Western District of Pennsylvania
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Federal Jury Finds Jefferson County Business Owner Guilty of Large-Scale Pandemic Relief Loan FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - After four hours of deliberation, on August 26, 2026, a federal jury in Pittsburgh found Jason Youngdahl guilty of two counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering, and one count of theft of government money, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Youngdahl, 44, of Brockway, Pennsylvania, was tried before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
The evidence presented during the two-day trial established that Youngdahl fraudulently obtained more than $540,000 from the United States Small Business Administration in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which were funds intended to provide small businesses with relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. Youngdahl fraudulently obtained loan funds on five different occasions, each time representing that he would use the money for the small business he operated when, in fact, he planned to and did use the funds for personal purchases, including a personal vehicle and residence.
“Jason Youngdahl’s conduct demonstrates a complete disregard for the law and is exactly the type of fraud that the Department of Justice is committed to combating through its national efforts,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “This verdict recognizes and holds Youngdahl accountable for his greed and egregious criminal activity. Our office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute opportunistic fraudsters who seek to enrich themselves through taxpayer-funded programs.”
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for January 26, 2027. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain from the offense, or both for each of the wire fraud counts, and up to 10 years in prison and a fine on each of the money laundering and theft of government money counts. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer L. Peresie and Morgan A. Camerlo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Youngdahl.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is 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.
Beaver Falls Felon Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon and was sentenced to 88 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone imposed the sentence on Jayvon Turner, 24.
According to information presented to the Court, on August 16, 2025, members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s Violence Prevention Unit encountered the defendant on Pittsburgh’s South Side carrying a loaded, stolen 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Turner had previously been convicted on a state robbery charge. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Turner.
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.
Turtle Creek Resident Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 20 years of prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $15,000 to his victims for his conviction on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Robert Bookshar, 49, on August 24, 2026. Bookshar pleaded guilty in March 2026 to two counts of production and attempted production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of children.
According to information presented to the Court, from in and around September 2021 through in and around June 2023, Bookshar communicated with an online criminal organization offering child sexual abuse material for sale through a social media app. Specifically, on August 23, 2022, and May 12, 2022, Bookshar purchased live video calls with two different female minors, during which the defendant requested that each minor “get naked” and engage in sexual conduct. Bookshar secretly recorded the video calls and saved them to a folder labeled under each girl’s name on an external hard drive. Bookshar paid for these calls and other child sexual abuse material with gift cards and various mobile payment apps.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman condemned the defendant’s criminal conduct and expressed significant concern regarding Bookshar’s claim that he did not realize that he was harming real girls.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Tampa (Florida) and Colorado Springs (Colorado) police departments for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Bookshar.
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.justice.gov/psc.
Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to a term of imprisonment of four years on his conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a machinegun, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Andrew Rocco, 22.
According to information presented to the Court, Rocco’s residence was searched on February 2, 2024, and police found three firearms, along with magazines and ammunition. One of the firearms was equipped with a mechanism – frequently referred to as a “switch” or auto-sear – that renders it capable of fully automatic firing. That is, one of the firearms was a machinegun. All three pistols were outfitted with loaded, extended magazines.
This is not Mr. Rocco’s first conviction for unlawfully possessing firearms. Less than two years prior to the execution of the search warrant in this case, the defendant was arrested in 2022 with a stolen firearm on his person after attempting to flee from police. His conduct in this case violates the probation to which he was sentenced for possessing the stolen firearm. Moreover, a year before his 2022 arrest, the defendant was adjudicated delinquent in another illegal firearm possession case. The instant matter is, therefore, the third time Mr. Rocco has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent for a gun-related crime.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Horan indicated that the type of weapons involved in this case, as well as the defendant’s repetitive unlawful firearm possession, present a concern for the safety of the public.
Assistant United States Attorney Barbara K. Doolittle prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Andrew Rocco.
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.
Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 46 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, on his conviction of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Court Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Chaz Mitchell, 36, on August 21, 2026.
According to the information presented to the Court, on July 5, 2025, following the issuance of a state arrest warrant for Mitchell on unrelated charges, officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police observed Mitchell in possession of an assault rifle and sawed-off shotgun and attempted to execute the state warrant. Mitchell refused to exit a residence until the SWAT unit arrived. Upon Mitchell’s surrender and being taken into custody, officers obtained and executed a state search warrant for the residence, from where they recovered an assault rifle, sawed-off shotgun, pistol, and ammunition. Mitchell had previously been convicted of felony state firearms offenses. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Mitchell.
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.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Charges of Attempted Murder and Assault of a Federal Agent and Related Drug and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on August 20, 2026, to charges of attempted murder and assault of a federal agent, drug trafficking, and use of a firearm in connection with those crimes, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Drew Gordon, age 24, of the Overbrook section of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to five counts before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
“As today’s hearing makes clear, Drew Gordon is a violent and dangerous drug dealer,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “He not only placed the community at risk through his fentanyl trafficking, but he also attempted to murder a federal agent who happened to travel too close to Gordon’s drug stash. His abhorrent conduct is a reminder not only of the violence associated with drug trafficking, but also of the risks to which state, local, and federal law enforcement officers are exposed on a regular basis as they work to keep our communities safe. As a result of the quick response and thorough investigation by the FBI and numerous other law enforcement agencies, Gordon was quickly apprehended and detained before he could inflict any more harm on the community. And because of this extensive, thorough, and collaborative investigation, Gordon pleaded guilty to all charges against him, including attempted murder of a federal agent and discharging a firearm in connection with that crime.”
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that on August 30, 2024, a DEA agent was conducting surveillance in an unrelated investigation, which took the agent onto the street where the defendant lived. As the DEA agent traveled through the neighborhood in his vehicle, the defendant began to follow him in his own vehicle. Based on the defendant’s actions, the agent decided to leave the area. The defendant caught up with the agent’s vehicle and opened fire on the agent as he was leaving the area. The defendant fired a total of 18 rounds. Fortunately, the agent was not hit, although his vehicle was struck multiple times. Later that evening, the FBI executed a search warrant at the defendant’s house, and recovered over $10,000 in cash, over $37,000 worth of fentanyl, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine, and two guns, including the gun used in the shooting.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for December 23, 2026 at 1:30 PM. The law provides for a total sentence of at least 20 years in prison and up to life, a fine of up to $6,000,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Court ordered that the defendant remain detained.
DEA Philadelphia Division, Special Agent in Charge Timothy S. Flaherty said, “The message here is clear; if you shoot at one of our Special Agents, we will find you, arrest you, and bring you to justice. The successful conclusion of this investigation could not have been possible without the assistance of our law enforcement partners at the FBI, the ATF, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the US Marshals Service, the PA Office of the Attorney General, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s and the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania.”
“Assault on a federal officer is an assault on everyone who takes an oath to protect our communities. This kind of violence directly threatens the safety of our partners, and the FBI will be there every time with every resource possible to hold those responsible accountable for their actions,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec. “Protecting our communities is a mission shared by all law enforcement. FBI Pittsburgh is proud to ensure our local, state, and federal partners can carry out this mission safely.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Douglas C. Maloney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Drew Gordon, with significant assistance from and collaboration with the Allegheny County Police Department, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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.Farmington Resident Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Distributing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Farmington, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 70 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on his convictions of distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Nathan Fike, 41, on August 20, 2026.
According to the information presented to the Court, on or about October 4, 2023, Fike distributed a video depicting a prepubescent minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct to an undercover agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Jacksonville, Florida. Then, on February 9, 2024, the FBI executed a federal search warrant on the defendant’s residence and discovered he was in possession of approximately 156 images and 63 videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent or minors who had not attained 12 years of age.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Fike.
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.justice.gov/psc.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced for Deposit of Stolen and Altered U.S. Treasury CheckRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to two years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,471.80 on his convictions for uttering counterfeit obligations or securities and theft of government property, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone imposed the sentence on Andre Pitts, 21.
According to information presented to the Court, on June 12, 2023, Pitts deposited an altered version of a U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $62,211. The check had been issued in February 2023 to another individual related to that person’s income tax return, with the memo line of the check identifying both the individual and tax year of 2021. The payee information and memo line of the deposited check had been altered to identify Pitts, his residence, and a tax year of 2022. Following his deposit of the altered check, Pitts quickly made several transactions, including withdrawing $500 in cash and having a $25,000 cashier’s check issued to himself.Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) Office of Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Pitts.
Apollo Man Charged with Casting Multiple Votes in 2024 Presidential ElectionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Apollo, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal voting laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Jeffrey Pope, 65, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Pope—who has been registered to vote in Pennsylvania since 1999 but purchased property in Alaska in 2023—voted twice in the November 2024 general election, including for the office of President of the United States. The Indictment specifically alleges that, on or about October 18, 2024, Pope completed and submitted a mail-in ballot casting a vote for the office of President in Alaska, and then, on or about October 22, 2024, completed and submitted a mail-in ballot casting a vote for this same federal office in Pennsylvania. As part of his Pennsylvania ballot submission, Pope knowingly and willfully signed a false declaration stating that he was qualified to vote by the enclosed ballot and had not already voted in the election.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months of incarceration, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Brandon Watson, 20.
According to information presented to the Court, on April 9, 2025, during a traffic stop, Watson was found to be in possession of approximately 45 grams of crack and small quantities of other narcotics consisting of heroin, fentanyl, and medetomidine, as well as a firearm and $1,100 in cash.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that Watson’s crime was extremely dangerous and that the crack cocaine that Watson intended to distribute has the ability to wreck lives, families, and communities.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Watson.
Indiana County Man Indicted for Theft of Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Indiana, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of theft of government property, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Curtis John Shupe, 61, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from in and around September 2021 until in and around July 2025, Shupe stole and knowingly converted to his personal use more than $1,000 in Social Security benefits belonging to someone else. Shupe did so through his role as representative payee for the benefits.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Barbara K. Doolittle is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sharpsburg Resident Charged with Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of distributing, receiving, and possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The three-count indictment named Drew Michael Kozlowski, 45, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about March 27, 2026, Kozlowski received and attempted to receive material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, with the Indictment also charging Kozlowski with distributing and attempting to distribute material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor on or about March 28, 2026. The Indictment further alleges that, in June of 2026, Kozlowski possessed material which depicted prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
As to the receipt and distribution charges, the law provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to the possession charge, the law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
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.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pittsburgh Woman Sentenced for Theft of Supplemental Security Income FundsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,467 on her convictions for Supplemental Security Income fraud and theft of government property, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Dana Nicole Johnson, 56, of the Eastmont neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
According to information presented to the Court, Johnson applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits through the Social Security Administration. Because SSI is a monthly, needs-based benefit afforded to people with disabilities and the elderly who have little or no income, applicants for the program are required to report their wages, assets, and living arrangements for consideration by the Social Security Administration in determining eligibility for SSI. Investigators determined that Johnson, while receiving SSI, worked for both a home healthcare business and as a federal employee at a Veterans Affairs medical center and that Johnson concealed her wages from the Social Security Administration, resulting in the theft of over $18,000. This was the second time Johnson concealed income while obtaining SSI.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Johnson.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is 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.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug and firearm charges, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Darion Ethridge, 26, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV to one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and heroin and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on June 24, 2021, state and local law enforcement conducted a drug suppression detail in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, after authorities received information that a male operating a black Jeep Cherokee with tinted windows would be bringing 10 bricks of heroin to a hotel. Upon the arrival and parking of the vehicle, a detective positioned his vehicle with lights and siren activated behind the Jeep, exited his vehicle, identified himself as police, and directed the driver to exit. The driver responded by starting his vehicle, reversing the Jeep into the detective’s vehicle, and driving through the parking lot until law enforcement boxed in the Jeep, at which point, the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot, with officers pursuing and arresting the driver.
A search incident to arrest resulted in the seizure of approximately $3,952. From the vehicle, authorities seized 991 bags containing a fentanyl and heroin mixture, a loaded .40 caliber handgun which was determined to have been reported stolen, and a medical marijuana card and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections card both bearing Ethridge’s name. Ethridge had previously been convicted of four felonies in the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for September 14, 2026. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both for the drug trafficking crime and not less than five years and up to life in prison to be served consecutively to the drug trafficking sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, or both on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime count. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the Court ordered Ethridge remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Monroeville Police Department and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ethridge.
Ohio Felon Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Checking Luggage Containing Concealed Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, has been sentenced in federal court to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of possessing a firearm as a felon and carrying a weapon on an aircraft, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Luis Rojas Cay, 29, on July 29, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about April 26, 2024, Rojas Cay was attempting to travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from the Pittsburgh International Airport on a commercial airline when agents discovered in his checked luggage a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun, an unloaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun, an unloaded 40 SW caliber semiautomatic handgun, and approximately 204 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The firearms and ammunition were concealed in packages wrapped in multiple layers of foil-backed tape and contained inside a metal briefcase that was also lined with sheet metal. The briefcase was then placed inside a suitcase that Rojas Cay checked with the airline. Rojas Cay was previously convicted in Kansas on robbery and attempted kidnapping charges. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allegheny County Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rojas Cay.
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.
Washington County Woman Charged with Theft of Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Washington, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of theft of government property, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Gina Marie Mullen, 58, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Mullen used a deceased person’s bank debit card to steal Social Security funds, with a total calculated loss to the Social Security Administration of $24,236.91.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the loss from the offense, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Eleni F. Skezas is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is 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.
Erie Resident Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 150 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his conviction of possessing child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Michael Thomas Pritchard, 49, on July 23, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, while on parole for a series of Pennsylvania child exploitation convictions, Pritchard was found to be in possession of hundreds of digital images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, Erie Police Department, and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Pritchard.
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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Sixteen Pittsburgh Residents Indicted on Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Sixteen residents of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on cocaine trafficking charges, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment was unsealed following the arrests of the defendants today.
According to the Indictment, from in and around November 2025 to in and around July 2026, the defendants conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute various quantities of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack, as well as mixtures or substances containing cocaine, with the amount of drugs attributable to the lead defendant in the case, DeConta Harrison, including 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. A list of the defendants and the amount of drugs attributable to each through the conspiracy is included below.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both for Harrison, and not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both for the other defendants. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendants:
NameAge
Drugs Attributed
DeConta Harrison48
280 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaineJozef Bozeman47
28 grams or more of cocaine baseCharles Brannon54
28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaineRashaan Campbell45
28 grams or more of cocaine baseBobby Chatman65
28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaineHarold Jones Sr.65
28 grams or more of cocaine baseWilliam Jones45
28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaineAlonzo Kidd50
28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaineGreg Nash65
28 grams or more of cocaine baseJeff O’Keefe35
28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaineKeith Payne50
28 grams or more of cocaine baseBrandon Rodgers41
28 grams or more of cocaine baseJohn Malcolm Smith44
28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaineTyisha Somerville32
28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaineKyrie Weston39
28 grams or more of cocaine baseDeshawn Williams44
28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocainePittsburgh Resident Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 360 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his conviction of sex trafficking of a child and the production and attempted production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on James Clark, 39, of the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh on July 20, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, Clark provided housing to a female runaway minor, and produced images of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Clark trafficked the girl to another individual in exchange for, among other things, allowing the child to maintain shelter at his residence.
Judge Wiegand sentenced Clark to 360 months in prison on one count of sex trafficking of a minor and 360 months in prison on six counts of sexual exploitation of children, with the sentences running concurrently. Clark will also have to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Clark.
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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
If you are the victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please call the FBI, local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur. To submit a tip to the NHTRC online, please visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking.
###Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking fentanyl and cocaine, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Michael Appleton, 44, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy to possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine on May 19, 2023.
Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for December 1, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mercer County Drug Task Force, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Appleton.
Two Clearfield Men Sentenced to Life in Prison for Targeted Bombing That Killed Woman over Drug DebtRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Two residents of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, have been sentenced in federal court to life imprisonment on their convictions of conspiracy to maliciously destroy property by explosive or fire and possession of an unregistered destructive device in relation to a targeted bombing that resulted in the death of a woman who owed one of the defendants a drug debt, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentences on Clint Addleman, 49, and Kris Nevling, 49. The defendants were found guilty of the crimes through separate jury trials in August 2025 (Nevling) and March 2026 (Addleman), with the jury also finding Addleman guilty of malicious destruction of property by explosive or fire resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Both juries also determined the death of the victim—34-year-old Shanna Carlson, who was also known as Shawna—to be a result of the commission of the conspiring to maliciously destroy property by explosive or fire offense and, in Addleman’s case, the malicious destruction of property by explosive or fire offense.
“Clint Addleman and Kris Nevling callously took the life of Shanna Carlson—someone who Nevling later testified in court was among his best friends—in one of the most violent and brutal manners imaginable, all over a small drug debt,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “They were convicted of their crimes by two separate juries. Today’s sentencings ensure that Addleman and Nevling will both spend the rest of their lives in prison for their ruthless, violent conduct. Our office remains resolute in working closely with our law enforcement partners at the local, state, and federal levels to prosecute those who seek to commit such heinous crimes in our communities.”
“Kris Nevling and Clint Addleman are brutal murderers,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Together they staged a deadly explosion to try to hide their crime. Working methodically with our federal, state, and local partners, and applying ATF’s unique forensic tools, we exposed their conspiracy and they now face long sentences in federal prison for their crime.”
The evidence presented during the trials established that, in and around early October 2019, Addleman and Nevling aided and abetted one another in the construction and possession of a destructive device—a bomb—which was subsequently concealed inside a package addressed to Carlson using her nickname. At approximately 4:30 a.m. on October 4, 2019, the package containing the bomb was delivered and left outside of the door to Carlson’s first floor apartment in a multi-unit rental property on East Market Street in Clearfield. Later that morning, the bomb detonated inside Carlson’s apartment, killing her and causing a fire that destroyed the building. Trial evidence established that the victim owed Addleman an outstanding drug debt of approximately $1,000.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Samantha A. Stewart and Special Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Clearfield Regional Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecutions of Addleman and Nevling.
Jamaican Man Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Prison for Role in International Lottery Scam Targeting ElderlyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of St. James parish in Jamaica was sentenced in federal court on July 21, 2026, to 78 months of incarceration on his conviction of violating federal wire fraud and money laundering laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Troy Williams, 41, of Montego Bay.
According to information presented to the Court, from approximately January 2019 to October 2023, Williams conspired to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering by defrauding elderly victims through a lottery scam. As part of the scam, members of the conspiracy called elderly victims and informed them that they had won a lottery but needed to pay taxes and fees to receive their prize. The victims would send the money as directed but never received the prize money. The conspirators used a network of other conspirators and victims, as well as bank accounts opened in victims’ names, wire transfers, purchases of physical goods, and ATM withdrawals in Jamaica to execute and obfuscate their scheme.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from Jamaican authorities and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs in the arrest and extradition of the defendant, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.
Clairton Woman Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison and Ordered to Pay $1.17 Million in Restitution for Repeated Fraud and Supervised Release ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 76 months of incarceration and ordered to pay $1,172,209.80 in restitution to two former employers on her convictions for bank fraud, as well as violations of federal supervised release and a bond order, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Tracey Smith, 58, on July 21, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, while on federal supervised release for a prior wire fraud conviction for which she was sentenced in February 2023, Smith was hired as a comptroller by a Pittsburgh engineering firm and embezzled company funds for her personal use. As sentencing on those charges was pending, Smith was hired by another company as comptroller and embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars by creating unauthorized checks and misusing a company credit card.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon observed that the defendant had a serious criminal history for embezzlement.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Smith.
Federal Jury Finds Cherry Tree Resident Guilty of Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – After deliberating for one hour, a federal jury on July 20, 2026, found Mandi Litzinger, 44, of Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania, guilty on charges of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Litzinger was tried before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
The evidence presented during the week-long trial established that, on or about February 12, 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Litzinger distributed a quantity of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, which the jury also determined resulted in the serious bodily injury and death of another individual. Further, in and around February 2021, Litzinger conspired to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for November 19, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Hillary M. Weaver prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Litzinger.
Ross Township Resident Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Production and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Ross Township, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his convictions of production and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Ralph Talerico, 46, on July 15, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, in and around June through July 2023, Talerico produced videos of two children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, on or about June 6, 2024, Talerico possessed videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent and under 12 years of age.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Talerico.
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.justice.gov/psc.
New Castle Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on July 15, 2026, to charges of trafficking fentanyl and cocaine base, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Akeem Evans, 30, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a quantity of fentanyl on March 13, 2024, and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base on September 12, 2024.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for November 13, 2026. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both on each of the two counts. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, New Castle Police Department, and Lawrence County Drug Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Evans.
Homestead Resident Charged with Distributing Videos Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Minors Following International Child Sexual Abuse Material InvestigationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Charles John Beanner, 52, a resident of Homestead, Pennsylvania, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Beanner was arrested on the complaint yesterday by agents with Homeland Security Investigations.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, an investigation by Swedish officials and Homeland Security Investigations identified Beanner among a group of individuals both in the United States and overseas who were sharing videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. The complaint charges Beanner with, on April 12, 2024, and March 26, 2026, knowingly distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including some videos that depicted the sexual assault of minors as young as six months old. The investigation by the Swedish government resulted in the arrests of Swedish suspects involved in the sexual exploitation.
The United States has filed a request for detention of the defendant pending trial, asserting that he is a danger to the community and should be held without bail. A hearing on the government’s motion has been scheduled for July 21, 2026.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the criminal complaint against Beanner.
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.justice.gov/psc.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sharon Resident Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Armed Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 84 months in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release, on his conviction of drug trafficking and firearm crimes, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Corey Adkins, 29.
According to information presented to the Court, in January 2025, Adkins engaged in armed cocaine trafficking from his Sharon residence, where Adkins’ girlfriend and a young child also resided and were present at the time. Adkins had been convicted twice for cocaine trafficking during the preceding eight years. He pleaded guilty in January 2026 to possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Sharon Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Adkins.
Sewickley Woman Pleads Guilty to Seven Counts of Bank FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Judith A. Hetzell, 63, pleaded guilty to seven counts before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between November 2023 and February 2025, Hetzell, the former business manager for a non-profit guardianship agency based in the Western District of Pennsylvania, fraudulently drafted checks against individuals’ bank accounts to which the agency had access as a provider of guardianship and other fiduciary services to the victims.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for October 13, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hetzell.
Shaler Township Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Member of CongressRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Shaler Township, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of interstate threats and influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threat, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The 12-count Indictment named Robert Hlovchiec, 32, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, between February and March 2026, Hlovchiec posted comments to YouTube videos in which he threatened acts of violence against a member of Congress (identified in the Indictment as “Victim 1”), Democrats and liberals, transgender people, and various minority groups. At times, Hlovchiec identified himself as a Nazi and a white supremacist, also detailing the acts of violence he desired to carry out, including mass shootings, assassinations, and running people over with his truck. The Indictment charged Hlovchiec with issuing the following threats:
- “If i get the chance im going to do a mass shooting wherever [Victim 1] is standing. [Victim 1] needs to die. All trailers to America beware. America is not for sale. America is not a Muslim country.”
- “If i get the chance I’ll shoot everyone in [Victim 1]’s family. America is a white Christian nation. We are ready to kill and die before foreigner ll Muslims take over”
- “I would put a bullet in [Victim 1]’s head. [Victim 1] isn’t American”
- “I would shoot [Victim 1] if I get close enough to [Victim 1]”
- “I’ll shoot [Victim 1] if I get the chance”
- “I’ll put a bullet in any democrats head especially democrat politician or [Victim 1]”As to each of the six counts of interstate threats, the law provides for a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to each of the six counts of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official while they were engaged in, and on account of, their performance of their official duties by threat, the law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Alyssa R. Angotti are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.Meadville Resident Indicted on Sexual Exploitation of Minor ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Meadville, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal child sexual exploitation laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The four-count Indictment named Jason Michael Dekaye, 50, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about January 19 and January 20, 2026, Dekaye received and attempted to receive material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. The Indictment also alleges that, in January of 2026, Dekaye possessed and accessed with intent to view material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, and possessed obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.
As to the receipt and attempted receipt charge, the law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to each of the charges of possession of and accessing with intent to view material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, the law provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Stuart, Florida, Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
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.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Dominican Republic Resident Illegally in U.S. Sentenced for Transporting Stolen Money from Skilled Gaming MachinesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A citizen of the Dominican Republic illegally residing in The Bronx, New York, has been sentenced in federal court to time served of approximately 35 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution totaling more than $896,000 to dozens of victims on his convictions for conspiracy to transport stolen money in interstate commerce and interstate transportation of stolen money, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Stalin Acosta Paulino, 45. Paulino is expected to be deported to the Dominican Republic.
According to information presented to the Court, Paulino participated in a complex fraud with numerous other individuals then living in New York in which they traveled to various states, including Pennsylvania and Virginia, and stole cash from skilled gaming machines they had broken into. Paulino and his conspirators then transported the stolen money to the New York area.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Secret Service and United States Postal Inspection Service, who worked in conjunction with numerous police departments in Pennsylvania and Virginia, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Paulino.
Butler Man Sentenced for Willfully Failing to Pay Employment Taxes for Two BusinessesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $711,253.10 to the Internal Revenue Service on his conviction of willful failure to collect or pay over tax, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Michael D. Funovits, 51.
According to information presented to the Court, between 2016 and 2023, Funovits failed to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service payroll taxes he collected on behalf of his businesses, PennRo Associates LLC and Penn Exteriors LLC.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Funovits.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is 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.
Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Rafael Gary, 31, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that On December 9, 2022, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers were patrolling the East Hills section of Pittsburgh when officers noticed Gary’s vehicle parked. When Gary drove away, officers observed a traffic violation and pulled Gary over. Eventually, the officer developed evidence that Gary concealed illegal material inside the vehicle and got a search warrant for Gary’s vehicle.
The search warrant revealed a handgun, evidence of marijuana trafficking and a cellular telephone. Agents from, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a search warrant for the cellular telephone, which revealed that Gary had purchased the handgun through the female associate who was the registered owner. Gary has multiple felony convictions that preclude him from the lawful possession of firearms, including previous federal convictions for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gary.
Cleveland Resident Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa - A resident of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of Money Laundering Conspiracy, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, 35, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Nora Bary Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that an organized crime group based in the Dominican Republic, operated what is commonly referred to as a Grandparent Fraud Scheme. The organized crime group, for a number of years, ran a scam in which they called elderly individuals impersonating a loved one (often a grandchild) and falsely claimed that the grandchild is in a crisis and needed cash quickly, typically to pay bond related to criminal charges. The victims then accessed cash, typically from their financial institutions, and provided the cash to unknowing ride share drivers from companies like Lyft and Uber. The drivers then drove the cash, often across state lines, and delivered the cash to a member of the conspiracy.
Bisono Rodriguez participated in the conspiracy by receiving the fraudulently obtained money from the Lyft or Uber drivers, and then laundering the money by depositing it into financial institution or wiring the proceeds to the Dominican Republic knowing that the money was obtained fraudulently.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for September 9, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with the Parma Police Department (Ohio), and six police departments in Western Pennsylvania conducted the investigation leading to prosecution of Bisono Rodriguez. The six police departments are Millcreek Township Police Department, the Grove City Police Department, the Scott Township Police Department, the Fox Chapel Police Department, the Finley Township Police Department, and the Hermitage Police Department.
Elizabeth Resident Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to the charge of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
On June 23rd, Dontae Gilbert pleaded guilty to one count of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Gilbert was one of two men who, on May 23, 2024, fired a gun at a residence located in the 300 block of E. 18th Avenue in Homestead. Gilbert used a stolen Smith & Wesson pistol to shoot at the home, then attempted to flee the scene with his co-defendant in a black Kia. Law enforcement was able to stop the vehicle and found Gilbert in the driver’s seat of the car with the pistol under his seat. Ballistic testing matched the firearm to spent shell casings found on E. 18th Avenue and gunshot residue was found on Gilbert’s hand.
As laid forth in the Indictment that charged him, Gilbert was previously convicted in federal court for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. In his prior matter, Gilbert was sentenced to 68 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release. Gilbert was only 9 or so weeks into that term of supervision when he possessed and fired the Smith & Wesson on May 23rd. Gilbert therefore also violated the terms and conditions of his supervision by committing these acts.
Judge Bissoon agreed to allow Gilbert to proceed to sentencing on the same date as his guilty plea. In the combined hearing, Gilbert also admitted to violating the terms of his supervised release and the Court revoked his supervision. Gilbert was sentenced to a total of 90 months of incarceration followed by another three years of supervised release.
Assistant United States Attorney Barbara K. Doolittle prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Munhall and Homestead Police Departments, and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Dontae Gilbert.
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.
DuBois Resident Indicted on Social Security Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of DuBois, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on fraud and theft of government property charges, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Steven Paul Gearhart, 61, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from in and around April 2022 until in and around June 2024, Gearhart concealed and failed to disclose events to the Social Security Administration with the intent to fraudulently misuse Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits as representative payee for his personal use. SSI is a monthly, needs-based payment benefit that is afforded to people with disabilities and the elderly who have little or no income. Applicants are required to report their wages, assets, and living arrangements as those matters are considered by the Social Security Administration when determining eligibility for SSI. The Indictment further alleges that Gearhart converted SSI benefits as a representative payee to his personal use and stole over $1,000 in SSI benefits.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is 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.
Erie Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years of incarceration, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on his conviction of possessing child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Dana Lindstrom, 44, formerly of Erie, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the Court, in August 2019, Lindstrom possessed videos depicting a minor female engaged in sexually explicit conduct. These videos were located by investigators on Lindstrom’s phone.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Erie Police Department and the Erie County Detectives Bureau for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lindstrom.
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.justice.gov/psc.
Two Pittsburgh Convenience Store Employees Charged with Food Stamp Trafficking as Part of Nationwide Health Care Fraud TakedownRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Today, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced criminal charges against two defendants in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud the United States Department of Agriculture. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from the two defendants exchanging Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamp, benefits for cash, allowing certain beneficiary recipients to use this cash to purchase illegal controlled substances.
“Giving customers cash for their SNAP benefits is against the law and violates the clear rules and regulations of a program designed to provide nutritional assistance to families in need,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute individuals who attempt to take advantage of both recipients and taxpayers by compromising the integrity of important public health programs and illegally trafficking SNAP and other government benefits.”
The charges announced today by United States Attorney Rivetti are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.
Today’s coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:
• Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
• 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
• Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
• 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.The following individuals were charged in the Western District of Pennsylvania:
Abdou Jallow, 55, and Alicia Mastrantoni, 39, both of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were charged by Criminal Complaint with food stamp fraud in connection with exchanging SNAP benefits for cash. As alleged in the complaint, Jallow, manager of a Pittsburgh convenience store, and Mastrantoni, an employee of the same store, exchanged these SNAP benefits for cash for various store customers, many of whom used this cash to purchase illegal controlled substances. Jallow and Mastrantoni attempted to conceal the nature of these transactions by using fraudulent universal product codes (UPCs) on the store’s cash register. The store was identified as being involved in fraud through the SNAP benefit transactions, which were significantly high in both volume and dollar amount. It is believed that Jallow and Mastrantoni fraudulently exchanged over $550,000 in SNAP benefits over the course of the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
“Exploiting a vital nutrition program for personal profit and to fuel drug abuse is a betrayal of the communities these benefits are intended to support,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Nathan Abel. “The charges announced today demonstrate the commitment of HSI Philadelphia and our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who defraud the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and threaten public safety. We will continue to trace illicit funds, safeguard taxpayer resources, and hold accountable anyone who seeks to exploit vulnerable families for personal gain.”
The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pennsylvania State Police Organized Crime Unit West to investigate and prosecute the case filed during the Takedown.
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, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Firearm and Narcotics ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 46 months of incarceration, to be followed by six years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal firearm and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Jamar Perminter, 26.
According to information presented to the Court, on July 31, 2025, law enforcement executed search warrants of Perminter’s person, residence, and two vehicles, and recovered a loaded and chambered pistol, a firearm magazine, and 9mm ammunition. In addition, law enforcement recovered dozens of bricks of fentanyl/heroin, a digital scale, multiple cell phones, and approximately $84,000 in United States currency. Perminter previously had been convicted in federal court of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Stowe Township Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Perminter.
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.
Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of trafficking fentanyl, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Edwin Hernandez, 24, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was informed that, on February 2, 2022, Hernandez possessed with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for October 27, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Pennsylvania State Police and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hernandez.
Kittanning Resident Sentenced for Theft of Disabled Child’s Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Kittanning, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 36 months of probation, including an initial five months of home detention, and ordered to pay restitution of $17,000 to the United States Social Security Administration on his conviction of theft of public funds, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Jared Koeller, 47, on June 17, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, Koeller was the representative payee for a disabled child, and misused Social Security funds designated for the child after the child was placed in the custody of another person.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Koeller.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is 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.
Imperial Resident Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Imperial, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to three years of incarceration, to be followed by two years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating a federal firearms law, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Ja’Shon Spencer, 22, on June 17, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, on June 16, 2025, Spencer possessed a Glock semiautomatic pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), or “Glock switch,” during a drug transaction with undercover members of law enforcement. A MCD is a device that converts a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. Under federal law, both the MCD as well as the firearm with which the MCD is equipped are considered to be machineguns and are illegal.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Spencer.
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.
Hazelwood Resident Sentenced to Four Years in Prison and Ordered to Pay $550,000 in Restitution for Role in Rental Car Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on June 17, 2026, to 48 months of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $550,000 in restitution on his conviction of violating federal identity theft laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Theodore Brown, 32, of the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
According to information presented to the Court, from in and around October 2022 to in and around February 2023, Brown and other conspirators used personal identification information and credit card numbers of individuals that the conspirators had purchased through the dark web to rent vehicles from a rental car company. An employee of the rental car company was also part of the conspiracy. The conspirators then rented the vehicles to others in the community, many of whom were involved in drug trafficking and other illegal conduct. The total loss to the rental car company was more than $800,000.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Secret Service and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Brown.
Two Defendants, Including Former Correctional Facility Nurse, Plead Guilty to Racketeering Activity at Cambria County PrisonRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, both pleaded guilty in federal court on June 16, 2026, to charges of violating federal racketeering laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Asiah Young-Atwell, 31, of Johnstown and Monique Valencia, 30, of Phoenix each pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment during separate hearings before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around July 2023 to in and around December 2023, Young-Atwell and Valencia conducted and participated in the affairs of an enterprise through racketeering activity. Specifically, while employed as a medical staff nurse at the Cambria County Prison, Young-Atwell accepted bribes from inmates as an incentive to smuggle contraband—namely, cell phones and THC vape pens—into the prison. That contraband was then given to inmates, who sold the items to other inmates for a substantial profit. Valencia acted as a facilitator in the racketeering activities by sending and receiving payments on behalf of the inmates for the smuggled contraband.
Young-Atwell and Valencia are among 10 residents of Pennsylvania and Arizona indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025 for their alleged participation in the racketeer-influenced corruption organization (RICO) conspiracy. Read the Indictment news release here.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for both defendants for October 29, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, and the Cambria County Prison conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of the defendants.
Phoenix Man Who Served as Enforcer for Transnational Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 35 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, has been sentenced in federal court to 420 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws in relation to a transnational criminal organization (TCO) as part of a Homeland Security Task Force prosecution, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The defendant was among 35 individuals charged through a Second Superseding Indictment unsealed in January 2024 for their participation in a domestic and international narcotics and money laundering conspiracy involving substantial quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine (read the Second Superseding Indictment news release here).
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Carlos Zamora, 30. Zamora was one of two defendants convicted by a jury in the case following a two-and-a-half-week trial in September 2025 (read the verdict news release here), with the other defendant—Bryce Hill of Seattle, Washington—having been sentenced in February 2026 to 35 years in prison. Zamora is the 33rd defendant sentenced in the case.
Evidence presented during the trial established that Zamora was a significant and longstanding participant in the Phoenix-based Monarrez Drug Trafficking Organization—a transnational criminal organization responsible for the distribution of millions of fentanyl pills, hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, and dozens of kilograms of cocaine from August 2021 to June 2023. The Monarrez TCO provided the drugs to a network of subordinate dealers who redistributed the narcotics throughout the country, including into western Pennsylvania. Zamora was intercepted over a federal wiretap obtaining hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills and kilograms of fentanyl powder for redistribution.
Additional evidence presented at trial included testimony regarding the execution of a search warrant on January 11, 2023, during which law enforcement seized 27 kilograms of fentanyl pills, multiple firearms, and $387,000 cash from Hill’s apartment; an intercepted call from January 9, 2023, in which Zamora discussed with one of the organization’s leaders a drive-by shooting he had carried out the previous day in Phoenix; and the seizure of 28 kilograms of fentanyl pills, 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, three kilograms of cocaine, 48 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 20 firearms (pictured below) from a short-term rental property in Scottsdale, Arizona, on December 25, 2022.
Jurors learned that Zamora fired more than three dozen gunshots at a man (later discovered to be a different individual from the one Zamora was targeting) during the January 8, 2023, drive-by shooting in Phoenix. Shell casings test-fired from a Glock switch-equipped semiautomatic rifle seized from Zamora’s residence a few days later matched the shells recovered from the scene of the shooting. In addition to his enforcer or “muscle” role for the criminal organization, Zamora was also responsible for distributing substantial quantities of drugs, including 29 kilograms of fentanyl and 82.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Zamora had previously served prison sentences on convictions of armed robbery and aggravated assault on a correctional employee, and is one of 10 individuals indicted in July 2025 for their alleged participation in a racketeer-influenced corruption organization conspiracy related to the bribery of prison employees to smuggle contraband into the Cambria County Prison (read the Indictment news release here).
Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr. and Katherine C. Jordan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
This prosecution was 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 toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations that 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 Western District of Pennsylvania is part of the Philadelphia HSTF, which comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the United States Department of State–Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and state and local law enforcement partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Arkansas Pathology Laboratory and Its Owners Pay $30M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Medical TestingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Advanced Pathology Solutions PLLC (formerly known as Advanced Pathology Solutions LLC), an anatomic pathology laboratory headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and its management services organization, APS MSO LLC (together, “APS”), along with current and former owners Kevin Hannah, Donell Burkett, and Daniel Hunter Pledger have agreed to pay a total of $30 million to the United States to resolve allegations that APS and its owners furnished unlawful kickbacks and ordered medically unnecessary pathology testing services.
“Healthcare referrals must be based on the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.”
“Fraud against the taxpayer is rampant and insidious and when discovered must be held accountable. Engineering kickbacks to result in unnecessary medical testing which is then paid for by the United States taxpayer is unacceptable and once discovered as with APS, will result in lengthy investigation and review, and ultimately a significant settlement amount as demonstrated by this settlement,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Our office will continue to work with Main Justice to detect and deter any similar schemes and then hold the wrongdoers accountable under the law.”
“Any entity that participates in health care and reaps illicit profits by taking advantage of and violating the trust given by Medicare and Medicaid programs must be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This settlement is notice that such illegal conduct simply will not be tolerated.”
“Kickbacks and medically unnecessary testing don’t just violate the law — they endanger patients and drain critical federal health care funds,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Schemes like this erode trust in the health care system and divert resources away from those who truly need care. HHS OIG will move swiftly and aggressively with our law enforcement partners to uncover these abuses and hold every responsible party accountable.”
The settlement resolves allegations made by the United States in a complaint filed on April 8, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In its complaint, the United States alleged that, from 2015 through July 2022, APS and its owners violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by providing unlawful kickbacks to gastroenterology practices to induce the referral of pathology testing to APS resulting in false claims to federal healthcare programs. The government’s complaint focused on a business model developed by APS and its owners, in which APS set up and managed limited-purpose laboratories (known as “lean labs”) in gastroenterology practices nationwide that enabled the practices to bill for preparing and staining biopsy specimen slides. The complaint alleged that in exchange for various benefits furnished by APS, the gastroenterology practices agreed to exclusively refer their patients to APS by shipping their patients’ slides to APS’s lab in North Little Rock for pathologist interpretation and review. The United States alleged that the arrangements between APS and the gastroenterology practices were improper financial relationships through which APS provided kickbacks to induce the practices to steer their patients to APS.
The United States further alleged that APS and its owners submitted and caused the submission of claims to federal healthcare programs for unnecessary testing. Specifically, APS directed lean lab personnel to automatically order certain special tests (called “special stains”) before a pathologist reviewed a routine test (a hematoxylin and eosin stain) to determine whether additional testing was necessary. By following the special stain protocol, APS and the lean labs ordered special stains that were not medically reasonable and necessary and were ineligible for Medicare coverage or reimbursement. In many cases, APS would also order additional “confirmatory” immunohistochemical testing on patient samples it received from the lean labs, which was also not medically necessary.
In addition to resolving the allegations in the United States’ complaint, the settlement announced today also resolves allegations that from Nov. 1, 2018, to Nov. 30, 2020, APS and CEO Kevin Hannah knowingly and willfully provided unlawful kickbacks to an individual named Richard Sorgnard in the form of volume-based commission payments to induce the referral of patients to APS for epidermal nerve fiber density (“ENFD”) testing. Sorgnard, who previously entered into a settlement with the government to resolve related claims, encouraged medical providers and practices to order ENFD testing from APS for their patients, and in exchange, APS paid Sorgnard 4% of all payments APS collected for ENFD testing referred. The United States contends that this arrangement violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and resulted in false claims under the FCA.
In connection with the settlement, APS entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The CIA requires APS to implement numerous auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, new training and education requirements, and a review of physician referral relationships.
The complaint follows three lawsuits that were originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA. Under the FCA, private parties can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The FCA permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the FCA, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas are handling the matter. The consolidated cases are captioned United States ex rel. Watkins v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:20-cv-1110 (E.D. Ark.); United States ex rel. Aucoin v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:21-cv-277 (E.D. Ark.); and United States ex rel. Paulsen v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, LLC, No. 3:22-cv-00652-JPG (E.D. Ark.). This settlement follows a $4.75 million settlement reached earlier this year with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, a gastroenterology practice and former client of APS.
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Evan Ballan, Jeff McSorley, and Kelley Hauser of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Goss Dempsey for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Skirtich for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
West Mifflin Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of trafficking cocaine and cocaine base, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Richard Jasek, 42, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was informed that Jasek distributed and/or possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine or cocaine base on three separate dates in late 2024 and early 2025. Specifically, Jasek admitted to, on February 20, 2025, possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, and, on both January 29, 2025, and December 17, 2024, possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing, quantities of cocaine.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for September 28, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both on each count. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and West Mifflin Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jasek.
Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Oluwakayode Ajayi, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone on June 11, 2026.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Ajayi engaged in a scheme to defraud banks by impersonating account holders and presenting forged checks which he negotiated for cash.
A date for sentencing will be scheduled by the Court. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Court continued Ajayi’s detention.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and the Moon Township Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ajayi.
Ohio Resident Charged with Wire Fraud and Embezzlement of More Than $460,000Read the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Conneaut, Ohio, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of wire fraud and theft, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The five-count Indictment named Yelena Andrews, 48, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from in and around May 2024 to in and around March 2025, Andrews, while employed as a paralegal with an Erie, Pennsylvania, law firm, did devise and intend to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud by means of false and fraudulent pretenses. The Indictment alleges that Andrew’s actions resulted in the embezzlement of approximately $462,376 to which she was not entitled.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.