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Thursday 30 April 2026
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller Highlights a Dozen Recent Child Exploitation Prosecutions Across the DistrictRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – Today, United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller highlights a dozen recent prosecutions in the Western District of Louisiana involving serious child exploitation crimes. These cases span the entire District and include charges such as interstate transportation of minors to engage in illegal sexual activity, coercion and enticement of minors to produce child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”), and the receipt, production, and distribution of CSAM as well.
“The defendants charged in these cases span not only our 42-parish District but also the spectrum of predators that require our vigilance as law enforcement and as parents: people in positions of trust like teachers and National Guardsmen, recidivist sex offenders, people using AI to generate child pornography using our children’s faces or preying upon children they meet on video game platforms, and people paying others to abuse children at their instruction or transporting them across state lines to abuse them. Our message in prosecuting these cases and highlighting them here is simple: we as Louisianans, as parents, and as families have had enough of this awful abuse and are committed to seeing those who perpetrate these acts brought to justice.” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “We look forward to seeing justice done in these significant cases and to continuing our work alongside our federal and state partners to make our Louisiana community safe for our children.”
"Children should be able to trust adults and when that trust is shattered by predators, the FBI and our partner law enforcement agencies will work with prosecutors to see that justice is done," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "The FBI is committed to doing whatever it can to protect our most vulnerable victims."
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans remains steadfast in our mission to protect children from predators in our communities and online,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of HSI New Orleans. “The scale and complexity of these crimes have increased, making teamwork essential. Partnerships with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and other Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force partners are critical to identifying, investigating, and bringing offenders to justice, and ensuring survivors receive the support they need to heal.”
The following cases highlight ongoing efforts to protect children and hold offenders accountable in the Western District:
In the Lafayette area:
Christie Elizabeth Dunbar Oster, 38 of Broussard, was indicted for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. Oster, an eighth-grade teacher who was named Teacher of the Year in 2025, is charged with having maintained a sexual relationship with a minor victim during most of 2024. As alleged, Oster formed a sexual relationship with one of her eighth-grade students by meeting with her outside of school hours and using their cell phone communications not only to engage in sexual discussions but also to instruct the minor victim to do things like deleting text messages to avoid detection by the minor victim’s parents or others. Oster faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison if convicted. This matter is being investigated by FBI and is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. The case number is No. 26-CR-00158.
- Luxe Arlen Thomas, 19 of Scott, was indicted for producing child pornography, interstate transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and other CSAM-related crimes. Thomas, who was a U.S. National Guardsman, engaged in a monthslong pattern of abuse against a minor girl whom he understood to have intellectual disabilities and to be in the foster system, with Thomas traveling to another state to engage in sexually explicit conduct with her and then transporting her back to Louisiana to do the same, producing and possessing images of sexually explicit conduct as he did so. Thomas faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison if convicted. This matter is being investigated by HSI and Louisiana Bureau of Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon with assistance from Legal Assistant Tanya Broussard. The case number is 26-CR-00164.
Rickey James Hebert, 66 of Abbeville, was indicted for conspiracy to produce child pornography, attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and receipt of child pornography. As alleged, Hebert was paying a Filipina woman to create live videos of minor children being sexually abused and otherwise engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Hebert faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison. The case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon. The case number is No. 6:26-CR-00151.
Scott Nicholas Martel, 36 of Basile, was indicted for receiving and possessing CSAM. As alleged, Martel falsely portrayed himself online as having access to minors by using online names such as “BaileyMomof2daughters” to secure CSAM from other users in internet-based chat rooms. A search of Martel’s phone in February 2026 revealed a trove of CSAM he received in this way, as well as AI-generated pornographic materials involving Martel’s use of pictures available online of minor children living in his area. Martel faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The FBI is investigating this case, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott Cassidy with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon. The case number is 26-CR-00095.
Michael Roy Williams, 61 of Opelousas, was indicted in two separate cases, one charging him for possessing an explosive device and the other for possessing CSAM. These cases arose from St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives receiving information indicating that Williams possessed child pornography. After they obtained a search warrant for Williams’ smartphone, detectives then learned that Williams possessed an explosive device, which they recovered from his residence after securing another search warrant. Williams faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge. These matters are being investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. The case numbers are 26-CR-00152 and 26-CR-00153.
Donald W. Bergeron, 42 of Broussard, was indicted on Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. As alleged, Bergeron, who has a prior conviction for incest with a child, used social media messaging applications and cloud-based file storage services to send, receive, and save images of CSAM. Bergeron faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The case is being investigated by the FBI and Louisiana Bureau of Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Ashley Hammons with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon. The case number is 26-CR-00154.
Cody Allen Bell, 34 of Carencro, was indicted for receiving and possessing CSAM. The investigation stems from a tip provided to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by an encrypted messaged application, with the tip advising that someone attempted to upload CSAM to the messaging application. NCMEC forwarded the tip to the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations for further investigation, and detectives identified Bell as the individual utilizing the messaging application. Detectives executed search warrants on Bell’s account as well as a cloud-based storage account that he utilized and his cellular telephone and located CSAM in all locations. Bell faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison if convicted. This matter is being investigated by the FBI and Louisiana Bureau of Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren S. Sarver with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. The case number is 26-CR-00160.
In the Lake Charles area:
Victor Gomes, 25 of Texas, was charged with attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity after traveling from Texas to meet a minor girl at a Lake Charles-area park to transport her back to Texas to engage in sexual activity. As it would turn out, Gomes had been communicating with an undercover FBI agent, and after he was caught in an FBI sting operation trying to meet a minor girl in Lake Charles, planning to transport her back to Texas. If convicted, Gomes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. This matter is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Sarver with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. The case number is 26-CR-00108.
Oscar Rodriguez, 38 of Lake Charles, involved Rodriguez attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl at a Lake Charles-area hotel to engage in sexual activity only to find that it was an undercover operation. Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life if convicted. This matter is being investigated by FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon II with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle. The case number is 26-CR-00103.
In the Shreveport area:
Darryl Hawkins, 43 of Shreveport, was indicted for attempting to coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. As alleged, Hawkins communicated via social media platform with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 14-year-old girl, ultimately traveling to a local park in the Shreveport area to meet the purported minor after engaging in sexual discussions online. Hawkins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison if convicted. This matter is being investigated by the FBI and Shreveport Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart. The case number is 26-CR-00133.
Joshua Bixby, 22 of Shreveport, was indicted for producing child pornography. The indictment stems from a complaint by a minor female alleging that Bixby solicited her to produce and send sexually explicit images via a social media platform, with an FBI investigation identifying additional victims, ages 12-16 whom Bixby solicited on the same platform. If convicted, Bixby faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison. This matter is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell with the assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart. The case number is 26-CR-00134.
In the Monroe area:
Ronnie Carlton Rogers, 41 of California, was indicted for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Rogers, who was previously convicted of child sexual abuse, is alleged to have targeted a minor girl under the age of 12 in northeast Louisiana through a video game, meeting the girl and engaging in sexual discussions while instructing her to expose herself to him. Rogers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison if convicted. The case is being investigated by the Monroe, Louisiana and San Francisco, California offices of the FBI, West Monroe Police Department, Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office and the California State Probation Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot. The case number is 26-CR-00149.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
These investigations are a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under each case’s respective case number.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
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U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred Announces Indictment in Operation “Porterhouse Parlay” Alleging an Illegal Gambling Conspiracy, Extortion, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – On April 16, 2026, a federal grand jury in Hammond, Indiana, returned a 28-count indictment charging James L. Gerodemos a/k/a “Jimmy the Greek,” Dean Gialamos a/k/a “Dean Gem,” Chris L. Gerodemos, and nineteen others with running an illegal gambling conspiracy that used extortionate means to collect gambling debts and laundered the money, among other crimes. According to the indictment, the organization operated in northwest Indiana and elsewhere from on or about January 2021 to on or about April of 2026. The indictment was unsealed on April 29, 2026, following the execution of arrest and search warrants accompanying the indictment.
“Through this indictment, the grand jury has alleged that the defendants built an illegal gambling organization that operated both online and in person at two northern Indiana businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “According to the indictment, members of the organization used threats and intimidation to collect on gambling debts. My office bears the burden of proving that the defendants are guilty of these charges, which I am confident we will do. In the meantime, I want to make two points. First, every defendant named in this indictment is entitled to a fair trial by a jury of their peers and is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. And second, like all investigations, this one is continuing. My office will investigate any additional crimes revealed by the evidence and any additional subjects who might have participated in the alleged criminal activity. If you believe that you are a victim of the alleged organization, or if you have any information relevant to it, you are encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
“Illegal gambling operations often fuel broader criminal activity and exploit our communities for profit,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI, in partnership with our law enforcement colleagues, is committed to dismantling these criminal networks and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.”
“Today marks the culmination of a lengthy, complex and collaborative investigation,” said Indiana Gaming Commission Law Enforcement Superintendent Brock Pilgrim. “The indictments, arrest and search warrants all send a clear message: those who attempt to corrupt the integrity of licensed gaming operations in Indiana will be held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Indiana Gaming Commission, with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistance U.S. Attorneys Philip Benson and Kevin Wolff.
Two Men Who Attacked Multiple U.S. Victims Using ALPHV BlackCat Ransomware Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Two cybersecurity professionals were sentenced today to four years each in prison for their role in a conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce through extortion in connection with ransomware attacks occurring in 2023.
Ryan Goldberg, 40, of Georgia, and Kevin Martin, 36, of Texas, were sentenced. According to court documents, they and another co-conspirator, Angelo Martino, 41, of Land O’Lakes, successfully deployed the ransomware known as ALPHV BlackCat between April 2023 and December 2023 against multiple victims located throughout the U.S. The three men agreed to pay the ALPHV BlackCat administrators a 20% share of any ransoms received in exchange for access to the ransomware and ALPHV BlackCat’s extortion platform. All three men worked in the cybersecurity industry — meaning that they had special skills and experience in securing computer systems against harm, including the type of harm they themselves were committing against the victims in this case. After successfully extorting one victim for approximately $1.2 million in Bitcoin, the men split their 80% share of this ransom three ways and laundered the funds through various means.
According to court documents, ALPHV BlackCat targeted the computer networks of more than 1,000 victims around the world. The group used a ransomware-as-a-service model in which developers were responsible for creating and updating ransomware and for maintaining the illicit internet infrastructure. Affiliates were responsible for identifying and attacking high-value victim institutions with the ransomware. After a victim paid, developers and affiliates shared the ransom.
“The court’s sentences today reflect the damage that these defendants inflicted during their cyberattacks on victim companies throughout the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “They harmed important firms who were providing medical and engineering services. They played hardball with them, going so far as to cause the leak of patient data from a doctor’s office victim. They also split the ransoms they were paid, and laundered the illicit proceeds. These were supposed to be cybersecurity specialists who did good and helped businesses and people. Instead, they used their high-level cyber skills to feed their greed. Ransomware attackers like this should be punished and removed from society to serve their lawful sentences so they cannot harm others.”
“These defendants exploited specialized cybersecurity knowledge not to protect victims, but to extort them,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They used ransomware to lock down critical systems, steal sensitive data, and pressure American businesses into paying to regain access to their own information. Today’s sentence of four years reflects not only the scale of this scheme, but the real harm inflicted on businesses, employees, and victims whose private information was weaponized for profit. In this District, cybercriminals will face federal prison and forfeit the proceeds of their crimes.”
“Today’s sentencings show that ransomware criminals can operate anywhere, including right here in the United States, and that the FBI is actively working to track them down and dismantle their networks — wherever they exist,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Goldberg and Martin leveraged their technical skills and cyber security knowledge to extort millions from victims across the U.S., but the FBI’s global reach ensured that they ultimately faced justice. When Goldberg sought to flee abroad and escape prosecution, the FBI tracked him through 10 countries, demonstrating the lengths we will go to hold cyber criminals accountable and protect victims. The FBI thanks our DOJ partners for their help securing today’s outcome.”
Today’s announcement follows the Justice Department’s prior actions in December 2023 to disrupt ALPHV BlackCat ransomware, in which the FBI developed a decryption tool that allowed FBI field offices across the country and law enforcement partners around the world to offer hundreds of victims the capability of restoring their systems, saving victims approximately $99 million in ransom payments. At that time, the FBI also seized several websites operated by ALPHV BlackCat.
In December 2025, Goldberg and Martin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion. In April 2026, co-conspirator Angelo Martino also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion. In addition to conspiring with Goldberg and Martin to attack victims with ransomware, Martino also abused his role as a negotiator for victims of ransomware by sharing confidential victim information with threat actors to increase the value of the ransom paid. His sentencing is set for July 9.
The FBI Miami Field Office is leading the investigation, with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Haggerty and Quinshawna Landon for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Christen Gallagher and Jorge Gonzalez of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Significant assistance in this investigation was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Morris for the Eastern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W.A. Peach for the Middle District of Georgia. Additional assistance was provided by the Policía de Investigación of the Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México.
Private sector organizations can report any suspicious activities and threats to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), visiting www.tips.fbi.gov or contacting their local FBI field office.
If you are a victim of ransomware, contact your local FBI field office or file a report at ic3.gov. If you have information about ALPHV BlackCat, their affiliates or activities, you may be eligible for a reward through the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards program or Rewards for Justice program. Information can be submitted through the following Tor-based tip line (Tor browser required):
he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20443.
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Two Americans Who Attacked Multiple U.S. Victims Using ALPHV BlackCat Ransomware Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Two American cybersecurity professionals were sentenced today to four years each in prison for their role in a conspiracy to obstruct, delay, or affect commerce through extortion in connection with ransomware attacks occurring in 2023.
Ryan Goldberg, 40, of Georgia, and Kevin Martin, 36, of Texas, were sentenced. According to court documents, they and another co-conspirator, Angelo Martino, 41, of Florida, successfully deployed the ransomware known as ALPHV BlackCat between April 2023 and December 2023 against multiple victims located throughout the United States. The three men agreed to pay the ALPHV BlackCat administrators a 20% share of any ransoms received in exchange for access to the ransomware and ALPHV BlackCat’s extortion platform. All three men worked in the cybersecurity industry — meaning that they had special skills and experience in securing computer systems against harm, including the type of harm they themselves were committing against the victims in this case. After successfully extorting one victim for approximately $1.2 million in Bitcoin, the men split their 80% share of this ransom three ways and laundered the funds through various means.
According to court documents, ALPHV BlackCat targeted the computer networks of more than 1,000 victims around the world. The group used a ransomware-as-a-service model in which developers were responsible for creating and updating ransomware and for maintaining the illicit internet infrastructure. Affiliates were responsible for identifying and attacking high-value victim institutions with the ransomware. After a victim paid, developers and affiliates shared the ransom.
“The court’s sentences today reflect the damage that these defendants inflicted during their cyberattacks on victim companies throughout the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “They harmed important firms who were providing medical and engineering services. They played hardball with them, going so far as to cause the leak of patient data from a doctor’s office victim. They also split the ransoms they were paid, and laundered the illicit proceeds. These were supposed to be cybersecurity specialists who did good and helped businesses and people. Instead, they used their high-level cyber skills to feed their greed. Ransomware attackers like this should be punished and removed from society to serve their lawful sentences so they cannot harm others.”
“These defendants exploited specialized cybersecurity knowledge not to protect victims, but to extort them,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They used ransomware to lock down critical systems, steal sensitive data, and pressure American businesses into paying to regain access to their own information. Today’s sentence of four years reflects not only the scale of this scheme, but the real harm inflicted on businesses, employees, and victims whose private information was weaponized for profit. In this District, cybercriminals will face federal prison and forfeit the proceeds of their crimes.”
“Today’s sentencings show that ransomware criminals can operate anywhere, including right here in the United States, and that the FBI is actively working to track them down and dismantle their networks — wherever they exist,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Goldberg and Martin leveraged their technical skills and cyber security knowledge to extort millions from victims across the U.S., but the FBI’s global reach ensured that they ultimately faced justice. When Goldberg sought to flee abroad and escape prosecution, the FBI tracked him through 10 countries, demonstrating the lengths we will go to hold cyber criminals accountable and protect victims. The FBI thanks our DOJ partners for their help securing today’s outcome.”
Today’s announcement follows the Justice Department’s prior actions in December 2023 to disrupt ALPHV BlackCat ransomware, in which the FBI developed a decryption tool that allowed FBI field offices across the country and law enforcement partners around the world to offer hundreds of victims the capability of restoring their systems, saving victims approximately $99 million in ransom payments. At that time, the FBI also seized several websites operated by ALPHV BlackCat.
In December 2025, Goldberg and Martin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion. In April 2026, co-conspirator Angelo Martino also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion. In addition to conspiring with Goldberg and Martin to attack victims with ransomware, Martino also abused his role as a negotiator for victims of ransomware by sharing confidential victim information with threat actors to increase the value of the ransom paid. His sentencing is set for July 9.
The FBI Miami Field Office is leading the investigation, with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service.
Trial Attorneys Christen Gallagher and Jorge Gonzalez of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Haggerty and Quinshawna Landon for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Significant assistance in this investigation was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Morris for the Eastern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W.A. Peach for the Middle District of Georgia. Additional assistance was provided by the Policía de Investigación of the Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México.
Private sector organizations can report any suspicious activities and threats to the FBI’s National
Threat Operations Center by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), visiting www.tips.fbi.gov or contacting their local FBI field office.
If you are a victim of ransomware, contact your local FBI field office or file a report at ic3.gov. If you have information about ALPHV BlackCat, their affiliates or activities, you may be eligible for a reward through the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards program or Rewards for Justice program. Information can be submitted through the following Tor-based tip line (Tor browser required): he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion.
Transnational Email Fraud Scheme Nets Prison Terms for Four DefendantsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Four defendants have been sentenced for their roles in a transnational business email compromise (BEC) scheme that stole more than $38 million from victims across the U.S. and abroad.
Kelvin Owusu Nkwantabisa, also known as “Kevin Brown” and “KO,” 33, of Georgia, and John Jouissance, 33, of Ohio, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, while Leshea Moore, also known as “Deborah Green,” 29, of Georgia, and Justice Amoh, “Samuel Andrews,” 37, of New York, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to court records, beginning at least in August 2022, the defendants were members of a transnational criminal organization (TCO) that carried out a sophisticated BEC fraud targeting individuals and businesses. The group gained unauthorized access to victims’ email accounts, monitored communications involving legitimate financial transactions, and then impersonated trusted business partners to redirect payments to bank accounts controlled by the TCO. The stolen funds were then moved through multiple accounts to conceal their origin and avoid detection.
“This was organized international fraud carried out through deception, stolen trust, and financial manipulation,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “These defendants infiltrated legitimate business communications, diverted millions of dollars, and laundered the proceeds through shell companies and fraudulent bank accounts to conceal their crimes. Business email compromise schemes can devastate companies and individuals in a matter of hours. Today’s sentences send a clear message: if you use our financial system to steal and launder money, we will find you, follow the money, and hold you accountable.”
Nkwantabisa led the U.S.-based operation. He coordinated with overseas co-conspirators, directed the creation of bank accounts across multiple states to receive victim funds, tracked incoming payments, and instructed others on how to launder the proceeds. Nkwantabisa was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Moore established shell companies, opened bank accounts using fictitious identities, and conducted financial transactions to launder fraud proceeds. She also managed others involved in creating false identities and communicated with financial institutions about victim payments. Moore was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.
Amoh opened bank accounts using fictitious identities to receive victim funds and carried out financial transactions at Nkwantabisa’s direction to launder proceeds. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
Jouissance established shell companies, opened bank accounts to receive victim funds, and conducted financial transactions to launder the proceeds. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI Fort Lauderdale investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Quin Landon prosecuted the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon handled asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60061.
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Three Plead Guilty in Kidnapping, Violent Armed Robbery of Two Female Victims Lured for a ‘Babysitting’ JobRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Cierra Charity Lee, 20 and Kayvon Edwards, 21, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the Oct. 20, 2025, kidnapping and armed robbery of two female victims in Southeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Lee and Edwards pleaded guilty to kidnapping and armed robbery before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Co-defendant Robynn Danielle Bynum, 18, of Fort Washington, Maryland, pleaded guilty on Apr. 16, 2026, to the same counts. Judge Cooper scheduled Lee’s sentencing for August 4; Edwards for September 10. A date for Bynum’s sentencing is pending.
“They lured these women with the promise of a babysitting job, but instead subjected them to a terrifying kidnapping and armed robbery involving a knife and duct tape,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This was a calculated effort, directed by Edwards from jail, to intimidate and silence a witness connected to a rape case. Such conduct shows a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of others. Our office will continue to hold accountable those who resort to violence and coercion to obstruct justice.”
According to court documents, a U.S. Park Police officer responded on Oct. 20, 2025, at about 11:45 p.m. for a report of a stabbing in the 3200 block of Minnesota Avenue SE. The officer found two victims. One had been stabbed several times in her back. The second had knife wounds on her right wrist.
Investigators determined that the victims were attacked earlier that night at a residence near Suitland Parkway and Stanton Road SE. The victims went to the residence for a “babysitting job” when two individuals escorted them into a basement and attacked them. Bynum stabbed Victim 1 multiple times in the back and injured Victim 2 during the assault.
Lee and Bynum then forced both victims into a bathroom where they bound them with duct tape. While the victims were restrained, Lee questioned Victim 1 about a rape case pending against Edwards in Prince George's County. Lee and Bynum then searched the victims' pockets and stole their phones and car keys.
Lee and Bynum then led the victims to a car and told them they were being driven to Pennsylvania. A flat tire scuttled those plans. The assailants abandoned the car and the victims, who were able to escape and seek help.
MPD officers later found the victims' car parked in the 3200 block of M Street SE. Officers noted blood stains and pieces of duct tape on the back seat and observed that the front passenger tire was flat.
Investigators determined that Edwards, who was awaiting trial for rape at the time and held in Prince George's County, orchestrated the attack through a series of monitored phone calls. On those calls, Edwards asked Bynum about her driving abilities, warned her about getting caught by the police, and pleaded with Bynum to not let him down. Additionally, Edwards directed Lee to restrain Victim 1, ensure she could not flee, and silence her as a witness. Lee assured Edwards that Victim 1 would drop the charges and not appear in court.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter.
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Three Foreign Nationals Sentenced in April for Illegally Reentering the United States After DeportationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that three foreign nationals convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were sentenced this month.
Demer Ramirez-Diaz, aka Demer Neftali Ramirez Diaz, 38, a Guatemalan national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release for illegal reentry. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.
Ramirez-Diaz has been removed from the U.S. four times prior: in June 2009, February 2012, and July 2012, following arrests by the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona and New Mexico, and in February 2022, after having served a six-month sentence for a previous illegal reentry conviction in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
In September of last year, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) officer who recognized Ramirez-Diaz from his previous arrest and prosecution in this district saw the defendant walking down the street in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The officer approached, identified himself, and took Ramirez-Diaz into custody without incident.
Ramirez-Diaz was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in October and pleaded guilty in November.
Ubdulio Santiago-Morales, 32, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone to time served, approximately three months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.
Santiago-Morales first entered the country unlawfully in August 2011, was quickly encountered by immigration officers, and voluntarily returned to Mexico the following day. He was subsequently removed from the U.S. twice: in July 2012 and in January 2015.
In April of last year, the defendant was arrested by local police in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and charged with DUI and related violations. He was released on bond in that case and informed that he must return to court for his preliminary hearing on July 11, 2025. The defendant failed to appear on July 11 and remained a fugitive for six months.
ICE took Santiago-Morales into custody in January of this year on a federal criminal complaint and warrant. He was charged by information with illegal reentry in February and pleaded guilty in March, waiving prosecution by indictment.
Efrain Villegas Lopez, 35, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Catherine Henry to time served, approximately three months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.
Lopez had previously been removed from the U.S. in June 2012, following his arrest by the U.S. Border Patrol in Texas.
In January of this year, ICE became aware that the defendant had been arrested by the Lower Providence Township Police Department. Lopez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint that month, charged by information with illegal reentry in February, and pleaded guilty in April, waiving prosecution by indictment.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Andrew Jenemann, Nancy Potts, and Robert Schopf.
Thorsby, Alabama Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sara J. Jones announced the sentencing of a Thorsby, Alabama man for producing child sexual abuse material.
On April 30, 2026, a federal judge ordered 36-year-old Matthew Louis Hourany to serve 360 months in prison. The judge also ordered that Hourany remain on supervised release for life following his prison term and to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Children deserve to grow up safe from harm and protecting them remains one of law enforcement’s highest priorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “This sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s conduct and emphasizes our commitment to stopping predators who target children. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure offenders are held fully accountable.”
“The FBI remains unwavering in our mission to identify, locate, and apprehend those who exploit our most vulnerable, our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “We will work tirelessly to keep our community’s children safe and to bring justice to these victims.”
According to Hourany’s plea agreement and other court records, in September 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip about the upload of child sexual abuse materials to a cloud storage drive. NCMEC provided the tip to the FBI.
Agents reviewed files on the drive and found numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse material. The investigation ultimately revealed Hourany as the owner of the account. Agents arrested Hourany on March 23, 2025.
Hourany pleaded guilty to production of child pornography on January 8, 2026. During his plea hearing, Hourany specifically admitted to enticing or coercing minors to produce child sexual abuse videos or images on at least six separate occasions with different victims each time.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz, John J. Geer III, and Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The Justice Department Files Complaint Challenging New Jersey Laws Providing In-State Tuition and Financial Assistance for Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
Today, the United States announced that it is challenging New Jersey laws providing in-state tuition and financial assistance for illegal aliens. These laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates, scholarships, or subsidies, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal immigrants with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law.
“Imagine being denied the opportunity of education in your own country,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, the state of New Jersey is doing just that.”
“This is a simple matter of federal law: in New Jersey and nationwide, colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”
The Department of Justice’s complaint is filed in the District of New Jersey, against the State of New Jersey, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, the Acting Secretary of Higher Education Margo Chaly, the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund, and the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education seeking to enjoin the State from enforcing the unconstitutional New Jersey laws and bring them into compliance with federal requirements.
In the complaint, the United States seeks to enjoin enforcement of New Jersey laws that requires colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates for all aliens who maintain New Jersey residency, regardless of whether those aliens are lawfully present in the United States. Additionally, the complaint seeks to enjoin New Jersey from enforcing state laws which afford financial assistance and scholarships to illegal aliens.
This is the 9th lawsuit in a series of actions the department has filed to fulfill President Trump’s commitment to ensure that illegal aliens are not obtaining taxpayer benefits or preferential treatment. These efforts have already delivered wins for the American people, as three similar lawsuits in Texas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma have resulted favorable orders permanently enjoining and declaring unconstitutional analogous laws that gave reduced tuition to illegal aliens. Lawsuits against other states that similarly put illegal aliens ahead of U.S. citizens are pending across the country in Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, Nebraska, and California.
The Fraud Division Launches West Coast Strike Force to Target Health Care Fraud Schemes Across Arizona, Nevada, and Northern CaliforniaRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division) today announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California. The Health Care Strike Force model has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the federal enforcement arsenal, responsible nationally for the prosecution of over 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion.
“Driven by data showing a significant and accelerating increase in health care fraud across all three districts, the Strike Force builds on a foundation of recent landmark prosecutions — including the successful prosecution of digital health technology executives in the Northern District of California and the dismantling of Medicaid, sober home, and wound care fraud schemes in the District of Arizona,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division. “The Fraud Division is committed to bringing that same relentless, data-driven prosecutorial force to bear across every corner of this region, making unmistakably clear that no scheme is too sophisticated, no network too large or small, and no fraudster too distant to escape federal accountability.”
“Silicon Valley has become ground zero for technology-driven health care fraud schemes that seek to cheat taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare,” said Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. “The Health Care Strike Force announced today is a powerful partnership that brings together the resources and expertise needed to detect and dismantle even the most sophisticated fraud schemes.”
“Defrauding the government steals from Americans who need help the most. In Arizona alone, federal law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office have disrupted fraud schemes worth over a billion dollars of taxpayer money,” said Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Our mission as part of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force is to ensure Americans who need critical services are not used as pawns to make bad actors rich. Through excellent investigations, trial work, and seizures of ill-gotten gains, the District of Arizona will continue safeguarding those services.”
“The dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys and professional staff in the District of Nevada are working in coordination with our partners at the FBI, HHS, DEA and other federal, state, and local agencies to unravel fraud schemes and to hold criminals fully accountable,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “With each indictment and conviction, we are achieving justice for victims who were taken advantage of by these fraudsters. We are proud to be part of the newly created West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force and we are committed to bringing our skill and expertise to the Justice Department’s fight against fraud.”
This expansion brings enhanced federal enforcement resources to one of the nation’s most significant health care technology hubs in the Northern District of California and what data analytics show is the migration of fraud schemes to Arizona and Nevada. Late last year in San Francisco, the CEO and Chief Medical Officer of a digital technology company were convicted for an over $100 million scheme to commit health care fraud and distribute over Adderall over the internet, resulting in addiction and patient harm. These convictions followed other recent high-impact prosecutions that were jointly prosecuted by the Strike Force and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices prosecutors:
- United States v. Gehrke and King (DAZ): Two wound graft company owners pled guilty and were sentenced to 15.5 and 14 years in prison for a $1.2 billion wound graft fraud scheme targeting Medicare and Medicaid. The Government seized $126 million in assets, including cash, luxury vehicles, and gold bars, related to this case.
- United States v. Ali (DAZ): The owner of a Pakistan-based medical billing company was indicted in June 2025 for an alleged scheme involving the exploitation of substance abuse patients at over 41 substance abuse treatment clinics that fraudulently billed Arizona Medicaid over $650 million. The defendant is a Pakistani national and fugitive from justice.
- United States v. Schena (NDCA): The president of a Silicon Valley-based medical technology company was convicted at trial and sentenced to eight years in prison in the first criminal securities fraud case related to COVID-19 charged by the Justice Department, the first criminal COVID-19 health care fraud case brought to trial, and a significant prosecution delineating the scope of the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act. United States v. Schena, No. 23-2989 (9th Cir. 2025).
As part of the expansion, Health Care Fraud Acting Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Assistant Chief Gary Winters will coordinate closely with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to establish the Strike Force. The Strike Force will work in partnership with the HHS Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other law enforcement partners, reflecting the Department’s determination that the need for coordinated, aggressive action in this region is urgent and undeniable. Health care fraud in these districts imposes an enormous and growing burden on American taxpayers and undermines the integrity of Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. The victims are real: elderly patients denied access to legitimate care, disabled individuals whose benefits are stolen by criminal networks, and low-income families who rely on these programs for basic medical services. The Strike Force’s west coast expansion makes clear that the Fraud Division will use every available legal tool to identify, investigate, and prosecute these offenses. Members of the public are encouraged to report wrongdoing in the health care industry, and the new Department-wide corporate enforcement policy for criminal matters creates incentives for companies to voluntarily disclose when misconduct occurs.
“DEA’s involvement in the West Coast Fraud Task Force demonstrates our continued commitment to work across government to safeguard the health and safety of our communities. Our message to health care professionals who profit their patients’ pain is clear: if you use your license to harm the public, you will be held accountable,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz, DEA Diversion Control Division. “Whether you are a medical professional who diverts controlled substances, like Adderall or Xanax, or a criminal enterprise that defrauds federal health care programs and private insurers, DEA will continue its pursuit of those who exploit our health care system and poison our communities.”
“The FBI is proud of the work we do to combat health care fraud, and we are eager to continue investigating those who illegally abuse our systems,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This Strike Force allows for further joint actions that will prevent more criminals from lining their pockets at the expense of the American taxpayer. We look forward to playing our part in this whole-of-government approach to combating these schemes.”
“Strike Force partnerships between HHS-OIG, DOJ, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, and the DEA are a proven force multiplier that utilizes a coordinated and data-driven approach to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting fraud,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Recent enforcement actions across Arizona, Nevada, and California have revealed emerging threats targeting billions of taxpayer dollars from federal health care programs. Many of these schemes are driven by sham operations designed to appear legitimate while exploiting patients and inflating claims through increasingly sophisticated methods. The expansion of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force ensures that HHS‑OIG can apply our investigative tools and coordinated enforcement capabilities to identify these threats earlier and act with strategic precision.”
The establishment of the West Coast Strike Force builds on the recent expansion of the Strike Force program to the District of Massachusetts and a record-setting year for health care enforcement in 2025—leading the largest ever National Health Care Fraud Takedown, charging more than $15 billion in alleged loss, forfeiting and returning to the public fisc more than $560 million, and bringing four corporate matters. A third-party consulting group analyzed return on investment and showed that the average return on investment (FY21-24) from funding the Health Care Fraud Section by year 10 is $106.76 per $1 spent, and over $4.5 billion in projected savings.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Fraud Division Launches West Coast Strike Force to Target Health Care Fraud Schemes Across Arizona, Nevada, and Northern CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division) today announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California. The Health Care Strike Force model has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the federal enforcement arsenal, responsible nationally for the prosecution of over 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion.
“Silicon Valley has become ground zero for technology-driven health care fraud schemes that seek to cheat taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare,” said Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. “The Health Care Strike Force announced today is a powerful partnership that brings together the resources and expertise needed to detect and dismantle even the most sophisticated fraud schemes.”
“Driven by data showing a significant and accelerating increase in health care fraud across all three districts, the Strike Force builds on a foundation of recent landmark prosecutions — including the successful prosecution of digital health technology executives in the Northern District of California and the dismantling of Medicaid, sober home, and wound care fraud schemes in the District of Arizona,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division. “The Fraud Division is committed to bringing that same relentless, data-driven prosecutorial force to bear across every corner of this region, making unmistakably clear that no scheme is too sophisticated, no network too large or small, and no fraudster too distant to escape federal accountability.”
“Defrauding the government steals from Americans who need help the most. In Arizona alone, federal law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office have disrupted fraud schemes worth over a billion dollars of taxpayer money,” said Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Our mission as part of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force is to ensure Americans who need critical services are not used as pawns to make bad actors rich. Through excellent investigations, trial work, and seizures of ill-gotten gains, the District of Arizona will continue safeguarding those services.”
“The dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys and professional staff in the District of Nevada are working in coordination with our partners at the FBI, HHS, DEA and other federal, state, and local agencies to unravel fraud schemes and to hold criminals fully accountable,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “With each indictment and conviction, we are achieving justice for victims who were taken advantage of by these fraudsters. We are proud to be part of the newly created West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force and we are committed to bringing our skill and expertise to the Justice Department’s fight against fraud.”
This expansion brings enhanced federal enforcement resources to one of the nation’s most significant health care technology hubs in the Northern District of California and what data analytics show is the migration of fraud schemes to Arizona and Nevada. Late last year in San Francisco, the CEO and Chief Medical Officer of a digital technology company were convicted for an over $100 million scheme to commit health care fraud and distribute over Adderall over the internet, resulting in addiction and patient harm. These convictions followed other recent high-impact prosecutions that were jointly prosecuted by the Strike Force and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices prosecutors:
- United States v. Gehrke and King (DAZ): Two wound graft company owners pled guilty and were sentenced to 15.5 and 14 years in prison for a $1.2 billion wound graft fraud scheme targeting Medicare and Medicaid. The Government seized $126 million in assets, including cash, luxury vehicles, and gold bars, related to this case.
- United States v. Ali (DAZ): The owner of a Pakistan-based medical billing company was indicted in June 2025 for an alleged scheme involving the exploitation of substance abuse patients at over 41 substance abuse treatment clinics that fraudulently billed Arizona Medicaid over $650 million. The defendant is a Pakistani national and fugitive from justice.
- United States v. Schena (NDCA): The president of a Silicon Valley-based medical technology company was convicted at trial and sentenced to eight years in prison in the first criminal securities fraud case related to COVID-19 charged by the Justice Department, the first criminal COVID-19 health care fraud case brought to trial, and a significant prosecution delineating the scope of the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act. United States v. Schena, No. 23-2989 (9th Cir. 2025).
As part of the expansion, Health Care Fraud Acting Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Assistant Chief Gary Winters will coordinate closely with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to establish the Strike Force. The Strike Force will work in partnership with the HHS Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other law enforcement partners, reflecting the Department’s determination that the need for coordinated, aggressive action in this region is urgent and undeniable. Health care fraud in these districts imposes an enormous and growing burden on American taxpayers and undermines the integrity of Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. The victims are real: elderly patients denied access to legitimate care, disabled individuals whose benefits are stolen by criminal networks, and low-income families who rely on these programs for basic medical services. The Strike Force’s west coast expansion makes clear that the Fraud Division will use every available legal tool to identify, investigate, and prosecute these offenses. Members of the public are encouraged to report wrongdoing in the health care industry, and the new Department-wide corporate enforcement policy for criminal matters creates incentives for companies to voluntarily disclose when misconduct occurs.
“DEA’s involvement in the West Coast Fraud Task Force demonstrates our continued commitment to work across government to safeguard the health and safety of our communities. Our message to health care professionals who profit their patients’ pain is clear: if you use your license to harm the public, you will be held accountable,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz, DEA Diversion Control Division. “Whether you are a medical professional who diverts controlled substances, like Adderall or Xanax, or a criminal enterprise that defrauds federal health care programs and private insurers, DEA will continue its pursuit of those who exploit our health care system and poison our communities.”
“The FBI is proud of the work we do to combat health care fraud, and we are eager to continue investigating those who illegally abuse our systems,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This Strike Force allows for further joint actions that will prevent more criminals from lining their pockets at the expense of the American taxpayer. We look forward to playing our part in this whole-of-government approach to combating these schemes.”
“Strike Force partnerships between HHS-OIG, DOJ, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, and the DEA are a proven force multiplier that utilizes a coordinated and data-driven approach to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting fraud,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “Recent enforcement actions across Arizona, Nevada, and California have revealed emerging threats targeting billions of taxpayer dollars from federal health care programs. Many of these schemes are driven by sham operations designed to appear legitimate while exploiting patients and inflating claims through increasingly sophisticated methods. The expansion of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force ensures that HHS OIG can apply our investigative tools and coordinated enforcement capabilities to identify these threats earlier and act with strategic precision.”
The establishment of the West Coast Strike Force builds on the recent expansion of the Strike Force program to the District of Massachusetts and a record-setting year for health care enforcement in 2025—leading the largest ever National Health Care Fraud Takedown, charging more than $15 billion in alleged loss, forfeiting and returning to the public fisc more than $560 million, and bringing four corporate matters. A third-party consulting group analyzed return on investment and showed that the average return on investment (FY21-24) from funding the Health Care Fraud Section by year 10 is $106.76 per $1 spent, and over $4.5 billion in projected savings.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Dismantling of an Interstate Drug Trafficking Operation Sends Two to PrisonRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men were sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that stretched from Philadelphia to Detroit to Morgantown, West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Rex Jenkins, 34, of Southfield, Michigan, was sentenced to 124 months in federal prison after a jury convicted him in March 2025 of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine trafficking. James Elli, 43, of Point Marion, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 79 months. Jenkins and Elli were part of a larger drug trafficking operation based in Philadelphia that was selling methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Morgantown. Drug amounts between the two men totaled more than 43 grams of fentanyl, 126 grams of methamphetamine, and more than four grams of cocaine.
The 24 defendants involved in the drug trafficking conspiracy were convicted for their roles. Twenty, including Jenkins and Elli, have been sentenced to a combined 183 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was investigated by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. The task force consists of members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia State Police; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; the Morgantown Police Department; the WVU Police Department; the Granville Police Department; and the Star City Police Department.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Task Force Publishes Report on Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias and Restoring Religious LibertyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON—Today, the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias published a report detailing how the Biden Administration’s prosecutions, policies, and practices demonstrated anti-Christian bias throughout the federal government, in accordance with Executive Order 14202. The Acting Attorney General serves as Chair of the Task Force, and the Justice Department coordinated this significant interagency effort.
“No American should live in fear that the federal government will punish them for their faith,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Chair of the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. “As our report lays out, the Biden Administration’s actions devastated the lives of many Christian Americans. That devastation ended with President Trump. The Department of Justice will continue to expose bad actors who targeted Christians and work tirelessly to restore religious liberty for all Americans of faith.”
The 200-page report collects the detailed findings of the seventeen federal agencies on the Task Force, as well as other agencies who also uncovered religious discrimination. The report examines how the Biden Administration pushed its radical policy agenda, even when its actions infringed on Christian beliefs, free exercise, and on matters of deep personal importance to nearly every American: life, family, marriage, self-identity, education, medical decisions, and more. To support these findings, the Report contains over 1100 footnotes and over 300 pages of exhibits.
In creating its portions of the report, the Justice Department conducted a thorough review of internal discussions, case files, and prosecutorial decisions, some of which are detailed in the recent report published by the Weaponization Working Group about the FACE Act. The Justice Department met with and received information from over 100 stakeholders and victims in its review of the impacts of the Biden Administration’s anti-Christian bias.
The report touches on a broad array of federal policies and programs, including conscience rights, the Johnson Amendment, fines against Christian universities, girls’ sports, vaccine mandates, and the exclusion of Christians from public programs, among many others. The Task Force also highlights related findings at the state and local level and in the private sector. Among the many findings, the Justice Department discovered:
- President Biden pushed policies to eliminate statutory protections for religious Americans that interfered with his policy goals. Although he failed to change federal law, under his direction, federal agencies used policy and regulatory means to accomplish the same goals.
- The Biden Justice Department aggressively opposed concerned parents through the Garland School Board Memo and diligently attempted to use its enforcement authority against parents who defended their children’s safety at local school board meetings.
- The Biden Justice Department immediately mandated the adoption of gender ideology throughout the federal government far beyond the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County.
- The day after Biden was sworn into office, career employees at the Justice Department urged for the reversal of a Trump Justice Department memo on Bostock that directed the department to “respect its employees’ right to express traditional views" regarding marriage and gender identity.
- Career employees called the memo “an affront to the dignity of our transgender employees,” and called for the memo to be rescinded under Biden's Executive Order on gender ideology.
- The Biden Justice Department also considered requests for religious exemptions related to gender ideology as harmful conduct to be regulated and consistently pushed its incorrect Bostock interpretation in amicus briefs, even though federal courts repeatedly rejected it.
- The Biden Justice Department advised White House and senior leadership in a phone call that federal employees’ religious objections to the Covid vaccines were “insincere” or “not religious.”
- The Civil Rights Division under President Biden sidelined Christians in favor of preferred constituencies. It published materials suggesting that Christians could not be victims of religious discrimination, only other faith groups.
While this report details the egregious actions of the Biden Administration against Christians, it also demonstrates how the Trump Administration is restoring the rights of Christians—and all Americans—to practice their faith without fear of retribution.
- The Trump Justice Department is protecting parental rights by rescinding the Garland Memo and taking legal actions to protect students, including a lawsuit to stop the Loudoun County School District from unlawfully forcing gender ideology on students who have sincerely held religious beliefs on marriage and human sexuality.
- The Trump Justice Department has restored law and order by rescinding the Biden Bostock memo. As a result, all people of faith may once again freely exercise their faith.
- The Trump Justice Department is protecting religious liberty in the federal workplace by issuing an Office of Legal Counsel opinion affirming religious liberty protections for federal employees, which include accommodation requests.
- The Trump Justice Department is ending the weaponization of the FACE Act by protecting houses of worship from violence and threats under the FACE Act.
- The Trump Justice Department is protecting religious congregations from discrimination under RLUIPA.
- The Civil Rights Division has filed statements of interest supporting faith communities in RLUIPA cases across the country.
The Department of Justice is committed to religious liberty for all and will continue to support President Trump’s mandate to eradicate anti-Christian bias throughout the federal government.
Tallahassee Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida - Theodore Roosevelt Robinson, Jr., 32, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to five years in federal prison following his guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This is yet another successful prosecution under the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America initiative, which has marshalled the full might of the Department to keep our communities safe from the perpetrators of violent crime. Felons, like this defendant, are legally barred from possessing firearms, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute any and all violations of our laws to deliver the safe streets the citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve.”
A federal investigation revealed that on or about September 16, 2025, the defendant sold a 12-gauge shotgun during a law enforcement operation. At the time of the firearm sale, the defendant was a felon and could not legally possess a firearm, based upon his prior convictions on state charges of possession of methamphetamines, drug trafficking, and attempted armed robbery.
The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Sussex County Man Pleads Guilty to Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Sussex County man pleaded guilty yesterday to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika accepted the plea.
According to court documents, Miles Clark, 22, transported a 12-year-old girl from a church near her residence in Pennsylvania to his residence in Delaware where the two had sexual intercourse. Approximately one week before, Clark and the minor victim met on Snapchat. Their conversations quickly turned sexual with Clark describing in detail the various sex acts he wanted to engage in with the minor. Clark also sent the minor videos of himself masturbating. Clark knew the victim was a minor.
Clark pleaded guilty to transportation of a minor and faces a maximum of life imprisonment with a mandatory-minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for August 27, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul made the announcement.
FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case with the assistance of Delaware State Police Troop 4. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-cr-3-MN.
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South Bend Man Sentenced to 94 Months in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Paul R. McDowell, Jr., 29 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorized access of a computer, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
McDowell was sentenced to 94 months of prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $66,000 in restitution.
“The Defendant was a hacker-for-hire and would hijack the online social media accounts of several young women in exchange for money from third parties. Evidence showed that he illegally obtained and used victims’ personally identifiable information to gain access to their online accounts and to download private photographs and videos. He then exploited those victims by sharing the private photos and videos with other people online. The Defendant boldly attempted to hack into at least 37 different victims’ accounts! Thanks to the vigilant efforts of our partners at the FBI as a part of Project Safe Childhood, the law enforcement team executed a search warrant at this predator’s house and recovered his computer and cell phone. The Defendant ‘s devices and computer accounts contained more than 3,000 images and 3,000 videos of child sexual abuse material. Our nation’s children are safer with him behind bars,” said US Attorney Adam Mildred.
“Paul McDowell was a hacker for hire, who violated the privacy of dozens of unsuspecting young women, stole their personally identifiable information, and subjected them to sustained harassment, shame, and even blackmail, all so he could boost his confidence and make a few bucks,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “To make matters worse, the FBI found tens of thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material on his devices. This guy didn’t just break into computer systems, he broke young people’s lives, violated their privacy, and today’s sentence will keep him locked up for a good long time so he can’t harm anyone else.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston and Indianapolis Field Offices. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah T Jones and Luke N. Reilander.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Sharon Felon Pleads Guilty to Cocaine and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to committing firearm and drug trafficking crimes, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Bruce Lindsey, 47, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on March 20, 2025, Lindsey possessed with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, as well as a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime and after previously having been convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for September 1, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1.5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Mercer County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Lindsey.
Second Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Selling Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl Resulting in Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement in selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a person.
According to court documents, on September 2, 2023, Izaiah Flood and his co-defendant Davon Johnson sold pills, which they represented as ecstasy, to an individual on the Las Vegas Strip. The victim immediately ingested one pill. Within two hours, the victim lost consciousness; within six hours after the drug sale, the victim suffered cardiac arrest. The victim was later declared brain dead and pronounced deceased.
“Fentanyl is a scourge to our communities and in this instance, a person’s life was lost,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The defendant disregarded and endangered the victim by selling counterfeit pills that were made with fentanyl. Working with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to prosecuting drug dealers who are plaguing our communities with dangerous and deadly drugs like fentanyl and ensuring justice is served for the victim and their loved ones.”
Flood pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He was sentenced today to 156 months in prison. The government recommended a 188-month term of imprisonment.
Co-defendant Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced Monday to 156 months in prison. The government recommended a 210-month term of imprisonment.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brenna Bush prosecuted the cases.
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Roswell Man Sentenced for Making Bomb Threats to Government OfficesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Roswell man was sentenced to 21 months in prison for a series of violent threats to government offices across several states.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on February 14, 2025, Jeffrey Ramon Diaz, 44, made threatening calls to several governmental agencies and offices, including a United States Senator’s office, the New Mexico Second Judicial District Court in Bernalillo County, the Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, and the Governor of Pennsylvania’s office.
During the calls, Diaz identified himself by name and made explicit threats of violence and bombings. He told a congressional staffer he was threatening to bomb the Senator’s office. He left a voicemail for a New Mexico state court judge threatening to blow up the judge’s building and harm the judge. He also spoke directly to an employee at the Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, declaring a bomb threat and threatening to set the building on fire. Additionally, Diaz called the Pennsylvania Governor’s office claiming he had placed a bomb in the Governor’s home and threatened to kill those inside.
Diaz pled guilty to four counts of malicious threats to injure by fire or explosive. Upon his release from prison, Diaz will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and A.J. Gibes, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Las Cruces Police Department and Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher McNair is prosecuting the case.
Puerto Rico Man Pleads Guilty to Clean Water Act Violation in Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research ReserveRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Puerto Rico Man was charged and pleaded guilty today for violating the Clean Water Act for construction and filling activities on a property in the las Mareas area of Salinas, Puerto Rico.
According to court documents, Orlando Rivera-Alejandro placed fill material in Mar Negro, within the waters of the United States, and within the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR). Between January 2020 and March 2022, Rivera-Alejandro built multiple structures on top of the filled area, including a gazebo and a concrete boat ramp. He also constructed a dock and numerous concrete-filled PVC poles within Mar Negro, discharging concrete directly into Mar Negro during the construction. Rivera-Alejandro did not seek or receive approval to fill the area or to engage in construction within Mar Negro. At no point was Rivera-Alejandro permitted to do so.
As a part of the plea agreement, Rivera-Alejandro has agreed to pay a $50,000 fine and remove all structures and alterations to the property and to engage in remediation of the environmental harm, damage, and changes that altered the property from its natural state. Rivera-Alejandro is scheduled to be sentenced on September 1, 2026.
The photographs below depict the property in May 2019 and in March 2022, demonstrating the illegal construction.
The JBNERR was designated as a reserve in 1981 to protect the wetlands and study the biological and societal impacts of estuarine habitat, as well as provide recreation and educational opportunities to local communities. The reserve is home to the endangered brown pelican, peregrine falcon, hawksbill turtle and West Indian manatee. Congress enacted the Clean Water Act in 1972 to protect and maintain the integrity of the waters of the United States. It prohibits the discharge of any pollutant and fill material into waters of the United States except when a permit is obtained from the United States.
This case is part of an ongoing investigation into the destruction of wetlands in Puerto Rico. Previously convicted individuals include Luis Enrique Rodríguez-Sánchez, sentenced in June 2024; Awildo Jiménez-Mercado, Rafael Carballo-Diaz, and Nathaniel Hernandez-Claudio, sentenced in September 2024; and Pedro Luis Bones-Torres, sentenced in March 2025.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI which participate in the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Crimes Task Force.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico.
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Previously convicted felon sentenced to federal prison for possessing firearmRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Robert Isham, 41, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 51 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2024, in Hamilton, Isham possessed a loaded semi-automatic handgun.
Officers observed Isham walk into the middle of a street, causing disturbance to the traffic flow. When they approached Isham, he began to flee on foot. During the pursuit, Isham reached into his pocket, pulled out a handgun and threw it. He was tased by officers and taken into custody without further incident.
Isham’s criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including for aggravated robbery and domestic violence. Isham previously served 10 years in state prison. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Police Interim Chief Adam Hennie announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this 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.
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Previously convicted felon returning to prison for latest firearms possession offenseRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Dumfries man was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on July 21, 2025, Jonathan Daniel Smith discharged a handgun while he was engaged in a fight with another individual at a gas station in Woodbridge. On July 24, 2025, Prince William County Police officers recognized Smith from footage of the incident and apprehended him after a pursuit. During the chase, Smith attempted to hide his handgun, which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition in an extended magazine, under a parked car. Witnesses directed law enforcement to the handgun's location. A comparative analysis confirmed that a shell casing recovered from the shooting had been fired from Smith’s handgun.
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of VirginiaIn 2023, Smith was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, Smith cannot lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from the Prince William County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Walutes Jr. prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-324.
Previously convicted armed robber found guilty againRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Richmond man yesterday on charges of armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 12, 2025, Monte Decarlos Winston, 56, committed an armed robbery of a Valero gas station in Henrico County. On Feb. 18, 2025, Winston committed a second armed robbery at The Beauty Zone, a beauty supply company, in Chesterfield County.
In 2003, Winston was convicted of the same crimes, as well as possession of cocaine, and was sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison. In 2016 and twice in 2018, Winston was found guilty of violating the terms of his supervised release.
Winston faces a mandatory minimum 50 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on July 30. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI’s Richmond Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Henrico Police Department and the Chesterfield Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Miller and Janet Jin Ah Lee are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-117.
Pharmacy Technician Pleads Guilty to $5.6M Health Care Fraud Scheme and Illegal Distribution of OxycodoneRead the Press Release
A Michigan man pleaded guilty yesterday to defrauding health care benefit programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, by billing for prescription medications that he never dispensed and providing unlawful prescriptions of oxycodone to drug traffickers in exchange for cash.
According to court documents, Ali Naserdean, 32, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, was a pharmacy technician at three metro-Detroit pharmacies. From 2019 through 2022, Naserdean and his co-conspirator submitted false and fraudulent claims to health care benefit programs for prescription drugs that were not ordered by a doctor and never dispensed to the patient. Naserdean and his co-conspirator used forged prescriptions from doctors to hide their scheme, when the patient had never seen the listed doctor and the medication had never actually been prescribed. Naserdean and his co-conspirator caused over $5.6 million of loss to Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Additionally, from 2019 through 2022, Naserdean provided unlawful prescriptions of oxycodone to drug traffickers in exchange for cash, without regard to whether the prescriptions were actually prescribed by physicians or dispensed in good faith.
Naserdean pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and possession with intent to illegally distribute oxycodone. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 1 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.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan; Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI Detroit Field Office, HHS-OIG, and the City of Dearborn Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Jeffrey A. Crapko of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Kuebler for the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of eight 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.
Payment Processing Broker Pleads Guilty to Fraudulent Bank DebitsRead the Press Release
An Oregon man who worked as a payment processing broker pleaded guilty today to wire fraud for his role in using fraudulent, unauthorized debits to steal money from victims’ bank accounts.
According to court documents, Jeremy Todd Briley, 46, of Oregon, worked as a payment processing broker. Acting on behalf of clients (merchants), Briley identified payment processors in the United States for his clients to use in processing charges. Briley’s two largest clients were sham companies that falsely represented that they provided online marketing services to businesses. Instead, they stole from victims by fraudulently debiting their bank accounts, causing over $14 million in unauthorized debits and attempted debits.
From February 2017 to December 2023, Briley obtained and maintained payment processing relationships for those sham companies so that they could process fraudulent debits, knowing that the sham companies were fraudulently debiting bank accounts. Despite repeatedly receiving information that the debits processed on behalf of the sham companies were not authorized by the victims, Briley concealed the fraudulent activities of the sham companies in various ways, and he arranged for a payment processor to deceive banks by manipulating return rates on the fraudulent debits.
Briley pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20 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.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group; and Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Chicago Region made the announcement.
The USPIS and FDIC-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Daniel Zytnick of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff for the Southern District of Florida is handling forfeiture.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
PA Lifesharing, LCC Agrees to Pay $1.2M to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG, PA —The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that PA Lifesharing, LLC (PAL) has agreed to pay $1,211,095.53 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment to Medicaid by allowing unqualified Direct Support Professionals to render 1:1 services in violation of the applicable Medicaid rules and regulations.
According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024, PAL submitted claims to Medicaid for services rendered by Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who PAL knew were not properly cleared and/or trained and thus unqualified to render 1:1 services.
“Ensuring patients are being treated by properly trained individuals is of the upmost importance, said Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)." “We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate allegations of improper billings and uphold the integrity of the Medicaid program.”
Once PAL was aware of the investigation, they cooperated with the United States including self-identifying some of the improper claims and correcting the issues that led to the false claims.
This settlement resolved a sealed lawsuit originally filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permits a private party to file a complaint on behalf of the United States and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. This qui tam is captioned United States ex rel. Jane Doe v. PA Lifesharing, LLC, Carolyn Bennett Carson, and Rajkumar Wale, No. 1:24-CV-1053 (M.D.P.A.). The whistleblower will receive $242,219 of the settlement amount.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Haken and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania with assistance from the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Owners of Local Real Estate Investment Company Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—The owners of a local real estate investment company were sentenced to federal prison today for their role in a $17 million fraud scheme.
Robert D. Christensen, 56, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release and Anthony M. Matic, 56, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, from January 2019 through June 2023, as part of their scheme, Christensen and Matic told individual investors that they would use their investments to purchase and renovate undervalued residential real estate properties. Christensen and Matic also claimed they would rent the properties to generate income and refinance the properties to extract any increased value from the renovations. The pair further misled investors into believing they would be repaid their full principal investment along with interest as high as 8 to 15 percent and a large lump sum payout, all within periods as short as 30 to 90 days.
Christensen and Matic used new investments to repay earlier investors to keep their business afloat. When they were unable to raise enough money from new investors, Christensen and Matic began submitting loan applications with false financial information to different commercial lenders and based on their misrepresentations, received millions of dollars in loans.
In total, Christensen and Matic’s two schemes defrauded individual investors out of more than $10 million and commercial lenders out of more than $7 million.
This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Trisotto.
Oshkosh Resident Receives 15 years in Federal Prison for Kwik Trip RobberyRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 29, 2026, Lorenzo Wood, Jr. (age 59) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), and possession of a firearm as a felon by an armed career criminal, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(e)(1).
According to court documents, just after midnight on October 13, 2025, Wood Jr. walked into the Kwik Trip located off Highway 41 on Jackson Street in Oshkosh with a revolver in his hand. He pointed the firearm at the clerk and demanded money from the cash register. The clerk gave Wood Jr. $170. Wood Jr. left in a silver SUV. Law enforcement tracked the travel of his vehicle and quickly identified Wood Jr. by his vehicle and his distinct walking gait which was seen on surveillance cameras inside the store. A search of his residence led law enforcement to recover the revolver used in the robbery.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Byron B. Conway noted the serious nature of the offense and profound impact the robbery had on the victim. He further noted that Wood Jr. has spent much of his adult life in and out of state prison for similar convenience store robberies. Judge Conway ultimately imposed a sentence of 180 months’ incarceration while noting that the defendant’s age and poor health means he will spend much of the remainder of his life in federal prison. Following his release from prison, he will spend 5 years on supervised release.
“The message is clear,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “Violent criminals who terrorize our community with firearms will be caught and locked up in prison. I am proud of our law enforcement and prosecution team that works hard day and night to keep our communities safe.”
“I want to express my appreciation to the deputies that solved this case,” said Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz. “It was not only Kwik Trip video but also the use of Flock that brought this incident to a close. As always, we appreciate collaborating with our federal partners.”
This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
# # #For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Enouch Jairus Kermue, 37, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 20, 2024, Kermue sold approximately 212 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant while in a vehicle parked outside a Parkersburg business.
Kermue is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2026 and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. Born in Liberia, Kermue is subject to a pending final removal order and will be transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) administrative custody upon the conclusion of his criminal case.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbus, Ohio, Police Department.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston 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. 2:26-cr-17.
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North Dakota FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office Recover $4.8 Million Dollars Scammed from Dickinson Public SchoolsRead the Press Release
Bismarck – On April 30, 2026, U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced, pursuant to a civil warrant, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, working in conjunction with the FBI, seized $4,856,578.51 in money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools during a business email compromise scheme.
As stated in the filings in civil case number 1:26-cv-008, the FBI and United States Attorney’s Office traced money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools to a Citibank account. Thereafter, on March 27, 2026, the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint and obtained a federal Warrant of Arrest in Rem to seize the money located in this account. On April 22, 2026, pursuant to this seizure warrant, Citibank produced a check to the United States Marshals Service in the amount of $4,856,578.5, which represented money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools.
The United States Attorney’s Office is pursuing this ongoing civil forfeiture lawsuit with the goal of obtaining a final judgment for the seized $4,856,578.51 and then, pursuant to 28 C.F.R. Part 9, will request that the Department of Justice Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) remit the forfeited funds back to Dickinson Public Schools.
The timeline for final adjudication of these proceedings is unspecified; however, the United States Attorney’s Office is working diligently to pursue the speedy resolution of this matter.
This seizure occurred as part of civil case number 1:26-cv-088, which is still an ongoing case. The seized funds will be held by the United States Marshals Service until the District Court enters a final order of disposition.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is pursuing this ongoing civil forfeiture lawsuit with the ultimate goal of remitting the seized $4,856,578.51 to victims in accordance with Department of Justice policy,” said US Attorney Nick Chase.
“The FBI remains committed to protecting Americans from scams of all kinds, including business email compromises,” said Special Agent In Charge Christopher Dotson. “We are proud of the work with our law enforcement partners and will continue to investigate and prosecute unscrupulous scam artists. We will also continue to educate the public on ways to avoid becoming a victim."
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J. O’Konek and Matthew D. Greenley, white collar fraud prosecutors located in Bismarck and Fargo, are familiar with how these schemes operate and caution North Dakotans to pause before responding to emails. They offer the following advice, “Scammers are successful by relying on time and distance. They attempt to make you act quickly by presenting false or frightening consequences and they can effectively impersonate others by the distance of the internet. When you receive an email asking you: 1) to change how you are making payments; 2) to alter wiring instructions; or 3) for information about your company, stop and contact the party with whom you are doing business. A quick phone call to a supervisor, client, or banker can verify whether you received a legitimate email. Do not allow scammers to use time and distance to make you act quickly. Instead, take a moment to review the email, look for irregularities, and check that the email address is from the person with whom you previously worked. If an email looks suspicious, it most likely is.”
To learn more about how to spot an attempted scam, and what to do if you fall victim, visit the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center webpage and review their public service announcements, including the December 19, 2025 alert “Senior U.S. Officials Continue to be Impersonated in Malicious Messaging Campaign.”
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Dickinson Police Department. Law enforcement is continuing to investigate the criminal elements of this offense. As a result, no additional comments will be made on the ongoing criminal investigation. AUSA Jonathan J. O’Konek and AUSA Matthew D. Greenley are representing the United States in this case.
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New York Man Sentenced to Prison for Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dominic Love Davis, 52, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for failure to update his registration as a sex offender, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse of a 7-year-old in Kanawha County, West Virginia, Circuit Court on January 7, 2013, and required to register as a sex offender for life. Following his release from incarceration on April 30, 2021, Davis failed to complete his required initial sex offender registration. After a state arrest warrant was issued, law enforcement located Davis and determined that he had been living in Brooklyn, New York. Davis also failed to register as a sex offender in that state. From on or about May 20, 2021, through on or about April 15, 2025, Davis failed to update his registration including when he traveled from West Virginia to New York.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the West Virginia State Police, and the Kanawha County Probation Office.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
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-72.
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New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty in D.C. to Coercing and Enticing a MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joseph Gallina, 34, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to coercing and enticing a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Gallina pleaded guilty before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg who scheduled sentencing for Sept. 24, 2026. The charge of coercion and enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life.
“This case is a stark reminder of the grave harm caused by those who exploit and manipulate minors for their own purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The defendant’s actions were calculated, predatory, and deeply damaging. My office remains committed to holding offenders accountable and to protecting vulnerable children from abuse, coercion, and exploitation in all forms.”
According to court documents, in July 2024 Gallina communicated with a minor child using text messages and several different mobile applications.
During these conversations, Gallina instructed the minor child to produce sexually explicit videos and photos of herself. The minor child produced those images and sent them to Gallina.
Gallina discussed meeting the minor child in person and told her that her family could not know about their relationship. Gallina told the minor child, “[b]eing a minor, I could get into a lot of trouble for doing that. You would have to stop contact with ypur (sic) family.”
Gallina then posted a solicitation on a fetish website which included sexually explicit images of the minor child and sought to arrange sexual encounters between the minor child and adult men in the D.C. area. Several men responded to Gallina’s post and one of the men met the minor child in the District of Columbia and had sex with her.
Gallina told the minor child that he wanted to see a video of her sexual encounter with the adult man and gave her specific instructions for what he wanted her to say and do during the sexual encounter. When the minor child was not able to record her sexual encounter with the stranger, Gallina told her that he was “disappointed.”
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen Shinskie.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.
Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Multiple Illegal Aliens Sentenced for Unlawful Presence in U.S., Including Portugal Citizen Who Destroyed Government PropertyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Several aliens, unlawfully in the United States, recently pled guilty and received their sentences, including a Portugal citizen and national, who destroyed government property. These prosecutions are in connection with the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the prosecutions with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Austin sentenced Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, 30, to time served — totaling 103 days — after he pled guilty to using his van to ram government vehicles while attempting to escape immigration officers. Judge Austin also ordered Sousa-Martins to pay $1,000 in restitution.
Additionally, U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan sentenced:
- Sergio Gonzalez-Suchite, 36, to time served after he pled guilty to illegally entering the United States. Law enforcement found the Guatemalan citizen and national in Trappe, Maryland.
- Nelson Mejia-Amaya, 36, to time served after he pled guilty to illegally entering the United States. Law enforcement discovered the Honduran citizen and national in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
- Esner Gudiel Garcia-Ortiz, 33, to time served after he pled guilty to illegally entering the United States. Law enforcement encountered the Guatemalan citizen and national in Ocean City, Maryland.
In addition, Nery Adelso Asmen-Raymundo, 43, is charged by criminal complaint with illegal re-entry by a previously deported alien. Authorities removed Asmen-Raymundo from the U.S. on two prior occasions – once in November 2009, and again in March 2010. Law enforcement found the Guatemalan citizen and national in Baltimore.
These cases are 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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO and FBI for its work in these investigations. Ms. Hayes also thanked the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted these federal cases.
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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Mexican National and Prior Felon Sentenced After Shooting at Neighbor's DogRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national living in the United States unlawfully and a prior felon was sentenced today after shooting at his neighbor's dog, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Edwin Soto, 28, for being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, and Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Soto was ordered to serve 52 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Upon his release, Soto is expected to face removal proceedings.
In August 2025, law enforcement officers responded to a “shots fired” call. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a witness who explained that someone shot at his dog. When officers spoke with Soto, he claimed that a dog defecated in his yard and was hesitant to answer any questions about firearms. After serving a search warrant on Soto’s home, officers found four firearms.
When officers spoke with Soto, he stated the firearms were his and that he was not aware that he couldn’t possess firearms. While booking Soto into jail, records showed that he is a citizen and national of Mexico by birth. Court records show that in 2020, Soto pleaded guilty in state court for discharging a weapon into a dwelling and was previously deported from the United States.
Soto will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jorge Humberto Olais Solano, age 40, a citizen of Mexico, was indicted April 29, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed three times.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Olais Solano illegally reentered the United States and was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on March 23, 2026. Olais Solano was last removed from the United States through Del Rio, Texas, on April 26, 2017.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evelyn M. Stoner is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF York comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is twenty years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man has pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer after striking a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer multiple times during an arrest.
According to court documents, on May 29, 2025, Dominic James Isaac Sandoval Peralta, 24, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, assaulted and forcibly resisted a Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services officer who was responding to a call at a residence on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. When the uniformed officer attempted to take Peralta into custody, Peralta advanced on him and initiated a physical confrontation, striking the officer multiple times in the head and causing injuries. The officer deployed a taser to subdue Peralta and place him under arrest. Even after being handcuffed, Peralta continued to resist by refusing to comply with commands to enter the patrol vehicle.
Peralta pleaded guilty to assault upon a federal officer involving physical contact and faces up to eight years in prison at sentencing.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Dickens is prosecuting the case.
Members of “Noir’s Luxury Refunds” Telegram Channel Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A member of “Noir’s Luxury Refunds” has been sentenced for participating in a fraud conspiracy, organized through the cloud-based messaging service Telegram, that targeted retailers across the country, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Brian Nicklaus Buchanan, 30, of Clayton, North Carolina, to 12 months and one day in prison. Buchanan previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.
“Refund fraud is a billion-dollar problem plaguing American companies,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. “These sentences send a message to cybercriminals that you can’t hide behind your keyboard. Federal law enforcement will track you down, arrest you, and you will go to prison.”
“Global fraud is a billion-dollar enterprise fueling organized crime. Retail refund schemes alone cost billions, and there is no such thing as a victimless crime,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, FBI Birmingham Special Agent in Charge. “Every fraudulent return, every exploited system, ultimately impacts jobs, prices, and public safety. This case exemplifies the FBI’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding American companies and their customers. Through strong global and private sector partnerships, we can disrupt and dismantle these networks at their core.”
The following members of “Noir’s Luxury Refunds” have previously been sentenced:
- Jason Seib, also known as “Waynor,” 44, from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, was sentenced to time served after being in custody for 26 months;
- David James Park, also known as “Plutus,” 24, from Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced to 13 months in prison;
- Nicholas John Caruso, also known as “Deaf,” 33, from Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 8 months in prison;
- Jennifer Mireya Palma, also known as “Bianca,” 25, from Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to 10 months in prison;
- Damion Wayne Scarlett, also known as “Dash,” 27, from Deer Park, New York, was sentenced to 16 months in prison;
- CK Chikong Tran, also known as “Radiant,” 31, from New York, New York, was sentenced to 21 months in prison; and
- Tyree Samuel Tinsley, also known as “Tysamtin,” 32, from Richmond, Virginia, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison.
According to court documents, these individuals were members of Noir’s Organization, a group that operated the Telegram channel “Noir’s Luxury Refunds,” as well as other fraud-based Telegram channels. Noir’s Luxury Refunds was dedicated to refund fraud, a type of fraud where a purchaser claims to return an item, receives a refund, but keeps the product. Customers would pay Noir’s Organization a percentage of the product price in exchange for the organization fraudulently refunding the item on the customer’s behalf. Noir’s Organization marketed itself as having the expertise to defraud retailers across the world in a wide range of industries. At one point, the Noir’s Luxury Refunds channel had over 5,900 followers. Noir’s Organization operated from July 2020 until July 2022.
Documents reflect that the group obtained refunds or attempted to obtain refunds for millions of dollars’ worth of products, including electronics, designer clothing and apparel, home furnishings, and appliances. Noir’s Organization used a variety of tactics to commit refund fraud, including social engineering to manipulate customer services representatives into issuing refunds, manipulating shipping labels to deceive a retailer into believing they had received a returned product when they had not, and recruiting customer service representatives as “insiders” to perform refunds on the conspiracy’s behalf. Noir’s Organization also developed malware that would target retailers’ websites to facilitate refund fraud by circumventing fraud prevention measures.
The FBI investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Brett A. Janich, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Canter, prosecuted the cases.
Assistance was provided by Target Corporation; Amazon.com, Inc.; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Wayfair Inc.; Dell Technologies; Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.; American Airlines Group Inc.; Hewlett Packard Incorporated; Adidas AG; eBay Inc.; and Google’s CyberCrime Investigation Group. The Sûreté Nationale of Morrocco also provided valuable assistance to the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Operation Chargeback, an FBI investigation into organized refund fraud groups across the United States and internationally. Cases have also been brought in the Western District of Washington and the Northern District of Oklahoma as part of the initiative.
For more resources on cybercrime, visit www.ic3.gov.
Man Sentenced for Embezzling $434,000Read the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced a man who embezzled $434,000 from a medical business in the St. Louis area to a year and a day in prison and ordered him to repay the money.
Talon Lewis’ embezzlement lasted from Oct. 21, 2019, through at least Feb. 19, 2025. At the time, he was an accounts payable specialist at a medical business. One of his jobs was to upload a list of patients who were owed refunds so the company could generate and mail refund checks to patients. Lewis had refunds sent to himself or to the homes of friends and acquaintances, sometimes using fake names, by adding those people to the patient refund lists. Lewis recruited 14 people to aid his scheme. Those friends and acquaintances then kicked back 30% of the money they fraudulently received to Lewis. He spent his share of the money on personal expenses and at local casinos.
As part of the sentence, Judge Sippel barred Lewis from gambling or entering gambling establishments during his three-year term of supervised release.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Acting Inspector in Charge, Nicholas Bucciarelli, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Domicile Office.
Lewis, 33, formerly of St. Charles, Missouri, pleaded guilty in January to one count of mail fraud.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
Madison County Woman Sentenced to More than Two Years in Prison for Soliciting BribesRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Madison County woman has been sentenced for bribery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Megan Nicole Tillery, 39, of Meridianville, Alabama, to 28 months in prison. In October 2025, Tillery pleaded guilty to use of interstate commerce facility in aid of racketeering.
According to the plea agreement, Tillery was employed with the Community Action Partnership in the second quarter of 2022 as the Community Intake Specialist. Tillery used her position to solicit bribes from individuals in exchange for applying Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to their accounts when they did not qualify for funding under the program. Tillery also solicited money from an individual who was qualified for LIHEAP funds. Tillery told the individual that he needed to pay her to reduce the utility bill. The individual was not required to pay a fee to Tillery or Community Action Partnership to receive funds because he qualified for LIHEAP benefits. Between July 2022 and December 2023, Tillery received more than $15,000 in bribes.
LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance in the form of a grant to eligible households to reduce their energy costs. Alabama has designated the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) as the entity responsible for receiving these federal funds and administering the LIHEAP program to the state. In Madison and Limestone Counties, ADECA has partnered with Community Action Partnership for that purpose.
“This defendant was afforded a position of trust, and she used it to enrich herself,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “We will continue to hold people accountable who exploit taxpayer-funded programs intended to benefit struggling Americans for their own personal gain.”
“Abusing one’s position for personal gain, especially during a time of crisis, shows a blatant disregard for the oath that every government official takes,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Birmingham Division. “Federal assistance programs are created to support individuals, families, and businesses that have experienced significant loss. FBI Birmingham along with our partners are dedicated to protecting these programs from fraud to ensure that honest citizens can receive the assistance they need most during difficult times. Anyone who commits fraud against the government will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The FBI, Tennessee Valley Authority – Office of the Inspector General, and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case.
Leading Dark Web Marketplace Creator and Operator Extradited from Colombia to the United StatesRead the Press Release
A German national living in Colombia was extradited to the United States on charges that he owned and operated “The Versus Project,” an online dark web marketplace that enabled its over 380,000 registered users to buy and sell illegal goods.
The Versus Project, also known as Versus, was a leading dark web marketplace that enabled users to buy and sell illegal goods, including heroin and other illicit drugs, stolen and fraudulent identification documents and access devices, counterfeit currency, malware, and hacking tools. Versus operated from about November 2019 through about May 2022. During that time, Versus had over 380,000 registered users, offered over 32,000 product listings and facilitated over 300,000 completed orders, resulting in millions of dollars’ worth of transactions.
According to court documents, Patrick Schmitz, 37, of Taganga, Colombia, was a cofounder of Versus and handled the day-to-day management, such as responding to user tickets for assistance with issues on the platform, reviewing vendor applications, and resolving disputes between vendors and customers. Over time, Schmitz recruited and supervised staff who worked on Versus and reported to him. Schmitz also promoted Versus on the dark web, recruited vendors, and developed strategies to monetize Versus. Schmitz received a portion of the profits generated and his virtual currency wallets transacted in cryptocurrency worth millions of dollars.
“This extradition demonstrates the strength of the Justice Department’s international partnerships, and our ability to identify dark web criminals running platforms engaging in such widespread and varied illegal conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Versus Project allowed thousands of criminals to endanger the American people with heroin, illegal drugs, and tools for fraud and hacking. Although Versus hid on the dark web, today’s announcement demonstrates that Versus was not beyond the reach of the Justice Department and its international partners. Illegal online criminal marketplaces, no matter where they are located, will be targeted and brought down.”
“The indictment makes clear that law enforcement will shine a bright light on criminal conduct on the dark web,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “We will investigate and prosecute those who seek to use the anonymity of the dark web to profit from the sale of illegal goods. No matter how many monikers a user hides behind or where in the world they are, we will use all legal means to find them and bring them to justice.”
“HSI Newark’s unwavering efforts led to the identification, arrest, and extradition of a key international cybercriminal, significantly disrupting a major illicit online marketplace,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark Field Office. “This action underscores the dedication of HSI and our partners to combating cyber-enabled crime and ensuring individuals who exploit the internet for illegal activities are held accountable.”
Versus was modeled after an e-commerce website. Users could choose a username and password to create a free account to access Versus. Users could then search for products by keyword or scroll through listings by category. The categories of products on Versus included “drugs,” “fraud,” “digital items,” “services,” and “software & malware.”
Versus required its users to transact in digital currencies, including Bitcoin and Monero, and did not allow for transactions in fiat currencies. Versus and its users were therefore able to bypass traditional financial systems, which collect information about their customers and maintain anti-money laundering and fraud programs. Versus generated revenue through multiple methods, including by keeping a percentage of each completed transaction as a commission and vendors were required to pay penalties if they were found to have violated Versus’ rules.
In June 2024, Schmitz was arrested in Colombia pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest request. On April 29, Schmitz was extradited to the United States and earlier today had an initial appearance, was arraigned, and was ordered detained pending trial.
Schmitz is charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to import controlled substances, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; one count of distribution of controlled substances by means of the internet, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; one count of use of a communications facility, which carries a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to unlawfully transfer an identification document, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; and one count of money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
The investigation was led by HSI Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy. Valuable support was provided by the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeff Berkebile, and the IRS- Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan. The Justice Department’s Office of the Judicial Attache in Bogota, Colombia, and the Policía Nacional de Colombia provided valuable assistance concerning Schmitz’s provisional arrest and extradition. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the United States Marshals Service also provided valuable assistance in securing Schmitz’s arrest and extradition.Trial Attorneys Jorge Gonzalez and Stefanie Schwartz of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting this case.
This investigation 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This is also the latest in the Justice Department’s ongoing JCODE efforts (Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement) to address the growing number of illicit vendors operating on the darknet providing large quantities of harmful substances to thousands of people across the United States. The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Leading Dark Web Marketplace Creator and Operator Extradited from Colombia to the United StatesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A German national living in Colombia was extradited to the United States on charges that he owned and operated “The Versus Project,” an online dark web marketplace that enabled its over 380,000 registered users to buy and sell illegal goods, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
A federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey previously returned an eight-count indictment, unsealed yesterday, charging Patrick Schmitz, 37, of Taganga, Colombia, in connection with his operation of the marketplace. In June 2024, Schmitz was arrested in Colombia pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest request. On April 29, 2026, Schmitz was extradited to the United States and earlier today had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais where Schmitz was detained pending trial.
The Versus Project, also known as Versus, was a leading dark web marketplace that enabled users to buy and sell illegal goods, including heroin and other illicit drugs, stolen and fraudulent identification documents and access devices, counterfeit currency, malware, and hacking tools. Versus operated from about November 2019 through about May 2022. During that time, Versus had over 380,000 registered users, offered over 32,000 product listings and facilitated over 300,000 completed orders, resulting in millions of dollars’ worth of transactions.
According to court documents, Patrick Schmitz, 37, of Taganga, Colombia, was a cofounder of Versus and handled the day-to-day management, such as responding to user tickets for assistance with issues on the platform, reviewing vendor applications, and resolving disputes between vendors and customers. Over time, Schmitz recruited and supervised staff who worked on Versus and reported to him. Schmitz also promoted Versus on the dark web, recruited vendors, and developed strategies to monetize Versus. Schmitz received a portion of the profits generated and his virtual currency wallets transacted in cryptocurrency worth millions of dollars.
“The indictment leading to this extradition makes clear that law enforcement will shine a bright light on criminal conduct on the dark web. We will investigate and prosecute those who seek to use the anonymity of the dark web to profit from the sale of illegal goods. No matter how many monikers a user hides behind or where in the world they are, we will use all legal means to find them and bring them to justice.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
“This extradition demonstrates the strength of the Justice Department’s international partnerships, and our ability to identify dark web criminals running platforms engaging in such widespread and varied illegal conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Versus Project allowed thousands of criminals to endanger the American people with heroin, illegal drugs, and tools for fraud and hacking. Although Versus hid on the dark web, today’s announcement demonstrates that Versus was not beyond the reach of the Justice Department and its international partners. Illegal online criminal marketplaces, no matter where they are located, will be targeted and brought down.”
“HSI Newark’s unwavering efforts led to the identification, arrest, and extradition of a key international cybercriminal, significantly disrupting a major illicit online marketplace,” said HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy. “This action underscores the dedication of HSI and our partners to combating cyber-enabled crime and ensuring individuals who exploit the internet for illegal activities are held accountable.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Versus was modeled after an e-commerce website. Users could choose a username and password to create a free account to access Versus. Users could then search for products by keyword or scroll through listings by category. The categories of products on Versus included “drugs,” “fraud,” “digital items,” “services,” and “software & malware.”
Versus required its users to transact in digital currencies, including Bitcoin and Monero, and did not allow for transactions in fiat currencies. Versus and its users were therefore able to bypass traditional financial systems, which collect information about their customers and maintain anti-money laundering and fraud programs. Versus generated revenue through multiple methods, including by keeping a percentage of each completed transaction as a commission and vendors were required to pay penalties if they were found to have violated Versus’ rules.
In June 2024, Schmitz was arrested in Colombia pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest request. On April 29, Schmitz was extradited to the United States and earlier today had an initial appearance where he was detained pending trial.
Schmitz is charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to import controlled substances, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; one count of distribution of controlled substances by means of the internet, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; one count of use of a communications facility, which carries a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to unlawfully transfer an identification document, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; and one count of money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, with leading the investigation. He also thanked the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Kansas City Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeff Berkebile. The Justice Department’s Judicial Attache in Bogota, Colombia, and the Policía Nacional de Colombia provided valuable assistance concerning Schmitz’s provisional arrest and extradition. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the United States Marshals Service also provided valuable assistance in securing Schmitz’s arrest and extradition.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit in the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys Jorge Gonzalez and Stefanie Schwartz of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section in Washington, D.C.
This investigation 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This investigation is also the latest in the Justice Department’s ongoing JCODE efforts (Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement) to address the growing number of illicit vendors operating on the darknet providing large quantities of harmful substances to thousands of people across the United States. The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains.
The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Alexis Schacht, Esq., New York; Donald Yanella, Esq., Ridgewood, NJ.
schmitz.indictment.pdfLeader of Brooklyn-Based “Bully Gang” Sentenced to 60 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Moeleek Harrell, also known as “Moe Money,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to 60 years in prison for his crimes as the leader of the Bully Gang, a violent street gang based in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Harrell was one of 53 defendants charged and convicted in connection with the Eastern District of New York’s case against the Bully Gang. Harrell and three other high-ranking members of the gang were convicted by a jury in July 2024 following a 13-week trial. Harrell was convicted of racketeering, two murder conspiracies, two assaults, two instances of using a gun during a crime of violence, two drug trafficking conspiracies, and two money laundering conspiracies.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Division (ATF), Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the sentence.
“Moeleek Harrell learned today that there is a heavy price to pay for leading a gang responsible for extensive criminal conduct, and his sentence should serve as a warning to those underlings who foolishly obeyed the defendant’s orders. They too will learn that following Harrell’s footsteps will lead a path straight to federal prison for a very long time,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “His sentence ensures that our neighborhoods will remain protected from Harrell’s criminal conduct and demonstrates our Office’s commitment to prosecuting the leaders of violent criminal organizations.”
“This case exposed a ruthless criminal organization responsible for murder conspiracies, brazen violence in public, and large-scale drug and weapons trafficking that stretched from New York to Maine,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo. “This 60 year sentence ensures that a dangerous individual who directed countless acts of violence will never again threaten our communities. The men & women of ATF/ NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle violent criminal organizations and protect the public.
“The Bully Gang carried out a series of brutal crimes that spread violence through Brooklyn and beyond, and today’s sentencing ensures that its leader, Moeleek Harrell, will never again threaten our communities,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “This case reflects the NYPD’s focus on dismantling violent gangs and taking illegal guns off our streets. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the ATF for their partnership in bringing Harrell to justice.”
“Moeleek Harrell and his gang sowed terror and fear through their violent crimes, and trafficked drugs into the City’s jails, undercutting the security and safety of these facilities,” stated DOI Commissioner Shihata. “There is no outcome that can repair the deep and destructive impact of this gang in New York City and Maine. But today’s decades-long sentence for the gang’s leader, and the dozens of convictions associated with this prosecution, demonstrate that New York City has zero tolerance for these crimes and will hold those who perpetrate them accountable. I thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the ATF and the NYPD for their partnership on this significant investigation.”
Harrell, along with deceased gang member Charles Williams, was the founder and leader of the Bully Gang. Harrell directed and oversaw the gang’s many crimes, including the gang’s violent rivalries. In connection with these rivalries, Harrell was personally involved in two murder conspiracies, targeting Christopher King and members of a rival gang known as the Stukes Crew. Harrell and the Bully Gang targeted King because King had killed Williams. Over the course of several weeks, Harrell tracked dates on which King would be going to court (including for a case related to Williams’s killing) and confronted King at one of his court appearances. On one occasion, Harrell and his co-conspirators went to King’s house to try to find King. Harrell’s efforts to find King culminated in a shooting on October 1, 2017, in which King and an innocent bystander were both shot and wounded.
Harrell’s violent rivalry with the Stukes Crew lasted at least five years. During this time, Harrell and his co-conspirators made multiple attempts to murder members of the Stukes Crew. On October 1, 2017, the same day that Harrell committed the King shooting, Harrell also targeted members of the Stukes Crew in another shooting in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. No one was injured in this shooting. In March 2018, while at a gender reveal party for Harrell’s child, fellow Bully Gang member and co-defendant Derrick Ayers shot and killed Jonathan Jackson, an associate of the Stukes Crew. Harrell praised Ayers for committing this murder, and taunted his rivals for allowing their associate to be killed. Harrell then shot at members of the Stukes Crew on two consecutive days in June 2018. These shootings again took place in Crown Heights, and the second resulted in a car crash that injured multiple people. Throughout the time that Harrell was targeting members of the Stukes Crew, he took extraordinary steps to learn personal information about his targets, including their addresses, Social Security numbers, license plates, phone numbers, and family members. Harrell then used this information to locate and try to kill his targets.
Harrell was also deeply involved in the gang’s drug trafficking schemes. Harrell ran the day-to-day operations of the gang’s Rikers drug smuggling scheme. In connection with this scheme, from 2019 to 2021, Harrell and his co-conspirators arranged for papers and comic books soaked in synthetic cannabinoids, also known as “K2,” to be delivered to Rikers. Once inmates received the K2-soaked papers, they sold smaller quantities to other inmates at a substantial profit. Harrell made hundreds of thousands of dollars from this scheme. To get drugs into Rikers, Harrell and his co-conspirators sent drugs through the mail, had visitors to the jail bring in drugs, and bribed corrupt corrections officers to bring drugs in themselves.
Harrell also had a leadership role in the gang’s scheme to sell heroin and cocaine base in Maine. As part of this scheme, the Bully Gang and its associates transported large quantities of drugs, including cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl, from New York and New Jersey to Maine, where they sold the drugs out of multiple stash houses spread throughout the state. The gang made millions of dollars from these drug sales. Harrell directed others who sold and transported drugs in connection with conspiracy and personally profited from the drug sales. He also ensured the discipline of the conspiracy, including by orchestrating the violent punishment of co-defendant Tyquan Lane when Lane violated the rules of the drug conspiracy.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Moscow, Lindsey R. Oken, Joy Lurinsky, and Victor Zapana and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Drew Rolle and Michael J. Castiglione are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Lead Legal Administrative Specialist Samantha Ward, and Paralegal Specialist Kavya Kannan.
The Defendant:
MOELEEK HARRELL (also known as “Moe Money”)
Age: 36
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-239 (S-8) (BMC)
Kenton County Man Sentenced for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Covington man, Trintin Peeno, 31, was sentenced on Thursday to 150 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Peeno’s residence on July 10, 2025, after receiving information about drug trafficking at the residence. During the search, officers recovered 28.9 grams of methamphetamine, 1.373 grams of fentanyl, 1.125 grams of cocaine, and a loaded handgun near the drugs. Peeno claimed ownership of the gun and the drugs and admitted to distributing controlled substances. Peeno also admitted that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity. At sentencing, Peeno admitted that he had threatened to murder a neighbor who approached police about this activity.
Under federal law, Peeno must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Justin Wietholter, Covington Police Department, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Covington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Case Against Property Management Company for $750,000Read the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today a $750,000 agreement to settle allegations that Indian Oaks Apartments LTD, Russell Management Services LLC, H.J. Russell & Company, and The Russell Realty LP violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a mother’s requests for a ground-floor unit because her son had been diagnosed with a genetic disorder that causes permanent mobility impairment. This settlement is the second largest ever obtained by the department in an individual housing discrimination case.
“The defendants should have moved this family with a terminally ill child to a ground-floor unit without delay,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Americans with disabilities have the right to equal access to housing in the United States, and this Justice Department will continue to ensure the protection of this right.”
“Refusing to move a terminally ill child and his family, when ground-floor units were available, was a clear violation of both law and decency,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “Rental property owners and their employees must know and follow the Fair Housing Act, as denying reasonable accommodations is illegal, and our office will not hesitate to pursue those who break the law.”
The lawsuit, filed on Oct. 23, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, alleges that the owners and property managers of an apartment complex in Fort Valley, Georgia, failed to grant a mother’s requests for a reasonable accommodation, despite her repeated requests over a 14-month period and the existence of multiple available ground-floor units. The complaint alleges that the defendants’ actions made it impossible for the mother to carry her son in and out of the apartment without help from her older children, leading to profound physical, psychological, and emotional losses for her son and lost academic and social opportunities for her older children. The settlement requires the defendants to pay $750,000 to the family, comply with certain policy and training provisions, and report to the department on reasonable accommodation requests at any properties they own or operate.
The lawsuit arose as a result of a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After an investigation of the complaint, HUD issued a charge of discrimination and the tenant elected to have the case heard in federal court.
If you have experienced housing discrimination, submit a report online or call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743. You may also file a report with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by submitting a complaint online or calling 1-800-669-9777. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Case Against Property Management Company for $750,000Read the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The Justice Department announced today a $750,000 agreement to settle allegations that Indian Oaks Apartments LTD, Russell Management Services LLC, H.J. Russell & Company, and The Russell Realty LP violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a mother’s requests for a ground-floor unit because her son had been diagnosed with a genetic disorder that causes permanent mobility impairment. This settlement is the second largest ever obtained by the department in an individual housing discrimination case.
“The defendants should have moved this family with a terminally ill child to a ground-floor unit without delay,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Americans with disabilities have the right to equal access to housing in the United States, and this Justice Department will continue to ensure the protection of this right.”
“Refusing to move a terminally ill child and his family, when ground-floor units were available, was a clear violation of both law and decency,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Rental property owners and their employees must know and follow the Fair Housing Act, as denying reasonable accommodations is illegal, and our office will not hesitate to pursue those who break the law.”
The lawsuit, filed on October 23, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, alleges that the owners and property managers of an apartment complex in Fort Valley, Georgia, failed to grant a mother’s requests for a reasonable accommodation, despite her repeated requests over a 14-month period and the existence of multiple available ground-floor units. The complaint alleges that the defendants’ actions made it impossible for the mother to carry her son in and out of the apartment without help from her older children, leading to profound physical, psychological, and emotional losses for her son and lost academic and social opportunities for her older children. The settlement requires the defendants to pay $750,000 to the family, comply with certain policy and training provisions, and report to the department on reasonable accommodation requests at any properties they own or operate.
The lawsuit arose because of a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After an investigation of the complaint, HUD issued a charge of discrimination and the tenant elected to have the case heard in federal court.
If you have experienced housing discrimination, submit a report online or call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743. You may also file a report with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by submitting a complaint online or calling 1-800-669-9777. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
The investigation and resolution of this matter was led by members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Georgia, specifically Civil Rights Investigative Specialist Danyelle D. White, with support from Civil Chief W. Taylor McNeill, and led by former Civil Chief Bowen Shomaker and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Simon, and by attorneys from the Civil Rights Division.
Justice Department Launches Investigations Concerning Gender Ideology in Pre-K-12 Schools in 36 Illinois School DistrictsRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched investigations into 36 Illinois public school districts to determine whether they have included sexual orientation and gender ideology (SOGI) content in any class for grades pre-K-12.
If they are teaching SOGI-related content, the investigations will examine whether the schools have notified parents of their right to opt their children out of such instruction. The investigation will also assess whether the Illinois School Districts limit access to single-sex intimate spaces (such as bathrooms and locker rooms) and girls’ sports teams based on biological sex.
“This Department of Justice is determined to put an end to local school authorities keeping parents in the dark about how sexuality and gender ideology are being pushed in classrooms,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Supreme Court precedent leaves no doubt: parents have the fundamental right and primary authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. This includes exempting their children from ideological instruction that contradicts their values or decisions about their children’s health and best interests.”
The investigations will examine whether these Illinois School Districts, which are recipients of hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer funding, are adhering to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Supreme Court’s extensive precedents on parental rights as recently reiterated in Mirabelli v. Bonta and Mahmoud v. Taylor.
The Civil Rights Division has not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigations.
The Illinois School Districts under investigation include:
- Atwood Heights School District 125
- Bloomington Public Schools District 87
- Bluford Unit School District 318
- Buncombe Consolidated School District 43
- Center Cass School District 66
- Central School District 104
- Community High School District 155
- Country Club Hills School District 160
- Crete-Monee School District 201-U
- DeKalb Community Unit School District 428
- East Dubuque Unit School District 119
- Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401
- Freeport School District 145
- Galena Unit School District 120
- Gillespie Community Unit School District 7
- Iroquois County Community Unit School District 9
- Leyden Community High School District 212
- Lick Creek Community Consolidated School District 16
- Lyons School District 103
- Martinsville Community Unit School District C3
- Meridian Community Unit School District 223
- Noble Network of Charter Schools
- North Chicago Community Unit School District 187
- North Palos School District 117
- Norwood Elementary School District 63
- O’Fallon Community Consolidated School District No. 90
- Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123
- Odin Public School District 722
- Oregon Community Unit School District 220
- Pembroke Community Consolidated School District 259
- Reavis Township High School District 220
- Ridgeview Community Unit School District 19
- Stockton Community Unit School District 206
- Tamaroa School District 5
- Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215
- Will County School District 92
Jury Finds Sioux City Man Guilty to Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine was convicted by a jury April 29, 2026, after a 2-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.
Shelton Lapointe, 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting another to do so. The verdict was returned following roughly three hours of jury deliberations. Lapointe had been convicted twice previously in Woodbury County Iowa District Court for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, in 2018 and again in 2022.
The evidence at trial showed that on July 17, 2024, agents were conducting surveillance at WinnaVegas Casino during which a vehicle was observed traveling away from the casino over the speed limit. Law enforcement attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle, which took off at speeds ranging from 100 to 140 mph, in an attempt to elude law enforcement. During the flight, two packages of methamphetamine were thrown out the passenger window. The methamphetamine thrown from the car, approximately ½ pound, was located and seized by law enforcement. Lapointe, who was driving the vehicle, handed his co-conspirator the methamphetamine and instructed him to throw it out the window in an attempt to avoid apprehension with the methamphetamine in their possession. Five co-conspirators also testified to their involvement with Lapointe in multiple-pound methamphetamine trafficking for several months from about 2022 through July 2024.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Lapointe was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in
custody pending sentencing. Lapointe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde, Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4078. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Jury Finds Maryland Man Guilty of Armed Carjacking and Armed Robbery of Army VeteranRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Miquel Beasley, 23, of Maryland, was convicted yesterday in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, for an armed carjacking and armed robbery that took place in March 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Beasley was found guilty of one count of armed carjacking, one count of armed robbery, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He was indicted in D.C. Superior Court on February 5, 2025. The Honorable Errol Arthur scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 3:15 p.m. on March 22, 2024, the victim, a 62-year-old Army veteran, met up with Beasley in the 3900 block of First Street SE to purchase marijuana. Beasley entered the victim’s car from the passenger side and once in the vehicle he produced a black handgun, put the handgun to the victim’s head, and demanded that the victim exit his car. The victim got out of his car, and Beasley got into the driver’s seat and drove away.
He was arrested on January 30, 2025, and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Alexander Cook and Samuel Ison.
2025 CF3 001237
Jury Convicts Kansas City Man for Role in PCP Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was found guilty by a federal jury for his role in an extensive drug trafficking organization.
Russell L. Spencer Jr., 47, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of phencyclidine (PCP).
In October of 2021, investigators with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization distributing PCP in the Kansas City area. From May to September 2023, investigators conducted a Title III wiretap on telephones used by members of the drug trafficking organization. As part of that investigation, law enforcement intercepted phone calls between Spencer and his co-conspirators, arranging for the purchase and sale of PCP.
Throughout the conspiracy, Spencer traveled out of state to procure PCP for distribution in Kansas City. Despite owning several of his own vehicles, Spencer spent more than $27,000 dollars on rental vehicles and drove more than 80,000 miles in those rental vehicles over a 19-month period during which he reported zero income to the Internal Revenue Service. Spencer was the final remaining defendant of 16, the other 15 co-defendants previously having pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.
Under federal statutes, Spencer, Jr. is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole and up to life 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 is currently scheduled for Oct. 1, 2026.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City deliberated for an hour and a half before returning a guilty verdict to Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes, ending a trial that began Monday, April 27.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Gibson and Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division.
Homeland Security Task Force
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Illegal Alien Indicted for Identity Theft and Social Security Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national has been indicted on federal charges after allegedly using fraudulent immigration and identification documents and another person’s Social Security number to obtain bank accounts, vehicle financing, and consumer loans.
According to the indictment, on or about February 5, 2026, Maria de Jesus Avila-Hernandez, 55, a Mexican national illegally present in the United States, knowingly used and possessed fraudulent immigration and identification documents, including a lawful permanent resident card and Social Security card in the name of another person which she knew were forged or unlawfully obtained. She also falsely represented that Social Security number to obtain things of value, including bank accounts, vehicle financing, and consumer loans, and used that identity without lawful authority in connection with social security fraud.
Hernandez is charged with fraud and misuse of a visa, social security fraud and aggravated identity theft. She will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the Roswell Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amos Nam is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.