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Tuesday 3 March 2026
Three Southeast fishermen charged with intentionally sinking fishing boats in Alaskan watersRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – Three Southeast Alaska fishermen were charged through separate criminal information filings last month with allegedly intentionally sinking their respective fishing boats in waters near Sitka and Petersburg, Alaska. Federal law prohibits the deliberate sinking of a vessel that obstructs navigable waters.
According to court documents filed relating to three separate incidents, the following occurred in navigable waters of the U.S.:
- On March 8, 2025, John Fisher, 59, of Sitka, intentionally sunk the F/V Igloo into the Sitka Sound;
- On Aug. 3, 2025, Joseph Poling, 40, of Petersburg, intentionally sunk the F/V Leeward into Thomas Bay;
- Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, 2025, Toni Vanveen, 65, of Sitka, intentionally sunk the F/V O’kisutch into the Sitka Harbor.
Each defendant is charged with one count of obstruction of navigable waters by sinking a vessel. If convicted, Fisher, Poling and Vanveen each face a mandatory minimum of 30 days and up to one year in federal prison, and a fine of up to $25,000 per day for every day the sunken vessel remains in the water. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Paul Schultz of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service Northwest Field Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service is investigating the cases, with assistance from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Crimes Unit.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen M. Speer (U.S. Coast Guard) is prosecuting the case with the support of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Three Sales Executives Plead Guilty to $500 Million Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, the defendants Raymond John Pirrello, Jr. and Joseph Passalaqua pleaded guilty to all three counts of an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Co-defendant Robert Cassino pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy on February 18, 2026. The proceedings were held before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. When sentenced, Pirrello and Passalaqua face a maximum sentence of 45 years’ imprisonment and Cassino will face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the guilty pleas.
“For years, the defendants brazenly lied to investors all over the country about the fees associated with their investments,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendants diverted millions of dollars in undisclosed mark-up fees to pay themselves and their coconspirators. Our Office will vigorously prosecute those who lie to innocent investors and deprive them of their hard-earned money to benefit themselves.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), New York Regional Office for their work on the case.
As detailed in the superseding indictment and other court filings, Pirrello, Passalaqua, Cassino and their coconspirators engaged in a scheme to defraud investors and prospective investors in securities offered by the company Late Stage Management, LLC (Late Stage). Late Stage was a New Jersey-based manager of investment funds that offered investors “no fee” opportunities to invest in “Pre IPO” stocks, i.e., shares of stock in companies that anticipated an initial public offering (IPO) in the near term. Late Stage worked with several sales offices throughout New Jersey, New York and Florida to market the investments, including Prior2IPO and Pre IPO Marketing, Inc.
Pirello, also known as “Ray John,” held no official title at Late Stage or any of the sales offices, but worked as a partner to the leadership of Late Stage. Due to his long disciplinary history with multiple regulators, which included a permanent bar issued against him by the SEC, Pirrello intentionally kept his name out of Late Stage’s business, purposefully withholding his identity from relevant documents and representations made to investors regarding the firm’s leadership. Passalaqua worked alongside Pirrello at Prior2IPO as the Chief Executive Officer. Cassino led operations at Pre IPO Marketing, Inc. Pirrello and his co-conspirators directed the heads of the sales offices on how to market Late Stage to investors.
Pirrello, Passalaqua, Cassino and the other heads of the other sales offices then made material misrepresentations and omissions to investors and potential investors in Late Stage relating to, among other things, the existence and amount of fees paid by investors in stock offered by Late Stage and how the defendants would be compensated. For example, they claimed that the only time Late Stage profited was on exit, when the company made its IPO or sold to a larger company, in which case it would be entitled to a 20% share of the investor’s profits. In reality, however, Late Stage charged fees in the form of upfront markups ranging from 10-100% of each investment. The upfront revenue generated by the inclusion of these markups was then used to pay the principals of Late Stage, including Pirrello, Passalaqua, Cassino and the employees of the sales offices. In total, between approximately March 2019 and July 2022, sales offices working on behalf of Late Stage raised approximately $528 million from investors and diverted approximately $88 million in undisclosed upfront markups.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica K. Weigel and James R. Simmons are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Melina Piatti-Chayan and Liam McNett.
The Defendants:
RAYMOND JOHN PIRRELLO, Jr. (also known as “Ray John”)
Age: 49
Sparta, New JerseyJOSEPH PASSALAQUA
Age: 37
Sparta, New JerseyROBERT CASSINO
Age: 63
Long Beach, New YorkCo-Defendant Who Previously Pleaded Guilty:
JOSEPH RIVERA
Age: 45
Elmont, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-499 (KAM)
Texas man sentenced for monopolizing international transit industry, fixing prices, and extorting competitorsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 59-year-old resident of San Benito has been ordered to federal prison and must pay a substantial fine for his role in a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency industry in the Los Indios border region near Harlingen and Brownsville.
Roberto Garcia Villarreal pleaded guilty Feb. 6, 2025, to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for transmigrante forwarding agency services, conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market, and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now imposed a 30-month term of imprisonment. Villarreal must also pay a $50,000 criminal fine. He was ordered into custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Villarreal and others controlled the transmigrante industry through monopolization and by extorting competitors.
“Roberto Garcia Villarreal chose to join a criminal enterprise that seized control of an industry through threats and violence, rigged prices against legitimate businesses, and laundered its proceeds—and now, he is headed to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei of the Southern District of Texas. “Today’s sentence serves as proof that no participant of this conspiracy will walk away without consequence. Although, the conspiracy may be finished, the Southern District of Texas is just getting started.”
“Antitrust criminals deserve lengthy sentences for the economic — and in this case physical — violence they sow. The Antitrust Division is proud to have worked with our law enforcement colleagues on this long-running investigation that will restore competition and punish violent criminals at the U.S.-Mexico border,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel W. Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We will continue working to incarcerate antitrust criminals and hold accountable the remaining co-defendants in this scheme.”
“The use of violence and intimidation to threaten and remove competition will not be tolerated,” said Acting Assistant Director Gregory Heeb of the FBI Criminal Division. “Today’s sentencing shows the FBI’s commitment to investigating and holding accountable those responsible for price fixing and extortion schemes.”
“This case highlights the significant danger posed by transnational criminal organizations operating near our borders,” said acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, San Antonio. “As an accomplice in carrying out a violent operation that targeted small businesses for extortion, manipulated market prices, and concealed millions of dollars in illicit funds—undermining the security and fairness of lawful trade—HSI will relentlessly seek out those who harm legitimate industries through dishonest actions and intimidation. Our dedication to protecting our communities and economic stability remains firm.”
Transmigrantes arrange for and transport used vehicles and other goods from the United States through Mexico for resale in Central America. There are only a few locations where Transmigrantes can cross from the United States into Mexico, one of those being the Los Indios Bridge.
Transmigrante forwarding agencies are U.S.-based businesses that provide services to transmigrante clients, including helping those clients complete the customs paperwork required to export vehicles into Mexico. Villarreal and others fixed prices for transmigrante forwarding agency services and created a centralized entity known as the “Pool” to collect and divide revenues among the conspirators, limit competition from other agencies, and increase prices for their services.
Forwarding agencies who were not part of the conspiracy had to join and pay into the Pool. Villarreal and other Pool members enforced the rules by monitoring whether forwarding agencies were charging the agreed-upon prices and making payments. Forwarding agencies were also required to pay other extortion fees, including a “piso” for every transaction processed in the industry.
To date, eight others have been convicted, seven of whom have already been sentenced in the case, including the leader - Carlos Martinez, 39, McAllen, who received an 11-year prison term.
Three others - Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart and Diego Ceballos-Soto were also charged in the superseding indictment and remain fugitives.
ICE-HSI and FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum prosecuted the case along with Senior Litigation Attorney John Davis and Trial Attorneys Brittany E. McClure, Anne Veldhuis, and Michael G. Lepage of the Antitrust Division; and Trial Attorney Christina Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the HSI Tip Line at 866-347-2423; the FBI Tip Line at tips.fbi.gov or by contacting the FBI San Antonio Field Office at 210-225-6741; or the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit https://www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Texas Man Sentenced for Monopolizing International Transit Industry, Fixing Prices and Extorting CompetitorsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice today announced that Roberto Garcia Villarreal, 59, of San Benito, Texas, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 criminal fine for his role in a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency industry in the Los Indios, Texas, border region, located near Harlingen and Brownsville, Texas. Villarreal and his co-defendants controlled the transmigrante industry through monopolization and by extorting competitors.The Court remanded Villareal into custody to begin his sentence immediately.
“Antitrust criminals deserve lengthy sentences for the economic — and in this case physical — violence they sow,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel W. Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division is proud to have worked with our law enforcement colleagues on this long-running investigation that will restore competition and punish violent criminals at the U.S.-Mexico border. We will continue working to incarcerate antitrust criminals and hold accountable the remaining co-defendants in this scheme.”
“Roberto Garcia chose to join a criminal enterprise that seized control of an industry through threats and violence, rigged prices against legitimate businesses, and laundered its proceeds — and now, he is headed to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei of the Southern District of Texas. “Today’s sentence serves as proof that no participant of this conspiracy will walk away without consequence. Although, the conspiracy may be finished, the Southern District of Texas is just getting started.”
“The use of violence and intimidation to threaten and remove competition will not be tolerated,” said Acting Assistant Director Gregory Heeb of the FBI Criminal Division. “Today’s sentencing shows the FBI’s commitment to investigating and holding accountable those responsible for price fixing and extortion schemes.”
“This case highlights the significant danger posed by transnational criminal organizations operating near our borders,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of the HSI San Antonio Field Office. “As an accomplice in carrying out a violent operation that targeted small businesses for extortion, manipulated market prices, and concealed millions of dollars in illicit funds—undermining the security and fairness of lawful trade — HSI will relentlessly seek out those who harm legitimate industries through dishonest actions and intimidation. Our dedication to protecting our communities and economic stability remains firm.”
Transmigrantes arrange for and transport used vehicles and other goods from the United States through Mexico for resale in Central America. There are only a few locations where transmigrantes can cross from the United States into Mexico, one of those being the Los Indios Bridge in Texas.
Transmigrante forwarding agencies are U.S.-based businesses that provide services to transmigrante clients, including helping those clients complete the customs paperwork required to export vehicles into Mexico. According to court documents and statements made in court, Villarreal and his co-defendants fixed prices for transmigrante forwarding agency services and created a centralized entity known as the “Pool” to collect and divide revenues among the co-conspirators, limit competition from other agencies and increase prices for their services.
Forwarding agencies who were not part of the conspiracy had to join and pay into the Pool. Villarreal and other Pool members enforced the rules of the Pool by monitoring whether forwarding agencies were charging the agreed-upon prices and making payments to the Pool. Forwarding agencies were also required to pay other extortion fees, including a “piso” for every transaction processed in the industry.
Villarreal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for transmigrante forwarding agency services; conspiracy to monopolize the same market; and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.
To date, eight others have been convicted, seven of whom have already been sentenced in the case, including the leader - Carlos Martinez, 39, McAllen, who received an 11-year prison term.
Three others - Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart and Diego Ceballos-Soto were also charged in the superseding indictment and remain fugitives. Anyone with information about their whereabouts or with information in connection with this investigation is asked to contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Attorney John Davis and Trial Attorneys Brittany E. McClure, Anne Veldhuis and Michael G. Lepage of the Antitrust Division; Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the HSI Tip Line at 866-347-2423; the FBI Tip Line at tips.fbi.gov or by contacting the FBI San Antonio Field Office at 210-225-6741; or the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit https://www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Takeshi Ebisawa Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Nuclear Materials, Narcotics, and FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance Cole, and Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John A. Eisenberg, announced today that TAKESHI EBISAWA, a Japanese national, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon for his participation in a conspiracy to traffic nuclear materials, including uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, from Burma to other countries, as well as his participation in international narcotics trafficking, weapons, and money laundering crimes. EBISAWA previously pled guilty to six counts for those offenses before Judge McMahon.
“The illicit trafficking of nuclear materials is an existential threat to every New Yorker and every American,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Takeshi Ebisawa tried to sell uranium, thorium, and plutonium to fuel a purported nuclear weapons program, along with deadly drugs destined for U.S. streets. In exchange, Ebisawa hoped to procure battlefield weapons for insurgent groups and profit for himself. This case is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our law enforcement partners, who worked across three continents to stop Ebisawa and bring him to justice in the United States.”
“National security and public safety are the very tenets of DEA’s mission, and this case demonstrates our ability to dismantle the world’s most dangerous criminal networks,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “Today’s sentence should send a clear message: threatening the United States by trafficking nuclear materials, narcotics, and military-grade weapons will trigger an uncompromising response. DEA will hold conspirators accountable—no matter the distance, no matter their allegiance.”
“Thanks to the exceptional work of the DEA and our DOJ prosecutors, Takeshi Ebisawa has been held accountable for his crimes, including an attempt to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Iran and to flood New York with deadly narcotics,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle criminal networks that seek to profit from the illicit trade in deadly weapons and substances.”
As reflected in the Complaint, the Superseding Indictment, and other filings and information in the public record:
From in or about 2019 until EBISAWA’s arrest on or about April 4, 2022, the DEA investigated EBISAWA in connection with the large-scale trafficking of narcotics, weapons, and nuclear materials. During the investigation, EBISAWA unwittingly introduced an undercover DEA agent (“UC-1”), posing as a narcotics and weapons trafficker, to EBISAWA’s international network of criminal associates, which spanned Japan, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the United States, among other places, for the purpose of arranging criminal transactions. Over the course of three years, EBISAWA and his associates negotiated four sets of transactions with UC-1.
First, EBISAWA attempted to broker the sale of nuclear materials in exchange for military-grade weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, for an ethnic insurgent group in Burma. EBISAWA intended to sell this nuclear material to UC-1’s associate, who was posing as an Iranian general in charge of Iran’s nuclear weapons program (the “General”). After initially offering uranium, EBISAWA proposed to supply the General with “plutonium” that would be even “better” and more “powerful” than uranium for Iran’s use. In or about February 2022, EBISAWA and two co-conspirators met with UC-1 in Thailand, where one of the co-conspirators showed UC-1 samples of the nuclear materials (the “Nuclear Samples”). With the assistance of Thai authorities, the Nuclear Samples were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of U.S. law enforcement. A U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory examined the Nuclear Samples and determined they contained detectable quantities of uranium, thorium, and weapons-grade plutonium.
Second, EBISAWA attempted to broker the sale of methamphetamine and heroin to UC-1 in exchange for heavy weapons for another ethnic insurgent group in Burma. EBISAWA planned for the heroin and methamphetamine to be distributed in the New York market, and he understood the weapons to have been manufactured in the United States and taken from U.S. military bases in Afghanistan. In or about February 2021, EBISAWA traveled to Denmark to inspect some of the purported weapons, including anti-tank rocket weapons, machine guns, and automatic rifles.
Third, EBISAWA conspired to sell, in a separate transaction, approximately 500 kilograms of methamphetamine and 500 kilograms of heroin to UC-1 for distribution in New York. In furtherance of that transaction, in or about June 2021 and September 2021, one of EBISAWA’s co-conspirators provided samples in Thailand of approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine and approximately 1.4 kilograms of heroin. The methamphetamine had a purity of approximately 98%, and the heroin had a purity of approximately 86% to 87%.
Finally, EBISAWA laundered $100,000, which UC-1 described to EBISAWA as narcotics proceeds, from the United States to Japan, in exchange for a 15% commission. In or about November 2021, the DEA transferred $100,000 to U.S. bank accounts controlled by one of EBISAWA’s co-conspirators, and EBISAWA then delivered the Yen equivalent of approximately $85,000 in cash in Tokyo.
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In addition to the prison term, EBISAWA, 61, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the DEA Tokyo Country Office, DEA Bangkok Country Office, DEA Chiang Mai Resident Office, DEA Jakarta Country Office, DEA Copenhagen Country Office, DEA New York Field Office, DEA New Delhi Country Office, the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and our law enforcement partners in Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, and the Kingdom of Thailand for their assistance.
The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky, Alexander Li, and Kevin T. Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section.
Suspect in Oglethorpe Mall shooting pleads guilty to illegal possession of machine gunRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA: One of the individuals identified in a July 2025 shootout at a crowded Savannah mall has pled guilty to illegally possessing a machine gun.
Aujawan T. Hymon, 21, of Savannah, faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and substantial financial penalties after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun, said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“This prosecution symbolizes our continued resolve to remove illegal firearms from our communities, and hold accountable those who would threaten the safety of law-abiding citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to make our streets and businesses safer.”
As described in court and in the guilty plea, Savannah Police officers responded July 2, 2025, to the Oglethorpe Mall after gunshots were reported. Three people were wounded during the exchanges of gunfire, including Hymon, who was seen by witnesses and on surveillance cameras carrying a pistol. The footage also showed Hymon discarding a gun in a mall trash can where investigators later recovered the weapon, a .40-caliber Glock Model 22. Hymon did not appear to have fired the gun.
Technicians from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined the pistol was equipped with a functional “Glock switch,” an illegal device that converted the weapon to fully automatic fire. In his plea, Hymon admitted possessing the weapon and knowing that it had been converted into a machine gun. Hymon also face state charges in the shooting, along with other defendants who were not determined to have violated federal law.
Hymon remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker will schedule sentencing upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
“The guilty plea in this case underscores our unwavering commitment to removing illegal firearms from our communities,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistance Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF. “Together with our local and state partners, we are dedicated to ensuring public safety and holding accountable those who endanger it.”
The case is being investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese.
Springfield, Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine Base in Central Vermont While FugitiveRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on March 2, 2026, Justin Llano, 25, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Justin Llano previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine base in Central Vermont in two separate cases.
According to court records, over the course of multiple years, first in 2021-2022, and later in 2023-2024, Justin Llano operated a drug distribution operation in cooperation with his brother, Joseph Llano, his uncles, Tanashe Edwards and Edwin Davila, and numerous other co-conspirators, that trafficked cocaine base and fentanyl from Massachusetts to Central Vermont. The group distributed drugs to a large number of customers in Washington, Orange, and Lamoille counties. The defendant was initially arrested after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with federal drug crimes in May 2022. Prior to that arrest, law enforcement had conducted two controlled purchases directly from Justin Llano. During a controlled purchase on April 22, 2022, Justin Llano was wearing body armor and was armed with a handgun when he completed the drug sale, and additional firearms were present in the residence where the transaction occurred. The investigation determined that Justin Llano used his drug customers to obtain firearms in Vermont that he then trafficked to Massachusetts for profit.
In September 2022, Justin Llano was arrested by Springfield, Massachusetts Police for unlawfully possessing a firearm. Thereafter, he failed to report to his pre-trial services officer for his Vermont federal case, and became a fugitive from justice. Beginning in 2023, the defendant resumed trafficking drugs to Vermont while still a fugitive. Justin Llano directed individuals from Massachusetts to travel to Vermont to distribute drugs (“runners”), and had other individuals courier those runners, drugs and proceeds from the sale of drugs between Massachusetts and Vermont. During the course of the conspiracy, the courier that the Llano brothers used to transport drugs made approximately 100 trips between the Springfield, Massachusetts area and Central Vermont. By late 2024, while the courier’s activities were being directed by Justin Llano he was making multiple trips each week. On each trip he brought between 50 and 60 grams of cocaine base to Vermont, and at times also brought wax folds of fentanyl. Justin Llano managed multiple runners to distribute drugs in Vermont to customers with whom the defendant arranged drug transactions via a popular social media messaging application. On one occasion in September 2024, when one of the runners reported to Justin Llano that drug proceeds were missing, an armed associate of Llano went to the residence where the runner was distributing drugs and threatened the residents and the runner with a firearm, demanding that they locate the missing money. A search warrant was later executed at that residence by ATF and DEA, resulting in the seizure of cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, Barre Town Police Department, Barre City Police Department, Berlin Police Department, and Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner. Justin Llano was represented by Allan Sullivan, Esq.
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.
Springfield Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Federal Hate Crime ViolationRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— A Springfield, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for a federal hate crime after assaulting a victim on the basis of their sexual orientation.
Daniel Andrew McGee, 26, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
“The right to live safely in one’s community is a fundamental civil right. The District of Oregon remains committed to combatting hate crimes and protecting that right for all,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “While no conviction can undo the harm caused, we hope this sentence will bring some measure of justice to the victim and our community.”
“Hate crimes impact not just individuals, but entire communities,” said Acting FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Matt Torres. “The FBI works together with our partners to prevent hate crimes from impacting our communities, and every attack on someone because of who and what they are deserves to be acted on by the full extent of the law.”
According to court documents, on the evening of July 5, 2021, McGee met the victim at the victim’s apartment after communicating on the dating application Grindr, an application originally designed for, and primarily used by, gay men. McGee assaulted the victim over the course of several minutes, striking the victim on the head with a wooden tire thumper and using his hands to try to gouge the victim’s eyes out. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries during the assault, including serious head wounds.
The investigation revealed McGee had been researching and planning the attack for weeks. For at least one month prior to the attack, McGee searched the internet for homophobic and graphically violent anti-gay material. McGee planned for the attack by purchasing the weapon and other materials from Amazon and searching the internet for suggestions on how to get away with murder.
On November 18, 2021, a federal grand jury in Eugene, Oregon, returned a one-count indictment charging McGee with a federal hate crime involving an attempt to kill.
On November 25, 2025, McGee pleaded guilty to count one of the Indictment.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. Joseph Huynh, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and Tenette Smith, Trial Attorney for the Civil Rights Division Criminal Section, prosecuted the case.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 150 Months for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Springfield, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Kenneth Terrell Jones, 58, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Beth Phillips to 150 months in federal prison without parole to be followed by three years of supervised release.
On Aug. 15, 2024, a Springfield, Mo., Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop of an SUV with no license plates. During the stop the officer observed a baggie containing suspected controlled substances. A search of the vehicle found a Taurus, PT111 Millennium G2 pistol, which had previously been reported stolen out of St. Louis and additional controlled substances, including methamphetamine and heroin. In Jones’s subsequent statements to the officer, he admitted that both the firearm and the drugs belonged to him, and that he had purchased the firearm from a person who he only knew by an alias.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jones has a significant criminal history, with prior convictions for burglary, unlawful use of a weapon, robbery in the second degree, rape, hindering prosecution of a felony, felony stealing, felony possession of a controlled substances, felony resisting arrest, tampering with a motor vehicle, and felony receiving stolen property.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Rochester felon facing new chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Legend Davis, 22, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in September 2024, Davis was convicted in the Western District of New York of possession of a postal key and theft of mail and sentenced to serve three years’ probation. As a result, he is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition.
On December 16, 2025, Rochester Police officers responded to an address for a report of harassment. The caller stated that a car full of individuals came to their house, beeped the car horn, and called for them to come outside. According to the caller, Davis was one of the occupants of the vehicle and said, “you gonna lie down,” and “it’s on today, ya’ll going to see me light it up,” and made firearm gestures and pointed to his waistband. The incident led to United States Probation officers conducting home visits on December 16, 2025, on January 21, 2026 at Davis’s Rauber Street residence. An officer asked Davis if there was anything in the residence that he was not permitted to possess. He admitted that he possessed ammunition. Officers located nine rounds of ammunition.
Davis made an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was held pending a detention hearing.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo/Rochester comprises agents and officers from HSI and the FBI with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and United States Probation, under the direction of Clifford D. Jackson, Chief Probation Officer.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Roanoke Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke, Va. man, who used the Kik social media app to send three videos containing child sexual exploitation material to an undercover FBI officer, was sentenced yesterday to 40 months in federal prison.
Christopher Allan Johnson, 55, pled guilty in December 2025 to one count of possessing child sexual exploitation materials involving a prepubescent minor.
“The threat from online predators is real and remains a key enforcement priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia and our law enforcement partners,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I am thankful to the FBI for their diligent work in this case to identify a real threat and bring justice to help protect our children.”
“Today’s sentencing takes one more criminal offline, but we know this epidemic of child exploitation is far from over. The FBI will continue fighting every day to protect our children from predators like Mr. Johnson,” said Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division.
According to court documents, on October 10, 2024, after leaving the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem, Virginia, Johnson logged into Kik and joined a public group dedicated to incest. There, an undercover FBI task force officer messaged Johnson. During the conversation, Johnson talked about his sexual fantasies involving children.
The next day, without prompting, Johnson sent the undercover officer three videos depicting children being graphically sexually exploited. At least one of the videos involved a prepubescent minor.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Inman is prosecuting the case for the United States.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Philippine National Sentenced in CNMI for Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
SAIPAN, CNMI – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Lorna R. Maramba, age 64, a Philippine national illegally living on Saipan, was sentenced on March 2, 2026, by the Honorable Ramona V. Manglona in the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, to credit for time served for Possession of a False Identification Document with the Intent to Defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(4). The Court also ordered Maramba to pay a $25.00 special assessment fee. Maramba was deported to the Philippines today.
According to court documents, on January 21, 2026, Maramba attempted to depart Saipan for Hawaii through the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport. During an outbound inspection, she presented two fraudulent U.S. Permanent Resident Cards to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. Each card contained different biographical information, mismatched USCIS numbers, and distorted or blurred photographs.
Maramba initially claimed to be a lawful permanent resident. Record checks revealed she had no legal immigration status and had overstayed her CNMI‑Only Transitional Worker (CW‑1) visa, which expired in 2020. She later admitted the cards were counterfeit and stated she had paid $2,000 to a man she met on Facebook who falsely claimed to be a U.S. immigration officer. Maramba told investigators she intended to use the fraudulent documents to reach Hawaii to seek employment and acknowledged she was unlawfully present in the CNMI.
“The CNMI benefits from special provisions in federal immigration law that promote economic relief,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Our office will continue to aggressively enforce any violations. This case sends a message of zero tolerance to those who take advantage of these provisions to deprive citizens in other jurisdictions of employment opportunities.”
“HSI Saipan protects the community by investigating fraud and other crimes that threaten our security. Working alongside CBP and other partners, we make sure those who break the law are identified and brought to justice,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas.
The investigation was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation and prosecuted by Eric S. O’Malley, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jose Torres-Vega, aka “Pete” and “Big Hommie” of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage to 216 months’ imprisonment followed by 8 years of supervised release for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
The defendant was charged in a 20-count superseding indictment in June of 2023 with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and maintaining a drug house.
As detailed in case filings and statements, Torres-Vega was the leader and organizer of a drug trafficking group which operated in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Torres-Vega obtained distribution quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine from suppliers in and around the Philadelphia area, and coordinated street sales of narcotics via his subordinates. Torres-Vega utilized a stash property, where he stored bulk narcotics and multiple firearms. A search warrant executed at the stash property revealed a cache of loaded firearms, to include an assault rifle, as well as bulk fentanyl.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica Kivitz and Lindsey Mills.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 78 Months for COVID Relief Fraud and International Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Adepoju Babtunde Salako, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. As part of the plea agreement, Salako also agreed to plead guilty to seven counts of wire fraud in the District of Alaska. The defendant was ordered to pay $2,581,002.50 in restitution to the victims of his crimes.
According to the plea agreement, throughout most of the year 2021, Salako was part of a conspiracy that stole more than $5 million in funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, and 30 state unemployment programs through several complex schemes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government launched the PPP and EIDL economic relief programs and provided federal funds to state unemployment programs. In one scheme, Salako and two co-conspirators used information of identity theft victims to fraudulently obtain PPP Loans and unemployment benefits and submitted fraudulent applications for EIDL Loans. In another scheme, co-conspirators, who were primarily located in Nigeria, used stolen identities and enlisted romance scam victims to obtain government money. Salako’s role was then to receive money from the romance scam victims and government agencies and to launder fraud proceeds, primarily to China and Nigeria, for a fee of approximately 25 percent.
“Mr. Salako and his criminal associates exploited innocent people and stole millions of dollars from American taxpayers,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “We are committed to finding and prosecuting fraudsters and, as this sentence demonstrates, these criminals will pay a serious price for their actions.”
“Salako was the point man in the U.S. for an international criminal organization that preyed on honest business owners and taxpayers, while also jeopardizing our national security,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “Our special agents are experts at uncovering complex financial crimes and today’s sentence is an example of their great work, our relationships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal and state law enforcement partners.”
“The U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General is committed to upholding the integrity of the Postal Service and its workforce. Our office will continue to investigate those who choose to breach the public’s trust and engage in fraudulent activity. The sentence imposed on the defendant stands as a clear warning that serious consequences await anyone who exploits government resources to commit criminal acts,” said Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office. “USPS OIG is thankful for the great longstanding relationships we have developed with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat fraud.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment handled the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig Fansler handled the prosecution.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Case Number: 25-cr-00162-CNS
Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A tribal member pleaded guilty on March 3, 2026, to the charge of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office.
According to court documents, Jerithan Keith Willis, 43, of the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, distributed methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
In August of 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Willis on the methamphetamine charge. Willis pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 2, 2026. Willis faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is the result of the combined work of the FBI Safe Trails Task Force (STTF). The STTF is a collaborative effort between the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in Indian Country and surrounding communities. The STTF comprised of a variety of partners, including tribal, state, and local law enforcement. The STTF has been a key part of the FBI’s partnerships in Indian Country for almost 30 years and has been a presence on the Choctaw Indian Reservation since 2022.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, who all investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.
Owner and Operations Manager of Wholesale Drug Distributor Admit Conspiring to Divert Nearly $50m of Cancer Medication to Sell Illegally for ProfitRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two North Jersey men have admitted to conspiring with doctors and others to purchase nearly $50 million worth of oncology and ophthalmology medications, under false pretenses, and then diverting and reselling these medications for profit, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Frank Incognito, 46, of Englishtown, New Jersey, and Stephen Corba, 50, of Farmingdale, New Jersey, have pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to conspiring to unlawfully resell various medications, including expensive oncology and ophthalmology medications, that a healthcare entity previously purchased. Corba entered his guilty plea earlier today, while Incognito entered his guilty plea on February 18, 2026.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
For years, Corba owned and ran a wholesale drug distributor, operating under New Jersey corporations located in Sewaren, New Jersey. During this time, Incognito worked as the operations manager of this drug distributor.
Corba and Incognito conspired with each other and multiple doctors to obtain expensive prescription medications that Corba and Incognito otherwise would not have been able to obtain on their own. These medications were first “straw-purchased” through the doctors’ medical practices, using the doctors’ medical licenses, and on the express condition that the medications would be used to treat the doctors’ own patients. After the medications were purchased, Corba, Incognito, the doctors, and their co-conspirators illegally transferred and resold the medications to others. Primarily, these medications were cold-chain biologic infusion medications that physicians typically use to treat cancers, macular degeneration, and autoimmune diseases.
In order to purchase the drugs, Corba, Incognito, and the doctors made numerous false and misleading representations to the pharmaceutical manufacturers and authorized distributors. These misrepresentations included that the doctors were purchasing the drugs to treat their own patients, and that the drugs would not be resold or redistributed to others. In actuality, none of the drugs were used to treat any of the doctors’ own patients but were instead sold to customers of Corba and Incognito, for a profit.
Corba’s and Incognito’s fraudulent scheme ran from June 2012 through January 2019, and included the purchase and sale of more than $47.5 million in prescription drugs. Doctors Anise Kachadourian, Jon Paul Dadaian, and Joel Lerner also previously pled guilty to their roles in the scheme.
The conspiracy to which Corba and Incognito pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In their plea agreement, Corba and Incognito also agreed to make restitution for the full amount of any losses resulting from their offenses. Sentencing for Incognito is scheduled for June 23, 2026, and sentencing for Corba is scheduled for July 8, 2026.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan, and special agents of U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Maltese, with the investigation leading to Corba’s and Incognito’s guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph McFarlane and Sara Aliabadi of the U.S Attorney’s Office in Camden.
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Defense Counsel for Corba: Robert Stahl, Esquire
Defense Counsel for Incognito: Rocco Cipparone, Esquire
One Fresno Resident Sentenced, One Pleads Guilty in Illegal Gun Possession CasesRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announces a sentencing and a guilty plea in Fresno for two cases as part of Operation Take Back America.
Phatna Pich, 23, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing machine guns. According to court documents, in October 2024, law enforcement officers were investigating Pich for trafficking illegal firearms. In November 2024, officers searched Pich’s home and seized a loaded firearm, several rounds of ammunition, and 12 auto-sears, which are devices used to convert firearms into automatic weapons. Pich has two prior firearm-related felony convictions, including a prior conviction involving an assault weapon and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Pich pleaded guilty on Nov. 5, 2025.
The Fresno Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.
Thomas Carter Beasley, 21, of Fresno, pleaded guilty Monday to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Beasley engaged in a high-speed chase when police attempted to pull him over. Beasley sped through stop signs, nearly hit bystanders, and finally came to a stop by crashing into a parked car. After crashing, he fled on foot through a nearby apartment complex and hid a loaded .40 caliber Glock 27 handgun he was carrying under a resident’s doormat. Beasley faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The Fresno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Robert Veneman-Hughes are prosecuting the case.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Oklahoma City Couple Sentenced to Serve 16 Years Collectively in Prison after Traffic Stop Yields 28 Firearms, Fentanyl, and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MICHAEL DENNIS MILLER, 46, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and engaging in a drug conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Court records show that on September 23, 2024, an officer with the Union City Police Department pulled over a vehicle driven by codefendant SARAH JO MILLER, 34, also of Oklahoma City, with Michael Miller in the passenger seat. Because neither occupant had a valid driver’s license, the vehicle was impounded. During an inventory search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered 28 firearms, approximately 87 grams of fentanyl, and 41 grams of methamphetamine.
According to public records, Michael Miller and Sarah Miller have the following prior convictions in Oklahoma County District Court:
- Sarah Miller’s previous convictions include unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in case number CF-2020-1871, as well as unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, acquiring proceeds from drug activity, larceny of merchandise from a retailer, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia in case number CF-2023-1042; and
- Michael Miller’s previous convictions include endangering others while eluding/attempting to elude a police officer in case number CF-2021-3, as well as conspiracy to conceal stolen property, second-degree burglary, concealing stolen property, larceny of an automobile, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in case number CF-2019-4332.
Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy and being a felon in possession of firearms in separate superseding informations.
At a sentencing hearing on February 20, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Michael Miller to serve 84 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On January 28, 2026, Sarah Miller was sentenced to serve 108 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentences, Judge DeGiusti noted the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal histories of the defendants.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Union City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hoch prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court on March 2, 2026, to a charge of cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Wade Shaw, 51, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to one count of possession with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine in September 2023.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for May 28, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Sharon Police Department, Farrell Police Department, Mercer County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Shaw.
Notary Pleads Guilty to Filing False Document in Orlando Immigration CourtRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Carlos Enrique Diaz Roque (29, Brooksville) has pleaded guilty to obstruction of official proceeding. Diaz Roque faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement, Diaz Roque, a licensed notary, agreed to prepare an immigration document for Client-1. Diaz Roque, however, has never been a licensed attorney.
On February 3, 2025, Diaz Roque filed a motion to administratively close Client-1’s pending Orlando Immigration Court case. That same day, Diaz Roque also filed a document that was supposedly the Department of Homeland Security’s brief opposing Client-1’s motion. That brief said that the Department of Homeland Security “requests that the Court don’t deny the respondent’s motion to administratively close proceedings in the above-captioned case.” Diaz Roque signed the document in the name of the attorney for the Department of Homeland Security. In fact, as Diaz Roque well knew, the Department of Homeland Security’s attorney did not prepare, sign, file or authorize filing the brief with the Orlando Immigration Court in Client-1’s case.
On June 30, 2025, Client-1 testified under oath in Orlando Immigration Court that he hired Diaz-Roque to prepare the motion for administrative closure. Client-1 denied ever seeing the opposition to it. On November 18, 2025, Diaz Roque admitted to two Homeland Security Investigations agents that he falsely signed the Department of Homeland Security’s brief and filed it.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
Norman Man Pleads Guilty to Arson in Indian Country and Gun Charge after Setting Sheriff's Deputy's Home and Vehicles on FireRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – AUSTIN GARRETT REEVES, 28, of Norman, has pleaded guilty to arson in Indian Country and possession of firearms after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to court records, on August 22, 2025, the McClain County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department (LHPD) responded to a reported burglary at a home in Washington, Oklahoma. The victim, a deputy with MCSO, told law enforcement that a handgun had been stolen from a family vehicle. A vehicle belonging to Reeves was parked near the victim’s residence, and law enforcement located Reeves nearby and arrested him. Reeves was released from the Grady County Jail later that day.
In the early hours of August 23, 2025, law enforcement responded to a fire at the same residence. Surveillance video showed Reeves using a large gas can to douse the victim’s personal vehicles and a MCSO patrol vehicle in gasoline. Reeves ignited the patrol vehicle, and the fire quickly spread to the other vehicles and then to the victim’s home, and Reeves was burned before fleeing the scene. The residents fled the home and were unharmed.
Later the same day, Reeves was arrested at his home in Norman after a standoff. Law enforcement observed a large burn on his left abdomen and recovered two firearms and burglary-related items from Reeves’ bedroom, as well as items related to arson from elsewhere in his home and from a vehicle.
On February 3, 2026, Reeves was charged by Superseding Information with arson in Indian Country and being a felon in possession of firearms.
Public records reflect that Reeves has previous felony convictions in Cleveland County District Court that include actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence in case number CF-20-937 and driving while under the influence of alcohol in case numbers CF-20-752 and CF-21-1175.
On February 24, 2026, Reeves pleaded guilty and admitted he willfully and maliciously set fire to two vehicles and a home, jeopardizing the lives of those inside, and that he knowingly possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions.
The arson charge is in federal court because Reeves is a member of the Cherokee Nation and the crime took place within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
At sentencing, Reeves faces up to life in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, MCSO, LHPD, Newcastle Police Department, and the Washington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Ganote are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
New Jersey Man Convicted for Driving Vehicle Towards Pedestrians near the Washington MonumentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jack Dessin, 43, of Mantua, NJ, was found guilty yesterday by a Superior Court jury for charges stemming from driving his SUV onto the sidewalk of the Washington Monument in July 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Dessin was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon with a senior citizen enhancement. The Honorable Deborah Israel scheduled sentencing for May 15, 2026.
According to the Government’s evidence on July 3, 2021, in broad daylight, Dessin drove his dark blue Ford Explorer truck onto the sidewalk of the Washington Monument grounds, where numerous pedestrians were walking and sightseeing. While the 68-year-old victim was walking, Dessin accelerated his vehicle and drove directly at the victim, who struggled to jump over the wall for protection and had to be pulled out of the way by a family member.
Dessin was arrested by U.S. Park Police on July 3, 2021. He is now held pending sentencing.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Scott Brecht of the U.S. Park Police.
This case was investigated by U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmanuel Hampton and Kraig Ahalt.
2024 CF1 010048
New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Atkinson, N.H. man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for possessing nearly 10 pounds of methamphetamine pills. Defendant led police on car chase at speeds in excess of 110 mph on Interstate 95.
Walter Norton, 46, was sentenced on Feb. 25, 2026 by Senior U.S. District Judge William G. Young to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. In May 2025, Norton was convicted by a jury of one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
On April 3, 2024, law enforcement conducting a large-scale money laundering investigation observed Norton arrive at the residence of co-defendant Jason Hunter in Revere. After Norton left the residence, law enforcement attempted to execute a traffic stop car on Interstate 95. Norton fled from at speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour, driving on the left shoulder of the highway. He hit the median and another vehicle, breaking the axel of his own car, which came to rest in the center lane of the highway facing the wrong direction. Norton then fled on foot carrying a bag of over 15,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, which weighed 4.4 kilograms. He was subsequently apprehended.
Searches of Hunter’s residence and vehicle resulted in the seizure of over 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, additional pills containing oxycodone, over a kilogram of cocaine and multiple kilograms of marijuana as well as $100,000 in drug proceeds.
On Jan. 8, 2026, Hunter was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Nearly Half Ton of Liquid Meth Seized at Otay Mesa Cargo FacilityRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 944 pounds of liquid methamphetamine concealed inside the fuel tank of a 2019 Kenworth T680 commercial tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Import Cargo Facility yesterday.
The driver, Oscar Alonzo Cesena Camacho, a Mexican citizen traveling on a business visa, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, on March 2 at approximately 11:20 a.m., a Customs and Border Protection officer observed a white, crystalline substance atop the passenger-side fuel tank.
Further inspection of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 29 buckets-worth of liquid concealed in the passenger-side fuel tank of the vehicle, with a total approximate weight of 428.60 kilograms (944.90 lbs.). A sample of the substance contained within the fuel tank field tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 26mj1162
Oscar Alonzo Cesena Camacho Age: 26 City of Residence: Tijuana, BC
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Importation of a Controlled Substance – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 952 and 960
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with mandatory minimum 10 years, $10 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Further inspection of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 29 buckets-worth of liquid concealed in the passenger-side fuel tank of the vehicle
Michigan City Man Sentenced to 66 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On March 3, 2026, Dontia Grant, 29 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Grant was sentenced to 66 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Grant was pulled over in Michigan City for speeding. After an officer asked for his license and registration, Grant drove away from the traffic stop and led police on a pursuit for about a mile and a half before jumping out of his car and running away from police. When they caught up to him, officers found that Grant was carrying a loaded pistol with a 20-round extended magazine. Grant has prior felony convictions including unlawful transfer of a firearm and resisting law enforcement, and he was therefore prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Michigan City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Luke N. Reilander and former Assistant United States Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.
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
Miami Jury Convicts Pennsylvania Man of Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Pennsylvania man was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 11 of attempting to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a minor victim overseas.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Earl Richard Clouser, 55, of Burnham, Pennsylvania, engaged in months-long online communications with a 15-year-old victim in Cuba. Despite knowing her age, Clouser repeatedly solicited sexually explicit videos and directed her to produce CSAM, often in exchange for electronic payments he sent to her.
“This defendant targeted a 15-year-old child, directed her to create sexually explicit material, and then traveled overseas to exploit her in person,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The fact that the victim lived in another country did not put her beyond the protection of U.S. law. If you use the internet or international travel to exploit a child, we will find you, prosecute you, and seek the full measure of federal punishment.”
In September 2025, Clouser traveled from the U.S. to Havana, Cuba, to meet the victim for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Prior to the trip, the victim provided Clouser with identification confirming she was underage. Nevertheless, Clouser arranged for the victim to meet him in Havana, where she stayed overnight with him at his rental apartment.
After returning to the U.S. through Miami International Airport on Sept. 19, 2025, Clouser was referred for secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. During the inspection, officers discovered CSAM and communications between Clouser and the victim on three electronic devices in his possession, each containing sexually explicit material depicting the victim. Clouser was arrested.
After a two-day trial, the jury convicted Clouser of attempted production of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison with a mandatory minimum of 15 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI Miami investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Hannah and Anthony Reynolds tried 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 Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20444.
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Mexican National with Prior Felony Convictions Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer Dorsey to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after being removed on four prior occasions from the country.
According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on February 6, 2025, Victor Manuel Navarro-Quesada was found in the United States after he was previously deported to Mexico on May 4, 2010; August 4, 2014; November 13, 2018; and June 10, 2019.
On February 5, 2025, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police arrested Navarro-Quesada for Trafficking a Controlled Substance and four counts of Possess to Sell a Controlled Substance. Navarro-Quesada has previous felony convictions for Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell out of the Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada, and Illegal Reentry after Deportation out of the U.S. District Court, District of Colorado.
Navarro-Quesada pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence he will be deported to Mexico for a fifth time.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Levya Ruben made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
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Mexican National Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Cocaine in New HavenRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MARTIN ONOFRE-MENDEZ, 50, a citizen of Mexico last residing in New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 20 months of imprisonment for a cocaine trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the DEA New Haven District Office Task Force learned that Onofre-Mendez was distributing narcotics from a restaurant on Grand Avenue in New Haven. Between May and September 2024, investigators made multiple controlled purchases totaling approximately 600 grams of cocaine from Onofre-Mendez. Investigators observed Onofre-Mendez’s associate, Eygner Huezo, supplying him with cocaine immediately before two of the purchases.
Onofre-Mendez was arrested on October 1, 2024. On that date, investigators seized 225 grams of cocaine from Onofre-Mendez and 480 grams of cocaine from a location he used to store drugs.
Onofre-Mendez has been detained since his arrest. On September 19, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Onofre-Mendez will be removed to Mexico when he completes his prison term.
Huezo, 36, a citizen of El Salvador last residing in New Haven, pleaded guilty to a related charge on November 10, 2025, and awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.
Mexican National Sentenced to 20 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On March 3, 2026, Miguel Angel Vera-Rosales, 36 years old, a felon from Mexico who had been previously removed from the United States in 2018, illegally returned to the United States, and was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty to 20 months in prison. Vera-Rosales pled guilty to felony Reentry of Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
“This case is an example of why the government prosecutes felony Reentry of a Removed Alien. The Defendant has a previous felony conviction for attempted sexual assault and had been removed from our country. He continued to break our nation’s laws by violating her borders again. He will be returned home to Mexico after serving his time in prison. It should be clear that he is not welcome here as a result of his crimes.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones.
Mexican Citizen Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A citizen of Mexico was sentenced in federal court to 30 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Manuel Sebastian Valenzuela Olivas, 20.
According to information presented to the Court, Olivas exploited a temporary visitor visa to traffic in fentanyl. Specifically, on or about August 10, 2025, Olivas traveled from the U.S./Mexico border to New York City to obtain fentanyl from a narcotics supplier located in the Bronx. Olivas was on his way to sell the fentanyl to a buyer in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, when Pennsylvania State Police stopped his vehicle on a traffic violation. During a search of Olivas’ vehicle, troopers discovered one kilogram of fentanyl under the driver’s seat.
Olivas has been in custody since his arrest and will be returned to immigration custody following his imprisonment for his removal from the U.S., to which Olivas agreed as part of his plea and sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Drug Law Enforcement Division, Western SHIELD Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Olivas.
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), combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Theft of Funds from the Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Anthony Brewer, 47, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to theft of government property valued at over $50,000 in Department of Veterans Affairs funds. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
United States Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant abused his position of trust to financially benefit himself by illegally diverting money that was intended to support one of our brave military veterans, and this prison sentence ensures he is held accountable for his selfish, criminal conduct. Our military veterans deserve our respect and gratitude, and my office will ensure they receive the government benefits they have earned through their sacrifice and service by aggressively prosecuting anyone who tries to steal the U.S. government moneys intended for their support.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant agreed to serve as a fiduciary under the Department of Veteran Affairs’ fiduciary program and manage the monetary benefits of an individual who was unable to manage their own benefits. As part of the agreement, the defendant agreed to use the funds for the care, support, health, welfare, comfort, and desires of the beneficiary. The defendant subsequently misused and stole funds provided by the VA for the beneficiary between October 7, 2020, and January 9, 2023.
“This sentence holds the defendant accountable for defrauding a vulnerable beneficiary who was incapable of managing their finances,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “VA fiduciary roles require high integrity and trust, and the VA OIG is committed to rigorously investigating those who exploit veterans and their families.”
Brewer was ordered to pay $53,567 in restitution and his sentence will run consecutive to a state of Florida prison sentence that he is currently serving.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo and former Assistant United States Attorney Harley W. Ferguson prosecuted the case.
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 theU.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.
Lynchburg Store Owner Pleads Guilty to Federal Food Stamp FraudRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The owner of Taste of India, a medium-sized grocery store in Lynchburg, pled guilty today to federal food stamp fraud and other charges.
Rajan Babbar, 59, pled guilty today to one count of fraud regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program and one count of transacting in criminally derived property. SNAP was established by the United States government to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among low and middle-income families by increasing their food purchasing power and ability.
According to court documents, in 2016 Babbar filed paperwork with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for Taste of India to become a SNAP retailer. In December 2016, FNS approved Babbar’s application.
Beginning around April 2021, it is alleged that SNAP sales at Taste of India exploded from their previous levels. For example, in 2018, Taste of India was conducting an approximate monthly average of $2,600 in SNAP transactions. By 2023, the approximate monthly average was $65,000 a month, a roughly 2,500 percent increase. Between January 2019 and January 2025, the average individual SNAP transaction at Taste of India was for $115.77. By comparison, the average individual SNAP transaction among similarly sized stores statewide was $40.61.
To perpetuate the scheme, Babbar admitted that he permitted individuals to exchange their SNAP benefits for cash. Babbar rang up false transactions for non-existent food items and other products. He then provided those individuals with cash for approximately one-half the value of the SNAP benefits.
Between approximately January 2019 and January 2025, Babbar conducted numerous such fraudulent SNAP transactions in an amount that was more than $550,000 but not greater than $3.5 million.
Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci, Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the USDA-OIG, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The USDA-OIG, FBI, and Lynchburg Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Brett is prosecuting the case.
Longtime offender sentenced to 20 years in prison for running drug operations from Columbus houses & prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A career criminal offender was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 240 months in prison for leading a narcotics operation, including from jail.
Petrocelli Robertson, 40, of Columbus, was part of a drug trafficking organization that sold fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. Robertson is also known as “Bible” and “Juice.”
According to court documents, from May 2021 until July 2024, Robertson trafficked narcotics out of Columbus residences on Racine and Dana avenues. After his arrest in this case, Robertson directed his other associates to continue his drug operations.
Robertson’s criminal history started at least 20 years ago. In the early 2000s, he was convicted of kidnapping with a firearm and sentenced to serve eight years in prison consecutive to a federal sentence imposed for dealing cocaine base. After serving those prison sentences, he was convicted of illegally conveying drugs into Mansfield Correctional Institution and spitting on a corrections officer at Lebanon Correctional Institution.
Two of Robertson’s four co-defendants in this case are also scheduled to be sentenced this week. Robertson’s former wife, Amber Limoli, pleaded guilty to continuing the drug operation while her husband was in jail. His doorman, Danny Hood, oversaw a residence on South Guilford Avenue where drugs were regularly sold and was in the process of establishing another stash house on Stevens Avenue.
The investigation also revealed that Hood was renting rooms for women engaging in prostitution and was exchanging drugs for things of value. Hood exploited drug-addicted women, often letting them stay with him and assisting them as they engaged in prostitution so they would have cash to purchase drugs from him.
Coconspirator Terrel L. Patterson has also pleaded guilty in this case and awaits sentencing later this month.
Robertson pleaded guilty in July 2025 to conspiring to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, and to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
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Kentucky Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Kody D. Harless, 28, of Tomahawk, Kentucky, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to eight years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 15, 2023, Harless received approximately 4.75 grams of fentanyl from an individual in Huntington. A law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in which Harless was traveling following the transaction and located and seized the fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Harless admitted that he obtained the seized fentanyl after arranging to purchase it beforehand, and that he intended to distribute some of it.
Harless also admitted to additional criminal conduct. Harless participated in a conspiracy to receive fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia for distribution. Harless admitted that he took part in the conspiracy from at least July 2023 to in and around November 2023, received methamphetamine and fentanyl on a regular basis from others in the Huntington area, and transported the controlled substances to Kentucky where he distributed them.
Harless is among 27 individuals indicted on charges alleging they participated in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. Harless and another co-defendant pleaded guilty to separate charges in lieu of the offenses alleged in the indictment. Twenty-three defendants pleaded guilty in the main indictment. Charges against the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department..
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-7.
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Justice Department Secures Order Against Michigan Pet Store Owner to Allow Inspectors Access to Assess Health and Well-Being of AnimalsRead the Press Release
A federal court last week issued a temporary restraining order against K&M Pets LLC which owns a pet store in Saginaw, Michigan, that sells and offers encounters with exotic animals. The order was issued based on claims that K&M Pets had repeatedly refused to allow Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials access to inspect its facilities, animals, and records in violation of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
“This case shows that there are consequences for dealers and exhibitors who violate the obligations of their license and attempt to evade the Animal Welfare Act requirements that protect the health and safety of the animals in their care,” said Deputy Principal Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Animal Welfare Act exists to protect these animals, and the Department of Justice will vigorously enforce this law and hold to account those who violate it.”
“This action demonstrates the shared commitment of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use all available tools to ensure the effective and expeditious enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act,” said General Counsel Tyler Clarkson of the USDA.
The Department of Justice filed a complaint for injunctive relief in the Eastern District of Michigan on Feb. 24 — followed by a motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction three days later — alleging that K&M Pets engaged in a pattern and practice of attempting to avoid its AWA obligations. According to the complaint, the pet store operated by K&M Pets sells dogs and exotic animals, and has evaded federal oversight by denying inspectors from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) access to its facilities, animals, and records. During the latest attempted inspection in January, the APHIS inspector — who was ultimately unable to conduct an inspection — observed concerning conditions in the public areas of the pet store facility, including animals in enclosures without water or shelter and a sloth that was exposed to harsh drafts of negative-22-degree Michigan winter weather.
USDA referred this matter to the Department of Justice based on concerns of potential conditions animals faced by in facilities operated by K&M Pets. The temporary restraining order will help USDA assess the health and well-being of animals in K&M Pets’ possession. This lawsuit follows Attorney General Pamela Bondi’s “Prioritization of Animal Welfare Enforcement” memorandum and furthers the Department of Justice’s goal of combatting animal cruelty.
USDA’s APHIS is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kamela A. Caschette, Christian H. Carrara, and Bonnie M. Ballard of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are handling this case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Justice Department Files Civil Injunction to Bar New Jersey Tax Return Preparer from Preparing Tax Returns for OthersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a civil injunction suit today in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey. The suit seeks to bar a Monmouth County, New Jersey, tax return preparer and his businesses from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others.
The complaint alleges that Thomas Donkor, doing business as VIP Biz Center LLC and VIP Tax Services, prepared federal tax returns for customers on which he claimed fraudulent deductions to purposely underreport the tax his customers owed, and claimed refunds they were not entitled to receive. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Donkor prepared returns that falsify business expenses, income, and losses, and claimed improper itemized deductions for non-deductible rent and unreimbursed business expenses for ineligible taxpayers. In addition to these fictitious and fraudulent claims, the complaint describes how Donkor violated the law by failing to obtain the customer’s signature on the return, failing to provide the customer with a copy of the return, and failing to explain the fee he charged.
According to the complaint, Donkor’s repeated understatement of tax has harmed the United States by causing an estimated revenue loss of over $2.4 million in tax year 2024. In addition to seeking an injunction against Donkor, the government has requested an order disgorging roughly $555,000 in ill-gotten gains to prevent him from profiting from his violation of the Internal Revenue laws.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement.
Attorney Adam S. Domitz of the Tax Litigation Branch is handling this matter.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information.
In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $89,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronic federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free.
In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch with details.
Donkor Complaint.pdfJacksonville Marketing Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud Medicare and Medicaid in the Provision of HIV Prophylactic MedicationsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Jonathan Simeon Gholston (35, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive kickbacks in return for the referral of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries for the provision of HIV prophylactic medications. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement, Gholston owned and operated a marketing company that entered into an agreement with a Jacksonville pharmacy to market HIV post-exposure prophylactic medications that would be provided by the pharmacy. HIV post-exposure prophylactic medications are medicines that must be taken very soon after a possible exposure to HIV to prevent the virus from taking hold in the body.
The marketing company’s representatives set up tents and tables in Jacksonville, generally in low-income areas and usually near store fronts, and offered to provide free, government-sponsored cellphones to anyone who stopped and agreed to provide their personal information to obtain the phones. As a result of the marketing company’s agreement with the pharmacy, while obtaining the personal information necessary for the person to receive the free cellphone, the marketers also obtained health insurance information, including whether the person was covered by Medicare or Medicaid. The persons who were signed up by the marketers believed that they were agreeing only to receive a free cellphone and did not request or agree to receive HIV medications.
The agreement between the marketing company and the pharmacy provided that pharmacy would pay the marketing company $200 for every person who was referred for the provision of HIV medications but that the pharmacy would pay this amount only if a claim submitted on behalf of the person was paid by Medicare or Medicaid. The marketing company in turn paid its marketers a set amount, usually $50, for every person they referred, but it paid this amount only if the claim for that person was paid by Medicare or Medicaid. Payments to marketers of a set amount based on whether a claim is paid are illegal kickbacks under federal law.
The information gathered by the marketers was sent to the pharmacy, which used the information to generate prescriptions for HIV prophylactic medications that were authorized by a nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner had never seen, spoken with, or performed any manner of evaluation, examination, or test on the persons for whom the prescriptions were issued. The pharmacy filled the prescriptions, submitted claims to Medicare or Medicaid for the medications, and was reimbursed approximately $4,000 per month for each person for whom a claim was paid.
During the investigation, law enforcement agents interviewed numerous individuals who had received HIV medications without their request or consent. For some of these, taking the medications could have seriously endangered their health, given pre-existing medical conditions from which they suffered.
The actions of Gholston and his co‑conspirators caused the submission of approximately 20,316 fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid, resulting in reimbursements from Medicare totaling approximately $11,681,479 and reimbursements from Medicaid totaling approximately $12,536,267. Accordingly, the total loss to these programs was approximately $24,217,746. From this amount, Gholston received a total of approximately $2,273,000, which he has agreed to forfeit to the government.
This case was investigated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Harrington.
Indictment Charges Investment Advisor with Defrauding Financial Services Companies of $3.3. MillionRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an 11-count indictment charging ANDREW M. KOMAROW, 36, of Avon, with offenses related to his alleged defrauding of three financial services companies of approximately $3.3 million.
The indictment was returned on February 4, 2026. Komarow appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and was released on a $50,000 bond.
As alleged in the indictment, Komarow, an investment advisor and broker-dealer who serviced a range of clients, defrauded three financial services companies by taking advantage of credit extended by the financial services companies and exploiting the delay in time from when he initiated Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) fund transfers, also known as electronic fund transfers or “EFTs,” between his personal bank accounts and his personal brokerage accounts, to the time when the transactions were posted and cleared by the financial services companies. Between approximately October 2022 and February 2023, Komarow initiated approximately $8.9 million in EFT/ACH transfers from his bank accounts to multiple, often newly opened, brokerage accounts despite having insufficient funds in his bank accounts to support the transfers. He then used the brokerage accounts to conduct high-risk, short-term options trading in an attempt to make immediate profits to cover his insufficient funds. Through this scheme, the three financial services companies suffered total losses of $3,352,407.
The indictment charges Komarow with 10 counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, and one count of securities fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
Indiana Man Who Targeted a Local Christian Church for Vandalism Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Steven James Perkinson, 21, of Plainfield, Indiana has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to intentional damage to religious property and making a false statement to an agency of the United States.
According to court documents, on November 18, 2024, Perkinson vandalized the sign in front of Maple Grove Baptist Church in Plainfield by spray-painting a pitchfork and the numbers “666” over the display, and by painting over the sign’s cross symbol with an “X.”
When questioned by FBI agents, Perkinson initially denied knowledge of involvement. Days later, after agents executed a search warrant on his cell phone, he admitted he targeted the sign because it belonged to a Christian church and stated he was motivated by his involvement in various Satanic groups.
A forensic review of Perkinson’s cell phone revealed extensive research into local churches, including searches for “Maple Grove Baptist Church Plainfield,” “Churches near me,” “Plainfield Bible Church photos,” and terms associated with occult organizations such as “Noctulian Blood Covenant” and “Nexion 435.”
Although Perkinson had no prior criminal record, he first came to the attention of the FBI in 2023 after posting on Instagram: “Now I just sit alone in my room for hours a day… Schools are meant for shooting up not learning…” Additional evidence recovered from his phone raised further concerns about violent ideation. Agents found searches for the “address of largest Jewish church in America,” online messages claiming access to firearms and encouraging mass violence, photographs of Perkinson posing with recently deceased animals, and evidence that he had set fire to a dumpster.
“Targeting any house of worship because of its faith is an attack on the fundamental freedoms that define our nation. This defendant’s conduct, paired with his disturbing online activity, posed a real threat to those liberties,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This sentence makes clear that hate‑fueled vandalism and threats of violence will be met with swift and serious federal consequences.”
“Places of worship are meant to be spaces of peace, reflection, and community - not targets of intimidation or hate,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “Everyone deserves to feel safe practicing their faith without fear. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate hate-based crimes and work alongside our partners to ensure those who target religious communities are identified and held accountable.”
The FBI investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter A. Blackett and Carolyn Haney, as well as Trial Attorney Briana Clark of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, who prosecuted this case.
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Illinois Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography, Online Enticement, the Commission of A Felony Sex Offense by an Individual Required to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Stephen Dalton Fleming, Jr., age 49, of Creve Cour, Illinois, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury for multiple criminal charges related to child exploitation, including the production of child pornography, online enticement, and the commission of a felony sex offense by an individual required to register as a sex offender.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that beginning on or about January 1, 2025 through on or about February 12, 2026, in Pike County, Pennsylvania, Fleming enticed at least one child to produce child pornography by engaging in sexually explicit conduct so that those acts could be memorialized and shared online. At the time Fleming engaged in these acts, he was on lifetime supervision for a prior federal felony offense involving a minor.
The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Illegal Alien Sentenced to Serve More Than Six Years in Federal Prison after Injuring ICE Officer While Fleeing from Traffic StopRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JOSE MELGAR-RIVAS, 35, of Honduras, has been sentenced to serve 78 months in federal prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer resulting in bodily injury, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on July 15, 2025, ICE officers conducted a traffic stop on NW 23rd Street in Oklahoma City. The driver, Melgar-Rivas, a Honduran national who had illegally entered the U.S., refused officers’ commands to exit the vehicle. As officers attempted to remove him, a struggle ensued.
During the altercation, Melgar-Rivas placed the vehicle in drive and fled the scene. As the vehicle accelerated, an ICE officer became caught in the vehicle’s door and was dragged down the roadway. The officer was eventually able to free himself but sustained multiple, serious injuries. Melgar-Rivas fled but was arrested several hours later.
“The defendant’s reckless decisions to resist, assault, and flee from law enforcement resulted in serious injury to an ICE officer,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “ Today’s sentence demonstrates that those who put law enforcement officers and the community at risk will be held accountable. I commend the coordinated efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners and the prosecutors who worked to secure justice for the injured officer.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message: Attacks on federal officers will not be tolerated. Our officer endured life-altering injuries simply for doing his job protecting our communities and enforcing the law. HSI stands resolute in defending our personnel and ensuring those who threaten their safety are held fully accountable,” said Travis Pickard, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas Special Agent in Charge. “We are grateful for the unwavering support of our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in securing justice for our colleague and his family.”
“This defendant made a conscious decision to turn his vehicle into a weapon, a blatant act of contempt for human life and the rule of law,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Today’s sentencing sends an indisputable message: the FBI stands firmly behind our law enforcement partners, and we will act decisively to defend them.”
On August 5, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged Melgar-Rivas with assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer resulting in bodily injury. Melgar-Rivas pleaded guilty on September 30, 2025, and admitted he impeded and interfered with an ICE officer, resulting in bodily injury to the agent.
At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones, II, sentenced Melgar-Rivas to serve 78 months in federal prison. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the harm caused to the victim and the danger Melgar-Rivas presented to himself and others as a result of his actions.
After serving his sentence, Melgar-Rivas will be deported.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Konnor Wolfe Lyons, 35, of Huntington, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to five years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography. Lyons must also register as a sex offender.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 24, 2023, Lyons utilized a peer-to-peer file sharing computer network to download 464 digital media files containing child pornography. As part of his guilty plea, Lyons admitted that he knowingly downloaded the files via an internet connection and knew they depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct including sadistic and masochistic abuse.
Lyons also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On September 2, 2024, Lyons utilized a peer-to-peer file-sharing computer network to download six digital media files containing child pornography. Lyons admitted that the files depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and he downloaded them using an internet connection.
On November 4, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lyons’ residence and seized his cell phone. A forensic extraction of the cell phone revealed 1,546 images of child pornography that Lyons had downloaded from the internet.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Parkersburg Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is also the result of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-76.
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Honduran National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Reentry and Firearm Offense after Carjacking and Forcing Woman to Withdraw CashRead the Press Release
Defendant Faces Additional Aggravated Kidnapping Charge in Texas
OKLAHOMA CITY – EDUARDO JAVIER ORDONEZ-GODOY, 36, of Honduras, has been sentenced to serve 120 months in federal prison for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition and illegal reentry into the United States after a previous deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on December 24, 2024, Ordonez-Godoy approached a woman in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Haltom City, Texas. Armed with a firearm, Ordonez-Godoy forced the victim into the backseat of her vehicle and drove her to a nearby bank, where he ordered her to withdraw cash from an ATM.
After the withdrawal, Ordonez-Godoy forced the victim back into the vehicle and continued driving around the area, threatening to prostitute her and sell her organs. A short time later, Ordonez-Godoy tied the victim to a tree using her shoelaces and fled in her vehicle. The victim freed herself and reported the crimes to law enforcement.
Later that day, the stolen vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run in North Richland Hills, Texas.
On December 25, 2024, an officer with the Oklahoma City Police Department located the stolen vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Oklahoma City. Ordonez-Godoy was found asleep inside the vehicle and was arrested. Officers recovered 42 rounds of ammunition and cash from his pockets, as well as a loaded firearm from beneath the driver’s seat.
Public records further reflect that Ordonez-Godoy was previously removed from the United States to Honduras on April 3, 2019.
On August 5, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment charging Ordonez-Godoy with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition and reentry of a removed alien. Ordonez-Godoy pleaded guilty on October 22, 2025, admitting that he knowingly reentered the United States after being previously removed and that he possessed a firearm and ammunition despite being prohibited from doing so.
At the sentencing hearing on February 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Ordonez-Godoy to serve 120 months in federal prison. In announcing his sentence, Judge Goodwin noted the serious nature of the crimes and the need for deterrence, just punishment, and protection of the public.
Following the sentencing, Ordonez-Godoy faces additional state charges in Tarrant County, Texas, for aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and Haltom City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JOSE LUIS PAZ-BONILLA, age 47, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the Bill of Information, JOSE LUIS PAZ-BONILLA reentered the United States on or about November 3, 2025, after having been previously removed on or about September 21, 2000.
U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown sentenced JOSE LUIS PAZ-BONILLA to time served, 1-year of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. JOSE LUIS PAZ-BONILLA also has an order for removal from the United States after his sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Irene González in the General Crimes Unit.
Honduran National Found with Fentanyl and Methamphetamine at Oakland Home Where Minors Lived Convicted of Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal jury yesterday convicted Maxfer Palma, who was found with more than two kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl in an apartment where multiple children lived, with one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where children were present or resided, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The jury’s verdict follows a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Palma, 29, a Honduran national, possessed a black backpack in his apartment in East Oakland that contained more than 400 grams of methamphetamine, more than 200 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, various other controlled substances, and digital scales. Oakland Police Department officers found the black backpack hidden in a laundry hamper in Palma’s bedroom closet. In addition to the drugs, Palma had a firearm and a magazine loaded with ammunition in the same black backpack.
The jury also found that Palma possessed a green backpack containing four bricks of methamphetamine weighing more than 1,700 grams, which law enforcement found hidden in a dog crate with a small dog in the living room of his apartment.
Multiple children, including two minors who appeared to be under the age of 10, were present in the apartment right before OPD officers searched it and found the drugs, firearm, and ammunition.
“We will continue to aggressively prosecute dealers who poison our communities with these dangerous substances. The defendant’s decisions to store deadly drugs and a firearm in a home where multiple children live showed a callous disregard for human life. We thank the jury for bringing him to account for his inexcusable actions,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“DEA is focused on breaking the command, control, and distribution networks responsible for the fentanyl crisis. Our top operational priority is to eliminate the cartels and foreign terrorist organizations responsible for flooding the United States with fentanyl. Illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic, just two milligrams – a few grains of salt – can be deadly,” said San Francisco Division DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.
The evidence presented at trial, including text messages from Palma’s phone, showed that Palma trafficked fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other narcotics in East Oakland and the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco over the course of a seven-month period spanning 2022 and 2023.
The jury acquitted Palma of one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 22, 2023, in connection with an incident in the Tenderloin neighborhood.
Palma is currently in federal custody. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 17, 2026, before Judge Tigar.
Palma faces 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(viii); five to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in violation of violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi); a mandatory consecutive sentence of five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); and a mandatory consecutive sentence of no more than 20 years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where children are present or reside in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 860a. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Buszin and Emily Dahlke are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, the Oakland Police Department, and the San Francisco Police Department.
Hammond Man Guilty of Fentanyl, Heroin, Methamphetamine and Cocaine Distribution and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JOHN TICKLES JR. (“TICKLES JR.”), age 30 of Hammond, Louisiana, plead guilty on February 26, 2026, to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act before United States District Judge Barry Ashe, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. Specifically, TICKLES JR. plead guilty to Counts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 14 of the Superseding Indictment pending against him. Count One charges him with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, four hundred (400) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, fifty (50) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and a quantity of a mixture an substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. Counts Two and Eleven charge him with distribution of forty (40) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Counts Three, Six, Nine, and Twelve charge him with knowingly and intentionally using a communication facility, to wit: a telephone, in committing, causing, and facilitating the commission of a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 843(b) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. Counts Five and Eight charge him with distribution of fifty (50) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Count Fourteen charges him with possession with intent to distribute four hundred (400) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 841(b)(1)(C).
On Counts 1 and 2, TICKLES JR. faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release following imprisonment. On Counts 2, 5, 8, and 11, TICKLES JR. faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release following imprisonment. On Counts 3, 6, 9, and 12, TICKLES JR. faces up to 4 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 1 year of supervised release following imprisonment.
As to each count, TICKLES JR. also faces payment of a mandatory $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, TICKLES JR. conspired with co-defendants, to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the Eastern District of Louisiana. In a series of wire calls, TICKLES JR. discussed every aspect of his fentanyl business, including co-conspirators, prices, warnings about the location of law enforcement, and coordinated distribution to others.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Hammond Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne the Narcotics Unit.
Four Operation Mobile Order Defendants Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Four defendants were sentenced to prison this week after the FBI’s two-year Operation Mobile Order investigation uncovered their Macon-based armed drug trafficking network, responsible for distributing kilograms of cocaine and resulting in the seizure of 26 firearms, including a machinegun.
“Operation Mobile Order demonstrates the strength and coordination of law enforcement working to dismantle violent armed criminal organizations throughout the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “No matter how long it takes, we will not stop our efforts to shut down criminal groups threatening the safety of our communities.”
“Operation Mobile Order dismantled a violent drug trafficking organization that treated a Macon neighborhood like a retail storefront for cocaine, backed by an arsenal of firearms,” said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “This investigation shows the FBI’s commitment to targeting criminal networks that fuel addiction, violence and fear in our communities. We will continue to work should-to-shoulder with our partners to make Central Georgia a safer place to live.”
“Operation Mobile Order represents the best in local and federal law enforcement partnerships,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. “Together, FBI agents and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigators worked tirelessly to bring this cadre of criminals to justice. Our community is much better off with these peddlers of poison off our streets.”
The following defendants were sentenced to prison on March 2:
Devonta Jackson, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 155 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025;
Laderion Jacobs, aka “Johnny,” aka “Johnny Cain,” 30, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025;
Ladarrious King, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025; and
Tanya Card, 51, of Macon, was sentenced to serve six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on Dec. 2, 2025.
The following defendant was sentenced to prison on Feb. 5:
Leroy Mintz, aka “Booman,” 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Nov. 20, 2025.
The following defendants pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later:
Eddie Reese, 53, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on June 18, 2025, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Roddreckious Williams, 33, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base and one count of distribution of cocaine on Jan. 21, and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $1 million fine per count;
Antonyo Daniels, aka “Tony,” 30, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Alton Oliver, aka “Alo,” aka “Lo,” 43, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Jan. 8, and faces a maximum of life in prison;
Trayvon Simmons, aka “Abo,” 28, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Marvin Huff, aka “Black,” 50, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine; and
Roosevelt Cole, aka “Froball,” 52, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine.
Sentencing dates are determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements in court, in 2022 and 2023, the FBI conducted Operation Mobile Order, a Macon-centered investigation targeting an armed drug trafficking organization led by Reese. During the investigation, the FBI ran nine controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine, and intercepted phone calls and text messages, detailing transactions involving kilograms of cocaine from an Atlanta supplier.
The primary “trap house,” or drug distribution site, was on Richard Street in Macon, a busy location that operated like a restaurant, with members of Reese’s drug organization working shifts to distribute drugs. In a series of recorded calls, Reese discussed drug overdoses in the community and said that if the drugs came from his Richard Street trap house, “everyone in Macon would be dead.”
Reese worked with an Atlanta supplier and was recorded ordering kilograms of cocaine from the supplier and making plans to meet with the supplier to purchase the drugs in October and November of 2023, referring to cocaine as “Tylenol,” “charcoal,” or acres of land. He began working with a new supplier in November 2023 and was recorded discussing the purchase of five kilograms of cocaine with the new supplier.
Reese’s leadership over the drug organization was evident, with many recorded interactions of him directing co-conspirators, for example, ordering one co-conspirator to “do your job” or reminding one co-conspirator, “That's what I pay you for, man. Make you get my money, make you handle the business, man. Get the money, handle the business.”
The FBI executed 11 federal search warrants in Macon, Warner Robins and Atlanta on Nov. 20, 2023, including at the Richards Street trap house, seizing cocaine, 26 firearms and $93,247. The machinegun was seized at co-conspirator Oliver’s home on Williamson Road in Macon.
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 FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Four Deuce Oakland Crips Gang Member Sentenced to Twenty Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
A multi-convicted felon who is a Crips gang member was sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison for drug and gun charges, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
In September 2025, Christopher Jamiel Love, 46, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (cocaine and phencyclidine (PCP)) and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. On Monday, March 2, 2026, he was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison by United States District Judge David Godbey.Court records reflect that in January 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF) agents initiated “Operation Blue Laces” to identify gang members who were engaged in criminal conduct along two main intersections within the Malcolm X Boulevard corridor of Dallas, Texas. According to court documents, “Operation Blue Laces” was initiated in part to address numerous complaints from residents living and working in the neighborhood that advised that Four Deuce Oakland Crip gang members had taken over the area and had created an environment of fear and lawlessness. Members and associates of the Four Deuce Oakland Crips wore jewelry and clothing that depicted the number “42” to show their allegiance to the gang, as depicted in the images below:
ATF agents identified multiple storefronts within the area that were operated by gang members and used to store numerous firearms and distribute drugs to customers. Agents also identified a residential block (2800 block of Casey Street) that was used as an open-air drug market where drugs were sold twenty-four hours a day by gang members and became known as the “Dead End.”
In court documents, Love admitted that throughout 2024, he and another Four Deuce gang member utilized a residence located on the 3600 block of Malcolm X Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, to store quantities of Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances that were later sold to customers on the “Dead End” by Love and others. On October 22, 2024, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the residence and seized 210 grams of cocaine; 4.6 kilograms of phencyclidine (PCP); 9.8 grams of methamphetamine; 1.4 grams of heroin; one kilogram of K2; multiple kilograms of marijuana and four firearms used in furtherance of the drug conspiracy, depicted in the following images:
To date, ten defendants linked to the Four Deuce Oakland Crips gang that were identified in “Operation Blue Laces” have pled guilty to federal offenses including drug conspiracy, firearms charges and carjacking.
The investigation was conducted by ATF-Dallas Division and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rick Calvert prosecuted the cases.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Former Postal Employee Sentenced for Burglarizing a Local Post Office and Stealing the MailRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former Postal Employee living in Springfield, Mo., area, was sentenced for his burglary of a local post office building and theft of mail matter.
Zachary M. Walker, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment for his burglary of a local post office building and his theft of mail matter.
On July 24, 2024, inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted an undercover operation that included the placement of a secret camera within a local post office building. Law enforcement had learned that a former U.S. Postal employee, Walker, had been burglarizing the local post office building, entering the building after hours, and stealing various items from storage bins within the post office. Walker used his knowledge of postal procedures, and a code to an exterior passcode doorway lock, that allowed him to enter the post office after hours. Walker, familiar with the storage of mail matter within the post office, targeted specific mail bins to steal valuable items being shipped with the U.S. Postal Service. In total, Walker stole $2,100 in property from various mail matter bins.
Walker was also sentenced to pay restitution in the amount of $2,100, a final order of forfeiture was also entered by the Court for $2,100, and he was ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release upon his completion of his term of imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department.
Former Philadelphia Nonprofit Executive Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Money Laundering Charges involving $1.6 millionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that John A. Miller, 76, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Kelly B. Hodge to one count of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction involving criminally derived property.
Miller served as the executive director and treasurer of a Philadelphia-based religious nonprofit organization that provided financial assistance to the widows and orphans of deceased clergy members. From 2015 through 2022, he diverted money to himself by masking wires intended for beneficiaries with personal checks issued to himself. To conceal the payments, Miller made false and misleading records in the nonprofit’s internal accounting ledgers. In total, Miller misappropriated more than $1.6 million.
According to court filings, after Miller diverted the nonprofit funds into his personal accounts, he used the proceeds for personal expenses, including luxury travel and the purchase of a luxury condominium in Philadelphia. After being made aware of the fraud investigation, Miller liquidated the proceeds by selling the property. Despite the sale, law enforcement agents seized the fraudulent proceeds as the transaction took place.
Under the plea agreement, the defendant will pay $1,626,556 in restitution and forfeit $281,109.96 in fraud proceeds derived from the sale of the condominium.
Miller faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2026.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alisa Shver and Alexander Bowerman.