Middle District of Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bernard Johnson, age 48, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 14, 2026, to 15 years’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the case against Johnson arose from two separate incidents.  In the early morning hours of November 23, 2017, police responded to Johnson’s apartment because of reports that burglars were in the apartment. When the police responded to the apartment, they did not find the burglars. Instead, they found cocaine, crack cocaine, and a firearm strewn about the apartment.  When Johnson arrived at his apartment, they found more drugs in his car. 

While released by local authorities pending trial for that offense, local police were called to another incident involving Johnson. On August 17, 2018, police responded to a call that Johnson was at a Susquehanna Township home and was pointing a gun at someone. With police responding to scene, Johnson fled in his truck.  A long vehicle chase through the streets of Harrisburg ensued. As law enforcement blocked off a street, Johnson threw out of the window of his vehicle a handgun with a silencer.  Police arrested Johnson. They later searched his truck and found more cocaine for trafficking. 

On July 10, 2025, Johnson pled guilty to five charges: three counts of drug trafficking and two counts of possessing firearms as a felon. 

When imposing the sentence, Judge Wilson noted his long criminal history.  That criminal history included convictions in state and federal court for drug trafficking and weapons offenses. The Judge expressed a significant risk of recidivism and a need to protect the public. 

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Shore Regional Police Department, the Harrisburg Bureau of Police, and the Susquehanna Township Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Consiglio, Steven Dukes, and Carlo Marchioli prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Isaiah Postell-Jones, age 25, of Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Postell-Jones previously admitted that on March 13, 2024, he knowingly sold over 100 grams of methamphetamine in a parking lot in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, for $900.  Postell-Jones further admitted that on two other occasions he sold “sham” methamphetamine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that William Freeman, IV, age 46, of Tobyhanna, PA, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by United States District Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr., on April 8, 2026, for one count of wire fraud and one count of making and subscribing a false tax return. Judge Saporito also ordered Freeman to pay restitution in the amount of $352,155.00 dollars.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, over a multi-year period between 2020 and 2021, Freeman submitted at least 10 applications seeking pandemic stimulus funds through both the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, as well as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) on behalf of several entities under his control, including, Second Haven Services for Youth, Inc., Phoenix Behavioral Health Network, LLC, Pocono Wing Hut, LLC, and Legacy Group Real Estate Company. The applications submitted by Freeman were filed on behalf of corporate entities that did not, in fact, have actual business operations, and that bore false employee headcount information, fabricated gross revenues, and costs of goods sold. Freeman additionally made material misrepresentations on these applications about his criminal history, representing that he had none when, in fact, he did. Freeman obtained over $300,000 dollars in stimulus funds through filing the fraudulent applications, which he spent on unapproved personal expenses and was never repaid. 

Additionally, and in support of that fraud, Freeman filed a falsified Form 1040 and a falsified W-3 in 2020 for the 2019 tax year claiming thousands of dollars in taxes that were withheld and paid over to the IRS which had never happened. In addition to his failure to pay over those taxes, he also attempted to obtain thousands of dollars of tax refund money. Freeman did this for the purpose of creating a filed tax return in an attempt to obtain additional stimulus funds.

The Department of Justice has created 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.

In sentencing Freeman, the Court articulated its concerns with potential recidivism, noting Freeman’s evasive claims about past and present employment and fraudulent representations about his educational background.

“Today’s sentencing unequivocally affirms the gravity with which federal courts regard violations of the tax laws,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office. “IRS-Criminal Investigation is committed to uncovering the financial lies behind these schemes and holding accountable those who profit at the expense of the American taxpayers.”

The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case. 

# # #

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert Beaumont, age 29, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 7, 2026, to 65 months of imprisonment by United Stated District Judge Keli M. Neary for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, state police in Lebanon County were dispatched for a report of a man slumped over the wheel of a car. When police arrived, they found Beaumont asleep in the driver’s seat of a black Nissan. Police saw loose heroin on the passenger seat and took him into custody. During a search of the vehicle, police found a loaded SCCY CPX-2 9mm pistol under the driver’s seat. They also found heroin, methamphetamine, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Beaumont had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and related charges in 2020. He was therefore ineligible to possess a firearm.

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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

# # #

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Frank Suess (a.k.a., Franz P. Suess), age 79, of Wellington, Florida, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute. Suess also agreed to forfeit a commercial property in Wellington, Florida that he used to carry out his offenses.

Four individuals who were charged along with Suess are still pending trial: Luis Salgado, age 51, of Naperville, Illinois and Davenport, Florida; Melissa Driscoll, age 44, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; Victor Velazco, age 36, of Loxahatchee, Florida; Dave Singh, age 38, of Pembroke Pines, Florida. Two defendants who were also charged along with Suess previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing: Warren Pizik, age 69, of Davie, Florida and Diana Castro, age 54, of Brooklyn, New York.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Suess admitted that between 2019 and 2020, he and his codefendants conspired to commit health care fraud through an arrangement designed to bill individuals’ health insurances for medically unnecessary prescription drug combinations known as “foot baths.” Foot baths were purported to be an antibiotic and antifungal “foot soak” treatment that patients were supposed to mix together and dissolve in a warm water solution, using a plastic foot tub. The combinations of prescription drugs contained in foot baths varied over time, but they generally included high-cost drugs that were not intended for or approved for use in a foot bath, including vancomycin capsules, tobramycin vials, calcipotriene cream, moxifloxacin eye drops, clindamycin phosphate solution, and ketoconazole cream.

Suess also admitted that he and certain codefendants acquired control of pharmacies in a way that allowed Suess to conceal his involvement in their business affairs. One such pharmacy was Sterling Pharmacy, which was located in Jermyn, Pennsylvania. Suess, using a company that he controlled called Medivalue Florida LLC, financed the purchase and initial operating expenses for Sterling Pharmacy through a loan to Melissa Driscoll around March 2018. In a similar manner, Suess financed the purchase of DCE Pharmacy, located in Texas, and Motto Pharmacy, located in Florida.

Once they got control of pharmacies, Suess and other defendants used those pharmacies to generate profits by steering high-cost prescription drug mail orders, including foot baths, to those pharmacies. Pharmacies were selected to fulfill prescription drug orders based on which insurance plans they could bill through and for the amounts they could bill for such drugs. When the pharmacies were investigated for those dispensing practices, Suess and his codefendants used various tactics to continue concealing Suess’s involvement. In addition, Suess and others acquired control of various pharmacies so that they could continue generating profit from prescription drug mail orders even if one pharmacy was suspended or terminated by a pharmacy benefit manager because of its business practices.

Suess admitted that the scheme to bill for fraudulent foot bath orders involved getting prechecked, templated order forms through “health fairs” in the New York area organized by certain codefendants and their associates. Each of these forms was for large quantities of certain expensive prescription drugs. The forms were prechecked to permit multiple refills without any further patient evaluation or involvement of a medical provider. Suess admitted that he and his codefendants made no effort prior to fulfilling these orders to confirm that any individual recipient wanted or agreed to receive such foot bath drugs.

Suess also admitted that he and his codefendants knowingly ignored complaints from individuals who received foot baths. These complaints included not wanting foot baths, not having ever seen a foot doctor, having their insurance “charged a lot of money,” being “freaked out” because there were no instructions regarding what to do with the medications, and being “scared of the box” of foot baths because it contained “such a huge amount of meds.” Suess admitted that he and his codefendants stopped billing for foot baths through Sterling Pharmacy only because insurance companies stopped processing the pharmacy’s orders. In addition, Suess admitted that he and other defendants continued to attempt to bill for similar prescription drug orders in 2021 even though insurance companies repeatedly communicated to them that such orders were being rejected.

Suess also admitted that he conspired with certain codefendants to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute by agreeing to pay, and actually paying, kickbacks to certain defendants for providing completed orders for foot baths using the templated order forms described above. Suess admitted that he and others caused these payments to be made knowing that the prescription drug orders that formed the basis for these kickback payments were not legitimate. Suess further admitted that he and other defendants made additional payments to third-party marketers to generate pharmacy orders for prescription drug products and medical equipment, including pain creams, skin products, and diabetic support products.

Finally, Suess admitted that he and other codefendants obstructed the government’s investigation into Sterling Pharmacy by coming up with a document that misrepresented Sterling Pharmacy’s compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute and contained other false information. Suess admitted that this effort was purposefully calculated to thwart an investigation into the health care fraud and kickback scheme. The document, which was called a “marketing services agreement,” made it appear falsely that Sterling Pharmacy was paying MedX Marketing Solutions—a company belonging to Suess’s codefendant, Luis Salgado—on an hourly basis for legitimate marketing services, when in reality Sterling Pharmacy paid MedX illegal kickbacks for the referral of signed foot-bath order forms for individual beneficiaries. 

Suess admitted that the health care fraud conspiracy generated over $700 thousand in profits through fraudulent foot bath orders from a private health insurance fund. Additional payments for foot baths were also generated from Medicare and prescription drug plans sponsored by Medicare. Suess agreed to pay restitution for fraudulent foot bath orders generated by the pharmacies named in the charges against him, including Sterling Pharmacy, DCE Pharmacy, and Motto Pharmacy. 

Suess also admitted that he used a commercial property located in Wellington, Florida to facilitate his offenses and agreed, as part of his plea agreement, to forfeit that property to the United States. The property is currently estimated to be worth approximately $4 million. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma and Sarah Lloyd are prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine, for each offense. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brayan Garcia-Vazquez, age 25, of Haverlock, North Carolina, was sentenced on April 1, 2026, to 180 months of imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for production of child pornography.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, a minor victim disclosed during a forensic interview that there was a video of her having sex with Garcia-Vazquez, and that he knew she was 12 years old at the time they had sexual intercourse. The minor victim explained that she had met Garcia-Vazquez on Instagram about a year beforehand.

Garcia-Vazquez came to the minor victim’s home on two separate days to have sexual intercourse. The second day he brought the minor victim a gold bracelet and they had intercourse again.  Garcia-Vazquez recorded the sex act that day and shared the video with the minor victim, whose mother eventually found it and contacted law enforcement. Garcia-Vazquez was identified as the perpetrator through forensic analysis of the minor victim’s phone and matching Garcia-Vazquez with the male in the video.

Garcia-Vazquez faces deportation following the completion of this sentence.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

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

# # #

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Favio Rodas Cardona, age 32, a citizen of Guyana, was sentenced yesterday to 12 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for illegally reentering the country after having previously been removed. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Rodas Cardona was indicted by a federal grand jury after being arrested for sexual abuse of children and related charges in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, on November 5, 2025.  Rodas Cardona had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to a court order in 2013.  Rodas Cardona pleaded guilty to illegal reentry before being sentenced.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Kelley K. McGraw prosecuted the case.

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

# # #

HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Miguel Mejia Tum, age 27, a citizen of Guatemala, illegally residing in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on April 1, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed subsequent to an aggravated felony conviction.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Mejia Tum illegally reentered the United States and was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on March 15, 2026. Mejia Tum was removed from the United States through Alexandria, Louisiana, on October 28, 2020, and reentered without having obtained permission to do so.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is twenty years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

###

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tahid Green, age 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on March 3, 2026, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Green distributed more than 40 grams of fentanyl; and that on March 25, 2026, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Green possessed with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson is the assigned prosecutor.  

The maximum penalty under federal law for each of these offenses is forty years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that George Moses, age 45, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud charges.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Moses submitted applications for unemployment compensation, pandemic unemployment compensation, economic injury disaster loan, and paycheck protection program loan benefits falsely representing that he had qualifying income from the operation of multiple businesses in 2019 and 2020.  Based upon the false representations, Moses is alleged to have received benefits totaling $134,083.88.  The indictment further alleges that during the same time-period, Moses orchestrated a bank fraud scheme, writing checks to himself from financial institution accounts which had been closed or did not maintain sufficient funds, and then depositing those checks, causing total losses of approximately $11,656.90 to financial institutions.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & industry (PA DLI) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's efforts to combat fraud related to the COVID19 pandemic, particularly with respect to the resources made available by Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for programs including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, and the Provider Relief Fund. 

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rossy Alberto, age 45, and Juan Nunez, age 38, both of Lakeland, Florida, pled guilty on March 27, 2026, before United States District Judge Julia K. Munley, to conspiring to defraud the United States, among other tax related crimes.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Alberto and Nunez operated a tax-preparing business, RA Multiservices and Immigration, in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and between 2016 and 2021 they conspired to defraud the United States by preparing approximately 35 false or fraudulent tax returns on behalf of their unknowing clients.  These false returns reported false tax withholding amounts, childcare expenses, residential energy credits, among other false items, causing the IRS to issue inflated tax refunds Alberto and Nunez’s clients were not entitled to receive.  Additionally, Alberto and Nunez impeded and obstructed the functions of the IRS in that after the IRS expelled Alberto from the electronic filing program, Alberto continued to prepare and electronically file tax returns between 2016 and 2021 using Nunez’s name and electronic filing identification number.  Alberto further pled guilty to two counts of tax evasion, for evading her personal taxes in years 2018 and 2020.  Alberto also admitted that she was in contempt of court for continuing to prepare and file tax returns after she was permanently enjoined from doing so by a court order from a U.S. District Court Judge in 2020, including five false returns in 2021.

“Tax return preparers have a duty to their clients to prepare tax returns that comply with the law and are accurate,” stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office.

The matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service.  Assistant United States Attorneys James Buchanan and Trial Attorney Likhitha Butchireddygari of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.  A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

###

WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert E. Confer, Jr., age 37, of Lycoming County, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment charges Confer with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine on October 11, 2025.  Confer is also charged with possession of firearms by a prohibited person and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.    

The FBI, Bellefonte Police Department, Lock Haven City Police Department, and the Centre County Drug Task Force investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the most significant offense is life imprisonment and a fine.  A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Josue Franco, age 30, an inmate at FCI Allenwood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 26, 2026, on a charge of possessing contraband in prison.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on September 10, 2025, Franco possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. 

# # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nicholas Pecko, age 33, of Vandling, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank fraud and theft of mail.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Pecko, an employee of the U.S. Postal Service, stole two checks totaling $6,581.59 that were sent through the mail, intended to be delivered by the United States Postal Office. The indictment further alleges that Pecko executed a bank fraud scheme, whereby he presented the checks for deposit after they had been altered to falsely identify him as the intended payee.

The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Lloyd is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 35 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angel Vidal Reyes Guzman, age 33, a citizen of El Salvador, illegally residing in Dover, PA, was indicted on March 18, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Reyes Guzman illegally reentered the United States and was found in York County, Pennsylvania, on March 4, 2026. Reyes Guzman was removed from the United States through Alexandria, Louisiana, on January 14, 2013, and reentered without having obtained permission to do so.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nelson Geovany Pineda-Chacon, age 31, an alien illegally residing in the United States, was sentenced yesterday to 24 months’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for illegal possession of a firearm.

According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on May 7, 2024, authorities responded to Pineda-Chacon’s residence in Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pennsylvania for a report of “shots fired.”  Upon arrival, officers located three spent 9-millimeter shell casings and a 9-millimeter bullet in Pineda-Chacon’s driveway.  Additional 9-millimeter ammunition was located in a truck parked in the driveway.  During an interview with law enforcement, Pineda-Chacon admitted to getting into an argument with his spouse and discharging a firearm several times into the ground to “relieve stress.”  Pineda-Chacon admitted to hiding the firearm in his basement.  Officers seized a loaded 9-millimeter Beretta handgun from the basement of Pineda-Chacon’s home.  As an alien illegally living in the United States, Pineda-Chacon was ineligible to possess a firearm.   

Pineda-Chacon is a citizen and national of Honduras.  In 2009, Pineda-Chacon illegally entered the United States.  At the time of the offense, he was in removal proceedings. 

The investigation was conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Montour Township Police Department, and the Catawissa Police Department. The case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson. 

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.  

# # #

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Karen McGinnis, age 46, of Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 17, 2026, by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick to 20 months of imprisonment following her conviction for embezzling public funds.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, from March 2023 to January 2025, McGinnis was the tax collector for Fairview Township responsible for collecting property taxes from the residents of Fairview Township, including taxes payable to the Township, Luzerne County, and the Crestwood School District. During that timeframe, McGinnis embezzled more than $400,000 in property taxes and converted them to her own personal use by writing checks to herself from the tax collector bank accounts she maintained and controlled. Both Luzerne County and the Crestwood School District received more than $10,000 from the federal government via grants and other programs during this timeframe.

In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, Judge Mehalchick sentenced McGinnis to three years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment and ordered McGinnis to pay restitution in the amount of $367,088.35 to the victims of her crime. McGinnis previously paid approximately $40,000 back into the tax collector bank accounts prior to her crime being discovered.

Following McGinnis’s sentence, Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office, noted, “IRS–Criminal Investigation is essential in embezzlement cases, where complex financial trails require expert investigation.”

The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nicole Hilstolsky, age 48, of Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to eight months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of theft by a credit union employee.  She pleaded guilty to the charge in December 2025.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Hilstolsky admitted at her guilty plea that on October 15, 2018, while she was an employee of the now-defunct WOD Federal Credit Union, she stole $16,247 from the credit union’s teller drawer and safe and blamed the theft on two unidentified armed bank robbers.  Hilstolsky further admitted that she called 911 and lied to responding investigators claiming that WOD Federal Credit Union had been robbed, when in fact she had taken the money and hid the money inside the credit union until she could safely remove it days later.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Forty Fort Police Department investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.

# # #

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Matthew Bair, age 36, of Windsor, Pennsylvania, was indicted on March 4, 2026, by a federal grand jury for unlawfully possessing firearms as a previously convicted felon. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Bair unlawfully possessed an Aero Precision rifle and a Ruger pistol on February 28, 2025, in York County.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 15 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations.  All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sharion Motley-Lipscomb, age 29, of Cleveland, Ohio, was indicted on March 10, 2026, by a federal grand jury on one count of possessing contraband in prison.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Motley-Lipscomb, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute Schuylkill, possessed a weapon, specifically a four-inch piece of plexi-glass sharpened to a point with a cloth handle on January 17, 2016, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

The Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Reneard Harris, age 67, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Harris either distributed or possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine base on three separate occasions between February 18, 2026, and March 3, 2026, in Luzerne County.  Harris had been on pre-trial release in another federal drug trafficking case at the time of his distribution and possession with intent to distribute the cocaine base. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ramsee Munoz, age 35, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of possessing contraband in prison.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Munoz, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute Schuylkill, possessed a weapon, specifically a 6- and 1/3-inch metal object, sharpened on both sides with one side being serrated, on September 18, 2025, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jackie A. Johnson, age 40, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 5, 2026, to 180 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for distribution of methamphetamine.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, between March 19, 2024, and April 17, 2024, Johnson sold over 200 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Stroudsburg area to an undercover State Police Trooper.  At the time, Johnson was on federal supervised release for a prior heroin trafficking conviction which resulted in a five-year prison term.  Johnson is still pending a supervised release violation hearing based on the above methamphetamine sales which could result in an additional term of imprisonment.    

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.

###

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on March 5, 2026, Xavier Melendez-Hernandez, age 41, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for conspiring with others to distribute cocaine.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Melendez-Hernandez conspired with Victor Colon-Rosario, Hector Rayann Santos-Carasquillo, and Joseph Fontanez-Machuca to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine in the greater Harrisburg area in 2021 and 2022.  Each of the defendants was indicted and later pleaded guilty. 

In 2024, Judge Wilson sentenced Colon-Rosario to 24 months in prison and Santos-Carasquillo to 60 months in prison.  In February 2026, Judge Wilson sentenced Fontanez-Machuca to time served after he had spent nearly two years in pretrial and presentence detention.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.

# # #

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Darin Blackburn, age 43, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to a 231 months’ aggregate imprisonment sentence by United States District Judge Keli M. Neary for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and for violating terms of a previously imposed supervised release sentence.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on November 17, 2021, Harrisburg Police Officers approached Blackburn as he sat in a car.  One of the officers observed a small bag of marijuana in plain view through the passenger window of Blackburn’s car.  Those officers summoned a K-9 unit and when the dog began sniffing the car for the presence of narcotics, Blackburn ran from the scene. Officers apprehended him a short distance later. Once Blackburn was taken into custody the owner of the car arrived at the car. The owner denied ownership of anything found in the automobile, but he gave police permission to conduct a search.

During the search police found a Hermann Weihrauch Arminus .38 caliber revolver. There were 6 rounds of ammunition in the gun and 13 loose rounds in a bag in the trunk. Blackburn had previously been convicted of an armed bank robbery and two serious drug offenses that were all committed on occasions different from one another. As such, Blackburn was not legally permitted to possess a firearm and was subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act. 

At the time of the offense, Blackburn was still serving a federal supervised release term for two armed bank robberies committed in 2001.  Those robberies resulted in a 211 months’ imprisonment sentence to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release.  Blackburn’s supervised release term commenced in July 2021 upon his release from prison.  The additional 51 months’ imprisonment term was imposed for his violation of the supervised release requirement that he not commit another crime.     

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.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

# # #

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jonah Allen Sassam Watt, age 32, of Dover, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 3, 2026, by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 30 years in federal prison for charges related to the production of child pornography and for his online enticement of minors to engage in illegal sexual activity.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, over the course of several months in 2022, Watt used various social media platforms to coerce children (ranging between the ages of 12-16) to create sexually explicit content of themselves. In some instances, Watt offered them payment for their images and in others, Watt threatened the children to create the images and videos, or he would “hack” their social media accounts. At the time he was intercepted by law enforcement in this case, Watt was in possession of additional images of child pornography, to include children as young as infants and toddlers being sexually assaulted.

In sentencing Watt, Judge Wilson echoed the statements of one of the victim’s mothers who called Watt’s conduct predatory, calculated, and evil.

Judge Wilson also ordered Watt to pay $54,710.00 in restitution and following Watt’s period of incarceration, he is to serve an additional 15 years on federal supervised release. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.

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

###

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gail Nossavage, age 62, of Harding, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 3, 2025, to 15 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick, for one count of wire fraud.  

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, from approximately April of 2020 through December of 2021, Nossavage was employed as an administrative assistant with a church located in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Part of her duties were to manage financial matters for the church, including, but not limited to, management of church monetary collections and deposits of such collections. An investigation by the FBI revealed that Nossavage had made at least 115 deposits into her own bank account that were unrelated to any legitimate funds or checks and were fraudulently obtained. Additionally, FBI learned that Nossavage had charged credit cards in the name of the church without the church representatives’ knowledge or permission and had unlawfully compensated herself with the church’s money for things that she titled, “bonuses,” “miscellaneous,” “vacation,” “travel.” FBI learned that much of the fraudulently obtained monies were paid by Nossavage into online gambling platforms.

Judge Mehalchick also ordered Nossavage to pay $184,724.68 dollars in restitution and to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following her incarceration.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case.

# # #

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angel Lopez-Guzman, age 38, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 138 months of imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Lopez-Guzman traveled from Lebanon to Scranton, where he purchased a kilogram of cocaine for distribution in the Lebanon area. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop as he returned to Lebanon. After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement recovered the kilogram of cocaine and a handgun from the trunk of Lopez-Guzman’s car.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lebanon County Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Stephen Dalton Fleming, Jr., age 49, of Creve Cour, Illinois, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury for multiple criminal charges related to child exploitation, including the production of child pornography, online enticement, and the commission of a felony sex offense by an individual required to register as a sex offender. 

 According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that beginning on or about January 1, 2025 through on or about February 12, 2026, in Pike County, Pennsylvania, Fleming enticed at least one child to produce child pornography by engaging in sexually explicit conduct so that those acts could be memorialized and shared online.  At the time Fleming engaged in these acts, he was on lifetime supervision for a prior federal felony offense involving a minor.

The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Scott Eric Snyder, age 54, of Northumberland County, PA, was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment followed by ten years of supervised release by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann on a charge of production of child pornography.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Snyder produced child sexual abuse material in July of 2012 and July of 2013 after entering the minor victim’s home at night. The victim and two members of the family addressed the Court at the sentencing hearing.

In imposing the maximum sentence, Chief Judge Brann referred to the case as “one of the most heinous crimes” he has encountered during his thirteen years on the bench.

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.

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

# # #

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Miguel Ortiz-Camacho, age 40, a citizen of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Ortiz-Camacho illegally reentered the United States and was found in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on February 11, 2026, after being charged with the above felony. Ortiz-Camacho was removed from the United States through Laredo, Texas, on February 26, 2021, and reentered without having obtained permission to do so. 

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Luis Rosa-Hernandez, formerly of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for  possession of machine guns and conspiracy to manufacture firearms without a license and possess machine guns. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, between June and November of 2022, Rosa-Hernandez sold 31 machine gun conversion devices and two stolen handguns with reason to believe the recipient would possess or use them unlawfully.  Machine Gun Conversion Devices are firearm parts designed and intended to convert a firearm into a machine gun.

Rosa-Hernandez, originally from the Dominican Republic, is subject to deportation pending the completion of his sentence.

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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Scott F. Ford prosecuted the case.

# # #

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Terric M. Seay, age 24, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges of carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and firearms possession.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Seay carjacked the victim, using a firearm to inflict serious bodily injury. The indictment also charges Seay with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), York City Police Department, and Lower Allen Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to life in prison, plus a fine and a term of supervised release. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Dorian Myles, age 37, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of a weapon.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about January 30, 2026, Myles possessed an inmate manufactured weapon, specifically a sharpened four-inch piece of plexiglass, commonly referred to as a “shank.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Lesundre Zacharie, age 25, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of weapons.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about January 30, 2026, Zacharie possessed two inmate manufactured weapons, specifically a six-inch piece of plexiglass sharpened to a point with a cloth handle, and a four-inch razor blade attached to a plastic pen, commonly referred to as “shanks.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Damonta King, age 19, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of a weapon. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that in January of 2026, a corrections officer conducting an inmate pat down discovered inmate King to be in possession of a prison-made weapon on his person, commonly referred to as a “shank.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Richard Burke, age 76, of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to one year of probation and ordered to pay $350,634.23 in restitution on a charge of wire fraud.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, from April 2005 until

March 7, 2022, Burke withdrew $350,634.23 of his deceased mother’s Social Security Retirement, Survivors and Disability (RSDI) benefits and Veterans Affairs death pension benefit payments from her bank account. Burke’s mother died in 2005, and no other individual was entitled to the benefits designated to her. Burke used his deceased mother’s bank card to make regular cash withdrawals over the years following her benefits deposits, never notifying the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) nor the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that she had died.

The Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Darnell Ney, age 42, of Attica, New York, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment and 10 years’ supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick, for failure to register as a sex offender.    

According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in 2022 Ney was convicted of attempted rape and criminal contempt in New York.  As a result of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) for a period of twenty years.  Following his release from prison in New York, Ney fled to Pennsylvania and failed to register his change of address as required by law. 

On February 2, 2025, Ney was arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania for assaulting an adult female.  On July 2, 2025, Ney was convicted of unlawful restraint and terroristic threats and was sentenced in the Susquehanna Court of Common Pleas to 10 to 120 months’ imprisonment.  Judge Mehalchick ordered that Ney’s federal sentence shall commence after service of his state sentence.     

The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Pennsylvania State Police, the Wyoming County Sherriff’s Department in Warsaw, New York; and the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office in Warsaw, New York.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson.

# # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brandon Crum, age 39, of Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on dog fighting and drug trafficking charges. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Crum possessed and trained eight American Pit Bull Terriers for the purpose of having the dogs participate in an animal fighting venture, that is, dog fighting. The indictment further alleges that Crum distributed methamphetamine on several occasions and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine in Luzerne County. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Brian D. Miller has been reappointed by the United States District Court to continue as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  Chief District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann administered the oath of office to Mr. Miller yesterday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Miller was originally appointed by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi on October 27, 2025, for 120 days.  This new order by the District Court Judges appoints Mr. Miller as United States Attorney until the vacancy is filled by the President.  In September 2025, President Trump nominated Mr. Miller to be the United States Attorney, and his nomination is pending before the United States Senate.

Previously, Mr. Miller was confirmed by the United States Senate to be the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery on June 2, 2020.  Mr. Miller’s prior positions include Senior Associate White House Counsel; Inspector General of the United States General Services Administration (Senate confirmed on July 22, 2005); Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General; Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia; Special Counsel on Health Care Fraud for the Deputy Attorney General; and Counsel to the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.  He has also served as Acting General Counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2025.

As a federal prosecutor, Mr. Miller litigated civil and criminal cases involving terrorism and terrorist financing, drug-related conspiracies and murder, and the False Claims Act.  As an inspector general, Mr. Miller is known for his investigation of a lavish GSA conference in Las Vegas.

Mr. Miller was honored to receive the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the EOUSA Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an AUSA, and the David M. Walker Excellence in Government Performance and Accountability Award, which recognizes and honors government audit professionals who have made sustained contributions to improve government performance and accountability through their leadership in transforming government organizations.

Mr. Miller received his bachelor’s degree from Temple University and his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.  He resides in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Naim Mustafa House, age 28, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 24, 2026, to 144 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a machine gun.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on July 8, 2024, Scranton Police Officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that House was a passenger. House fled on foot and was found hiding under a rear porch of a residence. During a search incident to arrest, police found marijuana packed for resale on his person and inside his backpack found 30 additional grams of marijuana and a Glock 7, 9mm handgun equipped with a device to transition the firearm from a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. The firearm also had an extended magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Scranton Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.

          # # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David Feliciano-Seize, age 61, of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 20, 2026, to 18 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Feliciano-Seize attempted to purchase a firearm in 2021, but the purchase was denied based upon Feliciano-Seize’s prior conviction for armed robbery.  Feliciano-Seize thereafter illegally obtained a firearm, and on October 22, 2023, brandished that firearm and began shooting into the air during a dispute with his girlfriend’s family.  He then aimed the firearm at members of his girlfriend’s family.

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted the case.

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

# # #

HARRISBURG -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Trinidad Amaya-Montoya, A/K/A Bernardo Cardana, age 39, a citizen of Honduras, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.  

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Mendoza-Hernandez illegally reentered the United States and was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on January 27, 2026. Mendoza-Hernandez was removed from the United States through Brownsville, Texas, on May 18, 2016, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so. 

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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. 

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

HARRISBURG -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marvin Cornejo Hernandez, age 40, a citizen of Honduras, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.  

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about January 27, 2026, Mendoza-Hernandez was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, after previously having been removed from the United States.  The indictment also alleges that Mendoza-Hernandez had been removed from the United States through Brownsville, Texas on April 29, 2019, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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. 

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

HARRISBURG—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gregory Strickland, age 45, of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 18, 2026, by a federal grand jury for production, receiving, and possessing child pornography.  

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Strickland used a minor to produce child pornography on 12 separate occasions in 2022, 2023, and 2024.  The indictment further alleges that Strickland received child pornography via the Kik application in 2022 and 2025 and possessed child pornography in 2025. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum total penalties for the offenses charged are 420 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release of up to life following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Durkin, age 52, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 13, 2026, to 20 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of possession of firearms by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Durkin previously pled guilty to possessing multiple firearms, including an illegally purchased Heritage Roughrider .22 caliber revolver and a stolen Keltec 9mm handgun while he was an unlawful user of methamphetamine. Both firearms had moved in interstate commerce prior to their recovery by police in Durkin’s vehicle after a January 28, 2025, single-car accident.  Durkin also possessed a quantity of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, including multiple needles, spoons, and a digital scale.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, the Newport Township Police Department, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eric Raheem Pierce, age 38, of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 13, 2026, to 151 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for distribution of fentanyl and possession of a stolen firearm.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, during the course of several controlled drug purchases, Pierce distributed approximately 35 grams of fentanyl before attempting to discard 25 bricks of heroin and another 23 grams of fentanyl on the date of his arrest. During a prior interaction with law enforcement, Pierce was found to be in possession of a stolen firearm.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

# # #

HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jorge Alberto Santamaria-Cortes, age 47, a Mexican national who was residing in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, at the time of his arrest, was sentenced today to serve six months in prison for illegal reentry by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick.

Santamaria-Cortes was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 22, 2025. He subsequently pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Santamaria-Cortes most recently illegally reentered the United States sometime after he had been deported in July 2014. Santamaria-Cortes was found again in the United States after being arrested on October 10, 2025, on unrelated state charges in Franklin County. Those charges are still pending. 

Judge Mehalchick explained that she imposed a sentence at the high-end of the applicable sentencing guideline range due to Santamaria-Cortes’ repeated instances of illegally reentering the United States and the three drunk driving offenses he committed while he was illegally in the country between 1998 and 2011. The judge cited the defendant’s lack of respect for the law and the need to deter others from committing similar crimes, among other factors, as reasons for the sentence. 

The case was investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).     

Santamaria-Cortes faces deportation after serving his prison sentence.

# # #

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on February 10, 2026, United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson sentenced Joshua White, 44, previously of Yoe, Pennsylvania, to 96 months’ imprisonment for bank fraud.  As part of the sentence, Judge Wilson also ordered Mr. White to pay more than $2.3 million in restitution to victims and ordered him to serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Joshua White was the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in a prosecution of a multi-year conspiracy to defraud the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which were intended to provide financial support to businesses and employers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In October 2025, Judge Wilson sentenced Joshua White’s father, Creed White, 67, formerly of Freeland, Maryland, to 10 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, and sentenced one of his employees, Joseph Bailey, 54, formerly of York, Pennsylvania, to 46 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy.  In December 2025, Judge Wilson sentenced another of Creed White’s employees, Kester Murray, 40, of Emigsville, Pennsylvania, to two years of probation for his role in the fraud scheme.   In total, United States Attorney Miller said the defendants obtained more than $11.5 million in PPP and EIDL proceeds, making this one of the largest PPP and EIDL frauds prosecuted in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  Each of the defendants eventually pleaded guilty.  As part of their sentences, Judge Wilson ordered each of the defendants to pay millions of dollars in restitution.

United States Attorney Miller explained that the federal investigation initially focused on Creed White, who owned Aluminum Alloys Manufacturing, an aluminum smelting and processing business in Yoe, Pennsylvania.  Aluminum Alloys received disaster loans in early 2020, shortly after the outbreak of the pandemic.  Thereafter, between the spring of 2020 and the fall of 2022, Creed White submitted approximately 120 fraudulent applications for PPP and EIDLs on behalf of 18 other dormant businesses he owned or controlled, which had no actual operations or employees.  Approximately 40 of the applications were approved, resulting in the disbursement of more than $11.5 million in loan proceeds into bank accounts that Creed White controlled, and which he later transferred among other accounts and used to pay for unauthorized expenses and for his personal enrichment.  To carry out the scheme, Creed White filed applications in the names of numerous knowing and unwitting individuals whom he fraudulently represented to own the various businesses that he controlled.  Creed White relied on Joshua White to obtain personally identifying information from these third parties and relied on Bailey and Murray to create fraudulent business, banking, and tax records that were furnished to banks and lending officials in support of the loan applications. Joshua White separately submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of a dormant business that he owned, obtaining $175,000, which he spent on unauthorized expenses and a spree to Las Vegas.

Addressing the sentences that Judge Wilson imposed for each of the defendants, IRS-CI Philadelphia Field Office Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty said, “These individuals deliberately and repeatedly defrauded the PPP and the EIDL programs, which were designed to help small business owners during the COVID pandemic,” said Philadelphia Field Office Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty.  “These sentencings should be a deterrent to other would-be criminals, knowing that Special Agents from IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners are fully committed to bringing offenders like this to justice.”

Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Regional Office for the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General made a similar observation, noting, “When individuals manipulate pandemic relief programs for personal gain, they undermine public trust and divert critical resources from legitimate small businesses. These sentencings underscore that fraud against federal relief programs will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted. SBA OIG will continue to protect taxpayer dollars and uphold the integrity of SBA programs.”

“Treasury OIG welcomes the opportunity to contribute our expertise in combating fraud in these important programs”, said Department of the Treasury Deputy Inspector General Loren Sciurba, “We remain committed to protecting the taxpayer through detection, investigation, and prosecution of such frauds with other members of the law enforcement community.”

The matter was investigated by agents with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, the Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General, and United States Treasury-Office of Inspector General.  Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON, The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Akilees Kadeem Hobson, age 27, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, and Armand Kierran Hobson, age 28, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, were sentenced on February 10, 2026, by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Akilees Hobson was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment and Armand Hobson was sentenced to time served after being incarcerated since September 25, 2024. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in August and September 2024, the brothers conspired to distribute fentanyl. On fourteen occasions, Akilees Hobson sold drugs, which included fentanyl and crack cocaine, to a confidential informant. At the time, Akilees Hobson was on federal supervised release for previous conviction charging him with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in 2017. On one occasion, Armand Hobson sold fentanyl to a confidential informant.  On September 25, 2024, search warrants were executed at their residences and additional drugs were seized. In total, Akilees Hobson was responsible for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 27 grams of fentanyl and 39 grams of crack cocaine. Armand Hobson was responsible for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute at least 4 grams but less than 8 grams of fentanyl and less than a kilogram of marijuana. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kingston Police Department and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.

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

# # #