District of Nevada

LAS VEGAS – A criminal complaint prepared by Homeland Security Investigations was filed in Las Vegas charging seven individuals for their alleged roles in a fentanyl drug trafficking organization. 

“Fentanyl is a deadly poison that is devastating our communities and traffickers often disguise these substances as ordinary prescription pills, placing teenagers and young adults at risk,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This complaint dismantles a major supply chain that put profit over human lives. We will continue to use every federal resource to target, disrupt, and prosecute the networks flooding our streets with these lethal drugs."

“Fentanyl trafficking at this scale is a direct threat to public safety and homeland security,” said Jonathan Sherwin, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Las Vegas. “This seizure of significant quantities of Fentanyl, firearms and illicit proceeds demonstrates the danger these criminal organizations pose to our communities. Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners working together as the HSTF, will continue to disrupt and dismantle the networks moving deadly narcotics through Nevada and beyond.”

According to allegations in the criminal complaint and statements made in court, from at least 2024 to August 2, 2026, Adrian Ortiz Moreno, also known as “El Apache,” a Mexican national, and Brenda Maria Moreno De Castro, a Mexican national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise with their co-defendants to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. 

As alleged, Adrian Ortiz Moreno, Brenda Maria Moreno De Castro, Martin Castro, Jr., David Romero Hernandez, Edgar Rosas, Juan Martinez Ramirez, a Mexican national, and Walter Estrada Carlos, a Mexican national, were principal administrators, organizers, supervisors, or leaders of the criminal enterprise, which involved the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

On August 2, 2026, law enforcement executed search warrants at two residential addresses. At one residence, law enforcement recovered a substantial amount of cash, 12 firearms including a gold and black semi-automatic firearm engraved with “EL APACHE,” and semi-automatic rifles. At the second residence, law enforcement recovered 36 wrapped packages consistent with the packages containing fentanyl seized from a vehicle, two semi-automatic pistols, and a semi-automatic rifle. Law enforcement had previously seized 40 kilograms of fentanyl and $200,000 cash from vehicles operated by this organization.

A substantial amount of cash recovered in U.S. v. Adrian Ortiz Moreno et al, 2:26-mj-0558-NJK

A gold and black semi-automatic firearm engraved with “EL APACHE” in U.S. v. Adrian Ortiz Moreno et al, 2:26-mj-0558-NJK

Wrapped Packages in U.S. v. Adrian Ortiz Moreno et al, 2:26-mj-0558-NJK

“The charges announced today are the result of a shoulder-to-shoulder partnership between the FBI, HSI, ATF, IRS, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Nevada Gaming Commission,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Our community is safer today. There is no doubt lives across our state were saved from the devastating impact of these dangerous drugs and firearms crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate, disrupt, and hold accountable those who insist on sowing destruction in our neighborhoods.”

“DEA remains in lockstep with our federal law enforcement partners, working to maximize our efforts to defeat drug traffickers and disrupt their assembly line of illicit drug distribution,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Las Vegas. “HSTF encapsulates a whole-of-government approach, which, as demonstrated by this collective investigation, ensures that drug criminals face the full force of the law. This operation removed dangerous and potentially deadly drugs, along with guns and illicit funds, from our community — delivering on our commitment to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our residents.”

“This operation underscores the effectiveness of the Homeland Security Task Force, where federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies combine their expertise and resources to dismantle sophisticated transnational criminal organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive. “Working alongside our partners from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and our local law enforcement agencies, ATF helped remove a significant cache of firearms, dangerous narcotics, and illicit proceeds from our communities while disrupting a network with ties to a drug-trafficking organization. These coordinated enforcement efforts demonstrate our unwavering commitment to targeting violent offenders, trafficking organizations, and the criminal infrastructure that fuels violence throughout the region.”

“Our frontline success in Nevada comes down to one thing: our absolute commitment to the Homeland Security Task Force,” said U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield. “By combining our resources through these powerful interagency partnerships, the U.S. Marshals Service is aggressively dismantling the cartels, violent gangs, and human trafficking rings trying to gain a foothold in our state.” 

The complaint charges Adrian Ortiz Moreno and Brenda Maria Moreno De Castro with one count of continuing criminal enterprise and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Martin Castro, Jr., David Romero Hernandez, Edgar Rosas, Juan Martinez Ramirez, and Walter Estrada Carlos with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; Adrian Ortiz Moreno, Brenda Maria Moreno De Castro, and Walter Estrada Carlos with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; and Martin Castro, Jr. with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

Four defendants made their initial appearances in court on Tuesday before United States Magistrate Judge Maximiliano D. Couvillier, III. Three were remanded to custody. 

If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is life imprisonment. Any sentence would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Task Force consisting of special agents with the FBI, HSI, ATF, IRS-CI, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and Nevada Gaming Commission. The case is being prosecuted by the District of Nevada.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Las Vegas HSTF comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.

The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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LAS VEGAS – A felon has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging he unlawfully possessed ammunition and privately manufactured firearms. A privately manufactured firearm without a serial number is sometimes called a “ghost gun.”

“Ghost guns are specifically designed to evade the law, making them the weapon of choice for individuals seeking to bypass background checks,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our office will aggressively prosecute anyone who manufactures or distributes these untraceable weapons, ensuring they are held accountable for undermining public safety.”

“The rise of ghost gun manufacturing threatens our community, prompting the FBI and its partners to join forces in combating criminals who bring their unsafe practices into our neighborhoods,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office.

“Public safety is at the forefront of ATF mission,” said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “The suspect in this case illegally possessed firearms and ammunition. ATF will continue to work alongside our partners to ensure that firearms remain out of the hands of prohibited people. We are committed to ensuring that this community is a safe place.”

According to the complaint, on August 4, 2026, Chang Tan possessed firearms, including a privately manufactured 5.56x45mm semi-automatic rifle and eight privately manufactured 3-D printed AR-15 pattern lower receivers. Additionally, he possessed more than 500 rounds of 5.56x45mm ammunition and .300 AAC Blackout ammunition. Tan has multiple prior felony convictions, including fraud activity connected with computers in the Northern District of Illinois and sale of controlled substance in Clark County, Nevada. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm or ammunition 

Tan is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. 

If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is ten years confinement and three years supervised release. 

This case was investigated by the FBI and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig is prosecuting the case.

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

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who has 16 prior felony convictions was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 30 months in prison for unlawfully possessing multiple firearms. The government requested 77 months’ imprisonment.

“The illegal possession and carrying of firearms pose a direct threat to the safety, peace, and well-being of our communities," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "We are actively working alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to disrupt illegal weapon pipelines, remove unauthorized firearms from our streets, and hold violators fully accountable under the law."

“Firearms trafficking threatens the safety of the public," said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “ATF will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that firearms remain out of the hands of prohibited people. The suspect in this case illegally possessed firearms and sold them in the Las Vegas area. That kind of conduct will not be tolerated. We are committed to ensuring that those who choose to operate in a manner that endangers the safety of this community are prosecuted.”

According to court documents, from October 31, 2022 to November 18, 2022, Frederick Warren, 70, illegally possessed and sold multiple firearms in the Las Vegas area. He possessed a loaded Colt Defense Carbine 5.56 caliber rifle; a Remington Arms, 700, 22-250 rifle; a loaded 9mm caliber pistol; another 9mm caliber pistol; and a 12-gauge shotgun.

Warren has 16 prior felony convictions, including robbery with use of a firearm in Riverside County, California; and possession of a controlled substance for sale, manufacture controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, and taking a vehicle without owner’s consent/vehicle theft, all in San Bernardino County, California. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.

Warren pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm. 

This case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant United States Attorney Melinda Brewer prosecuted the case.

Anyone with information about unlawful firearms activity should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip at www.reportit.com.

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LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who was a leader within two drug trafficking organization was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II to a total of 12 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for his role in importing substantial quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into the Las Vegas area, and then selling those drugs to others within Las Vegas and throughout the United States. The government requested a sentence of 300 months.

“Today’s sentence sends a clear message. We will dismantle criminal networks that poison our neighborhoods,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to bring this offender to justice. We remain committed to protecting public safety and stopping the flow of illegal drugs into our communities.”

According to court documents in one of the two cases, from April 2, 2019 to April 2, 2024, Calvin Bryant conspired with his co-defendants to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Bryant and his co-defendant Kefer Funches purchased drugs on a large scale and redistributed those drugs throughout the country. Numerous co-conspirators worked as couriers and resellers of the drugs. Bryant also engaged in money laundering of the drug proceeds. In that case, law enforcement seized 40.98 kilograms of actual methamphetamine, 34.08 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1,105.3 grams of fentanyl, .5 grams of heroin, and 1 kilogram of cocaine.

At the same time that Bryant was working with Funches, he was also running his own drug trafficking organization operating within Las Vegas. Bryant was charged for this drug conspiracy as well. In this separate organization, Bryant oversaw the renting and use of multiple apartments as trap houses, or addresses used primarily or exclusively for the sale of drugs to end-users.

In each case, Bryant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to money launder. 

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division made the announcement. 

The DEA Las Vegas District Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Rose prosecuted the case.

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The United States filed a complaint today seeking to permanently enjoin a Nevada-based medical device manufacturer from manufacturing and selling adulterated and misbranded products.

In a civil complaint for permanent injunction filed on Aug. 6, the United States alleges that Gregory S. Steiner and Roslynn L. Steiner (the Steiners), and their company, Steiner Biotechnology LLC., violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) by failing to comply with current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) and Quality System (QS) requirements and by selling or holding for sale dental products, including synthetic bone grafting materials and dental cement, that are adulterated. Some of the Steiners’ devices are also adulterated and misbranded for failing to submit premarket applications or adequate premarket notices for their devices.

“Today’s action reflects the Department of Justice’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding patients and maintaining accountability within the medical device industry,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “When medical device manufacturers fail to meet their obligations under federal law, we will take appropriate steps to ensure patient safety.”

“Patients deserve confidence that the medical devices they rely on are safe and effective, said Michelle Tarver, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “The FDA is committed to holding manufacturers accountable when they fail to meet federal requirements and will continue working to safeguard patients and protect the public health.”

The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, alleges FDA investigators inspected Steiner Biotechnology’s facility at least four times from 2018 to 2025 and observed repeated violations of CGMP and QS requirements, such as failing to: establish and maintain adequate procedures to control the design of the device; adequately validate processes according to established procedures; establish and maintain adequate procedures for validating the device design, including risk analysis; establish and maintain procedures to adequately control environmental conditions; adequately maintain and implement procedures to fully investigate the cause of nonconformities relating to product, processes, and the quality system; identify the action(s) needed to correct and prevent recurrence of nonconforming product and other quality problems; verify or validate the corrective and preventive action to ensure that such action is effective and does not adversely affect the finished device; and to submit relevant information on identified quality problems, as well as corrective and preventive actions, for management review.

FDA also repeatedly warned the Steiners that their company was distributing Class III medical devices for which they do not have an approved premarket application, a cleared premarket notification submission, or an effective investigational device exemption. Despite numerous warnings from FDA over the past seven years and the Steiners’ repeated promises, the Steiners continue to violate the FDCA.

According to the complaint, Steiner Biotechnology’s dental products are sold throughout the country. The government’s lawsuit seeks injunctive relief requiring the Steiners to implement sanitation and process improvements and to comply with the FDCA’s requirements before manufacturing or distributing any additional dental products.

Trial Attorney Kyu Yun Kim of the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch is handling the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia T. Tomova for the District of Nevada, and Associate Chief Counsel Leah A. Edelman in FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel.

Additional information about the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch.

The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence.

A federal grand jury in the District of Nevada returned an indictment yesterday charging Stephen Dubin, M.D., 74, of Henderson, Nevada, with a $95 million scheme to defraud Medicare by billing for medically unnecessary amniotic wound allografts that he and others applied to elderly Medicare patients.

“This indictment exposes a scheme driven by greed, not medicine. As alleged, this provider exploited elderly patients by pushing costly and unnecessary medical procedures, then lied to Medicare to pocket millions of taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Schemes like this drain Medicare of resources and impose substantial burdens on the taxpayers who fund it. Let this serve as a warning: any healthcare professional who tries to get rich at the expense of patient care can expect to face the same scrutiny — and the same consequences.”

“Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime; it steals vital resources from elderly and vulnerable citizens who truly need life-saving treatments,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “These defendants prioritized personal greed over patient care by weaponizing complex billing codes for advanced wound care products. As part of the West Coast Health Care Strike Force, our office, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively dismantle predatory schemes that target public healthcare programs.”

“Dr. Duben, as a physician, had a duty to prioritize the well-being of his patients; however, he engaged in unethical practices by prescribing costly, unnecessary allografts at taxpayer expense,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “This betrayal of trust and exploitation of his healthcare position for personal financial gain is both cruel and premeditated. The FBI remains dedicated to collaborating with federal, state, and local agencies to investigate individuals like Dr. Duben and to safeguard federally funded healthcare programs from provider abuse.”

“These charges reflect a clear and calculated betrayal of elderly Medicare patients who depend on trusted providers for legitimate care,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Schemes like this siphon taxpayer dollars, undermine patient safety, and erode confidence in our health care system. HHS‑OIG, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to identify and hold accountable those who exploit federally funded health care programs for personal gain.”

“Fraud involving TRICARE, the healthcare program that provides medical coverage for active duty service members, retirees, and their families, strikes at a benefit earned through service to our nation,” said Special Agent in Charge John Helsing of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS is steadfast in protecting TRICARE from individuals who manipulate medical billing for personal gain. The West Coast Health Care Fraud Task Force, working with our federal partners, greatly enhances our ability to detect and dismantle these schemes, ensuring we preserve the integrity of our nation’s military health system.”

According to court documents, Dubin, a medical doctor and sole owner of Dubin Medical Consultants, Inc. (also known as Wound MD) caused Medicare to be billed over $95 million for expensive amniotic allografts that he procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. Dubin allegedly applied these allografts to elderly patients — including vulnerable patients in hospice care — without medical necessity. Medicare paid over $54 million based on Dubin’s false and fraudulent claims.

As alleged in the indictment, Dubin received illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates from two different allograft distributors. Some of these illegal payments were falsely structured to appear as legitimate “Rebate Agreements” while concealing their true nature and illegal payments. These purported rebates substantially reduced Dubin’s true net cost of acquiring the allografts. Dubin allegedly submitted claims to Medicare seeking reimbursement for the price listed on sham full-price invoices, instead of the actual price he paid for the allografts. Dubin and others allegedly kept as profit the difference between Medicare’s reimbursement and the price paid for the allografts.

The indictment also alleges that Dubin received illegal kickbacks from one allograft distributor through payments from a pass-through bank account held in the name of a shell company in exchange for purchasing allografts from the distributor.

Induced by these illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates, Dubin and his co-conspirators applied allografts without regard to medical necessity, including by applying allografts to infected wounds; to wounds that were not responding to allograft treatment; without first attempting, completing, or confirming conservative wound care treatment as required by Medicare; and in quantities that far exceeded the size of wounds. Dubin allegedly selected allografts that would maximize his profit, not based on the patient’s need. To conceal the lack of medical necessity, Dubin falsified patient medical records to make it appear as though the application of allografts was medically reasonable and met Medicare requirements.

Dubin used the proceeds of his alleged offenses to fund a lavish lifestyle, including having multi-million-dollar yachts built for him.

Dubin is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count.

FBI, HHS-OIG, and DCIS are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Chris Wenger and Shane Butland of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

On April 30, the Fraud Division announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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

LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury in the District of Nevada returned an indictment on Tuesday charging Stephen Dubin, M.D., 74, of Henderson, Nevada, with a $95 million scheme to defraud Medicare by billing for medically unnecessary amniotic wound allografts that he and others applied to elderly Medicare patients.

“This indictment exposes a scheme driven by greed, not medicine. As alleged, this provider exploited elderly patients by pushing costly and unnecessary medical procedures, then lied to Medicare to pocket millions of taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Schemes like this drain Medicare of resources and impose substantial burdens on the taxpayers who fund it. Let this serve as a warning: any healthcare professional who tries to get rich at the expense of patient care can expect to face the same scrutiny—and the same consequences.”

“Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime; it steals vital resources from elderly and vulnerable citizens who truly need life-saving treatments,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah of the District of Nevada. “These defendants prioritized personal greed over patient care by weaponizing complex billing codes for advanced wound care products. As part of the West Coast Health Care Strike Force, our office, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively dismantle predatory schemes that target public healthcare programs.” 

“Dr. Dubin, as a physician, had a duty to prioritize the well-being of his patients; however, he engaged in unethical practices by prescribing costly, unnecessary allografts at taxpayer expense,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “This betrayal of trust and exploitation of his healthcare position for personal financial gain is both cruel and premeditated. The FBI remains dedicated to collaborating with federal, state, and local agencies to investigate individuals like Dr. Dubin and to safeguard federally funded healthcare programs from provider abuse.”

“These charges reflect a clear and calculated betrayal of elderly Medicare patients who depend on trusted providers for legitimate care,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Schemes like this siphon taxpayer dollars, undermine patient safety, and erode confidence in our health care system. HHS‑OIG, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to identify and hold accountable those who exploit federally funded health care programs for personal gain.”

“Fraud involving TRICARE, the healthcare program that provides medical coverage for active duty service members, retirees, and their families, strikes at a benefit earned through service to our nation,” said John Helsing, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS is steadfast in protecting TRICARE from individuals who manipulate medical billing for personal gain. The West Coast Health Care Fraud Task Force, working with our federal partners, greatly enhances our ability to detect and dismantle these schemes, ensuring we preserve the integrity of our nation’s military health system.”

According to court documents, Dubin, a medical doctor and sole owner of Dubin Medical Consultants, Inc. (a/k/a Wound MD) caused Medicare to be billed over $95 million for expensive amniotic allografts that he procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. Dubin allegedly applied these allografts to elderly patients—including vulnerable patients in hospice care—without medical necessity. Medicare paid over $54 million based on Dubin’s false and fraudulent claims.

As alleged in the indictment, Dubin received illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates from two different allograft distributors. Some of these illegal payments were falsely structured to appear as legitimate “Rebate Agreements” while concealing their true nature and illegal payments. These purported rebates substantially reduced Dubin’s true net cost of acquiring the allografts. Dubin allegedly submitted claims to Medicare seeking reimbursement for the price listed on sham full-price invoices, instead of the actual price he paid for the allografts. Dubin and others allegedly kept as profit the difference between Medicare’s reimbursement and the price paid for the allografts.

The indictment also alleges that Dubin received illegal kickbacks from one allograft distributor through payments from a pass-through bank account held in the name of a shell company in exchange for purchasing allografts from the distributor.

Induced by these illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates, Dubin and his co-conspirators applied allografts without regard to medical necessity, including by applying allografts to infected wounds; to wounds that were not responding to allograft treatment; without first attempting, completing, or confirming conservative wound care treatment as required by Medicare; and in quantities that far exceeded the size of wounds. Dubin allegedly selected allografts that would maximize his profit, not based on the patient’s need. To conceal the lack of medical necessity, Dubin falsified patient medical records to make it appear as though the application of allografts was medically reasonable and met Medicare requirements. 

Dubin used the proceeds of his alleged offenses to fund a lavish lifestyle, including having multi-million-dollar yachts built for him. 

Dubin is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count.

FBI, HHS-OIG, and DCIS are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Chris Wenger and Shane Butland of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

On April 30, the Fraud Division announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. 

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

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LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas woman was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns with the IRS and diverting portions of the resulting tax refunds to herself and her codefendant.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Iris Hondermann owned and operated Silver State Tax & Multiservices LLC, a tax preparation business in Las Vegas. An individual close to Hondermann worked for the business and was charged in the same scheme. From approximately 2017 through 2021, Hondermann and her codefendant prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including business profits and losses, COVID-19 sick and family leave credits, and residential energy credits.

“The deliberate falsification of tax records and the theft of funds are severe violations of public trust and federal law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who use deceit to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers and honest institutions.”

“By inserting false information into client tax returns and taking a share of the fraudulent refunds, Hondermann and her codefendant defrauded the government of millions for personal benefit,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office. “This was a substantial theft from the U.S. Treasury and, ultimately, from every honest taxpayer. IRS CI remains dedicated to identifying schemes that exploit the tax system and holding accountable those who choose to profit through fraud.”

Between 2017 and 2021, Hondermann and her codefendant prepared false tax returns with the IRS seeking more than $5 million in refunds that their clients were not entitled to receive. At times, Hondermann and her codefendant also diverted portions of client tax refunds to themselves. From 2017 through 2021, they diverted more than $1.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds to bank accounts one or both of them controlled.

Hondermann pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States. Hondermann’s codefendant, who admitted to filing false tax returns for clients as part of the same scheme, still awaits sentencing. 

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Stuart A. Wexler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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A Las Vegas woman was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns with the IRS and diverting portions of the resulting tax refunds to herself and her codefendant.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Iris Hondermann owned and operated Silver State Tax & Multiservices LLC, a tax preparation business in Las Vegas. An individual close to Hondermann worked for the business and was charged in the same scheme. From approximately 2017 through 2021, Hondermann and her codefendant prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including business profits and losses, COVID-19 sick and family leave credits, and residential energy credits.

“The deliberate falsification of tax records and the theft of funds are severe violations of public trust and federal law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who use deceit to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers and honest institutions.”

“By inserting false information into client tax returns and taking a share of the fraudulent refunds, Hondermann and her codefendant defrauded the government of millions for personal benefit,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office. “This was a substantial theft from the U.S. Treasury and, ultimately, from every honest taxpayer. IRS CI remains dedicated to identifying schemes that exploit the tax system and holding accountable those who choose to profit through fraud.”

Between 2017 and 2021, Hondermann and her codefendant prepared false tax returns with the IRS seeking more than $5 million in refunds that their clients were not entitled to receive. At times, Hondermann and her codefendant also diverted portions of client tax refunds to themselves. From 2017 through 2021, they diverted more than $1.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds to bank accounts one or both of them controlled.

Hondermann pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States. Honderman’s codefendant, who admitted to filing false tax returns for clients as part of the same scheme, still awaits sentencing. 

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Stuart A. Wexler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

LAS VEGAS – Two Las Vegas men in separate cases were indicted and have made their initial appearances in court for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at and striking police helicopters. 

According to allegations contained in the indictments:

• On April 10, 2026, James Bodie Moore III aimed the beam of a laser pointer multiple times at and in the flight path of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter. He is charged with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 28, 2026, before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II.
• On June 7, 2026, Jason Lamars Lee aimed the beam of a laser pointer two times at and in the flight path of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter. He is charged with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 28, 2026, before United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro.

Pointing a laser pointer into the sky to see how far it will shine may seem like a fun thing to do but it can have serious consequences. Aiming a laser beam at an aircraft poses a serious safety risk for those on board and on the ground. Laser beams can cause disorientation, temporary blindness - potentially causing a midair collision or other incident - and in some cases permanent vision problems or blindness. According to the FAA, in 2025, pilots reported 10,993 laser strikes.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Office made the announcement.

The FBI, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and North Las Vegas Police Department investigated these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings is prosecuting these cases.

If you spot someone aiming a laser at the sky in a suspicious manner, you can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov. You can also report laser strikes to local law enforcement and the FAA. 

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

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LAS VEGAS – A Henderson, Nevada, woman was sentenced yesterday to five years and 10 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for embezzling over $26 million from her employer. She was also ordered to pay back the money she stole. The government requested a sentence of 57 months’ imprisonment.

"This sentencing sends a clear message that financial fraud and the abuse of professional trust will carry severe consequences," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "Embezzlement harms not only the business owners but also the employees, clients, and community members who rely on the organization's financial stability. We remain committed to holding individuals fully accountable for exploiting their employers for personal gain."

“Financial crimes of this scale inflict deep and lasting harm on victims and their families,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge for the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office Scott Brown. “Marabella’s $26 million fraud represented not only a staggering financial loss but also an extensive breach of trust. When an individual exploits their position to steal such a significant amount for personal gain, the fallout reverberates throughout the entire business, impacting everyone who depends on it for their livelihood. This announcement is a clear illustration of IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to protecting taxpayers from financial fraud and maintaining integrity within our financial system.”

According to court documents, from January 1, 2018, to about February 28, 2025, Cynthia Marie Marabella and her boyfriend co-defendant William Keolanui Costa devised a scheme to defraud Marabella’s employer, a Las Vegas construction company. As part of the scheme, they: fraudulently duplicated bonus checks and deposited the checks into bank accounts controlled by Marabella and Costa; opened credit cards in other peoples’ names and made unauthorized charges then paid the credit cards’ bills with stolen funds; provided false accounting records to the employer; created forged and false bank statements; and sent fictitious invoices from merchant accounts then paid the invoices with stolen funds. 

Marabella and Costa used the stolen money to live in lavish mansions, to drive high-end cars, and to pay private school tuition. Marabella purchased high-end merchandise using the stolen funds and sold those items through an online consignment company. As a result of the fraud scheme, Marabella and Costa obtained more than $26 million from the employer.

Marabella pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of monetary transactions in criminally derived property. 

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States Chief Judge Andrew P. Gordon to nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for pointing a high-power laser at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter as it was responding to a call in 2025. The government requested a sentence of 21 months’ imprisonment.

“Aiming a laser at an aircraft isn't a joke—it's a federal crime that puts lives at risk,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “When someone intentionally interferes with a law enforcement helicopter responding to an emergency, they aren't just endangering the crew; they're jeopardizing everyone depending on that aircraft to do its job. If you think pointing a laser at an aircraft is a joke, today's sentence should make clear that federal prison is the punchline.”

“Pointing a laser into the sky is not a harmless joke,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Pointing one at a police helicopter is a direct threat to the safety of the pilot, the passengers, and everyone on the ground below. High-powered laser beams can instantly impair a pilot's vision during the most critical phases of flight, turning a routine mission into a potential catastrophe. The FBI will use every available resource to track the illegal use of lasers back to their source. If you aim a laser at an aircraft, expect us to come knocking at your door.”

According to court documents, on January 2, 2025, Sergio Octavio Sanchez aimed the beam of a green laser pointer at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter several times as the helicopter was providing aerial support for officers on the ground. When the laser struck the aircraft, the pilot had to shield his eyes and divert from its assignment and flight path.

Pointing a laser pointer into the sky to see how far it will shine may seem like a fun thing to do but it can have serious consequences. Aiming a laser beam at an aircraft poses a serious safety risk for those on board and on the ground. Laser beams can cause disorientation, temporary blindness - potentially causing a midair collision or other incident - and in some cases permanent vision problems or blindness. According to the FAA, in 2025, pilots reported 10,993 laser strikes.

Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. 

The FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings prosecuted the case.

If you spot someone aiming a laser at the sky in a suspicious manner, you can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov. You can also report laser strikes to local law enforcement and the FAA. 

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RENO – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Delshay Astor with the alleged murder of a woman in February 2022, and Joel Christy for assisting Astor to avoid apprehension.

Astor was initially indicted in May 2026 on one count of murder in the second-degree within Indian Country. The superseding indictment charges Astor with one count of murder in the first degree within Indian Country, and a second defendant, Joel Christy, is charged with one count of accessory after the fact.

“While these new charges reflect the expanding scope and strength of our ongoing investigation, our primary focus today remains exactly where it belongs, on Anna Marie Scott, her family, and everyone who loved her,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our office, alongside our partners in law enforcement, will continue to work tirelessly as this case moves toward trial until justice is fully served.” 

“We hope the arrest of a second subject on charges of aiding and abetting brings some measure of relief to the family of Anna Scott after many years of awaiting justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas office. “The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners, specifically the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, the Reno Sparks Tribal Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, remain committed to combating violent crime in all its forms on tribal lands and throughout the state of Nevada.”

According to allegations in the superseding indictment, on or about February 2, 2022, Delshay Astor, with premeditation and malice, murdered Anna Scott on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. As alleged, Scott, who was a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, was shot and killed, and her body was put into her car and set on fire. 

As charged in the superseding indictment, on or about February 2, 2022, Joel Christy assisted Astor and another individual to hinder and prevent the apprehension of Astor and the individual.

If convicted, Astor faces a statutory minimum penalty of life imprisonment. If convicted, Christy faces a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 29, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service also assisted with operational support. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Brister is prosecuting the case.

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

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RENO – A Reno resident made her initial appearance in court yesterday for allegedly stealing federal grant award money intended for the improvement and maintenance of tribal lands.

"The Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that anyone who attempts to enrich themselves through theft and deceit is held fully accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Financial fraud of this magnitude compromises the integrity of our economic systems and directly threatens the security of hardworking people who trust and rely on those systems.”

"Every dollar stolen through fraud is a dollar taken away from critical public services, infrastructure, and the communities that rely on them," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "Taxpayers deserve full transparency and absolute accountability. We are drawing a hard line: if you attempt to defraud public programs, we will find you, we will stop you, and you will face the full force of the law."

“Our Agency is steadfast in its commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Nevada State Director Alida Ceballos for the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. “This indictment marks an important step toward ensuring that resources meant to support rural Nevadans are used for their intended purposes, not stolen by bad actors. We are thankful for the strong partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah, Assistant AG Colin McDonald of the Fraud Division, the USDA Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI, whose cross‑agency collaboration made this multi‑year investigation possible.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, from April 2024 to May 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the Yomba Shoshone Tribe grant money for an ongoing project to bring clean water to the members of the tribe and residents living on tribal lands. As alleged in the indictment, Blair Smith embezzled about $392,582 of funds awarded by the federal grant for the project.

Smith was charged with one count of federal program theft. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is 10 years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 29, 2026.

The USDA Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Skyler Pearson is prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 

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

###

A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging three Las Vegas tax return preparers with conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully preparing false tax returns for clients.

According to the indictment, Jadee Glover owned and operated CashBack Tax Service, a Las Vegas tax preparation business, where Julia Brainerd and Shamoya Perkins worked as tax return preparers. The three allegedly conspired to prepare and file fraudulent income tax returns for clients that in some instances reported completely fictitious businesses and in other instances reported fictitious receipts and expenses for businesses the clients actually owned. Glover, Brainerd, and Perkins allegedly agreed to include false tax credits on client returns based on false assertions that the clients had missed substantial amounts of work at their purported businesses because they had contracted COVID-19 or were providing care to others that had contracted COVID-19. Based on these false claims, the tax returns allegedly generated large tax refunds that clients were not entitled to receive, a portion of which was directed to CashBack Tax Service as tax preparation fees.

According to the indictment, Glover, Brainerd and Perkins each willfully prepared and filed a number of false tax returns for clients in this manner. In addition to their work for CashBack Tax Service, Brainerd allegedly prepared false returns for clients of Royalty Tax Services, a Las Vegas tax preparation business she separately owned and operated, and Perkins allegedly prepared false returns for clients of Jewels Tax Services, a Las Vegas tax preparation business she separately owned and operated.

If convicted, Glover, Brainerd, and Perkins face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy and three years in prison for each count of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for clients. They also face a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Regina Jeon and Megan E. Wessel of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.

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

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas business owner made his initial court appearance yesterday to face charges in connection with a fake armed robbery of his cell phone repair store to collect money from his insurance company.

According to allegations in the indictment, Erwin Lanada owned CPR Cellphone Repair, a store in Las Vegas that repaired and sold cell phones and other electronic devices. As alleged, in October 2023, he arranged for co-defendant Marco Antonio Capistran to rob his store, and he gave Capistran a revolver to use during the robbery. Later, Lanada filed fraudulent insurance claims with his insurance company for property loss and loss of income purportedly resulting from the robbery. In December 2023, the insurance company sent Lanada checks totaling approximately $88,611.23 for his claims. 

Lanada is charged with two counts of mail fraud. The maximum statutory penalties for each count are ten years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for October 19, 2026.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess is prosecuting the case. 

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

###

According to court documents, from January 9, 2025, to January 25, 2025, Denzel Brishard Jones robbed a bank in North Las Vegas and a bank and a credit union in Henderson. During the three robberies, he brandished an XBG BB-gun to make a display of force that reasonably caused the employees to fear bodily harm.

“Violent crime has no place in our community. Armed robberies terrorize innocent employees and bystanders,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.  “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who uses a firearm to threaten, intimidate, or steal.”

Jones pleaded guilty to three counts of armed bank robbery. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 75 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for October 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. 

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI, the Henderson Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda Brewer is prosecuting the case.

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LAS VEGAS – A Henderson, Nevada, man pleaded guilty today to smuggling misbranded prescription drugs containing sildenafil and tadalafil into the United States from India and selling them to stores in Nevada and elsewhere.

According to court documents and statements made in court, David Ralph Webber owned and operated Passion Plus Enterprises Inc. and Whole Science Health. He was not a registered pharmaceutical manufacturer with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nor was he licensed to administer prescription drugs or to be a wholesaler of prescription drugs.

Webber admitted that from at least 2018 to present he used his companies to import hundreds of thousands of misbranded prescription drug capsules and tablets containing sildenafil, sildenafil citrate, and tadalafil — the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis — into the United States. The prescription drugs were manufactured in India at facilities that were not registered with the FDA. To evade customs detection and enforcement, Webber falsely declared that the wire transfers to the manufacturers were for business management consultancy services. He paid a packaging company to falsely label the capsules “Ride,” “Kinky Kong,” “Stif,” “TBone,” and “Kinky Pink”; to list false ingredients; and to falsely claim that the drugs were “100% Natural” and did not require a prescription.

Webber then sold the misbranded prescription drugs to smoke shops, convenience stores, and adult novelty stores in Nevada and elsewhere throughout the southwestern United States. He also sold them online to consumers through a website he operated. In total, he made more than $1.9 million in revenue from his sales of misbranded prescription drugs.

Webber pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with one count of introduction of a misbranded drug into interstate commerce and one count of mail fraud. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 19, 2026, before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. He faces the maximum statutory penalty of 23 years in custody. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Robert M. Iwanicki of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office, and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Phoenix Division made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FDA and USPIS. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Oliva and Kimberly Frayn are prosecuting the case.

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LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident pleaded guilty today to receiving and possessing thousands of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after a forensic analysis of his digital devices.

"By securing this guilty plea, we have fast-tracked justice for victims and ensured that this predator will be removed from our community,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We will continue to deploy every technological resource available to intercept this type of material and hold perpetrators fully accountable."

“Every image or video depicting child sexual abuse represents evidence of a real child, including infants and toddlers, who has endured harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The exploitation of our nation's most vulnerable children is unconscionable. The FBI remains steadfast in our mission to identify and apprehend these offenders. In partnership with other law enforcement agencies, we are committed to holding those responsible for these violent online crimes fully accountable.”

According to court documents and statements made at court proceedings, from August 27, 2021, to April 4, 2024, Jesse Ross Cowie purchased the entire catalogue of CSAM from a convicted producer of CSAM. The catalogue was predominantly CSAM depicting infants and toddlers. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence. A forensic analysis of his digital devices found over 23,125 images and 1,861 videos of CSAM depicting infants and toddlers, and children under the age of 12. 

Cowie pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  

The statutory minimum sentence is five years in prison and statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography; and the statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography. Sentencing is scheduled for October 14, 2026, before United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon. A judge will impose a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting the case.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.

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LAS VEGAS – A felon was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to two years and six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for stealing another person’s loaded firearm then exchanging gunfire with that person. The government recommended a sentence of 71 months’ imprisonment.

According to court documents, on August 21, 2025, Shahada Sutton stole another person’s Glock 19 handgun that was loaded with a 30-round magazine. The other person retrieved a second firearm and followed Sutton to an adjacent parking lot, where the two exchanged gunfire in the parking lot. Sutton then drove away and hit a curb. He fled on foot, dumping his backpack that contained the loaded Glock 19 handgun and a loaded Kel Tec Sub2000 rifle in a restroom at a public park. 

Sutton was on parole at the time of the offense. He had been previously convicted of felonies including carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon and discharging a firearm at or into an occupied structure, vehicle, or watercraft, both offenses occurred in Clark County, Nevada. 

Sutton pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Strange prosecuted the case.

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A Nevada woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false COVID-19 employment tax credits. The government recommended a sentence of 40 months’ imprisonment.

“The Fraud Division will not tolerate anyone who steals from public benefits programs designed to support Americans in need,” said Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin M. McDonald. “If you attempt to defraud these programs, we will come after you with the full force of federal law. We are committed to safeguarding America’s tax dollars and the programs they are meant to support.”

“Today’s sentence, once again, highlights our District’s commitment to the American taxpayer that when people commit fraud, they will face the legal consequences of those criminal acts,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Adonia Stiles, of Las Vegas, was a real estate agent, tax preparer, and clothing store owner. Stiles conspired with others to file false tax returns fraudulently seeking refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and sick and family leave credit. Congress created both the ERC and the sick and family leave credit to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

Stiles caused one of her co-conspirators, Candies Goode-McCoy, to file 11 false employment tax returns for Stiles’s clothing store seeking a total of more than $800,000 in refundable tax credits. Stiles also referred 18 other people to Goode-McCoy, for whom Goode-McCoy filed over 150 false employment tax returns. Goode-McCoy claimed $15 million in fraudulent tax credits on behalf of these taxpayers, which resulted in the United States paying out more than $7 million in refunds. In exchange for making these referrals to Goode McCoy, Stiles received at least $135,000. She did not report this income on her individual income tax returns. In April 2026, Goode-McCoy was sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey ordered Stiles to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $7,079,121.48 in restitution to the United States.

IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case.

Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez of the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

LAS VEGAS – A Nevada woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false COVID-19 employment tax credits. The government recommended a sentence of 40 months’ imprisonment.

“The Fraud Division will not tolerate anyone who steals from public benefits programs designed to support Americans in need,” said Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin M. McDonald. “If you attempt to defraud these programs, we will come after you with the full force of federal law. We are committed to safeguarding America’s tax dollars and the programs they are meant to support.”

“Today’s sentence, once again, highlights our District’s commitment to the American taxpayer that when people commit fraud, they will face the legal consequences of those criminal acts,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Adonia Stiles, of Las Vegas, was a real estate agent, tax preparer, and clothing store owner. Stiles conspired with others to file false tax returns fraudulently seeking refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and sick and family leave credit. Congress created both the ERC and the sick and family leave credit to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

Stiles caused one of her co-conspirators, Candies Goode-McCoy, to file 11 false employment tax returns for Stiles’s clothing store seeking a total of more than $800,000 in refundable tax credits. Stiles also referred 18 other people to Goode-McCoy, for whom Goode-McCoy filed over 150 false employment tax returns. Goode-McCoy claimed $15 million in fraudulent tax credits on behalf of these taxpayers, which resulted in the United States paying out more than $7 million in refunds. In exchange for making these referrals to Goode McCoy, Stiles received at least $135,000. She did not report this income on her individual income tax returns. In April 2026, Goode-McCoy was sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey ordered Stiles to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $7,079,121.48 in restitution to the United States.

IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case.

Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez of the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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LAS VEGAS – Two men in separate cases were sentenced to prison today for unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to court documents and statements made in court:

• Marc Christopher Viloria was sentenced by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. On November 20, 2024, Viloria was involved in a high-speed chase with police while fleeing the scene of a shooting in which he was likely involved. He admitted that he possessed a privately made 9mm semiautomatic pistol with no serial number and a 9mm semiautomatic pistol. He had previously been convicted of sale of a hallucinogen, criminal possession of a firearm, and distribution of a hallucinogen, all in Geary County, Kansas. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. The government recommended a sentence of 30 months’ imprisonment.
• Manuel Edwin Martinez was sentenced by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 37 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Martinez admitted that, on January 12, 2022, he possessed a 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol at a gas station and convenience store in Las Vegas, Nevada. He had previously been convicted for of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, both in Denver, Colorado. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. The government recommended a sentence of 37 months’ imprisonment.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge John Wester of the San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.

These cases were investigated by ATF and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Cowhig and Joseph Sciscento prosecuted these cases.

Anyone with information about unlawful firearms activity should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip at www.reportit.com/.

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RENO – A federal grand jury indicted two men for their alleged roles in a scheme to steal money from multiple ATMs located in Reno and Sparks, Nevada. This crime is commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 3, 2026, Kleiber Jovanny Garcia Rojas and Yeiker Andres Diaz-Calatayud, aka “Jose Soto,” installed a digital device on an ATM at a federal credit union. The device allowed them to bypass security functions without authorization and withdraw cash. They allegedly stole approximately $76,000 in cash.

Defendants installing malware device on ATM

Garcia Rojas and Diaz-Calatayud are each charged with one count of bank theft. If convicted, they each face the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. Both defendants made their initial court appearances and were ordered detained. A jury trial is scheduled for September 15, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Anne Traum. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

“As alleged, the defendants hacked into an ATM in northern Nevada and stole approximately $76,000 in cash through a scheme known as ATM jackpotting,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This indictment is another shining example of our focused efforts with partners in law enforcement to protect financial institutions.”

“Criminal acts, such as ATM jackpotting schemes, significantly disrupt business operations and endanger customers and bystanders,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The FBI has a longstanding commitment to investigating bank robberies and as criminal tactics evolve, we remain steadfast in our mission to combat violent crime and uphold public safety.”

The FBI, Reno Police Department, and Washoe County Sherriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Gaeta is prosecuting the case.

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

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LAS VEGAS – Two illegal aliens unlawfully residing in Las Vegas were sentenced to prison today for illegally reentering the United States after having been previously removed from the country.

Rito Lopez-Mundo, also known as “Cora Aguayo-Mundo,” “Everado Cobarubia Altamirano,” “Everado Cobarubia Lopez,” “Rito Everado-Cobarubia,” “Everado Cobarubia Mundo,” “Joaquin Altamiran-Bobadillo,” and “Jose River-Lopez,” pleaded guilty to one count of deported alien found in the United States. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 30 months in prison. The government recommended a sentence of 24 months in prison.

According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on June 14, 2023, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) learned that Lopez-Mundo was in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. On November 26, 2025, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Lopez-Mundo to ICE custody after he served a 19-48 month sentence for conspiracy to commit robbery. Lopez-Mundo was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on May 13, 1996; November 3, 1997; August 12, 1998; March 25, 2005; May 28, 2013; and October 5, 2018.

Lopez-Mundo has prior felony convictions including attempted robbery in San Diego, California; and five times deported alien found unlawfully in the United States in the Southern District of California.

Jose Leonel Gomez-Palma, a citizen of Nicaragua, also known as “Erik Gonzalez,” Jose Lopez,” “Jose Godinez,” and “Jose Gomez,” pleaded guilty to one count of deported alien found in the United States. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 15 months in prison. The government recommended a sentence of 15 months in prison.

According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on April 30, 2026, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Gomez-Palma for driving under the influence and possession of a gun under the influence of alcohol/drugs. On May 2, 2026, the Clark County Detention Center remanded him to ICE custody. Gomez-Palma was previously removed and deported from the United States to Nicaragua on September 8, 2012.

Gomez-Palma has previous felony convictions including possession of narcotic/controlled substance (cocaine); carjacking; kidnapping; attempted robbery; assault with a deadly weapon, all in Los Angeles County, California.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.

The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated these cases; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted these cases.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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.

###
 

LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury in Nevada returned a 90-count indictment charging a Las Vegas-based tax preparer and his 11 co-conspirators in connection with their alleged roles in a COVID-19 relief loan application scheme totaling more than $14 million in fraudulent loan proceeds to which they were not entitled. 

“In a 90-count indictment, the defendants are alleged to have exploited a taxpayer-funded program during a national emergency,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners at the FBI, IRS-CI, SBA-OIG, and TIGTA will pursue anyone who chooses to abuse and steal from taxpayer-funded programs for their own financial gain.” 

“The defendants deliberately engaged in fraudulent activity, diverting funds intended for individuals and small businesses impacted by the national emergency,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The FBI, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in the pursuit and prosecution of individuals who misuse federal relief programs.”

According to court documents, from April 2020 to May 2021, Charles Omonzokpia Usigbe, a Las Vegas-based tax preparer, and his co-conspirators filed more than 100 false PPP loan applications and more than 25 false EIDL applications. The loan applications were administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Charles Omonzokpia Usigbe; Christopher Omobhio Usigbe; Nancy Usigbe Smith; Favor Chikelu; Francisca Iyere; Egberanmwen Vivian Osayanren Onaiwu; Matthew Obobhen Usigbe; Ayele Amavigan; Solomon Ugbodu; Ibironke Mercy Alaga; Ifekam Joycelynn Osuya; and Varney Allen Fofana were charged in a 90-count indictment including charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud; bank fraud; wire fraud; conspiracy to money launder; promotion money laundering; and concealment money laundering. 

Earlier today, the defendants made their initial appearances in court. A jury trial has been scheduled for August 31, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II. 

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; and Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown for the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI, IRS-CI, the Small Business Administration (SBA-OIG), and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez is prosecuting this case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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

###

LAS VEGAS – A felon with multiple prior convictions made his initial appearance in court today for allegedly possessing stolen firearms and suppressors. 

According to allegations contained in the indictment, on July 1, 2025, Erik Robert Rasmusson unlawfully possessed a Remington 870 shotgun and a Ruger 10/22 rifle. Later, on July 11, 2025, he unlawfully possessed two rifles and five suppressors. The Ruger 10/22 rifle and suppressors were stolen.

Rasmusson has prior felony convictions, all in Clark County, Nevada, including attempt racketeering; conspiracy to commit robbery and ownership or possession of firearm by prohibited person; stop required on signal of police officer and possession of firearm by ex-felon; possession of stolen property; possession of controlled substance with intent to sell; and burglary. He is prohibited from possessing a firearm by law. 

Rasmusson is charged with two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of a stolen firearm. A jury trial is scheduled for September 14, 2026. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is 50 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge John Wester of the San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.

This case was investigated by ATF and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Weidhaas is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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LAS VEGAS – Two men made their initial appearances in court today for allegedly carjacking with use of using firearms last month in Las Vegas. 

According to allegations contained in the indictment, on May 27, 2026, Michael Merryman and Jermaine Francis took a motor vehicle at gunpoint. Allegedly, during the carjacking, Merryman brandished a 9mm firearm and Francis brandished an AM-15 firearm. 

Merryman and Francis are each charged with two counts of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. They each face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Strange is prosecuting the case.

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

###

LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted three men last week for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

“This jury verdict is the result of our strong partnership with the DEA to make Nevada’s communities safer and free of dangerous drugs,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We are relentless in our joint efforts to disrupt and pursue drug traffickers who distribute illicit drugs.”

“These convictions are a testament to the united stand taken by law enforcement partners working to reverse the tide,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Nevada. “Methamphetamine and fentanyl continue to fuel the drug crisis facing Nevada. Identifying and taking drug distributors off our streets is a vital part of our commitment to halt the flow of drugs that continue to devastate communities. DEA will remain at the frontline of this battle, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our federal partners to safeguard the health and safety of all Nevada residents.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from August 2022 to June 20, 2023, Darrell Glen Harris, Joey Lamar McRoyal, and Lamar Deshawn Rosser conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl — both drugs are Schedule II controlled substances.

As proven at trial, during the course of the conspiracy, Harris supplied McRoyal and Rosser with methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and other controlled substances for distribution in Las Vegas. 

Harris was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. McRoyal and Rosser were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing is scheduled on October 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva. The statutory maximum penalty is life in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a fine up to $10,000,000.

The DEA Las Vegas District Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister is prosecuting the case.

###

A California man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release for perpetrating an elaborate bank fraud scheme that took in approximately $39 million from multiple financial institutions over the course of nearly 10 years. He was also ordered to pay over $19.4 million in restitution and $21.8 million in forfeiture.

According to court documents, Gary Topolewski, 64, of Northridge, engaged in the nearly decade-long scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions through the submission of false and fraudulent commercial loan applications on behalf of his purported companies, Topolewski America Inc., Morrison Knudsen Services Inc., and Metal Jeans Inc. As a result, these entities received more than $39 million in fraudulently obtained loan proceeds, with Topolewski unsuccessfully seeking millions more. 

Topolewski falsely represented in the loan applications that the loans were for the purchase of large, industrial earth-moving construction equipment, and for business working capital purposes. In reality, Topolewski and his companies did not use the proceeds as represented and instead diverted, laundered, and misappropriated the proceeds for other purposes, including for the purchase of properties and to make Ponzi-like payments to financial lenders to perpetuate the scheme by using loan proceeds from newer loans to pay down the balance of other loans. Topolewski used several aliases, including the stolen identity of a victim, and company names that were similar to those of established companies in the construction and equipment industries.

In December 2025, Topolewski pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.  

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

LAS VEGAS – An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to 13 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed from the country on three prior occasions. The government recommended a sentence of 13 months and one day imprisonment.

According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on December 27, 2025, Ulian Ohye-Michiko was found in the United States after being arrested by officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for child abuse or neglect, domestic battery, false statement to or obstruct public officer, driving without a driver's license, driving under the influence, and operator - proof of insurance required. 

Ohye-Michiko has four prior felony convictions: Aggravated Assault- Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two for illegally returning to the United States after a removal. This is his third conviction for illegally reentering the United States.

Ohye-Michiko was previously deported to Mexico 11 times between 2008 and 2020.

Ohye-Michiko pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence, he will be deported to Mexico for a 12th time.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida made the announcement.

The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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.

###

LAS VEGAS – A California man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release for perpetrating an elaborate bank fraud scheme that took in approximately $39 million from multiple financial institutions over the course of nearly 10 years. He was also ordered to pay over $19.4 million in restitution and $21.8 million in forfeiture.

According to court documents, Gary Topolewski, 64, of Northridge, engaged in the nearly decade-long scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions through the submission of false and fraudulent commercial loan applications on behalf of his purported companies, Topolewski America Inc., Morrison Knudsen Services Inc., and Metal Jeans Inc. As a result, these entities received more than $39 million in fraudulently obtained loan proceeds, with Topolewski unsuccessfully seeking millions more. 

Topolewski falsely represented in the loan applications that the loans were for the purchase of large, industrial earth-moving construction equipment, and for business working capital purposes. In reality, Topolewski and his companies did not use the proceeds as represented and instead diverted, laundered, and misappropriated the proceeds for other purposes, including for the purchase of properties and to make Ponzi-like payments to financial lenders to perpetuate the scheme by using loan proceeds from newer loans to pay down the balance of other loans. Topolewski used several aliases, including the stolen identity of a victim, and company names that were similar to those of established companies in the construction and equipment industries.

In December 2025, Topolewski pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. 

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS – A man granted legal permanent resident status in 2018 from Mexico pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stabbing another passenger on a flight from Seattle, Washington, to Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 24, 2024, Julio Alvarez Lopez, punched, hit, and stabbed another passenger on a flight with a dangerous homemade weapon, consisting of three pens bound together with hair bands. The victim suffered injuries to the body and eye area, requiring stitches. After Lopez stopped stabbing the victim, he began walking towards the front of the aircraft and was restrained for the remainder of the flight.

The flight landed at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Lopez was taken into custody by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. During an interview in which Lopez waived his Miranda rights, he admitted that he armed himself with his homemade weapon, selected the victim because the victim had been looking at him in a harassing way, and attempted to murder the victim by shoving the homemade weapon into the victim’s brain. 

Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, and Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge Garrett Donaldson - LE/FAMS Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI, Federal Air Marshal Service, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brenna Bush is prosecuting the case.

###

Today, a federal jury in the District of Nevada convicted three men,  Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo, 30, also known as “Molesto,” of El Salvador; David Arturo Perez-Manchame, 27, also known as “Herbi,” of Honduras; and Joel Vargas-Escobar, 30, also known as “Momia,” of El Salvador, of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murders and attempted murder, as well as murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related gun offenses. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were members of La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, a transnational criminal organization (TCO) composed largely of individuals of Salvadoran or other Central American descent. MS-13 members and associates are organized by subsets known as “cliques,” and each clique typically has one or more leaders, commonly referred to as “shot callers.” The defendants were members of the Parkview clique operating in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Prospective MS-13 members ordinarily must participate in the murder of rival gang members, known as “chavalas,” to gain entrance and maintain and increase position within MS-13. According to evidence presented at trial, Vargas-Escobar was the leader of the Parkview clique of MS-13 in Las Vegas up until his arrest on New Year’s Eve of 2017. Reyes-Castillo then became the ranking “Homeboy” of the Parkview clique in Las Vegas. Perez-Manchame was a member of the Parkview clique. Collectively, these three men committed nine murders, over approximately a year, in Nevada and California. Evidence at trial was presented showing that many of the victims were kidnapped by MS-13 members and taken to remote locations in the mountains and desert where those victims were tortured and killed.

“Thanks to the tireless work of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, these MS-13 members will be held accountable for the horrific violence they unleashed on U.S. communities during their year-long killing spree,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This Justice Department will continue to use every tool available to us to dismantle MS-13 and other deadly transnational criminal organizations.”

“The depravity and complete devaluing of human life of these defendants, who were responsible for killing nine victims and shooting others, is beyond comprehension,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gangs like MS-13 terrorize communities with violence and killing. The Criminal Division will pursue these violent transnational criminal organizations in this exact way – charge these depraved gang members in bunches and try them for their brazen crimes in a way that highlights exactly what they do, which is systemically kill. These defendants will now face a sentencing hearing where, rightly, their liberty for the rest of their lives is at stake.”

“These convictions deliver a clear and uncompromising message: MS 13’s violence will be met with the full power of federal prosecution,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “These defendants carried out a campaign of terror marked by murders, kidnappings, and brutality. Their reign of violence ends today. The Las Vegas Homeland Security Task Force is unyielding in its mission — we will hunt down violent gang members, dismantle their networks, and drive transnational criminal organizations out of our communities. Southern Nevada will not be a refuge for predators or the terror they attempt to unleash.”

“This FBI has made wiping out violent gangs in America a top priority – including MS-13 — arresting over 2,500 violent gangs and criminal enterprises since last year, up 322%,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Today’s conviction is just the latest example — with three MS-13 gang members convicted of nine murders, kidnappings, drug trafficking, and more in Las Vegas. These gangs have terrorized our communities for far too long, and under this administration and law enforcement team, they are no longer allowed to operate with impunity in America. This FBI will continue working with our partners across the country to dismantle their presence coast to coast.”

“Today's conviction underscores the unwavering commitment of FBI Las Vegas working alongside our federal and local partners in eradicating gang violence that endangers our communities through senseless crime, murder, and kidnapping,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The FBI has recently initiated Operation Summer Heat 2.0, a nationwide campaign dedicated to combating violent crime during the summer. MS-13 gang members are known for acts of brutality, violence, and intimidation. Despite these threats, the FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities and eliminate this danger.”

“These convictions send a powerful message to violent transnational gangs like MS-13 — your reign of terror will not be tolerated in our communities,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI remains at the forefront of the fight against gangs that traffic in violence, fear, and exploitation, and we will continue to relentlessly pursue these criminals to ensure the safety and security of the American people.”

At trial, evidence was presented about the following murders committed by Reyes-Castillo, Perez-Manchame, Vargas-Escobar and other members of MS-13:

In December 2017, the Parkview clique “greenlit” the death of murder victim 1 who was a member of a rival gang. On Dec. 18, Reyes-Castillo and another MS-13 member kidnapped murder victim 1 from downtown Mendota, California, and drove him to a rural area. Reyes-Castillo then took murder victim 1, along with several other MS-13 members, to another location and murdered him with a machete and knives, striking him so brutally that he was left unrecognizable. 

On Dec. 31, 2017, Reyes-Castillo, Vargas-Escobar, and another MS-13 member killed murder victim 2 by shooting him multiple times in front of a house in Las Vegas. The MS-13 members saw murder victim 2 outside of an alleged drug house and believed he was dealing marijuana in their territory. They murdered him to reduce competition for MS-13 drug dealers.

On Jan. 9, 2018, Reyes-Castillo and other MS-13 members kidnapped murder victim 3, drove him to the desert and killed him by shooting and stabbing him multiple times. The MS-13 members believed murder victim 3 had defected to the rival 18th Street gang and thus targeted him to interrogate him and murder him. The victim’s body was found almost three weeks later, on a mountain near Las Vegas.

On Jan. 21, 2018, Reyes-Castillo and other MS-13 members kidnapped murder victim 4 from a nightclub and drove him to the desert. They murdered him by shooting and stabbing him multiple times. Murder victim 4 was targeted by the Parkview MS-13 clique for being a rival 18th Street gang member. They had gotten his name from interrogating a previous victim.

On Feb. 6, 2018, Reyes-Castillo and other MS-13 members were again searching for rival gang members. They killed two victims (murder victims 5 and 6) in a drive-by shooting. A third victim was hit by gunfire and survived. The MS-13 members believed the men were in rival gang territory and could be rival 18th Street gang members. 

On Feb. 9, 2018, Reyes-Castillo, Perez-Manchame and other MS-13 members kidnapped murder victim 7, who they believed was a rival gang member because of the way he was dressed and his tattoo. They drove him to a mountain and murdered him by stabbing him over 200 times; his decomposing body was found in the mountains about three weeks later. 

Sometime in February 2018, Reyes-Castillo and other MS-13 members kidnapped murder victim 8 as he had been named as an 18th Street gang member by a previous victim. The MS-13 members, including Reyes-Castillo, drove murder victim 8 to the mountains outside of Las Vegas and killed him by shooting him 20 times. 

On March 1, 2018, Reyes-Castillo, Perez-Manchame and another MS-13 member kidnapped murder victim 9 and drove him up to the mountains near Las Vegas. They believed murder victim 9 was a rival gang member because he was in 18th Street gang territory. They murdered him by stabbing him more than 120 times. 

The jury convicted Reyes-Castillo of one count of racketeering influenced corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy, eight counts of murder in aid of racketeering, seven counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, six counts of causing death through the use of a firearm, five counts of kidnapping in aid of racketeering, and one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering. 

The jury convicted Perez-Manchame of one count of RICO conspiracy, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and two counts of kidnappings in aid of racketeering. 

The jury convicted Vargas-Escobar of one count of RICO conspiracy, one count of murder in aid of racketeering, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of causing death through the use of a firearm. 

Each of these defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison without parole. Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 10, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI, HSI, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Bureau investigated the case. The Eastern District of California also provided assistance. 

Trial Attorney Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanee Smith and Steven Rose for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case. 

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Las Vegas HSTF comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.

Charges in this case were supported by Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV). JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded at the direction of the Attorney General to target Tren de Aragua (TdA). JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the District of Nevada; Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and District of Arizona, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Criminal Division, and the Office of Judicial Attaché and DEA partners in Bogotá, Colombia. Additionally, the FBI, HSI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and HSI both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.

LAS VEGAS — Today, a federal jury in the District of Nevada convicted three men, Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo, 30, also known as “Molesto,” of El Salvador; David Arturo Perez-Manchame, 27, also known as “Herbi,” of Honduras; and Joel Vargas-Escobar, 30, also known as “Momia,” of El Salvador, of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murders and attempted murder, as well as murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related gun offenses.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were members of La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, a transnational criminal organization (TCO) composed largely of individuals of Salvadoran or other Central American descent. MS-13 members and associates are organized by subsets known as “cliques,” and each clique typically has one or more leaders, commonly referred to as “shot callers.” The defendants were members of the Parkview clique operating in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Prospective MS-13 members ordinarily must participate in the murder of rival gang members, known as “chavalas,” to gain entrance and maintain and increase position within MS-13. According to evidence presented at trial, Vargas-Escobar was the leader of the Parkview clique of MS-13 in Las Vegas up until his arrest on New Year’s Eve of 2017. Reyes-Castillo then became the ranking “Homeboy” of the Parkview clique in Las Vegas. Perez-Manchame was a member of the Parkview clique. Collectively, these three men committed nine murders, over approximately a year, in Nevada and California. Evidence at trial was presented showing that many of the victims were kidnapped by MS-13 members and taken to remote locations in the mountains and desert where those victims were tortured and killed.

“Thanks to the tireless work of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, these MS-13 members will be held accountable for the horrific violence they unleashed on U.S. communities during their year-long killing spree,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This Justice Department will continue to use every tool available to us to dismantle MS-13 and other deadly transnational criminal organizations.”

“The depravity and complete devaluing of human life of these defendants, who were responsible for killing nine victims and shooting others, is beyond comprehension,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gangs like MS-13 terrorize communities with violence and killing. The Criminal Division will pursue these violent transnational criminal organizations in this exact way – charge these depraved gang members in bunches and try them for their brazen crimes in a way that highlights exactly what they do, which is systemically kill. These defendants will now face a sentencing hearing where, rightly, their liberty for the rest of their lives is at stake.”

“These convictions deliver a clear and uncompromising message: MS 13’s violence will be met with the full power of federal prosecution,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “These defendants carried out a campaign of terror marked by murders, kidnappings, and brutality. Their reign of violence ends today. The Las Vegas Homeland Security Task Force is unyielding in its mission — we will hunt down violent gang members, dismantle their networks, and drive transnational criminal organizations out of our communities. Southern Nevada will not be a refuge for predators or the terror they attempt to unleash.”

“This FBI has made wiping out violent gangs in America a top priority – including MS-13 — arresting over 2,500 violent gangs and criminal enterprises since last year, up 322%,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Today’s conviction is just the latest example — with three MS-13 gang members convicted of nine murders, kidnappings, drug trafficking, and more in Las Vegas. These gangs have terrorized our communities for far too long, and under this administration and law enforcement team, they are no longer allowed to operate with impunity in America. This FBI will continue working with our partners across the country to dismantle their presence coast to coast.”

“Today's conviction underscores the unwavering commitment of FBI Las Vegas working alongside our federal and local partners in eradicating gang violence that endangers our communities through senseless crime, murder, and kidnapping,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The FBI has recently initiated Operation Summer Heat 2.0, a nationwide campaign dedicated to combating violent crime during the summer. MS-13 gang members are known for acts of brutality, violence, and intimidation. Despite these threats, the FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities and eliminate this danger.”

“These convictions send a powerful message to violent transnational gangs like MS-13 — your reign of terror will not be tolerated in our communities,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI remains at the forefront of the fight against gangs that traffic in violence, fear, and exploitation, and we will continue to relentlessly pursue these criminals to ensure the safety and security of the American people.”

"We are proud of the relationship the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has with our federal partners on the Homeland Security Task Force," said Undersheriff Andrew Walsh for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. "The work we do together ensures our community remains one of the safest in America. We are especially proud of the work of our LVMPD homicide detectives who investigated these cases. The LVMPD Homicide Bureau consistently maintains a solve rate of over 95% annually. Since Sheriff Kevin McMahill took office in 2023, the homicide rate in Las Vegas has dropped 43%."

Photo recovered on cell phone of Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo.

At trial, evidence was presented about the following murders committed by Reyes-Castillo, Perez-Manchame, Vargas-Escobar and other members of MS-13:

In December 2017, the Parkview clique “greenlit” the death of murder victim 1 who was a member of a rival gang. On Dec. 18, Reyes-Castillo and another MS-13 member kidnapped murder victim 1 from downtown Mendota, California, and drove him to a rural area. Reyes-Castillo then took murder victim 1, along with several other MS-13 members, to another location and murdered him with a machete and knives, striking him so brutally that he was left unrecognizable.

On Dec. 31, 2017, Reyes-Castillo, Vargas-Escobar, and another MS-13 member killed murder victim 2 by shooting him multiple times in front of a house in Las Vegas. The MS-13 members saw murder victim 2 outside of an alleged drug house and believed he was dealing marijuana in their territory. They murdered him to reduce competition for MS-13 drug dealers.

On Jan. 9, 2018, Reyes-Castillo and other MS-13 members kidnapped murder victim 3, drove him to the desert and killed him by shooting and stabbing him multiple times. The MS-13 members believed murder victim 3 had defected to the rival 18th Street gang and thus targeted him to interrogate him and murder him. The victim’s body was found almost three weeks later, on a mountain near Las Vegas.

On Jan. 21, 2018, Reyes-Castillo and other MS-13 members kidnapped murder victim 4 from a nightclub and drove him to the desert. They murdered him by shooting and stabbing him multiple times. Murder victim 4 was targeted by the Parkview MS-13 clique for being a rival 18th Street gang member. They had gotten his name from interrogating a previous victim.

On Feb. 6, 2018, Reyes-Castillo and other MS-13 members were again searching for rival gang members. They killed two victims (murder victims 5 and 6) in a drive-by shooting. A third victim was hit by gunfire and survived. The MS-13 members believed the men were in rival gang territory and could be rival 18th Street gang members.

On Feb. 9, 2018, Reyes-Castillo, Perez-Manchame and other MS-13 members kidnapped murder victim 7, who they believed was a rival gang member because of the way he was dressed and his tattoo. They drove him to a mountain and murdered him by stabbing him over 200 times; his decomposing body was found in the mountains about three weeks later.

Sometime in February 2018, Reyes-Castillo and other MS-13 members kidnapped murder victim 8 as he had been named as an 18th Street gang member by a previous victim. The MS-13 members, including Reyes-Castillo, drove murder victim 8 to the mountains outside of Las Vegas and killed him by shooting him 20 times.

On March 1, 2018, Reyes-Castillo, Perez-Manchame and another MS-13 member kidnapped murder victim 9 and drove him up to the mountains near Las Vegas. They believed murder victim 9 was a rival gang member because he was in 18th Street gang territory. They murdered him by stabbing him more than 120 times.

The jury convicted Reyes-Castillo of one count of racketeering influenced corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy, eight counts of murder in aid of racketeering, seven counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, six counts of causing death through the use of a firearm, five counts of kidnapping in aid of racketeering, and one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering.

The jury convicted Perez-Manchame of one count of RICO conspiracy, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and two counts of kidnappings in aid of racketeering.

The jury convicted Vargas-Escobar of one count of RICO conspiracy, one count of murder in aid of racketeering, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of causing death through the use of a firearm.

Each of these defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison without parole. Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 10, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI, HSI, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Bureau investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California also provided assistance.

Trial Attorney Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanee Smith and Steven Rose for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Las Vegas HSTF comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.

Charges in this case were supported by Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV). JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded at the direction of the Attorney General to target Tren de Aragua (TdA). JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the District of Nevada; Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and District of Arizona, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Criminal Division, and the Office of Judicial Attaché and DEA partners in Bogotá, Colombia. Additionally, the FBI, HSI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and HSI both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.

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LAS VEGAS – An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced Friday by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware to 36 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed from the country on three prior occasions. The government recommended 36 months’ imprisonment.

According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on October 19, 2024, Jose Luis Ruiz-Gutierrez was found in the United States after he was previously deported to Mexico on February 15, 2011, May 3, 2011, and December 24, 2013.

Ruiz-Gutierrez has two prior felony convictions out of the Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada; Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell and Coercion with Physical Force or Immediate Threat of Physical Force Sexually Motivated. Ruiz-Gutierrez was also previously convicted of illegally reentering the United States after being deported out of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. This is his second conviction for illegally reentering the United States.

Ruiz-Gutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence, he will be deported to Mexico for a fourth time.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida made the announcement.

The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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.

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LAS VEGAS – Two Mexican nationals and one Honduran national unlawfully residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.

“This indictment highlights the fact that aliens who show a complete contempt for the law will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The District of Nevada, through Operation Take Back America, will continue to use our existing laws as a deterrent for those who choose to engage in illegal acts.”

Cristian Omar Valencia-Gomez and Jose Flores, both citizens of Mexico, and Kevin Idel Moncada-Lopez, a citizen of Honduras, are each charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for all three defendants are scheduled for July 7, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.

According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Valencia-Gomez, Flores, and Moncada-Lopez were all previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally.

On June 7, 2024, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Valencia-Gomez for two counts of Battery Domestic Violence 3rd Offence, Child Abuse or Neglect with Substantial Bodily or Mental Harm, Attempt Home Invasion, Destroy Property of Another, and Harassment. On June 12, 2026, after serving a term of 19-to-48 months in prison for Battery Constituting Domestic Violence, and Child Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment, Valencia-Gomez was remanded by the Nevada Department of Corrections to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Valencia-Gomez had been previously deported to Mexico three times, on or about October 7, 2017, January 14, 2018, and January 18, 2018.

On June 8, 2024, officers with the Las Vegas, Metropolitan Police Department arrested Flores in Las Vegas, Nevada, for Trafficking Controlled Substance, Own/Possess Gun by Prohibited Person, Carry/Possess Firearm During and in Commission of a Drug Offense, and four counts Sell/Transport Controlled Substance. On June 3, 2026, after serving a term of two-to-five years in prison for Trafficking in Controlled Substance, Flores was remanded by the Nevada Department of Corrections to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Flores also has a conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana out of the United States District Court, District of Arizona. Flores had been previously deported to Mexico on or about June 6, 2018.

On January 30, 2024, officers with the Sparks Police Department arrested Moncada-Lopez for assault with a deadly weapon. On June 4, 2026, after serving a term of 24-to-60-months in prison for battery with the use of deadly weapon, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Moncada-Lopez to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Moncada-Lopez had been previously deported to Honduras on or about October 13, 2012.

If convicted, Flores faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

If convicted, Valencia-Gomez and Moncada-Lopez each face a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison, a one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida made the announcement.

The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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.

A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty today to uploading and sharing child sexual abuse material with other users on an internet-based social media platform.

According to court documents, Daniel Roy Saringo distributed child sexual abuse material to other users on a social media platform. A forensic analysis of his digital devices revealed a collection of child sexual abuse material on his electronic devices, including cell phones and a laptop.

“This defendant chose to perpetuate horrific abuse against children, and his actions represent a complete betrayal of our most fundamental standards of decency,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah. “Every image he shared further violated a real child. This conduct is intolerable, and those who engage in it will be met with the full force of federal prosecution. Our office will relentlessly pursue the toughest charges and the longest sentences the law allows for anyone who exploits a child. Protecting the most vulnerable in our community is non negotiable.”

“Saringo facilitated the distribution of child sexual abuse material, thereby fueling demand for child exploitation,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “While prosecution cannot undo the harm inflicted on the victims or remove its traces from the Internet, our investigating team, along with partner law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, is committed to preventing harm to vulnerable children. This case was part of the FBI's Operation Relentless Justice and underscores our dedication to holding offenders fully accountable for their crimes.”

Saringo was previously convicted of statutory sexual seduction in Clark County, Nevada. In this case, he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 15, 2026, before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison with a qualifying prior conviction. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is a result of the FBI’s Operation Relentless Justice, a nationwide coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. In December 2025, over the course of two weeks, the crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country.

This case is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.

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LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who had previously admitted to unlawful possession of an unserialized, privately made AR-15-pattern pistol was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware, II to 80 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. A privately made firearm without a serial number is sometimes called a “ghost gun.” The government recommended 130 months’ imprisonment.

According to court documents, Noel Lynn Waters possessed and brandished a privately made firearm eight months after he was released from state custody following his prison sentence for a firearm conviction. On October 20, 2023, Waters unlawfully possessed a loaded, privately made 5.56x45mm semi-automatic pistol incorporating an AR-15-pattern lower receiver. He admitted that he pointed the firearm at another person and threatened he was going to “shoot everybody.”

Waters has multiple prior felony convictions in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He was previously convicted of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in Clark County, Nevada. Additionally, he was previously convicted of possession of controlled substance for sale; unlawful possession or use of tear gas; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm; and transportation, furnishing or sale of controlled substance, all in Los Angeles County. As a convicted felon, Waters is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

In September 2025, Waters pleaded guilty to one-count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. 

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge John Wester of the San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.

The ATF and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.

Anyone with information about unlawful firearms activity should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip at www.reportit.com/.

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LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed from the country on three prior occasions.

According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on April 29, 2024, Miguel Antonio Murillo-Ramos was found in the United States after he was previously deported to Mexico on January 17, 2015, April 10, 2019, and November 1, 2023.

Murillo-Ramos has two prior convictions for illegally reentering the United States after being deported from 2017 and 2020. Both convictions were from the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.  Murillo-Ramos also has felony convictions for Robbery, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon from the Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada.

Murillo-Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence, he will be deported to Mexico for a fourth time.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida made the announcement.

The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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.

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LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who pleaded guilty to trafficking stolen firearms was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Ky’von Love Bernard Payne admitted that on March 25, 2024, he and co-defendant Semaj’e Ridgeway possessed 35 stolen firearms – including a semiautomatic rifle, semiautomatic pistols, and a long rifle – inside Ridgeway’s residence in North Las Vegas. Many of the stolen firearms had price tags and descriptions attached to them from a licensed firearms dealer located in Southern California. Payne further admitted that, on that same day, co-defendants Jahova Bell and Lanell Bellows exchanged a 5.56x45mm semiautomatic rifle and cash for two of the stolen pistols. 

Payne pleaded guilty to one count of possession of stolen firearms and one count of trafficking in firearms.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge John Wester for the San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.

ATF investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.

If you have information about gun violence or any illegal activities that involve firearms, you are urged to contact ATF by calling 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477).

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LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed from the country on three prior occasions.

According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on March 12, 2025, Ruben Antonio Vizcarra-Lopez was found in the United States after he was previously deported to Mexico on September 8, 2020.

On March 12, 2025, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested Vizcarra-Lopez for Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession to Sell Controlled Substance, Obtain/Use Identification of another to Avoid/Delay Prosecution, and Assault with Deadly Weapon. Vizcarra-Lopez was previously convicted in 2019 for felony Trafficking in Controlled Substance, and in 2025 for felony Mid-Level Possession of Controlled Substance, both out of the Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada.

Vizcarra-Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence, he will be deported to Mexico a second time.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida made the announcement.

The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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.

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LAS VEGAS - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada today presented Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with a Hometown Hero Award. 

As part of Freedom 250, the Hometown Hero Award commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding. It honors the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. This award is dedicated in recognition of a steadfast commitment to these ideals and an embodiment of the spirit upon which our nation was founded.

“This award was presented to Sheriff McMahill in recognition of his law enforcement career, transformative leadership, and forward-looking innovations in modern policing,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “As Sheriff of one of the largest counties in the country, Sheriff McMahill has worked closely with local and federal partners to oversee numerous high-profile cases and to strengthen relationships with the community. Congratulations and thank you for your decades of service.”

Sheriff McMahill began his law enforcement career after serving in the United States Army, joining the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) in 1990 as a patrol officer. Through sustained excellence and commitment to community safety, he rose through every rank of the Department—sergeant, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief, assistant sheriff, and undersheriff—before being elected Sheriff in 2022.

As Sheriff, McMahill has led the LVMPD during a period marked by measurable reductions in crime, while simultaneously implementing innovative strategies that have positioned the Department as a national leader in public safety. Notably, he established the LVMPD Wellness Bureau, demonstrating a deep commitment to officer mental health and resiliency by fostering a culture of wellness and significantly reducing officer suicides. In addition, he spearheaded the development of one of the most advanced Drone as First Responder programs in the world, leveraging technology to enhance response times, improve situational awareness, and better protect both officers and the community.

Sheriff McMahill’s leadership is further distinguished by his investment in continuous professional development. He is a graduate of the FBI’s Leadership in Counter-Terrorism Program and the National Executive Institute, as well as the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program—credentials that reflect his strategic vision and commitment to adopting best practices in law enforcement leadership.

Through a career defined by service, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to community safety, Sheriff McMahill exemplifies the qualities of a “Hometown Hero” and stands as a model for law enforcement agencies nationwide.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah presents Hometown Hero Award to Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

LAS VEGAS – As a result of coordinated law enforcement actions in three states, seven men have been arrested and indicted in connection with submitting fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, totaling $205,639 in fraudulent loan proceeds. The takedown was conducted by the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; FBI Phoenix Division; FBI Houston Division, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. 

“This case demonstrates the power of a true whole-of-government approach to deliver swift justice against fraudsters—and it should be replicated in every region across the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “I commend the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, the FBI, the SBA-OIG, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for holding these individuals accountable.”

“Seven defendants are alleged to have exploited government-funded programs designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans to line their pockets,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the outstanding investigative efforts by the FBI, SBA-OIG, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department these defendants will now each have their day in court to face federal criminal fraud charges.”

“Exploiting federal programs intended to support small businesses is unacceptable,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The defendants used the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to steal from taxpayers for personal gain and should be held fully accountable. The FBI and our partners remain committed to identifying and investigating those who seek to defraud federal programs designed to assist businesses in need of operational support.”

According to allegations contained in court documents, Elias Santino Acereto; Sheyland Juakeen Barnett; James Sean Freeman II; Yves Garry Harrison-Pierre; Tyrone Tatrice Johnson; Marcus Dushun McMillian-Bonner; and Nathan Jeffry Scott, all of Las Vegas, each provided false information and fake documentation when applying for PPP loans and/or EIDL loans. As alleged, they each fraudulently obtained the loan funds to enrich themselves. 

Acereto; Barnett; Johnson; McMillian-Bonner; Harrison-Pierre; and Scott are each charged with one count of wire fraud; and Freeman is charged with two counts of wire fraud. On June 11, Barnett, Freeman, Johnson, and Scott were arrested in Las Vegas; Acereto and Harrison-Pierre were arrested in Phoenix, and McMillian-Bonner was arrested in Richmond, Texas.

If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Las Vegas Field Office, SBA-OIG, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and North Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated these cases. The FBI Phoenix Division and FBI Houston Division provided valuable assistance with the arrests of the defendants. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn is prosecuting these cases.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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

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LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury today returned a 16-count indictment that charged the owner of Uprise, LLC, a former internet service provider located in Reno, Nevada, with felonies in connection with an alleged embezzlement from a federal grant project. Stephen A. Kromer (48) is charged with felony counts of embezzlement of government property, federal program theft, money laundering and presenting a false document, all in connection with his alleged embezzlement of more than $7.8 million from a federally funded high-speed internet construction project near Lovelock, Nevada.

“Today’s 16-count indictment against the defendant is serious; and should send a clear message that the U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to ending corruption,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The Public Corruption Strike Force within the U.S. Attorney’s Office is working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partner agencies to root out corruption, including theft of federal program grant funds.”

“Through multiple fraudulent schemes, the defendant clearly exploited trust to line his pockets,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The grants were intended to enhance broadband infrastructure in rural communities in Nevada. Instead, the defendant brazenly misappropriated these funds for personal gain.”

“We want to thank our partners at the Department of Justice and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for tackling fraud head on and being essential stakeholders in stopping waste, fraud, and abuse of federal funds,” said Nevada State Director Alida Ceballos for USDA Rural Development. “From Day 1, USDA and DOJ have worked hand-in-hand to bring bad actors to justice and ensure those who exploit taxpayer dollars are held accountable.”

According to court documents, Kromer owned Uprise in 2022 when it applied for a federal grant under the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) ReConnect Program, proposing to construct a $36-million internet project that would provide access to high-speed internet to users living or working in rural Lovelock, Nevada, about 100 miles northeast of Reno. As part of the funding for the project, Uprise agreed to contribute $9 million toward the cost of the project. In June 2023, the USDA awarded Uprise a $27 million ReConnect grant to fund the Lovelock Project and required Uprise to deposit its $9 million share of the funding into a separate financial account called the Pledged Deposit Account (PDA) that restricted withdrawals to payments for costs of the Lovelock Project as approved by the USDA.   

According to the Indictment, Kromer embezzled about $7.8 million of funding from the Lovelock Project by withdrawing the funds from the PDA and depositing them into his personal bank account via 32 wire transfers he made from the account between May and November 2024.  The Indictment alleges that with each transfer Kromer caused false accounting entries to be made in the books and records of Uprise to make it appear that the withdrawals were made to pay for the costs of the Lovelock Project when, in truth and fact, they were not. Kromer then submitted the false information to the USDA. The Indictment further alleges that Kromer disguised and concealed the proceeds of the embezzlement by moving the proceeds from his personal bank account into accounts he held at various cryptocurrency exchanges where he converted more than $6.2 million of the proceeds from U.S. dollars into cryptocurrency.

Kromer is charged with one count of theft of government property; four counts of federal program theft; five counts of money laundering; five counts of monetary transactions in criminally derived property; and one count of using a false document. An initial appearance has been scheduled for June 24, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah. If convicted, Kromer faces the maximum statutory penalty of 50 years’ imprisonment on the federal theft charges and more than 100 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering and false document charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, and Nevada State Director Alida Ceballos for USDA Rural Development made the announcement.

The FBI and USDA Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Myhre and Skyler Pearson are prosecuting the case.

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

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On June 8, the United States extradited Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, also known as “Sedina Sharon Christine Acolatse,” a Ghanaian citizen, to serve a 10-year prison term in Ghana for convictions on more than 70 criminal counts that include charges of stealing, conspiracy, causing financial loss to the State and to public property, money laundering, and other offenses. 

Attionu, 60, has been convicted in the Republic of Ghana for exploiting her role as Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) to steal and misappropriate approximately $6 million. MASLOC is a Ghanaian agency set up to assist small and medium-scale businesses by providing them with low interest loans. As MASLOC’s CEO from November 2013 to January 2017, Attionu was responsible for the overall supervision and management of MASLOC, as well as the day-to-day administration of its affairs and funds. Attionu was convicted of repeatedly abusing her position to enrich herself through a variety of schemes, including directly stealing funds remitted to MASLOC, pocketing public funds that were earmarked to be spent on outreach, training, and disaster relief programs, using public funds to buy cars and cellphones at grossly inflated prices, and making extra, unearned payments to herself and her co-conspirator.

After attending trial in Ghana through the prosecution’s presentation of its witnesses, Attionu obtained the Ghanaian court’s permission to travel to the United States for medical treatment, but Attionu never returned to Ghana. The court issued a warrant for her arrest, concluded her absence was unjustified, and proceeded with her trial. On April 16, 2024, the court found Attionu guilty on all charges and sentenced her to 10 years in prison.

Ghana then requested Attionu’s extradition and, in December 2025, the United States obtained a warrant for Attionu’s arrest based on Ghana’s request. Attionu was arrested on Jan. 6, in Nevada. Following her detention and extradition hearings, a U.S. magistrate judge in the District of Nevada certified Attionu’s extradition to Ghana on April 9. The Secretary of State then authorized her surrender to Ghanaian authorities. On June 8, the U.S. Marshals Service surrendered Attionu to Ghanaian authorities for transportation to Ghana. Attionu’s extradition is now complete.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada handled the extradition litigation in collaboration with the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA). OIA attorneys and international affairs specialists provided additional critical support to this extradition by coordinating closely with the International Cooperation Unit and the Economic and Organised Crime Office of the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice of Ghana. The U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Accra, and the Ghana Police Service’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau also provided essential assistance. 

LAS VEGAS – A Cuban national pleaded guilty today to attempting to access a secure passenger boarding area using a fake boarding pass then assaulting officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

Jhon Raul Vizcaino Ramirez admitted that, on November 3, 2025, he presented a Transportation Security Administration screening officer a boarding pass in the name of another person and attempted to enter the passenger boarding area. After refusing to provide his identification, Ramirez assaulted the TSA officer. Officers attempted to detain Ramirez as he resisted arrest. During the altercation, Ramirez assaulted several additional TSA officers.

Ramirez pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with security screening personnel; two counts of assault, resisting, or impeding person assisting certain officers or employees; and one count of entry by false pretenses to secure area of any airport. Sentencing has been scheduled for September 10, 2026, before United States District Chief Judge Andrew P. Gordon. Ramirez faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment; a three-year period of supervised release; and a fine of $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Ramirez was originally found by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol on October 27, 2022, near Yuma, Arizona, after he illegally entered the United States from Mexico. Due to a lack of detention space, he was released. Ramirez has illegally remained in the United States since his release. Due to his most recent arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on him which means he will be turned over to ICE upon conclusion of his Federal criminal charges.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Frank Abreu for TSA Office of Law Enforcement/Investigations made the announcement.

TSA Office of Law Enforcement/Investigations with the assistance of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings is prosecuting the case.

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LAS VEGAS – This week, five men pleaded guilty to distributing thousands of violent and sadistic child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across peer-to-peer networks.

“The relentless pursuit of child sex predators is one of the FBI's top priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Victimization and abuse of our most vulnerable, our community's innocent children, is unacceptable. Through initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood, we are committed to identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice anyone who violates federal laws designed to protect our children.”

• On June 1, Andrew Padilla, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network more than 4,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Padilla admitted that he possessed about 160 images and videos depicting sadistic or masochistic, including infants and toddlers and children under the age of 12. Padilla pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography. 
• On June 1, Jimmy Franklin Dearman, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network approximately 239 files of child sexual abuse material and distributing at least 39 of the files. Additionally, he admitted to possessing over 1,600 images and 242 videos of child sexual abuse material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct of infants and toddlers, and children under the age of 12. Dearman pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
• On June 5, James Donovan, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material at least 11 times with other users and channels of the social media application Discord. Donovan admitted that he also transported child sexual abuse material to an Amazon Cloud account using the internet. He also possessed about 70 printed images and over 50,000 digital images and videos of child sexual abuse material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, infants and toddlers, and prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Donovan pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography, 20 years for the transportation of child pornography, and 20 years for possession of child pornography. 
• On June 5, Randall William Rushton, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download, on two separate occasions, over 600 total images and videos of child sexual abuse material for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network. He also admitted that he possessed over 11,000 images and videos depicting sadistic or masochistic, including infants and toddlers and children under the age of 12. Rushton pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
• On June 5, Travis Ehlers, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network more than 500 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Ehlers admitted that he possessed approximately 13,420 images and about 1,784 videos of child sexual abuse material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, infants and toddlers, and prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Ehlers pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting these cases.

These cases are a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.

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RENO – A Reno man made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday for allegedly sexually abusing a child on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, in Reno. 

As alleged in the indictment, on December 1, 2025, Bruce Sanchez engaged in sexual contact with a nine-year-old child who is an enrolled member of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.

Sanchez was charged with one count of aggravated sexual abuse within Indian Country and three counts of abusive sexual contact within Indian Country. United States Magistrate Judge Carla Baldwin set a trial to begin on August 4, 2026, before United States District Judge Anne R. Traum. 

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI Reno Resident Agency and Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Penelope Brady is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.

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

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RENO – A Reno man was charged in an indictment and made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Reno on Wednesday for allegedly murdering a woman in February 2022.

According to allegations in the indictment and statements made in court, on or about February 2, 2022, Delshay Astor participated in the murder of Anna Scott on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. Anna Scott was shot and killed, then her body was put into her car and set on fire. The victim was a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.

“This indictment reflects my Office’s continued commitment to ensure that no victim is left behind, no matter how much time has passed,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “It is my hope that our pursuit of justice and accountability for Anna’s gruesome death will bring some comfort to Anna’s family, friends and community.”

“FBI Las Vegas has a strong, long-standing commitment to investigating violent crime on tribal lands alongside our law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “We do not forget. We do not give up. And we will hold violent offenders accountable, no matter how long it takes.”

“While the arraignment of Mr. Astor on Wednesday does not bring Anna back, it serves as an important step in finally delivering justice to her family, friends, and community,” Sheriff Darin Balaam said. “While this complex investigation took over four years, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners did not forget, and we did not give up. Indicting Mr. Astor would not have been possible without the partnership of the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to holding those responsible accountable in a court of law.”

If convicted, Astor faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, and Sheriff Darin Balaam for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

The FBI and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The United States Marshals Service also assisted with operational support. Assistant United States Attorney Penelope Brady is prosecuting the case.

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

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