Eastern District of Wisconsin
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Prison Sentence for Menominee Woman Convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 14, 2025, Dianna L. Chevalier (age: 41), formerly of Keshena, received a 60-month sentence for a drug related crime on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The sentence, imposed by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, came after Chevalier entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 29, 2025. After her prison sentence Chevalier will be on supervised release for an additional 60 months.
According to court documents, Chevalier was the passenger in a car that fled from Shawano County law enforcement on September 10, 2024. The vehicle entered the Menominee Indian Reservation and tribal and county law enforcement continued the chase. The vehicle drove north through Keshena and ultimately stopped at a residence near Crow Settlement Road and Wisconsin State Highway 47. Chevalier and others jumped out of the car and began to run toward the residence but were apprehended outside the home. Chevalier had multiple plastic bags on her person, containing a total of 43.11 grams of methamphetamine.
At his sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach noted Chevalier’s lengthy criminal history and the seriousness of the offense. Judge Griesbach also considered the damage done to the Menominee Indian Reservation and other communities through abuse of controlled substances, and the danger those substances represent to the people who buy them.
The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office, Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, and Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case in U.S. District Court in Green Bay.
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Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Prior Sex Offender Who Repeatedly Sexually Assaulted a Child and Produced Child Pornography Receives 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 6, 2025, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Rodney A. Hanes (age: 59) to 25 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by life on supervised release, after Hanes pled guilty to child enticement and producing child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422 and 2251.
According to court records, in June 2024, then 58-year-old Hanes, who was previously convicted of felony sexual assault in 1995, was living in Manitowoc County when he met a 14-year-old female from Outagamie County on Snapchat. Hanes subsequently picked up the victim during the nighttime hours near her home, took her to a parking lot, and sexually assaulted her. For the next seven months, Hanes continued to sexually assault the victim at locations in Outagamie and Brown County, including after-hours at his workplace. Hanes also supplied the victim with methamphetamine and took numerous pictures and videos of the sexual assaults. In January 2025, the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department received a tip, immediately investigated it, and arrested Hanes at his workplace. Law enforcement also seized his phone, which contained child pornography that he had produced.
At his sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach emphasized the severity of Hanes’s conduct in targeting a child, and that a lengthy prison term was needed to achieve just punishment, deterrence, and protection of the public.
The case was investigated by the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero(414) 297-1700
Follow us on XMissouri Man Sentenced to 18-months for Distribution of Unprocessed Poppyseeds Used to Manufacture Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 2, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper sentenced Antony Graziano to 18-months imprisonment for his role in selling unprocessed poppyseeds through his internet-based business, Fireseed Bakery.
Graziano was sentenced after pleading guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute a material or chemical that may be used to manufacture a controlled substance, and a substantive count of distributing such a material or chemical in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 843(a)(7).
According to court records, starting in September 2020, and for a period of approximately two years, Graziano marketed and sold unprocessed (or “unwashed”) poppyseeds over the internet with the intent that his customers soak the product in liquids intended to extract opium alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and thebaine from the seeds. As part of his business, Graziano compared the strength of the “poppyseed tea” that resulted from soaking his product with opiates such as Oxycodone, and he acknowledged that consuming the product carried a significant risk of overdose and death.
At his sentencing hearing, Judge Pepper focused on the serious nature of the offense and the tremendous risk and harm created by Graziano’s conduct.
Graziano will serve his 18-month sentence consecutive to a 50-month sentence imposed by the Eastern District of Missouri in a separate case. Graziano was also sentenced to 1-year of supervised release to follow his sentence and ordered to forfeit his home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as well as approximately $20,000 in cash seized from his bank accounts.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Manitowoc County Woman Pleads Guilty to Multimillion-Dollar Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling announced that on September 29, 2025, Cherie Campion (age: 64) of Mishicot, Wisconsin, pled guilty to two counts of money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 1956(a)(1)(B)(i).
Publicly filed documents reflect that Campion, through her temporary staffing agency based in Manitowoc, generated and submitted thousands of fraudulent invoices, causing respective losses of $5,000,000 and $5,389,371.51 for the two companies she deceived. Campion took substantial efforts to conceal her fraud, including registering a “proxy” company with the State of Wisconsin; creating a fictitious persona associated with her fraudulent invoices; and submitting false bank statements. As part of her plea, Campion acknowledged that her scheme was sophisticated enough to warrant an enhancement under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Campion will be sentenced on January 27, 2026, before United States District Judge Lynn Adelman.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Knight.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Appleton Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on September 25, 2025, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Jason J. Evans (age: 42), formerly of Appleton, Wisconsin, to 120 months in federal prison after being convicted of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court records, on Christmas Day in 2024, officers with the Appleton Police Department responded to a report of an ongoing domestic disturbance. When they arrived, they observed a female lying face down on the floor in a pool of blood as Evans was kicking her head. Evans was arrested and four firearms were seized, which he was prohibited from possessing because of a prior felony conviction.
The seized firearms were test fired and entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). One of the firearms was determined to be connected to a shooting in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on November 1, 2024, which involved a suspect who fired a handgun at occupied vehicles after a verbal altercation. After further investigation following the NIBIN lead, investigators identified Evans as the shooter.
This case was investigated by the Appleton Police Department, the Oshkosh Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Haitian National Sentenced to 108 Months’ Imprisonment and a $1,000,000 Fine as Leader of International Cocaine-Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 18, 2025, Jean Eliobert Jasme, a/k/a “ED1,” “Eddy One,” and “Tio Loco” (age: 63) of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison, 4 years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine after having pled guilty to conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, intending, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe the cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 963, 959(a), and 960(b)(2)(B).
According to court documents, between February 2019 and March 2022, Jasme arranged to smuggle bulk quantities of cocaine along routes that led to the United States. Jasme, an established Caribbean-based cocaine smuggler, operated primarily in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and caused cocaine to be transported from Colombia or Venezuela to Haiti or the Dominican Republic and then to the Bahamas and the United States. Jasme had personnel, planes, and boats readily available to move cocaine along these routes. For his services, Jasme charged a commission, which varied between 25% and 30% of the cocaine load. In early 2022, Jasme was arranging the shipment of up to 4,000 kilograms (over 8,800 pounds) of cocaine from Colombia to the Bahamas through Haiti using a Beechcraft King Air C90 aircraft. In a message to his Colombian cocaine broker, Jasme said:
“You know, 4000 [kilograms] is nothing, brother. I can schedule that on the C90, 500 [kilograms] per trip, two trips a week without any headaches. In four weeks, we have 4000 [kilograms] here [i.e., Haiti]. In three months, I tell you, three months, the maximum of four months, put four thousand [kilograms] again . . .. I have people who are waiting for work, who are waiting for food [i.e., cocaine]. Big people who are buying for 500 [kilograms], 400 [kilograms], buying a thousand [kilograms], so you know.”
Law enforcement intervened before Jasme completed this shipment, and in March 2022, Jasme was arrested by the Haitian National Police and ultimately expelled to the United States to face prosecution.
The DEA Port-au-Prince Country Office and the Milwaukee DEA Field Office investigated this case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the Haitian National Government, including the Haitian Ministry of Justice, the Haitian National Police and La Brigade de Lutte contre le Trafic de Stupéfiants (BLTS), provided assistance in this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Brady, Jr. and Gail J. Hoffman of the Eastern District of Wisconsin prosecuted the case.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Kaukauna Man Sentenced to Federal Prison and Ordered to Forfeit over $140,000 After Drug Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 15, 2025, John R. Sloan (age: 58), formerly of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court records, in August 2024, investigators with the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group – Drug Unit (“LWAM”) searched Sloan’s vehicle, residence, and multiple storage units. In total, investigators seized over 7 pounds of methamphetamine, over $140,000 cash, four firearms, and a vehicle. Sloan later admitted to obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine from a source of supply in California. He further admitted to distributing more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine in the Fox Valley area.
Sloan has over 40 prior criminal convictions dating back to 1985. At the time of the offense, Sloan was on state supervision for a distribution of methamphetamine conviction.
In addition to the prison term, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach ordered Sloan to forfeit to the government $142,190, three handguns, a shotgun, and a 2016 Dodge Challenger.
This case was investigated by LWAM, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Oconto County Hunting Guide Banned from Hunting for Illegal Bear BaitingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 15, 2025, United States District Judge Byron B. Conway ordered Timothy J. Collar (age: 64) to pay a $3,000 fine and banned him from hunting for 12 months after Collar was convicted of illegal bear baiting on federal property.
Collar is a bear hunting guide who commonly planned and guided hunts on federal property in the Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest in northern Oconto County, Wisconsin. Court records indicate that in preparation for the 2023 bear hunting season, Collar unlawfully placed numerous oversized plastic bait barrels in several locations in the Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest. The barrels were placed there for the purpose of baiting bear, and they were uncapped, close to public roads, and significantly oversized. Collar also damaged natural resources for the purpose of gaining access to the bait sites.
The hunting ban will prevent Collar from hunting on federal property during the 2025 Wisconsin bear hunting season that runs from September 3, 2025, to October 7, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the United States Forest Service.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Federal Jury Finds Former Prenatal Care Coordinator Guilty of Healthcare Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Providing Unlawful Kickbacks, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 12, 2025, Precious Cruse, who was the owner and operator of a now-defunct Prenatal Care Coordination Company called Caring Through Love, was convicted of seventeen federal charges, including Healthcare Fraud, False Statements related to Healthcare Matters, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Money Laundering.
The evidence presented at trial established that Cruse exploited vulnerable pregnant women and young mothers by luring them into the company’s prenatal care coordination program with kickbacks in the form of free baby items such as car seats, pack ‘n plays, diapers, and baby wipes. Once enrolled, Cruse’s company used the women’s personal information to submit claims to Medicaid for services that were never provided. In reality, participants often received only occasional deliveries of diapers and baby wipes, and in some cases, nothing at all. The evidence also demonstrated that Cruse used her fraud proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including luxury travel, designer clothing, and even an $18,000 custom diamond necklace and bracelet for her toddler.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2026, by Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper. Precious Cruse faces a mandatory minimum 2-year sentence on the aggravated identity theft charges, and a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the healthcare fraud charges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel prosecuted the case.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Prison Sentence for Man Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter Related to Vehicular Crash on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 5, 2025, Desmond Waukau (age: 22), an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and former resident of Keshena, received a 42-month prison sentence following a conviction for involuntary manslaughter.
The sentence, imposed by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, was the result of a guilty plea entered by the defendant on May 30, 2025. Waukau will also face three years of supervised release once he completes his sentence.
According to publicly filed court documents, Waukau drove a car far in excess of the posted speed limit on a state highway that runs through the Menominee Indian Reservation. Waukau attempted to flee from tribal law enforcement vehicles that were going the opposite direction, and then he failed to negotiate a turn onto Crowe Settlement Road, which is an unpaved road between Keshena and Middle Village. The resulting crash led to the death of a passenger. Later examination of the vehicle revealed Waukau was operating the vehicle at approximately 105 mph five seconds before the crash, and 65 mph at the time of impact.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach noted the seriousness of the crime and remarked upon the need to punish the defendant for his acts. The court also discussed the need to deter others in the community from engaging in reckless driving.
The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on XNeenah Man Indicted for Child Pornography ProductionRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on September 9, 2025, a federal grand jury issued a two-count indictment alleging that Jeffrey J. Haskell (age: 26), of Neenah, Wisconsin, used minor children to produce child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and 2251(e).
According to the indictment, on or about January 11, 2025, and again on or about January 24, 2025, Jeffrey J. Haskell “knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced” minor children for the purpose of “producing a visual depiction” of the minors engaged in “sexually explicit conduct.”
If convicted of either charge alleged in the indictment Haskell faces a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment. He could also be fined up to $250,000 per count and would be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.
This case was investigated by the Neenah Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Steve Caballero(414) 297-1700
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Brookfield Man Charged with Money Laundering Conspiracy and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Ankurkumar Patel (age: 41) of Brookfield, Wisconsin, with one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of substantive money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(h) and 1957, respectively.
The indictment alleges that Patel conspired with others to launder over $1 million from elderly victims in multiple states, including a victim in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who fell prey to a “Phantom Hacker Scam.” Phantom Hacker Scams are a type of fraud that primarily targets elderly victims. A participant in the scheme, who is often located overseas, poses as a customer service agent at a company or government agency. The purported customer service agent contacts the victim or induces the victim to contact the purported agent and falsely claims that the victim’s identity or bank account has been hacked or compromised. The fraudster then refers the victim to a co-conspirator posing as a law enforcement agent who directs the victim to move their funds, usually in the form of cash or physical gold, to a third-party or government account for safe keeping. The co-conspirator then coordinates the transfer of the victim’s funds to other participants in the scheme who act as couriers. The indictment alleges that Patel personally retrieved over $1 million from victims and conspired to launder it by distributing the money to other co-conspirators through anonymous, surreptitious transactions.
If convicted of the money laundering conspiracy, Patel would face a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not more than $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. If convicted of the substantive money laundering count, Patel would face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not more than $250,000, or twice the amount of the criminally derived property.
If you believe you or someone you know may have fallen victim to a similar scam, please contact the FBI at 414-276-4684.
This case was investigated by the FBI in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Homeland Security Investigations in St. Louis, Missouri. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter J. Smyczek.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Mexican National Indicted for Passport FraudRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 3, 2025, Erik J. Paz-Zavaleta (Age: 46), who resides in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, was arraigned on a previously sealed indictment that charges Paz-Zavaleta for making a false statement in the application for a passport in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1542.
The indictment alleges that on or about March 7, 2022, Paz-Zavaleta “willfully and knowingly made a false statement in the application for a passport” and that he “used another person’s identity” to obtain a passport “under the authority of the United States.” If convicted Paz-Zavaleta faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years’ of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Chicago Field Office of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Kaukauna Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Obtains Settlement in Housing Discrimination MatterRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 22, 2025, the United States entered into a settlement agreement in United States v. Estrada (E.D. Wis.). The complaint, which was filed on November 19, 2024, alleged that defendants Tammy Estrada and Ramiro Estrada—the owners and managers of a rental property in Appleton, Wisconsin—discriminated on the basis of disability in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
In particular, the complaint alleged that the Estradas denied tenants’ reasonable accommodation requests related to emotional support animals and retaliated against the tenants when they attempted to exercise their rights under the FHA, among other violations. The case was referred to the Department of Justice after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. Under the settlement, the tenants will be paid $20,000 and the defendants are required to adopt a reasonable accommodation policy and attend fair housing training.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nia Schmaltz for the Eastern District of Wisconsin handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Indian National Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 19, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Roshan Shah (age: 21), a citizen of India who was in Canada pursuant to a student visa before entering the United States pursuant to a visitor’s visa. Shah was charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).
According to the indictment and related criminal complaint, Shah traveled to different states and picked up cash and gold from various fraud victims. He then transferred those fraud proceeds to other members of the conspiracy. Shah was arrested after he attempted to pick up gold from fraud victims in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Unknown co-conspirators posing as law enforcement had convinced the victims that they were victims of a massive scheme in the United States and that they needed to transfer their assets to gold, which a courier would pick up and put in a safety deposit box in Washington, D.C., purportedly for safe keeping. The victims had previously given over $500,000 worth of gold to couriers the victims believed to be working with the federal government.
This case was investigated by the New Berlin Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary J. Corey.
An indictment and a criminal complaint are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Registered Sex Offender from Waushara County Indicted for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Adam A. Juslen (age: 41), a registered sex offender from Waushara County, Wisconsin. Juslen was charged with possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a)(5)(B) and 2252A(b)(2).
According to the indictment, Juslen possessed several sexually explicit images depicting children under the age of 8 years old. Juslen was previously convicted of possession of child pornography in three state cases in Calumet County (2010), Waushara County (2014), and Outagamie County (2015). If convicted of the federal charge, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Brookfield Surgeon Indicted for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Calvin M. Eriksen (age: 47) of Brookfield, Wisconsin, with distribution of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(2)(A) and 2252A(b)(1).
If convicted, Eriksen would face a mandatory minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment. He could also be fined up to $250,000 and would be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and West Palm Beach, Florida, and by the City of Brookfield Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan J. Thomas.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
# # #For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Three Chinese-Owned Companies to Pay More Than $21.6M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — BWI North America Inc., BWI Indiana Inc., and BWI Chassis Dynamics (NA) Inc. (together, the BWI Entities), have agreed to pay $21,660,983 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Regulations provide various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of individuals the borrower and its affiliated entities employed and exclusions for certain types of businesses, like those that are owned by government entities. In their loan applications, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate.
The BWI Entities are part of a large multinational corporation that supplies automotive brake and suspension systems worldwide. At the time they applied for and received their PPP loans, the BWI Entities were each majority-owned and controlled by government enterprises of the People’s Republic of China, including the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Beijing.
In applying for their PPP loans, the BWI Entities certified that they were eligible for the PPP The United States alleges that the BWI Entities were not eligible for their PPP loans because they were affiliated with other companies in China, Europe, and elsewhere, and together with their affiliates across the globe, the BWI Entities employed more individuals than permitted by SBA’s size standard for their industry. The United States also contends that the BWI Entities were not eligible because they were ultimately owned by a government entity.
The BWI Entities cooperated with the United States’ investigation by identifying individuals involved in or responsible for the conduct and disclosing facts and documents gathered during their own investigation. As a result, the BWI Entities received credit under the Department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases.
“The United States Attorney’s Office takes seriously its obligation to combat fraud and protect American taxpayers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard G. Frohling for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “This settlement demonstrates that businesses and individuals who abuse government programs like the Paycheck Protection Program will be held accountable.”
“The SBA is committed to rooting out every dollar of PPP fraud,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis. “Alongside the Department of Justice Civil Fraud Section, US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and our other law enforcement partners, the agency will aggressively pursue bad actors to hold them accountable and recover pandemic relief funds improperly obtained from the program.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The lawsuit was filed by GNGH2 Inc., which will receive $2,166,098.30 in connection with this settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General.
Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberts of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Carter for the Eastern District of Wisconsin handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
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Three Chinese-Owned Companies to Pay More Than $21.6M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
BWI North America Inc., BWI Indiana Inc., and BWI Chassis Dynamics (NA) Inc. (together, the BWI Entities), have agreed to pay $21,660,983 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Regulations provide various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of individuals the borrower and its affiliated entities employed and exclusions for certain types of businesses, like those that are owned by government entities. In their loan applications, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate.
The BWI Entities are part of a large multinational corporation that supplies automotive brake and suspension systems worldwide. At the time they applied for and received their PPP loans, the BWI Entities were each majority-owned and controlled by government enterprises of the People’s Republic of China, including the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Beijing.
In applying for their PPP loans, the BWI Entities certified that they were eligible for the PPP. The United States alleges that the BWI Entities were not eligible for their PPP loans because they were affiliated with other companies in China, Europe, and elsewhere, and together with their affiliates across the globe, the BWI Entities employed more individuals than permitted by SBA’s size standard for their industry. The United States also contends that the BWI Entities were not eligible because they were ultimately owned by a government entity.
The BWI Entities cooperated with the United States’ investigation by identifying individuals involved in or responsible for the conduct and disclosing facts and documents gathered during their own investigation. As a result, the BWI Entities received credit under the Department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases.
“The United States Attorney’s Office takes seriously its obligation to combat fraud and protect American taxpayers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard G. Frohling for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “This settlement demonstrates that businesses and individuals who abuse government programs like the Paycheck Protection Program will be held accountable.”
“The SBA is committed to rooting out every dollar of PPP fraud,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis. “Alongside the Department of Justice Civil Fraud Section, U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and our other law enforcement partners, the agency will aggressively pursue bad actors to hold them accountable and recover pandemic relief funds improperly obtained from the program.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The lawsuit was filed by GNGH2 Inc., which will receive $2,166,098.30 in connection with this settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General.
Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberts of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Carter for the Eastern District of Wisconsin handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Federal Jury Convicts Man of Burglary and Assault with Intent to Murder on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 6, 2025, a federal jury in Green Bay found Neegee J. Cloud (age: 32) guilty of burglary and assault with intent to murder in violation of federal law. The offense related to a domestic assault on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Cloud is an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and formerly resided on the reservation.
The evidence presented at trial showed that on the afternoon of September 20, 2024, the defendant broke into a home in Neopit. Once inside, the defendant attacked his girlfriend, violently beating her unconscious on a bedroom floor. Cloud returned to the bedroom several times over the next twenty minutes, and punched, kicked, and stomped on the victim’s head. Cloud also slammed the victim’s face into the floor.
The trial evidence included video from a camera system inside the home that captured the forced entry and portions of the attacks. The homeowner was alerted by the camera system, saw some of the incident, and contacted tribal police, who responded. The defendant was arrested outside the house.
The evidence also showed that tribal EMS arranged for emergency transport of the victim to a trauma center in Wausau. The victim remained in the intensive care unit for nearly two weeks and was hospitalized for nearly a month. The victim sustained fractured orbital bones and soft tissue injuries to her throat that required intubation while in the ICU to prevent her airway from closing.
Cloud faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on the burglary count and a maximum of 20 years in prison on the assault with intent to murder count when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach on November 10, 2025.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Maier and Alexander E. Duros prosecuted the case.
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Wisconsin Man Sentenced for Possessing Chemical Weapon PrecursorsRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 1, 2025, United States District Judge Brett Ludwig sentenced James Morgan (formerly known as Karactus Blome) to 29 months in prison. Morgan had pled guilty to one count of possession of chemical weapon precursors—chemicals that combine to create chlorine and chlorine gas—not intended for peaceful purposes, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 229(a).
According to court documents, on December 21, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at Morgan’s storage unit and found the precursor chemicals. Morgan had studied chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and had described himself as a weapon designer who did not need a conventional weapon. In a video, Morgan displayed the chemicals and said they were for making a lot of chlorine very quickly. In messages in 2022, he said that what he had was “scary,” and that the chemicals react to produce a lot of chlorine gas, which can be “effective if your enemy is not ready for it.” He sent links for purchasing the chemicals and discussed the amounts needed to make a lot of chlorine gas quickly. In messages in 2023, Morgan discussed a plan to defeat the government, if it came for his guns, by producing a large amount of chlorine that he claimed could be used against approximately twenty government agents. The FBI Laboratory determined that the chemicals Morgan possessed could produce a large amount of chlorine that could result in rapid, serious health effects, including death.
In announcing the sentence, Judge Ludwig focused on the incredibly dangerous nature of chlorine gas and the defendant’s possession of the chemicals knowing that he could combine them to harm law enforcement. Judge Ludwig also discussed the need to provide deterrence to others who might try to do the same.
“The defendant’s conduct posed a serious risk to others and the community as a whole,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “This individual spent substantial time discussing and constructing weapons and expressing opposition to law enforcement and individuals whose race, ethnic origin, or backgrounds differed from his. I commend the hard work and collaboration of everyone involved in seeking to hold him accountable for his criminal activity.”
“Mr. Morgan obtained commercially available chemicals with an intent to manufacture chemical weapons which could have had a devastating impact to citizens and law enforcement officers in Wisconsin,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “Morgan is already serving a two-year sentence for possessing destructive devices. The Milwaukee Field Office of the FBI will continue to work aggressively with our partners to prevent the acquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction."
The FBI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney John Scully prosecuted, with assistance from Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.
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Justice Department Sues Green Bay Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation in Violation of the Fair Housing ActRead the Press Release
Green Bay, WI
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 24, 2025, the United States filed a civil complaint alleging that David Jones and D Jones Properties LLC discriminated on the basis of sex in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
Jones manages multiple rental properties in the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area, and the complaint alleges that he engaged in severe, pervasive, and unwelcome sexual harassment of a female tenant by, among other things, making unwelcome sexual comments, grabbing the tenant without her consent, entering the tenant’s home without her permission, and taking adverse housing-related actions against the tenant when she asserted her rights under the FHA. The case was referred to the Department of Justice after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment and a court order barring future discrimination.“No one should be forced to choose between safe housing and their right to live free from sexual harassment,” said Acting United States Attorney Frohling. “The Department of Justice is committed to vigorously enforcing fair housing protections and holding housing providers accountable when they exploit their power over tenants.”
Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by David Jones or D Jones Properties LLC, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, can contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Nia Schmaltz at 414-297-4516 or [email protected].
The FHA prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
The public is cautioned the United States’ complaint states allegations only; the defendants can only be held liable when and if the Government proves its case by a preponderance of the evidence.
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Illinois Man Sentenced to 48 months’ Imprisonment for Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 22, 2025, Ronald Pallek (55) of McHenry, Illinois, was sentenced to 48 months’ incarceration for executing an investment fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of over $1.6 million to over 100 investors in Illinois and Wisconsin.
According to court records, Pallek engaged in a years’ long scheme during which he convinced friends, friends of friends, and family members to give him money to invest. Pallek promised these investors that he could double their money using an “iron condor” strategy of investing even though Pallek knew that he had never been able to generate such profits. Despite losing his victims’ funds in the market or spending them for his own benefit, Pallek continued to solicit additional victims, even promising commissions to those he previously had defrauded. During the scheme, Pallek repeatedly sent falsified earning statements to his victims, lied about his purported successes, and made Ponzi-style payments to prior victims with new victim funds. The investigation also revealed that Pallek used the funds to pay for his own living expenses, including his mortgage and for his car, and for gambling activities.
In announcing his sentence, United States District Judge Brett Ludwig noted that Pallek engaged in a “serious criminal enterprise” and kept his scheme going by “cultivating trust with friends and acquaintances” and through repeated “acts of deceit and false conduct.”
In addition to the 48-month period of incarceration, Pallek was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,679,250.00, and to serve a period of 3 years of supervised release.
“Mr. Pallek abused the trust of his victims, targeting hard-working individuals and small business owners,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “The sentence in this case reflects not only the significant financial but also the long-lasting emotional harm Mr. Pallek inflicted, and I commend everyone involved in holding him accountable and seeking justice for his victims.”
“Mr. Pallek deceived investors and caused significant financial and emotional harm through a Ponzi-like scheme,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The FBI will continue its relentless pursuit of investigating those who hide behind financial fraud as one part in our mission to protect the American people. We continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served.”
“The cruelty of this scheme wasn’t just in the dollars stolen—it was in the betrayal. This defendant exploited the trust of those closest to him, using friends and family like an ATM to fund his lifestyle,” said Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Investment fraud doesn’t just drain bank accounts—it corrodes trust and weakens the financial systems we all rely on. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to pursue those who exploit personal relationships for personal gain.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie F. Stewart.
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Chinese-Owned Concrete Equipment Manufacturer to Pay over $2.8 Million to Resolve Allegations That It Submitted False Claims to Receive a Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that Schwing America, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, agreed to pay $2,894,739 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was not eligible.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and, if the business spent the loan proceeds on qualified expenses, SBA would repay the loan and any accrued interest on the borrower’s behalf. Regulations provide various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of individuals the borrower and its affiliated entities employed and exclusions for certain types of businesses, like those that are owned by government entities. In their loan applications, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate.
Schwing America’s ultimate corporate parent is the Jiangsu Xuzhou State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, which is owned and controlled by the government of the People’s Republic of China. Through common ownership, Schwing America is also affiliated with other companies in China, Europe, and elsewhere that employed thousands of individuals.
In applying for its PPP loan, however, Schwing America certified that it was eligible for its loan, and it received a loan in the amount of $1,932,800. SBA subsequently forgave $1,702,787.82 in principal and interest. The United States alleges that Schwing America was not a small business eligible for its PPP loan because Schwing America, together with its affiliates across the globe, employed more individuals than permitted by SBA’s size standard for its industry. The United States also contends that Schwing America was not eligible because it is owned by a government entity. Schwing America will pay $2,894,739 to resolve these allegations.
“Congress intended for the PPP to help small businesses, not companies that are part of large multinational corporations owned by foreign governments,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “Schwing America submitted false information to avoid the rules, and it will now repay the SBA plus a substantial penalty. The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to pursuing companies that defraud government programs.”
“The settlement in this matter reflects SBA’s commitment to identifying and pursuing those who perpetrated fraud on Covid relief programs to the detriment of small businesses” said Wendell Davis, SBA General Counsel. “Working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and our other law enforcement partners, SBA continues its enhanced efforts to uncover fraud and pursue recoveries wrongfully taken by the perpetrators.”
The settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by GNGH2 Inc., which will receive $289,473.90 in connection with this settlement.
Together with the SBA, Assistant United States Attorney Michael Carter and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberts represented the government in this matter. The settlement agreement states allegations only; Schwing America, Inc., does not admit liability for the allegations.
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Oshkosh Man Sentenced to Federal Prison and Ordered to Forfeit over $500,000 After Drug Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on June 30, 2025, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Peter J. Henkle (age: 51), of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to 72 months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
According to court records, in August 2024, investigators with the Oshkosh Police Department executed a search warrant at Henkle’s residence and located over 950 grams of cocaine, over 7½ pounds of marijuana, and $321,880 cash. Investigators also located and obtained orders to seize large sums of money in Henkle’s bank accounts and additionally seized numerous vehicles that were purchased with drug proceeds. Henkle admitted to obtaining and distributing numerous kilograms of cocaine over the course of approximately two years.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Griesbach ordered Henkle to forfeit to the government $579,207, two Harley Davidson motorcycles, a 2019 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack, and a 2020 Ford F250 Lariat Tremor. Judge Griesbach further ordered Henkle to pay a fine of $50,000.
This case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department – Vice and Narcotics Unit and the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group – Drug Unit (LWAM), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros.
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Twenty-Three Members of an Interstate Car Theft Ring Charged in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a second superseding indictment had been unsealed, charging the following 23 individuals for their roles in an interstate car theft ring:
NameAge
LocationDiaunte D. Shields30
WisconsinGeoffrey Harvey35
GeorgiaWillie Bullard41
GeorgiaLashawn Davis, Jr.25
WisconsinBrandon Mullins40
GeorgiaNakiya Wright31
WisconsinCasha Griffin31
IllinoisBrianna Shields34
WisconsinGerrica Baker27
WisconsinDeon Brooks24
MichiganTashawn Brown-Smith28
WisconsinDequas Crawford-Higgs30
IllinoisJa Lean Little23
IllinoisVashawn Milton33
GeorgiaDeamonte Lee27
IllinoisGlenn Larsen53
IllinoisKenneth Kilson42
DelawareChaz Holifield34
WisconsinMeliek McClarn32
WisconsinTashay Northern27
North DakotaEsteban Cardenas37
WisconsinAccording to court records, between approximately January 2019 and February 2024, members of the alleged theft ring stole and directed others to steal motor vehicles, transported and arranged for the transportation of stolen vehicles across the nation, created front companies, altered vehicle identification numbers, made fake motor vehicle titles, registered stolen vehicles using those fake motor vehicle titles, and sold those vehicles to others for money and drugs. This investigation tied more than 175 stolen cars, many of which were new and “high end” to the ring. Some of the vehicles were stolen from airports, including Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport, car dealerships, and car manufacturer’s assembly plants.
“The charges unsealed against these defendants are the direct result of effective collaboration and countless hours of thorough investigative work by dedicated law enforcement professionals,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “I commend all involved in pursuing justice for the impacted victims and for seeking to hold the charged individuals accountable for their actions.”
All twenty-three defendants are charged with conspiring to violate various laws of the United States, including conspiring to receive, transport, and sell stolen vehicles; remove, obliterate, or tamper with motor vehicle identification numbers; and produce and transfer false and fraudulent titles for stolen vehicles. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each defendant would face up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Twenty-one of the twenty-three defendants are also charged with interstate transportation of stolen vehicles or the receipt, possession, concealment, or sale of stolen motor vehicles that traveled in interstate commerce. If convicted of one of these charges, each defendant would face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Diaunte Shields, Brandon Mullins, and Nakiya Wright are also charged with the use of interstate commerce to transmit and transfer fictitious obligations or the presentation or offer of fictitious obligations. If convicted of one of these charges, each defendant would face up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Diaunte Shields and Lashawn Davis, Jr. are also charged with drug trafficking crimes. If convicted of one of these charges, they would face mandatory minimum terms of 10 years and up to life in prison. Nakiya Wright is also charged with aggravated identity theft and, if convicted, would face a mandatory term of 2 years in prison. Defendants Diaunte Shields, Casha Griffin, and Nakiya Wright also are charged with conspiring to violate federal money laundering laws, and if convicted of that offense, each of them would face a maximum term of 20 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine, or twice the value of the property involved.
“Following a multi-year investigation, the FBI successfully dismantled a national auto theft ring that has been ongoing since 2019,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “These individuals are part of a criminal organization responsible for hundreds of high-end motor vehicle thefts resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Their criminal activity involves a complex operation of stealing vehicles and transporting them across the country. In Wisconsin, this organization is responsible for drug trafficking multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The FBI and its law enforcement partners will continue working together to stop these crimes and protect the American people.”
“This was a calculated, multi-state operation that went far beyond stealing cars—it was identity theft, forgery, and financial fraud on a significant scale,” said Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “These defendants didn’t just take vehicles—they exploited people’s identities, manipulated documents, and laundered illegal profits through sophisticated schemes designed to conceal their crimes. IRS-CI special agents followed the money, mapped out the financial structure of this organization, and worked side by side with our partners to bring those responsible to justice. Let me be clear: if you build your enterprise on fraud and deception, we will find you, we will expose you, and we will hold you accountable.”
“The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office was proud to be a partner in this endeavor from its inception, with deputy sheriffs and detectives from this agency playing a key role in identifying and capturing members of this crime ring,” said Sheriff Denita R. Ball. “As stated by others, this was not just a ring of car thieves. This group took advantage of innocent people and turned lives upside down. Their actions were calculated and callous. And now they will face the justice they deserve.”
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the Milwaukee County Sherriff’s Office, and the Wheaton Police Department (IL). The Sun Prairie Police Department (WI), Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department (WI), and numerous local and state law enforcement agencies throughout the country provided additional assistance.
Operation Strike Out was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Biebel and Philip T. Kovoor are prosecuting this case.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Lawyers, Law Firm, and Claims Adjuster Pay $75,000 to Resolve Allegation They Unlawfully Avoided Obligation Owed to U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that federal authorities had reached a $75,000 settlement with two Milwaukee-area attorneys, Alex Eichhorn and Scott Wade, the law firm Tabak Law LLC, and workers’ compensation insurance claims adjuster Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc., all of whom were alleged to have unlawfully sought to avoid paying over money owed to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The settlement resolves the government’s claims in United States v. Eichhorn et al., Case Number 25-cv-584, which the United States Attorney’s Office filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin this past April.
Court records reveal the following. The VA had provided substantial medical care to one of our Nation’s military veterans, treating (free of charge to the veteran) a condition the veteran sustained while employed in the private sector. According to the government’s complaint, Attorney Eichhorn represented the veteran in his workers’ compensation proceedings against the private-sector employer and its insurers. As part of that representation, Attorney Eichhorn requested medical records from the VA. Upon learning of the workers’ compensation claim, the VA promptly asserted its right to recover its medical expenses under the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2651(a) and 38 U.S.C. § 1729(a) (“FMCRA”).
Attorney Eichhorn later negotiated a settlement of the workers’ compensation claim with counsel for Gallagher Bassett, Attorney Wade. Despite having received written notice of the VA’s claim, the two sides ultimately reached a deal whereby the veteran would accept the “risk” that the VA would enforce its FMCRA claim, in exchange for $90,000, of which $75,000 was earmarked for medical expenses.
The government’s complaint alleges that although Attorney Eichhorn assured an administrative law judge with the state workers’ compensation board that the settlement proceeds would be used to satisfy the VA’s claim, his law firm, Tabak Law LLC, immediately disbursed the settlement funds from its client trust account to itself (as an unearned attorney’s fee) and its client. After the VA learned about the settlement months later, the defendants failed to make good-faith efforts to resolve the claim and instead took further steps to avoid their obligations under the FMCRA. As a result, the United States filed suit in April, alleging a variety of causes of action under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a), as well as common law theories of recovery.
The United States refers members of the public, particularly members of the workers’ compensation bar, to its regulations and guidance concerning attorneys’ and veterans’ responsibilities under the FMCRA. See 28 C.F.R. § 43.2; see also Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, Notification, Cooperation and Affirmative Verification, or E-Verification, in Claims Arising Tort Liability and Third-Party Liability, 88 Fed. Reg. 8344 (Feb. 8, 2023). Individuals who are aware of evidence of persons avoiding FMCRA obligations owed to the government are encouraged to voluntarily disclose such evidence to their district’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Aaron R. Wegrzyn represented the government in connection with this matter, with assistance from D’Anthony Graham and the Revenue Law Group in the VA’s Office of General Counsel.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
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Nigerian Citizen Sentenced in Fraud and Money Laundering CaseRead the Press Release
Richard Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 17, 2025, Otaniyen Iduozee, a Nigerian citizen who came to the United States on a student visa, was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment for his role in laundering the proceeds of an extensive fraud scheme. Iduozee previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).
According to court records, the case involved a “romance scam,” which is a fraud scheme—typically targeting elderly or vulnerable Americans—in which the fraudster feigns romantic intentions towards a victim. The fraudster, using a fake or stolen identity, typically meets the victim through an online dating website or application. The fraudster spends weeks or months cultivating a romantic relationship with the victim through online messaging, emails, text messaging, or voice calls, to gain his or her affection and trust. Once the fraudster gains the victim’s affection, he begins to tell the victim about urgent financial needs, such as a business opportunity, a tax debt, or a family illness, and pressures the victim to provide financial assistance, often with the promise of repayment. Those “loans” are never repaid, however, and many victims have lost their life savings.
Court records demonstrate that after obtaining the victims’ funds in this case, the defendants laundered them through multiple transactions and moved the funds overseas. Iduozee was a money launderer for the conspiracy who established and controlled numerous fraudulent bank accounts through which millions of dollars of victims’ funds were laundered. He engaged in laundering transactions that were designed to, and did, remit the victims’ funds back to Nigeria.
At the sentencing hearing, Chief United States District Court Judge Pamela Pepper acknowledged the widespread nature of these types of fraud schemes and the devastating impact they have on victims. Upon completion of his 42-month sentence, Iduozee has agreed to removal from the United States.
“Individuals and groups who engage in these types of schemes not only cause financial loss but also shatter the trust of their victims, inflicting multiple layers of trauma and harm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “I commend the courage of the victims in speaking up and commend the hard work of all involved in seeking to hold the conspirators accountable for their actions.”
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca Taibleson and Carter Stewart.
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Shawano Man Indicted for Child Pornography ProductionRead the Press Release
Richard Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 17, 2025, a federal indictment was returned alleging that Brandon M. Boogren (age: 29) of Shawano, Wisconsin, used a minor child to produce child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a).
According to court documents, in May 2019 Boogren created several videos of himself and a then two-year-old child involved in sexually explicit conduct. Boogren then is alleged to have distributed the images to an individual in Houston, Texas, via the internet.
If convicted of the charge alleged in the indictment, Boogren faces a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment. He may also be fined up to $250,000 and would be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Shawano Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Menasha Man Indicted for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Richard Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 17, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging that Todd E. Grimm (age: 57) of Menasha, Wisconsin, received child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A).
The indictment alleges three counts of receipt of child pornography on various dates in February, May, and July of 2023. If convicted of any of those three counts, Grimm faces a mandatory five years’ imprisonment and up to 20 years’ imprisonment. He may also be fined up to $250,000 and would be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Menasha Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Milwaukee Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 3, 2025, Chasity Evans (age 38, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Ripley, Tennessee) was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman for her role in the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM, or child pornography), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a), 2251(e), and 2(a).
According to court records, Evans created child pornography using a minor child, which she then distributed and sold to her co-defendant via cell phone, in exchange for nominal sums of money via Cash App. The criminal conduct occurred on multiple occasions between February 2023 and June 2023, while Evans was a resident of Milwaukee and the Memphis, Tennessee, area. The child was between the ages of 11 and 12 during the production of the CSAM.
Following her term of imprisonment, Evans also will spend five years on supervised release. She will also have to register as a sex offender under state and federal law.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Memphis, Tennessee, field offices) investigated this case, with the assistance of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick.
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Florida Man Sentenced to 22 Months’ Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Pay and Receive Healthcare KickbacksRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 29, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joseph P. Stadtmueller sentenced Michael G.V. Comino to 22 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Comino was also ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution to Medicare.
According to court records, Comino and his co-defendant owned Kestrel Medical LLC, a company that supplied durable medical equipment, such as orthotic devices, including braces for ankles, knees, backs, and shoulders. Beginning in August 2019, Comino began providing “leads” or signed doctors’ orders to Kestrel in exchange for kickback payments to two companies he owned. Comino became a fifty percent owner of Kestrel in approximately February 2020, after which he continued to offer and pay kickbacks for signed doctors’ orders. Comino and his co-defendant concealed the nature of the kickback payments by paying invoices for marketing hours. As a result of the conspiracy, Medicare paid over $2 million to Kestrel. Comino personally received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Kestrel in 2019 and 2020.
“The United States Attorney Office prioritizes efforts to stop healthcare fraud and will continue to hold accountable individuals who intentionally misuse Medicare and Medicaid dollars,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “The restitution order and prison sentence in this case underscore that providers of medical equipment and supplies cannot engage in unlawful schemes that put their interests ahead of those of the American taxpayer.”
“Individuals like Mr. Comino must face the consequences of their actions that defrauded the American people and wasted taxpayer money. This case sends a clear message that healthcare kickback schemes won’t be tolerated,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The FBI will continue to work vigorously with our partners to combat and prevent healthcare fraud.”
“The conduct in this investigation highlights a scheme whereby the defendant prioritized profits over patient care, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working together with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to protect the integrity of federal health care programs.”
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney John Scully prosecuted.
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Two Foreign Nationals Indicted for Directing Interstate Stalking and Harassment Scheme and Conspiring to Procure Sensitive U.S. Military TechnologyRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Bilal Essayli, United States Attorney for the Central District of California announced that federal grand juries in Milwaukee, WI and Los Angeles, CA each returned indictments charging two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the United Kingdom and a U.S. lawful permanent resident, with interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking (Los Angeles) and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act (Milwaukee).
“As alleged, the defendants targeted a U.S. resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on U.S. soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defense systems. We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.”
“The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticized the actions of the People’s Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America,” said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. “The same individuals also are charged with trying to obtain and export sensitive U.S. military technology to China. I want to commend the good work of the FBI and our partners in the U.S and overseas in putting a stop to these illegal activities.”
Allegations in the Eastern District of Wisconsin
According to court documents, beginning in November 2023, Miller and Cui solicited the procurement of U.S. defense articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for unlawful export from the United States to the People’s Republic of China from two individuals (Individual 5 and Individual 6).
In connection with the scheme, Cui and Miller discussed with Individuals 5 and 6 ways to export a cryptographic device from the United States to the People’s Republic of China, including concealing the device in a blender, small electronics, or motor starter, and shipping the device first to Hong Kong. Cui and Miller paid approximately $10,000 as a deposit for the cryptographic device via a courier in the United States and a wire transfer to a U.S. bank account.
Allegations in the Central District of California
According to court documents, beginning in October 2023, Cui and Miller enlisted two individuals (Individual 1 and Individual 2) inside the United States to carry out a plot to prevent the Victim from protesting President Xi’s appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November 2023. The Victim had previously made public statements in opposition to the policies and actions of the PRC government and President Xi.
“The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticized the Chinese government and its president,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.”
Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 1 and Individual 2 were affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI.
In the weeks leading up to the APEC summit, Cui and Miller directed and coordinated an interstate scheme to surveil the Victim, to install a tracking device on the Victim’s car, to slash the tires on the Victim’s car, and to purchase and destroy a pair of artistic statues created by the Victim depicting President Xi and President Xi’s wife.
A similar scheme took place in the spring of 2025, after the Victim announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of President Xi and his wife. In connection with these plots, Cui and Miller paid two other individuals (Individual 3 and Individual 4), approximately $36,500 to convince the Victim to desist from the online display of the statues. Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 3 and Individual 4 were also affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI.
If convicted, Cui and Miller face the following maximum penalties: five years for conspiracy; five years for interstate stalking; twenty years for violation of the Arms Export Control Act; ten years for smuggling.
The FBI is investigating the case. The United States is coordinating with Serbian authorities regarding the pending extraditions of Cui and Miller in Serbia.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Taibleson for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and David Ryan and Amanda B. Elbogen for the Central District of California, along with Trial Attorneys Leslie Esbrook and Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the cases, with valuable assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Fourteen Individuals, Including Ten Mexican Nationals, Charged with Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking and Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a criminal complaint charging fourteen individuals was unsealed, and thirteen of the fourteen charged individuals have been arrested. Additionally, multiple search warrants were executed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Central District of California in coordination with the arrests. All the defendants are charged with narcotics trafficking, including fentanyl and cocaine, and two of the individuals, Osmar Venejas-Mejia and Hector Rodriguez-Villalobos, are charged with illegal reentry after removal from the United States.
The defendants charged in this law enforcement action are identified as follows:
Name Age Citizenship
FERNANDO PALMA-JIMENEZ 49 Mexico
DANIEL MORALEZ 37 USA
CARMELO HERNANDEZ-RAMIREZ 40 Mexico
LUIS QUINONEZ-HERNANDEZ 36 USA
REYNALDO SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ 48 Mexico
CARLOS PEREZ-SANTANA 32 Mexico
EQUIEL MARTINEZ 39 Mexico
GERARDO OSORIO-JARAMILLO 47 Mexico
JESUS MEDINA-RODRIGUEZ 47 Mexico
ERIK RODRIGUEZ 33 USA
ANDREA ROA 30 Mexico
HECTOR RODRIGUEZ-VILLALOBOS 35 Mexico
OSMAR VENEJAS-MEJIA 34 Mexico
JOSEPH MARINCIC 40 USAAccording to the criminal complaint, between approximately March 2023 and the present, the fourteen defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and cocaine, and that multiple defendants possessed with intent to distribute controlled substances, distributed controlled substances, and used communication facilities to facilitate the distribution of controlled substances. If convicted, the penalties for the narcotics trafficking offenses carry maximum penalties of forty years to life in prison depending on the specific offense and weight of controlled substances charged.
The complaint also alleges that Osmar Venejas-Mejia and Hector Rodriguez-Villalobos, both Mexican nationals, were previously removed from the United States and unlawfully reentered the United States. If convicted, the penalties for the illegal reentry offense carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The defendants were charged based on a long-running investigation by law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), in partnership with the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gail Hoffman and Elizabeth Monfils. Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the arrests and execution of search warrants related to the case, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Marshal Service (USMS), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the West Allis Police Department, the Brookfield Police Department, the Waukesha Police Department, the South Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, and Wisconsin State Patrol.
This case was charged as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The public is cautioned that an indictment or criminal complaint is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Oshkosh Sex Offender Indicted on Obscenity and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 28, 2025, a five-count federal indictment was issued alleging that David E. Dejanovich (age: 52) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, engaged in the Receipt of Obscene Visual Depictions of the Sexual Abuse of Children in April 2024, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1466A. The indictment further alleges that he did so as an individual required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2260A. He is also charged with a single count of Receipt of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A).
The obscenity and child pornography charges carry a mandatory 15 years of imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment as to each count. Dejanovich faces an additional 10 years of mandatory imprisonment consecutive to the obscenity charges if the government proves his status as a sex offender. He may also be fined up to $250,000 as to each count and would continue to be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department with the assistance of the United States Office of Probation and Parole located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Convicted Sex Offender Indicted for Child Pornography DistributionRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 13, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Randy Smith (age: 46) of Kenosha, Wisconsin, on two counts of distribution of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A).
The indictment alleges that on November 13, 2023, and again between approximately August 1, 2024, and August 5, 2024, Smith knowingly distributed child pornography using a means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce, that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, and which contained material that have been shipped and transported by a means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce, including by computer. Court records indicate that at the time of his offenses, Smith was a previously convicted sex offender.
If convicted of either of the distribution charges, Smith faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years’ imprisonment on each count. He also faces up to a $250,000 fine on each of the counts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Kenosha Police Department, the Racine Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Milwaukee. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan J. Paulson.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Sheboygan Man Indicted for Child Pornography Production and PossessionRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 13, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Nolan M. Pitsch (age: 31) of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on five counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) & (e) & 2252A (a)(5)(B) &)(b)(2).
The indictment alleges that between approximately March 1, 2024, and continuing until at least September 30, 2024, Pitsch knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced multiple minor children to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, knowing and having reason to know that such visual depiction was and would be produced and transmitted using materials that have been mailed, shipped, and transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce by any means, including by computer.
The indictment also alleges that on September 26, 2024, Pitsch knowingly possessed images of child pornography, including images of minors who were under the age of twelve years old.
If convicted of any of the production charges, Pitsch faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment.
If convicted of the possession charge, Pitsch faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. He also faces up to a $250,000 fine on all of the counts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by multiply offices of the DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) offices in Albany, NY, and HSI Milwaukee, HSI Chicago and Indianapolis offices, as well as the Sheboygan Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan J. Paulson and Trial Attorney William Clayman from the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 148 Months in Federal Prison for Involvement in Armed Robberies of U.S. Postal CarriersRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 22, 2025, Huria H. Abu (age 22) was sentenced to 148 months in federal prison for his role in multiple armed robberies of U.S. postal carriers that occurred between October 2022 and March 2023 in Milwaukee. After completing his prison sentence, Abu will also spend five years on supervised release.
According to court records, Abu and his co-defendants (who named themselves the “Scamily”) robbed U.S. postal carriers at gunpoint for the postal carriers’ arrow keys, which were then used to steal U.S. mail from mail receptacles. The following co-defendants have also been sentenced in relation to their individual roles in this case:
• Jessie L. Cook (21): 94 months’ prison, followed by four years of supervised release (sentenced August 9, 2024);
• Abdi A. Abdi (24): 96 months’ prison, followed by three years of supervised release (sentenced April 14, 2024);
• Darrion M. Allison (24): 72 months’ prison, followed by five years of supervised release (sentenced November 8, 2024);
• Abdi I. Baba (27): 120 months’ prison, followed by three years of supervised release (sentenced July 24, 2024)
This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Milwaukee Police Department.
It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abbey M. Marzick and Bill T. Berens.
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Four Mexican Nationals Charged for Conspiring to Distribute over 30 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 20, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a 4-count indictment charging four defendants with offenses related to a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The indictment charged the defendants as follows:
Ruben Salgado Espinoza (50), of Rockford, IL Conspiracy to Distribute over 5 Kilograms of Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Distribute over 5 Kilograms of Cocaine and Illegal Re-entry.
Pablo Sifuentes Navarro (20), of Rockford, IL, Conspiracy to Distribute over 5 Kilograms of Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Distribute over 5 Kilograms of Cocaine and Distribution of at least 500 grams of Cocaine.
Pedro Sifuentes Navarro (20) of Louisville, KY, Conspiracy to Distribute over 5 Kilograms of Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Distribute at least 5 Kilograms of Cocaine.
Sanjuana Montenegro Ochoa (27)of Rockford, IL Conspiracy to Distribute over 5 Kilograms of Cocaine and over 50 grams of Methamphetamine.
According to court records, on April 22, 2025, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized 30 kilograms of cocaine from vehicles occupied by Ruben Salgado Espinoza, Pablo Sifuentes Navarro, and Pedro Sifuentes Navarro, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Court documents allege that the defendants expected to receive $495,000 cash in exchange for the cocaine. Prior to this arrest, the four defendants are alleged to have distributed and conspired to distribute 1 kilogram of cocaine and 1 pound of methamphetamine.Court records indicate that all four defendants are Mexican nationals who entered the country illegally. Ruben Salgado Espinoza was previously deported to Mexico.
If convicted of the conspiracy charge, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration – Green Bay Resident Office (DEA-GBRO), with assistance from DEA – Rockford, the Brown County Drug Task Force, the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group – Drug Unit (LWAM), and the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (DOJ-DCI). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros.
The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Omro Man Indicted for Distributing and Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 20, 2025, a three-count federal indictment was returned alleging that Jason A. Reeves (age: 44) of Omro, Wisconsin, distributed child pornography in October of 2024, and received child pornography on two occasions in April 2025, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A).
According to court records, a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) was sent to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. That tip was then forwarded to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office based on the IP address associated with the CyberTip. The tip alleged the distribution of child pornography on October 16, 2024. Law enforcement continued its investigation and on April 29, 2025, they executed a search warrant at Reeves’ residence. When asked if he knew anything about child pornography at his residence, Reeves replied “probably.” Court documents list Reeves’ sole source of employment as an Alderman in the City of Omro.
If convicted of any of the three charges, Reeves faces a mandatory 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 20 years of incarceration. He could also be fined up to $250,000 per count and would be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and the Green Bay Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Francis Creek Man Indicted for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 20, 2025, a two-count federal indictment was returned alleging that Ryan S. Schroeder (age: 37) of Francis Creek, Wisconsin, engaged in the production of child pornography in August and September of 2023, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a).
Each count of the indictment alleges that Schroeder “knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced Jane Doe A, a minor, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.” If convicted of either count, Schroeder would face a mandatory 15 and up to 30 years of imprisonment. He also could be fined up to $250,000 per count and would be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office and the Mishicot Police Department with the assistance of the Manitowoc County District Attorney’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Fond du Lac Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking of Children and Attempted Use of a Computer to Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 20, 2025, a three-count federal indictment was returned alleging that Ricardo Ortiz (age: 26) of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, sex trafficked a minor on two separate occasions in March of 2025, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1591(a). Ortiz is further alleged to have used a computer to attempt to “persuade, induce, and entice” a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b). That crime is alleged to have occurred on or About April 8, 2025.
If convicted of any of the three charges alleged in the indictment Ortiz faces a mandatory 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a lifetime of incarceration. He may also be fined up to $250,000 and would be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Prior sex offender from North Dakota who groomed a child online and sexually assaulted her after traveling to Wisconsin receives 30 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 15, 2025, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Kelly J. Rosemore (age: 43) to 30 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by life on supervised release, after Rosemore pled guilty to child enticement and committing a felony sex offense against a minor as a registered sex offender, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422 and 2260A.
According to court records, in late 2023, Rosemore was living in North Dakota where he was required to register as a sex offender based on a prior felony sex offense against a minor from 2010. Before December 2023, Rosemore met a 14-year-old female from Wisconsin in an online platform. Unknown to the child’s family, Rosemore groomed her for months, including by sending her sexually explicit chats and photos. In March and April 2024, despite knowing the child was 14 years old, Rosemore twice traveled to the Green Bay area where he rented hotel rooms and sexually assaulted her, which included violent acts, restricting her breathing, restraining her wrists, and taking sexually explicit pictures of her while she was blindfolded.
The child subsequently reported the sexual assaults to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. Meanwhile, Rosemore had returned to North Dakota and sent the child a sexually explicit photo of her that she did not know he had taken, threatening to extort her. The Brown County Sheriff’s Office coordinated its investigation with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal investigation, which arrested Rosemore and obtained incriminating evidence from his phone and vehicle.
Rosemore was extradited to Wisconsin by the Brown County District Attorney’s Office, and he has remained in continuous custody as state and federal prosecutors worked collaboratively toward the outcome.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach emphasized that Rosemore was previously convicted and sentenced to prison for the same conduct, and that he had again targeted a child, whom he repeatedly and cruelly sexually assaulted. The judge said that Rosemore’s conduct called for a lengthy prison term to achieve just punishment, deterrence, and protecting the public.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with critical assistance from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Funnell.
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Milwaukee Man Charged in Federal Court for Arson at downtown MATC campusRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 15, 2025, a federal criminal complaint was filed against Jarriel Cotton (age: 40), charging him with arson of a building used in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i).
According to the criminal complaint, on May 13, 2025, shortly before 7:00 a.m., Cotton intentionally set fire to an upholstered chair on the third floor of the downtown Milwaukee MATC campus building at 700 W. State Street. The incident was captured on video. Cotton made his initial appearance in federal court on May 16, 2025. His next court hearing is May 21, 2025. He remains in federal custody.
Cotton has a prior arson conviction in Milwaukee County Circuit Court from a 2015 incident.
If convicted of the offense alleged in the criminal complaint, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years’ (up to life) imprisonment. He may also be fined up to $250,000.
This case was investigated by the Milwaukee Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Keshena Man Sentenced for Fatal Drug Delivery in Tribal Detention FacilityRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 16, 2025, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Warren Grignon (age 43) of Keshena, Wisconsin, to 12 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl he smuggled into the Menominee Tribal Jail, which led to three overdoses, one of which was fatal. Those actions led to the February 7, 2025, entry of guilty pleas to charges of involuntary manslaughter and distribution of controlled substances. Grignon was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the distribution of controlled substances count and a concurrent 8 years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter count.
According to court records, Grignon was booked into the tribal jail on December 22, 2023, and moved into a cell with other inmates on December 23, 2023. Grignon distributed a substance containing fentanyl to three other inmates, who ingested the drug that afternoon. All three inmates overdosed, and responding jail personnel, tribal police, and EMTs managed to revive two of the inmates. Tragically, one of the inmates died.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach noted that the serious nature of the offense and the profound effect Grignon’s actions had on the community required a lengthy prison term. Following his 12-year prison sentence, Grignon will be on supervised release for an additional 10 years. He was also ordered to pay $6,943 in restitution to the victim’s family.
The Menominee Tribal Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier in the United States District Court in Green Bay.
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Francis Creek Man Indicted on Federal Crimes Against MinorsRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 12, 2025, a federal indictment was unsealed alleging that Michael J. Kornely (age: 75) of Francis Creek, Wisconsin, transported two separate minor victims across state lines with the “intent to engage in criminal sexual activity,” in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(a), in the years 2005 and 2006.
Kornely is further alleged to have used a computer to attempt to “persuade, induce, and entice” a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b). That crime is alleged to have occurred in March of 2024.
If convicted of any of the three charges alleged in the indictment, Kornely faces a mandatory 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a lifetime of incarceration. He may also be fined up to $250,000 and would be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.
This case was investigated by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Two Rivers Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble and Timothy W. Funnell.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Private School Settles with Justice Department to Address Discrimination Against Children with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 8, 2025, Wisconsin Montessori Society, Inc., d/b/a Milwaukee Montessori School (MMS) agreed to injunctive relief and payment of $290,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to provide full and equal enjoyment of its educational services to children with disabilities, in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12189.
MMS is a private day school that offers pre-K through grade 8 education. Private schools, day care centers, and other places of education are generally prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability under Title III of the ADA. Disabled individuals protected under Title III include both individuals with an actual disability—meaning “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual”—as well as individuals “regarded as having such an impairment.”
Since at least 2018, MMS has discriminated against young children with disabilities. MMS has: (1) denied, on the basis of disability, participation in its educational services to disabled children by expelling and refusing to admit them; (2) denied disabled children equal participation in MMS’s educational services by repeatedly sending them to the office, seating them separately from other students, and sending them home early because of manifestations of their disabilities; and (3) failed to make reasonable modifications for disabled children. MMS’s discriminatory actions are evidenced by the experiences of ten children described in the Settlement Agreement.
“Children with disabilities have the right to access the educational opportunities offered by private schools, including Montessori schools,” said Acting United States Richard Frohling. “This settlement is an important reminder that the ADA’s obligations extend to private schools and their treatment of students with disabilities.”
Under the Settlement Agreement, MMS will pay monetary damages of $240,000 to compensate aggrieved persons as well as a civil penalty of $50,000 to the United States. It also includes injunctive relief that requires monitoring and reporting, and MMS has voluntarily taken some steps to address the government’s findings.
The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and undertake periodic reviews of covered entities. The Department of Justice is also authorized to commence a civil lawsuit in federal court and to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties.
Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa Yun and Nia Schmaltz represented the government in this matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; MMS does not admit liability for the allegations.
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Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Two in Eastern District of WisconsinRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.
“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”
“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that two individuals were arrested and charged as part of Operation Restore Justice in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
First, on April 25, 2025, Troy Schaden (age 44) was charged via criminal complaint with receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a)(2) and 2252A(a)(5)(B). He appeared in federal court on May 2, 2025. According to court records, when a search warrant was executed at Schaden’s home on March 5, 2025, law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices. The investigation revealed that the devices contain CSAM that Schaden had purchased from an individual in the United Kingdom via the Telegram application and then distributed to others.
Second, on April 28, 2025, Victor Vega Rojo (age 49) was charged via criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a)(2) and 2252A(a)(5)(B). He appeared in federal court on May 2, 2025. Court records indicate that Vega Rojo does not have legal status in the country, and he is now in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to court records, when a search warrant was executed at Vega Rojo’s home, law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices, which through forensic review were determined to contain CSAM. The investigation revealed that the defendant distributed CSAM via the BitTorrent network and possessed hundreds of images of CSAM.
“The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with the FBI and all federal, state, local, and tribal partners to zealously prosecute individuals who produce or distribute child sexual abuse material, engage in online enticement, and further child sex trafficking,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “I commend the efforts of all involved in seeking to hold these offenders accountable and to pursue justice for victims of these devastating offenses.”
“The message is clear, the FBI has an unwavering commitment to protecting children against sexual abuse,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “Through ‘Operation Restore Justice’ and day-to-day operations alongside our local, state and federal law enforcement partners we’re dedicated to keeping kids safe in our Wisconsin communities.”
If convicted of receipt or distribution of child pornography, each defendant would face a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to a maximum sentence of 20 years. If convicted of possession of child pornography, each defendant would face up to 20 years’ imprisonment. At this stage, the public is cautioned that a criminal complaint is merely a charge, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms.
In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.
In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.
This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.
The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
Other online resources:
Electronic Press Kit
Violent Crimes Against Children
How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids
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Tigerton Man Sentenced for Shotgun Assault on a Postal CarrierRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 30, 2025, Benjamin L. Joos (age 44) of Tigerton, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for firing a shotgun at a U.S. Postal Carrier while she was on duty, injuring her and damaging her vehicle.
According to court records, the victim was delivering mail at approximately 3:00 p.m. on September 24, 2024, when she heard her passenger side window shatter and felt pain in her arms. She observed Joos holding a shotgun which was pointed at her. Joos was yelling “get away from my box” and “leave my mail alone.” The victim quickly left the area and notified law enforcement. By his own admission, Joos had consumed “4 to 5 whisky and cokes” prior to the incident. Hours later his blood alcohol level was determined to be 0.178 g/100ml, more than twice the legal limit for a presumption of intoxication.
At the sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Court Judge William C. Griesbach noted Joos’s lack of criminal record, strong community engagement, and a positive work history. However, Judge Griesbach determined that the serious nature of the offense and the profound effect his actions had on the victim required a prison term. Following his 18-month prison sentence, Joos will serve 3 years on supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $10,000 in restitution to the victim.
This case was investigated by the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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Illinois Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 23, 2025, Jamal White (age 34) was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for his role in five armed robberies in southeastern Wisconsin.
According to court records, White robbed five commercial businesses between May 19 and May 21, 2023. During each robbery, White brandished a firearm and demanded money from the store cashiers. White robbed a West Allis Speedway gas station, a West Allis BP gas station, a Milwaukee Walgreens, a Greenfield Speedway gas station, and a Kenosha Kwik Trip. At his sentencing hearing, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper also considered White’s role in two uncharged robberies in northern Illinois on May 21, 2023, which occurred at a Waukegan Walgreens and a Chicago Walgreens. At the time of the robberies, White was on parole with the Illinois Department of Corrections after serving approximately six years in Illinois state prison for armed robbery. White also had outstanding warrants for armed robbery in Indiana. Following his term of imprisonment, White will spend three years on supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, Milwaukee Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, West Allis Police Department, Kenosha Police Department, Waukegan Police Department, and Chicago Police Department.
It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abbey M. Marzick and Michael C. Schindhelm.
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