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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Thursday 21 May 2026
Pittsburgh Man Charged with Making Interstate Threats to Injure and Kill OthersRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of making interstate threats, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The two-count Indictment named John Radford, 31, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Radford transmitted communications containing threats to injure another person on two separate occasions via email. The Indictment alleges that, on or about September 18, 2025, Radford informed one victim that a “list” of “people…ahead of you” was “all there is keeping you alive.” Radford also stated in his email that the victim would not be “too difficult” to locate and identified the victim’s spouse and children. The Indictment further alleges that, in an email to another victim on or about December 3, 2024, Radford communicated “I say we blow your head off with a shotgun!” and then described the shotgun as a “mosberg 940” that would be used “late at night when you’re walk back to your car.”
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both on each count. 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.
Pennsylvania man pleads guilty, receives prison time for 2022 PFD fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to and was sentenced Tuesday to a year and a half in prison for committing wire fraud through a 2022 Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) fraud scheme.
According to court documents, between January and February 2022, Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, devised a scheme to defraud the Alaska Department of Revenue (DOR) PFD program. Specifically, Salako fraudulently obtained the personal identifying information (PII) for legitimate Alaskan residents and submitted seven separate applications to the Alaska DOR to obtain their PFD funds. Salako was never an Alaskan resident and had never traveled to Alaska up until his arrival in the state for his sentencing in this matter.
Court documents detail that Salako created new email accounts that he controlled for each legitimate Alaska resident whose PII he fraudulently obtained. Using the PII, Salako gained control of at least seven already established “myAlaska” online accounts—the platform Alaska residents use to apply for the PFD. Once inside the accounts, Salako changed the account information to route communications from “myAlaska” directly to the email accounts he controlled for each individual. Salako also changed each applicant’s bank information to route the PFD payments to bank accounts he controlled.
Court documents further explain that Salako tried to shield his identity and location by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to appear as though six of the seven application submissions were submitted from an Internet Protocol (IP) address in Alaska. The other application was submitted using an IP address in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Records from Salako’s personal email account showed logins from the same Philadelphia IP address.
The State of Alaska determined the applications to be fraudulent and denied the applications. In 2022, the DOR, which administers the PFD program, paid $3,284.00 to each eligible PFD applicant. But for the DOR’s diligent review of PFD applications, Mr. Salako would have successfully defrauded the State of Alaska and the seven identity theft victims of $22,988.00
Salako pleaded guilty to seven counts of wire fraud. Salako’s prison sentence will run concurrent to a related COVID relief fund and international money laundering case in the District of Colorado, in which he was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the victims of his crimes.
“Mr. Salako spent considerable time planning and perpetrating his scheme to defraud the Alaska PFD,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Thanks to the great work of the Alaska Department of Revenue and FBI, he didn’t succeed; but even attempting to defraud the PFD will not be tolerated and could result in federal prison.”
“The Alaska PFD program is intended to benefit current and future generations of eligible Alaskans, not criminals like Salako who seek to exploit the program through fraud and identity theft,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Despite efforts to mask his identity, Salako was identified through strong program safeguards and diligent investigative work in partnership with the Alaska Department of Revenue. This sentence reflects our commitment to safeguarding the integrity of government programs and holding fraudsters accountable for their crimes, regardless of where they reside.”
“This case should send a clear message that stealing an identity to exploit the Permanent Fund Dividend will not be tolerated,” said Department Investigations Manager Scott Stair of the State of Alaska Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigations Unit. "The Department of Revenue remains committed to protecting Alaskans from financial fraud and holding accountable anyone who seeks to profit though deception.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and State of Alaska Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigations Unit investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case.
If you suspect you've been a victim of PFD fraud, contact the Alaska Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigations Unit. Online Fraud Tips can be filed at https://pfd.alaska.gov/fraud-tip-form. You can also contact the Fraud Hotline: (907) 500-0360.
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Palestinian Immigrant Sentenced to 35 years in Murder for Hire SchemeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Nahro Sudoi INNAB, 70, to 35 years in federal prison stemming from two murder for hire plots. On January 14, 2026, a Raleigh jury convicted him for three counts of Interstate phone calls in a Murder-for-Hire scheme.
“This Palestinian immigrant came here with unlimited potential to take advantage of the American dream. Instead, he wasted it by repeatedly trying to hire thugs to murder his perceived enemies.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will not tolerate this type of terror spreading behavior. He can take his time to learn his lesson for the next 3 and a half decades.”
Innab attempted to arrange the murders of three people. He did all this after pleading guilty to the same conduct, while sitting in jail waiting to be sentenced. Innab tried to pay other inmates $10,000 per murder. The intended victims are Rocky Mount small business owners. A cooperating defendant informed the FBI of the plot and captured an audio recording of Innab’s murderous plan.
"Innab will spend the next 35 years in federal prison for planning multiple murder for hire plots. The FBI is grateful for our partnerships with the Rocky Mount Police Department, NC ALE, and the U.S. Marshals that through coordinated law enforcement efforts undoubtably saved lives." said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The FBI, Rocky Mount Police Department, NC ALE, and the USMS collaborated on this multi-year investigation. Assistant United States Attorney John P. Newby, Jr. prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-FL, Case No. 4:24-CR-46-M, and Case No. 4:24-CR-56-BO.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Dog Fighting and Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was sentenced today to 71 months in prison and four years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to dog fighting and drug distribution charges.
As part of his plea, Joel Brown, of Columbus, Ohio, admitted to keeping 11 pit bull-type dogs for fighting purposes in Franklin County, Ohio. He also admitted to possessing at least 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it in the community.
“Dog fighting is a crime, and it is often, as in this case, linked with other crimes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Communities are harmed when this kind of activity occurs. We’re grateful to the community members who called attention to the derelict condition of the dogs in Brown’s possession, which led to today’s sentencing. We are also grateful for the partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, ATF, and others who investigated and prosecuted this case.”
“Brown’s actions were cruel and illegal, endangering both the dogs that he trained to fight and the people of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “That he was a repeat drug dealer who possessed a firearm while engaging in such inhumane treatment of animals only further demonstrates that a significant sentence in federal prison is needed to protect the community from his criminal conduct.”
According to court documents, law enforcement first investigated a property owned by Brown following a complaint to Columbus Humane about the condition of the dogs being housed by Brown. Dogs being kept for use in animal fights are often kept outdoors on heavy chains close to other dogs, but far enough apart to prevent them from touching. The heavy chains force the dogs to build muscles. The dogs’ proximity encourages aggression because they are near each other but unable to interact naturally.
Eventually, 12 dogs were recovered from Brown’s property, many of which showed scarring and other signs of dog fighting. In addition, treadmills, veterinary medicine, and other equipment commonly used by dog fighters were located in the residence. Law enforcement also recovered 53.48 grams of methamphetamine, a shotgun and ammunition, and various items associated with drug distribution.
Brown had previously been sentenced to 108 months in prison on drug and gun charges as part of a multi-defendant prosecution involving the notorious Columbus street gang, the Short North Posse.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Columbus Division of Police, and Columbus Humane investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Kevin W. Kelley for the Southern District of Ohio and Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
New Jersey Physical Therapist Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting AmtrakRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey physical therapist was sentenced today for her role in a health care fraud scheme targeting Amtrak’s health care plan, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Taejin Kim, 44, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Kim was sentenced today to 12 months plus one day of imprisonment, two years’ supervised release, and ordered to pay over $2.2 million in restitution.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From October 2019 through June 2022, Kim and her co-conspirators agreed to engage in a scheme to bill the Amtrak health care plan for fraudulent claims for services that never were provided and were medically unnecessary. Kim, a licensed physical therapist, allowed her license and business bank accounts to be used in the fraudulent billing scheme, in return for a portion of the proceeds. Other members of the conspiracy recruited Amtrak employees to participate in the scheme by paying them cash, in return for allowing the conspirators to use their personal and insurance information to submit false and fraudulent claims.
The conspiracy involved dozens of Amtrak employees and multiple health care providers, who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash kickbacks to Amtrak employees over the course of the scheme. In total, the Amtrak health care plan paid over $11 million in fraudulent claims associated with providers connected to the scheme. The Amtrak health care plan paid out approximately $2,253,453 for claims associated with Kim. The investigation has resulted in the prosecution of nineteen individuals, including Kim. All have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Harper, the Amtrak Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief of Police James Cook, and special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III in New York, with the investigation.
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.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano, Co-Chief of the General Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O’Leary of the Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit.
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Defense counsel: Alyssa Cimino, Esq.
New Jersey Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to Distributing Contaminated Food Associated with Listeria OutbreakRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey cheese manufacturer today admitted to introducing adulterated queso fresco into interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Abuelito Cheese Inc. a/k/a “El Abuelito Cheese,” a distributor of food products located in Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais in Newark federal court to an Information charging the company with introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Abuelito manufactured food products, including soft, fresh cheese known as queso fresco, at its facility in New Jersey. It distributed products, including queso fresco, within New Jersey and to neighboring states. In February 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an inspection of Abuelito’s facility and alerted the company to the presence of non-pathogenic Listeria innocua and Listeria grayi in its facility. In June 2020, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to Abuelito, expressing serious concerns regarding alleged Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) violations, and warning that conditions in the company’s facility were conducive for pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes. Abuelito’s products were ultimately linked to a February 2021 outbreak of listeriosis that resulted in at least 13 hospitalizations and one death across four states.
The offense carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years of probation, and a fine of $500,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for October 15, 2026.
Individuals who believe they may have been impacted by the 2021 listeriosis outbreak associated with products sold as El Abuelito Cheese brand, distributed in Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York; Rio Grande Food Products brand, distributed in Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland; and Rio Lindo brand, distributed in North Carolina and Maryland, may contact the Department of Justice’s Victim Witness Unit via the following toll free number: (888) 549-3945 or email: [email protected].
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano, Co-Chief of the General Crimes Unit, and Trial Attorney Lauren M. Elfner of the Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section.
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Defense counsel: Matthew Oliver, Esq.
abuelito.information.pdfNew Jersey Man Admits His Role in a Scheme Involving the Theft of More Than $250,000Read the Press Release
Newark, N.J. – A New Jersey man admitted to engaging in wire fraud and aggravated identity theft that caused losses of more than $250,000, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Terrance Hart, 47, of Garfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court yesterday to an Information charging him with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentencing date is scheduled for October 14. 2026.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Hart opened or caused others to fraudulently open various bank accounts in the names of other individuals or entities, but that were actually under his control. Hart then deposited or caused others to deposit fraudulently obtained funds, including stolen United States Treasury checks, into the bank accounts. Then, Hart withdrew money from the bank accounts and converted the resulting funds to his personal use.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the value of the gain or loss, whichever is greater. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the value of the gain or loss, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and special agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark with the investigation leading to this plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Claressa Lowe, Esq.
hart.information.pdfNew Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTIAN LOPEZ, also known as “Face,” 42, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to a fentanyl distribution offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Luis Salaman, also known as “Bebe,” was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven. Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Salaman and his associates, including Lopez. In December 2021, Lopez was involved in two fentanyl transactions totaling approximately 300 grams.
Lopez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for August 20.
Lopez has been detained since his arrest on April 10, 2023.
Salaman was convicted after trial and, on March 11, 2026, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, including members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
Nevada Felon with Sacramento Ties Indicted for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Taisia Soloai Fauolo, 29, of Henderson, Nevada, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Oct. 21, 2025, Fauolo was arrested in Sacramento after acting suspiciously during a law enforcement action. The officers observed Fauolo crouch behind a parked car, then running through a nearby apartment complex. Fauolo was detained and a 9 mm Glock 19 handgun was recovered beneath the rear axle of the car where Fauolo had been observed crouching. A 30-round magazine was inserted into the firearm, and one round was chambered. Fauolo is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for unlawful transport of firearms, participation in a criminal street gang, robbery, and for carrying a loaded firearm.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the San Francisco Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Fauolo faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Moline Man Sentenced to 96 months in Prison for Third Firearms FelonyRead the Press Release
Rock Island, Ill. – A Moline, Illinois, man, Donovan James Cartwright-Nye, 25, was sentenced on May 20, 2026, to 96 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
At a sentencing hearing before United States District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, the government presented information that in December 2024, Cartwright-Nye traded drugs for a firearm with an obliterated serial number and the following day fired several shots at another person in Rock Island, Illinois. Cartwright-Nye then fled the scene in his vehicle that he proceeded to crash several blocks away. He was apprehended on foot a short time later.
At the time of the offense, Cartwright-Nye already had two prior Illinois state court convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was released from the Iowa Department of Corrections approximately five months prior to committing this offense. The government argued that a significant sentence was needed to protect the public and deter Cartwright-Nye from committing further crimes.Cartwright-Nye pleaded guilty to the federal charge in August 2025.
The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The Rock Island Police Department; Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office; Illinois State Police; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney John Mehochko represented the government in the prosecution.
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.
Missoula police officer honored as Hometown HeroRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – As part of the nation’s Freedom 250 celebration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Montana recognized Missoula police officer Dylan Harris as a Hometown Hero in a small ceremony this morning.
Harris has worked for the Missoula Police Department since 2021, where he currently serves as the School Resource Officer for Hellgate High School. He also serves as the department’s field training officer, crisis team negotiator and leads and instructs the department’s riot team. He began his career with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state in 2016 after graduating from the University of Montana.
In addition to his duties with the MPD, Harris proudly serves with Oregon National Guard. From 2024 to 2025, Harris was deployed to northeast Syria as a captain in the field artillery as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. He served as a battery commander for two different batteries simultaneously in two different locations with over 100 soldiers under his command. His service there earned him the Bronze Star.
“I can think of no better way to contribute to the celebration of America’s 250th birthday than to recognize one of our fellow citizens for his dedicated efforts to keep his community safe. Public service is one of the hallmarks of this great country and working in law enforcement and serving in the military are two of its purest forms. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful to all our service members and our partners in law enforcement. We’re honored to recognize Officer Harris for his selflessness commitment to his city, state, and country.” said Tim Racicot, acting U.S. Attorney.
Harris comes from a proud tradition of law enforcement and public service. His father served with the Portland Police Bureau and currently serves with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. His brother is a sergeant with the Vancouver Police Department in Washington.
Harris is supported by the love of his wife and son, and he remains steadfast in his dedication to the City of Missoula and the broader community. Through his leadership, integrity and continued service, he exemplifies the values of professionalism, courage and selfless commitment that define the spirit of the U.S. Justice Department’s Hometown Hero Award.
The Hometown Hero Award, offered in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, celebrates the enduring ideals of liberty, service and civic responsibility. It is bestowed in recognition of brave men and women who exemplify steadfast commitment to these ideals and embody the spirit upon which our nation was founded.
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Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in Charges Against 15 Defendants for over $90M in FraudRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced the Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 15 defendants, including owners of child care centers and various Medicaid providers, for their alleged participation in various fraud schemes involving over $90 million in intended loss, including the two largest Medicaid fraud cases ever charged in the District and first-of-their kind charges involving additional Medicaid programs. The Justice Department also announced a major investment in combatting Medicaid fraud through a significant expansion of the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section, allocating funding to permit the hiring of 15 new Trial Attorney positions to combat Medicaid fraud across the United States.
“Today, we are holding scammers accountable who ripped off the American taxpayer and harmed those deserving legitimate assistance from these programs,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “These alleged con artists stole taxpayer dollars while providing substandard care for children and abandoning at least one Medicaid recipient as they passed away. The DOJ Fraud Division, along with the White House’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, will dismantle illegal schemes from coast-to-coast, just as they did today in Minnesota. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
“Driven by data showing a significant increase in Medicaid fraud across the country, the 15 additional prosecutors will serve as a force multiplier for our existing Strike Forces to combat this critical new threat,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division. “The Fraud Division is committed to supercharging the Health Care Fraud Strike Force program with the resources it needs to tackle the pervasive fraud in the health care industry and protect the vulnerable beneficiaries of these programs, including children and those suffering from chronic ailments.”
“Today’s arrests mark the largest autism fraud bust in American history,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, this Administration is carrying out the most aggressive anti-fraud effort in modern American history. These criminals exploited vulnerable children, stole taxpayer dollars, and diverted critical autism care and resources away from families who truly need support, and we will continue rooting out fraud to protect children and restore integrity to America’s public health programs.”
“As alleged, the defendants in this case not only attempted to steal public healthcare funds paid for by hardworking American taxpayers – but stole critical resources from families who truly needed them,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This FBI and our interagency partners have a mandate to investigate and systematically dismantle this exact kind of public fraud in America, which grossly abuses and mismanages money from working Americans, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Today’s indictment is a massive moment in this effort and we’re not slowing down.”
Autism Fraud
In the largest Medicaid autism fraud case ever charged by the Department, two defendants were charged in connection with an approximately $46.6 million scheme to defraud the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, a publicly funded Minnesota Health Care Program that offers medically necessary services to people under the age of 21 with autism spectrum disorder. In 2017, Minnesota became one of the first states to offer Medicaid coverage for EIDBI services. EIDBI claims skyrocketed from over $600,000 in 2018 to over $400 million by 2025.
As alleged, the defendants paid kickbacks to parents who brought their children to autism centers, diagnosed children with autism regardless of medical necessity, and billed for autism services that were not actually provided, depriving children who did need assistance of needed care.
"We continue to accelerate the pace at which we are identifying, investigating, and prosecuting those that stole billions of dollars from under the nose of Minnesota's government, said U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel Rosen.” We have more fraud prosecutors and law enforcement officers on the task than ever before. Stay tuned."
Integrated Community Supports Fraud
In the first criminal prosecution involving fraud in Minnesota’s Integrated Community Supports (ICS) program, one defendant was charged with a $1.4 million scheme to bill for services that were not provided as represented. ICS is a Minnesota Medicaid benefit designed to fill a gap in the service continuum between a person living in their own home and more restrictive settings such as group homes and assisted living. ICS was designed to help people live more independently in the community—as opposed to an institutionalized setting—with daily one-on-one help with health, safety, and household tasks so that qualifying individuals can live in the community. The defendant in the prosecution announced today submitted claims for vulnerable recipients who required 24-hour care, one of whom was found deceased a day after being billed for services he did not receive.
After paying out a total of approximately $4.2 million when the ICS program began in 2021, the cost has grown to more than $183 million in 2025. In all, claims data shows that the Medicaid system has paid out more than $460 million for ICS services since 2021. A failure to provide ICS services to vulnerable Medicaid recipients who are dependent on the care to live can have deadly consequences, like those described in the charging document.
“Medicaid dollars are meant to support vulnerable Americans—not bankroll luxury cars and real estate empires for fraudulent providers who exploit people with disabilities,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “These prosecutions put Medicaid fraudsters on notice—the gravy train is over. We will cut you off, shut you down, and lock you up. They also send a clear message to the patients who depend on Medicaid and the taxpayers who fund it—this administration has your back.”
“The scope of the frauds alleged in the charges announced today is staggering, not only in the amount of loss, but in the reach of the impacted programs,” said FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia. “These programs, funded by the American taxpayer, were designed to help some of the most vulnerable members of our society. As alleged in these charges, instead of helping those in need of support, the defendants took millions of dollars for their own benefit. These frauds were uncovered thanks to dedicated work by the FBI and our law enforcement partners, and we look forward to continuing to partner with the United States Attorney's Office to reign in the rampant fraud in these programs.”
“Today’s takedown underscores a simple truth: Medicaid is a lifeline for vulnerable individuals, and we will not allow criminals to exploit it for personal gain. These schemes did more than steal taxpayer dollars — they robbed children with autism, adults with disabilities, and other at‑risk citizens of the essential care they rely on,” said Inspector General T. March Bell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “HHS‑OIG, working shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who prey on these critical programs. We will use every tool available to uncover fraud, hold offenders accountable, and safeguard the integrity of the benefits millions of families depend on.”
Individualized Home Supports Fraud
In the first criminal prosecution involving fraud in Minnesota’s Individualized Home Supports (IHS) program, two defendants were charged in connection with an over $22 million scheme in which they acquired over 20 separate residences and concealed their ownership interest from Medicaid. IHS was designed to help adults with disabilities such as brain injury to live independently in their own homes. Despite Medicaid prohibiting program providers from having direct or indirect financial interest in the beneficiaries’ housing, the defendants offered housing that they owned to vulnerable Medicaid beneficiaries in order to obtain Medicaid beneficiary information that they used to bill for services that were not provided as represented. Defendants used the proceeds of the scheme to acquire more real estate and further the fraud, as well as purchasing luxury automobiles and expensive jewelry. After paying out over $100 million in 2018, the IHS program grew to cost more than $700 million in 2025.
Housing Stabilization Services Fraud
Charges were brought against eight defendants for defrauding Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) of approximately $15.7 million. Some defendants were residents of Pennsylvania who engaged in fraud tourism, traveling to Minnesota for lucrative opportunities to commit fraud. In July 2020, Minnesota became the first state in the country to offer Medicaid coverage for HSS. The HSS Program was a Medical Assistance (that is, Medicaid) benefit designed to help people with disabilities, including seniors and people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders, find and maintain housing. By design, the HSS Program had low barriers to entry and minimal records requirements for reimbursement that combined to make the Program susceptible to fraud.
Before the HSS Program’s inaugural year, DHS predicted the HSS Program would cost about $2.6 million annually. In 2021 alone, the HSS Program paid out more than $26 million in claims. That figure ballooned in the following years to over $104 million in 2024. On October 31, 2025, Minnesota shuttered HSS due to fraud, illustrating how fraudulent schemes can result in the cessation of necessary programs and deprive beneficiaries of needed care.
"Today's law enforcement actions make it clear that IRS-CI is prioritizing investigations of fraud that permeate public service programs intended to serve the most vulnerable." said IRS-CI Acting Chief Gary Shapley.
Child Care Fraud
The Department announced charges against two defendants in connection with defrauding state and federal programs designed to subsidize child care. One defendant was charged with a $425,000 fraud on the state-funded Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program (GSCSPP), which reimburses for in-classroom hours provided by teachers in staff. Another defendant was charged with a $4.6 million fraud on the federally funded Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which reimburses child care centers for actual child care provided.
“The scale of fraud uncovered in Minnesota is alarming. HSI is fully committed to dismantling these criminal schemes and holding offenders accountable,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Minnesota. “These cases demonstrate our unwavering resolve to work with federal and state partners to root out fraud and protect those in need.”
Medicaid Fraud Enhancement and Expansion of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force
In connection with the Takedown, the Department announced the funding of 15 new prosecutors and associated support staff to combat Medicaid fraud across the country. Data show that Medicaid is a vital government benefit program increasingly targeted by criminals. The exposure of widespread fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid program illustrates the insufficient nature of state enforcement alone, and the necessity of a whole-of-government approach. In the past year, the Health Care Fraud Section has surged prosecutors not only to Minnesota, but also to prosecute an over $650 million Medicaid fraud scheme in Arizona and over $270 million Medicaid fraud scheme in California.
These new prosecutors will be deployed by Acting Health Care Fraud Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Principal Assistant Chief Rebecca Yuan to districts where the threat of Medicaid fraud is the greatest, including existing Strike Forces in California, Florida, New York, and Texas, as well as deployed across the country through participation in the National Rapid Response Strike Force. In addition, the Department, along with its partners from HHS-OIG and FBI, announced today the expansion of the Midwest Strike Force to include the District of Minnesota. The Midwest Strike Force previously was based in Detroit and Chicago.
Health Care Fraud Assistant Chief Shankar Ramamurthy and Trial Attorney Sara Porter, along with Fraud Chief Rebecca Kline and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Murphy for the District of Minnesota, led and coordinated the cases charged in today’s Takedown, together with the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, HHS-OIG, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, as well as state and local law enforcement partners. Trial Attorneys Matthew Belz, Brant Cook, Jody King, Benjamin Smith, Charles Strauss, and Sara Woodward from multiple Strike Forces are prosecuting the cases charged in the Takedown. The Health Care Fraud Section’s Data Fusion Center used cutting-edge data analytics to identify and support the cases charged today.
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.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The following material related to today’s announcement are available on the Health Care Fraud Unit website through this link.
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 Justice Department today announced the Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 15 defendants, including owners of child care centers and various Medicaid providers, for their alleged participation in various fraud schemes involving over $90 million in intended loss, including the two largest Medicaid fraud cases ever charged in the District and first-of-their kind charges involving additional Medicaid programs. The Justice Department also announced a major investment in combatting Medicaid fraud through a significant expansion of the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section, allocating funding to permit the hiring of 15 new Trial Attorney positions to combat Medicaid fraud across the United States.
Miami-Area Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Distributing Sexual Torture and Mutilation Videos of Baby MonkeysRead the Press Release
Francisco Javier Ravelo, of Coral Gables, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release, during which he is not permitted to have any unsupervised contact with animals. Ravelo was sentenced in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys in violation of the federal Animal Crushing statute.
Ravelo pleaded guilty in March to distributing more than 40 so-called “animal crush videos.”
According to court documents and statements made during his sentencing hearing, Ravelo owned and administered several online chat groups dedicated to distribution and discussion of sexual and violent videos depicting monkeys being mutilated and tortured. The court ruled that Ravelo controlled access to and moderated his invitation-only private groups, where he was a leader and organizer, which served as a basis for Ravelo’s upward variance prison sentence. The court described the material distributed as “evil.” The court explained that it fashioned the sentence to show that “in society we will not tolerate this kind of material being distributed in any way, shape, or form” and further, that the harshness should serve as a deterrence for others in the monkey hate community.
“The production and distribution of obscene animal crush videos is a felony,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “In passing the Animal Crushing statute, Congress recognized that cruelty to animals desensitizes participants to the suffering of human beings. This sentence is a warning to all future would-be creators and consumers of animal crushing that they risk federal prosecution and imprisonment for these crimes.”
“Ravelo’s conviction and this sentencing make it clear that those who commit these horrific crimes cannot evade justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans. “Even when offenders use advanced technology and exclusive, invitation-only groups to hide their illegal activities, HSI will relentlessly pursue them and ensure they are held accountable. Our team worked tirelessly to stop Ravelo’s egregious crimes and prevent further harm, and we remain committed to bringing others who commit these offenses to justice.”
HSI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke E. Latta for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Mexican Nationals Charged with Drug Trafficking and Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Mexican nationals Manuel Gomez-Sanchez, 39, and David Alejandro Sandoval Canales, 41, charging both men with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on March 24, 2026, Gomez-Sanchez and Sandoval were driving northbound on U.S. Interstate-5 in Kings County when they were stopped for traffic violations. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 10 pounds of methamphetamine packaged into single-pounds increments, a digital scale, ammunition, two notebooks containing information consistent with narcotic sales and purchases, a loaded Berretta semiautomatic handgun, and an AR-15 rifle.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA) and the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas E. Karp is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Gomez-Sanchez and Sandoval face a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime both defendants face a minimum sentence of five consecutive years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a fine up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Mexican National Sentenced to 6 months in Prison for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Tomas Hernandez-Orzuna, 40 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien with a prior felony conviction, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Tomas Hernandez-Orzuna was sentenced to 6 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 Special Assessment. The supervised release term would go into effect should the Defendant remain in, or return to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings.
According to documents in the case, Hernandez-Orzuna’s criminal history includes felony assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, and misdemeanor malicious destruction of a building.
“Tomas Hernandez-Orzuna is a violent sexual predator who should never have been in this country in the first place,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “This conviction sends a message—illegal aliens with a history of sexual violence will be found, tried, punished, and then ejected from this district and this country. My hope is that they hear this message and stay out. If they do not, they will meet the same justice that was doled out to Hernandez-Orzuna. As ever, my thanks go out to HSI, Merrillville Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service for their exceptional efforts in this case.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Merrillville Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan.
Mexican National Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Mexican man was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and illegal firearm possession, United States Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Hector Riano-Corcuera, 34, a citizen and national of Mexico, living in East Brunswick, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on May 19 before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi on January 8, 2026 to a two-count Information charging him with distribution of controlled substances and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Judge Quraishi imposed the 120-month sentence on May 19, 2026 in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In June 2025, law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Riano-Corcuera after he sold approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine to another person. Before the arrest, Riano-Corcuera ran away from the officers. When they caught him, they found a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm firearm in his bag. When they executed a search warrant at Riano-Corcuera’s home, law enforcement found more cocaine, two semiautomatic rifles, three handguns, and ammunition.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Riano-Corcuera to five years of supervised release following Riano-Corcuera’s term of imprisonment and ordered forfeiture of firearm and ammunition that Riano-Corcuera used to commit the offense.
United States Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, with the investigation leading to the sentence. U.S. Attorney Frazer also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Linda Estremera, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Bradley D. Billhimer, the Asbury Park Police Department, under the direction of Police Director John B. Hayes, the East Brunswick Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Frank LoSacco, the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer, the Manchester Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Antonio Ellis, the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police R. Craig Weber, the Neptune Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Anthony Gualario, the Ocean Gate Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Kuchta, and the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Philip Corbisiero, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Defense counsel: Andrea Aldana, Esq., Federal Public Defenders.
Mexican National Deported 3 Times Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JULIO CESAR FERNANDEZ-SALAZAR, 44, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Fernandez-Salazar has used numerous aliases, including Julio Fernandez, Julio Cesar Salazar, J. Cesar Fernandez-Salazar, Paulo Cesar Salazar, Alejandro Lugo, Jorge Ortigoza, and Julio C. Fernandez-Salazar. Fernandez-Salazar was first convicted of an immigration violation in October 2007 in the District of Arizona, was sentenced to 45 days of imprisonment, and was voluntarily returned to Mexico. In June 2009, after he returned to the U.S. and was convicted in Tempe Municipal Court in Arizona of failure to appear and driving with a suspended license, Fernandez-Salazar was deported to Mexico. In July 2009, U.S. Border Patrol encountered and arrested Fernandez-Salazar near the U.S./Mexico border and he was again deported to Mexico.
Fernandez-Salazar illegally reentered the U.S. and, in April 2017, was convicted in Maricopa County of unlawful imprisonment and solicitation to commit misconduct involving weapons. In April 2018, he was convicted in the U.S. District Court in Arizona of unlawful reentry and was again deported to Mexico.
On November 27, 2024, Fernandez-Salazar was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Colchester and charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and other offenses. He was subsequently released on bond.
On July 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court in New Haven issued a criminal complaint charging Fernandez-Salazar with unlawful reentry. He was located and arrested in Arizona on February 25, 2026, and has been detained since that date.
Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for June 15, at which time Fernandez-Salazar faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter has been investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Lembo.
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.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Jeremy David Red Bear, 33, was sentenced to one year and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Red Bear was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 29, 2025.
Red Bear is required to register as a sex offender, which entails periodic in-person registration. On October 23, 2024, his compliance officer directed Red Bear to verify his registration in person by October 30, 2024. Red Bear did not do so until his arrest on January 27, 2025.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Compliance Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Red Bear was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Manufacturing Companies Agree to Pay $2.5 Million to Resolve Improper Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Erlanger-based manufacturing companies, Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc., agreed to pay $2,500,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act, a federal law that prohibits the submission of false or fraudulent claims.
Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provide emergency financial assistance to small American businesses struggling to pay employees and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Borrowers were required to certify in their applications that they were eligible for the requested loans and that the information they provided was true and accurate. Regulations provided various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of employees.
The settlement resolves allegations that Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc. falsely certified they were eligible to apply for and receive forgiveness of their second-draw PPP loans. The Government contends that, together with their foreign affiliates, Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc. collectively had more than 300 employees and were therefore ineligible for their second-draw PPP loans. Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc. fully cooperated in the investigation and resolution of this matter.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by a private citizen under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file a civil action on behalf of the United States, thereby bringing allegations of fraud to the Government’s attention, and share in any financial recovery. As part of this resolution, the individual who filed the qui tam complaint is eligible to receive a portion of the settlement proceeds. The civil case is captioned United States ex rel. Aidan Forsyth, v. Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc., Case No. 2:25-cv-29-DLB-CJS.
This matter was handled by the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
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Manderson Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison Following Federal Convictions for First Degree Murder and ArsonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler sentenced a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of First Degree Felony Murder, Assault With Intent to Commit Arson, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Arson. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Reno Rondeau, age 52, was sentenced to serve the remainder of his life in federal prison for the convictions and ordered to pay $400 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rondeau was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He was found guilty of the charges following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City on February 5, 2026.
In October 2024, Rondeau intentionally set fire to his brother’s residence near Manderson, South Dakota. When he set the fire, Rondeau knew the home was occupied by his brother and his brother’s friend, Tanya White Butterfly. Sadly, Ms. White Butterfly, a former correctional officer with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, perished in the fire. While Rondeau’s brother, John Rondeau, Sr., ultimately escaped the fire, he sustained burn injuries while trying to save White Butterfly’s life. The residence was completely destroyed in the fire.
“This was a truly horrific crime and we grieve for the victims and their loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Life in prison was the maximum punishment allowable by law in these circumstances, and we are grateful to the Court for this sentence. Although Reno Rondeau will spend the rest of his life in a federal prison cell, it still somehow does not seem nearly long enough.”
"While no prison term can fill the void left in the lives of Ms. White Butterfly's family, we hope they will feel a sense of justice having been served, through this sentence," said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "Reno Rondeau will now spend the rest of his life in federal prison where he rightly belongs. FBI Agents, Analysts, and professional staff work tirelessly to find justice for victims of violent crimes and protect our communities. I offer our deepest sympathies to both victims of this horrendous crime and their families."
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen and Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox handled the prosecution.
Rondeau was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United States as an Aggravated FelonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally reentered the United States from Mexico after having been convicted of an aggravated felony and twice being convicted of illegal reentry as an aggravated felon pled guilty today in federal court in Sioux City.
Jesus Gamboa-Brambila, age 51, from Mexico but residing in Sheldon, Iowa, was convicted of illegal reentry as an aggravated felon.
At the plea hearing, Gamboa-Brambila admitted he illegally reentered the United States without permission after having been previously removed from the United States on August 4, 2018, and after having been convicted of at least one aggravated felony offense. That offense was a conviction in 1991 for Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling in the Superior Court of Los Angeles, California. Gamboa-Brambila had been federally convicted in the Northern District of Iowa in 2004 and 2014 of illegal reentry as an aggravated felon. Most recently, Gamboa-Brambila was found in O’Brien County on March 21, 2026, after he was arrested for domestic abuse assault – first offense, and criminal mischief. While in custody, immigration officials confirmed his identity and that he was a citizen of Mexico and had previously been deported from the United States to Mexico four times.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Gamboa-Brambila remains in custody pending sentencing. He faces a possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 26-CR-04012. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally reentered the United States from Guatemala pled guilty May 21, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
Rogelio Morales-Ramos, age 36, who had been living in Sioux Center, Iowa, was convicted of illegal reentry.
At the plea hearing, Morales-Ramos admitted he illegally reentered the United States without permission after having been previously removed from the United States on June 13, 2019. On April 1, 2026, law enforcement in Sioux County attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Morales-Ramos for speeding. He failed to stop and subsequently fled on foot. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement found an open alcohol bottle in the center console, more alcohol in the car, as well as a fictitious international driver’s license. On April 4, 2026, Morales-Ramos was located at his residence in Sioux Center when he again tried to flee from law enforcement before being apprehended. Additional fictitious documentation was found in the residence. While in custody, officials determined he was a citizen of Guatemala and had previously been deported from the United States to Guatemala three times.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Morales-Ramos remains in custody pending sentencing. He faces a possible sentence of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 26-CR-04014. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Man Charged for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm After Shooting at Grand Prairie Police Officers.Read the Press Release
A previously convicted felon who shot at Grand Prairie Police Department (GPPD) officers during a domestic violence investigation was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
“The Chief in Grand Prairie has been a great friend to this office and to our collective efforts in rooting out violent crime in North Texas. I told him when I met with him months ago that we would stand up for the men and women under his charge. Today I’m keeping my promise. We will always go after those who try to intimidate and harm our great law enforcement officers in North Texas.”
The complaint alleges that on May 2, 2026, GPPD officers were dispatched to investigate a domestic disturbance after a child called to report that things had gotten “physical” while their mom and her boyfriend were arguing. Upon arrival at the scene, GPPD officers encountered Malik Williams sitting in a silver Altima. Upon seeing the mother in a blood-stained shirt, officers told Williams that he was not free to leave. Williams immediately sped off in the Altima and officers pursued with their lights and sirens activated. Eventually, a GPPD officer executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver to force Williams’ car to stop and block the driver’s door so that Williams could not escape.
As the officer got out of his patrol vehicle, Williams shot at him with an AR-15 rifle. A second officer then returned fire. Williams surrendered after he was struck and injured. He was then taken to a hospital. Investigators later learned that Williams was on parole for six prior felonies—five of them involving domestic violence against the same domestic violence victim in this case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Grand Prairie Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Walt Junker is prosecuting the case.
Little Eagle Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Gaylan George Little Eagle, age 42, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Little Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 29, 2025.
On August 25, 2024, Little Eagle had sexual intercourse with an unconscious guest on a couch at a house party in McLaughlin, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Another attendee caught Little Eagle in the act and stabbed him in the back as Little Eagle departed. The victim had no idea what happened to her when she awoke.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Little Eagle was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl, and for using a firearm in furtherance of that crime.
According to court records, Muktar Abshir Aden, 27, sold drugs to law enforcement confidential sources and undercover officers on six occasions in 2024, culminating in an October 2024 search of his residence. Investigators recovered nearly three kilograms of methamphetamine and two kilograms of fentanyl, in addition to at least five firearms, one of which had previously been reported stolen.
Aden faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years and up to life imprisonment; up to a $10 million fine; and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Lewiston Police Department investigated the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
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Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident pleaded guilty Wednesday to exploiting children and possessing hundreds of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, between December 2024 and January 2026, Mohammad Shoaib Taraki sexually exploited two children in his care by producing sexually explicit visual depictions of each child.
From about December 2024 and continuing to about January 2026, Taraki also possessed over 600 images and videos of CSAM depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, infants and toddlers, and minors under the age of 12. Taraki admitted that he sent 53 videos of CSAM using his two Snapchat accounts, and that he received 21 videos and one image of CSAM from other users on Snapchat.
Taraki pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography.
Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon set sentencing for August 26, 2026. The statutory maximum penalty for each count of sexual exploitation of children is 30 years in prison and the statutory maximum penalty for possession of child pornography is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting this case.
This case is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Justin Dale Graves, 43, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Graves’ residence in St. Albans and seized over 3.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, a loaded Hi-Point model C-9 9mm pistol, a loaded Glock model 19 9mm pistol, 37.69 grams of fentanyl, 17.17 grams of cocaine, 2.29 grams of heroin, two digital scales, various rounds of live ammunition, a drug ledger, and $1,190.
As part of his guilty plea, Graves admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it, and possessed the seized firearms to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds. Graves further admitted that he sold approximately 27.21 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $225 in St. Albans on October 29, 2024, the day before the execution of the search warrant.
Graves is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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. 2:26-cr-19.
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Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jason Anthony Barrett, 46, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 27, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Barrett’s South Charleston residence and seized 432.5 grams of methamphetamine, 25.2 grams of cocaine, 11.4 grams of crack, and 13.68 grams of fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Barrett admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them to others.
Barrett further admitted that he sold 55.73 grams of methamphetamine on May 8, 2025, and 2.82 grams of fentanyl and 3.34 grams of crack on May 19, 2025, that both transactions occurred at his residence, and that he sold the controlled substances to a confidential informant.
Barrett is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Charleston Police Department. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting 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. 2:25-cr-189.
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Justice Department Requires Taiheiyo Cement Corporation and CalPortland Company to Divest Assets to Proceed with Acquisition of Ready-Mix Concrete Assets from Vulcan Materials CompanyRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today that it will require Taiheiyo Cement Corporation and its subsidiary CalPortland Company to divest three ready-mix concrete plants along with related assets to address antitrust concerns arising from CalPortland’s proposed $712 million acquisition of ready-mix concrete assets from Vulcan Materials Company.
The civil antitrust lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction. At the same time, the proposed settlement filed alongside the complaint, if approved by the court, will address competitive concerns that the transaction would likely cause higher prices, lower quality, and less favorable terms for buyers of ready-mix concrete.
“Ready-mix concrete is a key input for construction and infrastructure projects across the country that are critical to strengthening the American economy,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Antitrust Division. “The Division’s pursuit of structural remedies in this case provides a signal to the broader market about how to structure transactions that deliver efficiency to the market while protecting competition that benefits consumers.”
As alleged in the complaint, CalPortland and Vulcan are two of the leading suppliers of ready-mix concrete in San Diego County, already a highly concentrated market. Ready-mix concrete is essential to home construction, where it is used in foundations, driveways, patios, and swimming pools; commercial construction, where it is used in offices, hotels, warehouses, multi-family residences, and other commercial businesses; and infrastructure projects like bridges, tunnels, and highways.
The proposed settlement requires CalPortland and Vulcan to divest three ready-mix concrete plants in San Diego County to Holliday Rock Co., Inc., an American company with significant experience in ready-mix concrete and other building materials. Holliday Rock is expected to hire certain key CalPortland and Vulcan employees that today support the divested businesses.
Taiheiyo is a Japanese corporation with its headquarters in Tokyo. Taiheiyo operates in the United States through CalPortland, a corporation with its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada. Taiheiyo reported total revenues of more than $5.5 billion for fiscal year 2025.
Vulcan is a corporation with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2025, Vulcan reported total revenues of approximately $7.9 billion.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Soyoung Choe, Acting Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Jury Convicts Unknown Man for Using Identity of Deceased Child for 25 Years to Obtain Nearly $300,000 in Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – After a three-day trial, a federal jury sitting in Pocatello found a man whose identity remains unknown, guilty of wire fraud, theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft, and related charges, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye presided over the trial, which began on May 18, and concluded with guilty verdicts on May 21.
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.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Carlos Ramon Obregon was born in 1963 in Los Angeles but was tragically killed in Los Angeles in 1977 at the age of 14 after suffering from a gunshot wound to the head during a drive-by shooting. Obregon was laid to rest at a local cemetery in Los Angeles that same year.
Twenty-three years after Obregon’s death, in 2000, the Defendant applied for a replacement social security card using Obregon’s social security number, Obregon’s date of birth, and Obregon’s parents’ names.
At trial, Obregon’s mother testified that Obregon died in 1977. She testified that the Defendant is not her son, and that she does not know the Defendant. The Defendant’s true identity remains unknown.
For more than two decades, the Defendant used Obregon’s name and identity to fraudulently obtain numerous government benefits totaling approximately $283,000. Between 2004 and 2025, the Defendant fraudulently applied for, and received, $177,000 in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits under Obregon’s identity. Similarly, between 2005 and 2025, the Defendant unlawfully obtained approximately $91,000 in Medicaid benefits using Obregon’s identity. From 2009 to 2025, the Defendant unlawfully obtained approximately $12,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits using Obregon’s identity. In 2020 and 2021, the Defendant unlawfully received $3,200 in Economic Impact Payments that were paid to otherwise eligible individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic to stimulate the economy.
In 2012, the Defendant applied for, and obtained, a United States passport under Obregon’s identity, and travelled multiple times on the passport to Mexico. The Defendant submitted Obregon’s birth certificate to obtain the U.S. passport. In 2024, the Defendant sought to renew the passport, which was not issued. The Defendant also obtained an Idaho state identification card using Obregon’s identity in 2002, 2010, and 2014. In 2022, the Defendant obtained a Star Card and submitted Obregon’s birth certificate to the Idaho Transportation Department as proof of his identity and lawful presence in the United States.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the cooperative efforts of the Social Security Administration—Office of Inspector General, U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service, Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Department of Agriculture—Office of Inspector General, and Idaho Transportation Department, which led to the charges.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sean Mazorol and Brittney Campbell are prosecuting the case.
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Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty to Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Ahli Fields (34, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Fields faces a minimum penalty of seven years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement, on June 9, 2020, Fields and a co-conspirator drove together to a grocery store in Ormond Beach to commit an armed robbery. Prior to the robbery, Fields provided the co-conspirator with a revolver. He dropped the co-conspirator off near the store and waited nearby for the co-conspirator to return. Fields’s co-conspirator entered the store, brandished the revolver to two employees, and demanded cash from a safe before leaving with several thousand dollars. The co-conspirator returned to Fields’s vehicle before they drove away together. Fields received a portion of the proceeds for his involvement.
Agents subsequently obtained cellphone records and location data that showed Fields and the co-conspirator traveling from Jacksonville together on the day of the robbery. They were also in communication during the timeframe of the robbery, which placed them in the area during the robbery.
Fields’s co-defendant, Nathaniel Cox, has been charged for his alleged role in this case. Cox has also been charged with additional armed robberies and attempted robberies of commercial business locations throughout the Middle District of Florida. His case is pending trial.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Ormond Beach Police Department, the Titusville Police Department, the Palmetto Police Department, and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Jackson Woman Pleads Guilty to SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ashley Jefferson, 25, unlawfully acquired and used SNAP benefits from December 2022 to September 2023. Jefferson was a Customer Service Representative Manager for Conduent from May 6, 2019 to September 29, 2023. Jefferson used her position to access and obtain $77,844.43 in SNAP benefits belonging to recipients throughout the United States without authorization.
Jefferson also under-reported her income on her own SNAP and TANF applications. Jefferson failed to report her Conduent income to the Mississippi Department of Human Services from February 2, 2022 to August 28, 2023. Thus, Jefferson received an additional $2,115 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to receive.
Jefferson pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and United States Department of Agriculture Inspector General John Walk made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Individuals from Pennsylvania and California Charged with Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David Eliezer Pagan, age 39, of Vallejo, California; Ramon Antonio Pagan-Acosta, age 30, of York, Pennsylvania; and, Florivette Santiago-Rivera, age 29, of York, Pennsylvania, were charged by indictment with firearm offenses.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that between on or about October 26, 2023, and April 9, 2025, the defendants conspired to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, transfer firearms to an out-of-state resident, and make false statements during the purchase of firearms. The Indictment further alleges that Pagan made at least 29 Cash App transfers to Pagan-Acosta and Santiago-Rivera’s Cash App accounts. The Cash App transfers allegedly ranged in amounts from $120 to $2,000 and totaled approximately $19,024. In turn, Pagan-Acosta allegedly purchased approximately 33 firearms from licensed firearms dealers in Pennsylvania counties, including Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, and York. And Santago-Rivera allegedly purchased six firearms. When purchasing the firearms, the indictment alleges that Pagan-Acosta and Santiago-Rivera falsely identified themselves on ATF Forms 4473 as the true buyers or transferees. Moreover, Pagan-Acosta allegedly shipped at least five packages of varying weights from Pennsylvania to Pagan, in California, under the name of a person who did not reside at the same address.
Pagan and Pagan-Acosta are additionally charged in the indictment with conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, conspiracy to traffic firearms, and engaging in business of dealing in firearms without a license. Finally, all defendants are charged in the indictment with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalties for Pagan and Pagan-Acosta are 50 years imprisonment, as well as a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. The maximum penalties for Santiago-Rivera are 15 years’ imprisonment, as well as a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments only contain allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Illinois Man Sentenced for Elder Fraud Conspiracy Involving Gold BarsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Illinois man was sentenced in federal court today to 15½ years in prison without parole for taking part in an elder fraud conspiracy in which victims liquidated savings and retirement accounts to buy gold bars, coins, and cash.
Syed M. Makki, 38, a citizen of India, acted as a courier for the conspiracy, in which he picked up gold bullion and cash from victims throughout the country and delivered it to co-conspirators. United States District Judge Greg Kays also ordered Makki to pay $4,754,000 in restitution and ordered forfeiture of the gold bars, plus a money judgment. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. From 2023 through March 31, 2024, conspirators put malware on people’s computers with a phone number to call. When the victims called, they falsely represented themselves as ‘Microsoft’ employees, banking officials, government employees, and law enforcement officers. The conspirators convinced the victims, who were elderly, that their identities had been compromised, and that their money was not safe in banks.
Having established relationships with the victims, who ranged in age from 61 to 80 years old, the perpetrators had the victims liquidate bank and retirement accounts and buy gold bullion in the form of gold bars or gold coins with the proceeds. When the gold was delivered to the victims’ houses, conspirators directed the victims to provide the gold for ‘safekeeping’ to a co-conspirator, including Makki.
Sometimes conspirators instructed the victims to package the gold and address it to the ‘Department of Justice’ in the name of a specific person, to further the false impression that victims were dealing with trustworthy officials. Makki and others picked up the gold or cash and then transported it across state lines to co-conspirators.
On March 25 and 26, 2024, Makki picked up 16 gold bars, weighing one kilogram apiece and worth more than $1 million, from victims in Littleton, Colo. and Kansas City, Mo.. On March 27, 2024, he transported the gold bars to Ill. to deliver them to co-conspirators. That date, he was arrested in possession of the gold bars by a Morgan County, Ill., Deputy Sheriff and an Illinois State Highway Patrol Sergeant.
Twelve victims identified to date lost over $6 million in the scheme.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Douglas County, Colorado Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois State Highway Patrol, and the Morgan County, Illinois Sheriff’s Department.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
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.
Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Carbondale, Illinois man pleaded guilty today to Second Degree Murder.
According to court documents, and statements made in open court, John S. Andrews, 42, killed a person, referred to in the indictment by the initials C.S., with malice aforethought. Both Andrews and C.S. were inmates in the Yazoo City, Mississippi Federal Correctional Complex. Andrews killed C.S. by beating C.S. and causing blunt force trauma to C.S.’s head. Those injuries resulted in C.S.’s death. It is contrary to federal law to unlawfully kill someone with malice aforethought on federal property, such as a federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi; FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff; and BOP Director William K. Marshall III made the announcement.
“The Federal Bureau of Prisons remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of our institutions for both staff and inmates,” said Bureau of Prisons Director William K. Marshall III. “Acts of violence within our facilities will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable for criminal conduct.”
Andrews pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of any term of years up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Herbert S. Carraway, Charles W. Kirkham, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael FiggsGanter are prosecuting the case.
Homeland Security Task Force Wrapped up the Prosecution of Seven Illegal Aliens from Guatemala that Smuggled Aliens into the United StatesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – The last of seven illegal aliens from Guatemala was sentenced for working together and being paid to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States from Guatemala, Mexico, and other countries in Central or South America, including Asia.
From October 2021 through April 2025, the ringleader, Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez (Cidia), conspired with the defendants and other individuals throughout the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico to conceal, harbor, and transport unlawful aliens in the United States. Those aliens were from various countries in Central America, South America, and Asia.
Court documents show that Cidia used a social media application to coordinate payment to conspirators in Guatemala in exchange for transportation. The aliens were transported from Guatemala and housed in Mexico until they could cross the United States-Mexico border unlawfully. Once inside the United States, drivers and stash house operators in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas would conceal the alien. Cidia admitted that the drivers would collect payment at her direction and transport the aliens to various stash houses in Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
The indictment filed in April 2025 alleged that each alien would pay roughly $5,000 to be smuggled into the United States. All money collected from the aliens being transported was deposited into bank accounts accessible to Cidia and others. She then admitted to using those funds to purchase vehicles and real estate property. Court records show that Cidia forfeited three trucks and two ATVs that were seized during the execution of a search warrant in Oklahoma City on April 24, 2025. Additionally, Cidia is forfeiting all interest and property contained in two separate homes in Oklahoma City and three different properties in Sequoyah County.
The following defendants were sentenced for Conspiracy to Bring and Transport Aliens in the United States Illegally for Private Financial Gain:
- Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez, 40, living in Charlotte, North Carolina, was ordered to serve 33 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Cidia Lima Lopez forfeited her interest in the $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States.
- Ottoniel Castro Argueta, 33, the husband of Cidia, also living in Charlotte, North Carolina, was ordered to serve 51 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Castro Argueta forfeited his interest in the vehicles and properties listed above.
- Veronica Maribel Lima Lopez, 34, living in Oklahoma City, was ordered to serve 12 months and one day imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release. Additionally, Veronica Lima Lopez forfeited her interest in the vehicles listed above and $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States.
- Ariz Obdulio Argueta, 30, living in Clarksville, Arkansas, was arrested in April 2025 and released in March 2026 after being ordered to time served. Obdulio Argueta was additionally ordered to three years of supervised release and forfeited his interest in the $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States.
- Pedro Cucul Gualna, 26, living in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was arrested in April 2025 and released in April 2026 after being ordered to time served. He was additionally ordered to one year of supervised release.
- Carlos Enrique Ramos Caal, 31, living in Flagstaff, Arizona, was arrested in April 2025 and released in March 2026 after being ordered to time served. Ramos Caal was additionally ordered to two years of supervised release
Additionally, Cesar Rodolfo Garcia Argueta, 21, living in Clarksville, Arkansas, was sentenced for Attempt to Bring an Alien to the United States Illegally from Private Financial Gain. He was arrested in April 2025 and released in March 2026 after being ordered to time served. Garcia Argueta was additionally ordered to three years of supervised release and forfeited his interest in the $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States. Charges against Esvin Alexander Rodriguez Luis, 27, living in Oklahoma City, were dismissed in October 2025.
All of the defendants were unlawfully present in the United States. They are expected to be deported after removal proceedings following their sentences.
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 Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Flagstaff, and Charlotte offices comprise of agents and officers from the Tulsa, McAlester and Greensboro, North Carolina Drug Enforcement Administration field offices; the Tulsa and Oklahoma City IRS field offices; the Tulsa and Oklahoma City U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations field offices; and the U.S. Marshals offices in the Northern District of Oklahoma, with the assistance of several state law enforcement agencies. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, with assistance from the Western District of Oklahoma, the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Middle District of North Carolina, and the Western District of Arkansas.
Hobart Man Sentenced to 168 Months in Prison for Controlled Substance and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND –Justin Ring, 37 years old, of Hobart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and possessing a firearm as convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Ring was sentenced to168 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in the fall of 2024, law enforcement identified Ring as a methamphetamine distributor operating in the Michigan City area. On three occasions between October 2024 and December 2024, Ring sold high purity methamphetamine to another person. In January of 2025, Ring was driving his car, and law enforcement performed a traffic stop on him. Ring had 439 grams of methamphetamine, 4 grams of cocaine, and 15 grams of fentanyl inside of the car with him, which he intended to distribute to another person. Ring also had a 9-millimeter pistol hidden in a compartment area behind the radio. On the same day of the traffic stop, law enforcement searched the hotel room where Ring was residing at the time. Officers found additional methamphetamine, another 9-millimenter firearm, and plastic bags and a digital scale used for packaging and weighing drugs. Ring has prior felony convictions for dealing a counterfeit substance and possession of paraphernalia, either of which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
“Justin Ring’s business plan was simple—he sold high-test poisons to users who needed a fix and had the means to buy it,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “As he well knew, there is money to be made on other people’s addictions. But he should have remembered that, in northern Indiana, anyone who deals in the narcotics that feed those addictions will face a swift and devastating justice. He will now have plenty of time to commit the lesson to memory while residing in the Bureau of Prisons. My thanks go out to the DEA, ATF, La Porte County Drug Task Force, Michigan City Police Department, and La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney Sean Fagan’s team at the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for the work they contributed to achieving this conviction and sentence.”
“The primary role of law enforcement is to serve and protect the community. Through the arrest and successful prosecution of Mr. Ring, northern Indiana is most certainly a safer and better community for everyone. In the world of drug law enforcement, little is worse than a violent drug trafficker, which is a perfect description of Mr. Ring. Not only did Mr. Ring deal a plethora of drugs, all leading to addiction and death, but he did so while possessing a firearm. He was a danger and a nuisance to Hoosiers, but he is no longer. The Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with its law enforcement partners, will forever identify, investigate, and stop those who choose to destroy our communities through their evil actions,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke.
“The combination of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and engaging in drug trafficking presents a grave threat to public safety. ATF and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in combining our resources towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting armed drug traffickers,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the DEA North Central Laboratory, La Porte County Drug Task Force, Michigan City Police Department, and the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
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.
Hays woman sentenced to prison for assaultRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Hays woman who participated in the assault of a man who later succumbed to his injuries was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Alta Rose Chandler, 24, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Fort Belknap law enforcement, responding to a 911 call, discovered John Doe bloodied and unconscious on his kitchen floor around 6 a.m. September 30, 2023. At the home were Doe’s adult daughter, Heavenlee Drewann Sears, a relative who had called 911, and Chandler.
Earlier in the evening, Sears and Chandler were driving around Fort Belknap and drinking from a bottle of peppermint schnapps they’d purchased during their night out after consuming an 18-pack of beer. At some point, they arrived at Doe’s house and continued drinking with him in his kitchen. Sears later told investigators she lost her temper and struck Doe repeatedly in the head with the glass schnapps bottle, knocking him to the floor. Once on the ground, Chandler continued to punch Doe in the head, leaving her knuckles bruised.
Once paramedics arrived, Doe was taken to Fort Belknap Indian Health Services where he was unresponsive and breathing erratically. His ears and face were bruised and swollen, his nose was lacerated, his upper lip was lacerated, and he had a human bite mark on his forehead. He also had bite marks on his left wrist and left upper chest.
Doe died two months later on December 11, 2023, due to a traumatic brain injury. On March 11, 2026, Sears was sentenced to 22 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for her role in the assault.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Harlem man pleads guilty to drug chargesRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Harlem man who was discovered with methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and scales at home admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
The defendant, Harold Edwin Main, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute. Main faces five to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine, at least four years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for September 23, 2026. Main was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on April 15, 2024, a Fort Belknap police officer pulled over a 2017 Jeep Cherokee driven by Main with three other passengers, two of them children. The officer discovered inside the vehicle methamphetamine and 42 fentanyl pills. The majority of the pills were found in an Altoids tin tucked under the leg of one of the children.
Following the traffic stop Fort Belknap police executed a search warrant on Main’s house on Fort Belknap. There officers discovered more methamphetamine, some of it bagged, along with two digital scales, packaging material with smaller baggies, small blue and white pills, and other drug paraphernalia. Officers seized a total of 5 grams of methamphetamine.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The BIA Fort Belknap Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Former contractor sent to federal prison for hacking employer’s network in retaliation for terminationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 36-year-old Ohio man has been sentenced for computer fraud after causing more than $860,000 in losses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Maxwell Schultz, Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty Nov. 18, 2025.
Senior U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered him to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about the damage and sophistication of the attack and how Schultz used another employee’s account to mask his intrusion which led to the investigation of that account initially. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rosenthal noted this is not the appropriate reaction to being fired. Schultz was also ordered to pay $862,516.74 in restitution.
On May 14, 2021, Schultz was terminated from his position as a contract employee in his company’s information technology department. Shortly after, he accessed the company’s network by impersonating another contractor to obtain login credentials.
He ran a PowerShell script that reset approximately 2,500 passwords, locking thousands of employees and contractors out of their computers nationwide. Schultz also searched for ways to delete logs, PowerShell window events and cleared multiple system logs.
The attack to the company’s system caused more than $862,000 in losses, including employee downtime, customer-service disruptions and labor needed to restore the network.
As part of his plea, Schultz admitted to conducting the attack because he was upset about being fired.
He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Michael Chu are prosecuting the case.
Former TSA Security Officer Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Unemployment AssistanceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) while employed as a TSA Security Officer full-time.
Ismael Rosado Jr., 40, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to three years’ probation. The government recommended a sentence of four months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. Rosado was ordered to pay $47,526 of restitution. In February 2026, Rosado pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Rosado was charged in December 2025.
Rosado was employed full-time as a TSA Security Officer at Boston Logan International Airport from November 2018 through October 2021. Between May 2020 and September 2021, Rosado submitted an application seeking PUA and weekly certifications claiming he was unemployed and making no income. Based on misrepresentations in the application and weekly certifications, Rosado received $47,526 in unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Former Summit Pointe Elementary School PTA Treasurer Pleads Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former parent teacher association treasurer pleaded guilty to nine counts of bank and wire fraud for stealing more than $100,000 from school PTA.
According to information presented in court, from about Aug. 17, 2020, through July 23, 2025, Holly Mikkelsen, who was then residing in Lee’s Summit, Mo., served as the treasurer of the Summit Pointe Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (SPE PTA) in Kansas City, Mo. The association is a non-profit, school-based volunteer organization. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. While serving as treasurer, Mikkelsen made unauthorized withdrawals from the SPE PTA’s checking accounts at for her personal financial benefit. This included writing and signing SPE PTA checks fraudulently made out to herself and then presenting the checks for payment, withdrawing cash from automated teller machines, and transferring SPE PTA funds to other accounts controlled by Mikkelsen.
Under federal statutes, Mikkelsen is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 24, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kansas City Division.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
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.
Former Pinellas Teacher Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Lee Hughes (46, Pinellas Park) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 20 years in federal prison for attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and receipt and possession of child sex abuse material. Hughes pleaded guilty on January 30, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Hughes communicated with an undercover officer online for months with the understanding the undercover officer had a 9-year-old daughter. Hughes expressed his specific explicit desire to sexually abuse the purported girl. During those conversations, he also sent explicit photos and videos of himself, which he requested be shown to the purported child. On May 1, 2025, Hughes arrived at a predetermined location to engage in sexual activity with the child. He was apprehended by the FBI on scene.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Courtney Derry.
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.
Former High School Teacher Sentenced to 12 Years and 7 Months in Federal Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Jefferson County, KY –A former high school teacher from Jefferson County was sentenced today to more than 12 years in federal prison for three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
Brian Hinds, 52, was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by a 15-year term of supervised release, for distributing child pornography to an undercover agent and possessing child pornography on his cellular phone. Hinds was ordered to pay $26,500 in restitution to the victims of his crimes. A review of Hinds’ phone revealed he possessed 3,326 images and 65 videos of child pornography. During an interview conducted on October 9, 2025, Hinds admitted to both sending and receiving child sexual abuse material through online messaging applications. Hinds was previously employed as a theater teacher at DuPont Manual High School’s Youth Performing Arts School. The investigation did not reveal any Manual students in any of the 3,326 images or the 65 videos of child pornography possessed by Hinds.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Distribution of child pornography is always a heinous crime, but Hinds’ actions are particularly disturbing. Outwardly, Hinds appeared to dedicate his life to educating and helping children but under the cloak of darkness and perceived anonymity he was disgustingly betraying his profession and the public’s trust by distributing disgusting child sexual abuse materials. Hinds has earned every last minute of his 151 month sentence.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Former Daycare Worker Indicted on Child Sexual Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury indicted a former daycare worker in connection with child sexual abuse crimes.
Simone Unadrea Avery, 23, of Baltimore, is charged with one count of sexually exploiting a child and two counts of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to the three-count indictment, on April 23, 2024, Avery, who worked at a daycare center as a substitute, produced two image files depicting a prepubescent minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. She also possessed an iPhone and a hard drive that each contained one or more visual depictions of a prepubescent minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Avery faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child and a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years for possessing CSAM.
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 the United States Attorney’s 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 justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema Sood who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Former Cooper County R-IV School Board Vice-President Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Role in Misuse of School District FundsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Cooper County R-IV School District board member pleaded guilty in federal court today for her role in a wire fraud scheme that defrauded the school district out of $385,000.
Ashley Benny, 41, of Bunceton, Mo., waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps to an information charging her with one count of wire fraud. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Cooper County R-IV is a school district in Bunceton, Mo., with approximately 100 students. While serving as the school board treasurer in 2019, Benny was asked to research alternative investment options for the school district’s unallocated savings. Benny learned through a friend of a supposedly lucrative overseas “standby letter of credit” investment that carried no risk of loss. The school district agreed to Benny’s suggestion and voted to transfer $385,000 to a company called “AgFluent.” Prior to the board vote, Benny failed to disclose that she opened and controlled the AgFluent bank account and hoped to personally profit from the investment.
The investment was a scam, and the school district was defrauded out of $233,000 wired overseas by AgFluent. Contrary to AgFluent’s agreement with the school board, Benny then helped transfer the remaining school district investment funds to pay various other entities and expenses owed by a co-conspirator, including nearly $60,000 for the purchase of two semi-trucks and a $10,000 escrow payment on a failed land purchase deal. The school district never received any return on its $385,000 investment.
By pleading guilty today, Benny admitted that she is directly responsible for $146,518 in loss to Cooper County R-IV. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Benny must pay full restitution to the school district in this amount.
Under federal statute, Benny is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Constance and Lauren Kummerer. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, Kansas City Field Office.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
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.
Former CEO of Non-Profit Nursing Home Sentenced for Misapplication of PropertyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former CEO of the non-profit Edgar P. Benjamin Health Center (EPBHC) was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for charges arising from his improper use of EPBHC funds.
Tony Francis, 60, of Needham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In February 2026, Francis pleaded guilty to two counts of intentional misapplication of money from a program receiving federal funds.
Francis was Administrator, President, and Chief Executive Officer of EPBHC, a non-profit entity that operated Benjamin Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility located in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. In and around 2023 and 2024, EPBHC faced significant financial deficiencies that included a shortage of cash and inability to make payroll. In April 2024 the Massachusetts Superior Court ordered the appointment of a receiver to operate EPBHC.
Francis abused his position of trust with EPBHC by intentionally misapplying funds belonging to EPBHC. Specifically, in 2020, Francis used close to $160,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds, that had been provided to EPBHC by the U.S. Small Business Administration, as a deposit for a personal real estate investment. In addition, in 2023 and 2024, Francis arranged for EPBHC to make payments of principal, interest and late fees on a $100,000 personal loan without having approval of the EPBHC Board of Directors to do so. Finally, at various times between 2022 and 2024, Francis drew on an EPBHC line of credit to transfer funds to his own personal checking account so that he would have sufficient funds account to pay his mortgage and personal credit card bills. In total, Francis misappropriated more than $190,000 from EPBHC, although Francis later returned most of these funds.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely, Chief of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case along with Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General Kevin Lownds, who was sworn in as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Florida Man Charged for Using a Fraudulent Department of Justice Seal While Falsely Representing That He was a Federal ProsecutorRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida resident made his initial appearance in Newark Federal Court yesterday after he was arrested last week in Miami, Florida on charges that he used and affixed a fraudulently made Department of Justice seal on correspondence that he mailed to a luxury car company with corporate offices in New Jersey, while falsely representing that he was a federal prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Paul Richard Johnson, 55, of Miami, Florida, is charged by complaint with fraudulent use of a government seal on a letter dated October 15, 2024, to an automotive manufacturer with corporate offices in New Jersey, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 506(a)(2). The defendant appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Johnson, who had never been employed by the DOJ, began corresponding with an automobile manufacturer around July 2024 to resolve a dispute related to Johnson’s unpaid automobile lease. Due to the length of the delinquency, the automobile company had referred the matter to collections and wrote off Johnson’s debt, which ultimately resulted in Johnson receiving negative credit report entries. In his attempt to get the automobile manufacturer to take steps to repair his credit history, Johnson affixed the DOJ seal to letters he transmitted to the company.
For example, on or about July 11, 2024, Johnson sent a letter to the company’s corporate offices in central Ohio that featured the DOJ seal on the letterhead along with a heading of “US Department of Justice” and a subheading of “National Security Division.” Johnson wrote this letter to complain that the company had “reported me to all three credit bureaus for a loan write-off.” Further, Johnson wrote that “DOJ’s internal security team which monitors my, and other, personal information” had purportedly confirmed that the automobile manufacturer had reported a delinquency that led to the notification of the three credit bureaus. Johnson signed the letter, described his position as “Supervising Attorney, Criminal Division,” and listed a fraudulent DOJ e-mail address, despite never having been employed there.
Johnson sent at least two additional letters to the automobile manufacture’s Ohio headquarters in which he affixed the fraudulent DOJ seal and represented himself to be an “Assistant United States Attorney.”
Then, around October 15, 2024, Johnson wrote a fourth letter, this one directed to the automobile manufacturer’s corporate offices in Bergen County, New Jersey. As with the three earlier letters, Johnson used letterhead featuring the DOJ seal and referred to the “US Department of Justice” under which appeared the subheading “National Security Division.” Johnson rehashed many of the statements and requests from his earlier letters, but added, in the concluding paragraph, that “[i]f there is anything you can do to facilitate an alternative outcome, I can categorically state that your actions will be looked upon both favorably by me, including but not limited to, the 94 other US Attorneys’ offices.” Beneath his signature, Johnson listed his occupation as “Assistant United States Attorney,” and listed the same fake e-mail account purportedly with the DOJ.
The charge of fraudulently using a government seal is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, and special agents of the United States Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Maltese in Newark, with the investigation leading to Johnson’s arrest.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
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Defense counsel:
John Yauch, AFPD, Newark
johnson.complaint.pdfFlorida Businessman Sentenced to Prison for Evading $3.7 Million in TaxesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – A Jacksonville businessman was sentenced today to 22 months in prison for evading millions of dollars in federal income taxes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Phillip Mak, a sales representative, earned more than $10 million during the years 2008 through 2020. Mak owed more than $3.7 million in federal taxes on that income but did not pay them when required to do so. The IRS sent notices to Mak reminding him of his obligation to pay taxes and eventually filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien against his property. Nevertheless, by the end of 2021, Mak still had not paid any federal income tax for the last 13 years.
In fact, Mak took steps to move his assets out of the reach of the IRS. Between 2019 and 2021, Mak transferred $1 million to his domestic partner instead of paying taxes to the IRS. He also transferred ownership of his personal residence to a trust created and controlled by his domestic partner. Finally, he created a corporate entity and deposited his personal income into the corporate entity’s bank account.
“Tax evasion isn’t financial strategy—it’s a deliberate choice with predictable consequences,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Evading your true tax obligation is not a harmless oversight—it’s a serious violation of federal law. IRS Special Agents will follow the money and present the facts in court.”
Mak pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. In addition to the prison sentence, Mak was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $3,751,485 in restitution to the United States.
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory W. Kehoe and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Isaiah Boyd and Michael Jones of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Felon Who Crashed ATV into a Car, Fled Police, Sentenced to 48-Months for Possession of ‘Ghost Gun’Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Sidney Rogers, 35, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 48 months in prison in connection with the unlawful possession of a ghost gun while fleeing police on an all-terrain vehicle through a busy Southeast Washington neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rogers pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 48-month prison term, Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Rogers to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 57-month prison term.
According to court papers, on June 4, 2025, at about 5:56 p.m., a Metropolitan Police Department officer observed Rogers operating a black and neon yellow ATV through the intersection of Morris Road SE and Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE in violation of traffic laws. When the officer approached, Rogers accelerated the ATV forward, crashing it into a parked vehicle before fleeing on foot with a firearm in his waistband.
Image of Rogers running from officers with a firearm in his waistband.
During the foot chase, Rogers dropped a loaded magazine containing 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, which scattered across the street near a bus stop at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and W Street SE. Officers apprehended Rogers and recovered a loaded ghost gun, a privately manufactured firearm bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement.
Police recovered this “ghost gun” from Rogers.
Rogers was on supervised release for a prior firearms offense at the time of the incident. In 2022, he was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of unlawful possession of a firearm after a similar flight from police in which he drove a vehicle into a cement barrier and discarded a firearm out the window.
Rogers dropped a loaded magazine containing 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, which scattered across the street near a bus stop.
This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative.
Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
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