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Tuesday 14 April 2026
Lobbying firm and its owner ordered to pay $400,000 for fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program loansRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered Iseman & Associates LLC, a lobbying firm located in West Palm Beach, Florida, and its owner Vicki Iseman, to pay $408,730.44 after finding that they submitted fraudulent applications to obtain federally guaranteed loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
In March 2025, the United States filed a Complaint against Iseman & Associates and Iseman alleging that they had violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and Financial Institutions Reform Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) by submitting false documents and falsely certifying eligibility for two PPP loans. Businesses primarily engaged in lobbying or political activities were categorically ineligible to obtain PPP loans. According to the government’s complaint, Iseman & Associates and Iseman had submitted falsified tax documents and made false certifications as part of their PPP loan applications.
The District Court found that the United States had shown it was entitled to judgment on the FCA and FIRREA claims asserted against the defendants and, accordingly, awarded the United States summary judgment, and entered judgment that included treble damages and penalties under the FCA.
The outcome in this case was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of General Counsel, Litigation Unit, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Beerbower, assisted by Forensic Auditor Peter Melaragni.
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.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Case records may be found on PACER under case number 1:25-cv-450-MSN-LRV.
Justice Department Reveals the Biden Administration’s Weaponization of Federal Law Against Pro-Life AmericansRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group published a report detailing the Biden Administration’s weaponization of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Based on a review of over 700,000 internal records, the report not only details specific ways the Biden Justice Department weaponized federal law, but also outlines the corrective action taken by the current Justice Department to make right the wrongs of the prior administration.
“This Department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “No Department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system.”
President Trump promised to end the weaponization of the federal government. To many Americans, prosecutions under the FACE Act have been the prototypical example of this weaponization. The Justice Department conducted a thorough review of internal discussions, case files, and prosecutorial decisions under the Act and concludes that the Biden DOJ weaponized the FACE Act in several ways.
- The Biden DOJ closely collaborated with pro-abortion groups to track pro-life activists’ First Amendment activity. Pro-abortion groups—especially the National Abortion Federation, Planned Parenthood, and Feminist Majority Foundation—capitalized on their relationship with the Biden DOJ to gain internal information and push targets for enforcement. These groups compiled evidence and dossiers that ultimately gave rise to search warrants and charges. The Biden DOJ affirmatively asked pro-abortion groups about pro-life individuals’ travel and constitutionally protected advocacy. The Biden DOJ and career attorneys monitored pro-life activists for years before charging them.
- The Biden DOJ’s prosecutors engaged in inappropriate conduct and comments. Prosecutors knowingly withheld evidence that defense counsel requested to prepare an affirmative defense, tried to screen out jurors based on religion, and authorized aggressive arrest tactics instead of allowing pro-life defendants to self-surrender.
- The Biden DOJ helped a pro-abortion group secure funding. The lead prosecutor on each FACE Act prosecution served as a reference on the National Abortion Federation’s application for a private grant. We found no record of ethics approval for the attorney to take an interest in the financial outcome of a party having business before the Biden DOJ.
- The Biden DOJ pursued significantly harsher sentences for pro-life defendants than violent pro-abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ requested an average sentence of 26.8 months for pro-life defendants, compared to 12.3 months for pro-abortion defendants.
- The Biden DOJ violated the rights of Americans through its biased enforcement of the FACE Act. Though the Act was supposed to protect both pro-choice and pro-life facilities, the Biden DOJ provided extensive support to abortion clinics, while ignoring and downplaying vandalism and attacks against pregnancy resource centers.
The Biden DOJ’s actions were wrong. The Trump Administration and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche are committed to rectifying these wrongs by taking the following actions.
- On January 23, 2025, President Trump issued full and unconditional pardons to many of the pro-life Christians unfairly targeted by the Biden DOJ.
- DOJ has settled civil cases to address the injustices and took personnel action against those responsible.
- DOJ leadership has dismissed, with prejudice, three civil lawsuits against pro-life activists: United States v. Connolly, No. 2:24-cv-04467 (E.D. Penn.); United States v. Zastrow, et al., No. 2:24-cv-00576 (M.D. Fla.); United States v. Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, et al., No. 1:24-cv-00893 (N.D. Ohio).
- The Trump DOJ issued a directive that, moving forward, DOJ prosecutors may only bring abortion-related civil actions and prosecutions under the FACE Act in extraordinary circumstances or in cases presenting significant aggravating factors.
- To prepare this report, DOJ reviewed approximately 700,000 internal records. Acting Attorney General Blanche has approved a limited waiver of privileged information to provide the public the opportunity to review the underlying materials.
“The behavior unearthed in this report is shameful,” said Assistant Attorney General Daniel Burrows, Office of Legal Policy. “Lawyers who should have known better withheld evidence, worked to keep committed religious people off juries, and generally allowed the Department of Justice to be used as the enforcement arm of pro-abortion special interests.”
DOJ is committed to prosecuting crime in a manner that is consistent with its mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. Should other affected individuals have concerns, DOJ will assess their allegations without fear or favor.
You can find the report and over 800 pages of exhibits here.
Jury finds Hamilton man guilty of illegal firearm possessionRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Hamilton man who illegally possessed several firearms and ammunition was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Following a one-day trial, Shawn Ryan Cowan, 28, was found guilty of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Cowan faces 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for August 26, 2026. Cowan was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that law enforcement officers received information that Cowan was in possession of a firearm. A search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence where law enforcement located the following:
- Ruger SR-22, .22 cal. pistol;
- Raven Arms P25, .25 cal. pistol;
- F.LLI Pietta Fabrica D'Armi, Big Bore Rough Rider, .357 cal. revolver;
- Derya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) TM22-A-18, .22 cal. rifle;
- Marlin Firearms Co. 20, .22 cal. rifle;
- High Standard Sentinel, .22 cal. revolver;
- North American Arms NAA22, .22 cal. revolver;
- Smith & Wesson 18, .22 cal. revolver;
- Derya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) VRPA40, .12 cal. shotgun;
- Heritage Mfg. Inc. Rough Rider, .22 cal. revolver.
Agents also located various calibers of ammunition.
Cowan was previously convicted of Aggravated Assault in Montana, which is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Cowan also is required to register as a violent offender for life because he received another felony conviction while required to register. The defendant’s right to possess a firearm was never restored under Montana or federal law.
The defendant admitted to law enforcement that he was “technically a felon,” but stated he owned guns because his conviction was fraudulently obtained by county officials.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office.
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Illegal alien guilty in decades-long identity theft schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 62-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Houston has admitted to theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Beginning in 1992, Ana Silvia Garcia used a Social Security number belonging to a U.S. citizen. Using that identity, she submitted immigration petitions on behalf of family members and obtained disability and Medicare benefits.
As a result of the scheme, Garcia unlawfully received more than $278,000 in benefits from 2013 through February 2026. She was not entitled to those funds.
Garcia later admitted her true identity following her arrest in February.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge will impose sentencing July 2. At that time, Garcia faces up to 10 years in federal prison for stealing government funds and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years for committing aggravated identity theft.
Garcia has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General and Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation with assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman is prosecuting the case.
The Department of Justice has created 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.
Illegal Aliens Sentenced for Re-entering the U.S. Without AuthorizationRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Five aliens have been sentenced for illegally entering the United States after being previously deported from the country. These cases are separate and not related. Upon completion of their sentences, they will be subject to a detainer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the U.S.
The following defendants previously pleaded guilty to Illegal Entry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326:
- Francisco Constancio-Mariscal, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least two occasions, with the most recent being April 28, 2011. He was found in Port Clinton, Ottawa County, on Jan. 4.
- Oscar Mendoza, 52, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Jan. 17, 2008. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12.
- Guillermo Gutierrez-Rivas, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being June 29, 2024. He was found in Benton Township, Ottawa County, on Dec. 19, 2025.
- Alvaro Veliz Gonzalez, 35, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to 10 months in prison. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least four occasions, with the most recent being Oct. 11, 2021. He was found in Toledo, Lucas County, on Dec. 8, 2025.
- Marcos Alberto Bardales-Lopez, 27, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion, with the most recent being Dec. 6, 2019. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12.
Additionally, Jhofran Andres Laya-Gutierrez, 29, a citizen of Venezuela, was sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Federal Officer, Falsification of Records, and Misuse of a Social Security Number.
These investigations were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.
The prosecutions were led by Assistant United States Attorneys Ava Rotell Dustin, Robert Melching, Sara Al-Sorghali, Alissa Sterling, and Matthew Simko for the Northern District of Ohio.
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, and to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Indicted for Alleged Drug Trafficking after Law Enforcement Seized Approximately 176 Pounds of NarcoticsRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – a federal grand jury in St. George returned an indictment today charging an illegal alien from Mexico for drug crimes after law enforcement, including agents with the Homeland Security Task Force, seized approximately 176 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop last month.
According to the allegations in court documents, on March 13, 2026, Robert William Galicia-Hernandez, 27, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was pulled over in a black Nissan Sentra for a traffic violation near the Utah/Arizona border. During the traffic stop, A law enforcement K-9 was used to conduct a “sniff” of the vehicle and gave a positive alert to the presence of illegal drugs. A search of the vehicle was conducted and officers located and seized multiple packages of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed approximately 176.6 pounds.
Galicia-Hernandez is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for April 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 2B at the courthouse located at 206 West Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah 84470.
First Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the St. George Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Hurricane Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Brady Wilson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
These prosecutions are 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. The case was investigated by agents and officers of the HSTF Salt Lake and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illegal Alien from El Salvador Charged with Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly WeaponRead the Press Release
mendoza_hernandez_complaint.pdfSACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Eric Grant announced that a federal criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, a national of El Salvador residing in Stanislaus County, with assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
According to court documents, on April 7, 2026, at approximately 6:50 a.m., four federal law enforcement officers conducted an operation in the city of Patterson, California, to locate and arrest Mendoza Hernandez because he is illegally present in the United States. Officers stopped Mendoza Hernandez near an onramp to Interstate 5 by activating their emergency lights. Mendoza Hernandez pulled over on the right shoulder.
During the stop, Mendoza Hernandez identified himself and an agent informed Mendoza Hernandez that he was being detained and instructed him to step out of the vehicle. Despite repeated requests, Mendoza Hernandez kept his car running and did not comply with agent requests. Mendoza Hernandez eventually drove forward and hit an agent with his vehicle. Mendoza Hernandez then quickly shifted the vehicle in reverse and abruptly accelerated in a rapid backward motion. While in reverse, Mendoza Hernandez violently collided with the front of a law enforcement vehicle parked behind Mendoza Hernandez.
After striking the front of the agents’ vehicle, Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle then directly faced two of the agents assisting in the stop. After a brief pause, Mendoza Hernandez accelerated forward toward the agents. One of the agents was in the direct path of Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle and jumped out of the way to avoid being hit. Mendoza Hernandez jumped the center median and drove the wrong way against traffic toward the freeway. He then crossed the median, stopping his car on the side of the road.
During this incident, and in response to the vehicle’s movements, agents discharged their firearms at the vehicle. Mendoza Hernandez was hit several times. Agents rendered medical aid at the scene and Mendoza Hernandez was transported to the hospital. After receiving medical treatment, Mendoza Hernandez was medically cleared and taken into FBI custody on Monday, April 13, 2026.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department helped secure the scene and provided substantial public safety assistance while Mendoza Hernandez recovered in the hospital. The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office provided substantial support following the incident. Assistant United States Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case.
The defendant’s custody status will be determined during his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge.
If convicted, Mendoza Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charge in the Criminal Complaint is only an allegation; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Illegal Alien Who Unlawfully Used A Social Security Number and Assaulted Agents Sentenced to 15 Months in CustodyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Julio Cesar Garcia-Espinoza, 29, a citizen of Mexico living illegally in the United States, was sentenced to 15 months in custody for the offenses of falsely claiming lawful permanent resident status, using a Social Security number not assigned to him in order to obtain employment, and assaulting and inflicting bodily injury on Homeland Security Investigations agents who were attempting to arrest him.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “I consider this to be a serious case. All too often, our law enforcement officers are injured while doing the job we ask them to do. When most of us go to work each day, we don’t have to seriously worry about being attacked. They do. These officers deserve the respect and gratitude of all of us, and they will always receive the full support of my office when they are endangered while doing their jobs.”
After entering the United States illegally in 2022, Garcia-Espinoza procured and used a false permanent resident card and a false Social Security card to obtain employment at Riedstra Dairy, Ltd., in Mendon, Michigan. After he was indicted by a federal grand jury for such offenses, HSI Special Agents attempted to serve him with a court-ordered arrest warrant on September 24, 2025. He forcibly resisted being taken into custody by kicking, biting, spitting, yelling, and cursing. One of the officers was bitten on the chest; the bite broke the skin and he required medical treatment. On January 7, 2026, Garcia-Espinoza entered a plea of guilty to all counts.
Upon the completion of his sentence, Garcia-Espinoza will be subject to removal proceedings to deport him to his native Mexico.
“There are serious consequences for those who commit fraud and resort to violence against law enforcement,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Our special agents put themselves at risk every day to uphold the law and protect our communities. HSI remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard the integrity of our immigration system and ensure the safety of our officers and the public.”
The Grand Rapids office of Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Daniels prosecuted it.
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.
High Museum of Art’s former chief operating officer charged with embezzlementRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Brady Lum, the former chief operating officer of the High Museum of Art, was arraigned today on a federal charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Lum allegedly used his position at the High Museum to steal more than $600,000 from the museum by doctoring invoices and approving transactions for personal purchases.
“While entrusted to run the High Museum, Lum allegedly used the museum’s money as his personal slush fund and thereby betrayed one of Atlanta’s civic crown jewels,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will move with swift precision to prosecute individuals who abuse positions of power and trust to enrich themselves at the expense of non-profit institutions.”
“We expect officials of one of our communities’ historic institutions to serve as stewards — not to loot it,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham. “The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: The High Museum of Art is an iconic cornerstone of Atlanta’s cultural identity, featuring a collection of more than 20,000 works of art, a dynamic schedule of special exhibitions, and engaging community-focused programs.
Lum served as the High Museum’s chief operating officer from January 2, 2019, until his resignation on December 9, 2025. As COO, he was responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling the High Museum’s operational and financial activities.
During his tenure as COO, Lum repeatedly purchased non-business items and services for himself, including luxury guitars and other music equipment, personal music lessons, and woodworking equipment, through direct supplier invoicing and through the High Museum’s corporate credit card reimbursement process. Lum concealed the nature of his transactions in several ways, including by submitting altered invoices, using his position to exercise delegated expense approval authority, and using accounting adjustments to spread his expenses across different cost centers so that they would not be readily identified.
For example, in one instance, on or about November 29, 2024, Lum submitted an altered invoice for reimbursement through the High Museum’s online expense processing platform. While the submitted invoice showed a $9,147.87 purchase of equipment that appeared to be for the museum’s benefit, the original version of the invoice was for a guitar and accessories. Over the course of his scheme, Lum stole more than $600,000 from the High Museum.
Brady Lum, 59, of Atlanta, Georgia, was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher C. Bly. Members of the public are reminded that the information only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges until he is proven guilty or admits guilt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas N. Joy is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Hanahan City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Arrested for Possession, Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — According to a criminal complaint and arrest warrant unsealed today, Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth, 48, City of Hanahan Mayor Pro Tem and member of City Council, has been charged with possession and production of child sexual abuse material.*
According to the charging document, which was authorized by United States Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker, an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) identified Hedgpeth as a member of a forum on social media that was facilitating the sale of child sexual abuse material.
Further investigation revealed that Hedgpeth has paid numerous minors who have been identified as likely victims of child sex abuse in CyberTips submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. From December 2021 to present, Hedgpeth’s Cash App and PayPal accounts paid 47 accounts that were either associated with minors or suspected of selling content. The accounts Hedgpeth paid include minors in the Charleston, South Carolina area.
Further investigation revealed that videos and images depicting child sexual abuse were stored in an iCloud account registered to Hedgpeth’s personal e-mail address, his cellular phone, and his home address, and that the account had been accessed frequently from his home internet router. Hedgpeth used his iCloud account and social media to communicate with children, to direct them to produce sexually explicit photographs and videos, and to send these videos to him in exchange for money. One victim was 12 years old when the communication began. Hedgpeth paid that minor for child sex abuse videos, and he pressured that minor to produce content with the minor’s 15-year-old brother. At times, Hedgpeth pretended to be a minor, and at others, he distributed child sexual abuse videos to minors to entice them to produce and sell similar content to him.
Hedgpeth faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison, a maximum of 30 years, lifetime supervision by the U.S. Probation Office, plus sex offender registration requirements.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Investigators are seeking the public’s help to identify possible victims. If you have relevant information to report, please contact HSI at [email protected], by telephone at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423), or through the online tip form at https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dean H. Secor and Elliott B. Daniels are prosecuting the case.
All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.
Hampton man sentenced to 20 years in prison for coercing minors to produce child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for the coercion and enticement of two minors.
According to court documents, on March 7, 2020, Yahmir Deshawn Kawante Hamlet, 25, uploaded a video file with advertising links to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in exchange for payments.
On Dec. 6, 2023, FBI investigators searched Hamlet’s residence and seized seven electronic devices containing approximately 425 image files and 122 video files of CSAM, as well as MEGA and Dropbox links and multiple Telegram chats negotiating sales of CSAM. The CSAM files included infants and toddlers, masochism, and bestiality. The devices also included sexually explicit conversations between Hamlet and two minors. Hamlet paid the minors for sexually explicit images and videos.
After Hamlet’s arrest on May 1, 2025, the FBI identified additional CSAM, including 30 images and five videos.
The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. 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. 4:25-cr-36.
Hampton felon sentenced to over three years in prison for latest firearm convictionRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on Aug. 8, 2024, law enforcement observed Tre’Vonte Jermel Hunter, 27, leave a residence with a camouflage backpack and enter a vehicle. At that time, Hunter was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant. When officers stopped the vehicle, Hunter fled on foot. Officers pursued and ultimately apprehended Hunter.
Investigators recovered a handgun from the backpack. The handgun was loaded with a 30-round extended magazine, and investigators recovered an additional 17-round magazine. Hunter previously was convicted of, among other crimes, evading and eluding, hit and run, reckless driving, failure to appear, forgery of a bank note, disregarding law enforcement commands, driving on a suspended license, driving on a revoked license, driving without a license, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and carrying a concealed weapon. As a convicted felon, Hunter cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
The Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk Office; the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division – Norfolk District Office; and the Hampton Police Division investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson C. Yates 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. 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. 4:24-cr-58.
Grand jury indicts former fugitive on attempted murder of federal officers, firearms & violent crimesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned an indictment here today against a Dayton man who had been a fugitive in Missouri for approximately five years. The defendant fired shots at fugitive apprehension officers when they arrived at his Dayton home to take him into custody.
Terrence Gay, 41, had been a fugitive since September 2021, when he failed to appear to begin serving a federal prison sentence for fentanyl crimes.
According to court documents, on March 19, the Southern District of Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) developed new information regarding Gay’s whereabouts and began surveillance on his residence.
On March 23, law enforcement officials surrounded Gay’s home, announcing their presence and purpose.
Gay allegedly failed to comply with agents to come out of his home and eventually fired approximately 12 rounds at officers, striking an unmarked Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office vehicle with deputies nearby.
Dayton Police SWAT and Montgomery County SWAT teams arrived to provide assistance.
During this time, United States Marshals received a phone call from Gay’s attorney, and a three-way call was made to arrange Gay’s peaceful surrender.
Gay is charged in the six-count indictment with assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon, attempted murder of a federal officer, two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and illegally possessing a firearm as a fugitive. He was originally charged by federal criminal complaint on March 25.
Besides his prior convictions in Missouri, Gay has prior convictions in Montgomery County for aggravated robbery, theft and kidnapping.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; United States Marshal Michael D. Black; Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck; and Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Erica D. Lunderman is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Grand jury indicts Dayton man for robbing local bankRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man arrested three hours after he allegedly robbed a local bank has been indicted by a federal grand jury.
John Donald Butler, 62, was originally charged by federal criminal complaint on April 1. His indictment was returned today.
According to charging documents, on March 30, Butler entered the Key Bank on Miamisburg Centerville Road in Dayton at approximately 2:45pm. Butler was dressed as a construction worker. He allegedly passed a note to the bank teller, telling the individual to get everything out of the top drawer and not to include any dye packs. Butler received more than $9,000 in cash and fled the scene.
Law enforcement obtained security images of Butler, who was not wearing any sort of face covering. Officials also used license plate readers to track Butler’s vehicle before and after the robbery.
Approximately three hours after the robbery, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on Butler and arrested him. Cash, drugs and the robbery note were all subsequently located on Butler or in his vehicle.
The defendant has previously been convicted of more than 20 other bank robberies in prior federal cases in Florida and Georgia.
Bank robbery is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Butler has remained in custody since his arrest.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Moraine Police Chief Craig Richardson announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth L. McCormick is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Gainesville Man Sentenced to over Twelve Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Voluminous Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Daniel Reginald Hanna, II, 38, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to twelve and a half years in federal prison on charges related to receipt and possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material are heinous crimes that have the effect of re-victimizing the innocent children who were sexually exploited every time the horrific images and videos of their abuse are shared. This sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute predators like this defendant to ensure we achieve justice for the victims of child sexual abuse and, ultimately, prevent future victimization from occurring.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant maintained a significant and disturbing collection of child pornography. While executing a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in March 2025, law enforcement located numerous electronic devices that contained child sex abuse material, including 163 videos in a folder entitled “Kids,” and over 2,500 images of child pornography on two cell phones.
Following his release from prison, Hanna will be on supervised release for 12 years and is required to register as a sex offender.
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that crimes involving the exploitation of children will be met with unwavering accountability,” said Chief Moya, Gainesville Police Department. “I want to commend the investigators, prosecutors, and partnering agencies whose dedication and persistence ensured that this individual was brought to justice. Protecting children remains one of our highest priorities. We will continue to use every resource available to identify offenders, support victims, and prevent these crimes from occurring.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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.
Former Placerville Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing and Tampering with the Narcotic Medications of United States Military VeteransRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Carrie Wallace, 47, of Pollock Pines, pleaded guilty Monday to tampering with a consumer product and mail theft by a postal employee, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Wallace used her position as a U.S. Postal Service employee to access and steal mail parcels containing prescription medication and vape products. She intentionally targeted packages sent by the Department of Veterans Affairs to its patients because those packages generally contained narcotic medications. Wallace cut into the packages, opened the prescription narcotics medication bottles, stole the medication and replaced it with over-the-counter medication, retaped the packages and placed them back in the mail stream to be delivered to the intended recipients. Multiple veteran victims consumed the tampered medication, putting them at risk of injury for taking incorrectly dispensed drugs. Due to Wallace’s medication theft and tampering, veteran victims experienced extreme pain, increased agitation, anger, and other mental health symptoms.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the VA Police Department conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Moody is prosecuting the case.
Wallace is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Aug. 10, 2026. Wallace faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Former Connecticut Tax Preparer Sentenced to 18 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DIANA MILLER-LLOYD, also known as “Diana Rabin” and “Diana Lloyd,” 45, of Port Orange, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release for preparing numerous false tax returns.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller-Lloyd formerly resided in Middlefield and operated Lloyd Forenzique & Accounting Services Corporation, a tax return preparation business in Connecticut. She established the business in 2017 in Windsor, and subsequently moved it to Branford in 2019 and to Guilford in 2021. Before 2017, Miller-Lloyd provided tax preparation services under the business name Lloyd Forensic & Accounting Services. Miller-Lloyd routinely obtained substantial federal tax refunds for her clients, many of whom had annual incomes exceeding $500,000, by disregarding information provided by the clients and their employers, and by fabricating and improperly deducting charitable contributions and business expenses, including advertising, repairs and maintenance, travel, meals, utilities, insurance, and legal services.
As a result of these fraudulent deductions, for the 2016 through 2021 tax years, Miller-Lloyd attempted to obtain for her clients at least $1,062,293 in either fraudulent refunds or fraudulent reductions on owed tax payments. The IRS detected apparent fraudulent activity on several of the filed returns before refund monies were paid, resulting in an actual loss to the government of $472,913.
In addition, Miller-Lloyd at times used the professional credentials of another person, who was a certified public accountant, to defend filed returns when audited by the IRS.
Judge Nagala ordered Miller-Lloyd to pay to the IRS restitution of $467,717.
On October 1, 2025, Miller-Lloyd pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent income tax returns.
In 2010, Miller-Lloyd was convicted in New York for grand larceny related to the preparation of false tax returns.
Miller-Lloyd, who is released on a $25,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 13.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
Florida Nursing Assistant Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for $11.4M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare BeneficiariesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Florida nursing assistant was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison and two years of supervised release for his role in an $11.4 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy in which hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries were sent thousands of orthotic braces they did not need. Cruz was also ordered to pay $3,712,345.70 in restitution and $724,871 in forfeiture.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Christian “Chris” Cruz, 45, of Pompano Beach, Florida, owned and operated a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier based in Florida through which he submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces.
Cruz and his co-conspirator paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain signed doctors’ orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide and then claim payment from Medicare, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor needed the braces. Cruz lied to Medicare, claiming that he was the sole owner and operator of the company, when in fact he shared ownership in the company with his co-conspirator, a convicted felon. Medicare would not have allowed the company to enroll with Medicare if it had known about Cruz’s co-conspirator. The co-conspirator has been charged but remains at large.
Cruz received several hundred thousand dollars to his personal bank account from the fraudulent scheme that he frequently withdrew in cash on consecutive days at different bank branches in South Florida, often in amounts just under the bank reporting threshold of $10,000.
“Medical professionals have a trusted role in American society, and when they betray that trust and engage in fraud, the Justice Department will hold them fully accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
“This was a deliberate health care fraud scheme built on lies, bribes, and abuse of the Medicare system,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendant helped obtain signed doctors’ orders through illegal kickbacks, shipped braces people did not need, and then billed the government for more than $11.4 million in fraudulent claims. He also concealed the true ownership of the company and structured cash withdrawals to hide the proceeds. Yesterday’s sentence of nine years, along with restitution and financial penalties, sends a simple message: fraud does not pay. If you steal from Medicare, you will go to prison and you will be made to pay that money back.”
“By misusing Medicare beneficiaries’ information to enrich himself, this defendant betrayed the trust placed in health care providers,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “This sentence demonstrates how the strength of HHS-OIG partnerships with fellow law enforcement agencies allows us to successfully detect and disrupt such complex health care fraud schemes and reinforces that those who attempt to exploit federal health care programs will face serious consequences.”
After a six-day trial in January 2026, a federal jury convicted Cruz of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, four counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make false statements relating to health care matters and three counts of structuring.
FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling Paulson for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Florida Nursing Assistant Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for $11.4M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare BeneficiariesRead the Press Release
A Florida nursing assistant was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison and two years of supervised release for his role in an $11.4 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy in which hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries were sent thousands of orthotic braces they did not need. Cruz was also ordered to pay $3,712,345.70 in restitution and $724,871 in forfeiture.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Christian “Chris” Cruz, 45, of Pompano Beach, Florida, owned and operated a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier based in Florida through which he submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces.
Cruz and his co-conspirator paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain signed doctors’ orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide and then claim payment from Medicare, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor needed the braces. Cruz lied to Medicare, claiming that he was the sole owner and operator of the company, when in fact he shared ownership in the company with his co-conspirator, a convicted felon. Medicare would not have allowed the company to enroll with Medicare if it had known about Cruz’s co-conspirator. The co-conspirator has been charged but remains at large.
Cruz received several hundred thousand dollars to his personal bank account from the fraudulent scheme that he frequently withdrew in cash on consecutive days at different bank branches in South Florida, often in amounts just under the bank reporting threshold of $10,000.
“Medical professionals have a trusted role in American society, and when they betray that trust and engage in fraud, the Justice Department will hold them fully accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
“This was a deliberate health care fraud scheme built on lies, bribes, and abuse of the Medicare system,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendant helped obtain signed doctors’ orders through illegal kickbacks, shipped braces people did not need, and then billed the government for more than $11.4 million in fraudulent claims. He also concealed the true ownership of the company and structured cash withdrawals to hide the proceeds. Yesterday’s sentence of nine years, along with restitution and financial penalties, sends a simple message: fraud does not pay. If you steal from Medicare, you will go to prison and you will be made to pay that money back.”
“By misusing Medicare beneficiaries’ information to enrich himself, this defendant betrayed the trust placed in health care providers,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “This sentence demonstrates how the strength of HHS-OIG partnerships with fellow law enforcement agencies allows us to successfully detect and disrupt such complex health care fraud schemes and reinforces that those who attempt to exploit federal health care programs will face serious consequences.”
After a six-day trial in January 2026, a federal jury convicted Cruz of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, four counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make false statements relating to health care matters and three counts of structuring.
FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling Paulson for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
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.
Florida Man Charged with Running Multi-State Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man was arrested today for allegedly defrauding investors who believed they were funding short-term, high-return loans for real estate transactions or storm damage repair.
Jose Bello, 38, was charged with four counts of wire fraud. He made an initial appearance in the Southern District of Florida and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, Bello told investors that he worked with a group that would invest its money in short-term financing that Bello variously referred to as “private lending,” “gator lending” or “hard-money lending.” It is alleged that Bello recruited investors through friends and family and over Facebook and Discord. Bello allegedly gave investors fake descriptions of the investment opportunities and claimed that the loans were for repairs caused by storm damage. It is alleged, however, that Bello did not invest any of the funds he received from victim investors. Instead, Bello allegedly used the money to pay purported returns to earlier investors and otherwise gambled with investor funds. It is further alleged that Bello made false statements and excuses to investors as to why he had not made promised interest payments and/or could not return the investors’ principal. It is alleged that Bello obtained at least $5.7 million from investors and caused them to lose at least $1.8 million in purported investments.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
First of two violent ATM bank robbers sentenced to ten years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 24-year-old Texas man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison for a string of violent bank robberies, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Seth Coles-Body, of Houston pleaded guilty in February 2026 to four counts of bank robbery and two counts of attempted bank robbery for his role in a scheme to steal from banks by assaulting and threatening ATM technicians. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said, Coles-Body “was enjoying a criminal life… The conduct was driven by greed and an appetite for money without considering the overall community.”
“This defendant targeted ordinary, hardworking citizens who were simply doing their job, and who now have to live with the fear and trauma that comes from being ambushed and beaten in their workplace,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Mr. Coles-Body used increasing violence as time went on. Even after several law enforcement encounters, he never slowed down, instead he celebrated his robberies on social media. This significant sentence is warranted.”
“For months, Mr. Coles-Body and his co-defendant committed a series of increasingly brazen and violent robberies across the United States, including in multiple locations in the state of Washington,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “They badly injured repair technicians just trying to do their jobs and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars. I commend the hard work of the FBI Seattle, Phoenix, and Houston field offices, along with state law enforcement partners nationwide, in bringing these thieves to justice.”
Coles-Body, 24, and Ahmon Hogg, 23, of Humble, Texas, were identified as part of a robbery ring operating across the country. The men would disable ATM machines, and when the technician showed up to fix the machine, they would threaten or assault the technician to steal the cash containers, called cassettes, from the ATM.
In December 2024, the pair worked together to disable ATMs on December 23 and 24, when the machines would be loaded with cash for the Christmas holiday. The coconspirators disabled a Bank of America ATM in Renton, Washington. After the technician arrived and began repairing the machine, he was forcibly confronted by Hogg and Coles-Body who brandished a screwdriver and demanded he open the machine and provide them with the cash cassettes. The technician did not open the machine, and after a scuffle, the technician was able to escape.
The next day in Vancouver, Washington, a technician was sent to repair a Bank of America ATM on SE Mill Plain Boulevard. As the technician started repairs, Hogg and Coles-Body ran up and intimidated the victim and grabbed five cash cassettes filled with currency. The men fled in a car that matched one seen the previous day in connection with the attempted robbery in Renton.
The defendants also admitted they had disabled a Bank of America ATM in Battle Ground, Washington, that same day.
While the investigations were ongoing in Washington, Hogg and Coles-Body were identified in connection with ATM tampering cases on January 3, 2025, in the Phoenix, Arizona area. ATMs for Bank of America and Wells Fargo had been tampered with like the Washington ATMs. Hogg and Coles-Body were stopped by Phoenix law enforcement while attempting to rob one of the ATMs they had disabled.
On March 7, 2025, the defendants committed another robbery at Bank of America in Redmond, Washington. An ATM repair technician was working on the machine that had been disabled by Hogg and Coles-Body. Once the machine was open, two robbers ran up and stole cash canisters filled with money from the machine. Five of the canisters were later recovered, damaged, on the shoulder of highway 520. A few days later, Coles-Body was stopped by U.S. Border Patrol with approximately $209,000 in cash. The cash was seized, and Coles-Body was released.
In May 2025, Hogg and Coles-Body were back in Houston, where they reside, and committed another robbery of a Wells Fargo. A repair technician had the machine open to make repairs, and Coles-Body rushed the technician and caused injuries. The men stole about $117,000 from the machine and abandoned their car a short distance away.
In June 2025, the men traveled to Oregon and disabled ATMs in Tigard and Hillsboro. While in the area, the men robbed an ATM customer who had just used a different machine.
Hogg and Coles-Body then drove from Oregon to Maine and on June 30, 2025, they disabled a Bank of America ATM in South Portland, Maine. While the technician was making repairs the men rushed and beat the technician, stealing $47,000 from the Bank of America.
The men left Maine and drove across the country to Jackson, Mississippi where they were arrested in a traffic stop. They had stolen firearms and significant amounts of cash in the car.
Both men have agreed to pay restitution to the victims currently determined to be $768,900.
The sentencing resolves all the cases in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Maine, and Mississippi.
Speaking in court today and asking for the high-end ten-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Amanda McDowell said, “These were hands-on robberies carried out with violence and intimidation…. No place in the country was off limits, and this was fun for him. There was no remorse – this was a source of pride and celebration.”
Coles-Body will be on three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The case was investigated by the Vancouver, Phoenix, and Houston offices of the FBI and state law enforcement, the Columbia River Organized Crime Task Force, and state law enforcement partners in Hillsboro Oregon, Battleground, Washington, and Jackson, Mississippi. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda McDowell, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Offices in Phoenix and Houston.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney, FBI SAC Warn Residents of Scam CallsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, Ian Kaufmann, warn residents of scam calls being made in the Western District of Virginia.
Callers have reported receiving multiple phone calls from numbers not associated with the United States Attorney’s Office, or other government agencies, but manipulated to appear legitimate. The fraudulent callers demand payment and threaten to “kick down their doors.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia will not contact citizens demanding money or personal information. If someone receives such a call or email, they should not provide any personal information, credit card numbers, prepaid cards or money.
Federal authorities do not call victims of crimes or suspects of crimes and ask for money or personal identifying information over the telephone. If you receive a similar call or email, please contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov immediately.
Fentanyl Traffickers Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two people have been sentenced for fentanyl and methamphetamine offenses in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Courtney Stewart, 30, of Piedmont, West Virginia, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison. Stewart worked with Nelson Anthony Zambito to sell methamphetamine and fentanyl in Mineral County and elsewhere. Zambito was Stewart’s drug supplier. Zambito’s home was searched, and officers seized nearly 29 grams of meth and nearly 1 gram of fentanyl. Zambito pled guilty in October 2025. He will be sentenced at a later date.
In a separate case, Crystal Lyn Lewis, 36, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 40 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Lewis worked with Delano Butler and others to sell fentanyl and other controlled substances in the Eastern Panhandle. The drug operation investigation yielded 30,000 to 40,000 press fentanyl pills, along with 14 firearms, and other illegal drugs. Butler pled guilty on April 10, 2026. He is awaiting sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the Potomac Highlands Drug task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Juan, and Philadelphia Field Offices; United States Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Service; Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisville and Chicago Divisions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Martinsburg Police Department; Ranson Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; West Virginia Air National Guard; Mineral County Sheriff's Office; Grant County Sheriff's Office; Hampshire County Sheriff's Department; Keyser Police Department; Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, Virginia; Pennsylvania State Police; Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania; Winchester Police Department, Virginia; Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Virginia; Virginia State Police; Sunnyvale Police Department, California.
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.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Federal Jury Convicts Porcupine Man of Assault and Witness Tampering ChargesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal jury has convicted Jimmy Pilcher, age 49, of Porcupine, South Dakota, of Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation, three counts of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Witness Tampering, following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on April 9, 2026.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, and a $600 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Pilcher was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026.
During the wintertime of 2024, Pilcher began a romantic relationship with the victim. Shortly after their relationship started, Pilcher began controlling the victim by monitoring her communications with others. When Pilcher started to lose control of his victim, he began assaulting her and using other forms of mental and emotional manipulation on her. In July 2025, Pilcher saw a picture of the victim with another male and accused her of cheating on him. Pilcher became enraged and punched the victim in the face and stomach and pulled her hair. He used his knee to continuously strike the victim’s upper leg and outer thigh/hip area. Pilcher then strangled the victim over a kitchen sink. This strangulation caused the victim to see flashes of light and impeded her ability to breathe. The next day she received medical attention at Indian Health Services, and the staff observed injuries consistent with abuse, including bruising around her neck.
In October 2025, Pilcher assaulted the same victim in the head and face inside a truck in rural Pine Ridge. Witnesses intervened and were able to get the victim away from Pilcher. The Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety responded to the scene and arrested Pilcher. Following his arrest, Pilcher began contacting the victim from within the jail. Pilcher was able to convince the victim not to show up for court and was eventually released from jail. A tribal protection order was, however, still in effect.
On December 5, 2025, in violation of the protection order, Pilcher took the victim inside his truck and drove to a field away from his residence. While inside the truck, Pilcher accused her of cheating on him with another male. Pilcher dragged the victim across the seat, threw her out of the truck, and pulled her up by her hair. During this beating, Pilcher struck the victim in the face, hit her in the back of the head, punched and kicked her with shod feet, and strangled her. During the beating, Pilcher threatened to kill her and her family. The victim was able to get away from Pilcher and got a ride to her house. Pilcher was eventually arrested by law enforcement.
After his arrest, Pilcher contacted the victim from the jail in Pine Ridge. Pilcher attempted to persuade the victim into not pursuing charges and pleaded with her not to report the full extent of the abuse. Pilcher told the victim and his sister that he had spoken with law enforcement and was aware that his case was under federal investigation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Fayette County Man Previously Convicted of Violating Clean Water Act Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Graves, 70, of Charlton Heights, pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return. Graves admitted to causing tax losses totaling $266,053.00 by underreporting his income.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 15, 2021, Graves filed a Form 1040, U.S. Individual Tax Return for tax year 2016 listing his income as $816.00. As part of his guilty plea, Graves admitted that he filed a false return and that his corrected tax income for 2016 was approximately $427,256.00. Graves further admitted that his false tax return resulted in a tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service of approximately $125,285.00.
Graves also admitted that he falsely listed his annual income as $816.00 on tax returns for years 2017 to 2020, underreporting his income by a total of approximately $608,163.00 and wrongfully withholding $140,768.00 from the U.S. Treasury Department.
Graves is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.00. Graves also owes $266,053.00 in restitution.
During the time period, Graves owned and operated West Virginia Environmental Services, Inc. (WVES). Graves and WVES were paid over $9.8 million from 2006 to 2020 to accept industrial waste at a Fayette County landfill and treat the resulting contaminated liquid or leachate. On February 22, 2023, Graves pleaded guilty as an individual and on behalf of WVES to violating the Clean Water Act, admitting they failed to maintain the landfill’s leachate collection for several years beginning in at least 2016. This failure by Graves and WVES caused the discharge of toxic pollutants including arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and selenium into Jarrett Branch, a tributary that flows into the Kanawha River near Alloy. On December 21, 2023, Graves was sentenced to one year of incarceration, to be served on home confinement as part of a five-year term of federal probation, and fined $10,000.00 WVES was fined $500,000.00 and placed on corporate probation for three years.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). The Criminal Investigative Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection investigated the Clean Water Act violations, which brought the false tax returns to light.
The Department of Justice has created 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.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes 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-31.
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Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Braden Robertson, 30, of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 6, 2024, Robertson possessed a Ruger model Wrangler .22-caliber revolver, a Colt model Buntline Scout .22-caliber revolver, a Ruger model Blackhawk .45-caliber revolver, a Sar Arms model SARB6P Hawk 9mm pistol, and an Excam model GT27 .25-caliber pistol.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Robertson knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for conspiracy to commit a felony and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance on July 30, 2018, in Fayette County Circuit Court.
Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Four of the firearms possessed by Robertson were stolen from a Fayette County pawn shop. On July 4, 2024, Jawuan Akil Watts and other individuals broke into the pawn shop on three occasions while the business was closed and stole 33 firearms, ammunition, coins, and a gaming console. Watts traded, sold, or gave many of the firearms to others in the Oak Hill community including individuals with felony convictions. On July 6, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Lesley Scott Watkins and found three firearms during the search, including two that were stolen from the pawn shop. Sixteen of the stolen firearms have not been recovered.
On December 4, 2025, Watts, 32, of Oak Hill, was sentenced to eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and Watkins, 50, of Oak Hill, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, each for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oak Hill Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case.
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.
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-23.
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FBI Arrests Two Men on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, FBI special agents arrested two men on criminal charges related to child exploitation conduct.
A federal grand jury indicted Elid Jesuel Pizarro-Morales on April 9, 2026, with six counts of sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child exploitation material, and possession of child exploitation material. According to court documents, Pizarro-Morales, 22, from Carolina, created and used an internet based social application account to communicate with male minors and solicited the male minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct to obtain sexually explicit images and videos.
In November 2025, the defendant induced, enticed and coerced four male minors, two 14 year old minors, a 12 year old minor, and a 13 year old minor, to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography. From August 2023 through February 2026, Pizarro-Morales knowingly possessed, and accessed with intent to view material containing images of child pornography, including child pornography of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age, using an Apple iPad.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In a separate case, Miguel Ángel Marquez-Rosario, a 43 year old man from San Juan, was arrested today by FBI agents for child exploitation. On April 9, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Marquez-Rosario with two counts of transportation of child exploitation material and possession of child exploitation material.
According to the indictment, from February 2026 through March 2026, the defendant knowingly used electronic devices for possession and access with intent to view images of child exploitation material, including of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.
If convicted, Marquez-Rosario faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence 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.
“There’s no greater priority than safeguarding our children from those who seek to exploit or harm them,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to continuing our joint efforts with our state, local, and federal partners to locate these offenders and ensure that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Crimes against children are among the most serious violations we investigate,” said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “The consumption of child sexual abuse material feeds a despicable industry that exploits innocent children. Every child deserves safety, and we won’t rest until every offender faces the full weight of federal law.”
The FBI is investigating the cases.
AUSA Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting both cases.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Drug dealer known as ‘Panda’ sentenced to more than 11 years in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Patricia Flesch, 36, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 135 months in prison for conspiring to traffic bulk amounts of narcotics.
According to court documents, Flesch, who is also known as “Panda,” was a well-known mid-level drug dealer in central Ohio. Between September 2020 and June 2023, she distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to local users and other dealers in the Columbus area.
As part of her narcotics conspiracy, Flesch used houses and motels throughout the region to store drugs and facilitate drug transactions. She ran several drug premises and, at one time, was coordinating the delivery of 10 to 15 pounds of methamphetamine weekly from a source in Texas, according to her Facebook account.
Some of the drug premises included Flesch’s apartment on Hilton Avenue and other residences on Franshire Drive, East 14th Avenue and Helen Street. Law enforcement observed Flesch travel to different motels in Columbus and back to Helen Street nearly 440 times between March 16 and April 6, 2023.
Flesch was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit; announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, and the Columbus and Pickerington police departments also coordinated throughout the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
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Drug Dealer Sentenced in Two Separate Federal CasesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa drug dealer was sentenced in two separate federal cases for distributing drugs throughout the Northern District of Oklahoma, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Tony Eugene Bahe, 38, for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of a Firearm while Drug Trafficking. He was ordered to 180 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. In the second case, Bahe was sentenced for Drug Conspiracy. He was ordered to concurrently serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in November 2024, Tulsa Police officers executed two search warrants on homes they believed Bahe was using for drug distribution. During the execution of his home in south Tulsa, officers found Bahe with a loaded firearm in his pocket. During a search of the residence, officers recovered 8 grams of fentanyl, more than 50 grams of methamphetamine broken down for distribution, drug scales, and additional drug distribution paraphernalia.
While searching the second home located in north Tulsa, officers recovered more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, ballistic body armor, digital scales, and additional items used for drug distribution. A K-9 conducted an open-air sniff on Bahe’s truck and alerted its handler that drugs were present. Officers searched the vehicle and found an additional 24 kilograms of methamphetamine in the truck.
While searching both homes, officers seized more than 22 guns from the properties. Court records show that Bahe has been convicted of several felonies that make it unlawful for him to possess a firearm and ammunition.
In Bahe’s second indictment, he admitted to conspiring with several others to distribute bulk quantities of methamphetamine throughout the Tulsa community. Once Bahe obtained a large quantity, he would break it down for individual sale.
Bahe is a member of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Tulsa Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy prosecuted the case.
Dallas mechanic sentenced to lengthy prison sentence as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Dallas auto mechanic has been sentenced to a lengthy federal prison sentence as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jose Cruz Badillo-Rivera, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III on April 14, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in January of 2020, an on-going drug trafficking investigation in the Eastern District of Texas identified Badillo-Rivera as a multi-kilogram methamphetamine distributor who was negotiating drug transactions at his Dallas automotive mechanic shop.
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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Collin County man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking meth and cocaine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A McKinney man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Eraldo Orozco-Fernandez, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III on April 14, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on March 31, 2023, Orozco-Fernandez was stopped for a traffic violation in McKinney. A search of the vehicle during the stop revealed approximately 3.76 kilograms of cocaine, a firearm, and over $2,800 in cash. A search of Orozco-Fernandez’s McKinney residence yielded another eight kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately one kilogram of cocaine and $6,000 in U.S. currency. Orozco-Fernandez admitted to being involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing methamphetamine and cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas.
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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Cleveland Income Tax Preparer Charged with Filing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 46-year-old woman has been arrested for her role in preparing and filing false federal income tax returns on behalf of her clients.
Sherita Booker, of Cleveland, was charged by criminal complaint on April 9 for Aiding or Assisting in the Preparation of False and Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Returns.
According to court documents, she learned to prepare returns while working at a national tax return preparation company from about June 2016 to April 2017. Thereafter, she started her own tax return preparation business under different entity names, as well as her own name.
During the investigation, agents discovered that when Booker prepared tax returns for clients, she allegedly attached fraudulent Schedule C documents (used to indicate business profit and losses) to clients’ Form 1040—even though the clients did not own businesses. Booker also employed other schemes to avoid tax due and owing to the IRS by her clients.
If convicted, Booker faces up to three years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Services-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Assistant United States Attorneys Brenna L. Fasko and Elliot Morrison for the Northern District of Ohio are leading the prosecution.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
About IRS-CI
IRS Criminal Investigation is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.
Chinese National Servicemember Indicted for Conspiring and Attempting to Obstruct an InvestigationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a two-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Yuan Li, 35, a Chinese national residing in the United States, for conspiracy to obstruct justice.
The indictment alleges that Li joined the United States Navy in January 2022 after previously being discharged from the Army. During his time in the Navy, Li completed an Application for Naturalization to apply for U.S. citizenship. Li did not answer whether he had been discharged other than honorable from the military and listed a fraudulent address in San Fransico as his current residence.
During an investigation into housing allowance fraud and assault, investigators discovered Li communicated with a foreign national on the Chinese social media app Red Note. The foreign national sought to purchase information from Li in his capacity as a service member. When Li learned he was under investigation, he instructed an accomplice to delete various messaging apps from his phone and restore his electronic devices to their factory settings, which would have resulted in the destruction of all records and content of Li’s contact with the foreign national.
Li faces a maximum penalty of five years for the conspiracy charge and 20 years for the obstruction charge. He is currently detained pending trial. He was arrested in Florida on March 6 and appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker for arraignment on the indictment on April 13.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
Charlottesville Man Sentenced for Promoting Commercial Sex RingRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Charlottesville, Virginia man, who posted hundreds of online advertisements for commercial sex, booked hotel rooms and transported women for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, was sentenced yesterday to 8 years in federal prison.
Brian Lamont Turner, 45, pled guilty in November 2025 to one count of promoting, managing, establishing and facilitating prostitution and one count of transporting for purpose of prostitution.
According to court documents, on multiple occasions throughout 2023 and 2024, Turner caused multiple adult victims to travel from the Commonwealth of Virginia to the States of North Carolina and South Carolina for the purpose of engaging in prostitution and other sexual activity.
To facilitate these activities, Turner posted commercial sex advertisements online, booked hotel rooms where the women stayed and engaged in commercial sex, and communicated with customers to set-up commercial sex “dates.” Turner received some, if not all, of the commercial sex proceeds.
In addition, Turned posted hundreds of commercial sex advertisements for the eight identified adult victims in this case between October 2018 and January 2024, for which he financially profited.
Additionally, all the identified victims in this case suffered from some form of drug addiction, an addiction that was fueled by drugs supplied by Turner.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Welsh and Keith Parrella prosecuted the case for the United States.
Carver Man Arrested on Federal Dogfighting ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Carver, Mass., man has been arrested and charged in connection with his alleged participation in a multi-year dogfighting conspiracy involving the breeding, training and fighting of dogs, as well as related animal cruelty and illegal gambling activities.
Corey Elliott, 49, has been charged with conspiring to participate in an animal fighting venture in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Elliott was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston at 3:30 p.m. today.
According to the charging documents, Elliott allegedly participated in a long-running dogfighting conspiracy spanning several years and involving the breeding, training and fighting of dogs, as well as related gambling and animal cruelty offenses.
Specifically, it is alleged that Elliott and a co-conspirator operated a dogfighting venture, at times using the kennel name “The No Name Gang,” through which they possessed, bred, trained and fought dogs for sport and profit. The defendant and his co-conspirator allegedly maintained a close partnership over a period of years, during which they communicated extensively about dogfighting activities, including arranging fights, discussing outcomes, placing wagers and coordinating the acquisition, sale and conditioning of dogs for fighting purposes.
Charging documents further allege that Elliott was directly involved in organizing and hosting dogfighting events, including at his residence in Carver, Mass., and assisted in constructing dogfighting pits and kennel structures designed to house and condition dogs for fighting. Elliott and his co-conspirator allegedly discussed plans for specific fights, including the dogs to be used, the location and timing of the events and preparations necessary to conduct the fights.
It is further alleged that Elliott engaged in acts of animal cruelty in furtherance of the conspiracy, including training dogs to fight, subjecting dogs to violent encounters and culling dogs that did not meet desired performance standards. Elliott also allegedly discussed disposing of deceased animals and, at times, taking steps to conceal evidence of dogfighting activity.
According to the charging documents, Elliott and his co-conspirator also took steps to avoid law enforcement detection. These efforts allegedly included the use of coded language when discussing dogfighting activities, concealing dogs from public view, advising one another on how to avoid scrutiny from law enforcement and animal control authorities and relocating dogs to avoid potential seizure.
Searches of the co-conspirator’s residence in June 2023 resulted in the seizure of multiple pit bull-type dogs and evidence consistent with dogfighting activity, including veterinary supplies, training equipment and implements associated with dogfighting. Analysis of electronic devices seized revealed numerous videos and communications related to dogfighting, allegedly including messages between Elliott and his co-conspirator spanning several years.
In June 2025, during a search of Elliott’s residence in Carver, Mass., multiple pit bull-type dogs were seized from an outdoor kennel area. According to the charging documents, several of the dogs exhibited scarring consistent with dogfighting. It is further alleged that multiple items consistent with dogfighting activity were also recovered, including dog pedigrees, harnesses, leashes, syringes and veterinary medications, as well as equipment used to train and condition dogs.
To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General complaint hotline at: https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.
The charge of conspiring to participate in an animal fighting venture provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Joseph F. King, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston – Law Enforcement Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Massachusetts State Police; Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; United States Marshals Service; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Acton, Boston, Carver and Hanson Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Burleson man sentenced to lengthy federal prison sentence as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Burleson man has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Zachary Don Mathis, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on April 14, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in March of 2022, Mathis was identified during a drug trafficking investigation involving the distribution of fentanyl-laced pills in the Eastern District of Texas. Mathis admitted to being involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing at least 4 kilograms of a mixture containing fentanyl which he would provide to others for further distribution in the Eastern District of Texas.
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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Buffalo man pleads guilty to his role in narcotics conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Steven Hoskins, 44, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.
According to the plea agreement, between December 2022 and November 2024, Hoskins conspired with others to coordinate the shipment of cocaine from California to Buffalo through the mail and through the use of secret compartments in vehicles that were transported across the country. Hoskins would obtain anywhere between five and 50 kilograms of cocaine a month, which he would sell and distribute in the Western District of New York. On three separate occasions in July, August and September 2023, Hoskins delivered drug proceeds totaling $439,840.00 to an individual he believed was a member of the drug trafficking organization but was in fact an individual working with law enforcement. Hoskins distributed over 450 kilograms of cocaine throughout this conspiracy.
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 Buffalo/Rochester comprises agents and officers from HSI, the FBI, DEA, ATF, and IRS-CI, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett Fitzsimmons, Meghan E. Leydecker, and Elizabeth M. Palma. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Chavis.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 21, 2026, before Judge Sinatra.
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Bosque Farms Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Offense for Unlawfully Possessing a ShotgunRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Bosque Farms man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm after multiple prior convictions for felonies and misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.
According to court documents, on July 15, 2024, Warren Chewiwi, 52, possessed a 12-gauge shotgun and shotgun shells. As a person previously convicted of both a felony and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, Chewiwi was and is prohibited by law from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Chewiwi pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. He faces up to 15 years in prison at sentencing and up to three years of supervised release after his prison sentence. He must also forfeit the shotgun and ammunition to the United States government.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Isleta Pueblo Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement (Chewiwi).pdfBoat Captains Plead Guilty in Deadly Maritime Smuggling EventsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Two boat captains whose ill-fated maritime smuggling attempt resulted in the deaths of four migrants, including two children, pleaded guilty in federal court today.
Jesus Ivan Rodriguez Leyva and Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna admitted to their participation in a wide-ranging conspiracy that involved coordinating with individuals in Mexico to smuggle aliens into the United States using maritime vessels.
According to admissions in their plea agreements, the pair was working with a Mexico-based smuggling organization that provided the defendants with a 20-foot panga with a single motor. On the evening of May 4, 2025, the defendants piloted the vessel from Popotla, Mexico, with 19 aliens aboard, overloaded and ill-equipped for any emergencies that lay ahead.
The captains expected that upon arrival into the United States, other individuals would meet them at shore, conceal the aliens in vehicles, and then further transport them to their intended destinations within the United States. But things went very wrong.
As the vessel approached the United States shoreline near Del Mar, California, on May 5, 2025, the motor failed, causing the vessel to rotate and capsize approximately 200 yards from the coast and throwing all the migrants – many unable to swim - into the water. Many survivors said the captains told them to remove their life jackets as they approached shore so they could quickly transition to vehicles.
Four migrants on the vessel died. Gorgonio Placido-Diaz, Marcos Lozada-Juarez, and 14-year-old minor P.B.P. drowned while attempting to reach shore safely. All three were found unresponsive near the shore and pronounced deceased. On or about May 21, 2025, a human foot was found on the shoreline near Torrey Pines State Beach. Based on a subsequent DNA analysis, the foot was found to belong to a 10-year-old minor, whose parents were also on board.
Each of the aliens was paying about $13,500 for transportation into the U.S.
Three other defendants were charged separately with Conspiring to Transport Aliens within the United States, in connection with the same May 5 fatalities. They have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced (25-cr-2056-BJC).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill S. Streja, Edward Chang, and Sean Van Demark and Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman from the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr2057-BJC
Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna Age: 31 Mexico
Jesus Ivan Rodriguez Leyva Age: 37 Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Attempted Bringing in Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death and Aiding and Abetting – Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(i), (v)(II), and (a)(1)(B)(iv)
Maximum penalty: Death or life in prison and a $250,000 fine
Bringing in Illegal Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii), and Aiding and Abetting, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison with a three-year mandatory minimum and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations – Marine Task Force
U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Air and Marine Operations
U.S. Border Patrol
United States Coast Guard
San Diego Lifeguard Service
San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office
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 San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
This case is a result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA is the Justice Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 395 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Behavioral therapist pleads guilty to health care fraud for submitting inflated insurance reimbursement claimsRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, Georgia: The owner of a McDuffie County behavioral therapy service faces up to 10 years in federal prison and substantial financial penalties after pleading guilty to submitting fraudulent insurance reimbursement claims.
Mira Stallings, 41, of Thomson, Georgia, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of Health Care Fraud, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Stallings to a statutory sentence of up to 10 years in prison, payment of restitution and fines, and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our health insurance programs, particularly those that provide benefits to our military servicemembers and their dependents, are vital to those who need assistance for medical treatment,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “With our law enforcement partners, we will aggressively pursue those who fraudulently access those funds for their own personal gain.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Stallings is a licensed behavioral therapist and owner of ABAscape LLC, a Thomson, Georgia, agency that provided behavioral therapy services to individuals with developmental disabilities. A parent of patients who received services from ABscape reported concerns about billing discrepancies to TRICARE, the health care and insurance program serving active duty servicemembers and their families.
The resulting investigation determined that from June 2020 through May 2023, Stallings submitted false and fraudulent billing claims to TRICARE for individual and group therapy services that were not provided, or were not provided as presented. The investigation determined that the fraudulent billing for more than $652,000 resulted in TRICARE payments of more than $572,000.
In addition, Stallings, through ABAscape, applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, under the guise of seeking funding for working capital to alleviate economic injury from the COVID-19 pandemic. She received nearly $1 million, and while certifying in her application that the funds would not be used for personal or household purposes, Stallings instead spent tens of thousands of dollars on personal credit card debts and to a debt collector, salary payments to a family member for fraudulent services, personal purchases from online vendors and retail stores, and nearly $50,000 for the construction of a dog-breeding compound.
“The reach of this investigation extends beyond healthcare into the deliberate manipulation of federal programs designed to support honest small businesses,” said Special Agent-in-Charge, Jason J. Sargenski, Defense Criminal Investigative Service Southeast Field Office. “By allegedly utilizing wire fraud to siphon resources from the Small Business Administration while simultaneously defrauding TRICARE, the defendant demonstrated a pattern of deceit that harms both the taxpayer and the integrity of our nation's essential support systems. We remain dedicated to following the trail of fraud wherever it leads to ensure those who prioritize personal greed over public service are held fully accountable.”
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randall Hall will schedule sentencing for Stallings after U.S. Probation Services submits a presentencing investigation report.
The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and Jennifer S. Thompson.
Baltimore Felon Sentenced for Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man received a federal-prison sentence for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Reginald Dargan, 34, to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a loaded firearm after a prior felony conviction and for violating the terms of his federal supervised release.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to court documents, on November 8, 2024, BPD responded to a call for an aggravated assault at an East Baltimore residence. Upon arrival, BPD officers met with the victim who indicated that Dargan assaulted her. She also stated that he possessed a handgun.
While speaking with officers, the victim received a text message from Dargan asking her to let him in the back door. The officers then went to the back of the house and arrested Dargan. Then law enforcement recovered a Polymer 80, aka a “ghost gun,” .40 caliber pistol bearing no serial number, and one high-capacity magazine loaded with 13 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition from Dargan’s waistband.
Dargan was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition because he was previously convicted of a conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; conspiracy to brandish, use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and interference with commerce by robbery. Dargan was on federal supervised release as a result of this offense when he unlawfully possessed the firearm and ammunition, in violation of his release conditions.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Safe Home. These programs bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Project Safe Home is an initiative under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to reduce domestic violence and prevent escalation to lethal violence by targeting offenders who use or possess handguns with a history of Domestic Violence.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Attempted Carjacking at Suburban Chicago Gas Station Leads to Nearly Six-Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for attempting to carjack a vehicle at gunpoint while the driver’s wife and children were inside.
The attempted carjacking occurred on the afternoon of Feb. 19, 2023, at a gas station in Dolton, Ill. An off-duty Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy was standing next to his Dodge Challenger when JAVON STINGLEY and two other men—JOSEPH SMITH and MICHAEL BANKS—approached with loaded handguns and demanded the vehicle. One of the carjackers said words to the effect of, “I’ll shoot you, don’t move,” and removed the Deputy’s service weapon from his waistband. The Deputy’s wife and children were able to flee the Challenger before the men started to get inside. The men decided not to take the Challenger and drove off in their own vehicle.
Stingley, 28, of Midlothian, Ill., was arrested in October 2024 and has remained in law enforcement custody since then. He pleaded guilty in federal court last year to an attempted carjacking charge. On April 9, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis sentenced Stingley to five years and ten months in federal prison.
Banks, 23, of Chicago, admitted his role in the attempted carjacking as part of a plea agreement that included other carjackings and firearm offenses that he committed. Banks is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ellis on June 24, 2026, at 10:15 a.m.
Smith, 34, of Hammond, Ind., has pleaded not guilty to the attempted carjacking as well as to other carjackings and firearm offenses for which he is charged. Smith is awaiting trial.
Stingley’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner.
Atoka Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Evert Linnel Eoff, age 63, of Atoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count Felon in Possession of a Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Eoff with knowingly possessing one bolt action rifle and one semi-automatic rifle on January 10, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Atoka Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Eoff will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edith A. Singer and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
ADT to Pay $1.3M to Servicemembers for Illegal ChargesRead the Press Release
Note: Read the full settlement here.
The Justice Department today announced that ADT LLC doing business as ADT Security Services, the nation’s largest home security services company, will pay over $1.3 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by imposing unlawful charges on at least 3,400 servicemembers who terminated their home security services contracts after receiving military relocation orders.
“Members of our Armed Forces dutifully respond to the defense needs of our Nation, sometimes with very little notice,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are committed to ensuring that our servicemembers’ rights are protected so that they can focus on their military mission.”
“Servicemembers should not have to fight companies at home while they are serving our country abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “As a career military officer with over 23 years of service, I know firsthand that orders can come with little notice and require immediate action. The law is clear — when servicemembers receive relocation orders, they have the right to terminate contracts without penalty beyond the current billing period. This settlement returns over $1.3 million to affected servicemembers and ensures that companies understand those protections are not optional. We will continue to enforce the law and protect those who protect us.”
The Department alleges that ADT illegally imposed a 30-day notice requirement on servicemembers who terminated their home security contracts. The Department maintains that ADT’s 30-day notice policy violated the SCRA, which allows servicemembers to terminate certain consumer contracts any time after receiving military orders to relocate to a location that does not support the contract. When a servicemember terminates a contract under the SCRA, companies cannot charge any fees beyond the current billing period.
Under the settlement, ADT will pay up to $1,260,000 in compensation to the affected servicemembers. ADT will also be required to pay a $79,380 civil penalty, which is the maximum penalty for a first violation of the SCRA, and make policy and training changes to avoid committing future violations.
The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $488 million in monetary relief for 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
ADT to Pay $1.3 Million to Servicemembers for Illegal ChargesRead the Press Release
Note: Read the full settlement here.
MIAMI – The Justice Department today announced that ADT LLC doing business as ADT Security Services, the nation’s largest home security services company, will pay over $1.3 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by imposing unlawful charges on at least 3,400 servicemembers who terminated their home security services contracts after receiving military relocation orders.
“Members of our Armed Forces dutifully respond to the defense needs of our Nation, sometimes with very little notice,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are committed to ensuring that our servicemembers’ rights are protected so that they can focus on their military mission.”
“Servicemembers should not have to fight companies at home while they are serving our country abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “As a career military officer with over 23 years of service, I know firsthand that orders can come with little notice and require immediate action. The law is clear — when servicemembers receive relocation orders, they have the right to terminate contracts without penalty beyond the current billing period. This settlement returns over $1.3 million to affected servicemembers and ensures that companies understand those protections are not optional. We will continue to enforce the law and protect those who protect us.”
The Department alleges that ADT illegally imposed a 30-day notice requirement on servicemembers who terminated their home security contracts. The Department maintains that ADT’s 30-day notice policy violated the SCRA, which allows servicemembers to terminate certain consumer contracts any time after receiving military orders to relocate to a location that does not support the contract. When a servicemember terminates a contract under the SCRA, companies cannot charge any fees beyond the current billing period.
Under the settlement, ADT will pay up to $1,260,000 in compensation to the affected servicemembers. ADT will also be required to pay a $79,380 civil penalty, which is the maximum penalty for a first violation of the SCRA, and make policy and training changes to avoid committing future violations.
The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $488 million in monetary relief for 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
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4 Sinaloa Cartel-Linked Defendants Arrested on Federal Indictment Alleging They Operated Family-Run Drug and Gun Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Law enforcement today arrested four Sinaloa Cartel-linked defendants – all members of the same family, three of them illegal aliens from Mexico – who are charged in a 29-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they trafficked fentanyl, pound quantities of methamphetamine, and firearms, including so-called “ghost guns” lacking serial numbers.
The following defendants were arrested today and are expected to make their initial appearances and be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles:
- José Luis Salazar-Cruz, 44, a.k.a. “Oso,” of Lancaster, an illegal alien from Mexico;
- Alfonso Salazar, 46, a.k.a. “Pirate,” of Lancaster, an illegal alien from Mexico;
- José Manuel Salazar, 22, a.k.a. “Lil Oso,” of Lancaster; and
- Jorge Humberto Salazar, 43, a.k.a. “Sharky,” of Hesperia; an illegal alien from Mexico.
José Luis Salazar-Cruz, Alfonso Salazar, and Jorge Humberto Salazar are brothers. José Manuel Salazar is José Luis Salazar-Cruz’s son.
Law enforcement continues to search for co-defendant José Ángel López Paniagua, 23, of Littlerock.
All five defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license.
Salazar-Cruz is charged with seven counts of being an alien in possession of firearms, seven counts of distribution of methamphetamine, four counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of trafficking in firearms, one count of possession of a destructive device, and one count of possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
The other defendants are charged with various felonies – with Paniagua charged with two counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, two counts of distribution of fentanyl, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. Among the charges Alfonso Salazar faces is distribution of methamphetamine and being an alien in possession of a firearm.
According to the indictment, from February 2024 to December 2025, Salazar-Cruz used text messaging applications, encrypted messaging applications, telephone calls, and in-person meetings to coordinate the sale of narcotics, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as firearms. The other defendants charged then brokered sales of the drugs and firearms between suppliers and customers and met with customers to sell the drugs.
Multiple drug sales were made – often of approximately one pound of methamphetamine. For example, on January 21, 2025, Salazar-Cruz sold a buyer nearly one pound of methamphetamine and approximately 324 grams (11.4 ounces) of fentanyl.
On July 30, 2025, Salazar-Cruz sold a buyer approximately 1.2 kilograms (2.5 pounds) of methamphetamine. On December 19, 2025, Salazar-Cruz sold the same buyer approximately 2.3 kilograms (5 pounds) of methamphetamine.
From December 2024 to July 2025, Salazar-Cruz and the other defendants also illegally sold buyers multiple firearms, including a Glock .45-caliber pistol, a street-sweeper destructive device, and a privately manufactured AR-style rifle with no serial number, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun.”
In May 2025, Salazar-Cruz and three other defendants told a buyer that their supply of drugs came from Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico by traveling across the border via trailer; Paniagua obtained the drugs from members of the Sinaloa cartel; and he provided the drugs to Salazar-Cruz in exchange for money.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted of all charges, the defendants would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; the San Bernardino Police Department; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the California Highway Patrol; and the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Clifford D. Mpare of the Major Crimes Section is prosecuting 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.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. 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. The HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Monday 13 April 2026
Veterinarian Arrested for Sending Threatening Text Message and Transporting Minors in Interstate Commerce with the Intent to Engage in Sexual ActsRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Gregory Ford (53, of Morriston) has been arrested on an indictment charging him with three counts of transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity and one count of sending threatening communications. Each transportation count carries a minimum prison term of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The threatening communication count carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Ford that the United States intends to forfeit his home in Morriston, which is alleged to have been used in the commission of these crimes. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment and facts presented in court, between October 16, 2024, and May 16, 2025, Ford transported two minor victims with the intent to engage in sexual activity. On September 23, 2025, Ford sent a text message containing a true threat to injure a third victim.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Birmingham Division, Florence RA, with the assistance of the FBI Jacksonville Division, Ocala RA. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $9.5 Million in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that the District of South Dakota collected $9,516,233.90 through criminal fines, restitution, loan defaults, bankruptcy, forfeiture, and affirmative civil enforcement efforts in FY2025. Moreover, the District of South Dakota worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $16,747,398.58. Of the total collections, $8.9 million was derived from criminal cases. A significant portion of this amount—$8,801,058.91—was returned to victims of crime, underscoring the Office’s commitment to ensuring justice and support for those adversely affected by criminal acts. The remainder was deposited into the Crime Victims Fund, a crucial resource that provides financial assistance to victims across the United States for costs arising from violent crime such as medical expenses, lost wages, mental health counseling, funeral expenses, and more.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $65,292,431 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
“Thanks to the diligence and hard work of our U.S. Attorneys and the highly skilled staff in our Financial Litigation and Asset Recovery Units on behalf of South Dakota victims and taxpayers, we have held criminals accountable and done everything we can to make victims whole,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “We will continue to prioritize collection of restitution and debts to the federal government together with our law enforcement partners, as a critical part of our mission.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.U.S. Attorney Moore Capito and U.S. Marshals Service to Announce Results of Operation Spring SweepRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito and the United States Marshals Service will join with law enforcement partners tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, for a press conference to announce the results of Operation Spring Sweep.
The U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED Task Force conducted Operation Spring Sweep in partnership with the West Virginia State Police. The nearly month-long operation recently concluded and targeted noncompliant sex offenders, individuals wanted for sex crimes, and violent fugitives.
WHO: United States Attorney Moore Capito, U.S. Marshal Service, West Virginia State Police, additional law enforcement partners
WHAT: Press Conference to announce results of Operation Spring Sweep
WHEN: Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Front Plaza, Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston
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.
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Two Wilmington Men Indicted on Federal Methamphetamine and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging two Wilmington men with conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine pills and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court records, Marcus Warren and Donavan McGriff, both 35, were the subjects of a drug investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the New Castle County Police Department (NCCPD).
Following that months-long investigation, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, members of the DEA, NCCPD, and the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team executed search warrants for Warren and McGriff, their residences in Wilmington, and McGriff’s car. Both Warren and McGriff were occupants of the car at the time of the search. The car search revealed over 500 grams of pills which were subsequently identified as methamphetamine.
The search of Warren’s residence resulted in the recovery of nearly one kilogram of additional methamphetamine pills and three guns, including a privately made firearm or “ghost gun” with no serial number. The search of McGriff’s residence resulted in the recovery of an additional gun.
Warren and McGriff are charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine and one count each of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. If convicted, Warren faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. McGriff faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and DEA Philadelphia Field Division, Wilmington Resident Office, Special Agent in Charge Thomas Hodnett made the announcement.
The DEA and NCCPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin B. Smith is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:26-cr-61-UNA
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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