Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 18 March 2026
South Carolina woman sentenced to prison for multi-state unemployment insurance fraudRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, Georgia: A South Carolina woman was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay substantial restitution for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.
Ricki Johnson, 42, of Trenton, South Carolina, was sentenced to 54 months in prison after pleading guilty to Mail Fraud, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Johnson to pay restitution and criminal forfeiture of $104,632 and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Relaxed rules during the pandemic era made it easier for individuals to access many government-provided services, but unfortunately it opened the floodgates for scammers who took advantage of the system to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will identify these criminals and hold them accountable.”
In March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds.
As described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period Johnson electronically submitted false unemployment insurance benefit applications to approximately 18 states. Seven of those states (Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania) paid out approximately $104,632 in benefits to her. Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Johnson through the U.S. Mail.
Johnson and her mother, Cheryl Galloway, 66, of Yulee, Florida, subsequently were named in a seven-count indictment in the Southern District of Georgia in May 2025, alleging their participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits in multiple states.
Galloway, who is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud and three counts of Mail Fraud, awaits further court proceedings. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Her son and Johnson’s brother, identified in court as the late Nick Morrison, was listed as an unnamed co-conspirator in the indictment.
“Ricki Johnson and her co-conspirators stole from American taxpayers – filing fraudulent unemployment claims across multiple states and abusing programs meant to help workers in need,” said Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “At the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, we are relentless in pursuing fraud. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance system and ensuring criminals who exploit it are held accountable.”
Anyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at www.oig.dol.gov/hotline.htm.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 144 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Aguila Binion, 48 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after a jury convicted him of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Binion was sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, police found Binion asleep behind the wheel of a running car. Binion had a bag of cocaine and more than $1,500 cash in his pockets. He had boxes of plastic baggies, a digital scale, and several small baggies of pre-packaged cocaine in the front seat. Within arm’s reach in the back seat, he had a fully loaded pistol.
“The Defendant was all set up to distribute poison in our community. He had the product, the packaging, money to make change, a scale to make accurate sales, and a gun to protect his illicit business enterprise. He has forfeited twelve years of his life because of his crimes. The Northern District of Indiana is safer for the efforts of the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Police Department, the Indiana State Police Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” said Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Police Department and the Indiana State Police Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Luke N. Reilander.
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.
Repeat felon sent to prison following discovery of weapons in vehicle while unconscious in driver’s seatRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Chase Langston Wiatt pleaded guilty Sept. 25, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Wiatt to serve 92 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about Wiatt’s prior convictions and arrests involving the possession and use of a firearm. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his extensive criminal history and prior violence.
On Oct. 28, 2021, law enforcement responded to a call regarding an unconscious driver in a vehicle. They arrived and found Wiatt unresponsive in the driver’s seat with the vehicle in drive.
Authorities noted Wiatt had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He admitted to consuming a cannabis edible prior to operating the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of two pistols - one located between the driver’s seat and center console and the other on the passenger seat.
The investigation revealed Wiatt had prior felony convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, escape and credit card abuse. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse prosecuted the case.
Reedsburg Woman Sentenced for Her Role in Fentanyl Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Chrystal D. Mueller, 41, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 18 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Mueller pleaded guilty to this charge on September 4, 2025.
Between January 14, 2022, and April 8, 2022, Mueller and others worked together to distribute fentanyl pills in Wisconsin. The drugs would be sent from California and mailed to residences associated with Mueller, who would then distribute them locally. Mueller would get a discount on the fentanyl for her part in the conspiracy.
In rejecting her request for a probationary sentence, Judge Peterson noted that Mueller participated in the conduct for almost two years and brought her then-significant other into the conspiracy.
Kenneth O. Phillips, 40, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, the local leader of the group, was sentenced on November 21, 2025, to six years in prison. Brandon Stevens, 40, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to a year and a day in prison. Stevens worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier and would pick up parcels containing drugs that were on his route and bring them to his partner, Mueller.
The investigation determined that a total of 19 parcels were mailed from California to Wisconsin between January and April 2022. The United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted parcels addressed to Phillips, Mueller, and Stevens in March and April and found they contained fentanyl pills.
Another individual in the conspiracy, Ames Basham, has also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on April 7, 2026.
The charges against Mueller were the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Previously Deported Dominican National Charged with Illegal Reentry After Drug Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Providence has returned an indictment charging a previously deported Dominican national with illegal reentry into the United States following a drug trafficking conviction, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Fabio Lenin Aza-Velez, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, is charged by indictment with illegal reentry into the United States following deportation after conviction for an aggravated felony.
According to the indictment, Aza-Velez was previously removed from the United States on November 10, 2009, after being convicted in New York for felony narcotics offenses, including criminal sale of a controlled substance on school grounds.
Court records indicate that on January 12, 2006, he was sentenced to three to nine years’ imprisonment for those offenses. The indictment alleges that after having been removed from the United States, the defendant illegally reentered the country without obtaining consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission.
Aza-Velez was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on March 12, 2026.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime
Poughkeepsie Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Selling Guns, Fentanyl, and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that Joseph Crocco was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison for dealing guns, fentanyl, and crack in Poughkeepsie, New York, while on federal supervised release. In June 2025, the defendant was convicted following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, who imposed yesterday’s sentence.
“Joseph Crocco sold deadly drugs and loaded guns to New Yorkers, understanding that they would be used to violent and poisonous ends,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New York families want repeat offenders, particularly those who deal in fentanyl and guns, off the streets. This sentence delivers that.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, the evidence at trial, court filings, and statements made in court:
Between June and July 2024, CROCCO sold narcotics and firearms from his residence in Poughkeepsie, New York, to an undercover New York State Police officer. During a series of controlled purchases made at CROCCO’s home, CROCCO sold fentanyl, crack, cocaine, and cutting agents such as xylazine, also known as “tranq.” CROCCO also sold two loaded semi-automatic handguns and boxes of ammunition to the undercover officer as part of one of the drug deals.
Firearms, Ammunition, and a Portion of the Drugs Sold by CROCCO
On July 24, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at CROCCO’s residence and recovered additional narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and ammunition. CROCCO had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses that made it illegal for him to possess a firearm, including voluntary manslaughter. At the time he committed these offenses, CROCCO was on supervised release following a prior federal bank robbery conviction.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, CROCCO, 49, of Poughkeepsie, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit all of the firearms and ammunition involved in the offense.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New York State Police, and the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Reyhan Watson, and Benjamin Klein are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Samantha Olsen.
Panama City Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm Found After Overheard on Jail CallRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Kendrick Parham, 47, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping dangerous, violent felons off our streets is the prime objective of Operation Take Back America, and this successful prosecution delivers on that promise. Our community will be safer and healthier now that this drug-peddling, violent criminal will be locked away in prison rather than roaming our streets.”
Court documents reflect that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives assisted the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Panama City, during which five ounces of methamphetamine were discovered, and he was arrested on state charges. While in jail, the defendant – a four-time convicted felon legally prohibited from possessing firearms – made incriminating statements during a monitored phone call about the presence of a firearm in his residence that was not previously found by officers during the search. After obtaining a new search warrant based on those incriminating statements, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office conducted another search of the defendant’s residence and recovered the firearm.
The defendant faces imprisonment for up to 15 years at sentencing.
The case involved an investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 29, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker
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.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
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.
Owner of Now-Closed Milwaukee Prenatal Care Coordination Company Sentenced to 121 Months’ Imprisonment for Healthcare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 17, 2026, Markita Barnes (age 33) was sentenced to 121 months’ incarceration for committing a healthcare fraud scheme through which she stole $2,361,799.17 from a Medicaid benefit program meant to help at-risk pregnant women and women with young children.
Following a two-week trial in November 2025, a federal jury convicted Barnes of ten counts of healthcare fraud, three counts of false statements related to healthcare matters, three counts of violating the anti-kickback statute, one count of attempting to obstruct a healthcare fraud investigation, one count of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
In announcing the sentence, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper discussed the substantial negative impact Barnes’ fraud scheme, and others like it in the Milwaukee area, has had not only on public trust in government benefit programs, but on the availability of the benefit program she defrauded. Chief Judge Pepper noted that, because of significant fraud surrounding this benefit program, the state of Wisconsin has scaled back the benefit to such an extent that it is largely not available to the women who actually need it.
Chief Judge Pepper also explained that the significant sentence of incarceration she imposed was necessary to account for the seriousness of Barnes’s conduct and to send a message of deterrence to others considering engaging in fraud against hard-working taxpayers.
In addition to the 121-month period of incarceration, Chief Judge Pepper issued a money judgment of forfeiture in the amount of $2,361,799.17 and ordered Barnes to pay restitution to Medicaid in the same amount.
“The substantial sentence holds Ms. Barnes accountable for her very serious crimes. She stole limited public resources that were intended for our neighbors most in need of public assistance,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “Many people in need will not receive help due to the defendant’s actions. This is a strong message to other fraudsters that we are coming for them, and they will be punished.”
“The FBI is dedicated to ensuring those who defraud the American people through healthcare fraud face justice,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “Markita Barnes devised a scheme in which she defrauded Medicaid of millions of dollars at the expense of at-risk mothers and children. The lengthy sentence and order of restitution should serve as a warning for those who seek to enrich themselves through fraud. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat healthcare fraud and root out those who steal from the American people.”
“The defendant’s appalling conduct undermined the ability of vulnerable individuals to get support,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “This outcome demonstrates how seriously government benefits fraud is taken.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit, the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel prosecuted the case.
# # #
For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on X
Ossian Woman Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Janis A. Sexton, 63 years old, of Ossian, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Sexton was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $1,679,934 in restitution to multiple identified victims.
According to documents in the case, Sexton knowingly conspired with others to defraud victims of millions of dollars and then laundered the fraud proceeds through her shell companies and bank accounts. Starting in December of 2020, and extending through August of 2022, Sexton created four shell companies and established accounts at multiple banks. Through a variety of schemes, the conspiracy deceived victim businesses and some individuals into wiring money to accounts under Sexton’s control. After laundering the money through her accounts, Sexton sent fraud proceeds to an overseas conspirator, sometimes by converting the money into cryptocurrency. In total, the conspiracy tried to steal over $4 million, and Sexton and her conspirators actually obtained a little over $2 million in fraud proceeds, primarily through business email compromise schemes and fraud against a government program.
This conspiracy victimized many businesses through business email compromise schemes. With this type of scheme, conspirators gained access to a business’s emails and obtained inside information about existing invoices and accounts receivable or accounts payable. Conspirators then sent emails that looked legitimate and purported to change existing payment information, with the new payment account being under the control of a conspirator such as Sexton. In wiring money, victims believed that they were sending payment to their vendors, clients, and business associates, but they were instead deceived into sending money to Sexton.
“The Defendant was extremely sophisticated. Thanks to the professional investigation put together by the FBI with the assistance of the Stamford Police Department in Connecticut, the Defendant was caught, prosecuted, and sentenced,” Mildred said.
“This wasn’t a simple scheme - the defendant set up shell companies, opened multiple accounts, and even coordinated with an overseas contact, all in an attempt to avoid detection. In the end, that didn’t work,” said Timothy J. O’Malley. “Cases like this show that even complex fraud leaves a trail, and the FBI remains committed to identifying and holding accountable those who break the law.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Stamford, Connecticut, Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.
Ohio Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl-laced Drugs that Resulted in FatalityRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 34-year-old Lorain County man has been indicted on drug trafficking charges that resulted in one person’s overdose.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Roderick Cross, Jr., AKA Chubb, of Elyria, Ohio, with the following:
- Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack)
- Distribution of Cocaine and Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Para-fluorofentanyl
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Attempted Murder and Felonious Assault in 2010; Robbery in 2018; and Drug Trafficking and Drug Possession in 2025.
According to the allegations, on March 15, 2025, Cross intentionally distributed several controlled substances to a person, J.K., who then fatally overdosed. The victim was found to have ingested cocaine and fentanyl which investigators connected to the defendant. During search warrant executions at two locations suspected of being connected with Cross, agents seized firearms, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Elyria Police Department-Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the FBI’s Lorain/Elyria Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Crook and Stephanie A. Wojtasik for the Northern District of Ohio are leading the prosecution.
If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. Cross faces enhanced sentencing penalties as a result of the victim’s death resulting from illegal drug distribution and for prior serious felony convictions.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
New Rochelle Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Social Security Benefits and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that JAMES PAVLOUNIS was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for perpetrating a 12-year scheme to defraud the Social Security Administration and obtain disability benefits to which he was not entitled, and causing his valet parking service business to evade paying corporate income taxes for five years. In September 2025, PAVLOUNIS pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern, who imposed today’s sentence.
“James Pavlounis stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a government program meant to support those truly in need, while also evading taxes through his business,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Programs like Social Security depend on honesty, and tax obligations fund essential services that New Yorkers rely on. Those who exploit these systems for personal gain will be held accountable.”
According to the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings and filings:
From January 2013 through March 2025, PAVLOUNIS obtained approximately $646,370 in Social Security benefits by providing false information to the Social Security Administration. He claimed he was too disabled to support himself and failed to disclose he was receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from the operation of valet parking service businesses.
Further, from January 2018 through December 2022, PAVLOUNIS evaded the collection of the taxes of Select Parking Systems Inc. (“SPS”), one of the valet parking service businesses, due for the years 2017 through 2021, by making it appear that he was not operating SPS, concealing the income he was earning from SPS from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), and making it appear that SPS was not profitable. Through this scheme, PAVLOUNIS caused SPS to evade payment of approximately $248,810 in taxes.
PAVLOUNIS perpetrated the scheme by, among other things: having a family member named as the owner of SPS; paying for his personal expenses using money from SPS’s business bank account; failing to inform SPS’s tax return preparer (the “Preparer”) that he was paying his personal expenses using money from SPS’s bank account; not filing his own individual income tax returns with the IRS, thereby not reporting any individual income; providing ledgers to the Preparer and representing that they contained SPS’s expenses for renting parking lots when there were no such expenses (the “False Ledgers”); causing the Preparer to falsely report on SPS’s corporate income tax returns that SPS paid a total of $1,054,204 in expenses for renting parking lots over the years 2017 through 2021; falsely representing, during a meeting with IRS Special Agents that all the information contained on SPS’s tax returns for 2017 through 2021 was true and correct and that reported rental expenses were amounts expended to rent parking lots where SPS valets parked cars for valet customers; and, producing the False Ledgers in response to a grand jury subpoena.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, PAVLOUNIS, 62, of New Rochelle, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $895,180 and forfeiture of approximately $646,370.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Margery Feinzig is in charge of the prosecution.
Milton Man Indicted for Possessing a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 17, 2026, charging a Milton, Delaware, man with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition.
According to the indictment, on December 9, 2025, Andre Brickhouse, 34, was found in possession of a 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number, a large-capacity magazine, and 21 rounds of ammunition. Brickhouse is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of a prior felony conviction.
Brickhouse is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division made the announcement. ATF and the Laurel Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey J. Hauser is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-45.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Mexican man who entered the United States after being previously removed was sentenced today to time served, 219 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Juan Diego Rojas-Meneses, 20, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of reentry of a removed alien.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on August 12, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Belgrade, Montana where they discovered Rojas-Meneses. He was interviewed at the scene and admitted being a citizen of Mexico without the necessary documentation to be in the United States.
A records check confirmed Rojas-Meneses is a citizen of Mexico who was last was removed from the United States on September 1, 2024, and September 23, 2024, through El Paso, Texas.
There is no record that he obtained the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Belgrade Police Department, and Montana Division of Criminal Investigations.
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.
XXXMexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Accused of Laundering Millions of Dollars in Narcotics Trafficking ProceedsRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.— The owner and operator of Tienda Santa Maria II LLC has been charged with money laundering after using his money service businesses to launder narcotics trafficking proceeds and structure financial transactions to avoid suspicion of law enforcement.
Jose Alonso Paramo Arguello, 45, a citizen of Mexico and unlawfully residing in the United States, has been charged by criminal complaint with money laundering.
According to court documents, Arguello is the owner and operator of Tienda Santa Maria II in Phoenix, Oregon, along with two other businesses, Tienda Santa Maria in Medford, Oregon, and Paramos Barber Shop in Central Point, Oregon. Arguello uses his three businesses to transfer narcotics trafficking proceeds to Mexico by breaking down transactions into smaller amounts and using fake names and addresses for the money senders to conceal the true nature and source of the funds.
From January 2, 2024, through December 3, 2025, Arguello’s three money service businesses transferred more than $13 million in wire transfers of $500 or more to Mexico, an amount often indicative of narcotics trafficking. Of that, over $7 million was sent to locations in Mexico associated with narcotics trafficking.
The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) provided an informant with cash to attempt to wire money to Mexico. The informant told Arguello he was a drug dealer to which Arguello responded, “You sell whatever you want, you’re a merchant, period.” From November 2025 through January 2026, Arguello laundered over $45,000 in what the informant represented as drug trafficking proceeds through 22 wire transfers. While doing so, Arguello received a 10% commission to launder the funds. Arguello referred to this commission as a bribe.
Arguello made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate judge. He was ordered detained pending a further court proceeding scheduled for March 23, 2026, in Medford.
IRS-CI is investigating the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET), and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Cardani and Julia Jarrett are prosecuting the case.
This arrest is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air and Army National Guard Counterdrug program, Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mexican Illegal Alien Charged with Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Mexican illegal alien today, in connection with illegal re-entry charges.
Fortunado Cuatlatl-Flores, aka Furtunado Cuatlatl-Cuatle, 44, is charged with illegally re-entering the United States after he was previously removed from the country following a conviction for an aggravated felony.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to court documents, on February 20, 2026, law enforcement encountered Cuatlatl-Flores in Wicomico County, Maryland, while performing an area-enforcement operation. After encountering Cuatlatl-Flores, law enforcement checked the license plate and registration on the vehicle the illegal alien was driving.
When ICE-ERO officers investigated further, they discovered a restriction code that indicated that Cuatlatl-Flores may not be legally present in the United States. ICE-ERO officers then conducted a vehicle stop.
During a brief investigative interview, Cuatlatl-Flores provided a Mexican voter identification card, with the name ‘Fortunato Cuatlatl’ on it, affirming his identity. Cuatlatl-Flores also admitted he is a citizen and national of Mexico who entered the U.S. without permission. Based on Cuatlatl-Flores’s admission, and confirmation of his identity, law enforcement took him into custody. Upon further investigation, law enforcement discovered Cuatlatl-Flores was previously removed from the U.S. twice, following a felony child sexual abuse conviction.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Cuatlatl-Flores faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended Salisbury ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
# # #
Maryville Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempted EnticementRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On March 18, 2026, Ryan Patrick Garrett, 41, of Maryville, TN, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, Garrett will be on supervised release for 30 years and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Garrett agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of attempted enticement in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).
According to filed court documents, on March 13, 2025, detectives with the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) and agents of the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested 41-year-old Ryan Patrick Garrett on a federal complaint of Enticement of a minor for the purposes of an illegal sexual act. Garrett was arrested after an investigation conducted by the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force revealed that Garrett was making plans to meet at a location in Knoxville to engage in sexual activities with a nine-year-old and twelve-year-old. KPD Detectives and HSI Special Agents took Garrett into custody after he arrived to meet the children.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The arrest and criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by KPD, the lead agency of the Tennessee ICAC Task Force which is a partnership of 74 state and local law enforcement agencies. The TN ICAC Task Force operates under a grant from the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The investigation was led by HSI KPD ICAC Task Force Officer Tom Evans.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.”
###
Maryland and Alabama Men Sentenced to a Combined 64 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – A Maryland man was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for his involvement with a website dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Sean Edward Young, 47, of Rockville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise and to distribute child pornography on Sept. 24, 2025. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Young was a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and discussions of child sexual abuse. He advertised and distributed CSAM on this website, counseled other users on how to avoid law enforcement, and bragged about having sexually abused children in the past.
Young’s sentencing follows the earlier sentencing of co-defendant and co-conspirator Jacob Parker, 49, of Auburn, Alabama. On Jan. 15 Parker was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography. According to court documents, Parker, like Young, was a high-level moderator of the same website and spent time and effort managing it and sharing CSAM with fellow users.
“Sean Young and Jacob Parker were part of an online community of offenders who came together to share, discuss, and celebrate depictions of child sexual abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Both made every effort to use technology to hide from law enforcement, but they could not. People who prey on our children will pay a heavy price by losing their liberty with the imposition of significant incarcerative sentences like these.”
“The exploitation of children through the distribution of child sexual abuse material is a disturbing crime that causes lasting harm to its victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “Those who participate in online networks that advertise and distribute this material will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable. Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect children and bring offenders to justice.”
“It is unconscionable for someone to advertise and brag about sexually abusing children,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “We must bring depraved people like Young and his co-conspirators to justice and ensure that they lose their freedom for a very long time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland will always stand ready to assist our partners to ensure that all predators are met with the full force of the law.”
“Child predators victimize the most vulnerable and innocent members of our society, their families, and their communities,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “Young’s role as a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and his purposeful actions to conceal his activities and advise others how to avoid law enforcement makes him amongst the worst offenders. Now he will serve time for what he has done. Along with The Department of Justice and our federal, state, and local partners, the FBI is fully committed to identifying individuals who exploit children and bringing them to justice as quickly as possible.”
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case along with the FBI’s Auburn Resident Agency and Baltimore field office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cyber Division and the Auburn Police Department.
Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and J. Patrick Lamb of the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan McKoy of the District of Maryland provided valuable assistance.
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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland and Alabama Men Sentenced to a Combined 64 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A Maryland man was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for his involvement with a website dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Sean Edward Young, 47, of Rockville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise and to distribute child pornography on Sept. 24, 2025. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Young was a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and discussions of child sexual abuse. He advertised and distributed CSAM on this website, counseled other users on how to avoid law enforcement, and bragged about having sexually abused children in the past.
Young’s sentencing follows the earlier sentencing of co-defendant and co-conspirator Jacob Parker, 49, of Auburn, Alabama. On Jan. 15 Parker was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography. According to court documents, Parker, like Young, was a high-level moderator of the same website and spent time and effort managing it and sharing CSAM with fellow users.
“Sean Young and Jacob Parker were part of an online community of offenders who came together to share, discuss, and celebrate depictions of child sexual abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Both made every effort to use technology to hide from law enforcement, but they could not. People who prey on our children will pay a heavy price by losing their liberty with the imposition of significant incarcerative sentences like these.”
“The exploitation of children through the distribution of child sexual abuse material is a disturbing crime that causes lasting harm to its victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “Those who participate in online networks that advertise and distribute this material will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable. Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect children and bring offenders to justice.”
“It is unconscionable for someone to advertise and brag about sexually abusing children,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “We must bring depraved people like Young and his co-conspirators to justice and ensure that they lose their freedom for a very long time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland will always stand ready to assist our partners to ensure that all predators are met with the full force of the law.”
“Child predators victimize the most vulnerable and innocent members of our society, their families, and their communities,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “Young’s role as a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and his purposeful actions to conceal his activities and advise others how to avoid law enforcement makes him amongst the worst offenders. Now he will serve time for what he has done. Along with The Department of Justice and our federal, state, and local partners, the FBI is fully committed to identifying individuals who exploit children and bringing them to justice as quickly as possible.”
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case along with the FBI’s Auburn Resident Agency and Baltimore field office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cyber Division and the Auburn Police Department.
Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and J. Patrick Lamb of the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan McKoy of the District of Maryland provided valuable assistance.
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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland Man Admits to Role in a Large-Scale Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Hagerstown, Maryland man has admitted to his part in a large-scale drug operation in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties that has ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
David Reyes, 61, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin. According to statements made in court, Reyes was a source of supply, organizer, and decision-maker within the drug conspiracy. Reyes worked with those in Puerto Rico to further the drug operation. Saul Alex Padilla-Garcia, the leader of the organization, and 17 others, including Reyes, were operating the fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operation out of an autobody shop in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The group imported significant amounts of drugs from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Postal Service as well as from a source connected to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Of the 18 defendants in this case, 12 have entered guilty pleas and 8 have been sentenced for their roles in the organization.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force was the lead investigative unit. Other investigative agencies that assisted include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Juan, and Philadelphia Field Offices; United States Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Service; Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisville and Chicago Divisions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Martinsburg Police Department; Ranson Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; West Virginia Air National Guard; Mineral County Sheriff's Office; Grant County Sheriff's Office; Hampshire County Sheriff's Department; Keyser Police Department; Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, Virginia; Pennsylvania State Police; Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania; Winchester Police Department, Virginia; Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Virginia; Virginia State Police; Sunnyvale Police Department, California.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Manhattan Man Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl That Killed A VictimRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Northeast Regional Associate Chief of Operations of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Frank A. Tarentino III, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ADAM SLOAN, a/k/a “Slug,” with distribution of narcotics resulting in death in connection with the July 15, 2025, fentanyl overdose death of a resident of New York, New York. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
“As alleged, Adam Sloan sold fentanyl to a victim in Manhattan, causing his death,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Fentanyl is an extraordinarily dangerous drug that has no place in the streets of New York. When drug dealers sell fentanyl, the cost is paid in human lives. Together with the DEA, the NYPD, and our other law enforcement partners, the women and men of the SDNY will fight for these victims and hold killers accountable.”
“While fentanyl remains the greatest drug threat this nation has ever faced, the greatest danger comes from the individuals who continue to push this poison into our communities,” said DEA New York Task Force Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts. “Today’s indictment sends a clear message to those threatening our families. We will find you; and we will bring you to justice. The DEA remains relentless in ensuring justice is delivered to the families who have lost loved ones to this drug epidemic.”
“The defendant showed zero regard for life when he allegedly sold a lethal amount of fentanyl to a New Yorker who was trying to turn his life around—and now a family is left grieving that loss,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “We know how dangerous even the smallest trace of this poison can be, and we will continue to hold accountable any drug peddler who carelessly puts our communities at risk. I thank our NYPD investigators, our partners at the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued commitment to keeping our streets safe.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings:
On July 15, 2025, SLOAN sold fentanyl to a Manhattan man, killing him.
This was not the victim’s first overdose. In October 2024, after suffering a nonfatal overdose, the victim tried to turn his life around by entering inpatient drug treatment and keeping handwritten notes to try to avoid relapse.
When the victim ultimately relapsed, however, SLOAN was ready and willing to sell fentanyl to the victim. On the evening of July 15, 2025, the victim and the defendant arranged to meet. Surveillance video footage likewise shows that the victim and the defendant left their respective homes, walked towards one another for the meeting, and then returned to their respective homes. After consuming the fentanyl that SLOAN had sold him, the victim suffered a fatal overdose.
* * *
SLOAN, 44, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of distribution of narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA and NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Mandilk is in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the Indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Little Rock Man Who Led Police on High-Speed Chase with Kilograms of Fentanyl in Car Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A drug dealer who led police on a chase reaching speeds of 114 miles per hour with multiple kilograms of fentanyl and a firearm in his car will spend 140 months in federal prison. Clifford Siglar, 38, of Little Rock, was sentenced today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which also included five years of supervised release.
A grand jury indicted Siglar on September 11, 2024, charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Siglar pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl on October 1, 2025.
A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation revealed that Siglar was distributing fentanyl out of a residence in Little Rock. In the summer 2024, officers observed Clifford conducting what they believed to be narcotics sales. On August 26, 2024, officers saw Clifford at the residence known for drug sales place what was believed to be narcotics in his vehicle, a black Chevrolet Camaro. Officers then attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Camaro.
Siglar noticed the presence of law enforcement before officers could initiate a traffic stop and fled. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department and Arkansas State Police (ASP) joined in the pursuit of Siglar, with the chase reaching speeds over 114 miles per hour. An ASP trooper immobilized the Camaro, which then crashed into trees. Siglar was ejected from the car and continued to flee on foot before being caught by police.
Law enforcement searched the Camaro and located a .57-caliber handgun on the driver’s floorboard and a backpack in the trunk of the vehicle which contained approximately 2.6 kilograms of fentanyl and scales. Fentanyl can be used and sold in doses as small as one-tenth of a gram, which would have resulted in more than 26,000 individual doses of fentanyl from the backpack seized.
Siglar has a prior felony conviction for possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver.
The case was investigated by the DEA, along with the Little Rock Police Department and Arkansas State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Eldridge.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Lame Deer man sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempted sexual abuseRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who attempted to sexually abuse a minor was sentenced today to 216 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Dean Allen Wallowing Bull, 46, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of attempted sexual abuse.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in 2009, Wallowing Bull and John Doe, a minor at the time, were drinking together at Wallowing Bull’s residence. Doe eventually fell asleep on a couch in the basement. When he awoke, he could see Wallowing Bull laying behind him and felt him reaching over Doe’s stomach toward his crotch. Doe got off the couch to leave, but Wallowing Bull blocked the doorway. Doe returned to the couch and fell asleep again.
After approximately 15 minutes, Doe awoke to find Wallowing Bull laying behind him again and reaching toward his crotch. When Doe tried to get off the couch to leave, Wallowing Bull pinned him to the couch to prevent him from escaping. Doe fought back and Wallowing Bull eventually allowed Doe to exit the basement. Evidence gathered throughout the investigation established that Wallowing Bull intended to remove Doe’s clothing in order to have anal or oral sex with Doe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, BIA, and Northern Cheyenne Investigative Services.
Lake County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Materials ChargesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 45-year-old Lake County man has been sentenced to prison for sharing sexual abuse images and videos of children with others on a social media platform.
Todd Oravecz, of Kirtland, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Lioi, after pleading guilty in October 2025 to Receipt, Distribution, and Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $39,000 in restitution.
Court documents show that federal agents received a tip from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about suspected CSAM activity on a social media platform. Investigators found that the sexual abuse materials observed online were linked to an account in the Cleveland area and Oravecz was identified. In December 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his residence and among the items seized were six cellphones, a laptop, a computer tablet, a handgun, and ammunition. During the investigation and analysis of his electronic devices and online accounts, agents found more than 100 CSAM images and videos that included prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Other evidence presented in court includes a 2021 police report accusing the defendant of sexually assaulting a five-year-old minor.
The investigation leading to the indictment was led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Kirtland Police Department. The USAO would also like to acknowledge valuable assistance from the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Kane for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Lake City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while illegally possessing a gun pled guilty March 18, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
Clayton Brown, age 34, from Lake City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Brown has seven prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing guns.
At the plea hearing, Brown admitted being in a conspiracy that distributed at least four pounds of methamphetamine in about eight-months in 2025. Twice in October 2025, Brown distributed over 80 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During a search of Brown’s home, officers seized a Glock handgun, methamphetamine, marijuana, over $2,000 in cash, and other items related to drug distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Brown remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Brown faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3057. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Koreatown Man Arrested on Charges that He Obtained More Than $2 Million in COVID Business Loans That He Invested in CryptocurrencyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A rideshare driver from the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles has been arrested on a five-count federal indictment charging him with fraudulently obtaining more than $2 million in COVID-19 pandemic business-relief loans on behalf of his nonexistent companies, which he instead used to buy cryptocurrency, the Justice Department announced today.
Bruce Choi, 34, was arrested Tuesday at San Francisco International Airport after arriving on a flight from Japan. He is charged with four counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution and one count of transactional money laundering.
He is expected to make his initial appearance today in United States District Court in San Francisco. He will be arraigned in Los Angeles federal court in the coming weeks.
According to the indictment, which was returned in October 2025 and unsealed today, from May 2020 to December 2024, Choi schemed to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and financial institutions out of government funds aimed to help businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout.
Choi, representing himself as the CEO and owner of a business called “Premier Republic,” applied for a $1,995,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. In support of this application, Choi falsely claimed that Premier Republic had an average monthly payroll of $798,000, was in operation in mid-February 2020, and paid salaries and payroll taxes.
In fact, Premier Republic was a fictional entity that neither had business operations nor hired anyone.
To support his false claim that Premier Republic was a real business, Choi submitted to a lender several fraudulent documents, including a fake 2019 individual tax return that claimed his “company” received gross receipts of nearly $11.8 million in 2019 and that it made a gross profit of nearly $9.6 million that year.
Choi also submitted a fake bank statement listing “deposits” and “transfers” of $798,000 during the fictitious period of February 1, 2020, through February 31, 2020.
Further, Choi submitted a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application through the SBA in which he falsely stated his business “Bruce” was involved in real estate, employed 10 people, and enjoyed gross revenues of $475 million in 2019. In fact, no such business existed.
As a result of his scheme, the victim lender disbursed $1,995,000 to Choi and the U.S. Treasury disbursed a $10,000 EIDL advance. Choi later wired proceeds from his scheme to a Kraken cryptocurrency exchange account.
Pursuant to a court-issued warrant, federal prosecutors have seized nearly 40 bitcoins and other cryptocurrency as part of the investigation.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Choi would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years in federal prison on the money laundering count.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the SBA’s Office of Inspector General are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Tara B. Vavere of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section and Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Schwab, Acting Chief of the Criminal Division, are prosecuting this case.
Kalkaska County Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in Case Tied to Fentanyl OverdoseRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Robert Graham Ward, 43, from Rapid City, Michigan, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin.
According to court records, on January 12, 2025, first responders responded to a 911 call at a hotel in Gaylord, Michigan and pronounced a 25-year-old man dead of a drug overdose. A woman who was last with the decedent before his death cooperated with law enforcement and stated that she received the drugs the day before from Robert Graham Ward at his residence in Rapid City, Michigan. Unbeknownst to Ward, investigators utilized the woman to order additional drugs from the defendant under police supervision. When Ward arrived, he was taken into custody. Investigators found several grams of heroin and fentanyl in his car. Investigators also executed a warrant at Ward’s Rapid City home and found over 21 grams of fentanyl.
Months after Ward was told that his fentanyl killed a man, and weeks after he was warned that he was the target of a federal drug trafficking investigation, a trooper with the Michigan State Police (MSP) stopped the defendant’s vehicle in Kalkaska County on April 4, 2025. Police searched Ward’s vehicle and found 5.69 grams of a mixture of fentanyl, heroin, and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer resistant to naloxone, [1] 7.9 grams of methamphetamine, and other drugs.
“Fentanyl distribution has devastated communities large and small across our district,” stated U.S. Attorney VerHey. “In this case, the defendant’s persistent drug dealing can be tied to the tragic loss of a 25-year-old. Our office remains steadfast in bringing to justice those responsible for endangering our citizens through drug dealing.”
“Fentanyl trafficking continues to threaten lives and destroy families throughout Michigan,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This case underscores the dangers posed by drug traffickers who disregard the death and destruction they bring to our communities. HSI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate and disrupt narcotics networks, and to hold accountable those who endanger our communities with these lethal substances.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement (SANE), Traverse Narcotics Team (TNT), and Michigan State Police (MSP). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vito S. Solitro.
[1] See, e.g., “The Growing Threat of Xylazine and its Mixture with Illicit Drugs,” DEA Joint Intelligence Report (Oct. 2022) available at https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/The%20Growing%20Threat%20of%20Xylazine%20and%20its%20Mixture%20with%20Illicit%20Drugs.pdf.
Justice Department Files Case to Revoke U.S. Citizenship of Mastermind Behind Multimillion-Dollar Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has filed and served a civil denaturalization complaint in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Maryland, against Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem, a native of Nigeria who organized a vast conspiracy to steal identities and file fraudulent tax returns. In 2017, he was convicted of 19 counts of mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and sentenced to 15 years in prison. But in 2024, then-President Biden commuted his sentence after only six years.
“The Trump Administration will not permit wrongdoers to retain the U.S. citizenship that they were never entitled to in the first place,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “U.S. Citizenship is a privilege, and we will continue to ask courts to revoke a status that was obtained through fraud and deceit.”
The newly filed denaturalization complaint alleges that Kazeem’s fraud scheme, which he committed in the years before and after his naturalization, along with his concealment of his crimes, precluded him from obtaining his naturalization lawfully. The complaint also alleges that Kazeem had, prior to his fraud scheme, engaged in a sham marriage to obtain permanent resident status and then married a second woman, further disqualifying him from naturalization.
According to court documents and evidence presented at Kazeem’s criminal trial, in May 2013, a victim in Medford, Oregon, notified the IRS that false federal and Oregon state tax returns were filed electronically using her and her husband’s personal identifying information (PII) including social security numbers and dates of birth.
An IRS investigation led to search warrants of residences in Illinois, Maryland, and Georgia and to numerous email and instant messenger accounts used by Kazeem and other co-conspirators. At a Chicago residence, agents seized approximately 150 prepaid debit cards and $50,000 in money orders. In Maryland and Georgia, agents seized more than 50 electronic devices, 40 money orders in amounts exceeding $29,000, $14,000 in cash and numerous prepaid debit cards containing over $12,000 in fraudulent tax refunds. The search warrants helped agents identify Kazeem as the leader and mastermind of the scheme.
The scheme resulted in the conspirators possessing stolen PII of more than 259,000 victims. Kazeem purchased more than 91,000 identities from a Vietnamese hacker that originated from an Oregon company’s private database. The company provided pre-employment and volunteer background checks for thousands of clients. Kazeem divided the identities into batches and shared them with other co-conspirators. They were in turn used to file fraudulent tax returns between 2012 and 2015.
In carrying out the scheme, Kazeem trained and directed his co-conspirators including his younger brother, Michael Oluwasegun Kazeem, to use stolen PII to obtain thousands of electronic filing PINs to bypass IRS authentication procedures. They acquired over 19,500 E-File PINS during the course of the conspiracy. Kazeem also used taxpayers’ PII to gain unauthorized access into many taxpayers’ IRS transcripts, which contain sensitive personal financial information. Conspirators also used pre-paid debit cards with the victims’ stolen identities to receive direct electronic tax refund deposits from the IRS.
In total, Kazeem was linked to 10,139 fraudulent federal tax returns attempting to get over $91 million dollars in refunds and successfully receiving over $11.6 million dollars. Refunds were withdrawn from the debit cards and at least 2,000 wire transfers totaling over $2.1 million dollars were sent to Nigeria. Over 700 of those wire transfers, totaling more than $690,000, were directly linked to Kazeem.
Kazeem used the conspiracy windfall to place a nearly $200,000 down payment on a newly constructed house and to purchase a $175,000 townhouse, both in Maryland. His average monthly credit card payment during 2012 to 2015 was over $8,300. Kazeem also attempted to use his ill-gotten funds to develop a $6 million dollar, 4-star hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.
In May 2015, Kazeem transferred the townhouse to his sister in Nigeria for $10 and included her on the deed to his Maryland residence, also for $10. He was arrested one day later.
On June 20, 2018, Kazeem was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $12 million in restitution. However, on Dec. 12, 2024, then-President Joe Biden commuted Kazeem’s sentence, along with nearly 1,500 others who had been serving under house arrest following their release from prison due to conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kazeem’s criminal conviction resulted from a joint investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the FBI. Investigative support was provided by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Department of State; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (DHS HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Kazeem’s criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron Chatfield and Gavin Bruce for the District of Oregon. Kazeem’s denaturalization case was investigated by DHS HSI and will be litigated by the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. More than 11,000 Fentanyl Pills SeizedRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison on Tuesday, March 17th in federal court for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement identified Roman Walker, 35, as a distributor of narcotics from Hinds County, Mississippi. Court filings reflect that Walker was distributing a “menu” of narcotics, business hours, and prices for different drugs he was selling. On or about January 24, 2023, while executing a search warrant of Walker’s residence, law enforcement discovered large quantities of narcotics including more than 11,000 blue fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and methamphetamine packaged for distribution into the metro Jackson area.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer made the announcement.
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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).
Independence Man Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for of tax evasion.
Michael Robert Jett, 60, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Douglas Harpool to 23 months’ imprisonment, 3 years of post-release supervision, and ordered to pay $361,078.81 in restitution for tax evasion against the United States.
“Those who violate our tax laws cause honest taxpayers to lose faith that the system is fair,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Melissa McFadden. “For that reason, IRS-CI partners with the US Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute those who willfully choose tax evasion. Falsifying documents to avoid paying taxes is stealing, and offenders must be held accountable.”
“This time of year is a good reminder to all taxpayers of the consequences of not timely and accurately paying your fair share,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price. “You will be prosecuted and face the loss of your freedom if you do not.”
Jett, a salesperson for a time share company, falsely claimed that he was exempt from paying federal or state income taxes. As a result, Jett’s employer did not withhold any money from his wages. Jett, despite having no taxes withheld from his salary, then either refused to pay his yearly income taxes or submitted false tax return documents to evade any payment of his personal income taxes. Over the period of six years, between 2017 and 2022, Jett failed and willfully evaded his financial responsibility to pay his yearly income taxes to both the United States and the State of Missouri. Jett was ordered to pay $330,649.43 to the United States Government, and an additional $30,429.38 to the State of Missouri, for a total restitution amount of $361,078.81.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
Illinois Businessman Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for $14 Million Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – An Illinois businessman has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $14 million across 1,500 fraudulent small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The scheme netted SHARHABEEL SHREITEH at least $741,000 in kickback payments. In turn, Shreiteh then funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in loan proceeds fraudulently obtained from the United States government to financial institutions in the Palestinian Territories, much of which was used to build a second home there. He also used some of the fraud proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle in the United States, including renovations to his residence in Crete, Ill., and vacations to South Carolina and Florida. Under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and consistent with the Administration’s priorities to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal fraud in the federal government entitlement and benefit programs, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois is taking a fresh look at Covid-19 fraud.
Shreiteh engaged in fraud in 2020 and 2021 related to the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created by the CARES Act to cover lost revenue due to economic disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic. Shreiteh, who worked as a tax preparer in Palos Hills, Ill., recruited purported sole proprietors, self-employed individuals, and businesses to provide their personal identifying information and other documents, and then submitted more than 1,500 fraudulent PPP loan applications on their behalf, causing the government to disburse at least $14 million in fraudulent PPP loans. As part of the scheme, the applications contained numerous misrepresentations that inflated the applicants’ operations, payroll, income, and other expenses. For each successful fraudulent loan, Shreiteh received at least $1,000 to $4,000 in kickback payments from the loan applicants.
Shreiteh, 46, pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge. On March 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold sentenced Shreiteh to ten years in federal prison and ordered him to forfeit $741,000 to the United States government. Judge Pacold also ordered Shreiteh to pay $14 million in restitution to the United States government. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Pacold remarked, “Any fraud against any government program, but in particular a program that was an emergency relief program, to take advantage of those emergency funds and ultimately to steal from taxpayers is a terrible thing, and it’s a very serious offense.” Judge Pacold continued, “This was emergency money, it was supposed to help people who were suffering. It was supposed to help people who were suffering the effects of the Covid pandemic. It was funded by the government, therefore, by the American taxpayers, and [the fact] it was then sent overseas is very aggravating. And it's true, as the government pointed out, the next time there’s a crisis . . . people will point to this sort of fraud as a reason why there might be a problem with putting this sort of program out there, and that just hurts ultimately the people who really needed the funds.”
Judge Pacold also cited evidence that Shreiteh collected unemployment benefits from the states of Illinois and Ohio in 2020 and 2021 while simultaneously receiving the PPP fraud proceeds and working as a tax preparer. “That just shows a general disregard for the law, and . . . [a] willingness to lie to get money from government programs,” Judge Pacold said.
U.S. Attorney Boutros announced the sentence along with Adam Jobes, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office.
“In America’s time of need, the defendant saw a chance to upgrade his lifestyle,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “His fraudulent scheme resulted in a massive loss to the federal government at a time when Americans were struggling in the pandemic and legitimate businesses needed money to pay their employees. This was a massive, callous fraud motivated purely by greed.”
Anyone with information about suspected Covid-19 fraud can report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721, or by submitting an online complaint here.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Juan De La Cruz Mejia Castro, 33, of El Salvador, was sentenced to ten months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as an alien unlawfully in the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This dangerous illegal alien is precisely the kind of violent criminal that Operation Take Back America was launched to target and remove from our communities. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have devoted the full might of the Department of Justice toward keeping our citizens safe from the perpetrators of violent crime, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to give the residents of the Northern District of Florida the safe streets they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that law enforcement responded to a report of shots fired, and upon making contact with the defendant he admitted to drinking alcohol in his truck before firing two rounds from a 9-millimeter pistol around 10:30 p.m. Deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office found two spent shell casings at the scene, as well as a small amount of marijuana possessed by the defendant.
“The illegal possession of firearms by those unlawfully present in the United States poses a direct threat to the safety of our communities and the rule of law,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue and prosecute anyone who endangers public safety. Those who violate our nation’s immigration and gun laws will face swift and decisive consequences.”
The case was investigated by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke DiSalvo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced an undocumented immigrant living in St. Charles County, Missouri to 10 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material.
Francisco J. Ocana-Talamantes, now 48, was arrested on March 8, 2024, for abusing a child. A subsequent court-approved search of his phone uncovered 338 images and videos containing child sexual abuse material.
Ocana-Talamantes pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in December to one count of possession of child pornography.
He will be deported after his release from prison, as he is in the United States illegally.
The FBI, the St. Charles Police Department and the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Honduran National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft and Associated Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Cristian Daniel Diaz-Garcia (age 27), an illegal alien from Honduras, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday to three years and two months in federal prison for aggravated identity theft, false representation of a Social Security number, and making a false claim of United States citizenship for employment purposes. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Archer Western-de Moya Group Joint Venture II (Joint Venture) is enrolled in E-Verify, a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. Diaz-Garcia was an illegal alien from Honduras with no lawful status in the United States. On August 17, 2021, Diaz-Garcia applied for employment with the Joint Venture in Pinellas County and filled out an I-9 form for use in the E-Verify system. On that form, Diaz-Garcia falsely identified himself as a United States citizen and used another person’s means of identification to defeat the E-Verify system.
After getting fired in 2022, Diaz-Garcia purchased additional means of identification of a different U.S. citizen, without that citizen’s knowledge. On February 1, 2023, Diaz-Garcia again applied for employment with the Joint Venture in Pinellas County and filled out an I-9 form for use in the E-Verify system. On that form, Diaz-Garcia falsely identified himself as this other United States citizen and used that person’s means of identification to defeat the E-Verify system.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration–Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III, and Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegal Reentry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MIGUEL ANGEL LOPEZ-MEJIA (“LOPEZ-MEJIA”), age 34, was sentenced on March 17, 2026 after pleading guilty on January 20, 2026, to illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the charging document, LOPEZ-MEJIA, a Honduran national, was found in the United States on October 16, 2025, having reentered the United States, without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on July 15, 2022. U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion sentenced LOPEZ-MEJIA to an imprisonment term of time served, (1) year of supervised release and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. LOPEZ-MEJIA was also ordered to be transferred into the custody of United States Customs and Border Protection for removal to Honduras.
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 Customs and Border Protection in investigating this case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick Veters, Jr., of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
Haverhill Man Charged with Investment FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Haverhill man was charged in federal court in Boston with fraudulently obtaining $350,000 in investor funds.
Luciano Schipelliti, 28, was charged with one count of wire fraud and has agreed to plead guilty before Senior United States District Judge F. Dennis Saylor on a date to be set by the Court.
According to the charging documents, in the fall of 2018, Schipelliti established the Superstars Fund and raised roughly $275,000 to invest in cryptocurrency. By 2019, through a series of bad investments, Schipelliti allegedly lost all the money in the Superstars Fund. He did not, however, tell any of the investors that he had lost the money. Instead, according to the charging documents, beginning in approximately November 2020, Schipelliti began sending monthly newsletters to investors that falsely reported that the Superstars Fund continued to grow in value.
Based on the misrepresented performance of the Superstars Fund, in approximately February 2021, Schipelliti allegedly launched a new fund, the TTM Fund. He raised approximately $350,000 to invest in cryptocurrency. Schipelliti allegedly lost all the money in the TTM fund by September 2021. According to the charging documents, Schipelliti lost most of the money in the TTM Fund investing in cryptocurrency and also used some of the money in a manner inconsistent with the terms of the TTM Fund’s operating agreement.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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 Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud 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.Harrison County Man Admits to Trafficking Fentanyl, MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Clarksburg, West Virginia man has admitted to working with others to sell fentanyl and methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Matthew Ryan Lester, 33, pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm charges. According to court records, Lester admitted to conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and 40 grams of fentanyl as well as possession of firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. Investigators recovered 900 grams of methamphetamine, 240 grams of fentanyl, multiple firearms, and more than $8,000 in cash during searches of his home and vehicle.
Lester is facing at least 10 years and up to life in prison for the drug count and faces at least 5 years for the firearms charge. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the Philippi Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Four Illegal Aliens Charged in Connection with Alien Smuggling Interdiction off the Coast of Miami-Dade CountyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Four illegal aliens were charged by federal complaint for their roles in an alien smuggling venture that led to a high-speed maritime pursuit off the coast of Miami-Dade County, during which law enforcement was forced to disable the vessel to stop it.
According to court records, Theron Don Mills, 26, of The Bahamas; Oswaldo Sisa Heredia, 39, of Ecuador; and Joel Perez-Matos, 41, and Pablo Antonio Alvarez Rodriguez, 33, both of the Dominican Republic, made their initial appearance on Monday after attempting to evade law enforcement in a vessel carrying multiple undocumented migrants heading towards the U.S.
The suspect vessel, operated by Mills, was initially detected approximately 21 miles east of Miami-Dade County and traveling west toward shore. On March 11, just before midnight, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) law enforcement vessel located the boat approximately two miles from shore.
When law enforcement approached, the vessel fled. Despite law enforcement activating lights and sirens, the vessel continued to evade authorities. After the vessel failed to stop, agents first discharged warning rounds. When that did not work, disabling rounds were discharged into the engine, ultimately bringing the vessel to a halt.
Law enforcement identified 15 aliens onboard the small center-console vessel. All were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter WILLIAM FORES for biometric screening and records checks.
Those checks revealed that Mills, Sisa Heredia, Perez-Matos, and Alvarez Rodriguez had previously been deported from the U.S.
All four Defendants are charged with illegal re-entry of a deported alien. Mills is also charged with encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the U.S., based on his role as the vessel’s operator. If convicted, Mills faces up to five years in prison on the inducement charge, and each defendant faces up to two years in prison on the illegal reentry charges.
The remaining 11 aliens were not charged and were repatriated to The Bahamas.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
HSI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from CBP AMO and the USCG.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case.
An indictment/complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-mj-2508.
###
Former San Diego State University Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Possessing Sexually Explicit Videos Featuring ChildrenRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former sergeant with the San Diego State University Police Department pleaded guilty today to possessing more than 600 files that contained sexually explicit videos and images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Paul Aurelio McClain, 46, of Menifee, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He has been in federal custody since March 2025.
According to his plea agreement, in July and August of 2024, law enforcement conducting an undercover operation on a peer-to-peer network determined that an Internet Protocol (IP) address linked to McClain’s home in Riverside County had been used to possess a sexually explicit video of a girl who appeared to be approximately 6 to 8 years of age.
In March 2025, federal agents executed search warrants at McClain’s home and seized multiple digital devices, including a hard drive that contained videos of girls who appeared to be approximately 8 to 10 years old.
Law enforcement found other CSAM files during this investigation, totaling more than 600 files.
McClain admitted in his plea agreement that he knowingly possessed CSAM that he downloaded from the internet onto his digital devices, that he knew the files contained depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, that he knew the depictions involved the use of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and that the CSAM depicted real children who were less than 18 years old.
He further admitted to knowingly possessing CSAM that he downloaded from the internet depicted prepubescent minors and minors who had not yet reached the age of 12 years old.
United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett scheduled a June 24 sentencing hearing, at which time McClain will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter with assistance from the West Covina Police Department, the San Bernardino Police Department, the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team, and the San Diego State University Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cory L. Burleson and Sonah Lee of the Riverside Branch Office are prosecuting this case.
Former High School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Coercing Minors to Produce Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that KOSTAS FEKKAS, a/k/a “Constantine Fekkas,” a/k/a “C.J. Justice,” was sentenced to 13 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel for coercing and enticing two minors to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. FEKKAS previously pled guilty on September 5, 2025, before Judge Seibel.
“Teachers are entrusted with the safety, mentorship, and care of our children,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Instead of keeping them safe, Kostas Fekkas coerced a 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old teenager into sending him sexually explicit photographs and video of themselves. Today’s 13-year sentence reflects the seriousness of that betrayal and the profound harm caused to these victims. This Office will never stop aggressively pursuing predators who sexually exploit our city’s children. If you suspect sexual exploitation, please reach out to our law enforcement partners.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:
In or about 2022, FEKKAS, coerced a 12-year-old girl (“Victim-1”) to send him sexually explicit photographs and video of herself via Snapchat. When law enforcement searched FEKKAS’s cellphone in March 2023, they found a video of Victim-1 masturbating, along with still shots taken of the same video. Additionally, from October 2022 through September 2023, FEKKAS engaged in sexually explicit text-message conversations with a 16-year-old teenager (“Victim-2”) and coerced and enticed her to send him photographs and video of herself engaging in sexually explicit activity, which Victim-2 sent to FEKKAS.
Any individuals with information concerning the sexual exploitation of children are asked to contact Homeland Security Investigations through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2423 or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing-impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, FEKKAS, 36, of Hartsdale, New York, was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of HSI and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Ly is in charge of the prosecution.
Florida Man Sentenced to Five Years for Orchestrating Multimillion-Dollar Medicare Billing Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that TED ALBIN was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in orchestrating a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud scheme. The defendant was convicted on June 24, 2025, following a 12-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl, who imposed today’s sentence.
“Ted Albin used fraudulent prescriptions to cheat Medicare out of millions,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Schemes like this cost every New Yorker, including by driving up healthcare costs and diverting resources from seniors and the disabled who need care. Today’s sentence makes clear that those who cheat Medicare will face serious consequences.”
According to court documents, statements made in court, and evidence presented at trial:
From approximately 2016 through April 2021, ALBIN operated Grapevine Professional Services (“Grapevine”), a medical billing company, which he used to submit fraudulent reimbursement claims for durable medical equipment (“DME”), including back braces, knee braces, wrist braces, and shoulder braces. ALBIN submitted thousands of fraudulent claims on behalf of DME supply companies that had engaged Grapevine for its billing services, including multiple DME supply companies owned and controlled by ALBIN and his sister, Erin Foley. ALBIN’s fraudulent claims were based on prescriptions for DME which he knew had been illegally purchased with kickbacks paid by the DME supply companies. Many of the kickback-tainted prescriptions billed by ALBIN were generated with forged doctor’s signatures and without regard to the medical need of the patients for whom braces had been prescribed. ALBIN knew of the fraudulent nature of the claims he submitted to Medicare and nonetheless continued to submit such claims, over and over, for years. In total, the DME companies for which ALBIN submitted claims billed Medicare for over $38 million, on which Medicare paid out over $12 million.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, ALBIN, 49, of Stuart, Florida, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. The Court deferred the calculation of restitution until a later date.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Kinder, Jackie Delligatti, Brandon Thompson, and Ryan Finkel are in charge of the prosecution.
Firearms Trafficking Nets D.C. Man 160 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michael Stuckey, 36, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 160 months in federal prison in connection with conspiring to traffic firearms from North Carolina into the District, including handguns illegally converted to machine guns, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Stuckey pleaded guilty on Jan. 13, 2026, before Judge Loren L. AliKhan to one count of firearms trafficking conspiracy. In addition to the 160-month prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Stuckey to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, from at least August 2022 until July 2024, Stuckey worked with a co-conspirator to acquire and traffic firearms. The co-conspirator purchased multiple Glock pistols from licensed firearms dealers in North Carolina through straw purchases, falsely certifying on federal ATF forms that he was the actual buyer. The co-conspirator then transferred the firearms to Stuckey in the District. Stuckey is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms and knew his receipt of the guns constituted a felony.
On May 15, 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle being used by Stuckey in the 500 block of Parkland Place SE. Inside a backpack bearing Stuckey’s name, officers recovered two loaded Glock pistols. One of the Glocks had a machine gun conversion device installed, effectively converting it into a weapon able to fire continuously with one pull of the trigger. Officers also seized 10.2 grams of methamphetamine, about 64 grams of marijuana, and drug distribution packaging.
On July 1, 2024, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Stuckey’s residence in the District. Inside officers found a loaded Glock pistol converted to a fully automatic weapon, two additional machine gun conversion devices, magazines, ammunition, approximately 23 grams of cocaine base packaged for distribution, and drug distribution supplies.
Stuckey previously had been convicted of multiple felony drug and firearm offenses, which prohibited him under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement of the sentencing were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the MPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James B. Nelson and Solomon S. Eppel.
24cr307
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube
Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dcFelon Sentenced to 24 Months for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – David Oday Smith, 39, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Smith pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2025, before Judge Randolph D. Moss to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 24-month prison term, Judge Moss ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on July 14, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department Crime Suppression Team officers observed Smith near a bus stop carrying a bag that appeared to be weighed down by an object. When officers approached, Smith fled on foot, throwing the bag over a fence behind a nearby business. A witness standing nearby observed Smith toss the bag. Officers recovered the bag and found a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol loaded with one round in the chamber and 14 rounds in the magazine. Police found Smith on the porch of a nearby residence and placed him under arrest.
Smith had been previously convicted in Prince George's County, Maryland, of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and use of a handgun during a crime of violence, for which he was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2009. He served about 15 years of that sentence before his release. That prior felony conviction made his firearm possession in this case a federal offense.
This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss as part of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Initiative.
Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
25cr207
Federal Correctional Officer Indicted for Sexually Abusing Inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center in BrooklynRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging James Johnson, a current employee of the United States Bureau of Prisons (BOP), with sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a ward, and making false statements to federal law enforcement officers, all arising from the defendant’s sexual abuse of an inmate he was responsible for guarding while working as a correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York (MDC). Johnson was arrested earlier today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Office (FBI); and Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, Johnson leveraged his position as a correctional officer to take advantage of a man he was supposed to be protecting in his capacity as a prison guard and used his access to gratify his own sexual desires,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office is steadfast in its commitment to root out corruption and abuse within federal prisons, especially when that abuse is perpetrated at the hands of guards and jeopardizes the safety and security of the institution and the inmates.”
Mr. Nocella thanked the New York State Police for its assistance with the investigation.
“The alleged sexual abuse of an inmate by a federal correctional officer is a grave betrayal of public trust and will not be tolerated,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Federal correctional officers are sworn to protect, not prey upon, those in their care. No one is above the law and we will continue to work tirelessly to hold accountable those who violate the rights of federal inmates.”
“The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate allegations of sexual abuse by federal Correctional Officers and, with our partners, bring these perpetrators to justice,” stated DOJ OIG Special Agent in Charge Geach.
As alleged in court documents, in May 2025, Johnson was employed by the BOP as a correctional officer and mentor coordinator at the MDC. On at least two occasions during that month, Johnson ordered an inmate at the MDC (John Doe) to accompany him from John Doe’s assigned unit to other locations at the MDC where the defendant sexually abused him. The evidence of this sexual abuse included DNA evidence secured through a court ordered search warrant.
Further, Johnson took steps to conceal his actions and lied to federal agents during an interview about his conduct. Specifically, when asked if he had ever engaged in any sexual acts with inmates, Johnson answered unequivocally that he had not.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, Johnson faces up to life in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights and Public Integrity Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan E. Farrell and Turner Buford are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow.
The Defendant:
JAMES JOHNSON
Age: 36
New York, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-060 (RER)
Falls Church man sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to distribute his vast collection of child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Falls Church man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempted distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Devin Sinclair Buries, 49, shared his CSAM collection with other users on BitTorrent. On Nov. 15, 2023, law enforcement searched Buries’ residence and seized a desktop computer and Buries’ cellphone. Buries built the computer, which contained six hard drives. One was the operating hard drive and the other five contained CSAM. Buries had over 200 videos and over 19,000 images of CSAM.
After his arrest, Buries fled to Ukraine. He was returned to the United States and arrested on Sept. 22, 2025, to face federal charges. Buries pled guilty on Dec. 18, 2025.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Fairfax County Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Ukraine to secure Buries’ arrest and September 2025 extradition from Ukraine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-252.
Eau Claire Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine for DistributionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Nicholas J. Fisher, 41, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 10 years in federal prison for possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Fisher pleaded guilty to this charge on December 19, 2025.
On May 3, 2025, law enforcement arrested Fisher on a probation warrant. Upon searching his vehicle, they discovered approximately 1,322 grams of methamphetamine, along with drug-dealing paraphernalia.
At the sentencing, Judge Peterson considered that Fisher had a decades-long history of criminal conduct but also that his crimes were primarily driven by his addiction and did not involve violence.
The charge against Fisher was the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
East Chicago Woman Sentenced to 12 Months and 1 Day in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Rose Henderson, 62 years old, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Henderson was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison and ordered to pay $364,779 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, in August 1989, Henderson’s mother began receiving social security benefits at the age of 62. Six years later, Henderson became her mother’s representative payee, and in that capacity, she had a fiduciary duty to use the benefits for her mother’s care and support. The following year, Henderson’s mother passed away, but Henderson did not notify the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) of her death. Henderson continued collecting her mother’s benefits for more than two decades. During that time, she periodically submitted false paperwork to the SSA claiming that her mother was still alive and that she was using the funds for her mother’s benefit. Instead, she spent the money on herself, including multiple cruises, frequent trips to Las Vegas, and large cash withdrawals at casinos in northwest Indiana. In total, between September 1996 until March 2021, Henderson defrauded the SSA out of $364,779.
“Henderson stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a government assistance program designed to help the most vulnerable members of society and used it for decades to support a lifestyle that is beyond the reach of many members of the community,” said United States Attorney Mildred. “Through the hard work of the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, and the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern Division, the Defendant was arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced. We will, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to hold accountable those who defraud government programs and put critical benefits at risk.”
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven J. Lupa and Zachary D. Heater.
Dubuque Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who distributed over seven pounds of methamphetamine was sentenced on March 17, 2026, to a decade in federal prison.
Michael Scott Boen, II, age 33, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 23, 2025, guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance following a conviction for a serious drug felony.
Evidence at sentencing showed that between September 2024 and January 2025, Boen sold more than seven pounds of methamphetamine. In October 2024, law enforcement officers stopped Boen in Dubuque, Iowa, and seized 12 grams of methamphetamine from his car. Two weeks later, Boen attempted to sell a stolen gun to a drug dealer in exchange for more methamphetamine. Officers searched his house in January 2025 and located additional methamphetamine.
Boen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Boen was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Boen 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 Devra T. Hake and former Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach and was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, the Dubuque Drug Task Force, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-1016. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Dominican National Extradited to the United States for Allegedly Laundering Proceeds from Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national has been extradited to the United States for his alleged role in a transnational “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that tricked hundreds of elderly victims in the United States into believing that their grandchildren or other close family members were in trouble and needed money. In total, the investigation identified over 400 victims with an average age of 84, including at least 50 in Massachusetts, and more than $5 million in losses.
Gerardo Heriberto Nuñez Nuñez, 42, was arrested in August 2025 in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States and extradited on March 18, 2026. He appeared in federal court in Boston today and was detained pending trial. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 and is charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy.
According to the charging documents, the defendant allegedly served as a money launderer for a sophisticated “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that defrauded hundreds of elderly victims in the United States. English-speaking employees of the call center carried out what are commonly known as “grandparent scams,” in which they tricked elderly victims into believing that their grandchildren or other close family members were in trouble and needed money. One employee would call victims and pretend to be a grandchild who was in an accident. Then, another employee would allegedly follow up with another call, pretending to be the grandchild’s attorney, asking for a sum of money to pay for the grandchild’s attorney’s fees. Callers would instruct elderly victims to provide cash to “runners” in the United States.
As alleged in the indictment, the defendant laundered illicit proceeds from the operation back to the Dominican Republic. The defendant provided the call center operators with access to bank accounts in the names of purported businesses. The runners would then deposit cash from victims into those bank accounts. The defendant also arranged for the runners to hand-deliver cash from victims to individuals in New York and elsewhere. The defendant then provided cash to the call center operators in the Dominican Republic. The defendant allegedly charged the call center operators a fee of approximately 8 to 10 percent in exchange for transmitting scam proceeds from the United States to the Dominican Republic.Charges were unsealed in August 2025 against the defendant and 12 others who operated the call center or served as runners. Members of the public who believe they may be victims of this case, or other elder fraud scams, should contact [email protected] or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Suspected fraud can also be reported on the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, whichever is greater. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. 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. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition to the United States of Nuñez Nuñez. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dominican National Police; División Especial de Investigación del Crimen Organizado Internacional (DEICROI); Central de Investigaciones Criminales (DICRIM); and the Ministerio Publico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dayton man who exploited teens online sentenced to more than 22 years in prisonRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man who preyed on minors online on multiple social media and messaging platforms was sentenced in federal court here today to 270 months in prison for coercion and enticement.
David A. Snell, 37, used multiple usernames and fake identities to connect with victims. According to court documents, from May to July 2024, Snell used various Reddit accounts to identify and target vulnerable minors, and to communicate with two minor females, 16 and 17 years old. Snell groomed these minors and coerced and enticed them to send him child pornography images and videos – including degrading depictions of sexual activity and acts of self-harm – for Snell’s sexual enjoyment.
Snell was charged federally in August 2024 and pleaded guilty in September 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
# # #
Cowansville, Quebec Man Who Attempted to Enter the United States with Child Sexual Abuse Materials Sentenced to 24 MonthsRead the Press Release
Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on March 17, 2026, Anthony Hamel, 25, of Cowansville, Quebec, Canada, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Hamel previously pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Involving a Minor Under the Age of 12.
According to court records, Hamel applied to enter the United States from Canada at the Morses Line Port of Entry (POE) on May 9, 2025. Based on his responses to screening questions, Hamel was referred to a secondary inspection by the Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO). During the secondary inspection, Hamel indicated that he was entering the United States to meet an 18-year-old high school student with whom he had been talking online for approximately six months. CBPOs conducted a manual search of Hamel’s cellular phone during the secondary inspection, and they discovered what appeared to be CSAM on the device. The CBPOs contacted the Burlington Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to assist with the investigation. HSI investigators responded to the Port of Entry, confirmed the suspected CSAM on the phone, interviewed Hamel, and later searched the phone in depth pursuant to a federal search warrant. Investigators ultimately located approximately 268 videos and 33 images of CSAM on the device, including depictions of the sexual assaults of prepubescent children, toddlers, and infants and at least two depictions involving bondage, discipline, sadism, or masochism.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the vigilance and investigatory efforts of the Office of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the subsequent support by Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations. “Every day, Customs and Border Protection Officers protect Americans by performing vital screening functions at our Ports of Entry. This case underscores the importance of CBP’s work, and the need to vet those who cross our borders.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher. Hamel was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Barclay Johnson.
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.