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6 October 2026
Tucson Income Tax Preparer Found Guilty on 22 Counts of Filing False Federal Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Darlene Musgrove, 68, of Tucson, Arizona, a paid income tax preparer, was found guilty on 22 counts of preparing false federal income tax returns for her clients without their knowledge. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2027, before the Honorable Raner C. Collins, United States District Court Judge.
At trial, twelve of Musgrove’s clients testified that they did not have the deductions that she included on their tax returns and were not aware of the false deductions. They also testified that the refunds they received when Musgrove prepared their returns were larger than they had received in the past. The government alleged at trial that Musgrove’s intent was to acquire larger refunds for her clients so she could secure repeat business.
The total tax loss from the twenty-two false tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service is approximately $127,166.
A conviction for the aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false federal income tax returns carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine of $100,000, or both.
IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-5055-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-169_Musgrove# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Tremont Man Pleads Guilty to Several Motor Vehicle Violations After Crash in Acadia National ParkRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Tremont man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to failing to report a motor vehicle accident, failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle, and carrying or storing an open container of alcohol inside a vehicle.
According to court records, in August 2025, Gregory Harper, 42, crashed his pickup truck into a tree on the Seal Cove Road in Acadia National Park and fled the scene. A witness called 911 and reported the accident. Harper was not present when National Park Service rangers arrived, but he turned himself in two days later. During a search of his truck, rangers located open alcohol cans. When interviewed, Harper said he swerved to avoid a deer.
Harper faces up to six months in prison, a maximum fine of $5,000, and up to five years of probation on each count. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A U.S. Magistrate Judge will determine any sentence after considering statutory sentencing factors.
The National Park Service investigated the case with assistance from the Southwest Harbor Police Department.
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Transcontinental Fentanyl Trafficker 'Fat Bags' Sentenced to 128 Months in Wide-Ranging Narcotics ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Karon Olufemi Blalock, 32, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 128 months in federal prison for his role in a transcontinental narcotics trafficking conspiracy that smuggled tens of thousands of fentanyl pills from California to the D.C. area, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Let me be crystal clear: When you flood our communities with a poison as deadly as fentanyl, you are waging war on the people who live here,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This sentence is about accountability, and it is a message to every narcotics trafficker. The days of exploiting our neighborhoods for profit at the cost of human lives are over.”
Blalock, also known as “Fat Bags,” pleaded guilty on Oct. 16, 2025, before Judge Colleen Kollar‑Kotelly to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. In addition to the 128‑month prison term, Judge Kollar‑Kotelly ordered Blalock to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 135‑month sentence. Blalock is the 21st defendant to be sentenced in connection with this case.
According to court documents, from August 2020 through November 9, 2023, Blalock participated in a multi‑kilogram fentanyl trafficking operation that moved counterfeit oxycodone pills from Southern California to metropolitan Washington.
Blalock traveled dozens of times to Los Angeles to purchase bulk quantities of fentanyl‑laced counterfeit pills and smuggle them back to the District either through luggage and carryon bags or via commercial mail carriers. He coordinated directly with a Los Angeles‑based trafficker and relied on social media accounts to redistribute the dangerous counterfeit pills to D.C. customers.
For example, Blalock traveled to Los Angeles on Dec. 10, 2022. That same day, the Los Angeles‑based supplier sent a coded text message: “I got you at 50 cents.” Blalock responded by “loving” the message — signaling his agreement to the price of 50 cents per pill. The next day, the supplier texted: “When you tryna link?” Blalock replied: “Hilton Pasadena. Pull up on me.” The two men later completed the transaction.
Court filings further reveal that Blalock expanded his criminal activities by utilizing SBA-approved bank account credentials and Social Security number in order to submit a falsified tax form claiming $100,000 in fraudulent sole proprietorship earnings. Blalock in turn received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan disbursements of $20,833 each. Blalock separately obtained $22,224 in pandemic-related unemployment insurance funds, diverting critical public resources intended for legitimate individuals in need. Blalock in turn used these fraudulently-obtained funds in furtherance of his fentanyl trafficking in the District of Columbia.
Joining in today’s announcement were Special Agent in Charge Cindy M. Marx of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, Postal Inspector in Charge Damon Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito for the U.S. Department of Labor, and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The prosecutions in this case followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, in partnership with the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The investigation received additional support from the DEA’s Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Divisions, the FBI Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was also provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon S. Eppel, and Iris Y. McCranie of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.
DEFENDANT
LOCATION
CHARGES/SENTENCE
Hector David Valdez,
aka “Curl”
28
Santa Fe Springs, California
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;
conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
Craig Eastman
22
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced Feb. 6, 2025, to 165 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
Charles Jeffrey Taylor
22
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced to 98 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Raymond Nava, Jr.
22
Bell Gardens,
California
Sentenced Sept. 17, 2024, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Ulises Aldaz
29
Bell Gardens,
California
Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 95 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Max Alexander Carias Torres
28
Bell Gardens,
California
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy”
36
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced Jan. 5, 2026, to 120 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Marvin Anthony Bussie,
aka “Money Marr”
23
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Marcus Orlando Brown
30
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced Oct. 3, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Columbian Thomas, aka "Cruddy Murda”
28
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced Oct. 22, 2024, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden
36
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced April 29, 2024, to 45 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Andre Malik Edmond,
aka “Draco”
25
Temple Hills, Maryland
Sentenced July 22, 2024, to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Treyveon James Johnson,
aka “Treyski”
22
Alexandria, Virginia
Sentenced Sept. 5, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Karon Olufemi Blalock,
aka “Fat Bags”
31
Alexandria, Virginia
Sentenced Oct. 6, 2026, to 128 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Ronte Ricardo Greene,
aka “Cardiddy”
30
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced July 18, 2025, to 108 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21”
40
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced June 20, 2025, to 75 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Darius Quincy Hodges,
aka “Brick”
35
Glen Allen, Virginia
Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Lamin Sesay,
aka “Rock Star”
29
Alexandria, Virginia
Sentenced May 30, 2025, to 110 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Paul Alejandro Felix
27
Glendale,
California
Sentenced Nov. 12, 2024, to 164 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Omar Arana,
aka “Frogs”
28
Cudahy,
California
Sentenced May 2, 2025, to 93 months, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano”
28
San Diego,
California
Sentenced May 8, 2025, to 148 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Raul Pacheco Ramirez
32
Long Beach,
California
Sentenced Nov. 26, 2024, to 95 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Giovani Alejandro Briones
32
Victorville, California
Sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 90 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Alfredo Rodriguez Gonzalez
28
Rosarito, Mexico
Sentenced Mar. 6, 2026, to 235 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;
conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
23cr073
Three Individuals Extradited from Costa Rica and Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine for the Purpose of Importing it to the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Andres Felipe Restrepo Uribe (51, Colombia), Luis Alberto Sinisterra Lozano (33, Colombia), and Yon Freddy Sanchez Chavarro (45, Venezuela) have been charged by indictment with conspiracy to distribute cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation into the United States, and attempted distribution of cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, from about May 31 through June 1, 2025, in the country of Costa Rica and elsewhere, the defendants, who were first brought into the United States in the Middle District of Florida, conspired to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine for its eventual importation to the United States. The defendants were extradited from Costa Rica to the United States on October 1, 2026.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nassau County Sherriff’s Office, and the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Security Sensitive Investigative Unit. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry. The Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division worked with authorities in Costa Rica to secure the arrest and extradition of the defendants.
Ten-Time Convicted Scammer Pleads Guilty to $1.8 Million Romance Fraud Scheme Targeting Two Elderly WomenRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Troy Clinton Van Sickle, a resident of Temecula, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he stole more than $1.8 million from two elderly women he claimed to be romantically interested in, and then obstructed federal law enforcement efforts to investigate the fraud scheme.
According to his plea agreement, Van Sickle targeted a wealthy divorced woman in Los Angeles and cultivated what appeared to be a romantic relationship in order to gain access to her finances. Van Sickle concealed his criminal history, which included convictions for fraud, theft, extortion, and perjury, and instead portrayed himself as a trustworthy and successful businessman.
After gaining the victim’s confidence, Van Sickle claimed he was facing financial hardship and needed money from the victim to pursue business deals and investment opportunities. He promised to repay the funds promptly and share future profits.
But it was all a lie. Van Sickle did not intend to repay the woman. He admitted that he used her money to enrich himself and others and to pay for personal expenses, including to make payments on luxury cars, gamble at casinos, and send money to other women.
According to his plea agreement, Van Sickle created a fake miniature replica car company and provided the woman a fake multi-million-dollar contract between the company and Lotus Cars to give the impression that his company was legitimate. The woman sent the contract to her financial advisor and wired $150,000 to Van Sickle to fund the purported agreement. Van Sickle then used the money to make a payment on a 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale that he purchased the month before for $734,000.
According to court documents, Van Sickle was on federal supervision for a prior fraud conviction at the time of the criminal offense. He had been ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to nine victims of that offense and was required to truthfully and accurately report his financial resources to his probation officer.
To conceal the offense and avoid paying restitution, Van Sickle submitted a false financial packet signed under penalty of perjury to his probation officer that did not include the money he received from the woman, the luxury cars he had purchased and sold, and his gambling winnings and losses.
Upon learning that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had contacted the woman to discuss the money she had wired him, Van Sickle manipulated and exploited her to delete text messages, lie to law enforcement, and sign a false and fraudulent promissory note to make the wired proceeds appear simply as a lump-sum loan payable over a 10-year period. Van Sickle also directed the woman to sign a false statement to make it appear as though Van Sickle had already made a $140,000 payment to her through the note. Van Sickle disclosed the purported loan to his probation officer, along with the false promissory note and statement, and lied that he had already made a $140,000 payment to the woman.
According to his plea agreement, Van Sickle also targeted a woman in San Diego and lured her into a similar supposed romantic relationship in order to gain access to her finances and steal her money. He spent the money he received on luxury cars, gambling, and other women, and never intended to repay the woman.
Between 2022 and 2024, Van Sickle received more than 30 money transfers from the women totaling more than $1.8 million. He has not repaid any money to date. He admitted in his plea agreement that he knew the women were vulnerable victims due to their age, health, and trusting nature.
Van Sickle is next scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro for sentencing on January 15, 2027. He is also scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael S. Berg for preliminary revocation of supervised release on October 20, 2026.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Swan.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 26-cr-1774-RBM
Troy Clinton Van Sickle Age: 55 Temecula, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $250,000 fine
Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1957
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
False Statement – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001(a)(2)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
Springfield Man Sentenced to 153 Months in Federal Prison for Submitting False Documents to the Missouri Department of RevenueRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced today for the crimes of mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in federal court for his role in a scheme that involved submitting false documents to the Missouri Department of Revenue in an effort to obtain mechanics liens and titles for vehicles that had previously been stolen.
Dennis Arthur Cleveland, 76, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Bough on one count of mail fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of money laundering. Cleveland received a sentence of 120 months for the mail fraud and money laundering counts that will run concurrently, an additional 24 months for aggravated identity theft that will run consecutively to the other counts, and an additional nine months’ incarceration for his violations of his post release supervision from a prior conviction for Clean Air Act offenses in 2023. Overall, Cleveland was sentenced to a total of 153 months incarceration, to be followed by three years of post-release supervision, payment of a $300 special assessment, payment of a restitution in the amount of $37,049 to the victims, a full order of forfeiture in the amount of $37,049, and the payment of $400,000 in fines assessed by the court against the defendant.
“Government records and title systems exist to establish legitimate ownership, not to provide an easy way for criminals to turn stolen vehicles into profit,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “The defendant didn’t simply commit a harmless paperwork offense; he manipulated records for personal greed. Today’s sentence makes it clear that those who try to defraud government processes at any level in the Western District of Missouri, will be held accountable and aggressively prosecuted.”
Cleveland, as the owner of Affordable Towing, directed his employees, who he knew were submitting fraudulent documents, to send those documents to the Missouri Department of Revenue. The purpose of the documents was to obtain substitute or replacement mechanics liens and vehicle titles that would allow Cleveland to sell the vehicles. In each instance, the documents submitted by Cleveland and his employees claimed to have received permission from the vehicle’s owner. Upon reviewing the documents, it was discovered that none of the listed vehicle owners gave Cleveland or Affordable Towing permission to seize or sell their vehicle. Further, in all these documents, a signature in the name of the vehicle’s owner was provided and was confirmed to be a forgery. In those instances that Cleveland obtained a replacement lien or title, he would sell the vehicle at a used car dealership. In those instances that Cleveland failed to receive a replacement title or mechanics lien, he would send the vehicle to a local scrapyard. Under either circumstance, Cleveland took all the proceeds from sale or scrapping of a vehicle for himself, totaling several million dollars. Each of the vehicles involved in this scheme were confirmed to have been reported stolen and neither Cleveland nor Affordable Towing had permission to possess, sell, or scrap any of these vehicles.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Missouri Department of Revenue, Compliance and Investigation Bureau, the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the United States Post Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
Settlement Agreement Reached with Central Florida Pain Management to Improve Services to Patients with Communication DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has reached an agreement with Central Florida Pain Management (CFPM) to resolve allegations that the medical practice violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide auxiliary aids and services to a patient with communication disabilities. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
“ADA enforcement is a significant feature of our district’s civil rights practice,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “This settlement sends a firm message to our communities that disabled persons will be protected from practices that violate this important body of federal statutes.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office opened an investigation into CFPM after receiving a complaint from an individual who is legally blind (“Complainant”). The Complainant alleged that, on or about November 19, 2024, CFPM staff denied his request for assistance with completing medical history documentation on a digital tablet when he came for his new patient appointment. The Complainant alleged that, without this assistance, he could not complete the documentation before the appointment, which CFPM required him to do. Further, the Complainant alleged that because he was unable to complete the documentation, CFPM prohibited him from attending his new patient appointment, as scheduled, and required him to reschedule his appointment. As a result of CFPM’s failure to provide auxiliary aids and services, the Complainant was denied the opportunity to access CFPM’s health care services.
Title III of the ADA requires public accommodations, including professional offices of health care providers, to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated, or otherwise treated differently than other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, CFPM must: adopt a written effective communication policy that specifies its office’s obligations to provide auxiliary aids and services pursuant to Title III of the ADA; implement effective communication training for all employees regarding their obligations to provide auxiliary aids and services pursuant to Title III of the ADA; maintain a log documenting all requests CFPM receives for auxiliary aids and services, as well as how it handled those requests; report any complaints received alleging CFPM violated Title III of the ADA to the United States; and pay the Complainant $2,000 in compensatory damages.
Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran represented the United States in this case.
For more information on the ADA, visit www.ada.gov or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (Voice) or (833) 610-1264 (TTY). Accessibility specialists are available to answer questions from individuals, businesses, and state or local governments. All calls are confidential.
Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may contact the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida by calling our Civil Rights Hotline at (813) 274-6095 or emailing us at [email protected]. To fill out our civil rights complaint form, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights-complaint-form.
Serial Armed Robber Who Targeted Convenience Stores Near I-75 Sentenced to 28 YearsRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Javion Ward (22, Fort Myers) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday to 28 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The court also ordered Ward to forfeit the firearm used in the robberies. Ward pleaded guilty on June 25, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, in September 2025, Ward personally robbed five convenience stores and aided a co-conspirator in attempting to rob a sixth store. The robberies took place in Hillsborough, Sumter, Manatee, and Sarasota counties, all in close proximity to I-75. During each robbery, Ward entered the store armed with a firearm and demanded money from the clerk. On September 16, 2025, Ward entered a convenience store in Tampa, brandished a pistol, demanded money, and obtained about $600. In the early morning hours of September 19, 2025, Ward robbed four more stores—in Gibsonton, Ellenton, Nokomis, and North Port—where each time Ward entered with a firearm and demanded cash. In Gibsonton, Ward jumped over the counter to attempt to access the safe. In Ellenton, he threatened to pistol whip the employee if they did not move faster.
This arrest was the result of an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the North Port Police Department, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Venice Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Savannah man sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for illegal possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A previously convicted felon found in possession of a firearm faces years in prison after sentencing in federal court.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and was announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Baheem Frazier, 33, of Savannah, was sentenced to 105 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
There is no parole in the federal system.
As described in court documents and testimony, Frazier was the subject of a traffic stop by Savannah Police (SPD) officers in February 2025. As officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Frazier immediately began to flee at a high rate of speed. As the defendant recklessly sped away, officers ceased the pursuit in concern for public safety.
A short time later, police were notified of an abandoned vehicle matching the description of the defendant’s vehicle located on Waldburg St. with witnesses describing Frazier as the driver of the vehicle. Witnesses also reported that Frazier had exited the vehicle, discarded an object on a porch of a nearby home, and ran away.
Officers arrived and began to process the scene, canvassed the area, and located a firearm, a Sig Sauer Model P320, 9 mm pistol, where Frazier was seen throwing an object. SPD contacted the registered owner of the vehicle who initially stated the vehicle was stolen but later recanted that statement and informed officers that her boyfriend, Frazier, was last known to have operated the vehicle.
Investigators later determined through DNA analysis that Frazier was in possession of the firearm. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition, and Frazier was previously convicted of various felony charges.
“This defendant showed a complete disregard for public safety when he chose to flee recklessly through our neighborhood streets knowing he illegally possessed a firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “By working closely with the community and utilizing advanced forensic tools, the ATF and Savannah Police Department ensured a dangerous weapon was recovered, and a repeat offender was brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Savannah Police Department.
“The recovery of this firearm and the use of DNA evidence were critical to securing justice in this case,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Graves. “ATF is proud to work alongside the Savannah Police Department and our federal partners to remove illegal firearms from the hands of convicted felons.”
This case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson and former AUSA Ryan Bondura.
San Antonio human smuggler admits lying about identity during federal prosecutionRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 44-year-old man has pleaded guilty to perjury.
Jose Alfredo Zapata admitted he lied to law enforcement and multiple judges during his previous prosecution for smuggling illegal aliens.
On Sept. 3, 2022, Zapata drove a blue Ford Expedition hauling a trailer to a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Laredo. He identified himself as E.S. and claimed to be a U.S. citizen traveling home to San Antonio.
Following a K-9 alert, authorities discovered 19 illegal aliens concealed in a compartment near the top of the trailer.
Zapata admitted to smuggling the illegal aliens and stated he expected to be paid $2,000 to transport the trailer to San Antonio.
Two of the illegal aliens admitted they had paid a human smuggling organization to transport them into the United States.
Between Sept. 6, 2022 and Jan. 18, 2023, Zapata repeatedly identified himself as E.S. and provided that individual’s identifying information during court proceedings and the investigation. The false information included the victim’s date of birth, address, driver’s license number, and Social Security number.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga accepted the plea and set sentencing for December 29, 2026. At that time, Zapata faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Zapata has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
FBI Laredo conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franklyn is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
San Antonio Tax Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing False Tax Returns, over $3.8 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman was sentenced in federal court to 53 months in prison for aiding or assisting in the filing of a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Natasha Sheree Banks-Brown, 45, owned and operated a tax preparation business named “Tasha’s Total Tax Service,” beginning in 2016. In December 2020, IRS Criminal Investigations began investigating an increasing number of questionable tax returns prepared by Banks-Brown.
The investigation revealed that Banks-Brown filed individual tax returns on behalf of her clients which included false and fraudulent deductions and credits which significantly increased their tax refunds. Banks-Brown never quoted a specific price for her services and said that she would take her fee out of the return. As part of her fraudulent scheme, she used tax preparation software that allowed her to designate returns to be deposited into a bank account she controlled. The client would then receive a portion of the return via a transfer from Banks-Brown’s bank account to the client’s account, with Banks-Brown keeping a percentage as her fee. Multiple clients testified at trial that they were unaware of her actions and were never given the opportunity to review the return in detail before signing. Evidence introduced at trial indicated that Banks-Brown filed close to 1,200 tax returns between 2017 and 2021 that resulted in over $8 million dollars of refunds.
Banks-Brown was indicted on April 3, 2024, and arrested April 16, 2024. She was found guilty of all 11 counts after a four-day jury trial on April 10, 2026. In addition to the 53-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge David Ezra ordered Banks-Brown to pay $3,824,887 in restitution and $1,100 in special assessments.
“Tax professionals like the defendant in this case take advantage of the intimidating and complex nature of the tax system, using their clients as unwitting pawns for personal gain. Unfortunately, this type of scheme is relatively common, and this sentence should serve as a warning that promises of inflated tax refunds can be too good to be true,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Now, Natasha Banks-Brown is paying the price with a nearly five-year stay in federal prison for abusing the trust of the clients she victimized and for stealing from the American taxpayer. This office and our prosecutors remain focused on these cases from investigation through sentencing because every one of us cares about doing the next right thing and delivering justice for our fellow Americans.”
“Banks-Brown is a financial predator who used the tax refunds of her clients to feed her greed. We are talking about someone who repeatedly scammed her clients and her country. Thanks to the jury who convicted her, the special agents that investigated the case and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we returned the favor and took her freedom along with her money,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr., of IRS-CI's Texas Field Office. “She is everything we warn you to avoid. Criminal return preparers like Banks-Brown promise you riches and steal from us all.”
IRS-CI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Chung and Ryan Groomer prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Richmond Man and Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two Richmond, Ky., residents, Destiny Burns, 24, and Aaron Whittamore, 33, were sentenced to 11 years and 12 years in prison, respectively, on Monday, October 5, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Chad Meredith for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Beginning in June 2025, law enforcement used a confidential informant to conduct a series of controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Burns. The investigation culminated in a traffic stop of Burns and Whittamore on August 22, 2025, after law enforcement observed Whittamore entering Burns’s vehicle carrying multiple bags. During the traffic stop, officers located multiple gallon- sized Ziplock bags containing a total of approximately 2,035 grams of methamphetamine, along with $1,109 in U.S. currency. As part of their individual plea agreements, Burns and Whittamore each admitted to engaging in a conspiracy to and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; Chief Rodney Richardson, Richmond Police Department; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, Richmond Police Department, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Prior Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 22 ½ Years in Prison for Selling Methamphetamine and GunsRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A prior South Carolina drug trafficker was sentenced to 22 ½ prison today for trafficking methamphetamine and firearms throughout Cleveland and Rutherford Counties, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Ronald Keith Goode, 53, of Mooresboro, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 270 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for selling methamphetamine and firearms. In October 2025, Goode pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court documents, in February 2025, law enforcement in Rutherford and Cleveland Counties identified Goode as a methamphetamine and gun trafficker. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Goode would transport large quantities of methamphetamine from the Atlanta area into Rutherford and Cleveland Counties. Between March and May 2025, an undercover agent met with Goode at Goode’s residence in Mooresboro multiple times, and purchased a total of approximately 998.01 grams of pure methamphetamine and 12 firearms. During one of the drug buys, the undercover agent observed four separate pound-sized bags containing methamphetamine (approximately two kilograms). Goode also talked about receiving as much as 10 kilograms of methamphetamine from his source of supply.
Court records also show that, when Goode was arrested on July 2, 2025, law enforcement searched his property in Mooresboro and seized from a shed located on the property a loaded Glock 27, .40 caliber pistol with 26 rounds of ammunition, a loaded Marlin, model 60W, .22 LR rifle with five rounds of ammunition, an unloaded Masterpiece Arms Defender 9mm pistol, two magazines, 93 rounds of ammunition, a ballistic vest, a digital scale, and small amount of white powder. Law enforcement also seized from Goode’s residence two loaded pistol magazines with three rounds of ammunition and a large digital scale.
“Nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine and a dozen firearms were just the beginning of what investigators uncovered in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Goode was a repeat trafficker who continued to bring dangerous drugs and guns into our communities. Today’s sentence makes clear that chronic offenders will face serious consequences in the federal system.”
“Drug dealing and firearms trafficking is a deadly combination that puts communities at risk,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “ATF and our law enforcement partners make shutting these illegal networks down and holding traffickers accountable a top priority.”
Goode has prior convictions for trafficking methamphetamine in South Carolina, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Previously convicted Petersburg felon returning to prison for latest firearm crimeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg man was sentenced today to five years and 11 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on Oct. 4, 2025, Richmond Police Officers responded to a report of random gunfire in the area of Gilpin Court. When officers arrived, they observed Tynell Jones, 34, discharge a firearm three times. Jones was immediately detained. The firearm had a round in the chamber and was equipped with a 30-round magazine with 10 rounds remaining.
Jones was previously convicted of, among other crimes, assault, assault and battery, and possession of controlled substances. As a convicted felon, Jones cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Jones was convicted in 2018 in the Eastern District of Virginia for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah Johansen prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-6.
Previously Deported Illegal Alien Charged with Attempting to Smuggle Illegal Aliens Through Newport Beach HarborRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA – A previously deported illegal alien has been charged in a federal criminal complaint alleging he attempted to smuggle illegal aliens into Southern California and unlawfully reentered the United States after removal, the Justice Department announced today.
Jose Miguel Castro‑Duenas, 44, a Mexican national who also uses the name Luis Enrique Santoyo‑Orozco, is charged with attempted transportation of illegal aliens and illegal reentry.
He was arrested on October 3, 2026, in Newport Beach and remains in federal custody. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana on October 5 and was detained. A post-indictment arraignment was set for November 9, 2026.
“This case reflects a brazen assault on the rule of law and the sovereignty of the United States, where a previously deported illegal alien smuggler unlawfully reentered our country and resumed smuggling operations in one of our coastal communities,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “We will not tolerate repeated violations of federal law or attempts to exploit our coastline as an entry point for illegal smuggling activity.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Border Patrol agents had observed a white Honda Pilot near Newport Beach Harbor on multiple dates linked to maritime smuggling activity. On October 3, 2026, agents located the vehicle again and contacted the driver, who identified himself as Castro‑Duenas. Agents determined he was an illegal alien with no lawful immigration documents and detained him.
In a post‑arrest interview, Castro‑Duenas admitted he is a Mexican citizen who unlawfully reentered the United States by boat near San Diego around September 5, 2026. He further admitted he had been previously deported in 2008 following a 2007 federal conviction for alien smuggling, for which he served approximately 13 months. He confirmed he had not received permission from federal authorities to reenter the United States.
Castro‑Duenas also admitted he was working as a smuggler for a criminal organization. He told agents he owed the organization $18,000 for his own illegal entry and that each smuggling pickup reduced his debt by $1,000. He said the organization provided him with the Honda Pilot and a cell phone used to coordinate smuggling activity. He stated that he was at Newport Beach Harbor on the morning of October 3 because he had been instructed to pick up individuals arriving by boat that day. He also admitted he had completed at least two prior smuggling pickups at the same location.
That same morning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and the U.S. Border Patrol interdicted a boat off Newport Beach Harbor carrying 14 Mexican nationals, none of whom had lawful status to enter or remain in the United States.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Castro‑Duenas would face a total statutory maximum sentence of 12 years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Rosalind Wang of the Orange County Office is prosecuting the case.
Pickaway County man sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for federal gun, drug crimes involving multiple kilograms of narcotics seized from Hilliard hotelRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Samuel A. Griffith, 35, of Ashville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 270 months in prison. As part of the case against Griffith, investigators seized 18 firearms, tens of thousands of dollars in cash and bulk amounts of narcotics from his Hilliard hotel room in October 2025.
According to court documents, in October 2025, Griffith sold fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine from a hotel room at the Red Roof Inn in Hilliard. When agents executed a search warrant in the hotel room, they discovered more than four kilograms of methamphetamine, more than a kilogram of fentanyl, a partial kilogram of cocaine, numerous firearms and nearly $40,000 in cash.
Griffith has prior felony convictions for robbery, aggravated possession of drugs and having weapons under disability. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Griffith pleaded guilty in April to six federal drug and gun crimes. Specifically, he pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and illegally possessing a firearm as a felon.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Fairfield County Sheriff Alex Lape; Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley is representing the United States in this case.
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Philadelphia Woman Indicted for Sprawling Scheme to Defraud the Government Through Bogus Pandemic Loan Applications, False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tenia A. Thompson, 51, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with 17 counts of wire fraud, two counts of bank fraud, one count of filing a false tax return, and 49 counts of aiding the filing of a false tax return, arising from a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), multiple SBA-approved lenders participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program — both established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, a federal law enacted in March 2020 — and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).
The indictment alleges that, from approximately April 2020 through June 2024, Thompson, the owner and operator of a financial services and tax preparation business called “Thompson Business and Tax Solutions” and “TBTS Taxes,” (collectively, “TBTS”) prepared false tax returns for individuals and businesses and helped them apply for and obtain COVID-19 disaster-related loans and tax benefits to which the clients were not entitled. After fraudulently obtaining these loans and tax benefits for them, Thompson charged the clients exorbitant fees.
As alleged, the defendant engaged in this fraudulent activity on behalf of more than 100 clients, generating at least $12 million in fraudulent loan proceeds, at least $5 million in fraudulent tax benefits, and at least $2.2 million in fees for herself. Moreover, Thompson fraudulently attempted to obtain tens of millions of dollars in additional tax benefits on behalf of her clients, but the IRS rejected most of these claims.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, 30 years in prison for each count of bank fraud, and three years in prison for each tax count. In addition, she would face up to three years of supervised release, a fine of $18,750,000, and additional financial penalties.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Amtrak Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the SBA Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Louis D. Lappen and S. Chandler Harris.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Pensacola Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Federal Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – James Michael Olshefskie, 55, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of two unregistered firearm silencers. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This repeat offender clearly didn’t get the message that the Northern District of Florida will not tolerate violations of federal law after his last conviction, so my office is more than happy to return him to federal prison to make that point abundantly clear. The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and my office will aggressively enforce the law to keep our streets crime-free.”
On September 11, 2025, United States Probation Officers visited the defendant at his residence in Pensacola, Florida, as part of his federal post-conviction supervision. The defendant was on federal supervised release for a 2024 federal felony firearm conviction, and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. During their visit, probation officers found ammunition and firearm silencers in the defendant’s bedroom.
The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pace Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of National Park SignsRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Hunter Drake Lovett, 30, of Pace, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to felony theft of government property. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant thought he could enrich himself by stealing signs from our national parks that were paid for with U.S. taxpayer money, but thanks to the excellent investigative work by our federal law enforcement partners and this successful prosecution by my office, he now faces justice for his crimes.”
Court documents reflect that, in August 2026, state law enforcement and federal agents executed a search warrant on the defendant’s storage unit in Shalimar, Florida. Inside the storage unit, agents found hundreds of signs that were stolen from state and federal properties in the Northern District of Florida, Middle District of Alabama, Southern District of Alabama, Middle District of Georgia, and Southern District of Mississippi. Agents utilized GPS data from the defendant’s work vehicle to confirm that he was within close proximity to multiple sign locations at the times the thefts occurred, including the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge and Conecuh National Forest. The defendant would then sell or attempt to sell the stolen signage to antique malls, flea markets, or via social media for profit. The signs that the defendant stole from the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service totaled $7,326.79.
Lovett faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service and United States Forest Service with assistance from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Eufaula (Alabama) Police Department, and Florida Forest Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke D. Lindsay is prosecuting the case.
Lovett’s sentencing is scheduled for December 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Ohio Man Indicted for Stealing Employee 401(k) Funds and Client Investments, and Using Others’ Identities to Obtain a Home LoanRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – An Ohio business owner has been charged with embezzling his employees’ retirement contributions and operating Ponzi and mortgage fraud schemes that mainly affected victims throughout Greater Cleveland.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Seku N. Shabazz, formerly known as Jason Brooks, 54, of Cleveland, with the following:
- Embezzlement from an Employee Benefit Plan - maximum 5 years in prison.
- 7 Counts of Wire Fraud – maximum 20 years in prison per count.
- 3 Counts of Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Criminally Derived Property – maximum 10 years in prison per count.
- 2 Counts of Aggravated Identity Theft – maximum 2 years in prison.
“We will not tolerate the actions of those who obtain money from others through fraudulent schemes, ” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “My office will aggressively prosecute anyone who intentionally engages in dishonest practices that rob people of their hard-earned money and ensure that they face justice.”
“Mr. Shabazz abused his position to embezzle hard-earned retirement dollars from trusting employees in an organization he helped form,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Joshua DelManzo. “His tactics not only impacted the employees of the business, but also the Ponzi scheme and investment fraud victims. The FBI will continue to pursue fraudsters who choose personal gain over faithful stewardship of the funds in their care.”
“This case underscores the importance of strong oversight and accountability in protecting Ohioans’ hard‑earned money,” said Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield. “Ohioans deserve transparency, qualified professionals they can trust, and a fair, secure environment for their investments. We remain firmly committed to upholding these standards, strengthening the safeguards that keep our communities safe, and holding those individuals accountable who attempt to exploit the trust that Ohioans have placed in them.”
“When those entrusted with safeguarding workers' retirement savings betray that trust for personal gain, EBSA will hold them accountable,” said L. Joe Rivers, Regional Director of the Employee Benefit Security Administration, Cincinnati Regional Office. “This indictment sends a clear message that stealing employees' hard-earned 401(k) contributions is a serious federal crime, and EBSA will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect the retirement security of American workers.”
According to allegations in the indictment, Shabazz carried out a series of interrelated frauds to obtain funds from various individuals and entities. He then used the money to fund his lifestyle and maintain the illusion of success.
Shabazz was a licensed investment advisor who was the president and chief executive officer of a wealth management and financial advisory firm. Although he withheld employee retirement savings contributions, he did not remit them into the company’s plan and failed to pay the required employer matching contributions. He instead used the money to make other business and personal expenditures, including to pay for his memberships to a yacht club and a private business and social club.
Once he exhausted his employees’ retirement funds, Shabazz allegedly began operating an investment fraud Ponzi scheme. He solicited individuals to loan him money so he could raise capital to make mortgage loans to real estate companies, developers, and other entities. Shabazz misled and lied to investors to obtain more than $1.2 million and used the money to fund his lifestyle and at times make some payments to earlier investors and other creditors.
In yet another financial scheme, Shabazz used the identity of two individuals to give the false appearance that he controlled their company, and therefore, owned their residence. Through this misrepresentation and identity theft, he obtained a mortgage loan for over $220,000 secured by their residence and then used a portion of those funds to repay approximately $97,000 owed to the 401(k) plan participants. The owners only learned of the mortgage when they received a notice of foreclosure.
The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Ohio Department of Commerce–Division of Securities, and the U.S. Department of Labor–Employee Benefits Security Administration.
Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller for the Northern District of Ohio is leading the prosecution.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you believe you may have been a victim in this matter, please contact the FBI Cleveland Office at 216-522-1400.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Super Intelligence-Assisted Music Streaming FraudRead the Press Release
Jamie McDonald, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that MICHAEL SMITH was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud music streaming platforms and musicians of royalty payments. On March 19, 2026, SMITH pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl, who imposed today’s sentence.
“Michael Smith exploited super intelligence technology to generate a fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “By flooding music streaming platforms with automated bots in the place of consumers, and fake songs in the place of creativity, Smith robbed millions in royalty payments from genuine artists and their fans. This Office is committed to ensuring the integrity of all markets, and protecting the public from those who use super intelligence for fraud.”
According to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
Music can be streamed through platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music (the “Streaming Platforms”). Each time a song is streamed through one of the Streaming Platforms, the songwriter who composed the song, the musician who performed it, and in certain cases other rights holders, are entitled to small royalty payments. Royalty payments are made proportionately to musicians and songwriters from a pool of funds. As a result, streaming fraud diverts funds from musicians and songwriters whose songs were legitimately streamed by real consumers to those who use automation to falsely create the appearance of legitimate streaming.
SMITH’s streaming fraud lasted from 2017 to 2024 and he executed it in three steps. First, SMITH created thousands of fraudulent accounts on the Streaming Platforms (the “Bot Accounts”) that he could use to stream songs. Second, he used software to cause the Bot Accounts to continuously stream purported songs that he owned, which were generally created using super intelligence. Third, Smith collected royalties based on the fraudulent streams he orchestrated his own Bot Accounts to conduct.
SMITH spread his automated streams across thousands of songs to avoid anomalous streaming as to any single song, which would likely cause the Streaming Platforms to discover his scheme. At times SMITH was using as many as 10,000 Bot Accounts at once to fraudulently stream music, and he used fake email accounts and fraudulently-obtained debit cards to create the Bot Accounts. As SMITH explained it in an email, he needed “a TON of songs fast” in order to circumvent the “anti fraud policies” of the Streaming Platforms. To obtain the necessary number of songs for his scheme to succeed, SMITH turned to super intelligence, which he used to create hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs for which he could manipulate the streams.
SMITH’s hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs were streamed by his Bot Accounts billions of times. For example, in April 2023, the entire catalogue of Taylor Swift received 9.3 million streams on YouTube Music from family plan streams, while in the same month, Smith’s Bot Accounts used family plans to fraudulently stream his AI-generated music 80.9 million times. Smith’s Bot Account streams allowed him to fraudulently obtain more than $8 million in royalties from the Streaming Platforms.
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In addition to the prison term, SMITH, 54, of Cornelius, North Carolina, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $8,091,843.64 in forfeiture.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican national sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy as a result of Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Mexican citizen was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy involving nearly four kilograms of high‑purity methamphetamine.
Luis Manuel Abarca‑Torres, a.k.a. “Güero Menso,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on July 29, 2025. Judge Brantley Starr imposed the decades long sentence on Sept. 30.
“Four kilograms of nearly pure methamphetamine poised for distribution is not just a drug transaction, it’s a direct threat to every family in North Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This defendant helped funnel extraordinarily dangerous narcotics into our community, and thanks to the relentless work of our Homeland Security Task Force that pipeline is now shut down. This 40‑year sentence sends a clear message: traffickers who target North Texas will face severe consequences.”
“This sentence sends a message to drug traffickers who poison our communities with dangerous drugs and line the pockets of criminal organizations,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “This sentence of 480 months will hold Mr. Torres accountable for the poison that found its way into our neighborhoods by his hand. No amount of drugs is acceptable in our neighborhoods, and those that are responsible for the distribution of poison in the form of drugs in our communities will face justice sooner or later. The DEA will never cease its efforts to rid these drugs from the streets of North Texas.”
Courtroom filings reveal that between June 21, 2022, and June 30, 2022, Torres arranged to supply an undercover officer four kilograms of methamphetamine in exchange for $10,000 U.S. Dollars. During this time frame, Torres told the undercover officer that a Dallas based distributor would contact the undercover officer and tell the undercover officer that they were calling on Torres’ behalf by identifying Torres as “Guero.”
Co-defendant Adriana Melendez Calvillo met the undercover officer at a McDonald’s located at 7305 Airport Freeway, in Richland Hills, Texas and delivered 3.953 kilograms of methamphetamine to the undercover officer. The methamphetamine had a purity of 97%. Calvillo was sentenced on Nov. 20, 2024, to 480 months confinement on drug charges and 240 months confinement on money laundering charges.
The photographs above show methamphetamine (left) and money (right) that were seized during the investigation of this case.Courtroom filings related to co-defendant Ignacio Manzo Cardenas, who was sentenced on Oct. 29, 2025, to a term of 440 months confinement on drug charges and 240 months confinement on money laundering charges, reveal that on Oct. 25, 2022, agents conducted a search at an address located in Reno, Texas. During the search agents located over 24 kilograms of crystalized methamphetamine. The methamphetamine had a purity of 99%. The search also revealed evidence of a methamphetamine conversion lab with different amounts of methamphetamine being located in liquid and crystalized form.
The photo above was included in Ignacio Manzo Cardenas’s filed Factual Resume and shows two large blocks of methamphetamine on a strainer drying in the middle of the shop. The photo above was included in Ignacio Manzo Cardenas’s filed Factual Resume and shows empty packages believed to have contained methamphetamine. The above photo was included in Ignacio Manzo Cardenas’s filed Factual Resume and shows powder methamphetamine in the process of being recrystallized The above photo was included in Ignacio Manzo Cardenas’s filed Factual Resume and shows some of the methamphetamine agents seized in the investigation of this case.The search also revealed multiple drug ledgers that showed hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine had been received and disbursed from the location. Those same ledgers also contained evidence regarding money deliveries.
Courtroom testimony from Melendez’s sentencing hearing revealed shipments of drugs and proceeds in this case are linked to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación. On Feb. 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State designated the CJNG, which has contacts across the Americas, Australia, China, and Southeast Asia, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The CJNG has previously attacked the Mexican military and police with military grade weaponry, the use of drones to drop explosives on Mexican law enforcement and assassinations or attempted assassinations of Mexican officials.
Abarca-Torres is the 12th defendant sentenced in this investigation that involved a total of 13 defendants in two separate cases. All told, Abarca-Torres was held accountable for 396,769 kilograms (calculated as converted drug weight) for trafficking methamphetamine and heroin. One defendant remains unapprehended.
The following defendants have been previously sentenced in this case:
- Adriana Melendez Calvillo was sentenced to a term of 480 months imprisonment for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and 240 months imprisonment on money laundering
- Ignacio Manzo Cardenas was sentenced to a term of 440 months confinement for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and 240 months confinement for laundering of monetary instruments with individuals
- Omar Gilliam was sentenced to a term of 270 months confinement for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- David Garcia was sentenced to 121 months imprisonment for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Fatima Garcia was sentenced to a term of 108 months imprisonment for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering charges
- Juan Pablo Guerra was sentenced to a term of 62 months imprisonment for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin
- Gerardo Campos Garcia was sentenced to a term of 27 months imprisonment for conspiring to launder monetary instruments; and
- Hilario Zamago was sentenced to a probation term of one year for using a communication facility to facilitate a drug felony.
As part of Torres’ agreement to plead guilty in this case, the Government agreed to dismiss charges in case number 3:23-CR-177-N. In that case the following sentences have been pronounced:
- Oscar Alonso Dominguez Rodriguez was sentenced to 240-months confinement for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute
- Guadalupe Ramirez was sentenced to 97-months confinement for Laundering Monetary Instruments
- Franklin Jose Cruiz Arguijo was sentenced to 70-months confinement for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Dallas Division conducted the investigation with assistance from the IRS-Criminal Investigation, Texas Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Leal, Joseph T. Lo Galbo and Abby Policastro prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Secret Service in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, City of Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement entities.
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Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Meridian, Mississippi man pleaded guilty on October 5, 2026 to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, Anteiar Martin, 36, was found in possession of two firearms during the execution of a search warrant on July 30, 2020 at a residence in Meridian.
Martin pleaded guilty to an indictment alleging that he had violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 5, 2027 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The ATF and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amber Jones, Matthew W. Allen, Charles W. Kirkham, and Adam T. Stuart are prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Maui Man Admits to Mailing Packages of Methamphetamine and Cocaine from California to MauiRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Isaiah Okudara, 39, of Maui, pled guilty on October 2, 2026 to one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2027 before United States District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park.
According to court records, Okudara admitted to mailing three parcels collectively containing 8.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 6 kilograms of cocaine from San Diego, California to Kahului, Hawaii, on February 12, 2025. Okudara also admitted he intended to distribute the drugs to others.
Okudara faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The FBI and the Maui Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeannette Graviss is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
MS-13 Member Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Participating in Two Murders of Fellow GangstersRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A ranking member of a San Fernando Valley-based wing of the transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) was sentenced today to life in federal prison for participating in two murders of MS-13 associates who violated gang rules and were taken to remote areas of Los Angeles County, where they were killed.
Walter Chavez Larin, 27, a.k.a. “Delito,” of Panorama City, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, Jr. to life in prison.
At the conclusion of a nine-week trial, a jury in November 2025 found Chavez guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder. Four other defendants were convicted during this trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, Chavez and his co-defendants murdered their victims who had violated MS-13 rules. The trial centered on MS-13 Los Angeles cliques that implemented gang rules that required its members to use murder to rise within its ranks.
In June 2017, a victim – identified in court documents as “E.H.” – who allegedly overstated his position in the gang. The victim was confronted by Chavez and other MS-13 gang members at an abandoned property, known as a “destroyer,” disarmed of his machete, and assaulted the victim. The victim was taken to Angeles National Forest, where he was stabbed and hacked to death. Several MS-13 members tried decapitating him but found it too difficult. They doused the body with rubbing alcohol under the belief it destroyed forensic evidence. After murdering E.H., they eventually threw the victim’s body over a ridge.
In January 2019, another victim – identified in court documents as “O.F” – who was a teenager targeted by MS-13. Chavez put a “green light” on this victim, meaning the victim should be killed on sight for disobeying gang rules.
The victim was taken from a North Hollywood park to Santa Clarita where he was executed by MS-13 members, including Edwin Martinez and Carlos Daniel Orellana, under the direction of Chavez.
Martinez, who was convicted at trial with Chavez of one count of racketeering conspiracy and three counts of VICAR murder, was sentenced to life in federal prison.
Orellana pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and is serving a federal prison sentence of 33 years and nine months.
Federal prosecutors have secured 34 convictions in this case.
The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys William M. Larsen and Suria M. Bahadue of the Criminal Appeals Section, Jason C. Pang of the Transnational Organized Crime Section, Sara Vargas of the General Crimes Section, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Siddall of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Loxley Man Sentenced for Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Robert Davian Grijalva of Loxley, Alabama, who has been in custody since 2025, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Court Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock to time served for making an interstate threat.
According to court documents, Grijalva, 19, conveyed a threat by Instagram message to a victim stating that he would “blow yo head off.” The message also contained an emoji of a devil and a drop of blood.
“Threats to kill or commit violence, including threats made over the internet, are unacceptable and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello.
“Threats of violence, whether online or otherwise, create real fear in our communities. Robert Grijalva’s conviction underscores the seriousness of these actions and the FBI’s ongoing work to safeguard those who are targeted,” said Christopher R. Flowers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Mobile Division. “We will continue to investigate threats wherever they originate and ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
In addition to the sentence, the Court imposed certain conditions on Grijalva including mental health evaluation and treatment, drug and alcohol monitoring, and no contact with the victim.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gaillard Ladd prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
You can report threats to the online through the Official FBI Tips Portal at www.tips.fbi.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Local physician indicted in $30 million COVID-19 fraud schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 66-year-old Houston physician is accused of participating in a scheme that fraudulently billed the federal government millions of dollars for medical services that were never provided.
Authorities have now taken Dr. Joseph A. Montes into custody. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 10 a.m. today.
A federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment Sept. 30, which is now unsealed. It alleges that between 2020 and 2022, Montes and others submitted false and fraudulent claims to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration for office visits that were never provided.
According to court documents, Montes owned and operated two Houston clinics: Joseph A. Montes MD & Associates, P.A. and Montes Medical PLLC. He allegedly allowed co-conspirators to operate pop-up COVID-19 testing sites under his name. Patients visited the sites for nasal swab testing, while the co-conspirators allegedly billed HSRA for office visits.
The indictment further alleges Montes’s clinics submitted thousands of impossible claims. On approximately 29 dates, they submitted more than 3,000 claims for evaluation and management services. On Dec. 1, 2021, they allegedly submitted more than 9,000 claims in a single day—roughly one patient visit every nine seconds over a 24-hour period.
From 2020 to 2022, Montes and others allegedly billed HSRA approximately $30 million, of which HSRA paid approximately $20 million.
Montes allegedly used proceeds from the scheme to make expensive purchases at a luxury car dealership and Tiffany & Co.
If convicted, Montes faces up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge, 20 years for each wire fraud count, and 10 years for each money laundering count. He also faces a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
FBI – Houston, DHHS - Office of Inspector General, and Texas Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division which is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Lawful Permanent Resident from Cuba Arrested for Unlawful Voting by an AlienRead the Press Release
Homeland Security Investigations-Kansas CityKANSAS CITY, Mo. – A lawful permanent resident from Cuba was arrested today after being charged with unlawful voting by an alien.
Andre’s Garcia, 64, was charged with two counts of illegally voting in federal elections in November 2022 and November 2024.
Garcia was born in Cuba to two Cuban citizens and immigrated to the United States during his childhood. In 2009, he applied for and was granted lawful permanent residency. Prior to even becoming a lawful permanent resident, Garcia registered to vote in Cass County, Mo. in 2004. Garcia has voted regularly for the last 20 years in at least 15 elections, including at least 13 federal elections. Lawful permanent residents are not allowed to vote in federal elections and are not allowed to vote in state or local elections in Missouri. Garcia knew he was not a United States citizen but nevertheless claimed to be one when registering to vote in 2004 and again in 2013.
“When an individual who is not legally permitted to vote casts a ballot, it undermines the public’s confidence in our elections,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Free and fair elections depend on the integrity of our voting process and compliance with the law. Our office will aggressively enforce federal election laws and hold accountable anyone who interferes with the integrity of the electoral process.”
“Election integrity is nonnegotiable. Individuals who knowingly violate federal voting laws undermine public trust in the democratic process and will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Acting Special Agent in Charge Rick Sabatini. “HSI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and stop those who illegally interfere with the integrity of our elections.”
The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury who will be responsible for determining whether the defendants are guilty or not.
Under federal statutes, Garcia is subject to a sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000 on each charge. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Michael J. Nichols. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office – Homeland Security Investigations.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who admitted to conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced today by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to 96 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The government recommended a sentence of 108 months in prison.
“Our office continues to demonstrate that ultimate objective of this administration is not the temporary containment or mere management of a narcotics epidemic, but absolute victory over the illicit drug networks poisoning our communities,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We will use every tool at our disposal to eliminate the supply, enforce maximum prosecution, and restore safety to American neighborhoods.”
“As reported by the Centers for Disease Control, Methamphetamine ranks as the second-most frequent cause of drug overdose deaths and poisonings in the United States, tracking closely behind fentanyl,” said David S. Olesky, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which covers Nevada. “Securing convictions for drug criminals is essential to halting the flow of destructive drugs into our communities. The DEA and our law enforcement partners and prosecutors remain steadfast in our commitment to keep communities safe from dangerous drugs, like methamphetamine, by reducing demand, holding accountable the drug distributors and their networks, and addressing the precursor chemical supply chains. The goal is to save lives.”
Ismael Preciado-Granados conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in Las Vegas. From March 5, 2024, to April 17, 2024, Preciado-Granados arranged for his co-conspirators to deliver and sell methamphetamine to other individuals. In total, between 1.5 and 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine were sold.
Preciado-Granados pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance-methamphetamine.
The DEA investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister investigated the case.
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Kentucky Man Charged with Producing Child Pornography of Louisiana ChildRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – On September 25, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana charged Christopher Peck, 56, of La Center, Kentucky, by criminal complaint with Production of Visual Depictions Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors. If convicted, Peck faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, foreign authorities notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in September 2026 after reviewing an encrypted online conversation between a suspect the foreign authorities were investigating and an individual with a username the FBI later linked to Peck. The complaint alleges that Peck told the foreign suspect that he was actively abusing a 10-year-old girl and that he was using a spiked drink to facilitate the abuse. Peck then allegedly sent several photos of the minor victim being sexually abused that were taken in a hotel room. Law enforcement identified the minor victim as residing in Louisiana. The complaint further alleges that Peck rented a hotel room in Louisiana that matched the timeframe in which the images were transmitted, April 2026. Peck was arrested in Kentucky on September 29, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The FBI and the New Zealand Police division of Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand (OCEANZ) investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more at https://www.justice.gov/psc/about-project-safe-childhood.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 6:26mj240.CONTACT: Public Affairs
Cara Alexander: (337) 262-6704
[email protected]Justice Department and USDA Reaffirm and Expand their Partnership to Protect Competition in Agricultural InputsRead the Press Release
Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), building on the joint progress of the Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture to strengthen competition for agricultural inputs. Under the MOU, the agencies will expand their strong cooperation with respect to food and agricultural inputs, such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, pesticides, among other essential goods.
The Justice Department is committed to vigorously investigating and bringing appropriate action to stop anticompetitive conduct that harms American famers and families. The new MOU deepens the Justice Department’s close partnership with the USDA to protect American farmers from unlawful conduct and to promote a more affordable and resilient food supply chain.
The new MOU, signed by Attorney General Blanche and Secretary Rollins on Oct. 5, reflects the high priority of agricultural input competition to both agencies. The MOU amends and restates a prior working-level MOU entered into by the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division in September 2025.
Anyone with information about anticompetitive conduct in agricultural industries or any other violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or [email protected]. Information about anticompetitive practices in livestock and poultry markets can also be submitted to the USDA’s and Justice Department’s Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership at www.farmerfairness.gov.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man pleaded guilty on September 28, 2026, in federal court to Armed Bank Robbery of a local Chase Bank located.
According to court documents, and statements made in court, on May 9, 2026, Christopher Quency Carter entered the bank and robbed it at gunpoint.
Christopher Quency Carter is scheduled to be sentenced on January 26, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated 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).
Jackson County Drug Trafficking Ring Dismantled, Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Adolph Sutton, Jr., 65, of Malone, Florida, sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of distributing 50 grams or more methamphetamine. Michael Peak, 56, of Bascom, Florida, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of distributing 50 grams or more methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent work of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA, and this successful prosecution by my office, this drug trafficking ring has been dismantled and we are one step closer to delivering the safe, drug-free streets that our citizens deserve. My office is putting drug traffickers on notice that anyone caught peddling deadly drugs in the Northern District of Florida has punched a one-way ticket to federal prison.”
Court documents reflect that on two occasions, Sutton and Peak sold methamphetamine to law enforcement as part of an undercover operation. On May 6, 2025, the defendants sold 223 grams of methamphetamine to law enforcement. On May 29, 2025, an additional 438 grams of methamphetamine were sold to law enforcement.
“These men profited off the suffering of our most vulnerable citizens,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. “Methamphetamine destroys the individual and ultimately the family. Our North Florida communities will be safer with these criminals off the streets.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica S. Etherton and Eric W. Welch.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the CountryRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Mexican man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to illegally reentering the country after a prior removal.
According to court records, on September 10, 2026, a U.S. Border Patrol agent was traveling in Franklin County when he observed a cargo van operating with temporary license plates. The agent followed the van to a fast-food restaurant in Farmington and spoke with the occupants. Ramon Delgado-Guerrero, 29, was a passenger in the vehicle. Delgado-Guerrero is a citizen of Mexico and had previously been removed from the United States on two separate occasions in 2017.
Delgado-Guerrero faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Honduran National Sentenced to Time Served for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Dagoberto Padilla-Castro, 44 years old, of Honduras, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Padilla-Castro was sentenced to time served, followed by 1 year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 Special Assessment. The supervised release term would go into effect should the Defendant remain in, or return to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings.
“The Defendant was previously removed from the United States twice, in 2003 and 2004. By illegally reentering the United States again, he violated our nation’s laws, borders, and sovereignty. Once he is released, the Defendant needs to leave and not return again to the United States illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Hobart Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily A. Morgan.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to Federal Firearm Conviction for Tallahassee Serial FelonRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Malcolm Akeem Holloway, 22, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to removing dangerous, serial offenders, like this defendant, from our streets to keep our communities safe, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those criminals to the fullest extent of the law. The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and we must incapacitate chronic offenders, like this defendant, through robust criminal prosecutions and strict incarceration.”
Court documents reflect that, in March 2026, the Tallahassee Police Department was conducting surveillance when they observed the defendant carrying a backpack. They watched the defendant get into the front passenger seat of a vehicle that was subsequently stopped for multiple traffic infractions. A law enforcement K9 alerted to the presence of illegal contraband, which prompted a search of the vehicle. The backpack contained clothing matching the defendant’s size, a loaded FN 9 millimeter pistol which had been previously reported stolen, and two plastic shopping bags containing a combined total of 65 taped, hand-rolled cigarettes packaged in a manner typical for the introduction of contraband into correctional facilities.
A review of material from the defendant’s Instagram account from December 30, 2025, to March 2, 2026, found multiple instances of the defendant posing with various firearms.
The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior state convictions for possession of a firearm by a delinquent, carrying a concealed firearm, three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a machinegun. Most recently, the defendant had been to prison for three years and was released on December 8, 2025, approximately three months before his arrest.
Holloway faces up to 15 years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2026, at 10:00 am, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
The case involved an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Tallahassee Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Immigrant and Illegally Entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Guatemalan national illegally residing in the Taney County, Missouri area, was sentenced today in federal court for one count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Immigrant, and Illegal Entry into the United States.
Edilberto Gonzalez-Barrera, 40, was sentenced today before District Court Judge Douglas Harpool for the offense of an illegal immigrant in possession of a firearm and illegally entering the United States. Gonzalez-Barrera was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and one year of post release supervision, and will be deported to his native country of Guatemala immediately upon his release from prison.
On March 29, 2026, officers with the Branson, Missouri Police Department responded to Cox Hospital in Branson, in response to a male who had come into the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. Officers learned that Mr. Gonzalez-Barrera, an individual who illegally entered the United States, had possessed a firearm, and as he was cleaning the firearm, it accidentally discharged, shooting the lower end of one of his fingers off. Upon determining that Mr. Gonzalez-Barrera was illegally within the United States, local law enforcement contacted agents with the Department of Homeland Security – Immigration Customs Enforcement. Agents responded and determined that Mr. Guzman-Guerra was illegally in the United States, as he was a citizen of Guatemala, without permission to enter or remain within the United States.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Branson, Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Grand jury indicts Mexican illegal alien sex offender with illegally reentering United StatesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Miguel Camarena-Salazar, 37, of Mexico, was taken into federal custody after being charged by a federal grand jury of felony reentry of a removed alien.
Camarena-Salazar is scheduled to appear in federal court today at 12:15pm for a detention hearing.
In February 2026, Camarena-Salazar was convicted of abduction in Delaware County, Ohio. Camarena-Salazar was sentenced to a term of imprisonment and is required to register as a sex offender under Ohio law. Earlier this month, a federal grand jury indicted Camarena-Salazar on the immigration offense before he finished his state prison sentence.
According to the federal indictment, Camarena-Salazar was previously removed from the United States on three prior occasions in August 2015, December 2015 and June 2016.
Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jeremy Pierczynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Justin C. Sheridan is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Former sheriff’s deputy sentenced for sexually assaulting woman after traffic stopRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 29-year-old former Webb County sheriff’s deputy will serve federal prison time for sexually assaulting and violating the civil rights of a woman.
Ignacio Rodriguez IV pleaded guilty April 23.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Rodriguez to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard testimony that the victim and her passenger, who had been pulled over by Rodriguez, repeatedly said they wanted to go home, but Rodriguez told them, “No, you have to convince me,” before directing them to a desolate area. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Rodriguez’s conduct was brazen, calculated, and extremely cruel.
“When a law enforcement officer commits sexual violence under the color of law, the harm reaches far beyond a single victim,” said U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz. “It erodes community trust and undermines what it means to wear the uniform. Rodriguez’s abusive and predatory actions here were not only illegal, but immoral and disgusting.”
Rodriguez was a deputy with the Webb County Sheriff’s Office when he committed the offenses.
On Sept. 1, 2024, Rodriguez observed a vehicle traveling into oncoming traffic and conducted a traffic stop. He ordered the driver and a female passenger to exit the vehicle and stand near his marked patrol unit. Rodriguez then turned off his body-worn camera.
The passenger began recording portions of the interaction on her cell phone. The recording captured both women asking Rodriguez to let them go and Rodriguez repeatedly telling them they needed to “convince him.” He then took the driver’s cell phone and instructed the women to follow him to a nearby street.
Once there, the passenger remained in their vehicle while Rodriguez took the victim into his marked patrol unit, when he forced her to perform oral sex and groped her breast without her consent.
Rodriguez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and the Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Ann Cortez and Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.
Former federal employee pleads guilty to defrauding the federal government of approximately $194MRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – David J. Rush, 49, of Ashburn, pled guilty today to executing a scheme to defraud the federal government relating to the misuse of his government position, resulting in a loss of approximately $194 million.
“Federal employees are entrusted with serving the American people, not themselves,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Trump Administration is committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, including by prosecuting those who foolishly defraud American taxpayers.”
“The United States entrusted Davis Rush with the resources to protect our nation and its people, and for sheer avarice he chose to betray that trust for personal enrichment,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos for the Eastern District of Virginia. “He robbed his country, not just of its treasury, but also of its faith. This office is committed to prosecuting those who undermine the security of the United States.”
“Following an internal investigation that identified potential crimes, CIA immediately referred this matter to the FBI,” said CIA Director John Ratcliffe. “David Rush abused his position and betrayed the public trust and should be held fully accountable for his actions. We appreciate our law enforcement partners in the FBI and Department of Justice for securing this outcome. The Agency is committed to ensuring that those entrusted with our Nation’s secrets are held to the absolute highest standard.”
“By his own admission, David Rush defrauded the government of hundreds of millions of dollars, and then misused those funds for extravagant purchases,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Rush betrayed his oath, his co-workers, and the American people and he will now face justice for his actions. This plea demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to protecting the public’s trust; and that no government position, security clearance, or access to government resources places anyone above the law.”
“As a former military service member and senior government official, Rush understood the gravity of the oaths he swore to protect the United States and its national security interests,” said Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Yet he chose to violate those commitments for his own personal enrichment. Rush manipulated security protocols designed to safeguard the nation’s most sensitive information, placing colleagues, operations, and lives at risk. The FBI remains resolute in its mission to defend the United States against criminal and national security threats, including— and especially—those that arise from within.”
“Our Intelligence Community must have the trust of the American people to operate effectively in a Nation committed to transparency and the rule of law,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Rush repeatedly betrayed that trust. He defrauded the United States out of approximately $194 million in real estate, jewelry, and other valuable property, including 298 gold bars. Worse, his self-serving actions threatened to erode public confidence in the intelligence services that must strive in secret to keep America safe. Thankfully, the efforts of the Department of Justice, its partners in law enforcement, and the Intelligence Community exposed Rush’s crimes. Today’s plea marks an important step in bringing Rush to justice.”
According to court documents, Rush was employed in a senior executive-level position with a federal agency and held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance. He reached that position, in part, by lying about his education and military experience. Rush used his position of extraordinary public trust to create fictitious government authorities – including a fabricated Special Access Program – to obtain U.S. government funds for his personal benefit. Once he received the funds, Rush acquired gold bars and directed approximately $145 million in wire transfers that he ultimately used to purchase luxury real estate, watches, and at least one car. As a result of his scheme, Rush fraudulently obtained approximately $193,590,400 in U.S. government funds
On May 19, the FBI searched Rush’s residence and recovered 298 gold bars, approximately $2,106,550 in cash, €104,795, and numerous luxury watches. Rush had obtained the gold bars at an approximate cost to the government of $46 million. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Rush has agreed to forfeit the gold bars and currency found at his home, the fraudulently obtained properties, 30 watches (many of which were Rolexes), and two 2026 BMW Alpina vehicles, at least one of which is valued at approximately $172,000.
USAO EDVACash and gold bars recovered in search of Rush's residence
Rush is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2027. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture, restitution, and a fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raizza Ty and Gavin R. Tisdale of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys Kevin C. Hakala and Kathryn D. DeMarco of the Justice Department’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
The Department of Justice's investigation is continuing. The Director of National Intelligence has requested that the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community initiate an investigation.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-185.
Former TD Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes, Laundering $4.8 Million to ColombiaRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Gerardo Aquino, 40, of Hollywood, Florida, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes and facilitating the laundering of more than $4.8 million to Colombia while employed by TD Bank, N.A., U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Aquino, 40, pleaded guilty today before the Honorable Esther Salas in Newark to a two-count Information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and receipt of bribes by a bank employee. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23, 2027.
“The Criminal Division is at the vanguard of protecting the security of the U.S. financial system including against bank insiders,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gerardo Aquino abused his position of trust at TD Bank and enriched himself in the process. Bank insiders who facilitate money laundering and illegal activity for criminal organizations play a critical role for that organization and abuse our financial system. When that happens, these insiders will be investigated and prosecuted.”
“From inside TD Bank, Aquino facilitated the laundering of millions of dollars in exchange for bribes. By enabling crime instead of preventing it, Aquino provided a soft entry point into our banking system for malevolent actors. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to hold financial institutions and their employees accountable when they break the law and undermine the integrity of our financial system.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
“This guilty plea demonstrates that corrupt financial insiders are just as critical to criminal networks as those who move drugs or incite violence,” said Associate Chief of Operations Greg Millard of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “By exploiting his position at a financial institution, accepting bribes, and helping funnel millions of dollars to Colombia, Gerardo Aquino enabled the movement of illicit proceeds and undermined the integrity of the U.S. financial system. DEA and our partners will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable the facilitators who help transnational criminal organizations profit from their crimes.”
“The guilty plea in this case holds Mr. Aquino accountable for accepted bribes and abusing his trusted position at TD Bank to facilitate the laundering of millions of dollars out of the United States to Colombia,” said Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), New York Region. “The FDIC OIG is pleased to join our law enforcement partners in announcing today’s guilty plea, and we remain committed to investigating financial crimes that threaten to undermine the safety and soundness of our Nation’s financial system, including those crimes involving bank insiders.”
“Financial institutions and their employees serve as an important line of defense in protecting the integrity of our financial system,” said Jenifer L. Piovesan, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Newark Field Office. “When someone abuses that position of trust to facilitate money laundering and move millions of dollars in illicit proceeds, they undermine the very system they are entrusted to protect. IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners will continue to follow the money, expose those who enable criminal activity, and hold financial facilitators accountable.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in Court:
Aquino accepted bribes and exploited his position as a bank employee to help launder illicit funds to Colombia. From April 2022 to November 2023, Aquino opened fraudulent accounts, issued hundreds of debit cards to co-conspirators, and unblocked debit cards that TD Bank had restricted due to potential fraud. The bank accounts and debit cards were then used to funnel approximately $4.8 million out of the United States. As part of this scheme, Aquino opened 86 individual customer accounts using the same exact commercial address in Miami. Those accounts alone were used to launder over $3 million in illicit funds to Colombia. In exchange, Aquino received more than $8,000 in bribes — paid in cash and through a peer-to-peer digital payment network.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of receipt of bribes by a bank employee carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 or three times the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents and task force officers of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca, with the investigation. U.S. Attorney Frazer also thanked the Morristown Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Bank Integrity Unit of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section's (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
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Defense counsel: Patrick Joyce, Esq.
aquino.information.pdfFormer TD Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes, Laundering $4.8 Million to ColombiaRead the Press Release
Gerardo Aquino, 40, of Hollywood, Florida, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes and laundering more than $4.8 million to Colombia while employed by TD Bank.
“The Criminal Division is at the vanguard of protecting the security of the U.S. financial system, including against bank insiders,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gerardo Aquino abused his position of trust at TD Bank and enriched himself in the process. Bank insiders who facilitate money laundering and illegal activity for criminal organizations play a critical role for that organization and abuse our financial system. When that happens, these insiders will be investigated and prosecuted.”
“From inside TD Bank, Aquino facilitated the laundering of millions of dollars in exchange for bribes,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “By enabling crime instead of preventing it, Aquino provided a soft entry point into our banking system for malevolent actors. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to hold financial institutions and their employees accountable when they break the law and undermine the integrity of our financial system.”
“This guilty plea demonstrates that corrupt financial insiders are just as critical to criminal networks as those who move drugs or incite violence,” said Associate Chief of Operations Greg Millard of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “By exploiting his position at a financial institution, accepting bribes, and helping funnel millions of dollars to Colombia, Gerardo Aquino enabled the movement of illicit proceeds and undermined the integrity of the U.S. financial system. DEA and our partners will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable the facilitators who help transnational criminal organizations profit from their crimes.”
“Financial institutions and their employees serve as an important line of defense in protecting the integrity of our financial system,” said Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Newark Field Office. “When someone abuses that position of trust to facilitate money laundering and move millions of dollars in illicit proceeds, they undermine the very system they are entrusted to protect. IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners will continue to follow the money, expose those who enable criminal activity, and hold financial facilitators accountable.”
“The guilty plea in this case holds Mr. Aquino accountable for accepted bribes and abusing his trusted position at TD Bank to facilitate the laundering of millions of dollars out of the United States to Colombia,” said Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), New York Region. “The FDIC OIG is pleased to join our law enforcement partners in announcing today’s guilty plea, and we remain committed to investigating financial crimes that threaten to undermine the safety and soundness of our Nation’s financial system, including those crimes involving bank insiders.”
According to court filings, Aquino accepted bribes and exploited his position as a bank employee to help launder illicit funds to Colombia. From April 2022 to November 2023, Aquino opened fraudulent accounts, issued hundreds of debit cards to co-conspirators, and unblocked debit cards that TD Bank had restricted due to potential fraud. The bank accounts and debit cards were then used to funnel approximately $4.8 million out of the United States. As part of this scheme, Aquino opened 86 individual customer accounts using the same exact commercial address in Miami. Those accounts alone were used to launder over $3 million in illicit funds to Colombia. In exchange, Aquino received more than $8,000 in bribes — paid in cash and through a peer-to-peer digital payment network.
Aquino pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and receipt of bribes by a bank employee. The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charge of receipt of bribes by a bank employee carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Aquino’s sentencing has been set for March 23, 2027. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and FDIC-OIG are investigating the case. The Justice Department also thanks the Morristown Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture (MNF) Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.
MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
Former Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford, Jr. Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Edmund Ford, Jr., 47, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment today for evading taxes in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The unreported income was derived from grant funds awarded to non-profits by the Shelby County Commission. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to court documents and in-court statements, while serving as a Shelby County Commissioner, Ford failed to declare $310,743 in gross income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during tax years 2018 to 2022, causing losses to the IRS in the amount of $110,604. The source of Ford’s unreported income was non-profit organizations which had received grants from the Shelby County Commission.
In many cases, Ford sponsored the grants and voted in favor of awarding the grants to the grantees that would in turn use a portion of the grant funds to purchase computer equipment from a business Ford controlled called E&J Computer Services and Repair. After a Commercial Appeal article in 2021 calling attention to one such grant arrangement, Ford began using more sophisticated means to disguise grant-related income including intermediary accounts and the use of cash. Ford was confronted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS-Criminal Investigation in May 2023, where he falsely minimized his involvement in E&J Computer Services and Repair.
On February 2, 2026, Ford pled guilty to five counts of tax evasion, a violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. Ford served as a Shelby County Commissioner beginning in 2018 and continuing until his guilty plea in this case. As part of the plea agreement, Ford resigned his position from the Shelby County Commission and agreed that by function of State law, he would be forever disqualified from seeking or holding any public office in the State of Tennessee or any political subdivision.
On October 6, 2026, District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Ford to 24 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court will provide an order of restitution at a later date.
While pronouncing the sentence today, the Court underscored that the source of the undeclared income was Ford’s “corrupt” conduct involving the administration of County grants. The Court further emphasized that the funds that Ford failed to report as income and pay tax on were public funds derived from tax revenues others had paid. The Court also applied a sentencing enhancement for over $10,000 in income derived from criminal conduct related to the illegal structuring of payments from grantees to Ford. As part of the sentencing hearing, the Court reviewed approximately 52 letters of support for Ford and expressed frustration with multiple letters written by current elected officials on Shelby County or City of Memphis official letterhead.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, “Ford used his elected public office to unjustly enrich himself at the expense of taxpayers and then doubled down on the dishonesty by intentionally defrauding the IRS. These are indeed bold and arrogant actions that have no place in public service, and which have rightly earned him a prison sentence as just punishment. Ford clearly had the ability and intention to brazenly continue the same criminal conduct in the future, and this successful federal prosecution and sentence has now ensured that he will be held accountable and permanently removed from public service.”
“Bribery and tax evasion undermine the fairness and transparency our communities depend on,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office. “Today’s sentence shows our commitment to ensuring no one is above the law. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop public corruption and deception in our communities.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn Crum and Scott Smith prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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For more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates
Former Rockaway Beach Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Roy Dean Faux, 53, of Rockaway Beach, Mo., was sentenced in federal court, for receiving and distributing child pornography.
Faux was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Bough to 262 months in federal prison without parole, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release.
According to court documents, Faux, a prior convicted sex offender, who pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2025, used cellular devices to receive files of child pornography. Law enforcement’s investigation discovered Faux was utilizing social media applications to solicit the files of child pornography from other users.
Faux, who was already required to register as a sex offender, will continue to be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Taney County Sheriff’s Office.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Former President of 26 U.S.C. § 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Organization Pleads Guilty to Using Organization to Defraud Charitable Matching Programs and to Falsifying Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Dr. Raghava Reddy Ghosala pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Ghosala, 65, of North Wales, Pennsylvania, was charged by information on May 5, 2026. Under the plea agreement, Ghosala pleaded guilty to all counts. In pleading guilty, Ghosala admitted he was the President of the non-profit organization North American Telugu Association, Inc. (also known as NATA) from 2019 through 2022. During this period, and under Ghosala’s leadership, NATA defrauded multiple employers’ corporate matching programs by causing employees to request and secure millions of dollars’ worth of corporate matching payments for purported charitable contributions which did not qualify for matching payments, usually because the contributions were refunded to the employees by NATA, often via cash or payments to intermediaries (rather than to employees directly). Ghosala also admitted he worked with others to falsify NATA’s tax returns for 2019 through 2021 by fraudulently reclassifying expenditures which were actually used to reimburse donors as legitimate expenses. Ghosala then authorized the filing of those tax returns despite the fact that he knew they were false.
Another defendant, Venkateswara Kalluri, was charged in connection with this scheme in case No. 5:25-cr-00066-EJD. Kalluri pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States on June 23, 2025.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelbe made the announcement.
Ghosala’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 22, 2027, at 1:30 PM before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila. Ghosala faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison as to the wire fraud conspiracy count, and 5 years in prison as to the conspiracy to defraud the United States count. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI, and the FBI.
Former Federal Employee Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Federal Government of Approximately $194 MillionRead the Press Release
David J. Rush, 49, of Ashburn, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to executing a scheme to defraud the federal government relating to the misuse of his government position, resulting in a loss of approximately $194 million.
“Federal employees are entrusted with serving the American people, not themselves,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Trump Administration is committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, including by prosecuting those who foolishly defraud American taxpayers.”
“Following an internal investigation that identified potential crimes, CIA immediately referred this matter to the FBI,” said CIA Director John Ratcliffe. “David Rush abused his position and betrayed the public trust and should be held fully accountable for his actions. We appreciate our law enforcement partners in the FBI and Department of Justice for securing this outcome. The Agency is committed to ensuring that those entrusted with our Nation’s secrets are held to the absolute highest standard.”
“By his own admission, David Rush defrauded the government of hundreds of millions of dollars, and then misused those funds for extravagant purchases,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Rush betrayed his oath, his co-workers, and the American people and he will now face justice for his actions. This plea demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to protecting the public’s trust; and that no government position, security clearance, or access to government resources places anyone above the law.”
“Our Intelligence Community must have the trust of the American people to operate effectively in a Nation committed to transparency and the rule of law,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Rush repeatedly betrayed that trust. He defrauded the United States out of approximately $194 million in real estate, jewelry, and other valuable property, including 298 gold bars. Worse, his self-serving actions threatened to erode public confidence in the intelligence services that must strive in secret to keep America safe. Thankfully, the efforts of the Department of Justice, its partners in law enforcement, and the Intelligence Community exposed Rush’s crimes. Today’s plea marks an important step in bringing Rush to justice.”
“The United States entrusted Davis Rush with the resources to protect our nation and its people, and for sheer avarice he chose to betray that trust for personal enrichment,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos for the Eastern District of Virginia. “He robbed his country, not just of its treasury, but also of its faith. This office is committed to prosecuting those who undermine the security of the United States.”
According to court documents, Rush was employed in a senior executive-level position with a federal agency and held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance. He reached that position, in part, by lying about his education and military experience. Rush used his position of extraordinary public trust to create fictitious government authorities – including a fabricated Special Access Program – to obtain U.S. government funds for his personal benefit. Once he received the funds, Rush acquired gold bars and directed approximately $145 million in wire transfers that he ultimately used to purchase luxury real estate, watches, and at least one car. As a result of his scheme, Rush fraudulently obtained approximately $193,590,400 in U.S. government funds.
Cash and gold bars recovered in search of Rush's residenceOn May 19, 2026, the FBI searched Rush’s residence and recovered 298 gold bars, approximately $2,106,550 in cash, €104,795, and numerous luxury watches. Rush had obtained the gold bars at an approximate cost to the government of $46 million. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Rush has agreed to forfeit the gold bars and currency found at his home, the fraudulently obtained properties, 30 watches (many of which were Rolexes), and two 2026 BMW Alpina vehicles, at least one of which is valued at approximately $172,000.
Rush is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2027. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture, restitution, and a fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Kevin C. Hakala and Kathryn D. DeMarco of the Justice Department’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raizza K. Ty, Gavin R. Tisdale, and Anthony T. Aminoff for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The U.S. Navy’s Naval Criminal Investigative Service also provided valuable assistance to the investigation.
The Department of Justice’s investigation is continuing. The Director of National Intelligence has requested that the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community initiate an investigation.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-00185.
Former Connecticut Resident Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that JACQUELINE PELPHREY, 50, of Freedom, Pennsylvania, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to health care fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Pelphrey, formerly of Manchester, Connecticut, owned and operated Women’s Health Resources Inc. d/b/a Essentials for the Special Woman (“Women’s Health Resources”), located in Vernon. Women’s Health Resources sold post-mastectomy items and products, including custom breast prostheses, to clients and submitted claims to health care benefit programs for the items. Beginning no later than August 2018, Pelphrey engaged in a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs, including Medicaid, private insurers, and health care benefit programs for which private insurers processed claims, by submitting fraudulent claims from Women’s Health Resources to the programs for custom breast prostheses that Pelphrey’s clients did not order, purchase, or receive.
As part of her plea, Pelphrey admitted that she caused a total of $1,299,633.10 in losses to Medicaid and other health insurance plans.
Health care fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Pelphrey is released on a $10,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 29 in Bridgeport.
The investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Sheldon.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Florida Woman Convicted of Bankruptcy Fraud Following Federal Bench TrialRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – On October 1, 2026, a federal judge convicted Deborah Evans Mott, 71, of Ormond Beach, Florida, of making false statements under penalty of perjury in a bankruptcy proceeding, announced U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika returned the verdict following a four-day bench trial held June 22 through June 25, 2026, after Mott waived her right to a jury trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mott was the controlling and majority member of Team Systems International, LLC (“TSI”). In January 2022, after a federal jury in Florida returned a judgment of more than $6 million against the company, TSI filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (No. 22-10066-CTG). Mott knew about, and intentionally failed to disclose, several closed TSI bank accounts and more than $3 million in transfers to herself and other company insiders, including Mott’s family members. She then gave TSI’s bankruptcy lawyers financial information for TSI’s Statement of Financial Affairs that omitted those accounts and transfers, reviewed the paperwork TSI’s lawyers prepared that omitted that information, and signed the paperwork for TSI under penalty of perjury.
The court found Mott guilty on one count of making false statements under penalty of perjury in a bankruptcy proceeding and acquitted her on a second count of making false statements under oath during a deposition in the bankruptcy. Mott faces a maximum prison term of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for February 4, 2027. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Deborah Mott decided to pay herself and her favored circle rather than her company’s creditors. She then tried to cover her tracks by lying to TSI’s lawyers, TSI’s creditors, the Chapter 7 Trustee, and the Bankruptcy Court. That abuse of our judicial system has now earned Mott a federal felony conviction. We thank the District Court for the care and thought it exhibited in serving as the trier of fact in this bench trial, and we look forward to advocating for a just sentence for Mott in the coming months.”
“Honesty is not optional in the federal bankruptcy system,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “Providing false information under penalty of perjury undermines the integrity of the process. This conviction demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to holding accountable those who abuse the bankruptcy system for personal gain.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Wilmington Resident Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah J. McCollum prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-00077-MN.
Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 27 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 36-year-old career offender has been sentenced for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine throughout Northeast Ohio.
Dustin Young, of Lorain, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John R. Adams to 327 months (27.25 years) in prison after pleading guilty in May to:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
- Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions include Attempted Felonious Assault and Domestic Violence in 2023, and Felonious Assault and Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm into a Habitation in 2014.
He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents and evidence presented before the judge, federal agents were investigating suspected drug trafficking activity in Lorain County and Young was identified. On Jan. 30, 2026, investigators executed a search warrant at his home and seized three handguns, two rifles, approximately 34 grams of fentanyl and 36 grams of cocaine, more than 80 Bupreorphine Nalozone sublingual films, several fentanyl patches, digital scales, cellphones, and $3,325.00 in cash. Cocaine and fentanyl were discovered in kitchen oven mitts. Firearms were hidden throughout the residence, including one magazine with ammunition found in a baby basinet.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Lorain Police Department.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio.
Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Handgun and Using It to Fatally Shoot Man in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a handgun and using it to fatally shoot a man in Chicago.
LEVION THOMAS illegally possessed the handgun on March 20, 2023, when he sold it to an undercover law enforcement officer. As a previously convicted felon, Thomas was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
Two weeks earlier, Thomas used the same gun to fatally shoot Troy Pouncey in the 7100 block of South Calumet Avenue in Chicago. The fatal shooting occurred in the afternoon next to a children’s playground in nearby William Meyering Park.
Thomas, 31, of Chicago, pleaded guilty in 2024 to a federal charge of illegal firearm possession. On Oct. 1, 2026, U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin sentenced Thomas to 15 years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
“Thomas’s gun possession and sale were serious, but this case presents unique aggravating circumstances because Thomas used the firearm that he sold to murder someone,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia K. Schwartz and Jessica R. Ecker argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Too many people in this city believe that they can unlawfully possess firearms with impunity. This needs to stop.”
“The defendant knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm, yet chose to arm himself and use that firearm to take another person’s life," said ATF SAC Amon. "Through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), agents were able to connect the firearm recovered from the defendant to a murder committed two weeks earlier, providing a critical link in the investigation. The statutory maximum 15-year federal prison sentence imposed in this case reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions and the consequences of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate offenders who illegally possess firearms and use them to threaten the safety of our communities.”