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Tuesday 26 May 2026
May Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Gustavo Barranco Labastida. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Barranco Labastida, 49, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in July 2014. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-190
Agustin Alberto Becerra Ambriz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Becerra Ambriz, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in September 2013. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-195
Aaron Michael Bennett. Manufacturing a Controlled Substance; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Bennett, 41, of Tulsa, is charged with intentionally manufacturing a controlled substance, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Further, Bennett is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma National Guard are assisting in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-198
Miguel Cerrato Argueta. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cerrato Argueta, 24, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2017. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-196
Juan Cornelio Gomez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cornelio Gomez, 47, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in June 2010 and August 2015. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-200
Marcellino James Davis, Jr. Felon in Possession of Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Davis, 40, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Additionally, Davis is charged with assaulting the victim with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The Broken Arrow Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-199
Roger Fuentes Ramos. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Fuentes Ramos, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Additionally, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed twice in 2014 and in 2017. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-188
Terry Joe Hicks. First Degree Felony Murder in Indian Country; First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Hicks, 34, of Vinita and a member of the Wyandotte Nation, is charged with killing Robin Sharp with malice during a burglary. He is charged with breaking into an occupied dwelling to commit a crime and assaulting Robin Sharp with a firearm. Lastly, Hicks brandished and discharged a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Grove Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Blithe Cravens are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-179
Christopher Brandon Kay. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Kay, 26, of Sand Springs and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with knowingly receiving and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Further, Kay is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-180
Melisa Susan Kyle. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Kyle, 46, of Crane, Missouri, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-189
Francisco Javier Pantoja Santillan. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Pantoja Santillan, 49, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed three times in 2001, once in 2009, and once in 2020. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-202
Servando Perez Arrollo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Perez Arrollo, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in 2008, twice in 2009, and 2013. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-197
Willie Carl Stanley. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Stanley, 41, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-203Jamie Lynn Stephens. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Conspiracy to Tamper with Evidence by Engaging Misleading Conduct. Stephens, 48, of Miller, Missouri, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Further, Stephens is charged with knowingly misleading another person in an attempt to alter or destroy evidence on a cellular device. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-187
Victor Varona Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Varona Lopez, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in 2011, 2012, three times in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2022. He is additionally charged with attempting to possess more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with the intention of distributing. Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-181
Andrew Cordario Wagoner. Escape from Federal Custody. Wagoner, 24, transient, is charged with escaping federal custody and knowingly departing the Turley Residential Center without permission. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-182
Henry Adam Watashe. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Watashe, 35, of Sapulpa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-204
Camille Jordan Winchester. Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Winchester, 36, of Mounds and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with using a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of child sexual abuse material. Additionally, he is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children and knowingly engaging in a sexually explicit act with a child under 12 years old. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-183
Phaylen Lloyd Yellow Robe. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Yellow Robe, 34, of Tulsa and a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, is charged with strangling an intimate dating partner. He is charged with threatening to inflict injury on two victims and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-201
Marion County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Meet a Minor for Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Jason Shane Ejmali (51, Silver Springs) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Ejmali pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between July 24 and 26, 2025, Ejmali messaged an individual whom he believed was willing to provide their 13 to 14-year-old foster child to engage in sexual activity. That individual was actually an undercover special agent from Homeland Security Investigations. Ejmali discussed the type of sexual activity he wanted to have with the minor and agreed to meet for that purpose at a location in Marion County. When Ejmali arrived at that location, law enforcement placed him under arrest.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Running a Multi-State Identity Theft and Bank Fraud RingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Armani Ryan Purandah, 27, of Los Angeles, was recently sentenced by U.S. District Judge Angela Martinez to 70 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud.
Purandah, who primarily lived in New York up until 2023 when he moved to Los Angeles, was a leader in a bank fraud and identity theft scheme involving multiple co-conspirators that targeted individuals and banks across the United States, to include Arizona, Colorado, and California. Purandah and his co-conspirators illegally used victims’ personal identifying information as well as fraudulent identifications to open phony business accounts linked to the victims’ legitimate bank accounts. The co-conspirators then transferred funds from the victims’ accounts to the phony accounts, allowing the co-conspirators to then withdraw the victim’s funds in cash from the phony accounts at banks and tribal casinos. The cash would then be delivered to Purandah or other conspiracy supervisors.
As part of his sentence, the court ordered Purandah to pay restitution to victims totaling $1,188,008.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-00927
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-083_ Purandah
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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.
Luzerne County Woman Sentenced to 122 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON, The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rasheeda Kelly, age 47, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on May 21, 2026, to 122 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for attempted possession of methamphetamine for distribution.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in February 2025, Kelly conspired with another individual to have a package containing 4.4 kilograms of methamphetamine delivered to her house for purposes of distribution. The package was intercepted by law enforcement, and a search warrant was executed at Kelly’s residence in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County. Law enforcement seized a dozen firearms, one of which had been reported stolen, from her residence. At the time, Kelly had been previously convicted of offenses which prohibited her from possessing firearms.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Narcotics Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.
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Kansas City Man Sentenced for Distributing Methamphetamine, Possessing Firearm to Further Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for distributing and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug distribution conspiracy.
Derone D. Gipson, 44, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Beth Phillips to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Gipson was on federal supervised release for a previous federal drug conviction when he committed these offenses and Judge Phillips sentenced Gipson to 24 months in prison for violating his supervised release. His 24-month sentence will be served consecutively with the 180 months for a total of 204 months.
According to court documents, between on or about April 27, 2022 and June 1, 2022, members of the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Gipson of 112 grams, 110 grams, and 110 grams respectively.
On June 8, 2022, law enforcement officials served a search warrant at the apartment from which Gipson performed the earlier methamphetamine sales. Gipson was arrested and he had $3,000 cash in his left pants pocket and $839 in cash in his right pants pocket. Officers also located a Glock 26, 9 mm handgun on a shelf under a coffee table in the living room that Gipson admitted was his.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean T. Foley and Joseph M. Marquez. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo. Police. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted in executing the search warrant.
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.
Justice Department Sues University of California for Antisemitic Hostile Educational Environment in the Wake of 2023 Hamas AttacksRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against the University of California for its deliberate indifference to race and national origin discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students at its University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Earlier this year, we sued UCLA for subjecting its Jewish and Israeli employees to an antisemitic hostile work environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Now, the Department of Justice calls UCLA to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”
“Universities have an obligation to maintain safe and inclusive campuses for all students,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”
After the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, antisemitic hatred against UCLA’s Jewish and Israeli students reached a point where students were physically assaulted, injured, excluded from campus, and deprived of educational opportunities because of their perceived Jewish or Israeli heritage. As alleged in the United States’ complaint, UCLA violated Title VI through its deliberate indifference to this pervasive on-campus antisemitism.
UCLA also breached its funding contracts and grants with the United States by certifying the school’s compliance with its Title VI duties to protect all students from unlawful discrimination while allowing discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students to infect its campus.
UCLA’s tolerance of antisemitism reached a flash point in April 2024 when masked demonstrators erected an encampment outside of Royce Hall and slapped, kicked, beat with sticks, doused with pepper spray, and knocked unconscious Jewish and Israeli students. During this time, occupiers formed “human phalanxes” to block Jewish and Israeli students from entering academic buildings.
This lawsuit — filed in the Central District of California — stems from the Department’s investigation into reports of antisemitic incidents against students on UCLA’s campus and written findings concluding, in part, that UCLA failed to fulfill its legal obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in responding to those incidents.
Justice Department Sues University of California for Antisemitic Hostile Educational EnvironmentRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against the University of California for its deliberate indifference to race and national origin discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students at its University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Earlier this year, we sued UCLA for subjecting its Jewish and Israeli employees to an antisemitic hostile work environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Now, the Department of Justice calls UCLA to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”
“Universities have an obligation to maintain safe and inclusive campuses for all students,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”
After the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, antisemitic hatred against UCLA’s Jewish and Israeli students reached a point where students were physically assaulted, injured, excluded from campus, and deprived of educational opportunities because of their perceived Jewish or Israeli heritage. As alleged in the United States’ complaint, UCLA violated Title VI through its deliberate indifference to this pervasive on-campus antisemitism. UCLA also breached its funding contracts and grants with the United States by certifying the school’s compliance with its Title VI duties to protect all students from unlawful discrimination while allowing discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students to infect its campus.
UCLA’s tolerance of antisemitism reached a flash point in April 2024 when masked demonstrators erected an encampment outside of Royce Hall and slapped, kicked, beat with sticks, doused with pepper spray, and knocked unconscious Jewish and Israeli students. During this time, occupiers formed “human phalanxes” to block Jewish and Israeli students from entering academic buildings.
This lawsuit — filed in the Central District of California — stems from the Department’s investigation into reports of antisemitic incidents against students on UCLA’s campus and written findings concluding, in part, that UCLA failed to fulfill its legal obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in responding to those incidents.
In Celebration of Freedom 250, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah Holds Charity Book DriveRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As part of America’s birthday celebration, Freedom 250, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country are honoring America by spearheading a gift-in-kind charity drive for their staff to participate in to benefit the community. In the District of Utah, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is holding a book drive from April 16 to May 29, 2026, to assist the Uintah and Ouray Reservation and the Navajo Nation in our district.
As part of the four corner states, Utah is home to eight federally recognized Tribes, spread throughout the state. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecutes crimes committed on Tribal land while also building partnerships, strengthening relationships, and serving victims of crime in Tribal communities.
“The remote location of our Tribal communities often limits available resources compared to more populated areas of the state,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “Access to books can be more challenging in these remote areas, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office wanted to help by donating some of our personal favorites to benefit people of all ages.”
The Department of Justice is committed to addressing the persistent violence endured by Native American families and communities across the country, including by working with Tribal nations. For more information about the Departments work visit https://www.justice.gov/tribal.
*Note: This is an internal book drive
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Alante Omar Allen, also known as “Suey,” 33, of Huntington, was sentenced today to three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 31, 2022, Allen sold approximately 20.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,300 while at a business on U.S. Route 60 in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Allen admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-159.
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Hudson Man Indicted for Obtaining Child Sexual Abuse Material from Multiple Minor VictimsRead the Press Release
Hudson Man Indicted for Obtaining Child Sexual Abuse Material
from Multiple Minor Victims
CONCORD – A Hudson man was indicted last week for inducing multiple minor victims to send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Robert Lemoyne, 54, was arrested on Thursday after being indicted by a federal Grand Jury on multiple counts of production of CSAM, as well as counts of CSAM distribution and possession. He appeared in federal court on May 21 and again on May 22, 2026. He is currently detained.
According to the charging documents and statements made in court, Lemoyne had been communicating for months with numerous minor victims online via multiple chatting platforms and persuading them to create and send him CSAM. He also distributed CSAM to minor victims on multiple occasions.
The charging statutes provides a sentence of up to 30 years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hudson Police Department and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Houston man sentenced to federal prison as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation in ATM hook and chain crime spree involving Prosper banksRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Houston man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for a violent crime spree in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jacobei Townsend, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank theft and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on May 26, 2026.
According to court documents, from August to September 2020, Townsend was involved in a crime spree referred to as “Hook and Chain” burglaries, which involved stealing a truck, attaching hooks and chains to the vehicle, and using it to drag the door off an ATM to retrieve the cash currency from the machine. This crime spree involved several burglaries in Texas and Arizona, including Independent Bank on North Prosper Road and Texas Bank on South Preston Road, both located in Prosper.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Grand Prairie Man Gets 20 Years in Federal Prison for Alien Smuggling Conspiracy Investigated by Homeland Security Task ForceRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Grand Prairie man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 240 months in prison for his involvement in a failed human smuggling event, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Van Donovan Brown aka “Sledge,” 31, was actively recruiting load drivers, particularly on Facebook, for an alien smuggling organization while living abroad in Colombia and facilitated an April 2023 smuggling attempt through a WhatsApp group chat. Records also indicated that Brown submitted multiple CashApp payments to co-conspirator John Klotz aka “Remy.”
Brown was indicted on Oct. 2, 2024, with co-defendant Cameron Alexander Ford. Ford was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison on March 4, and Klotz, who was sentenced to 72 months on May 1. A fourth defendant, Jeffrey Ray Jilpas, was arrested Feb. 20, and is currently awaiting hearings set for next month. U.S. District Judge Ernest Gonzalez presides over the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Ellis-Dotson 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 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 FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
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Georgia Man Sentenced to 37 Months After Pleading Guilty to Defrauding COVID-19 Era Economic ProgramsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Brian Graham, 49, Lithia Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and was directed to pay restitution in the amount of $441,546.876, and forfeiture after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud.
According to the plea agreement, between April 2020 and August 2021, Graham prepared and submitted fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications on behalf of several business entities that he controlled. The EIDL and PPP are economic relief programs launched and expanded by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In those applications, the defendant made materially false statements regarding the entities’ number of employees, gross revenues, cost of goods sold, and payroll. He also certified that the information provided in the applications was true and accurate, and that the funds would be used to pay payroll and other permissible business expenses when, in fact, he used the bulk of the proceeds for his personal benefit.
“A fraud on the federal government is a fraud on the American taxpayer,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “I am proud that our office continues to seek out and prosecute these greed-driven criminals who choose to benefit from funds meant to help their fellow Americans in a time of need.”
“This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to investigate and bring to justice those who victimize the American taxpayer,” said Krystofor Proev, TIGTA Special Agent in Charge. “Fraudulently applying for loans through a federal program meant to assist Americans in need will be met with aggressive investigation and prosecution.”
“Intentional misrepresentation to gain access to Small Business Administration (SBA) program funds intended for the nation’s small businesses is reprehensible,” said SBA Office of Inspector General Western Region Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Huang. “Our Office will remain relentless in the pursuit of fraudsters who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs.”
Senior United States District Judge John L. Kane presided over the sentencing.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General handled the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cassidy handled the prosecution.
The core mission of the National Fraud Enforcement Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The National Fraud Enforcement Division will fulfill that mission by coordinating with agencies responsible for administering benefit programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification of fraud against taxpayer dollars; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice. The attorneys in the National Fraud Enforcement Division will work every day to protect the financial integrity of our government and the tax system that supports it.
Department of Justice efforts support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Case Number: 1:25-cr-00079-JLK
Gang Member and Prior Felon Sentenced for Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A gang member and prior felon was sentenced for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Micah Jordan Mims, aka Micah Jordan Lester, 34, of Tulsa, to 46 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in April 2023, 911 received a call saying that Mims was waving around a gun and that he had outstanding warrants. When Tulsa Police officers arrived on scene, they were unable to locate Mims. Officers ran a records check and discovered that Mims is a certified gang member who had outstanding warrants for probation violations in Tulsa and felony theft in Kansas.
Based on that information, officers obtained a search warrant for Mims’s social media account and his home. Mims’s social media photos showed him with a firearm and supported that he was selling and trading firearms. When officers executed a search warrant on his home, they found a loaded firearm hidden in his car in the garage. When officers spoke with Mims, he admitted that the firearm was his.
Court dockets show that Mims previously pleaded guilty in Tulsa in 2015 for unlawful possession of controlled drugs with intent to distribute, leaving the scene of a collision involving property damage, and for misdemeanor larceny from a retailer. In Kansas, court dockets show that Mims was previously convicted for felony theft and a misdemeanor protective order violation.
Mims will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses on the most pressing violent crime issues facing our communities. This nationwide initiative brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to strategically address and reduce violent crime, in collaboration with other agencies and organizations that serve communities.
Founder and CEO of mIQroTech, Inc., a Technology Company in the Oil and Gas Industry, Indicted for Defrauding Investors of More Than $7 MillionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Meade Lewis (32, Temple Terrace) has been charged by indictment with five counts of wire fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Lewis that the United States intends to forfeit at least $7,096,458, which is alleged to represent proceeds obtained from the offenses. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Lewis was the founder, chief executive officer, and majority shareholder of mIQroTech, Inc., a purported technology company in the oil and gas industry. Lewis is alleged to have fraudulently raised more than $7 million from investors by making false and misleading statements about mIQroTech, Inc.’s financials, customers, and product. He also used some of the investors’ funds for his personal enrichment.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Blain Goff.
Founder and Managing Director of Investment Firm Sentenced for Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Sean S. Buckley, Attorney for the United States, Acting under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, announced today that JOHN ARTHUR HANRATTY, the founder and managing director of a multimillion-dollar municipal tax lien investment firm, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield to 12 months and a day in prison for his role in a fraudulent scheme to steal nearly $20 million from a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”)-insured bank. In August 2025, HANRATTY was convicted following a jury trial of wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering.
“John Arthur Hanratty scammed his bank by falsely claiming to own millions of dollars of assets to secure more than $20 million in loan advances,” said Attorney for the United States Sean S. Buckley. “In reality, the bank was left without the promised collateral and suffered millions in losses. The defendant’s conduct, which occurred over the course of years, jeopardized the bank’s lending ability. Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for his conduct.”
As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
HANRATTY was the Founder and Managing Director of Ebury Street Capital, LLC (“Ebury Street Capital”), an investment firm with a portfolio primarily comprised of municipal tax liens. HANRATTY has also been an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of New York since 2002 and held legal and compliance positions at well-known investment firms and financial institutions, including serving as the Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel for a trading broker-dealer.
Between 2017 and 2021, HANRATTY participated in a fraudulent scheme to steal money from an FDIC-insured bank (“Victim Bank-1”) by drawing down on commercial lines of credit that had been extended to Ebury Street Capital. Specifically, HANRATTY made materially false statements about the tax lien collateral pledged to Victim Bank-1, inflating the value of that collateral by millions of dollars by adding supposed assets that Ebury never owned. As a result of HANRATTY’s misstatements, Victim Bank-1 was defrauded of over $20 million. In addition, HANRATTY falsely told both his investors and Victim Bank-1 that the tax lien collateral was managed by an independent third-party custodian, when, in reality, that was not true. HANRATTY fabricated records to hide the truth about Ebury’s actual assets and the independent custodian. The defendant’s fraud ultimately resulted in nearly $20 million of losses for Victim Bank-1. Ebury investors also lost more than $8 million in investment capital when the defendant’s fraud unraveled and Ebury collapsed. After fraudulently obtaining money from Victim-1, the defendant laundered that money through his business accounts for his own ends.
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In addition to the prison term, HANRATTY, 51, of Little Silver, New Jersey, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit approximately $17.7 million, with restitution to follow.
Mr. Buckley praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and also thanked the FDIC Office of the Inspector General for their assistance.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Chan, Nicholas Chiuchiolo, Danielle Kudla, and Adam Sowlati are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Alexander Ross.
Former USPS postmaster pleads guilty to theftRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee pleaded guilty to using her position as postmaster to steal tens of thousands of dollars in government funds.
According to court documents, Joyce L. Smith, 51, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of theft by government employee.
Smith previously worked as the postmaster for a post office in Scott City, Kansas. Between January 2023 and February 2025, Smith embezzled approximately $57,400 from the USPS.An audit revealed Smith stole approximately $10,600 in cash payments from customers and issued herself approximately $3,700 in money orders. Smith also embezzled approximately $3,400 that customers paid for their post office boxes.
Some customers made regular check payments for permits or mass mailings. Smith accepted the checks and provided the services to customers, but she did not log the receipts into USPS records. The USPS cannot account for checks for a total of $16,788 issued by the City of Scott City, $5,850 in checks issued by Scott County Landfill, and $17,108 in checks issued by a local newspaper.
“As postmaster, Joyce Smith likely thought her position would allow her to continue to fill her pockets with money that didn’t belong her without getting caught or facing any consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Her behavior reminds us of why audits and other forms of government oversight of financial records are necessarily.”
“This guilty plea represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this financial fraud investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”
The U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS- OIG) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the case.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Former Pagan’s Motorcycle Gang Member Sentenced to Ten Years for Armed Assault Against RivalRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club was sentenced in federal court today for his involvement in an armed assault against a member of a rival motorcycle club.
John J. Hahn, also known as “Krazy Legs,” 47, of Cameron, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to ten years in federal prison without parole for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
On Sept. 17, 2022, Hahn and 12 other members of the Pagan’s and their support club, the Los Valerosos, chased and forced a lone rival gang member from the road in Blue Springs, Mo. Various members of the Pagan’s and Los Valerosos were armed with firearms and at least one axe handle. Hahn, who was a member of the Los Valerosos at the time, and the others, confronted the victim on the side of the roadway and ultimately, the victim was shot seven times, with wounds to his knee, thigh, forearm, biceps, buttocks, and back of his leg. Following the shooting, Hahn received his Pagan’s patch signifying his membership.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Homeland Security Task Force
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 Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Former Department of Justice Contractor Sentenced to Prison for $1.3 Million Cell Phone Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Javan King, 42, of Laurel, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 12 months and one day in prison in connection with his theft of more than 4,800 government cell phones when he worked for the Department of Justice, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
King pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2026, before Judge Jia M. Cobb to one count of mail fraud. In addition to the 12-month prison term, Judge Cobb ordered King to serve two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $1,319,172.85 in restitution. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 24 months.
“King’s theft of thousands of government phones was a brazen betrayal of the public trust that drained taxpayers of more than a million dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He then squandered the stolen money on gambling, luxury vacations, and a high‑end vehicle. He will now be required to repay the very funds he siphoned from the American taxpayer and serve a prison sentence for his crimes. "
Between 2021 and 2025 King worked as an information technology contractor for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ). During that period, he defrauded DOJ out of more than $1.3 million by successfully requesting that DOJ order thousands of mobile devices that the Department did not need.
After the phones were shipped to King at DOJ, he sent them to phone reselling businesses. In total, the businesses paid him more than $1.3 million for the phones. He spent the proceeds on a variety of things, including gambling at MGM casinos and on FanDuel, vacations, private school tuition, and a down payment on a $92,000 Range Rover SUV.
The scheme came to light when a private citizen in Kentucky contacted the DOJ in late August 2025 noting that she had learned that an iPhone that she had purchased online belonged to the Department.
King acknowledged that his scheme caused the Department of Justice to suffer an actual loss of more than $1.3 million because of fees that it paid AT&T for the unnecessary phone lines and phones.
This case was investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman.
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Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dcFlorida woman pleads guilty for her role in bank fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Renee M. Thompson, 53, of North Lauderdale, FL, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Thompson also agreed to pay restitution totaling $28,500.
Beginning in April 2023, Thompson conspired with others to commit bank fraud. In April 2023, a Victim Company mailed a $12,914.11 check from the Western District of New York to a vendor in Florida. Thompson or a co-conspirator stole the check and altered it, making it payable to Thompson. In July 2023, Thompson deposited the check into an account in her name at TD Bank. Thompson or her co-conspirators then used the Victim Company’s name, address, bank account number, routing number, and signature to create 16 more fraudulent checks. Between July 24 and August 15, 2023, Thompson and her co-conspirators deposited the fraudulent checks and successfully obtained $205,780.52 from the Victim Company’s account at C&N Bank. In June 2023, Thompson deposited two additional counterfeit checks totaling $7,098 into an account in her name at Truist Bank.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
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Felon convicted for selling dozens of firearms and hundreds of ammunition roundsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Houston man has been found guilty after accepting cash as payment for firearms and machine gun conversion devices, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now imposed the guilty verdicts against Jonathan Chimney following a three-day trial that concluded May 7. He was convicted of engaging in a firearms business without a license, two counts each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and failure to register a firearm.
From Feb. 10 through July 27, 2022, Chimney and James Price sold firearms to authorities during an undercover operation.
At trial, the court heard the two engaged in eight firearms transactions, selling a total of 66 firearms and 887 rounds of ammunition for approximately $41,000. During the final transaction, the pair agreed to accept cash as payment along with two kilograms of meth. The investigation revealed Chimney and Price intended to sell the drugs for a profit.
Judge Hoyt also saw recordings of each transaction during the trial.
Testimony showed Chimney sold two pistols equipped with machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as switches which convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns. Switches are classified as machine guns and require registration with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Evidence revealed Chimney did not possess the required license to deal firearms nor did he register the switches as federal law requires.
Chimney also has a prior federal felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Further information also indicated he conducted these sales in multiple apartments, at least one of which had surveillance cameras monitored via TV. Young children were also in the residence which contained multiple firearms and drugs along with several pit bulls.
The defense attempted to convince the court that Chimney sold the firearms out of apartments that were not leased to him. However, there was no evidence regarding who was the listed leaseholder of the residences. Judge Hoyt did not believe the claims and found Chimney guilty.
Sentencing has been set for Sept. 8. With the exception of engaging in a firearms business without a license which carries a five-year possible sentence, Chimney faces up to 10 years in federal prison on the remaining convictions and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Price, 55, Houston, previously pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing. Four others have also been convicted for related firearms offenses as part of the investigation and sentenced to terms ranging from 24-57 months.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keri Fuller and Anh-Khoa Tran are prosecuting the case.
Federal Judge Sentences Armed Convicted Detroit Felon to 200 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit man with multiple felony convictions and on federal supervised release was sentenced to over 16 years’ imprisonment today for possession of firearms, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by ATF Detroit Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Justin Meyer.
Cartez Howard, 38, of Detroit, Michigan was convicted by a jury of two counts of possession of firearms as a felon in December 2025. On May 26, 2026, United States District Judge Laurie J. Michelson sentenced Howard to 200 months in federal prison.
According to court records, in September 2025, Howard, a convicted felon with a violent criminal history, was on federal supervised release and got into an argument over a parking spot outside a business. The argument ended when Howard pulled an AR-style rifle from his car, pointed it at the victim, and fired a shot at the victim’s feet. Howard then tried to grab the victim’s glasses before driving away. The victim followed Howard to report him. Howard drove into a residential neighborhood and fired approximately 30 shots. Eleven days later, Howard drove the same car to a gas station with the same rifle in the backseat, and abandoned the car when police located it. After Howard was arrested, agents searched Howard’s apartment, where they found a second gun hidden in his bedroom closet—tucked under a baby blanket in the room he shared with his infant child and the child’s mother.
“This man is the kind of hell-raiser that can make a neighborhood unlivable. He did just about everything wrong with a gun, except kill somebody. We are thankful that the ATF took him off of our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“Howard repeatedly showed a complete disregard for human life and the safety of those around him — including children inside the home where firearms were hidden. Violent felons who continue to arm themselves and terrorize our communities will be held accountable. This 16 years plus sentence sends a clear message that ATF and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue armed violent offenders.” — ATF Detroit Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Justin Meyer.
The ATF investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas McIntyre and Nhan Ho prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
D.C. Man Charged by Federal Indictment in Armed Robbery of U.S. Postal WorkerRead the Press Release
paris_simmons_indictment.pdfWASHINGTON – A three-count indictment filed May 22 charges Paris Simmons, 26, in connection with the alleged January 2026 armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service carrier, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Simmons, of the District of Columbia, is charged with postal robbery, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He is currently being held at the District’s Central Detention Facility.
“An armed robbery of a postal worker is a brazen act that endangers not just the victim, but every member of the community whose mail and financial information can be exploited through a stolen arrow key,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “A single key can unlock hundreds of mailboxes along a carrier’s route, giving criminals access to checks, personal data, and entire clusters of residential mail. Those who commit violence against letter carriers and attempt to profit from these crimes will be met with aggressive federal prosecution.”
On Jan. 12, 2026, about 4:55 p.m., Simmons parked his vehicle near the corner of 16th and Hamlin Street, NW, exited his vehicle and waited on the sidewalk. About 4:57 p.m., a U.S. Postal Service carrier who was delivering mail in the area walked west on Hamlin Street and turned south onto 16th Street.
Simmons allegedly approached the postal carrier from behind and shoved an object into the carrier’s back. According to the indictment, Simmons then threatened to shoot the carrier and demanded the carrier’s postal arrow key. Simmons fled the area with the victim’s arrow key.
Postal arrow keys, which provide access to mailboxes, mail collection boxes and apartment buildings, can be used in furtherance of financial crimes, such as bank fraud, check fraud, identity theft, and other criminal schemes.
Law enforcement arrested Simmons on Jan. 18, 2026.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The matter is being prosecuted by the Federal Major Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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Convicted felons sentenced to federal prison for possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two previously convicted felons found in possession of a firearm face years in prison after sentencing in federal court.
- Laron Allen, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police found Allen in possession of a firearm after attempting to elude police officers in May 2024.
- Jeffrey Ronald Moyer, 42, of Augusta, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and a $1,500 fine, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Augusta University Police found Moyer in possession of a shotgun during a March 2025 traffic stop.
The sentences were announced by Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap.
Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. There is no parole in the federal system.
The cases were investigated by the Augusta University Police Department, Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr and L. Alexander Hamner.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man and previously convicted felon pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to multiple firearm and drug offenses.
Luis Martinez, 47, of Providence, pleaded guilty to three counts of the sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person; two counts of distribution of cocaine; three counts of distribution of cocaine base; four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Court records reflect that Martinez was previously convicted in Rhode Island state courts on felony firearm and drug trafficking charges and was serving a term of state probation at the time of his arrest in this matter on May 7, 2025.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Providence Police Department Narcotics Unit.
Columbus man who sexually abused non-verbal boy with autism sentenced to 35 years in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Christian Toms, 47, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 420 months in prison for child pornography crimes involving a non-verbal boy with autism.
According to court documents, between October 2024 and February 2025, Toms sexually exploited the 11-year-old, wholly non-verbal boy and created child pornography of the abuse. Toms distributed the child sexual abuse materials to others with whom he communicated online about their sexual interest in children.
Investigators searched Toms’s residence and electronics after cyber tips were submitted regarding one of the men with whom Toms was communicating online.
A search of Toms’s iPhone revealed more than 130 files, including images and videos, that depicted the non-verbal minor nude or being sexually abused by the defendant. The phone contained a total of 700 images and videos of child pornography.
In his online conversations, Toms shared photos of other minor males in his residence and discussed grooming a second victim. He messaged, in part, “…too bad [minor victim] is neuro typical…” and “I’m gonna get him I swear lol.”
Toms pleaded guilty in December 2025 to producing, distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio: Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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Casino Owner Andy Sanborn Charged with Misusing over $250,000 of CARES Act FundsRead the Press Release
Casino Owner Andy Sanborn Charged with Misusing Over $250,000 of CARES Act Funds
CONCORD – Anthony Sanborn, a/k/a Andy Sanborn, has been charged by information with one count of Theft of Government Funds, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. A plea hearing will be scheduled by a federal district court judge.
According to court documents, Sanborn owned and operated Win Win Win, a company that did business as Concord Casino. Sanborn applied for and obtained $844,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funding from the Small Business Administration. In applying for the loans, Sanborn certified that he would use the loan proceeds solely as working capital for Win Win Win. However, Sanborn misused $255,232.72 of the funds on personal expenditures. For example, on January 18, 2022, Sanborn used $48,750 of EIDL funds to purchase a 2006 Porsche Cayman. This action is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
The charge of Theft of Government Funds carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (‘Fraud Division’). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Cape Girardeau Man Sentenced to Prison for Identity Theft, Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced a man who used stolen identities to fraudulently apply for pandemic loans, file tax returns and seek state benefits to 39 months in prison.
Judge Limbaugh also ordered Myles Benjamin Depew, 35, of Cape Girardeau, to pay $25,000 restitution to the United States and $10,728 to the State of Missouri.
Depew used the name of someone else to fraudulently apply for and receive an $11,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in June of 2020. The next month, Depew used another person’s name to fraudulently apply for and receive a $14,000 EIDL loan. Finally, he used a third person’s identity to open a checking account with a West Virginia-based bank. Depew prepared two fraudulent Missouri state tax returns, triggering a refund of $2,060 into the bank account in February of 2022 and $8,668 in April of 2023.
U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration agents interviewed Depew, who estimated that he had spent about $40,000 on casino gambling, $5,000 on food and another $5,000 on methamphetamine. Depew used his job as a tax preparer to gain access to names, birthdates and Social Security numbers.
Depew pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau in February to three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis prosecuted the case.
Canada Resident Charged with Six Counts of Sexually Exploiting a MinorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Alberta, Canada, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal law related to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The six-count Indictment named Cyril Borle, 55, as the sole defendant, and charges Borle with three counts of employing, using, persuading, inducing, and enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct and three counts of receiving a visual depiction involving the sexual exploit of a minor.
According to the Indictment, on three separate dates in early 2020, Borle persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The Indictment further alleges that, on those same dates, Borle received a visual depiction, the production of which involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit content.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $1.5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment, with the assistance of Canadian law enforcement and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs in the arrest and extradition of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Buffalo man going to prison for selling methRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Mario Pittman Jr., 32, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of distribution of methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 114 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
In March 2024, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and Lackawanna Police began investigating Pittman’s drug trafficking activities. The investigation included several controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Pittman. On April 30, 2024, investigators attempted to stop Pittman’s vehicle, but he fled at a high rate of speed through a residential neighborhood. Law enforcement eventually made a forced stop of his vehicle. Pittman fled on foot but was apprehended by law enforcement. Investigators recovered a clear plastic baggy of suspected methamphetamine, which Pittman dropped on the ground as he attempted to flee.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford, the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia.
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Ashland Woman Charged with Bank and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Ashland Woman Charged with Bank and Wire Fraud
CONCORD – An Ashland woman has been charged in connection with committing fraud against two prior employers, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Kellianne MacKay, age 48, a/k/a Kelli Anne Lamontagne and Kelli Anne Ludwick, of Ashland, New Hampshire, was charged by a federal Grand Jury with two counts of bank fraud and two counts of wire fraud. She is scheduled for an initial appearance and arraignment on the charges on June 4, 2026.
According to the charging documents, MacKay is alleged to have improperly utilized two different employers’ credit cards to make purchases for her personal benefit, and additionally obtained bank funds from the employers’ accounts that she took without permission, including to fund the purchase of a Chevrolet truck.
The bank fraud charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and the wire fraud charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Both charges carry terms of supervised release of up to 3 years and fines of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Laconia Police Department, the Concord Police Department, the Plymouth Police Department, and the Belknap County Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.
Armed Schenectady Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Emery Moore, age 57, of Schenectady, New York pled guilty May 20th, to distributing methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm as a felon. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam and Schenectady Police Chief Brian Whipple made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Moore admitted that on five occasions from March through July, 2025, he sold methamphetamine and cocaine in Schenectady, including at his home and on a playground. Moore further admitted that when DEA agents executed a search warrant at his home in July 2025, they recovered three guns, 50 rounds of ammunition, and 91 grams of cocaine that he intended to sell. Moore was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law because he had been previously convicted of numerous felonies, including state drug and gun offenses.
“Thanks to the fine work of the DEA and Schenectady Police Department, this repeat offender will be spending a minimum of 10 years to life in federal prison where he can no longer poison our streets.” Said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “My office along with our partners are committed to Project Safe Neighborhoods by deploying the resources of the federal government to stop the crime and drug abuse plaguing our communities.”
“Drugs and weapons too often go hand in hand. Today’s guilty plea from Emery Moore serves a clear reminder that justice will be delivered to those who flood our communities with illicit drugs” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “The DEA remains steadfast in its commitment to working alongside our law enforcement partners in protecting our communities and enhancing public safety.”
Schenectady Police Department Chief Brian Whipple stated: “This guilty plea is another powerful example of what can be accomplished through strong local and federal partnerships to get deadly guns and dangerous drugs off our streets. Every firearm and narcotic removed from our community has the potential to save numerous lives and prevent devastation throughout our community.”
When he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe on September 9, 2026, Moore faces a combined mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of up to life, a maximum fine of up to $5,500,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes that the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Moore has been detained since his July 1, 2025 arrest.
The DEA investigated the case with significant assistance from the Schenectady Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Alleged active-shooter illegal alien in Kings Colony confrontation facing federal chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 60-year-old illegal alien from Mexico living in New Caney who is accused of firing an AR-style rifle at multiple individuals over the holiday weekend is now facing federal charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Juan Ayala-Montero is currently in custody on a related charge and is expected to make his appearance in federal court in the near future.
The investigation began following an active shooter incident May 23, according to the federal criminal complaint.
Ayala-Montero had allegedly been making threats after an argument ensued with a group of individuals. The charges allege Ayala-Montero walked to his house and returned with a rifle. He initially began shooting at the ground but then directed it at a group of individuals and began firing multiple times, according to the allegations.
One victim allegedly suffered gunshot wounds to his torso and head.
Upon their arrival, authorities heard gunshots coming from the residence and began rescuing individuals, according to the complaint. Additional law enforcement arrived on scene, and thereafter, took Ayala-Montero into custody.
Authorities allegedly recovered an Olympic Arms .223 AR-style rifle with a scope in Ayala-Montero’s bedroom as well as approximately 30 spent .223 casings at the scene.
The charges allege Ayala-Montero is not lawfully present in the United States and had been removed in 2006 with no legal authority to reenter the country. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.
If convicted, Ayala-Montero faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with assistance of FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anh-Khoa Tran is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Sunday 24 May 2026
Defendant Sentenced to 36 Months for Fraud and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
Richland, WA - First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano, announced that on May 21, 2026, Ahmad K. Bachay, age 40, of San Diego, California, was sentenced after having pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and witness tampering. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Bachay to a 36-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Judge Dimke also ordered Bachay to pay restitution in the amount of $400,805 and forfeiture of $85,277.
According to court proceedings, in February 2019, the FBI opened an official investigation into allegations that Bachay and others were involved in a scheme to defraud insurance companies and obtain money and property by staging automobile accidents, and filing false and fraudulent claims with insurance companies. As part of the investigation, the FBI used a confidential human source (CHS) who covertly recorded conversations with individuals suspected of being involved in the staged accident scheme. The CHS provided information to the FBI regarding violations and suspected violations of the Federal criminal laws.
In May 2020, the FBI executed warrants to search residences in Washington and California for evidence of federal crimes. Following the execution of search warrants, a number of Defendants, including Bachay, attempted to identify who was cooperating with the FBI. On December 21, 2020, Bachay, used the threat of physical force against a person, by telling “John Doe”, an individual who was assisting the FBI in an ongoing investigation, that Bachay would identify and kill a particular person’s family in Iraq if that person was working with the FBI. On January 3, 2021, Bachay telephoned “John Doe” and accused “John Doe” of carelessly discussing the staged accidents with other individuals in the Iraqi community. “John Doe” later reported to the FBI that Bachay verbally threatened “John Doe” stating that he would travel to Eastern Washington to kill “John Doe” and “John Doe’s” family.Prior to the grand jury returning the indictment, Bachay, his wife, and children, left the United States. Bachay was considered a federal fugitive until his arrest on May 17, 2024, in the United Kingdom. After 16 months of resisting his return to the United States, Bachay was extradited back to the Eastern District of Washington.
First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano said, “Staged collisions, like those involved in this case, make our streets dangerous, unnecessarily divert first responders’ attention and resources, and increase insurance premiums for all of us. Bachay’s attempts to undermine justice by threating to kill others and moving half-way across the world were unsuccessful thanks to our federal and state law enforcement and private industry partners who worked tirelessly to hold this fraud perpetrator accountable. This great resolution is a win for tax payers and insurance premium payers.”
“Over the course of several years, Mr. Bachay conspired with multiple others to defraud insurance companies with false claims, risking the safety of those involved in the staged collisions while wasting the time and resources of first responders who should have been assisting people with real emergencies," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "Even worse, he threatened to kill a suspected witness and his family, then fled overseas for more than a year to evade the law. As this case demonstrates, staged auto accidents are serious crimes with real victims and real consequences."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. This case was prosecuted by Brandon Pang, Patrick Cashman and former AUSA George Jacobs.
4:21-CR-6042-MKD-5
Friday 22 May 2026
“Seventh Ward Soldier” Sentenced to New Term of ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LESHAWN PARKER (“PARKER”) was sentenced by United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance on May 13, 2026, to serve a total of 60 months in federal prison, after pleading guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. This 60-month sentence was ordered to be served consecutive to the 37 months sentence that Parker received earlier this year from United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo for the revocation of a previous term of Supervised Release, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
PARKER had previously been convicted by a jury following a 1999 trial, in federal court in the Eastern District of Louisiana, for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base and Cocaine Hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Evidence at that trial proved that he was part of a violent street gang known as the Seventh Ward Soldiers. This gang was responsible for several drug related murders and shootings in New Orleans. After being convicted, PARKER was sentenced to life in prison as to the drug conspiracy charge and a consecutive 60-month sentence for the firearm violation. He was also sentenced to serve 60 months of supervised release.
In 2021 his life sentence for Count 1 was reduced to 220 months pursuant to the First Step Act. His 60-month consecutive sentence was not disturbed. Parker was released from federal custody on December 1, 2021.
In his most recent case, on January 10, 2023, PARKER was arrested by members of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) after officers observed him in possession of a firearm. PARKER initially fled on foot from the officers and discarded his firearm over the fence onto the practice field of St. Augustine High School. The incident was captured on the officer’s body worn camera, and the firearm was recovered. PARKER was initially booked on state charges but made bond shortly thereafter.
On May 3, 2024, PARKER was once again arrested by NOPD officers after he refused to pull his car over on a traffic violation. While resisting arrest, officers observed a gun on the floorboard of PARKER’S vehicle. A search incident to arrest revealed that PARKER was also in possession of several rocks of crack cocaine and several hundred dollars in small bills. PARKER admitted to having the intent to distribute the cocaine.
Federal prosecutors adopted both January 10, 2023, and May 3, 2024, state charges and charged PARKER in Federal Court.
This case was investigated by Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (A.T.F.) and members of the New Orleans Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice Landrieu of the Violent Crime Unit.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Wilkinsburg Man Indicted for Threatening to Assault and Murder Law Enforcement Officers and Federal Officials Including U.S. President and Member of CongressRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official or federal law enforcement officer by threat, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The five-count Indictment named Raymond Eugene Chandler III, 40, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, between April 18, 2025, and May 1, 2026, Chandler repeatedly called members of Congress and left voicemails related to his disagreements with immigration enforcement actions, armed conflicts, and wealth inequality. In those messages, Chandler advocated for various acts of violence against U.S. officials, their families, ICE agents, and the wealthy; shared his plan to publish personally identifiable information of ICE agents; accused U.S. officials of violating their covenants with God or otherwise inciting God’s anger; implied knowing where members of Congress lived; described his purchase of bladed weapons; and stated “I am willing to personally kill.” The Indictment alleges that Chandler threatened to assault and murder ICE agents, a member of Congress and the member’s daughter, and the President of the United States with intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, and retaliate against U.S. officials and federal law enforcement on account of the performance of their official duties. Chandler’s voicemails included descriptions of the targeted murder and assassination of ICE agents, as well as his plan to “teach” restaurants how to poison ICE agents. The voicemails further asserted his desire to hang a member of Congress, attack a member of Congress and their family member, and instruct a member of Congress to assassinate the President in the Oval Office.The Indictment further alleges that, on May 1, 2026, Chandler left a voicemail for a member of Congress in which he praised anarchists for committing a historical bombing, ending the message with “I want you to be terrified.” Later that day, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Chandler at his residence. During his subsequent preliminary and detention hearings, the prosecution presented excerpts from Chandler’s journal, which was seized from his residence after his arrest. Chandler wrote in one entry: “I keep calling Congress telling them I want them to kill all the ICE agents and billionaires. I must sound insane to them and yet that is where my heart and head are really at.” In another entry, Chandler wrote: “I emotionally, politically, and intellectually support violence assaults on ICE agents. I actually support it. This is a very scary place to be.” At the conclusion of the hearings, the Court found that the United States had established by clear and convincing evidence that the weight of the evidence against the defendant “is strong,” and that Chandler presents a risk of serious danger to the community and ordered him detained pending trial.
At each count, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Vermont U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Vermont State Police Detective with Hometown Hero AwardRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont is proud to announce that Detective Trooper Jesse Dambrackas of the Vermont State Police has been awarded the inaugural Hometown Hero Award, sponsored by the Department of Justice in honor of America’s 250th birthday.
Detective Dambrackas has been a member of the Vermont Drug Task Force in southwest Vermont since 2019. During this tenure, Detective Dambrackas has assisted the United States Attorney’s Office in securing convictions for over 65 defendants in federal court. Many of these defendants were armed with firearms, and many employed violence in Rutland, Addison, and Bennington Counties as part of their drug trafficking activities.
Detective Dambrackas is well known among federal, state, and local law enforcement as a willing and effective investigatory partner who sets aside concern for personal credit and recognition, focusing instead on pursuing violent and armed drug traffickers that cause harm in Vermont communities. In addition to his work on the Vermont Drug Task Force, Detective Dambrackas is a member of the Vermont State Police Underwater Recovery Team, assisting the team with recovering people and evidentiary items from bodies of water throughout Vermont.
In a ceremony on May 19, 2026 at the Vermont State Police Rutland barracks, First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt (on left) awarded Detective Dambrackas (on right) the Hometown Hero Award. In addition to Detective Dambrackas’s colleagues from the Vermont State Police, representatives from the FBI, DEA, and HSI were present to thank Detective Dambrackas for his support and partnership on federal investigations and prosecutions.
United States Seeks Civil Forfeiture of Real Properties and Vehicles Purchased with Proceeds of Goliath Ventures Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – A civil forfeiture complaint has been filed against 7 real properties and 11 vehicles allegedly purchased by Christopher Delgado with proceeds of a wire fraud scheme for which he was charged in February 2026, making them subject to civil forfeiture. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the civil forfeiture complaint, Delgado was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Goliath Ventures (“Goliath”), formerly known as Gen-Z Venture Firm. From January 2023 through January 2026, Delgado operated Goliath as a “Ponzi scheme,” which is a form of investment fraud that involves the payment of purported returns to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors. Delgado’s scheme involved soliciting victims to invest substantial sums of money under false and fraudulent promises of monthly returns generated through cryptocurrency “liquidity pools.” Victims were induced to give money to Goliath through personal referrals, professional marketing materials, luxury events, charitable sponsorships, and some monthly payments of purported returns, all of which were designed to establish Goliath’s bona fides with investors. Based on these false and fraudulent representations, Goliath obtained at least $400 million from more than 1,000 victim investors.
Although Goliath represented that it would place the victim investors’ funds in cryptocurrency liquidity pools, in reality, the funds were primarily used to pay purported returns to earlier investors, to return principal to investors who requested it, and for Goliath’s extravagant business gatherings, holiday parties, and luxury travel accommodations. Delgado used approximately $17 million in victim investors’ funds to buy five homes and office space. He also spent more than $2.5 million in victim investors’ funds to purchase, lease, or pay off loans on 11 vehicles (the “Defendant Assets”). Most of these purchases or loan satisfactions constituted monetary transactions knowingly conducted by Delgado with more than $10,000 in proceeds of wire fraud, making those Defendant Assets subject to forfeiture as property involved in money laundering. In addition, Delgado used victim investors’ funds to make mortgage payments on a home he had purchased in 2021.
The chart below includes the Defendant Assets as well as their purchase price and acquisition date.
Purchase Date Defendant AssetPurchase Price9/5/20255271 Isleworth Country Club Drive, Windermere, FL$8.5 million7/31/2025141 S. Phelps Avenue, Winter Park, Fl $3.2 million5/29/2025189 S. Orange Avenue, Unit 1800S, 1810S, 1820S & 1870S, Orlando, FL$3.2 million4/22/20252025 Lamborghini Revuelto$719,517.014/21/20252024 Rolls Royce Ghost$379,9954/9/20252024 Bentley Bentayga$285,5403/30/20252024 Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder$473,7233/19/20252025 Cadillac Escalade V$238,561.253/4/20252024 Lincoln Navigator L$125,862.372/13/202517416 Bal Harbour Drive, Winter Park, FL$740,00012/5/2024222 Pawnee Trail, Kissimmee, Fl$862,5008/5/20247333 Bella Foresta Place, Sanford, FL$1.65 million4/12/20241951 Mercury$52,0001/12/20242017 Mercedes Benz C300$15,00010/27/20232023 Rolls Royce Cullinan$472,3509/5/20232022 Mercedes Benz Sprinter$235,804.9610/23/20222022 GMC Sierra HD$93,96312/20/2021746 Cavan Drive, Apopka, FL$725,000Since February 2026, the United States has been seizing assets traceable to the fraud scheme perpetrated by Delgado and others through Goliath Ventures, Inc. The Defendant Assets are a particular subset of forfeitable assets that are expensive to maintain and either depreciating in value, secured by liens and/or subject to property taxes that are continuing to accrue significant interest and may be in default. In order to maximize the recovery of fraud proceeds, the United States has determined that these assets must be forfeited as expeditiously as possible. One of the primary goals of the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program is recovering assets that may be used to compensate victims when authorized under federal law. See The Attorney General’s Guidelines on the Asset Forfeiture Program (July 2018), at 1, https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-mlars/file/1123146/dl?inline=. The civil forfeiture statutes relied upon in this case provide such authority.
The United States’ criminal investigation of the fraud scheme is ongoing. Investigators are also working to locate and seize additional property— held by Christopher Delgado or others—traceable to proceeds of Goliath fraud. If you have information related to execution of the fraud scheme or the identification or location of assets traceable to the fraud, please contact [email protected].
This civil forfeiture case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anita Cream and Blain Goff.
Civil Forfeiture ComplaintU.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Providence Police Lieutenant Patrick Potter as Hometown HeroRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island recognizes Providence Police Department Lieutenant Patrick Potter as a “Hometown Hero” for his courageous actions during the Brown University shooting incident.
Lt. Potter was honored during an award presentation held Thursday at the United States Attorney’s Office in Providence.
As the first supervising officer to enter the engineering building during the Brown University shooting, Lt. Potter acted without knowing whether the shooter remained inside the building. His swift response and leadership during a rapidly evolving and dangerous situation helped protect lives and support the ongoing emergency response.
“Lt. Potter demonstrated extraordinary courage, professionalism, and commitment to public safety during an incredibly dangerous and uncertain situation,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “His actions reflect the very best of law enforcement service and exemplify the spirit of community protection recognized through the Hometown Hero program.”
The recognition was presented as part of the Department of Justice’s Freedom 250 initiative, a nationwide effort in which United States Attorneys’ Offices across the country recognizes individuals whose service, courage, leadership, and commitment have made a meaningful impact in their communities in advance of America’s 250th anniversary.
The award presentation was attended by members of the Providence Police Department, Lt. Potter’s family, and representatives of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 114 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 114 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On May 15, Jose Alberto Garcia Zamudio, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found more than 466 pounds of cocaine concealed in the gas tank of a commercial passenger bus driven by the defendant. Garcia, who had applied for entry to the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, admitted being paid $13,000 to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.
- On May 19, Ashley Aremy Ruiz, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Attempted Transportation of Illegal Aliens and Conspiracy to Transport Aliens. According to a complaint, Ruiz was taken into custody at Costco in Chula Vista when she attempted to pick up an alien from a smuggler who had been caught with the alien in his trunk while trying to cross into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
- On May 20, Federico Cruz Alverdin, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, Border Patrol agents found the defendant hiding in a tree about half a mile north of the border and 13 miles east of the Tecate Port of Entry. He was previously deported to Mexico on May 1, 2026, through Phoenix, Arizona.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney's Office Names Memphis Police Department Sergeant April Moseley as "Hometown Hero"Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The United States Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee selected Sergeant April Moseley, of the Memphis Police Department, as its "Hometown Hero" for the Western District of Tennessee. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, made the announcement today.
The "Hometown Hero" award honors the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. The award is dedicated in recognition of a steadfast commitment to these ideals and an embodiment of the spirit upon which our Nation was founded.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant presented Sergeant Moseley with this award on May 21, 2026 on behalf of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office as part of Freedom 250 events hosted around the country to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Sgt. Moseley is one of 93 individuals in the country selected to receive this award.
Sgt. Moseley has been a member of the Memphis Police Department for over 21 years and has worked in several units, such as the Organized Crime Unit, Sex Crimes Bureau, General Investigations Bureau, and Uniformed Patrol. She is currently assigned to the FBI Safe Street's Task Force (SSTF), where she investigates cases and oversees the daily tasks of task force officers from multiple other agencies. She relentlessly investigates each case and does not stop until every single investigative option has been fully explored. She is victim-focused and ensures that each victim is informed of case status and that their victim's rights are honored.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Sgt. April Moseley is most deserving of this high honor to recognize her tireless work to achieve justice for victims and consequences for criminals. As we celebrate our Nation’s 250th Birthday, it is our honor to also recognize, celebrate, and thank Sgt. Moseley for her outstanding service to Memphis, the Western District of Tennessee, and the United States. She is truly our Hometown Hero.”
Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis, of the Memphis Police Department, attended the ceremony and thanked Sgt. Moseley for her outstanding work and service with the Memphis Police Department. She stated, "This is truly one of the most joyous experiences in a Chief's career when they see their hard-working officers, supervisors recognized for the work that they do". She stated Sgt. Moseley is "professional and about getting the work done", and that she was proud to see her being recognized as Memphis' Hometown Hero.
The ceremony was held at the U.S. Attorney's Office and attended by Sgt. Moseley's family, Memphis Police Department Commanders, FBI Safe Streets Task Force officers, and many of her law enforcement partners and friends.
Sgt. Moseley with U.S. Attorney Dunavant, MPD Chief Davis, and MPD Commanders
Sgt. Moseley with U.S. Attorney Dunavant and FBI Supervisory Special Agent Tom Barlow
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For more information, please contact the 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.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf Appointed to Attorney General’s Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania David Metcalf has been appointed, along with 17 other United States Attorneys, to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (“AGAC”).
Created in 1973, the AGAC advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting U.S. Attorney’s Offices and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Department policies. The first meeting of the AGAC took place earlier this month.
“I am honored that the Department of Justice has selected me to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee,” U.S. Attorney Metcalf said. “It is a great opportunity to consider how we can further the work of the Department and maximize our protection of the public.”
In addition to Mr. Metcalf, the appointees to the AGAC are:
■ United States Attorney Dan Bishop, Middle District of North Carolina
■ United States Attorney Andrew Boutros, Northern District of Illinois
■ United States Attorney Scott Bradford, District of Oregon
■ United States Attorney Jay Clayton, Southern District of New York (AGAC Chairman)
■ United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine, District of Arizona
■ Acting United States Attorney Catherine Crosby, Northern District of Alabama
■ United States Attorney Michael Dunavant, Western District of Tennessee
■ First Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Ellison, District of New Mexico
■ First Assistant United States Attorney Bilal Essayli, Central District of California
■ United States Attorney Leah Foley, District of Massachusetts (AGAC Vice-Chairwoman)
■ United States Attorney Adam Gordon, Southern District of California
■ United States Attorney Jerome Gorgon, Eastern District of Michigan
■ Acting United States Attorney John Marck, Southern District of Texas
■ United States Attorney Peter McNeilly, District of Colorado
■ United States Attorney Jeanine Pirro, District of Columbia
■ United States Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones, Southern District of Florida
■ United States Attorney Lesley Woods, District of Nebraska
Mr. Metcalf was sworn in as the Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in March of 2025, following his appointment by Attorney General Pamela Bondi. That June, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (“EDPA”) appointed Mr. Metcalf to continue as the U.S. Attorney for EDPA, extending his term indefinitely pending his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. The Senate confirmed Mr. Metcalf’s nomination for the full four-year term as U.S. Attorney on October 7, 2025.
Before his appointment, Mr. Metcalf served several years as a federal prosecutor and senior Department of Justice official. In October 2022, he left the Department of Justice to serve as Corporate Counsel, Government and Regulatory Litigation, for Amazon.com, Inc. Mr. Metcalf’s full biography can be found here.
U.S. Attorney Announces Conviction of Daniel Sikkema for Murder-For-HireRead the Press Release
“Moments ago, Daniel Sikkema was found guilty of hiring a hitman to murder his husband in cold blood,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Amid contentious divorce proceedings with his then-husband, Daniel Sikkema used a burner phone line to callously order the killing of his husband in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As a result of great investigative work by the FBI, Daniel Sikkema’s efforts to evade detection were thwarted. The tragedy of Brent Sikkema’s death now has a meaningful measure of justice as a unanimous jury of New Yorkers has held Daniel Sikkema accountable for this senseless, cold-blooded murder.”
Tulsa Resident Sentenced for Theft in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tommy Allen Winkler, age 38, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison for one count of Theft in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On May 15, 2025, Winkler pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, Winkler was appointed guardian to manage the victims’ property and assets. Between November 16, 2022, and June 14, 2024, Winkler unlawfully transferred funds from the victims’ bank accounts into his personal bank account and spent the money for his own benefit.
The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. On June 18, 2026, Winkler will self-report to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration at a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Cornell and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
This Week in Fraud: The Fraud Division Announced Expansion of Midwest Task Force and Authorization to Hire 15 New Medicaid Prosecutors, an Unprecedented Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown, and a $2 Billion Telemedicine Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
This week, the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division continued to advance its mission to fight fraud and protect taxpayers.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald, along with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, and FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia, announced unprecedented charges against 15 defendants for Medicaid fraud schemes. The defendants allegedly participated in various schemes to defraud federal benefit programs totaling over $90 million in intended loss. The charges included the two largest Medicaid fraud cases ever charged in Minnesota and first-of-their-kind charges for certain Medicaid programs.
While in Minnesota, Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald also announced the expansion of the Health Care Fraud Midwest Strike Force, bringing additional law enforcement resources to prosecute fraud in Minnesota, and the hiring of 15 additional prosecutors dedicated to combating Medicaid fraud nationwide.
“This is just the beginning,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald at the announcement. “With the support of President Trump, Vice President Vance, Acting Attorney General Blanche, Chairman Ferguson and the White House Anti-Fraud Task Force, Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz and his team, and the entire federal fraud-fighting apparatus, the Department of Justice will continue expanding our reach across the country to pursue all fraud, no matter how large, no matter how small, no matter how hard.”
Other top highlights from the fight against fraud this week include the following enforcement actions.
Health Care Fraud
In Brooklyn, a defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his participation in a $2 billion international health care fraud conspiracy.
Benefits Program Fraud
In Idaho, a jury convicted a man whose true identity remains unknown for theft of government funds and other crimes for using the identity of a long-deceased man to receive Social Security and other benefits. For more than two decades, the Defendant used the deceased individual’s name and identity to fraudulently obtain numerous government benefits totaling approximately $283,000.
A school district board member pleaded guilty in federal court for her role in a wire fraud scheme that defrauded the school district out of $385,000.
The United States obtained a court order authorizing the recovery of nearly $30 million in restitution related to a $63 million scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program.
A Michigan jury convicted a nurse and home health care agency nurse for operating a $1.6 million scheme to defraud Medicare. From 2018 through 2021, the defendant bribed a nurse at a Detroit hospital to give the defendant their confidential records, which were used to unlawfully bill Medicare.
Government Fraud
A man pleaded guilty to a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $229.6 million in loans and properties. Ultimately, he defaulted on the loans, or the loan balances substantially exceeded the value of the underlying collateral, resulting in approximately $94.4 million in losses to lenders, including the Federal National Mortgage Association, commonly known as Fannie Mae, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, commonly known as Freddie Mac.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that it collected over $4.4 million in civil and criminal actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Among others, the office collected over $320,000 of restitution and fines from a defendant convicted of federal income tax evasion.
In West Virginia, a man pleaded guilty to theft of public money for fraudulently cashing U.S. treasury checks at businesses in West Virginia and Maryland totaling over $14,000. The defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and owes approximately $14,000 in restitution.
A man pleaded guilty to theft of government funds and other charges for depositing stolen and altered U.S. Treasury checks into bank accounts he opened in the name of a shell company. In total, the defendant stole or laundered more than $1.2 million in government funds.
Tax Fraud
A defendant was sentenced to 65 months in prison for his participation in an extensive COVID-19 employment tax credit fraud scheme. Members of the conspiracy filed numerous false tax returns, claiming over $3.4 million in tax refunds. The defendant and his co-conspirators were ordered to pay over $1.8 million in restitution.
Trade Fraud
An engineer for an Illinois company was sentenced to federal prison for trade fraud, counterfeiting, and other fraud schemes.
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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.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Retired United States Army Green Beret Justin Self as Hometown HeroRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama is proud to recognize retired United States Army
Green Beret Justin Self as our Hometown Hero. The United States Attorney’s Office welcomed Special Agents in Charge from the United States Army OIG, United States Marshals Service, United States Secret Service, leadership from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Mayor of Homewood at the ceremony celebrating Sergeant Self.
The Hometown Hero award commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. It honors the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. This award is given to a Hometown Hero who has displayed a steadfast commitment to these ideals and an embodiment of the spirit upon which our Nation was founded.
“We are so proud to honor Sergeant Self as our Hometown Hero for his service to his country and community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “Sergeant Self is the best among us. Because of his service, and others who joined him, the United States has enjoyed 250 years of Freedom. We applaud Sergeant’s Self’s bravery, service, and commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
Sergeant Self joined the United States Army as an 11B (Infantryman) in 1998. After graduating from basic training and Airborne school he joined the Army Special Forces where he earned his Green Beret as a Weapons Sergeant. Sergeant Self was deployed to Afghanistan from August 2002–2003 and again from October 2007–2008. He also deployed to Iraq in January 2011 for nine months. During his 20-year career with the 20th Special Forces Group based out of Alabama, Sergeant Self conducted numerous Joint Combined Exchange Trainings (JCETs) in central Africa and Eastern Europe. He completed numerous schools while in the Army, including Jumpmaster, Rappel Master, FRIES Master, and Sniper School. For his exemplary service, Sergeant Self received many awards, including two Bronze Star Medals. He retired from the Army in May 2018.
Sergeant Self has also served his community as a police officer for 24 years and is currently the supervisor of the Homewood Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit. He is the Team Sergeant for the Tactical Team, and has served as a Patrol Officer, Street Crimes Task Force member, and Tactical Team Officer. He also spent nearly eight years as Homewood’s Training Sergeant.
Ten-Time Convicted Scammer Charged in New $1.5 Million Romance Fraud Targeting Elderly WomanRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO –Troy Clinton Van Sickle of Temecula appeared in federal court today to face charges that he stole more than $1.5 million from an elderly woman he claimed to be romantically interested in, and that he obstructed federal law enforcement efforts to investigate the alleged fraud scheme.
According to the indictment and court records, Van Sickle – a 10-time convicted felon who worked as a janitor at a San Diego County preschool – targeted a wealthy divorced woman and cultivated what appeared to be a romantic relationship in order to gain access to her finances. Prosecutors allege that 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 allegedly claimed he was facing financial hardship and needed money from the victim to pursue business deals and investment opportunities. He allegedly 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 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.
The government also alleges that Van Sickle created a 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 purchase a 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale worth $650,000.
According to the indictment, 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.
According to the indictment, 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 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 woman’s payments 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.
Between 2022 and 2023, Van Sickle received approximately 20 money transfers from the woman totaling more than $1.5 million. He has not repaid any of the money to date.
According to court records, there may be other victims of Van Sickle’s scheme to defraud. If you or someone you know has given more than $25,000 to the man depicted in the photographs below, please contact the FBI at (858) 320-1800.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Swan and Sarah M. Fix.
DEFENDANTS 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 Writing or Document – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1001(a)(3) and 2
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
Falsification of Record in Federal Investigation – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1519
Maximum penalty: Twenty 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
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sureno Gang Member Found Guilty of Possessing Child Pornography and Failure to AppearRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A federal jury in Del Rio convicted a Sureno gang member this week for possession of child pornography and failure to appear, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in February 2020, ICE Homeland Security Investigations received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which revealed that a Google account had uploaded six videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to a Google Drive in January 2020. HSI agents reviewed the videos and confirmed they contained CSAM. The email account and its corresponding phone number belonged to Samuel Sandoval Chavez, 42. A search warrant for the Google account further revealed that Sandoval had searched terms included “cute teenage Latino boys” and “teen boyfriend.”
HSI found additional videos of child pornography saved on Sandoval’s account under a folder labeled with the “devil” emoji. HSI executed a search warrant on Sandoval’s home and retrieved a cell phone containing 71 images of child pornography and 82 images of child erotica.
Sandoval was indicted and subsequently arrested in Idaho, where the district judge granted release pending trial and ordered Sandoval to appear in the Western District of Texas for initial appearance, a hearing at which Sandoval failed to appear. Sandoval had instead fled to Mexico and was later apprehended at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry in April 2025.
At trial, defense attorneys argued that Sandoval did not knowingly possess the material because it came from a WhatsApp group chat and automatically downloaded to his phone. The evidence, however, showed that the material was not merely passively downloaded. A forensic review of Sandoval’s phone revealed cached data showing that he personally opened the images and videos. Given the strength of the government’s case, the jury returned a swift 30-minute guilty verdict.
ICE HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nallely Duarte and Amy Greenbaum are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Appointed to Federal Team Prosecuting Transnational Drug Organizations in Stanislaus County as part of the Homeland Security Task ForceRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Eric Grant and Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero announced today the appointment of Deputy District Attorney Cindy De Silva to be a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to prosecute cases in federal court relating to transnational drug organizations with ties to Stanislaus County.
De Silva will work on the Homeland Security Task Force, a team of federal and state prosecutors, agents, and analysts dedicated to combatting transnational organized crime and targeting cartels. As a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, De Silva will remain employed by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office and will be able to prosecute cases in both state and federal court. De Silva will work in this role for at least two years.
“Communities across the Central Valley continue to feel the devastating effects of dangerous drugs: addiction, homelessness, property crime, violence, and loss of life,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Our partnership with the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office strengthens our ability to investigate and prosecute transnational drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of Stanislaus County residents. Cindy De Silva is a highly skilled and experienced prosecutor whose work will help ensure that drug traffickers are held accountable. I appreciate the continued collaboration and commitment of District Attorney Laugero and his office in protecting our communities.”
“I am proud to join with the United States Attorney’s Office in the fight against drug trafficking organizations,” said Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero. “The resources and capabilities this partnership provides will directly improve our ability to prosecute and punish drug dealers operating in our region and devastating lives in Stanislaus County. By combining resources and expertise, and cross-designating exceptional Deputy District Attorneys such as Cindy De Silva as Special Assistant United States Attorneys, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant has demonstrated his commitment to enhancing public safety, and I thank him for his continued support for law enforcement in Stanislaus County.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office currently has Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the District Attorney’s Offices of Yolo, Sacramento, and Fresno Counties.
Sixty-Nine Count Indictment Returned Against Alleged Mass Shooter Who Opened Fire at a Bus StopRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Anthony Del Cid-Morales, 18, of the District of Columbia, was indicted this week on 69 charges in connection with a January 2026 mass shooting, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Del Cid-Morales is charged with Assault with Intent to Kill While Armed, Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and Aggravated Assault While Armed, and related counts. The indictment includes multiple enhancements for committing crimes of violence against Metro Transit passengers. Superior Court Judge Jason Park scheduled a detention hearing for July 10.
According to the Government’s evidence, on Jan. 22, 2026, about 5:40 p.m., Del Cid-Morales allegedly sexually assaulted a juvenile victim on a bus which led to a physical altercation between them. When the bus arrived at a stop a short time later, the juvenile victim and her group of friends exited the rear of the bus and Del Cid-Morales exited from the front.
As Del Cid-Morales exited the bus, he allegedly drew a handgun, racked the slide, and fired five rounds into the crowd of more than 15 people who were standing at the bus stop near 16th Street NW and Missouri Avenue NW.
Five people were struck by gunfire. Three of the victims had been with the juvenile victim on the bus. One victim was waiting at the bus stop to go home. The last victim was taking an evening walk. After allegedly firing into the crowd, Del Cid-Morales fled on foot.
Joining in the announcement were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office and the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network.
Charges are merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
2026 CF1 007691
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