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Thursday 26 March 2026
South Bend Man Sentenced to 101 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Tony Horston, 36 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Horston was sentenced to 101 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
“A violent, armed, recidivist drug dealer is going to prison because the partnership of local law enforcement and federal agents interrupted his enterprise. We are safer because of their efforts,” Mildred said.
According to documents in the case, police executed a search warrant at Horston’s house and found about 2.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, about 51 grams of fentanyl, about $10,000 in cash, and three loaded firearms. Horston has multiple prior felony convictions including dealing cocaine, battery, resisting law enforcement, and unlawful carrying of a firearm, any of which prohibited him from possessing a firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit and the Mishawaka Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sacramento Man Charged with Being Felon in Possession of a Firearm as Part of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Damarion Nash, 34, of Sacramento, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 15, 2026, Nash was found in possession of a loaded Colt .45 caliber handgun. Nash is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in Sacramento County including for attempted robbery, criminal threats, possession of a controlled substance in prison, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The Sacramento Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Ng is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Nash faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is also part of the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney program, a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local District Attorney’s Offices. These attorneys remain employed by the District Attorney’s Offices but work on federal investigations and can prosecute cases in both state and federal court, strengthening efforts to combat transnational organized crime and violent crime in the region. Currently, the District Attorney’s Offices of Yolo, Placer, Fresno, and Sacramento Counties are participating. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ng serves as a Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento County.
Rock Hill Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting a Minor with Intent to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Dai Quan Matthew Felix, 27, of Rock Hill, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Felix traveled with a 14-year-old girl from August 2024 through November 2024 through North Carolina and South Carolina. During that time, Felix engaged in sexual intercourse with the minor victim. Law enforcement recovered Felix’s phone, which contained sexually explicit videos of himself and the minor victim.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Felix to 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Felix will be required to register as a sex offender for life.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.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lothrop Morris and Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.###
Repeat felon convicted on drug charge by a federal jury going back to prisonRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Julio Perez, 65, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. McGrath and Brandon N. Gonzalez, who handled the trial of the case, stated that in June 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence, seizing approximately an ounce of fentanyl and nearly $10,000 in cash. The warrant was part of a large-scale narcotics trafficking investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office. Warrants were also executed at multiple locations in both Monroe and Ontario Counties. At the time the search warrant was executed, Perez was on supervised release following federal narcotics trafficking convictions in 2018 and 2002.
Perez was convicted of this latest charge by a federal jury in November 2025. With a third narcotics trafficking conviction, the Court determined that Perez is a career offender, resulting in an enhanced sentence.
The sentence is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff David Cirencione, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.
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Pittsfield Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Pittsfield man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Benjamin Shacar, 39, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of receipt of child pornography and one count possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for June 22, 2026. Shacar was charged by criminal complaint in March 2021.
According to charging documents, between August 2020 and March 2021, Shacar received and possessed CSAM. During a search of Shacar’s residence a thumb drive and laptop containing multiple files depicting CSAM were located. During an on-scene interview, Shacar admitted that he viewed and downloaded CSAM from the internet.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of no less than five years and up to 20 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Each charge also provides for at least five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Pittsfield Police Chief Marc Maddalena made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Neil Desroches and Thomas Barnico of the Springfield Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Physician Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing and Distributing Thousands of Images of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A physician from Capac, Michigan was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in federal prison after having pleaded guilty to distributing thousands of images of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge William J. Shink, United States Secret Service.
Robert Glapinski, 62, of Capac, Michigan was sentenced by United States District Judge Linda V. Parker in Detroit.
According to court records, on March 5, 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cybertip from Google that a user had child pornography in a Google Chat. Some of the images included the sexual exploitation and abuse of prepubescent children. An investigation later revealed that the user was Robert Glapinski, a family medicine doctor who treated both adults and children. In chats, Glapinski talked about sexually abusing female children and sharing child pornography. On April 8, 2025, investigators from the United States Secret Service and Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a federal search warrant at Glapinski’s residence. Glapinski was present during the time of the search and admitted to viewing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. The examination of Glapinski’s electronic items found over 2,500 images and more than 150 videos of child sexually abusive material.
“The sexual abuse of children is among the most heinous types of crimes imaginable. But when such a terrible crime is committed by a physician – a person who has taken an oath to do no harm – the punishment must be severe,” said United States Attorney Gorgon.
Special Agent Shink stated, “This case highlights the effective partnership between the Secret Service, Michigan State Police and U.S. Attorney’s Office, to combat the online exploitation of children, through investigating and prosecuting those who perpetuate the victimization of minors by receiving, possessing, and distributing such heinous material.”
This case was investigated by special agents of the United States Secret Service and the Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tara Hindelang.
Phone Sex Operator Charged with Child Sexual Abuse Material OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL –Debra Jean Schilling (71, Largo) has been charged by indictment with receipt, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). If convicted on all counts, Schilling faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment and court proceedings, in her employment as a phone sex operator, Schilling received and distributed CSAM to her clients in furtherance of their sexual conversations. Additionally, she possessed CSAM on her iCloud account.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Oneida County Man Pleads Guilty to Enticing and Coercing a Minor and to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – John Secor, Jr., age 46, of Rome, New York, pled guilty on March 25, 2026, in federal court to enticing and coercing a minor and to receiving child pornography.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
As part of his plea, Secor admitted that in May of 2025, he began chatting online with a 16-year-old Oneida County girl on Facebook who had explicitly told Secor her age. Secor’s chats with the child quickly became sexual in nature with Secor requesting that the child send him sexually explicit images and videos of herself, which she did. Secor also admitted that he arranged a meeting with the child during which Secor planned to engage in sex acts with the child.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “This defendant’s actions were calculated, predatory, and profoundly disturbing. He targeted a minor through Facebook, manipulated her, and sought to exploit her for sexual purposes. Let me be clear: anyone who engages in this kind of conduct will be aggressively investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Social media companies must also recognize their responsibility in preventing such exploitation on their platforms and take stronger, proactive measures to protect vulnerable users. I thank HSI and the New York State Police for their commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
“Secor has admitted to deeply disturbing and exploitative behavior toward a child, and after today’s plea, he faces decades in federal prison,” said Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo. “Homeland Security Investigations works every day to bring predators like Secor to justice. We hope that today’s guilty plea is a positive step forward for the victim and her family as they begin to heal and move forward.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “This case underscores the very real and ongoing threat that online predators pose to our children. The defendant’s actions were deliberate, measured, and manipulative, targeting a vulnerable minor for exploitation. The New York State Police remain fully committed to working alongside our federal partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who seek to harm children. We will continue to use every available resource to protect our communities and ensure offenders are brought to justice.”
The charge of enticement and coercion of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life. The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years. Both charges carry a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life.
Secor’s sentencing is currently scheduled for July 21, 2026, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse, New York. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
HSI and NYSP investigated this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adrian LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
OB/GYN Physician Agrees to Pay $507,500 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Connected to Fraudulent Prescription SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland gynecologist agreed to a settlement in connection with federal False Claims Act violation allegations.
Valinda R. Nwadike, MD, agreed to pay the United States $507,500 to resolve allegations for her role in a telemarketing scheme designed to defraud Medicare and TRICARE.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the settlement with Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Allison Russo, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) – Mid-Atlantic Field Office.
In April 2023, the U.S. filed a complaint against Nwadike, alleging that she violated the False Claims Act. The U.S. contends that from November 1, 2014, through January 1, 2018, Nwadike created and signed thousands of fraudulent prescriptions for compounded drugs and durable medical equipment, such as knee braces, which TRICARE and Medicare ultimately paid for. Additionally, the U.S. alleges that Nwadike wrote and signed the prescriptions after a cursory phone call with the patient, but without physically examining the patient or reviewing their medical history. As a result of Nwadike’s role in the telemarketing scheme, the U.S. paid for thousands of medically unnecessary prescriptions for compounded creams and durable medical equipment.
“When physicians write prescriptions for medically unnecessary drugs and equipment, they abuse our federal health care programs,” Hayes said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to work with our partners at DCIS and HHS-OIG to hold fraudulent providers accountable. We’re committed to protecting taxpayer dollars using all available tools, including civil settlement.”
“Civil enforcement is an important approach to safeguarding the integrity of the Medicare program,” Dixon said. “This settlement demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that Medicare program dollars are only paid for services that are actually needed and appropriate for patients.”
“This settlement highlights DCIS’ unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of TRICARE, the DoD’s primary health care program, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not wasted on fraudulent schemes,” Russo said. “Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime. It directly harms the American taxpayer and undermines the efforts of honest healthcare providers who are dedicated to serving our military members and their families. The DCIS, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of our military healthcare system.”
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HHS-OIG and DCIS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Shea and Roann Nichols, who handled this case, along with Investigator Ann Thiel.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Nine Charged in Benefit Fraud CrackdownRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Nine individuals have been charged in a coordinated federal crackdown on benefit fraud schemes that exploited stolen identities to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded programs – including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth and Social Security benefits. Nearly $9 million in benefit fraud has been uncovered since December 2025.
The following defendants have been charged over the past nine weeks as part of the United States Attorney’s ongoing enforcement priority to investigate and prosecute benefit fraud involving federal and state assistance programs:- Juan Felipe Chalas, 58, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Salem, N.H., was charged with making a false statement in a passport application, aggravated identity theft and unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits;
- Efrain Rivera, 54, a United States citizen from Puerto Rico, living in New Bedford, Mass., was charged with unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits, misuse of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft;
- Danis Piron Lara, 51, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Dorchester, Mass. was charged with aggravated identity theft, unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits and making false statements relating to a health care program;
- Erpawi Roque Collado, 53, a Lawful Permanent Resident living in Boston, Mass. who was born in the Dominican Republic, was charged with unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits;
- John Doe aka Wilkin Emilio Pimental Pereyra, 44, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston, Mass., was charged with aggravated identity theft, theft of government benefits and unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits;
- John Doe, an individual whose true identity is unknown, who was living in Hyde Park, Mass., was charged with unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits, misuse of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft;
- Mercedes Soto Capellan, 53, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass., was charged with unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits;
- Oscar Gonzalez Melo, 59, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston, Mass., was charged with unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits, making false statements related to health care benefits, making false statements related to Social Security benefits and aggravated identity theft; and
- Cruz Augusta Pena Arias, 58, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Salem, Mass., was charged with making a false statement in an application for a United States passport, aggravated identity theft and unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits.
As alleged, the defendants used stolen identities – often belonging to U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico – to obtain government-issued identification, including Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) credentials and, in some instances, U.S. passports, which were then used to apply for and receive public benefits.
In some cases, the defendants are alleged to have used stolen identities over extended periods of time – including one individual who allegedly lived under a stolen identity for more than 20 years. Certain defendants are further alleged to have obtained benefits across multiple programs, including SNAP, MassHealth and Social Security.
In multiple instances, the defendants allegedly provided stolen identities to law enforcement during prior arrests, and at least one defendant has a prior conviction under the same identity.
According to the charging documents, the alleged schemes resulted in approximately $943,197 in total losses to public assistance programs – including approximately $149,775 in SNAP benefits, approximately $776,715 in MassHealth benefits and approximately $16,707 in Social Security benefits.
The charge of unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of misusing a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of theft of government property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of making a false statement in an application for a United States passport provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of making false statements relating to a health care program provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; Nathan Hebert, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Grady, Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus, David G. Tobin, Jennifer Zacks, Allegra Flamm, Eric Hawkins, Julissa Walsh and Aidan Lang of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the cases.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Newcomb Man Charged with Child AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Newcomb man is facing federal child abuse charges after a young child in his care was found with extensive bruising and injuries consistent with repeated physical abuse.
According to court documents, on September 15, 2025, officers with the Navajo Police Department responded to a report from school personnel after a young child was found to have extensive bruising and injuries consistent with abuse. Medical personnel documented numerous bruises and welts across the child’s body in various stages of healing, including injuries with linear patterns consistent with being struck by an object.
At the time the child was residing in the household of Dominic Thomas Jabalera, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and was under his care at the time the injuries were discovered. Investigators spoke to Jabalera, who provided inconsistent explanations for the child’s injuries, initially claiming no knowledge of any harm and later attributing the injuries to accidents and other children in the household.
As the investigation progressed, forensic interviews and prior social services records revealed multiple earlier reports of suspected abuse involving the same household, including prior observations of unexplained bruising and disclosures of fear and physical harm.
Jabalera is charged with child abuse and will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Jabalera faces up to six years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Burkhead is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Barrington, New Hampshire man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a felon.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jonathan Grant, 43, to 12 months and a day in prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. Grant pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025.
According to court records, in March 2025, Kittery Police Department officers responded to the Kittery Trading Post regarding a potential shoplifting incident. Police were directed to a group of males who had just left the store, one of whom was identified as Grant. Officers searched Grant’s jacket and located a .22 caliber pistol and a box containing 100 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Grant was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition by virtue of prior felony drug convictions in New Hampshire.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Kittery Police Department.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
New Bedford Couple Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Clients of over $750,000 in Connection with Their Insurance BusinessRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A married couple from New Bedford pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to a scheme to defraud individuals seeking insurance coverage through the couple’s business, BL Insurance Brokerage, LLC.
Brendan Lawler, 58, and Lisa Lawler, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2026. The Lawlers were charged by criminal complaint in August 2025.
From March 2023 through March 2024, the Lawlers solicited and collected insurance payments from BL Insurance’s clients, which should have been paid to the clients’ insurance providers. Instead of paying the insurance companies, the Lawlers pocketed their clients’ payments and used the money for their own purposes. To conceal this theft of client funds and to keep their BL Insurance afloat to perpetuate the scheme, the Lawlers used incoming client funds to pay outstanding balances due to other clients’ insurers. The Lawlers also created and distributed certain insurance documents to clients that falsely suggested that the clients were insured. In total, through this scheme, the Lawlers defrauded at least 50 individuals or insurance providers and stole more than $750,000 from insurance providers, premium finance companies and hard money lenders.
Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this case or have any relevant information related to this case are requested to please fill out the attached form to be contacted by a member of law enforcement: https://forms.fbi.gov/victims/BLInsuranceVictims/view.
The charge of conspiracy to commit 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 gain to the defendant or loss to the victim. 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. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance and Insurance Fraud Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Cleary of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Second False Tax Return SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS - A Nevada man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and helping file false federal returns for clients just months after pleading guilty to related charges in a separate case.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Michael J. Moore, of Las Vegas, operated a tax and accounting business known as X Tax Pros that he used to promote an illegal tax avoidance scheme. Moore advertised X Tax Pros as being the “only” tax and bookkeeping company specializing in clients from the adult entertainment industry. From approximately August 2025 through October 2025, Moore promised clients he could file tax returns that would eliminate the taxes they owed to the IRS; in fact, the returns he prepared for clients typically resulted in large tax refunds that the clients were not entitled to receive. To carry out the scheme, Moore created fraudulent entries on his clients’ tax returns, including purported losses from business entities belonging to other clients. In most cases, the entities were either defunct or dormant and no longer filed tax returns. In exchange, Moore required his clients to pay him certain fees, often taken directly out of their tax refund. In just three months, Moore’s scheme caused a tax loss to the United States exceeding $250,000.
Moore executed the present scheme after he had already pleaded guilty to carrying out a virtually identical scheme, one that caused a tax loss of at least a $3.5 million, in a related Nevada case, United States v. Michael J. Moore, Case No. 2:25-cr-00225-JAD-NJK. While awaiting sentencing in that matter, Moore concealed his identity to avoid detection while continuing his fraudulent criminal conduct.
For his latest conduct, Moore pleaded guilty to wire fraud, aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return, and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16 and faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and three years in prison for aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return. He also faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Patrick Burns of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez of the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
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Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Second False Tax Return SchemeRead the Press Release
A Nevada man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and helping file false federal returns for clients just months after pleading guilty to related charges in a separate case.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Michael J. Moore, of Las Vegas, operated a tax and accounting business known as X Tax Pros that he used to promote an illegal tax avoidance scheme. Moore advertised X Tax Pros as being the “only” tax and bookkeeping company specializing in clients from the adult entertainment industry. From approximately August 2025 through October 2025, Moore promised clients he could file tax returns that would eliminate the taxes they owed to the IRS; in fact, the returns he prepared for clients typically resulted in large tax refunds that the clients were not entitled to receive. To carry out the scheme, Moore created fraudulent entries on his clients’ tax returns, including purported losses from business entities belonging to other clients. In most cases, the entities were either defunct or dormant and no longer filed tax returns. In exchange, Moore required his clients to pay him certain fees, often taken directly out of their tax refund. In just three months, Moore’s scheme caused a tax loss to the United States exceeding $250,000.
Moore executed the present scheme after he had already pleaded guilty to carrying out a virtually identical scheme, one that caused a tax loss of at least a $3.5 million, in a related Nevada case, United States v. Michael J. Moore, Case No. 2:25-cr-00225-JAD-NJK. While awaiting sentencing in that matter, Moore concealed his identity to avoid detection while continuing his fraudulent criminal conduct.
For his latest conduct, Moore pleaded guilty to wire fraud, aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return, and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16 and faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and three years in prison for aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return. He also faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Patrick Burns of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez of the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Insider TradingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the filing of charges against, and the guilty plea of, GERARD RYAN in connection with his participation in a scheme to commit insider trading securities fraud based on material nonpublic information that RYAN obtained from a family member who worked at a Manhattan-based pharmaceutical company. RYAN pled guilty today before U.S. District John P. Cronan.
“As he admitted today, Gerard Ryan transformed confidential drug approval information into profits for himself and others,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Trading on stolen information harms both other market participants and the marketplace itself. SDNY’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect American markets and investors.”
"Gerard Ryan leveraged confidential information about the official announcement of a new pharmaceutical drug to make thousands of illegal trades before informing his associate to do the same," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. "Ryan’s conduct undermined the integrity and fairness of our securities markets. The FBI does not tolerate those who use privileged details to disrupt our economic system to line their pockets with ill-gotten gains."
According to the allegations contained in the Information, other public court documents, and statements made during court proceedings:
Kadmon Pharmaceuticals was a biopharmaceutical company based in New York, New York that developed treatments for rare diseases and conditions, specifically therapies for autoimmune diseases, fibrotic conditions, and oncology. Rezurock was Kadmon’s flagship drug and was intended to treat chronic graft-versus-host disease, a serious complication that can occur after bone marrow or stem cell transplants. In or around 2021, Kadmon was seeking FDA approval for the drug. On July 16, 2021, Kadmon announced that the FDA had approved Rezurock.
Kadmon maintained the confidentiality of information around Rezurock and its FDA approval, and prohibited its employees from, among other things, disclosing confidential business information to third parties. A family member of RYAN, who worked at Kadmon in the summer of 2021 and was subject to these confidentiality policies, was warned that Kadmon’s ongoing engagement with the FDA was “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL” and that discussions about those activities should be limited only to within Kadmon.
Notwithstanding Kadmon’s confidentiality policies, in advance of the public announcement that the FDA had approved Rezurock, RYAN’s family member told RYAN material nonpublic information regarding Kadmon’s interactions with the FDA. RYAN used that information, which he knew had been improperly shared with him, to execute securities transactions. For example, on or about July 15, 2021, at approximately 5:58 p.m.—after the FDA had informed Kadmon that it had approved Rezurock, but before it had been publicly announced—RYAN spoke with his family member who worked at Kadmon. After the call, RYAN purchased thousands of shares of Kadmon.
RYAN also shared the material nonpublic information about the FDA announcement with an associate who traded on the basis of that information. On or about July 16, 2021—before the public announcement of the FDA approval—the individual that RYAN tipped purchased 2,250 shares of Kadmon. RYAN texted that individual the ticker symbol for Kadmon and RYAN’s “prediction” that Kadmon’s stock price would rise approximately 355%, to “$16.99” upon the FDA announcement. RYAN’s associate then sent a text message to RYAN, “What time is the news,” a reference to the non-public FDA approval, and RYAN responded with a shush emoji, “🤫” a reference to the nonpublic information he had shared.
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RYAN, 62, of Oxford, Mississippi, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo, Peter J. Davis, and Sarah Mortazavi are in charge of the prosecution.
Minnesota Man Indicted for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An indictment was unsealed on Tuesday charging a Minnesota man with filing false tax returns and filing false claims for refunds collectively seeking more than $500,000 he was not entitled to receive.
According to the indictment, Philip Nelson Green, of Crookston, Minnesota, filed false individual income tax returns with the IRS for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. Each of these tax returns reported one or more false items such as wage information, tax withholdings, and child and dependent care expenses. The indictment also alleges that Green filed a false second amended 2021 income tax return and a false 2022 income tax return, both of which sought more than $250,000 in tax refunds he was not entitled to receive.
Green made his initial court appearance Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. If convicted, Green faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return and five years in prison for each count of filing false claims. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Daniel R. Glenn and Charles A. O’Reilly of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Micronesian National Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Reynold Rodriguez, age 60, a Micronesian national, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that Rodriguez was convicted of Sexual Battery in the District Court of McCurtain County, Oklahoma, on September 9, 2024, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from October 22, 2024, until July 23, 2025, Rodriguez failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, 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.
Rodriguez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegally Re-entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An illegal alien has been sentenced for illegally re-entering the United States after deportation, announced Acting United States Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
Felipe Omar Hernandez-Gonzalez, 36, and a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to having been found in the United States after being deported. U.S. District Judge Annemarie C. Axon sentenced Gonzalez to 18 months in prison.
According to court records, Gonzalez was deported in April 2018, after he was charged with DUI and assaulting his girlfriend in Hoover in February 2018. Hernandez-Gonzalez came to law enforcement’s attention again in the summer of 2025 after he beat and choked his current girlfriend in Walker County, Alabama. Court records also revealed that, in September 2017, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to and was sentenced for assault of his four-month-old daughter. The baby was taken to Children’s of Alabama where she was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma from severe head trauma.
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 was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Walker County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Cross prosecuted the case.
Mexican Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the CountryRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Mexican man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for reentering the United States after a prior removal.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Edgar Mandujano-Aguilar, 37, to 12 months in prison. He pleaded guilty on February 5, 2026.
According to court records, on November 6, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents encountered Mandujano-Aguilar after he requested assistance from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office to return to his home country of Mexico. After agents arrived at the Sheriff’s Office, Mandujano-Aguilar stated that he was born in Mexico, was not a U.S. citizen, and did not have any authorization to be in the country. Records checks revealed that Mandujano-Aguilar had been previously deported multiple times from the U.S., including after he had been permitted to voluntarily return to Mexico. Mandujano-Aguilar has been previously convicted multiple times for unlawful reentry after prior removal.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case with assistance from the Oxford County Sheriff's Office.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Memphis Tax Preparer Indicted for Preparing False Returns and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Memphis woman with helping prepare false tax returns for clients and tampering with witnesses in the government’s investigation. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment.
According to the indictment: From at least 2018 through 2024, Selma Brinson, 64, owned and operated a tax preparation business that she used to report false items on clients’ tax returns to generate inflated tax refunds. Among other false items, Brinson allegedly reported false fuel tax credits and false claims for residential energy credits on client returns. She received hundreds of thousands of dollars in client fees in exchange for preparing returns.
After learning she was the target of a federal grand jury investigation, Brinson allegedly encouraged at least two of her clients to tell federal investigators they did not recall their interactions with her. Even after Brinson’s tax preparation business was expelled from the IRS’s electronic filing program, she allegedly instructed a family member to apply for a new electronic filing number and then used that number to continue preparing and filing false tax returns with the IRS.
Brinson is charged with 24 counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns and two counts of witness tampering. If convicted, she faces maximum penalties of three years in prison for each count of assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and 20 years for each count of witness tampering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Caroline Pearson and Max Willner-Giwerc, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Tax Section, are prosecuting the case.
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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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to the Attempt to Assassinate then-Cabinet Member Nominee Scott Bessent at the U.S. CapitolRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ryan Michael English, 24, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today for charges related to the attempt to assassinate cabinet member nominee Scott Bessent, and carrying a dangerous weapon on the Grounds of the Capitol, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
English pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras to one count of unlawful receipt, possession, and/or transfer of a firearm and one count of carrying a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive, or incendiary device on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Judge Contreras scheduled sentencing for August 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
“Our system of justice depends on public officials being able to carry out their duties free from intimidation and fear,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This defendant’s threats crossed a clear legal line, and today’s guilty plea reflects our commitment to protecting those who serve. Anyone who threatens violence against government officials will be identified, charged, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Joining in the announcement was Chief Michael G. Sullivan of the U.S. Capitol Police.
According to court documents, about 3:12 p.m., on January 27, 2025, English approached a U.S. Capitol Police Officer near the South Door of the Capitol Building and stated “I’d like to turn myself in.” English further admitted to possessing a knife and two “Molotov Cocktails.”
Officers searched English and recovered a folding knife, as well as two improvised incendiary devices from the inside pockets of English’s jacket. The devices were constructed of 50 milliliter bottles of vodka with a grey cloth affixed to its top. Police recovered a green lighter from another pocket.
During the search, English allegedly confessed to being at the Capitol to kill a presidential nominee whose confirmation vote was scheduled that day before the U.S. Senate. Police recovered a note to a roommate in a pocket that said, in part, “This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters…Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying.”
English admitted to traveling to the District of Columbia with the intention of killing a government official or burning down a think-tank based in Washington, D.C.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan, who is detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the United States Capitol Police, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Wolf.
25-cr-00134
Mason City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison.
Victor Ineson, age 50, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after November 24, 2025, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, Ineson admitted that between about April 2024 and continuing to December 2024, he and another utilized the “dark web” to purchase approximately three pounds of methamphetamine which was shipped to them from the U.S. Postal Service for further distribution in the Iowa area. Ineson was previously convicted in 2017 in federal court of manufacturing counterfeit currency.
Ineson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Ineson was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Ineson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Clear Lake Police Department, and the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-03030.Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Marshall man armed with Glock-switch sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for $100 robberyRead the Press Release
MARSHALL, Texas – A Marshall man has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison in connection with a violent armed robbery in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jaquallon Tyjuan Hargett, 20, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Rodney Gilstrap on March 24, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on April 16, 2024, Hargett, armed with a pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, robbed an individual of $100 at an ATM in Daingerfield, Texas. A machinegun conversion device, also commonly referred to as a Glock-switch, is a small mechanism that can be attached to the rear of the slide of a firearm, converting a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machinegun.
“This case demonstrates why we cannot, and we will not, allow Glock-switches to proliferate on the streets of East Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “This sentence, 100 months in prison for robbing $100 from a citizen of our community, shows that crime simply does not pay on our watch. Law enforcement conducted an excellent investigation that brought this criminal to justice. They have my sincere appreciation.”
“Protecting the communities we serve is fundamental to the mission of my agency,” said Daingerfield Police Chief Tracy Climer. “This successful investigation was accomplished through swift collaboration and dedicated investigative work.”
“ATF is proud to stand alongside our local, state, and federal partners in bringing this offender to justice,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner. “This case highlights the real and growing danger posed by illegal machine gun conversion devices, which turn firearms into extremely lethal weapons. Through strong collaboration and determined investigative work, we were able to hold a violent offender accountable and make our communities safer. We will continue to prioritize cases like this to disrupt criminal activity and protect the public.”
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 was investigated by the Daingerfield Police Department; Marshall Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Texas Department of Public Safety and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Farahnak.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Online Neo-Nazi Group that Exploited Children into Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A Texas man and convicted rapist pleaded guilty to leading a child exploitation enterprise connected to an internet-based extremist group that entices and targets children into producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and images of self-harm. Kaleb Christopher Merritt, 26, also known as “eTerror,” of Spring, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise. Merritt is in federal custody in Los Angeles but also is serving a 33-year prison sentence in Virginia.
“This guilty plea exposes the depravity of CVLT, a criminal enterprise that systematically targeted vulnerable children, coerced them into producing abuse material, and threatened to destroy their lives if they resisted,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Merritt was one of the online administrators who made CVLT's monstruous machinery of child exploitation run. NSD thanks our law enforcement partners here and around the world whose work enabled the Department to bring these charges.”
“Going after dangerous pedophiles is one of the top priorities of our office,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “This sick, perverted criminal led an effort to prey on vulnerable children through the internet. The only way to keep the public safe is to lock him up in prison for as long as possible, and that’s exactly what we will fight for at sentencing.”
“This guilty plea marks a significant step toward accountability for the actions of this network of predators,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “HSI special agents uncovered this scheme through extensive investigation, analysis of electronic communication, and victim reporting to ultimately identify those responsible for this deplorable conduct.”
According to his plea agreement, Merritt was a member and leader of CVLT – pronounced “cult” – which was a group of individuals dedicated to the online sexual exploitation of children, primarily vulnerable girls. CVLT members, including Merritt, worked together online to entice and coerce children into self-producing CSAM and to engage in self-harm. CVLT members – Merritt included – hurt at least five minor victims.
CVLT consisted of multiple individuals, including Merritt and co-defendants Clint Jordan Lopaka Nahooikaika Borge, 42, also known as “Whoops,” of Pahoa, Hawaii, Rohan Rane, 29, and Collin John Thomas Walker, 24, also known as “Wrath,” of Bridgeton, New Jersey.
The purpose of CVLT’s child exploitation was to create an army of sadist followers. CVLT espoused neo-Nazism, nihilism, and pedophilia as its core principles, among others, and exposed children to material depicting and promoting these principles. This included repeated uses of Nazi symbols and language and the distribution of bondage, discipline, sadist, and masochistic (BDSM) and gore CSAM.
The defendants each joined the CVLT as early as 2020 and served as leaders of the group, including hosting servers, controlling membership and access, and directing and instructing victims during the creation of CVLT extortion videos and other materials.
Together, the defendants groomed and coerced numerous minors into self-harm by exposing them to violent and extremist content and extreme philosophies, such as neo-Nazism, nihilism, pedophilia, and anarchy. Having degraded and groomed the children, the defendants would then knowingly employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce children to self-produce CSAM and self-harm.
United States District Judge Hernán D. Vera for the Central District of California scheduled a Jan. 7, 2027 sentencing hearing, at which time Merritt will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Rane is in custody in France on CSAM-related charges pending extradition to the United States. Walker and Borge pleaded guilty in October 2025 and December 2025, respectively, to one count of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and are expected to be sentenced in the coming months. They remain in federal custody.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Los Angeles Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia), the Iowa State University Police, Police Nationale (France), the National Crime Agency (United Kingdom), the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs, and EUROPOL are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kellye Ng of the Major Crimes Section and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case.
This case is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Man Admits Being Caught with MCD-Equipped Guns Three Times in St. LouisRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man caught three times with firearms equipped with devices that convert them into machine guns pleaded guilty Wednesday to gun charges.
Deverin Myers, 22, of University City, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a machine gun and one count of receiving a firearm while under indictment.
On Aug. 21, 2024, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detectives spotted Myers, who had a pistol equipped with a red machinegun conversion device (MCD) sticking out of his pocket, and other armed men in the 2900 block of James “Cool Papa” Bell Avenue. Myers was arrested and police recovered a Shadow Systems MR920 .40 S&W caliber pistol, loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition. Myers knew that he had an MCD, as he had arrested in possession of an MCD in 2023 and was charged in St. Louis Circuit Court with possession of an illegal weapon in 2024. An MCD converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm.
On Aug. 18, 2025, SLMPD officers observed a blue Audi parked in front of a vacant property in the same block of James “Cool Papa” Bell Avenue. When officers approached, the vehicle sped off, violating stop signs and traffic signals. The Audi became disabled in the 3400 block of North 22nd Street and the driver and Myers ran away. Myers discarded a micro-Draco pistol as he ran, and officers later found a Glock 19 pistol equipped with an MCD and loaded with 35 rounds of ammunition in the same location. The Draco pistol had been bought five days earlier, after Myers was indicted and arraigned on the 2024 charge.
At sentencing, Myers faces up to 10 years in prison for the machine gun charges and up to five years in prison on the other gun charge.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
Lynn Man Charged with Receiving Stolen Government Money and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man was charged today in federal court in Boston with receiving stolen Social Security benefits and making false statements.
James C. Burdulis, 56, was charged with one count of receiving stolen government money or property and one count of false statements. Burdulis will make an appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
As alleged in the charging document, Burdulis received approximately $63,959 in stolen Social Security benefits from June 2019 through June 2025. Additionally, Burdulis allegedly submitted a fraudulent representative payee report to the Social Security Administration in June 2024. The charging document further alleges that Burdulis stated on the fraudulent report that he spent money received from the Social Security Administration on behalf of a beneficiary in 2023 and 2024, but that the beneficiary died several years earlier in 2019.
The charge of receiving stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Local Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled by Joint Federal and State InvestigationRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – On February 11, 2026, a federal Grand Jury in Paducah returned an Indictment charging four people with conspiring to distribute controlled substances in McCracken County.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Chief Brian Laird of the Paducah Police Department, Sheriff Ryan Norman of the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department, Chief Steve Bryan of the Madisonville Police Department, Sheriff Nicky Knight of the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, and Nathan Kent of the Mayfield Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, federal and state partners have been investigating Demarlo Henderson, 41, of Paducah, Kentucky, and his drug trafficking organization (DTO), including Lafaeabeian Stingley, 54, of Hickory, Kentucky, and others for the past several months. Henderson has two prior federal convictions for trafficking in cocaine and is currently on federal supervision in the Western District of Kentucky. Between December 12, 2024, and January 18, 2026, the group obtained and distributed large amounts of cocaine in and around McCracken County. On January 8, 2026, federal search warrants were executed at numerous residences and locations in McCracken and Graves Counties. The search warrants resulted in the seizure of large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, and U.S. currency. On January 17, 2026, agents intercepted 2 kilograms of cocaine destined for the DTO. The investigation revealed that the cocaine had been ordered by the DTO from a source, identified as Toddriquez Bradley, 38, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Bradley has a prior federal conviction for trafficking in cocaine and is currently on federal supervision in the Middle District of Louisiana. On that date, Bradley sent a runner, Joseph K. Baker, 38, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana to deliver the drugs to the DTO. Baker was arrested when he arrived in Paducah with 2 kilograms of cocaine. Bradley was subsequently arrested in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Henderson was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, three counts of distribution of cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Stingley was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Baker and Bradley were each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, Henderson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and up to life; Stingley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life; Baker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life; and Bradley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life.
“Because of exceptional law enforcement work, large quantities of poison were seized before they hit the streets of Paducah,” said U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner. “Now, our office will vigorously prosecute these defendants to finish the strong work started by investigators. Justice will be served.”
“This case highlights the tenacity of DEA agents and our law enforcement partners, who worked tirelessly for more than a year to shut down a source of supply for drugs flowing into Western Kentucky,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “Mr. Henderson and his associates should expect to experience the full weight of our justice system for their efforts to poison our communities with illicit drugs.”
“The safety of our citizens is a top priority and this investigation demonstrates our commitment to the Paducah community,” said Paducah Police Chief Brian Laird. “Our partnership with the DEA, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and regional agencies is essential to these efforts. This collaboration stopped a significant amount of drugs from entering our community and is holding repeat offenders fully accountable for their actions.”
McCracken County Sheriff Ryan Norman stated, “When agencies come together to protect the public, good outcomes happen. This is a direct result of law enforcement officers being solely concerned with protecting our residents, our children, from these dangerous drugs. We have great cooperation in our area and it shows in the results.”
The defendants will make their initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentences after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty with assistance from the Paducah Police Department, McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police, United States Postal Inspectors Service, Hopkinsville Police Department, Madisonville Police Department, Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, and Mayfield Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Land O’Lakes Woman Charged with Assisting After the Fact and Evidence Tampering Related to an Attempt to Detonate an Improvised Explosive Device at MacDill Air Force BaseRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Ann Mary Zheng (27, Land O’Lakes) has been charged by indictment with assisting after the fact related to her brother, Alen Zheng, placing an improvised explosive device at the MacDill Air Force Base Visitor’s Center in Tampa and evidence tampering. If convicted on all counts, Ann Mary Zheng faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Ann Mary Zheng that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $5,000, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Ann Mary Zheng, knowing that her brother, Alen Zheng, had attempted to damage government property by fire or explosion, assisted him in order to hinder and prevent his apprehension, trial, and punishment. The indictment also charges Ann Mary Zheng with corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating, and concealing a 2010 black Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in the federal prosecution of Alen Zheng.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stoia and David P. Sullivan.
IndictmentLand O’Lakes Man Charged for Attempting to Detonate an Improvised Explosive Device at MacDill Air Force BaseRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Alen Zheng (20, Land O’Lakes) has been charged by indictment with attempted damage of government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. If convicted, Zheng faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment and statements made in court, on the evening of March 10, 2026, Zheng unsuccessfully attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device at the MacDill Airforce Base Visitor’s Center in Tampa. Law enforcement later discovered the device, ensured it was safely disassembled, and determined it to be an improvised explosive device.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stoia and David P. Sullivan.
IndictmentKanawha County Man Sentenced to More than 21 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tracey Brown, 46, of Chelyan, was sentenced today to 21 years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about December 12, 2023, Brown obtained approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine in the Dayton, Ohio, area and transported the controlled substance to an Elkview, West Virginia, residence where he was living. Brown admitted that he distributed approximately 1 pound of the methamphetamine and intended to distribute the remaining methamphetamine with another person in the Southern District of West Virginia.
On December 13, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Elkview residence and seized the remaining methamphetamine.
Brown has a criminal history that includes more than 30 convictions for such offenses as malicious assault, assault, escape from work-release, destruction of property and multiple counts each of unlawful assault, battery, and violation of a protective order.
“The message should be loud and clear — if you traffic drugs in our community, we will identify you, arrest you, and hold you accountable,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Thanks to the dedicated and professional police work by our law enforcement partners, Brown was prevented from distributing a massive amount of dangerous drugs in the Southern District of West Virginia.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force for their investigation of this case. The U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force consists of members of the Mingo County Sheriff's Office, the Logan County Sheriff's Office, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, and the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum and former Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-16.
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Justice Department Sues SeaWorld and Other Theme Parks over Wheeled Walker BanRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (collectively, the “Department”) filed a lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts Inc. and its subsidiaries (UPR), alleging UPR’s policy banning guests with disabilities from using wheeled walkers with seats, including rollators, violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). UPR is a global theme park and entertainment company that owns, leases, or operates twelve parks and experiences in the United States, including SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando, and Aquatica Orlando.
“The ADA requires equal access for people with disabilities, and theme parks such as SeaWorld are no exception,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Under my leadership, the Division is committed to defending the rights of all Americans with disabilities, as the law requires.”
“The ADA requires theme park companies like UPR to provide guests with equal access, regardless of ability,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “This complaint reinforces our commitment to holding public accommodations in the Middle District of Florida accountable when they engage in disability discrimination.”
The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability by public accommodations, including UPR and its theme parks. The ADA requires UPR to permit individuals with disabilities to use manually powered mobility aids, including walkers, in areas open for pedestrian use.
The Department sued UPR based on complaints from many people with disabilities alleging UPR would not allow them to enter its parks with their wheeled walkers with seats. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleges that UPR’s policy banning wheeled walkers with seats prevented children, veterans, and other individuals with disabilities from accessing the parks, facially violating the ADA. The civil complaint also alleges that UPR imposes impermissible surcharges on guests with disabilities in the form of rental fees and refuses to reasonably modify UPR’s policies, practices, or procedures, where necessary, to avoid discriminating against guests with disabilities.
The lawsuit seeks a court order to force UPR to stop discriminating against individuals with disabilities, to modify its policies to comply with the ADA, and to train its staff on the ADA. The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages to compensate aggrieved individuals subjected to UPR’s discrimination and demands UPR pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.
If you believe you have been a victim of disability discrimination by United Parks & Resorts Inc., including parks such as SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando, and Aquatica Orlando, please file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division online at www.civilrights.justice.gov, or by calling the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (1-833-610-1264 (TTY)). For more information on the ADA and the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.ada.gov or www.justice.gov/crt.
Justice Department Sues SeaWorld and Other Theme Parks over Wheeled Walker BanRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL - Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (collectively, the “Department”) filed a lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts Inc. and its subsidiaries (UPR), alleging UPR’s policy banning guests with disabilities from using wheeled walkers with seats, including rollators, violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). UPR is a global theme park and entertainment company that owns, leases, or operates twelve parks and experiences in the United States, including SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando, and Aquatica Orlando.
“The ADA requires theme park companies like UPR to provide guests with equal access, regardless of ability,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “This complaint reinforces our commitment to holding public accommodations in the Middle District of Florida accountable when they engage in disability discrimination.”
“The ADA requires equal access for people with disabilities, and theme parks such as SeaWorld are no exception,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Under my leadership, the Division is committed to defending the rights of all Americans with disabilities, as the law requires.”
The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability by public accommodations, including UPR and its theme parks. The ADA requires UPR to permit individuals with disabilities to use manually powered mobility aids, including walkers, in areas open for pedestrian use.
The Department sued UPR based on complaints from many people with disabilities alleging UPR would not allow them to enter its parks with their wheeled walkers with seats. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleges that UPR’s policy banning wheeled walkers with seats prevented children, veterans, and other individuals with disabilities from accessing the parks, facially violating the ADA. The civil complaint also alleges that UPR imposes impermissible surcharges on guests with disabilities in the form of rental fees and refuses to reasonably modify UPR’s policies, practices, or procedures, where necessary, to avoid discriminating against guests with disabilities.
The lawsuit seeks a court order to force UPR to stop discriminating against individuals with disabilities, to modify its policies to comply with the ADA, and to train its staff on the ADA. The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages to compensate aggrieved individuals subjected to UPR’s discrimination and demands UPR pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.
If you believe you have been a victim of disability discrimination by United Parks & Resorts Inc., including parks such as SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando, and Aquatica Orlando, please file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division online at www.civilrights.justice.gov, or by calling the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (1-833-610-1264 (TTY)). For more information on the ADA and the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.ada.gov or www.justice.gov/crt.
Justice Department Sues New York-Presbyterian Hospital for Anticompetitive Contracts That Increase Healthcare Costs for New YorkersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today challenging The New York and Presbyterian Hospital’s (New York-Presbyterian) anticompetitive contract restrictions that deny New Yorkers the choice of lower cost healthcare options.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charges New York-Presbyterian with violating Section 1 of the Sherman Act. New York-Presbyterian is the largest and most powerful hospital system in New York City. It owns and operates eight hospitals and many outpatient facilities in the New York City area. The suit seeks to enjoin New York-Presbyterian from imposing contractual restrictions that preclude insurers and employers from offering New Yorkers budget-conscious health insurance plans. This is the second case the Division has brought this year to ensure that Americans can access healthcare markets with robust competition and receive high quality, affordable care.
“Millions of New Yorkers pay more for healthcare because of these anticompetitive practices,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “At the direction of President Trump, this Justice Department will fight relentlessly to ensure that Americans get the healthcare they need without facing exorbitant costs.”
“Healthcare is a vital sector of our nation’s economy that touches the life of every single American,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “New York-Presbyterian has known for years that the American consumer wants budget-conscious health plans that reduce healthcare costs. But rather than offer consumers choice, New York-Presbyterian uses its market power to protect its margins, impede competition from rival hospitals, and prevent employers and unions from creating these plans. The Antitrust Division will continue to hold hospitals violating the antitrust laws accountable. I am grateful for the dedicated work of our staff and the Southern District of New York in this matter.”
“The high cost of healthcare is frustrating to every New Yorker,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “Our Office will continue to work with our partners in the Antitrust Division to investigate and confront anticompetitive practices that contribute to higher healthcare costs.”
As alleged in the complaint, New York-Presbyterian imposes plan restrictions in its contracts with payors that prevent payors from offering plans that, for example, do not include New York-Presbyterian or do not feature New York-Presbyterian in the most favored tier of the plan. New York-Presbyterian even forbids payors from offering lower copays when patients chose to receive care at New York-Presbyterian’s — often lower priced — rivals. These unlawful restrictions insulate New York-Presbyterian from price competition, limiting its rival hospitals from competing for patients based on lower prices or better value, and prevent the development of budget-conscious plans for New Yorkers that are available in other parts of the United States.
Justice Department Secures the Denaturalization of Convicted Gun Trafficker and Health Care Fraudster, and Files Complaint Against Marriage ScammerRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it has secured the denaturalization of two individuals who obtained U.S. citizenship through fraud and sued to revoke the citizenship of a third person that secured naturalization by marriage fraud.
“American citizenship is a sacred privilege — not a cheap status that can be obtained dishonestly,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These actions reflect this Department of Justice's ongoing efforts to strip citizenship from people who conceal crimes or defraud the American people during the immigration process.”
Ukrainian Arms Smuggler Concealed Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms Parts Abroad
On March 23, the Justice Department secured the denaturalization of Vladimir Volgaev, a native of Ukraine who concealed and misrepresented his involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle over a thousand firearms components out of the United States and ship them to foreign markets.
“This case sends a clear message,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “The United States provided Volgaev with safety, housing, and citizenship, and he returned those gains with malice, including by defrauding one of the federal agencies that provided him benefits. We will not reward this kind of behavior by allowing such an individual to retain U.S. citizenship that should not have been granted in the first place.”
Starting in 2011, Volgaev engaged in the clandestine purchase, packaging and smuggling of firearm components to individuals in Ukraine and Italy. Also, beginning in 2013, Volgaev engaged in federal housing benefits fraud by underreporting his assets and income on applications for federal housing benefits. A federal court convicted him of Smuggling Goods from the United States and Theft of Government Money or Property in 2020, after he had naturalized as a U.S. citizen on January 11, 2016.
On Sept. 30, 2025, the Justice Department filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida seeking Volgaev’s denaturalization based on his crimes and his failure to disclose them during his naturalization process.
On March 23, the court entered an order revoking Volgaev’s U.S. citizenship. The court held that Volgaev committed unlawful acts during the period prior to his naturalization in which he was required to show good moral character, thus making him ineligible for naturalization. Also, the court found that Volgaev provided false testimony regarding his criminal background and procured his U.S. citizenship by willfully misrepresenting these facts.
This case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christopher Lyerla of the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Felix Romero and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.
Miami-Dade Resident Was Convicted of Swindling Over $6 Million In Medicare Claims
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued an order on March 24 revoking the 2017 naturalization of Mirelys Cabrera Diaz, a native of Cuba and resident of Hialeah, Florida. Cabrera Diaz illegally procured her citizenship because she committed unlawful acts — namely a health care fraud conspiracy — before she naturalized that disqualified her from United States citizenship.
In 2019, Cabrera Diaz, then 42, was convicted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida of conspiring to commit health care fraud. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 29 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of over $6 million. When she pleaded guilty, she admitted that she willfully conspired to commit health care fraud in the years before she became a United States citizen. She specifically admitted that, between August 2011 and March 2014, she and her co-conspirators paid kickbacks to patient recruiters for referring fraudulent prescriptions to the pharmacy where she worked. She admitted to maintaining a log of how much money was owed to each recruiter for fraudulent prescriptions. She also admitted that she was aware that the pharmacy was submitting reimbursement claims for the fraudulent prescriptions to the Medicare Part D program, for which the government paid over $6 million in reimbursements for prescription drugs that were not dispensed.
The U.S. district court held that Cabrera Diaz illegally procured her naturalization. Among the requirements for naturalization, Cabrera Diaz was required to show that she was a person of good moral character during the “statutory period” from five years before she applied for naturalization until she took the oath of citizenship. The court concluded that she could not establish the required good moral character for naturalization because she conspired to commit health care fraud, which reflected adversely on her moral character, and there were no extenuating circumstances to excuse her actions.
The case was investigated by ICE and litigated by the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation.
Justice Department Sues to Revoke U.S. Citizenship Because Of Immigration Fraud
In U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the Justice Department filed a civil denaturalization complaint on March 17 against Alec Nasreddine Kassir, also known as Alec Kassir and Ali Nasreddine Kassir. Kassir is a native of Lebanon and resident of Miami.
The United States seeks an order revoking Kassir’s naturalization based on his false statements made under penalty of perjury on his naturalization application and under oath in his naturalization interview. Kassir falsely represented that he had been living with a U.S. citizen spouse, during the three years immediately preceding the filing of his naturalization application in March 2010.
On Nov. 14, 2018, he pleaded guilty to passport fraud in the Southern District of Florida. In his criminal proceedings, Kassir admitted that he obtained his U.S. passport through the fraudulent procurement of his naturalization. Specifically, he admitted that he was not living in martial union — or even in the same state — with his purported U.S. citizen spouse; rather, but they separated in 2009 and Kassir moved to Florida. Kassir’s immigration fraud was uncovered during an investigation into his trafficking of counterfeit goods after he naturalized, for which he was convicted of conspiring to commit money laundering.
The complaint alleges that Kassir should be denaturalized for three reasons. First, he illegally procured U.S. citizenship because he was not living in marital union with his U.S. citizen spouse for the three years before he applied for naturalization as required by statute. Second, he illegally procured naturalization because he was statutorily barred from showing that he was a person of good moral character during the statutory period of his naturalization. He was unable to demonstrate good moral character because he falsely testified under oath at his naturalization interview that he was living in Michigan, when, in fact, he had moved to Florida. Third, he procured his naturalization by concealing his separation from his U.S. citizen spouse and his move to Florida.
The case was investigated by ICE-HSI and will be litigated by the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Justice Department Notifies California of Investigation into Whether Housing Biological Men at Women’s Prisons Violates ConstitutionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The United States Department of Justice today sent a letter of legal notice to California Gov. Gavin Newsom informing him of the commencement of a federal investigation into two state women’s prisons to determine if those prisons unconstitutionally provided housing and preferential treatment to biological male prisoners within those prisons’ walls.
The Justice Department will investigate whether California engages in a pattern or practice of violating the constitutional rights of female prisoners incarcerated at the California Institution for Women (CIW) in San Bernardino County and the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Madera County.
The investigation will be conducted under two federal statutes: the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA). Today’s letter of legal notice is required under CRIPA.
“California’s Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act has provided none of these qualities to the female inmates of state prisons who have been forced to share space with biological men who are violent felons,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Our Constitution protects women from having their civil rights violated by harmful state legislation wrapped in the language of ‘equity’ and ‘progress.’”
“Under my leadership, the Civil Rights Division will not allow women incarcerated in jails or prisons to be subject to unconstitutional risks of harm from male inmates,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “These investigations will uncover whether the dangerous national trend of housing men in women’s prisons has resulted in violations of women’s constitutional rights.”
Specifically, the Justice Department will investigate widely reported allegations of deprivation of female prisoners’ rights, including the First Amendment’s guarantees of freedom of speech and free exercise of religion, the Eighth Amendment’s protection from cruel and unusual punishment, and the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. There have been allegations of sexual assaults, attempted rapes, voyeurism, and a pervasive climate of sexual intimidation due to the presence of males in the women’s prison.
Since California’s Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act took effect in January 2021, men in state prisons, including violent felons charged with sex crimes and who have intact genitals, can request transfer to women’s prisons based on self-identification as transgender.
The Department has not reached any conclusions regarding allegations in these matters. The Department will investigate CIW, CCWF, and MCC Windham pursuant to its authority to enforce the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). Under CRIPA, the Department has the authority to investigate violations of prisoners’ constitutional rights that result from a “pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such rights.”
The Department has conducted CRIPA investigations of many correctional systems, and where violations have been found, the resulting settlement agreements have led to important reforms. The Department will also investigate CIW and CCWF under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via civilrights.justice.gov/report. The Department is also collecting information on men housed in women’s jails and prisons anywhere in the country. Individuals can reach the National Initiative Examining the Housing of Biological Men in Women’s Prisons at (202) 616-5939 or [email protected]. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.
Today’s letter is separate and unrelated to an existing CRIPA investigation into alleged abuse of female inmates by prison staff at CCWF and CIW.
Justice Department Notifies California and Maine of Investigations into Whether Housing Biological Men in Women’s Prisons Violates ConstitutionRead the Press Release
Today, the United States Department of Justice notified California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Maine Gov. Janet Mills of the initiation of federal investigations into California’s and Maine’s practice of housing men in women’s prisons.
The Justice Department will investigate whether California engages in a pattern or practice of violating the constitutional rights of female prisoners incarcerated at the California Institution for Women (CIW) in San Bernardino County and the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Madera County. The Justice Department also will investigate whether Maine similarly engages in a pattern or practice of violating constitutional rights of women incarcerated at Maine Correctional Center in Windham (MCC Windham).
“Keeping men out of women’s prisons is not only common sense – it’s a matter of safety and constitutional rights,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Trump Administration will not stand by if governors are facilitating the abuse of biological women under the guise of inclusion.”
“Under my leadership, the Civil Rights Division will not allow women incarcerated in jails or prisons to be subject to unconstitutional risks of harm from male inmates,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “These investigations will uncover whether the dangerous national trend of housing men in women’s prisons has resulted in violations of women’s constitutional rights.”
“California’s Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act has provided none of these qualities to the female inmates of state prisons who have been forced to share space with biological men who are violent felons,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “Our Constitution protects women from having their civil rights violated by harmful state legislation wrapped in the language of ‘equity’ and ‘progress.’”
“Incarcerated individuals can be particularly susceptible to having their rights violated,” said Andrew B. Benson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Maine citizens, no matter where they live, and will work with our colleagues in the Civil Rights Division to ensure that this vulnerable population is protected from harm while housed in state custody.”
In California, the Justice Department will investigate widely reported allegations of deprivation of female prisoners’ rights, including the First Amendment’s guarantees of freedom of speech and free exercise of religion, the Eighth Amendment’s protection from cruel and unusual punishment, and the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. There have been allegations of sexual assaults, rape, voyeurism and a pervasive climate of sexual intimidation due to the presence of males in the women’s prison.
Under California law, men in state prisons, including violent felons charged with sex crimes and who have intact genitals, can request transfer to women’s prisons based on self-identification as transgender.
In Maine, the Justice Department will investigate allegations that Maine has allowed a biological male inmate to remain housed with women despite complaints that the male inmate has assaulted or harassed several female inmates.
The Department has not reached any conclusions regarding allegations in these matters. The Department will investigate CIW, CCWF, and MCC Windham pursuant to its authority to enforce the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). Under CRIPA, the Department has the authority to investigate violations of prisoners’ constitutional rights that result from a “pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such rights.” The Department has conducted CRIPA investigations of many correctional systems, and where violations have been found, the resulting settlement agreements have led to important reforms. The Department will also investigate CIW and CCWF under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via civilrights.justice.gov/report/. The Department is also collecting information on men housed in women’s jails and prisons anywhere in the country. Individuals can reach the National Initiative Examining the Housing of Biological Men in Women’s Prisons at (202) 616-5939 or [email protected]. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.
Today’s notice to California is separate and unrelated to an existing CRIPA investigation into alleged abuse of female inmates by prison staff at CCWF and CIW.
Jury convicts Houston man in relation to fatal fast-food restaurant shooting with machine gunRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 27-year-old local resident has been convicted of possession of a machine gun, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
A federal jury sitting in Houston deliberated for approximately three hours before convicting Tyler John Jordan following a three-day trial.
The case involved a deadly shooting that occurred March 16, 2025, at the McDonalds located on North Fry Road in Katy.
The jury heard evidence that Jordan and others entered the restaurant intending to start a fight with another group of individuals. During the altercation, multiple bullets were fired into the crowded lobby from a Glock pistol that was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a switch. One of the bullets struck and killed a 61-year-old innocent bystander.
The investigation revealed a video on Jordan’s phone showing him holding the weapon approximately five hours before it was used in the shooting.
A crime scene investigator and other law enforcement officers testified about how Jordan had attempted to lie numerous times throughout the case. The jury saw evidence that Jordan was a gun fanatic and heard he had previously admitted to possessing the firearm and knowing it was a machine gun.
However, the defense attempted to convince the jury Jordan was not aware the gun was equipped with a switch and that his confession was false. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett presided over trial and set sentencing for June 25. At that time, Jordan faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Harris County Sheriff’s Office and FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anh-Khoa Tran and Charles Hagerman are prosecuting the case.
Jury Convicts Tampa Resident for Sending Instagram Death ThreatRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Elizabeth Danielle Rowe (25, Tampa), a/k/a Simon Roe, guilty of transmitting interstate a threat to injure. Rowe faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 24, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to evidence presented at trial, on January 24, 2025, Rowe sent the following message on Instagram to New York victim A.A.: “I am coming to kill you. I will kill your pets first while you watch. Die c*nt.” The victim, who did not recognize the Rowe’s account, immediately notified her family of the threatening message and sought protective services from security personnel. Around the same time as sending the threatening message to A.A., Rowe sent several threatening messages to other Instagram users. Rowe later admitted in a separate set of messages that Rowe got “banned for dming [Zionists] telling them to kill themselves.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.
Jose Ignacio De La Cruz De La Rosa, a/k/a, “Nacho,” Charged with Bringing Aliens to the United States and Producing Fraudulent Identity DocumentsRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on February 19, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jose Ignacio De La Cruz De La Rosa, also known as “Nacho,” 30, recently of Burlington, Vermont, and two other defendants whose identities remain sealed, with conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States, bringing aliens to the United States, conspiracy to produce identity documents, and producing fraudulent identity documents.
De La Cruz De La Rosa was arrested by federal agents this morning, and is scheduled to have an initial appearance and arraignment this afternoon before Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss. The United States has filed a motion seeking De La Cruz De La Rosa’s detention pending trial.
According to court records, De La Cruz De La Rosa allegedly participated in a multi-year conspiracy to illegally bring aliens to the United States and to transport them within the United States in furtherance of their illegal entry. De La Cruz De La Rosa also allegedly participated in a multi-year conspiracy to produce identity documents. As a part of this alleged conspiracy, De La Cruz De La Rosa renewed Vermont driver’s privilege cards for aliens living outside of Vermont and took learner’s privilege tests on behalf of others. De La Cruz De La Rosa allegedly received $500 per card.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that De La Cruz De La Rosa is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. De La Cruz De La Rosa faces up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations. “The nine-count indictment alleges that between November of 2022 and June of 2025, De La Cruz De La Rosa smuggled people across international borders and fraudulently obtained Vermont identification documents for people living outside Vermont,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ophardt. “These are serious criminal offenses. I am grateful for the careful and thorough investigation conducted by our law enforcement partners.”
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker. De La Cruz De La Rosa is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
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.
Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Hotel with a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Denzel Demoree’a Prince (28, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in connection with a Jacksonville hotel robbery. Prince faces a minimum penalty of 7 years, up to life plus 20 years, in federal prison. His sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on September 8, 2025, Prince approached a vending machine near the pool at a hotel in Jacksonville. He then walked to the front window that led to the front desk area to speak with an employee at the hotel to request money back from the vending machine. The employee told Prince that he would need to come back in the morning. A few minutes later, Prince knocked on the back window of the front desk area. The employee saw that Prince was wearing the same clothing that he had on moments before, but this time he had a green/camouflage style mask pulled up to his nose in an attempt to conceal his identity. He was also in possession of a firearm.
Surveillance video from inside the hotel showed Prince pointing the firearm at the employee before throwing a brick through the window. Prince then climbed through the window, walked behind the front desk counter and opened several drawers before locating the cash register. Prince pulled cash from the register before running out of the rear door.
During the investigation, officers identified Prince and obtained a search warrant for his residence. Inside Prince’s home, officers located clothing that matched the description of the robber, including white pants, white shoes, green shorts, and a camouflage bandana.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Peter Anthony Pappas, 41, of Jackson, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his online exploitation of several minors from January to March 2024. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Pappas was federally indicted for using deception to manipulate several minors into providing him with confidential information which he used for fraudulent purposes. Specifically, Pappas used the information to gain unauthorized access to online accounts belonging to the minor victims – including social media, cloud storage, and email accounts. Pappas then used the information obtained from those accounts to both exploit the victims and to target new victims. Pappas’s goal was to obtain sexually explicit images and/or videos from the victims, many of whom he knew were minor children.
Following his guilty plea to two counts of attempted production of child pornography, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Pappas to 30 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Production of child pornography is a disturbing crime that endangers and harms real child victims. We will always seek significant and mandatory minimum sentences for such despicable and predatory behavior, and this successful prosecution has incapacitated a real threat to our children and our community in West Tennessee."
This case was investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Iowa City Man and Honduran National Sentenced to 42 years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man and Honduran national was sentenced on March 26, 2026, to 42 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.
According to public court documents, Martin Edgardo Menjivar, 59, produced and possessed child sexual abuse material of children he had access to. An April 2025 forensic examination of Menjivar’s cell phones showed that he used the devices to view and possess images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Menjivar has a pending charge for Sexual Abuse, Second Degree, in the Iowa District Court for Johnson County.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Menjivar will be required to serve a 10-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department and United States Marshals Service investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced on March 25, 2026, to seven years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.
According to public court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip that an account later determined to be associated with Jose Manuel Parsons, 40, received and uploaded files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement examined an electronic device seized at Parsons’ arrest and social media content that showed Parsons communicated with minors, including a minor in Michigan who sent Parsons child sexual abuse material. For multiple years, Parsons worked for traveling carnival companies and had access to children.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Parsons will be required to serve a 10-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Indian National Illegally in U.S. Pleads Guilty to Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Harshpreet Singh, 25, an Indian national illegally in the U.S., entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Catherine Henry to possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States.
The defendant was charged by indictment in October of last year.
As detailed in court filings, on August 28, 2024, at approximately 1:17 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police troopers and Bethel Township Police Department officers responded to a Bethel, Pennsylvania, residence for a report of a shooting incident relating to a home invasion. At the same time, Berks County police dispatch advised officers of a call for a gunshot victim at a gas station less than half a mile away from the residence.
Officers found A.S., charged elsewhere, inside of a vehicle at the gas pumps with a gunshot wound to the torso, with the defendant and a co-defendant also in the vehicle.
After A.S. was transported to the hospital for treatment, police officers canvassed the area around the gas station and discovered two firearms in a gravel lot across the street: a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 12 live rounds of ammunition; and a privately manufactured firearm bearing no serial number, loaded with 17 live rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Another firearm, a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 13 live rounds of ammunition, was located in the yard of the residence that had reported the home invasion.
Forensic testing on the three guns subsequently found a DNA profile consistent with a mixture of four contributors, with Harshpreet Singh included as a potential contributor to this mixture profile.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9 and faces a maximum possible term of 15 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Bethel Township (Berks County) Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalynda M. Michetti.
Illegal Alien from Venezuela Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Robinson Abrahan Esparragoza Regalado, 26, a Venezuelan national, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea.
United States Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from our communities. This successful prosecution delivers on that goal, and we will continue aggressively prosecuting dangerous aliens like this defendant to ensure our citizens have the safe streets they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that on November 25, 2025, Esparragoza Regalado was in possession of a 9mm pistol equipped with a 33-round extended magazine, which was almost fully loaded with ammunition. The firearm was located during a traffic stop on Interstate 75. Esparragoza Regalado is illegally present in the United States, and was therefore prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
Esparragoza Regalado faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Esparragoza Regalado is also likely to be deported at the conclusion of serving his sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Gainesville, Florida before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner 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.
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.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tito Arias-Castellon, a/k/a Tito Castellon Arias, a/k/a Tito Castello Arias-Castellon, a/k/a Tito Ely Arias-Castellon, age 26, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Indictment alleged that on February 18, 2026, Arias-Castellon, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on October 15, 2018, and January 15, 2020.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, 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.
Arias-Castellon will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Cornell and Kristin Knutson represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Federally Charged with Assault After Allegedly Hitting Deputy U.S. Marshal with Pickup Truck While Fleeing Traffic StopRead the Press Release
An illegal alien who allegedly hit a uniformed Deputy U.S. Marshal with his pickup truck while trying to flee the scene of a traffic stop in Dallas has been federally charged with assaulting a federal officer, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Senel Galiano Sagastume, 43, a citizen of Guatemala illegally residing in the United States, was charged by federal complaint on March 24, 2026. According to the complaint, officers initiated a traffic stop and had Sagastume pull to the side of the road. When Sagastume and his passengers refused to roll down the windows, officers breached the truck windows. Sagastume then allegedly put the Silverado in drive and accelerated toward a uniformed Deputy United States Marshal, wedging him between Sagastume’s truck and a law enforcement vehicle and causing bodily injury to the Marshal. Sagastume’s actions also caused visible damage to the Marshal’s uniform, as depicted in the photos contained in the complaint:
As alleged in the complaint, Sagastume fled the scene to a Richardson, Texas apartment complex and ran inside an apartment. Officers arrested him following an hours-long standoff.
If convicted, Sagastume faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison for the charge of forcibly assaulting a federal officer and inflicting bodily injury. Sagastume appeared before a United States Magistrate Judge in Dallas on March 25, 2026, for an initial appearance on the charges. He remains in federal custody pending further court proceedings.The Federal Bureau of Investigation—Dallas Field Office and United States Marshal Service conducted the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas is handling the prosecution.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Honduran National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – UBALDO YASIR AMAYA-COLINDRES, age 27, a citizen of Honduras, was charged on March 16, 2026 by bill of information with illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of 8 U.S.C. ' 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the bill of information, UBALDO YASIR AMAYA-COLINDRES reentered the United States sometime prior to March 1, 2026, after having been previously removed on or about June 13, 2024.
If convicted, UBALDO YASIR AMAYA-COLINDRES faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Honduran Illegal Alien Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CARLOS ROBERTO GUARDADO-RAMIREZ (“GUARDADO-RAMIREZ”), age 46, a native of Honduras, pleaded guilty on March 18, 2026, to re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. His sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Greg Guidry on April 22, 2026.
According to court records, GUARDADO-RAMIREZ was found in the United States on December 3, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States after being previously deported on May 4, 2006.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans received information that GUARDADO-RAMIREZ, had been previously removed from the United States and had returned. GUARDADO-RAMIREZ was encountered by ICE Enforcement and Removal Officers in LaPlace, Louisiana on December 3, 2025. GUARDADO-RAMIREZ was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Officers in LaPlace, Louisiana for re-entering the United States after removal.
GUARDADO-RAMIREZ faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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