceballos faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including a mandatory two years, consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft.  Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, August 3, at 10 a.m.

Valdez previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in December 2025. Valdez also faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including a mandatory two years, consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft. Valdez’s sentencing date is forthcoming.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and HSI Maryland for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Motsay who is prosecuting the case.

The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. Strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.  The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts that use prosecutor-led and data-analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.

For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.  Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md  and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – A Silver Spring, Maryland, man is headed to federal prison for several decades for committing child sex abuse crimes.

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Chase William Mulligan, 28, today, to 50 years in prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for two counts of producing child sexual abuse material. The charges are in connection with a scheme in which he met young girls through social media and internet chat rooms and eventually “sextorted” them.

Specifically, through the scheme, Mulligan coerced at least 108 girls — ranging from ages 5-17 — to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves. When the girls told him they no longer wanted to send him sexually graphic images, Mulligan threatened to post the images online or come to their house.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.

As detailed in court documents, between 2019 and December 2023, Mulligan used numerous Snapchat, Discord, Roblox, Skype, Omegle, and Instagram accounts to target young girls. He convinced minors living in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Philippines, Australia, and United Kingdom to produce and send him sexually explicit images.

Mulligan also directed minors to expose their genital areas and engage in sexual conduct. Additionally, Mulligan coerced multiple girls to urinate on camera, insert objects into their genitalia, and participate in sexual acts with dogs.

After some victims informed Mulligan that they no longer wished to send him sexually explicit images, he threatened to publicly post the images or come to their homes. Mulligan wanted the victims to send more images depicting increasingly graphic sexual conduct.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright who prosecuted the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced a California man to prison in connection with a federal investigation that led to law enforcement seizing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine.

Mario Valencia-Birruetta, 35, of Corning, California, received a 121-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Valencia-Birruetta’s sentence also covers a possession with intent to distribute cocaine charge.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office; Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).

In 2023, the DEA, HSI, and IRS-CI began investigating a Baltimore-based DTO distributing large quantities of cocaine. As a result of their investigation, in July 2023, investigators learned Valencia-Birruetta was a member of this DTO, so law enforcement placed him on a flight watch list.

On August 14, a commercial airline notified investigators that Valencia-Birruetta purchased a flight ticket destined for Baltimore the next day.  Then on August 15, investigators began surveilling Valencia-Birruetta, tracking his movements.  While in Baltimore, Valencia-Birruetta stayed at the “Hamilton Residence” in Baltimore City.

From August 15, to August 24, investigators observed numerous drug traffickers meeting with Valencia-Birruetta. The drug traffickers arrived at the Hamilton Residence with bags in connection with drug trafficking activities.  Additionally, on one occasion, law enforcement observed Valencia-Birruetta with bulk currency in his hand. He then drove to a bank and appeared to make a deposit.

Then on August 24, Valencia-Birruetta left Baltimore. But a week later, investigators received a second notification from a commercial airline that Valencia-Birruetta planned to travel back to Baltimore. On August 30, investigators set up a surveillance team at Baltimore Washington International Airport where law enforcement observed Valencia-Birruetta arrive, pick up a rental car, and then drive to the Hamilton Residence.

Meanwhile, another group of investigators surveilled the DTO’s stash location in Timonium, Maryland. There, law enforcement observed Co-conspirator 1 (CC-1) carrying bags into the stash location. Prior to the arrival of the duffle bags at the stash location, Co-conspirator 2 (CC-2) left the stash location in his vehicle.

Law enforcement observed CC-2 driving to the Hamilton Residence to pick up Valencia-Birruetta.  Investigators then followed Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2 to National Harbor, Maryland, where they met with Co-conspirator 3 (CC-3), who arrived in another vehicle. They then traveled to a Park and Ride lot next to the National Harbor and then parked next to each other. Eventually, both vehicles left the lot with Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2 traveling back to Baltimore unaware that investigators trailed behind them. They later arrived at the stash location and parked.

Upon exiting the vehicle, Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2 began removing duffle bags. As they continued, law enforcement approached Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2. Law enforcement realized one of the duffle bags contained a large tear which enabled investigators to see kilogram packages of drugs.

Law enforcement detained Valencia-Birruetta and CC-2 and then proceeded to seize the duffle bags. Investigators recovered 43 individual kilogram packages of cocaine from the duffel bags in the vehicle. Additionally, law enforcement discovered another duffel bag and backpack containing 32 individual kilogram packages of cocaine in the stash location.  Law enforcement also uncovered equipment used to process bulk drugs, including a kilo press, quick cappers, digital scales, and sifters. Additionally, investigators found two heat-sealed bags of suspected marijuana, cash, a money counter, and two firearms. Investigators recovered a third firearm from the Hamilton Residence.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.   

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, HSI, IRS-CI, BCPD, BPD, and DPSCS for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Miner and Stanton Lawyer who are prosecuting this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a citizen and national of Honduras. Samuel Rios-Rodriguez, 33, is charged with illegal re-entry into the United States.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.

According to the indictment, Rios-Rodriguez was previously removed from the U.S. in November 2017. Law enforcement found Rios-Rodrigeuz in the District of Maryland again after he was arrested in December 2022 and then convicted of first-degree attempted murder and use of a firearm in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County in October 2023.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

Rios-Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison for illegal re-entry.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced a Baltimore man to prison today, in connection with a federal investigation that led to law enforcement seizing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine.

Marvin Miller, 38, received an eight-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Miller’s sentence also covers a possession with intent to distribute cocaine charge.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).

According to the guilty plea, in 2023, the DEA began investigating a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. Starting in April 2023, law enforcement ran surveillance on one of the DTO’s stash houses Miller operated in Baltimore. 

Investigators maintained surveillance on Miller and his stash house via a covert camera and electronic surveillance.  Surveillance revealed that Miller frequented his stash house daily and met with co-conspirators at the stash house.  Then on December 19, Miller met with a customer, Elroy Johnson, inside his stash house.  After meeting with Miller, Johnson left the stash house concealing an item inside his clothing and drove away in his vehicle.

Law enforcement then stopped Johnson’s vehicle for a traffic infraction, searched the vehicle, and recovered one kilogram of cocaine underneath the driver’s seat.  With evidence of Miller’s drug trafficking, investigators applied for a warrant to search his stash house and vehicle.

Later, law enforcement attempted to approach Miller as he walked out of the stash house to his vehicle.  Then Miller spotted law enforcement, so he attempted to flee but they quickly appended him.  Miller then admitted to possessing cocaine and bulk cash inside his stash house.  In the stash house, investigators uncovered one kilogram of cocaine and approximately $671,685 stored in two suitcases.

Authorities also recovered three cell phones from Miller’s vehicle.  A search of his phones revealed additional evidence of Miller’s drug trafficking in a WhatsApp message exchange.  Based on the WhatsApp exchange, investigators believe that Miller arranged to purchase approximately 60 kilograms of cocaine with the approximately $671,685 they found stored in his suitcases.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, BCPD, BPD, and DPSCS for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin Miner and Stanton Lawyer who are prosecuting this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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