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2 April 2026
Convicted Felon on Probation Charged with Firearms Offense Resulting in the Death of His ChildRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Steven Lamont Phillips, 56, of Nashville, Tennessee, was charged yesterday with possession of a weapon by a previously convicted felon for his role in the death of his son, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee.
“The death of a child is every parent’s nightmare,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “The possession of firearms by convicted felons is inherently dangerous. This tragic outcome could have been avoided by simply following the law. Our office will hold felons accountable when they possess firearms, especially if they’ve been convicted of a violent crime.”
On March 28, 2026, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department responded to a shooting at a home in Nashville. Once there, the officers found Phillips’ six-year-old son, S.R., who was unresponsive, with a gunshot wound to the head. The Nashville Fire Department transported S.R. to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, where he later succumbed to his wound and died.
After being advised on his Miranda rights, Phillips told the police officers that he found the gun outside on the morning of the shooting. After finding the gun, he put the gun inside of his pocket and went back inside the house. Once he was back inside, Phillips started playing with S.R., before falling asleep on the living room floor. He woke up to the sound of a gunshot and saw a muzzle flash.
At the time he possessed the weapon in this case, a Kel-Tec CNC Inc. model P3AT .380 auto caliber pistol, Phillips was a convicted felon. He has prior convictions in Davidson County Criminal Court for aggravated robbery, possession of a weapon of a previously convicted felon, and attempted theft over $10,000 but under $60,000. Phillips is currently on probation for attempted theft over $10,000 but under $60,000, a felony in the State of Tennessee
If convicted, Phillips faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Cooper R. Byers is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Prattville, Alabama man for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On April 1, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 33-year-old Harry Deonta Bailey to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Bailey’s plea agreement and other court records, during the early morning hours of November 16, 2025, officers with the Montgomery Police Department responded to reports of shots fired during an altercation between a man and a woman just south of downtown Montgomery.
Upon arrival, officers heard a gunshot and observed several individuals engaged in a physical altercation. As officers approached, a man matching the description provided in the initial report attempted to flee. During a brief foot pursuit, officers observed the individual discard a firearm.
Officers quickly detained the individual, later identified as Bailey. A second firearm was recovered from his person. Bailey has prior felony convictions in Alabama and Georgia and is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on December 12, 2025.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (OTBA) and the Middle District of Alabama’s Violent Offender Intervention and Deterrence (VOID) program. OTBA is 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.
VOID aims to reduce violent crime by enhancing coordination, communication, and collaboration with law enforcement partners. The program focuses on working directly with local agencies and traditional federal partners to prosecute violent offenders and armed felons, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and build proactive cases targeting gangs and repeat violent offenders. VOID prioritizes the most serious violent crime cases and fosters close working relationships with state and local prosecutors and law enforcement throughout the Montgomery River Region.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Columbia Men Charged with Arson After Destroying Caldwell Parish’s Only Catholic Church the Friday Before Holy WeekRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT– On April 1, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana charged Anthony Dillon, Jr., 19, and James Dale Smith IV, 21, both of Columbia, with arson after the two burned down the only Catholic church in Caldwell Parish the Friday before Holy Week was set to begin. If convicted, the two men face a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of federal supervision, and a fine of $250,000.
“Worshiping where we choose is a fundamental liberty woven into the founding fabric of this Nation, and these two men are alleged to have destroyed the sole church in Caldwell Parish where its Catholic residents could meet and worship right before the holiest week in the church calendar,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Our Office looks forward to seeking and securing justice for the residents of Caldwell Parish here and hope that this case shows our rural communities that we remain present and vigilant in serving and protecting them.”
As alleged in court documents, Dillon and Smith were residing in a home that was stealing electricity from the church and sold a broken television set to another Columbia resident in the days leading up to the arson. After the church disrupted the electricity theft and the men’s customer contacted them about the broken television, Dillon and Smith showed up to the church in the early hours of March 27, 2026, breaking a window with a baseball bat to gain entry to the church. After ransacking the church’s electronic equipment, including the theft of at least three televisions and a sound system, the men set the church ablaze. When law enforcement arrived after a 911 call reported the church to be on fire, they found the church burning down:
By the time the fire was extinguished, the church’s interior was largely destroyed:
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is investigating this case with assistance from the Louisiana State Fire Marshal, the Caldwell Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 26-mj-00089.
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United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
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Colorado Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Terrorist Financing ChargeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Humzah Mashkoor, 20, of Westminster, Colorado, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to concealing the nature, source, or ownership of funds with the knowledge or intent that such funds would be provided to a foreign terrorist organization.
According to the plea agreement, between September 2022 and December 2023, Mashkoor communicated with FBI online covert employees regarding his intent to travel to join ISIS, to provide money to ISIS in support of their efforts, and to recruit others to support ISIS through travel and/or financial contributions. Mashkoor told various FBI online covert employees that he planned to travel in December 2023 to the United Arab Emirates, where he would transfer funds to ISIS and stay until he continued on to either Afghanistan or Syria to serve as a fighter for ISIS. In advance of his travel, Mashkoor took steps to conceal the nature, source, or ownership of funds while he was in the United States that would allow him to covertly transfer funds to ISIS via cryptocurrency upon his planned arrival in the UAE. On December 18, 2023, federal agents arrested Mashkoor at the Denver International Airport before he boarded the first leg of his trip to the UAE.
“Providing material support to a terrorist organization is a serious crime against the United States and I am glad the defendant will spend years in federal prison for what he did,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly.
“This investigation was the result of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (comprised of federal, state, and local partners) as well as the Thornton and Westminster police departments,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. “We vigorously pursue investigations when an individual crosses the line from espousing particular views into planning or committing acts of violence, in this case in support of a foreign terrorist organization. Defending the homeland continues to be an FBI top priority.”
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing.
The FBI Denver Field Office handled the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cramer-Babycz and Jasand Mock for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Case Number: 24-cr-0018-RMR
Co-Defendants Sentenced for 2024 Armed AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Demontrae Davion Rogers, age 20, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, and Damarion Hiawatha Nichols, age 21, of Moore, Oklahoma, were sentenced on charges relating to assaults occurring on April 2, 2024, in Wewoka, Oklahoma.
Rogers was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and to 84 months in prison for one count of Use, Carry, and Brandish of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The Court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively. Rogers was also sentenced to 12 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number. The Court ordered that charge to be served concurrently to the Assault count. On June 6, 2025, Rogers pleaded guilty to the federal firearm charge. On December 8, 2025, Rogers pleaded guilty to the armed assault charges.
On March 5, 2026, Damarion Hiawatha Nichols, age 21, of Moore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for four counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. On December 8, 2025, Nichols pleaded guilty to the charges.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
According to investigators, on April 2, 2024, Rogers and Nichols forcibly entered a detached residential garage in Wewoka. Once inside, they held four individuals at gunpoint. As Rogers and Nichols pointed their firearms at the victims, they proceeded to strike one occupant with their weapons, causing lacerations and abrasions. During the assault, Roger’s weapon misfired, and he ejected the casing. Law enforcement investigating the crime scene recovered the casing, which later returned as a ballistics match to a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“Enforcing federal firearm regulations is crucial to protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and ensuring public safety,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This sentence should serve as a warning: removing the serial number from a firearm will not protect you from being prosecuted for your crimes.”
ATF Dallas Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner had this to say about the sentencing: “Eastern Oklahoma is safer today following the sentencing of a Demontrae Rogers, who attempted to carry out an assault using a firearm with an obliterated serial number. This deliberate act to conceal the weapon’s origin reflects the serious threat posed to our community.
“Through the use of ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), our agents linked critical evidence and confirmed Rogers’ involvement in the armed assault. This case demonstrates the power of intelligence-driven investigations and the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts.
“This outcome was made possible through strong collaboration among federal, state, local, and Tribal partners. Together, we remain committed to identifying violent offenders, holding them accountable, and protecting the citizens of the Eastern District of Oklahoma.”
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/tools-services-law-enforcement/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Rogers and Nichols will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Edith Singer represented the United States.
Chinese National in YouTube Video Pleads Guilty in $27 Million Multinational Fraud Scheme Targeting 2,000 SeniorsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Jiandong Chen, aka “Little Tiger,” pleaded guilty in federal court today and admitted he participated in a $27 million fraud and money laundering scheme targeting approximately 2,000 elderly victims across the United States.
Chen, a Chinese national, is the second defendant charged in a five-defendant indictment unsealed in 2024. According to public documents, members of the conspiracy operated a series of technical support, bank impersonation, government impersonation and refund scams targeting elderly victims. Victims received unsolicited phone calls, emails, and pop-up ads directing victims to call a phone number. Unbeknownst to the victims, those phone numbers belonged to India-based scam call centers.
Once a victim called the call center, members of the conspiracy used social engineering techniques to build trust with the victim. In many instances, the conspirators had victims download commercially available remote desktop software, which the conspirators used to access victims’ computers and to carry on the scams.
One of the most frequent scams was a refund scam. Victims were told they were entitled to a small refund, for example, from a retailer for an alleged unauthorized charge. While pretending to process the refund, the victim would be accidentally “over-refunded” money. The conspirators would then instruct the victim to send the alleged over-refunded money through wire transfer or in cash via express mail to members of the conspiracy. In reality, the victims had not received any money.
After building trust with a victim, the conspirators would induce victims to send money to members of the conspiracy in the United States, in locations throughout Southern California, Nevada and elsewhere. The money was sent to members of the conspiracy, including Chen, most often as bulk cash via express mail packages but also as wire transfers. Certain members of the conspiracy also did in-person pickups of money directly from victims.
In one such instance captured in a YouTube video, defendant Chen traveled to a residence in the Los Angeles area to pick up bulk cash from someone he believed to be an elderly victim of the fraud scheme. In a video posted to YouTube entitled “CONFRONTING SCAMMERS WITH A FAKE FUNERAL (EPIC REACTIONS),” Chen was confronted by a team of YouTubers about working for a scam organization. Here’s the video.
In most instances, however, victims were duped into sending bulk cash in the mail. When that would happen, members of the conspiracy would provide India-based co-conspirators a fictitious name plus an address of a retail location that could accept express mail packages. Those names and addresses would then be relayed to the victims, who were instructed to express mail the bulk cash. Then, once a victim had sent the cash in the mail, Chen and his co-conspirators would use fake IDs to get the packages of cash sent by the elderly victims.
In his plea agreement, Chen admitted that he used fraudulent driver’s licenses or IDs matching the fictitious recipient names to retrieve the victim packages containing bulk cash.
Investigators identified over 2,000 elderly victims from throughout the country, including victims in San Diego, who were defrauded and who suffered more than $27 million in losses over an approximately two-year period between 2021-2023. Victims were in their 70s and 80s. Chen also admitted that he and his co-conspirators laundered fraud proceeds through cryptocurrency to transfer funds to foreign-based counterparts, to pay co-conspirators, and to fund travel to retrieve cash packages sent by victims, including trips to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Chen and four co-defendants were charged by indictment in June 2024. In August 2024, federal agents conducted a nationwide takedown of this investigation, which led to Chen’s arrest in the greater Los Angeles area.
A sentencing hearing for Chen is scheduled for June 26, 2026, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Robert S. Huie.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-cr-1317-RSH-02
Jiandong Chen, aka “Little Tiger” Age: 42 Los Angeles, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349, 2326
Maximum Penalties: Forty years in prison; $1 million fine
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 1956(h)
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego County Sheriff’s DepartmentSan Diego Police Department
San Diego Elder Justice Task Force
Chino Police Department
Coronado Police Department
Escondido Police Department
Glendora Police Department
Long Beach Police Department
Orange County Sheriff’s Department
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Chinese National Unlawfully Residing in U.S. Sentenced to Prison for Identity Theft and Vehicle Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HUACHUN ZHENG, also known as “Ri Yuan,” 43, a citizen of China last residing in Queens, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment for offenses related to a series of vehicle thefts from dealerships utilizing personal information from identity theft victims.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Zheng, who did not have legal status in the U.S, and others used stolen personal and financial information and stolen or counterfeit identity cards from multiple identity theft victims to apply for loans to purchase or lease luxury vehicles from a car dealership in Greenwich. They then transported the vehicles to New York and sought to resell them.
On September 27, 2022, Zheng, using a stolen identity, obtained $94,742.73 in financing to purchase a 2019 Porsche Panamera from the Greenwich dealership. After the fraud scheme came to light, the dealership repossessed the vehicle before it could be resold. Zheng’s co-conspirators fraudulently obtained financing and purchased other vehicles from the dealership.
The investigation revealed that Zheng and his co-conspirators used stolen identity information to perpetrate other frauds. On September 10, 2022, Zheng was arrested in Nassau County, New York, in connection with a scheme in which he and others passed fraudulent checks to purchase jewelry. At the time of that arrest, Zheng was driving a Maserati that had been purchased from a dealership in Jamaica, New York, and was registered in the name of the victim whose identity Zheng used to purchase the Porsche Panamera from the Greenwich dealership later that month.
Zheng has been detained since his arrest on January 28, 2025. On January 6, 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Zheng faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Greenwich Police Department and the New York City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena L. Coronado.
Chinese National Pleads Guilty in $65 Million Multinational Fraud and Money Laundering Ring Targeting SeniorsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Ziyue Zhao, aka “Chris Zhao,” pleaded guilty in federal court today and admitted he participated in a $65 million fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly victims across the United States, including in San Diego.
Zhao, a Chinese national, is the first defendant to plead guilty following a nationwide takedown in August 2025 of 28 alleged members of a Chinese organized crime ring.
The defendants, who are charged in various related indictments, are accused of participating in a massive $65 million fraud scheme targeting thousands of seniors across the United States—including a 97-year-old San Diego widow of a Holocaust survivor who lost her entire life savings.
Operating since at least 2019 and rooted in Southern California, the criminal network—primarily composed of Chinese nationals, many in the U.S. illegally—worked closely with India-based scam call centers. Fraudsters who took the calls posed as technical support agents, government officials, or bank employees, according to court records.
Victims received unsolicited calls or emails directing them to call various phone numbers, which, unbeknownst to the victims, were for the India-based scam call centers. Once connected, the scammers used scripted lies and psychological manipulation to gain the victims’ trust and often remote access to their computers. The most common scheme involved convincing victims they had received a mistaken refund and pressuring—or threatening—them to return the supposed excess funds via wire transfer, cash, or gift cards.
Victims sending cash were instructed to use overnight or express couriers, addressing packages to fake names tied to false IDs. These were sent to short-term rentals in the U.S. used by conspirators, including the indicted defendants, to collect the fraud proceeds.
In his plea agreement, Zhao admitted that to facilitate receipt of victim packages, members of the conspiracy, including Zhao, booked short-term rentals in a hub-and-spoke pattern: a hub would be booked for approximately one week; spoke locations would be booked nearby for shorter stays. After some time, members of the conspiracy would relocate to a new location and continue the pattern.
Once a victim had been defrauded, victims were instructed to withdraw bulk cash, to conceal the cash in packages, and to send cash-laden packages via express mail carriers to names and addresses provided by the conspirators. The recipient names were fictitious names corresponding with fake IDs. The recipient addresses were for the short-term rental locations.
In his plea agreement, Zhao admitted that he participated in the fraud between February 2020 through March 2021. During that time, the organization received approximately 1,269 victim packages each containing an average of approximately $14,000, or an estimated $17,776,000 in victim losses during just that time period.
This multi-year fraud and money laundering investigation was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California and Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
A sentencing hearing for Ziyue Zhao is scheduled for June 23, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25-cr-1765-TWR-07
Ziyue Zhao, aka “Chris Zhao” Age: 30 Flushing, NY
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 – Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1349, 2326
Maximum penalty: Forty years in prison; a maximum $1 million fine
Count 2 – Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; a maximum $500,000 fine or twice the amount of monetary instruments involved in the offense, whichever is greatest
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBSD)
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Mountain View (CA) Police Department
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FLDE)
Alachua County (FL) Sheriff’s Department
Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force (LA IMPACT)
Irvine (CA) Police Department
La Verne (CA) Police Department
Mesa (AZ) Police Department
Sarpy County (NE) Sheriff’s Department
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Chicago Man Charged in D.C. for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
wolf_indictment.pdfWASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court charging Michael Wolf, 64, of Chicago, Illinois, with Distribution of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
According to court documents, Wolf communicated with another user on the Telegram messaging application about his sexual interest in children. During those communications, Wolf distributed ten videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Wolf then told the other Telegram user that he was communicating with minor children on an online dating application and forwarded sexually explicit images he stated depicted those minors. Wolf subsequently sent the Telegram user photos of himself that law enforcement used to identify Wolf.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
This case is being investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Washington, D.C., with assistance from the FBI Chicago Field Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen.
The case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Charges in an indictment are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dcChicago Man Sentenced to 46 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Vance White, 40 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
White was sentenced to 46 months of prison followed by 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $264,705.53 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, White engaged in a scheme to defraud and to obtain money from retail stores by paying for merchandise with counterfeit checks. He would then return the stolen merchandise to different outlets of the same retail store and receive cash for the returns. White committed his fraud at retail stores in the Northern District of Indiana and in more than 25 states, including Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.
“Vance White methodically executed a scheme to defraud store after store across half of the states in the Union,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “He must now repay over a quarter of a million dollars in ill-gotten gains that he accrued over four years, and he must now spend several years in federal custody. Fraudsters should take note—any illicit scheme designed to bilk innocent citizens or their businesses of hard-earned money will be investigated, prosecuted, and punished. My thanks go out to the brave agents and prosecutors who brought White to justice.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Customs and Border Protection. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.
Carroll County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Chad D. Isbell, 59, of McKenzie, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
The investigation in this case revealed that Isbell used a cell phone to record himself sexually assaulting a seven-year-old child. The video was subsequently sent to the child’s mother via a social media application, and she immediately reported it to the police. After being confronted with the video, Isbell admitted to law enforcement officers that he made the video and stored it on his cell phone.
Following the defendant’s guilty plea to possession of child pornography, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Isbell to 15 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Isbell also has a related pending state indictment in the Circuit Court of Carroll County, TN, where he has been charged with the Class B felony offense of Aggravated Sexual Battery for engaging in unlawful sexual contact with a victim under 13 years of age.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Sexual predators who victimize children cannot hide from ultimate detection and aggressive prosecution by this office. Production and possession of child pornography victimizes, harms, and exploits vulnerable children in a horrific way, and must be met with significant consequences.”
This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the McKenzie Police Department, and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Buffalo man pleads guilty to drug chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Antonio Rivera-Perez, 23, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett Fitzsimmons and Katerina Powers, who are handling the case, stated that on January 22 and January 28, 2025, the DEA conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Rivera-Perez. On April 22, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Rivera-Perez’s Langfield Drive residence, seizing approximately 1,072 grams of powder cocaine, 198 grams of crack cocaine, 190 grams of fentanyl, a Glock 19 handgun, several firearm magazines, ammunition, approximately $3,500 in U.S. currency, and drug paraphernalia.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 11, 2026, before Judge Vilardo.
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Bryan County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Eagle Chambers, age 39, of Colbert, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Possession of Firearm and Ammunition by Prohibited Person.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Achille Police Department.
On September 15, 2025, Chambers pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on March 26, 2025, Chambers knowingly possessed a pistol and ammunition after receiving actual notice of being subject to a court order restraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury, and which by its terms explicitly prohibited the use, attempted use, or threatened used of physical force.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Brighton Man Charged with Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brighton man has been arrested and charged with receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
John Tapley, 33, was charged with one count of receipt of child pornography. Tapley was arrested at his home yesterday, and following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for April 6, 2026.
According to the charging documents, Tapley was identified as a member of 15 group chats on the Signal messenger application. Many of these chats had group names that were indicative of the exchange of CSAM. During a search of Tapley’s residence yesterday, it is alleged that five CSAM files were found to have been received by Tapley on his Signal account. The victims in these videos appeared to be between approximately seven and 11 years old.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by United States Postal Inspection Service and Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Brazilian National Charged with Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national currently serving a two-year sentence in the Middlesex House of Correction for Operating Under the Influence (4th or greater offense) has been charged in federal court with unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Jose Antonio Ramos, 51, was indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The defendant will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on April 8, 2026.
According to the charging documents, the defendant was removed from the United States in November 2008.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Zacks of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Cameron Treon Banks, 30, of Trenton, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
In December 2021, Banks was found in possession of five firearms, 387 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of marijuana, and $1,282 in U.S. currency at a residence in Bradford, Tennessee. The investigation revealed that Banks is a convicted felon and was serving a 10-year period of supervised probation for committing two separate aggravated assault offenses in Gibson County in 2021. Banks was also previously convicted of another aggravated assault offense in Gibson County in 2016.
Following his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of federal law, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen determined that Banks qualified as an Armed Career Criminal (ACC) offender based on Banks’s three prior aggravated assault convictions. Judge Breen ultimately sentenced Banks to 240 months in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Banks has devoted his adult life to a career of violent criminal conduct, and that prior history has finally caught up with him. ACC+guns+drugs = a federal sentence that will finally remove him from the community and make Gibson County and West Tennessee a safer place."
This case was investigated by members of the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Alice man gets over 22 years for shipping meth from Mexico in clay bricksRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 35-year-old Alice resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in receiving meth using a commercial carrier service, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Scott Garza pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2025, to knowingly and intentionally possessing meth with the intent to distribute it.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Garza to serve 265 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence about the abandoned, boarded-up house where the box of drugs was delivered and the firearm Garza had in his possession at the time. In handing down the sentence, Judge Morales noted that although Garza may have been a low-level dealer before this offense, he graduated to the next by participating in this crime.
On Aug. 7, 2025, law enforcement identified an international package shipped from Mexico and destined for an address in Alice. An X-ray examination and K-9 alert resulted in the discovery of 10 clay bricks. Each brick contained meth mixed within the clay material.
The investigation led to Garza, who had travelled to the abandoned house to pick up the package which he later opened at his home.
The drugs had a total weight of nearly eight kilograms with an estimated street value of $160,000.
Authorities conducted a search at his residence where they also found additional narcotics including distributable quantities of cocaine, meth, Xanax tablets, marijuana and synthetic marijuana as well as three firearms.
Previously on bond, Garza was taken into custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety and Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley A. Pruitt prosecuted the case.
Aggravated felon headed to federal prison for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 61-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced for illegally re-entering the United States after removal, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Jose Antonio Villegas-Herrera pleaded guilty July 16, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge has imposed a 55-month-term of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard about Herrera’s criminal history which included a federal felony conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine for which he was ordered to serve 55 months in prison. In imposing this sentence, the court noted Herrera had cut off his ankle monitor and fled prior to the hearing.
He was removed from the country in 2007. However, authorities discovered him in Houston July 28, 2022, with no authorization to be in the United States.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prison facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Whitney prosecuted the case.
Advanced Urology and Jitesh Patel will pay $14 million to settle False Claims Act case involving allegations of fraudulent billing and unnecessary medical proceduresRead the Press Release
ATLANTA –Jitesh Patel, M.D., Advanced Urology, Inc., and affiliated companies (collectively “Advanced Urology”) will pay $14 million to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act by billing federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, for a series of urological and diagnostic procedures that were not performed or were medically unnecessary.
“Physicians commit fraud when they seek payment for medically unnecessary procedures or bill for services they never performed,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will not tolerate abuse of patients or misuse of government funds, and we will enforce the False Claims Act to hold wrongdoers accountable.”
“This action underscores our commitment to safeguarding federal health care programs from fraud and abuse,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Allegations of upcoding and medically unnecessary procedures undermine the integrity of Medicare and other government programs. We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that providers who submit false claims are held accountable.”
“The settlement underscores the FBI’s commitment to investigating complex healthcare fraud schemes that prioritize profit over patient care,” said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Georgia. “Submitting false claims to federal healthcare programs is a serious violation of the law, and we will continue to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
“This settlement demonstrates the VA OIG’s tireless commitment to protecting veterans’ healthcare programs from fraudulent billing,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the VA Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the US Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.”
“Fraud against the Medicaid program is stealing from Georgia taxpayers – plain and simple,” said Jim Mooney, Deputy Attorney General of Georgia’s Medicaid Fraud and Patient Protection Division. “Performing unnecessary procedures takes limited resources away from those who truly need them. This office will ensure that Medicaid providers treat their patients and Georgia taxpayers with respect and not as a scheme to get rich.”
"This settlement should serve as a strong deterrent to healthcare practitioners who abandon their Hippocratic Oath while seeking to exploit and defraud TRICARE, which provides critical healthcare services to those who defend our nation, retirees, and their families,” said Jason Sargenski, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “DCIS, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate allegations of healthcare providers who defraud the U.S. Government, and will seek justice on behalf of our men and women in uniform.”
The government’s investigation began after a former Advanced Urology employee filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that Advanced Urology performed unnecessary procedures. A former Advanced Urology physician filed a second whistleblower complaint alleging that the practice billed government healthcare programs for procedures and tests that were not performed or were medically unnecessary.
The whistleblowers alleged, among other things, that Advanced Urology’s organization was designed to maximize revenue for Dr. Patel and others by performing medically unnecessary procedures and tests, by engaging in the following practices, among others:
- Implanting permanent Sacral Nerve Stimulator devices in patients without first determining whether the patients would benefit from the device.
- Performing numerous unnecessary Cystoscopy and Retrograde Pyelogram procedures, which involved placing a patient under anesthesia and inserting a small scope through the patient’s urethra and into the bladder.
- Performing an Electromyography test on almost every new patient at Advanced Urology even though it is rarely used in urology practices. This test involved transmitting electrical signals through an electrode attached to the patient’s genitalia.
- Ordering thousands of unnecessary ultrasound tests, including duplex ultrasounds and retroperitoneal ultrasounds.
The whistleblowers also alleged that Advanced Urology billed for a procedure known as Direct Visual Internal Urethrotomy (“DVIU”) that it never performed. The DVIU procedure involves using a scope to dilate a patient’s urethra and a knife to cut tissue inside the urethra. Allegedly, Advanced Urology performed a less complicated dilation of the urethra but billed government healthcare programs for DVIU to obtain more payment than it was owed.
The whistleblowers alleged that Advanced Urology and Dr. Patel’s conduct resulted in the submission of false claims to federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, in violation of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729, et seq., and the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act, O.C.G.A. §§ 49-4-168.1, et seq.
This civil settlement resolves two lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act: United States and State of Georgia ex rel. Lorraine Perumal-Szramel v. Advanced Urology, Inc. et al., No. 1:18-cv-4482-SCJ, and United States and State of Georgia ex rel. Himanshu Aggarwal, M.D. v. Jitesh V. Patel et al., No. 1:19-cv-2844-WMR.
Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may bring suit for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. The Relators will collectively receive $2,940,000 from the settlement.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Medicaid Fraud and Patient Protection Division of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General; and the Defense Health Agency.
The investigation and resolution of this matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. Nugent and Andres Sandoval and Georgia Assistant Attorney General James Champlin.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
8 Arrested in Health Care Fraud Takedown, Including Owners of Hospices that Billed Taxpayers Millions of Dollars to Serve the ‘Dying’Read the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – In coordination with the Vice President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, eight defendants, including three nurses, a chiropractor, and a purported psychologist, have been arrested on federal charges that they schemed to defraud the nation’s health care system out of more than $50 million – including by running sham hospice care facilities that bilked Medicare by using people without terminal illnesses as beneficiaries, the Justice Department announced today.
Six of the defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. One defendant is expected to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Idaho.
“We are enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for criminals who defraud American taxpayers,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The defendants arrested this morning who are charged with stealing millions of dollars of health care benefits got caught and now face years in federal prison.”
“The Southern California region is a high-risk environment for hospice-related and many other forms of health care fraud,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The United States loses hundreds of billions of dollars annually to healthcare fraud at the expense of all American taxpayers, whose benefits decrease as premiums, co-payments and taxes grow. Our aim is to reverse that trend with ‘Operation Never Say Die’ and others like it.”
“The defendants charged today allegedly turned hospice care into a cash producing operation, resulting in more than $50 million in losses to taxpayers. The magnitude of the losses underscores a deliberate abuse of the authority and trust afforded to health care providers,” said Inspector General T. March Bell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s takedown reflects HHS-OIG’s commitment to deploy every tool at our disposal, and collaborate with our law enforcement partners, to dismantle hospice operations built on deception. Anyone who seeks to weaponize hospice care to bilk Medicare should expect to be held accountable.”
“Today’s arrests are another decisive strike in our war on fraud,” said U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito. “My office is relentlessly pursuing those who target union benefit plans and exploit employee healthcare programs for personal gain. Working side-by-side with the FBI, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, and our law-enforcement partners, we are aggressively dismantling fraud schemes and taking down those who exploit American workers. Let this be a warning: If you steal from workers or taxpayers, your time is up. We will find you, investigate you, and hold you accountable.”
“When employee benefit plans become targets for fraud, it’s not just the plans that are hurt – everyday working Americans who earned those benefits honestly, their families, and the communities they live in are hurt,” said Robert Prunty, Acting Regional Director U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration’s Los Angeles Regional Office. “In the Trump Administration, we will relentlessly seek out fraud and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
“Health care fraud undermines federal programs, threatens public trust, diverts resources away from legitimate patient care, and is a calculated attack on programs meant to protect the vulnerable,” said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge, IRS‑CI Los Angeles Field Office. “The enforcement actions taken today demonstrate IRS‑CI’s commitment to uncovering the financial lies behind these schemes and holding accountable those who profit at the expense of taxpayers and patients. Our agents will continue to work alongside our law‑enforcement partners to protect the integrity of our healthcare system and ensure that those who abuse it are brought to justice.”
MEDICARE HOSPICE CARE FRAUD
- USA v. Minerd
Lolita Beronilla Minerd, 65, a.k.a. “Lolita Beronilla Rice,” of Anaheim, a licensed vocational nurse, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging her with health care fraud.
According to court documents, Minerd owned and operated the Artesia-based Topanga Hospice Care Inc. From July 2020 to April 2025, Minerd used this company to submit more than $9,174,117 in fraudulent hospice claims to Medicare, which paid more than $8,510,448 on these claims.
Through Topanga, Minerd billed Medicare for hospice services for beneficiaries who were not terminally ill. Numerous beneficiaries had common addresses and lived far from the facility, which is consistent with being recruited by marketers. The investigation further revealed that Minerd paid kickbacks to beneficiaries and marketers for the referral of purported hospice patients to her company.
One beneficiary couple was approached at a market about signing up and then were visited at home by Minerd and three other Topanga employees, who promised them if they signed up everything would be free, and they each would receive $300 per month. The money was delivered in an envelope in cash: $600 per month for six months. Neither beneficiary stated they had a terminal illness, which their physician confirmed. The couple also reported receiving unneeded items such as nutritional shakes, non-prescription vitamins, and wheelchairs.
Topanga had a non-death discharge rate of approximately 85%, nearly five times the national average of 17.2% from 2021.
The FBI is investigating this matter along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
Assistant United States Attorney Alexandra M. Michael of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
- USA v. Gill, et al.
Gladwin Gill, a 66-year-old purported psychologist, and his wife, Amelou Gill, a 70-year-old registered nurse, both of Covina, were arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging them with health care fraud.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, the Gills owned and operated the Glendale-based 626 Hospice Inc., which did business as St. Francis Palliative Care.
The Gills allegedly schemed to defraud Medicare by paying illegal kickbacks for the referral of patients who were not dying. The Gills also submitted more than $5.2 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for hospice services that either were not medically necessary or were not provided. Medicare paid the Gills more than $4 million on these fraudulent claims.
They then laundered the scheme’s proceeds and spent their ill-gotten gains on personal expenses such as mortgage payments, car payments, international flights, restaurants, and personal bills.
The Gills are expected to make their initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
HHS-OIG, the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Food and Drug Administration are investigating this matter with assistance from United States Trustee, Region 16, Los Angeles Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
- USA v. Palma, et al.
Nita Almuete Paddit Palma, 76, a thrice-convicted health care fraudster now incarcerated at a federal prison in Seattle, and her husband, Adolfo Cezar Catbagan, 68, of Glendale, are charged in an 11-count indictment with operating at least three fraudulent hospice care facilities – including while Palma was free on bond awaiting a hospice fraud trial. Law enforcement arrested Catbagan this morning.
Palma, who is a lawful permanent resident from the Philippines, and Catbagan are charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud and 10 counts of health care fraud.
According to the indictment, from June 2022 to April 2024, Palma and Catbagan opened three Glendale-based hospice care facilities despite Palma being legally barred from doing so: One Up Hospice Care Inc., Rosewood Hospice and Palliative Care Inc., and Advance Hospice and Palliative Care Inc.
Catbagan was named as the nominal owner and CEO of the three hospices when Palma in fact owned and exercised operating control of them – despite her exclusion – so Medicare would not deny the companies’ claims. The defendants submitted false claims to Medicare for beneficiaries who were not terminally ill and the physicians supposedly providing hospice services did not treat the patients.
Palma and Catbagan submitted at least $4.8 million in fraudulent claims through these companies, resulting in Medicare payments of at least $4.2 million.
HHS-OIG and the FBI are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew M. Roach and Roger A. Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Su of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters for this case.
- USA v. Tindimubona
Evelyn Tindimubona, 51, a licensed vocational nurse from Chatsworth, is charged in a federal criminal complaint with health care fraud. According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, from January 2022 to September 2025, Tindimubona used the Tarzana-based Comfort Choice Hospice Inc. to submit to Medicare hundreds of fraudulent claims for purported hospice services to dozens of beneficiaries. For those claims, Comfort Choice sought more than $3.8 million, of which Medicare paid approximately $3.4 million.
For example, in November 2022, Comfort Choice submitted a claim to Medicare in the amount of $7,021, for reimbursement of hospice services for a beneficiary. Law enforcement later interviewed this beneficiary and other Comfort Choice patients who said they were not terminally ill, a requirement to qualify for hospice care.
Tindimubona allegedly also paid kickbacks to marketers for their referral of hospice patients to Comfort Choice in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
HHS-OIG is investigating this matter.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Yervant P. Hagopian of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
- USA v. Lauritzen
Ivan Verne Lauritzen, 50, of Simi Valley, was arrested Tuesday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with health care fraud. According to court documents, Lauritzen was the CEO and CFO of the Simi Valley-based Valley Pacific Hospice Inc., whose Medicare enrollment was revoked in August 2024.
In 2022, the live discharge rate of Valley Pacific patients was more than 75%, vastly higher than the national average that year of approximately 17%. Based on an audit examining 18 Valley Pacific Medicare claims from August 2023 to March 2024, CMS determined the company had a pattern and practice of submitting claims that failed to meet Medicare’s hospice standards and requirements. To facilitate this fraud, Lauritzen forged the signature of at least one physician on the Medicare enrollment forms.
During the alleged scheme, Valley Pacific billed Medicare more than $580,000 and was paid more than $526,000.
Lauritzen made his initial appearance Tuesday and was ordered released on $10,000 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for April 27.
HHS-OIG is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Neil P. Thakor of the Major Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
PRIVATE HEALTH CARE PLAN FRAUD
- USA v. Aulava-Moala, et al.
Four defendants with South Bay ties – one of them a licensed chiropractor – have been charged in a two-count information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud in connection with a $19 million scheme to defraud a labor union’s health plan via false claims for chiropractic services and physical therapy that weren’t needed or never provided.
The defendants charged are:
- Tolu Aulava-Moala, 51, of Carson, who was the director of the facilities;
- John Nicola, 77, of El Segundo, a licensed chiropractor;
- Crysta Richter, 40, of Torrance, who owned a medical billing company; and
- John Keohuloa, 49, of Long Beach.
These defendants will be summonsed into Los Angeles federal court and are expected to make their initial appearances in the coming weeks.
According to court documents, from January 2010 to September 2023, they fraudulently submitted at least $19,005,463 in claims to International Longshore and Warehouse Union Pacific Maritime Association and other private health insurers on behalf of several chiropractic and physical therapy service companies: Ohana Wellness Center, Ohana Management Corp., and R3New Wellness – all based in Carson – and the Huntington Beach-based One Life Acupuncture APC.
Aulava-Moala and Keohuloa induced beneficiaries to visit clinics to receive medically unnecessary services, such as massages or endoscopies, in exchange for kickback payments. Nicola knowingly created fake client notes for beneficiaries, and Aulava-Moala, Nicola, and Richter submitted false and fraudulent claims to health insurers for reimbursement for medical services.
In August 2022, the former owner of the Ohana companies testified under oath at a civil trial that the companies falsified patient chart notes and billed claims under chiropractors’ names and insurance numbers without their knowledge. A state court later that month found the Ohana companies liable for the fraud scheme.
In addition, from March 2016 to June 2023, Aulava-Moala and Keohuloa conspired to submit approximately $700,000 in fraudulent receipts for a charity donation program operated by a Los Angeles-based oil refinery for which the company paid at least $500,000.
The FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and the U.S. Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration are investigating this matter with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Secret Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Jason C. Pang of the Transnational Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.
- USA v. Cartmell; USA v. Surace
Gregory Cartmell, 62, of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, a licensed chiropractor, was arrested today on a four-count indictment charging him with two counts of health care fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He is expected to make his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. He will be arraigned in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
According to the indictment, from December 2018 to November 2022, Cartmell submitted approximately $9.14 million in fraudulent claims to the ILWU-PMA health plan for chiropractic services – including for services not rendered – and received approximately $6.43 million in payment from the union’s health plan, which had terminated him from the plan in December 2020.
To circumvent his termination, Cartmell arranged with a co-conspirator – Vincent Surace, 87, of McKinney, Texas – to bill ILWU-PMA’s health plan under the co-conspirator’s name and identification number. In exchange for allowing his name and ID number to be used in the scheme, Cartmell paid Surace a portion of the proceeds the union’s plan paid for the fraudulent claims.
Surace is charged via information with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He will be summonsed to Los Angeles federal court in the coming weeks.
The FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and the U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration (DOL-EBSA) are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jason C. Pang of the Transnational Organized Crime Section and William M. Larsen of the Criminal Appeals Section are prosecuting this case with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Kendall of the Transnational Organized Crime Section.
- USA v. Griffen
Sonia Griffen, 51, of Lakewood, was arrested today on a five-count indictment charging her with health care fraud. From April 2019 to May 2024, Griffen allegedly submitted nearly $5 million in fraudulent claims to ILWU-PMA’s health care plan through her wellness company, Bee Well Holistic Wellness Center, for purported chiropractic services given to union members, even though the plan had previously terminated Bee Well and barred it from submitting claims.
According to the indictment, to circumvent Bee Well’s termination from the ILWU-PMA plan and obtain payments, Griffen concealed Bee Well’s identity and involvement by arranging with two chiropractors to bill the plan under their names and at fictitious addresses. She also submitted false claims billing the plan for chiropractic services that were never rendered.
In total, Griffen submitted approximately $4.9 million in fraudulent claims to the ILWU-PMA plan, resulting in payments of approximately $2.5 million.
The FBI, the United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and the Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration (DOL-EBSA) are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Jing Yan of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
IMMIGRATION HEALTH CARE FRAUD
- USA v. Ko
Young Joo Ko, 59, of East Hollywood and a lawful permanent resident from South Korea, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging her with fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Ko engaged in a medical fraud scheme exploiting the green card application process by creating fraudulent immigration documents. Civil surgeons designated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and operating in the Los Angeles area did not examine green card applicants as required by law.
Instead, Ko – for a fee – fraudulently prepared the required forms by presenting herself as a nurse or doctor and indicating false compliance with medical examination requirements necessary for immigration applicants to register permanent residence or adjust their immigration status.
If convicted, Ko would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and USCIS are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Brenda N. Galván of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Health care fraud-related charges in these cases carry a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year consecutive prison sentence.
Complaints and indictments contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
13-Count Indictment Charges D.C. Man in March 2026 Violent Armed CarjackingsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON D.C. – A 13-count Indictment was unsealed March 31 in U.S. District Court charging Dequan Simpson, 18, of the District of Columbia, in two alleged armed carjackings and a shooting that occurred last month in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The Indictment charges Simpson with multiple counts of Carjacking, Interfering with Interstate Commerce by Robbery (Hobbs Act), and corresponding counts of Using of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. It also charges Simpson with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer.
Three of the counts also name Jayvaun Brown, 20, a resident of the District. Brown is charged with Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer. Brown will have his first court appearance on April 2.
Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya on April 1 ordered Simpson to be held without bond.
According to the court documents, on March 4, shortly after noon, a pizza delivery driver allegedly was lured to a residence on the unit block of Webster Street NE, under the pretext of a routine food order. When the pizza delivery driver arrived, he was robbed, assaulted, held at gun point, and carjacked of his 2014 Toyota Corolla.
Two days later, on March 6, a freelance barber was lured to the same Webster Street residence under the pretext of a request for a haircut. When the barber arrived, he was robbed and shot multiple times as he attempted to flee. The gunman took the barber’s black 2009 Infiniti G37X. Investigators later recovered seven spent shell casings at the scene.
On March 9, about 10:20 p.m. police spotted the stolen Infiniti, occupied by several people, speeding on Florida Ave. NE. Officers gave chase. During the high-speed pursuit, an occupant of the Infiniti appeared to throw a rifle from the vehicle. Investigators recovered a Hammerli TAC R1 .22 LR caliber rifle near 9th and K Streets NW.
About 10:32 p.m., the suspects were traveling southbound on the 11th Street sidewalk when they attempted to turn onto M Street NW. They were stopped when the Infiniti crashed into a U.S. Park Police cruiser.
Officers apprehended Simpson shortly after. Police located Brown in a nearby parking garage and arrested him.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, the U.S. Park Police, and Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy.
Charges in an indictment are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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1 April 2026
White Plains Man Arrested and Charged for Manufacturing, Stockpiling, and Detonating Explosive DevicesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced federal criminal charges against RAYMOND ELDERS for manufacturing and possessing suspected improvised explosive devices in his apartment in White Plains and detonating them on a residential street. ELDERS was arrested by the FBI and presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court and detained.
“By allegedly manufacturing dozens of suspected explosive devices and storing them in his apartment, Raymond Elders put everyone in his community at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “But he didn’t stop there. As alleged in the complaint, and over a period of months, he lit these devices and detonated them in his neighborhood in White Plains, causing unexplained explosions that his neighbors repeatedly reported to the police. It should go without saying that anyone who tosses illegal explosives onto New York residential streets should expect to face serious consequences, including federal criminal charges brought by our Office.”
“Raymond Elders allegedly constructed dozens of IEDs and detonated at least two in his neighborhood,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Elders’s alleged actions repeatedly disregarded the public’s safety by subjecting innocent bystanders to potentially devastating harm. We thank the White Plains Police Department and the Westchester County Bomb Squad for their prompt response and for protecting the residents of Westchester County. The FBI continues to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from violence.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
ELDERS, a convicted felon, was captured on surveillance video on at least two occasions in March 2026 igniting suspected improvised explosive devices and tossing them onto Odell Avenue in White Plains. Below are excerpts from surveillance footage obtained from residential premises on Odell Avenue during the afternoon of March 18, 2026:
Below are additional excerpts from surveillance footage depicting Odell Avenue during the early morning hours of March 30, 2026:
In response to multiple 911 calls on March 30, White Plains Police Officers responding to the scene found an apparent pipe bomb on the steps of ELDERS’s apartment building. A warrant-authorized search of ELDERS’s apartment returned at least approximately 25 suspected explosive devices, in addition to materials and supplies ELDERS allegedly used to assemble explosive devices. Law enforcement evacuated all residents of the apartment building while FBI explosives specialists secured the scene. Law enforcement’s analysis of the suspected improvised explosive devices remains ongoing.
An associate of ELDERS informed law enforcement that he has seen ELDERS assemble the suspected explosive devices while sitting on the living room couch in his apartment, which is on the first floor of a multi-family residence.
* * *
ELDERS, 65, is charged with one count of use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of possession of destructive devices after a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; as well as one count of receipt and possession of explosives after a felony conviction, one count of unlawful possession of destructive devices, and one count of unlawful manufacture of destructive devices, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI New York Office Westchester Safe Streets Task Force and Joint Terrorism Task Force, the White Plains Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Briggs and John Sarlitto are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
West Virginia Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Against Inmates’ RightsRead the Press Release
A former corrections officer at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia pleaded guilty Monday for his role in a conspiracy in which he and other correctional officers would use unreasonable force against inmates, including pretrial detainees, as a form of punishment and retaliation. Michael Pack pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 371.
According to his plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Pack acknowledged that he and his co-conspirators would strike, assault, and harm inmates they believed or perceived to have engaged in misconduct. As part of this conspiracy, Pack and his co-conspirators would bring inmates to “blind spots” – areas of the jail that were not captured on surveillance cameras – so that they could use unreasonable and unjustified force against the inmates without being recorded and thus avoid being held accountable for their actions.
Pack further admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he and his co-conspirators would prepare false reports denying their unreasonable uses of force against inmates and failing to document injuries that inmates sustained during use of force incidents, so that the conspirators would not be investigated or held accountable for their actions.
Pack pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn. He will be sentenced on July 24. According to his plea agreement, Pack faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and former Trial Attorney Sam Kuhn of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Venezuelan National Pleads Guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced that Kleider Enrique Garcia Ochoa, age 30, a Venezuelan national who is present in the United States without authorization, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to admissions made during his plea, Ochoa used social media applications and the name “Conociendo” in an attempt to convince someone he believed was a 15-year-old boy in Denham Springs, Louisiana, to have an illegal sexual relationship with him. Ochoa agreed to travel to Denham Springs, Louisiana, to pick up the supposed 15-year-old boy to engage in sexual acts. An undercover law enforcement officer posed as the 15-year-old boy and officers arrested Ochoa when he arrived at the location. During his conduct, Ochoa sent the undercover officer a picture of himself and his genitals and requested that the supposed 15-year-old boy send him sexually explicit images of himself. Ochoa also asked for the undercover officer’s location and expressed his desire to engage in illegal sex acts in person.
Ochoa’s conviction is punishable by a minimum of ten years and a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, up to a lifetime period of supervised release, and includes sex offender registration requirements. He is also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completing his sentence.
“This guilty plea is the result of great teamwork between our law enforcement partners and our prosecutors,” stated U.S. Attorney Wall. “An illegal immigrant, who was attempting to commit a sex offense with someone he believed to be 15-years-old, will now be going to prison for a long time. This is a good day for justice!”
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner, who also serves as Lead Homeland Security Task Force Trial Attorney, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allen Ross.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is also 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 Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Utah Licensed Osteopathic Physician Indicted for Allegedly Receiving Misbranded Drugs from China and Selling them to PatientsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today against a Utah physician who allegedly received, recommended, delivered, and sold to his unwitting patients, misbranded drugs from China that were not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to the allegations in court documents, Justin Bradley Watkins, 39, of Pleasant View, Utah, obtained misbranded drugs from China, specifically peptides that he knew were not FDA approved. Watkins obtained the drugs through a middleman between February 2024 to April 2025. The peptide orders included, among others, Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, Retatrutide, Cagrilinitide, BPC-157, TB500, Ipamorelin, CJC 1295, GHK, GHK-CU, and NAD+. Watkins purchased the peptides at a deeply discounted price, and knew they were not backed by proper, reliable testing and clinical trials. In furtherance of the fraud, Watkins made and affixed labels to vials and/or pill bottles before providing them to clinic staff. None of the labels disclosed the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor, as required by the FDA’s Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). During the fraud period, Watkins recommended, provided, delivered, and sold misbranded, non-FDA-approved peptides to over 200 trusting patients.
Watkins is charged with receipt in interstate commerce and delivery for pay misbranded drugs with intent to defraud or mislead, and aiding and abetting. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for April 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
First Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), and the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL).
Assistant United States Attorney Mark Y. Hirata of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States and State of Wisconsin Obtain over $140M Judgment and Permanent Injunction Against Operator of Deceptive Timeshare Exit Services Aimed at Elderly ConsumersRead the Press Release
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri granted summary judgment to the Department of Justice and State of Wisconsin against Defendant Christopher Lee Carroll, finding he was a “mastermind” of an unlawful timeshare exit services scheme that harmed over 11,000 consumers. As part of its ruling, the court permanently enjoined Carroll from marketing timeshare exit services and from engaging in other unfair and deceptive trade practices. The court also ordered Carroll to pay over $95 million to redress harm caused to consumers and over $45 million in civil monetary penalties for his misconduct.
“The Justice Department will hold accountable anyone who uses unlawful high-pressure sales tactics and deception to take advantage of and exploit consumers,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Americans deserve to be treated fairly and honestly.”
In a memorandum and order, the district court held that Carroll was at the center of an unlawful enterprise that violated the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act’s prohibition on unfair or deceptive trade practices, the federal Cooling-Off Rule’s requirement that consumers be given three business days to cancel certain purchases made at locations other than the seller’s regular place of business, and Wisconsin state laws concerning fraudulent misrepresentations and direct marketing.
The court found that Carroll and his co-defendants used high pressure tactics and false and misleading statements to induce consumers to pay from $5,000 to over $80,000 to businesses including Square One Group LLC, and Consumer Law Protection LLC, for a purported release or exit from the consumers’ timeshare contracts. Carroll and his co-defendants often did not actually provide those services, did not inform consumers of their right to cancel the sales contracts within three business days without penalty, and denied consumers refunds when they or law enforcement officials complained.
Carroll was the final remaining defendant in this action. The court previously also imposed permanent injunctions against seventeen other defendants. Those defendants include several interrelated corporate entities, which were also held liable for the over $140 million monetary judgment against Carroll, and four other individual defendants, who agreed to stipulated orders under which they are collectively liable for over $11 million in monetary penalties, partially suspended due to their demonstrated inability to pay.
The United States is represented in this action by Trial Attorneys Meredith L. Reiter and Zachary L. Cowan and Assistant Director Zachary A. Dietert, from the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch, in coordination with staff at the FTC. The United States was previously also represented by former Trial Attorney Wesline N. Manuelpillai. Lewis W. Beilin represents the State of Wisconsin.
For more information about the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts visit www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch.
U.S. Attorney’s Office brings federal firearms charges in 8 cases in Dayton as part of downtown gun violence initiativeRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Federal and local law enforcement officials announced today eight recent cases involving violations of federal firearms laws.
“It’s my job as U.S. Attorney to keep our communities in Southern Ohio safe. Doing that requires strong partnerships between our local police departments and our federal law enforcement agencies. And we have those strong partnerships here in Dayton,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “We want to make it clear to criminals, if you illegally possess or use a firearm or ammunition in Dayton, or anywhere else in our district for that matter, expect to see federal charges.”
The federal defendants include:
JaMichael Craver
On Monday, March 30, federal charges were filed against JaMichael Craver for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Craver was arrested on Friday night during operations conducted by the Dayton Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative between the City of Dayton and the State of Ohio.
According to charging documents, Craver fled on foot from a vehicle being tracked by Dayton police officers and an aviation unit from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He was apprehended by officers after a foot pursuit and allegedly found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun. At the time of this incident, Craver was a wanted fugitive with multiple warrants for his arrest on state charges, including aggravated trafficking in drugs and having weapons while under disability. Craver has previously been convicted in state court of aggravated robbery and kidnapping.
Terrence Gay
On March 24, Terrence Gay was charged with assaulting federal agents with a deadly weapon, attempted murder of federal agents, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, Gay was a federal fugitive out of Missouri who had failed to surrender after being sentenced for drug trafficking in 2021. The Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) tracked Gay to a home a Dayton on March 23. After strike team officers announced their presence and attempted to convince Gay to exit the residence, Gay opened fire on the officers. Officers ultimately secured Gay and recovered multiple weapons from the residence.
Johnny Ray Perkins and Elisah Lobbley
On March 10, Johnny Ray Perkins and Elisah Lobbley were indicted for trafficking drugs in the vicinity of the RTA bus hub in downtown Dayton. During these sales, Perkins allegedly kept a firearm on him and is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Anton Hurston
On Feb. 10, a federal grand jury in Dayton indicted Anton Hurston for possession of a firearm fitted with a high-capacity magazine during a traffic stop in Dayton’s central business district.
Rondell Coleman
On Feb. 10, a federal grand jury indicted Rondell Coleman for possession of a machinegun and possession of a stolen firearm. As alleged in an earlier criminal complaint, while responding to a domestic violence incident on Feb. 1, Dayton police encountered Coleman carrying a stolen machinegun in his pants.
Dylan Hiner
On Feb. 4, Dylan Hiner pleaded guilty to illegally shipping, transporting and receiving ammunition while under indictment for a felony offense. Hiner repeatedly discharged a handgun near the University of Dayton’s campus. At the time of this shooting, Hiner was under indictment on state weapons charges.
Colby Smith
On Jan. 13, Colby Smith was indicted for kidnapping, carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. As alleged in an earlier criminal complaint, during the morning of Dec. 9, 2025, Smith used a handgun to rob two Dayton-area residents of their vehicles and personal belongings as they traveled to their jobs.
Jacquan Sims, Miyauhn Vineyard, Raheem Goff and Joshua Haggins
On Dec. 9, Jacquan Sims, Miyauhn Vineyard, Raheem Goff, and Joshua Haggins were federally indicted for conspiring to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Law enforcement officials seized multiple firearms in that case, including one machinegun.
Illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possessing an unregistered firearm or a machinegun is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Illegally shipping, transporting, or receiving ammunition while under indictment for a felony offense is punishable by up to five years in prison. Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime requires a mandatory minimum of at least five years in prison in addition to any other sentence imposed. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence requires a mandatory minimum of at least seven years in prison in addition to any other sentence imposed. Discharging a firearm during a crime of violence requires a mandatory minimum of at least 10 years in prison in addition to any other sentence imposed.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and United States Marshal Michael D. Black announced the charges. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorneys Christina Mahy, Erica Lunderman, Ryan Saunders, Rob Painter and Kelly Rossi are representing the United States in these cases.
Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Recovers and Forfeits More Than $600K in Cryptocurrency from Fraud SchemeRead 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 the U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, has recovered and forfeited more than $600,000 in cryptocurrency associated with a fraud scheme.
As alleged in court documents, in September 2025, a Connecticut resident identified as “T.M.” received a letter purporting to be from “Ledger Security & Compliance.” The letter claimed that T.M.’s Ledger device, which is a device used for storing cryptocurrency, needed to undergo a new mandatory security check. In reality, when T.M. followed the instructions in the letter, the fraudsters were able to compromise T.M.’s Ledger device and steal approximately $234,000 in cryptocurrency.
The FBI and Connecticut State Police traced the cryptocurrency transactions through multiple cryptocurrency wallets and successfully seized approximately $600,000 worth of Tether, a form of cryptocurrency. The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint (3:26-cv-28) alleging that the Tether cryptocurrency was the proceeds of wire fraud and that it was involved in money laundering. On March 31, 2026, the U.S. District Court entered a decree of forfeiture.
Generally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office first seeks to forfeit the cryptocurrency, then works with the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section to, in many cases, return it to crime victims so that victims have clear title to the property without risk of further litigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson.
More information on cryptocurrency fraud schemes and where to report related criminal activity is available here: https://www.ic3.gov/CrimeInfo/Cryptocurrency.
U.S. Attorney's Office Files Petition Seeking Information to Locate Violent Criminal Aliens in OregonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon filed a petition seeking information from four Oregon counties, Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington, to locate violent felons who are likely subject to removal from the United States and under these counties’ supervision.
On November 24, 2025, the U.S. District Court granted a similar petition against the same counties for information to locate 10 violent criminal aliens Oregon officials released into the community. The violent criminal aliens had been convicted in Oregon of a variety of crimes, including rape and sodomy of a minor child, assault, kidnapping, and manslaughter. In its order, the court noted that Oregon law “explicitly permits state law enforcement agencies to ‘exchange information with a federal immigration authority.’”
Currently, there are more than 300 active immigration detainers at the Oregon Department of Corrections for criminals likely subject to removal from the United States.
“The District of Oregon will continue to prioritize the safety of all Oregonians,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We will continue our efforts to prevent violent criminal aliens from further harming our community.”
This petition seeks information possessed by the counties to locate more than 30 violent criminal aliens who have victimized Oregonians through a variety of criminal conduct like sexual abuse, rape, assault, and domestic violence. Following prison sentences, Oregon officials released these violent criminal aliens into Oregon communities rather than to federal immigration authorities, who sent immigration detainers to Oregon officials. State officials did not honor those detainers and released the following violent criminal aliens into Oregon communities:
Criminal Alien 3 was convicted in 2019 of three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving a victim under the age of 14. He was sentenced to 225 months in prison and 45 months of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 5 was convicted in 2018 of one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 75 months in prison, 45 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 6 was convicted in 1996 of one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, sentenced to several years of supervised probation, and required to register as a sex offender. In 2018, he was convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 45 months of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 7 was convicted in 2018 of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempted Rape in the First Degree, Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence, and Strangulation– Constituting Domestic Violence, and sentenced to 160 months in prison, 24 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 8 was convicted in 2017 of one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, one count of Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, and one count of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree. He was sentenced to 160 months in prison, 45 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 9 was convicted in 2020 of Attempted Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree and sentenced to 45 months in prison and 75 months of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 11 was convicted in 2015 of Recklessly Endangering Another Person. In 2016, he was convicted of one count of Rape in the First Degree and one count of Sodomy in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 200 months in prison, 144 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 12 was convicted in 2011 of three counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree involving a victim under the age of 14, sentenced to 60 months supervised probation, and required to register as a sex offender. He was convicted in 2018 of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and sentenced to 18 months supervised probation. In 2019, he was convicted of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and sentenced to 8 months in prison. In 2021, he was convicted of Burglary in the Second Degree and sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation. In 2023, he was convicted of Burglary in the Second Degree and sentenced to 36 months of supervised probation.
Criminal Alien 13 was convicted in 2012 of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree. In 2016, he was convicted of Attempted Murder with a Firearm and sentenced to 90 months of prison and 36 months of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 14 was convicted in 2020 of one count of Rape in the First Degree, one count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, one count of Extortion, one count of Coercion, two counts of Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence, and one count of Assault in the Fourth Degree. He was sentenced to 194 months and 364 days in prison, several years’ post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 19 was convicted in 2020 of one count of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and one count of Strangulation–Constituting Domestic Violence. He was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment and 36 months of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 20 was convicted in 2008 of one count of Rape in the First Degree and one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 175 months of imprisonment, 120 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. In 2016, he was convicted of one count Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving a victim under the age of 14 and sentenced to 75 months in prison, 45 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 21 was convicted in 2012 of Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence. He was sentenced to 24 months of supervised probation. In 2016, he was convicted of two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving a victim under the age of 14 and sentenced to 150 months in prison, 45 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 22 was convicted in 2016 of one count of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree and one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to a total of 175 months in prison, 140 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 23 was convicted in 2017 of two counts of Attempted Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct and two counts of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 120 months in prison, 24 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 24 was convicted in 2016 of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence, and Strangulation–Constituting Domestic Violence. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 36 months of probation. In 2018, he was convicted of Attempted Rape in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was sentenced to 195 months in prison, 95 months post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 25 was convicted in 2015 of one count of Rape in the First Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence. He was sentenced to 100 months in prison, 3 years of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 26 was convicted in 2015 of one count Rape in the First Degree and sentenced to 100 months in prison, 140 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender.
Criminal Alien 27 was convicted in 2016 of Coercion–Constituting Domestic Violence and sentenced to 3 years of probation. Then in 2017, he was convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 120 months of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 28 was convicted in 2017 of Theft in the Second Degree and sentenced to 12 months of probation. She was convicted in 2020 of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 120 months of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 30 was convicted in 2020 of two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 150 months in prison and 120 months of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 31 was convicted in 2018 of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree and sentenced 5 years of probation. That probation was revoked in 2023 and he was sentenced to 19 months in prison and 3 years of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 32 was convicted in 1992 of two counts of Public Indecency and sentenced to 3 years of probation. He was convicted in 1994 of Theft in the Second Degree and sentenced to 30 days in jail and 2 years of probation. In 1996, Criminal Alien 32 was convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 19 months in prison and 10 years of post-prison supervision. In 2025, he was convicted of Failure to Report as a Sex Offender and sentenced to 2 years of probation.
Criminal Alien 33 was convicted in 2017 of three counts of Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct and two counts of Rape in the Third Degree and sentenced to 238 months in prison and 3 years of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 34 was convicted in 2014 of three counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, eight counts of Sodomy in the Second Degree, three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and one count of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and sentenced to over 1,000 months in prison and 3 years of post-prison supervision. In 2024, however, the judgment was amended to reflect convictions only for three counts of Attempted Sodomy in the Second Degree.
Criminal Alien 35 was convicted in 2017 of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 10 years of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 36 was convicted in 2016 of Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence and sentenced to 36 months of probation. In 2019, he was convicted of two counts of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison and 5 years of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 38 was convicted in 2016 of Rape in the First Degree, Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence and sentenced to 287 months in prison and 20 years of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 40 was convicted in 2017 of Sodomy in the First Degree and two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 250 months in prison and 20 years of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 42 was convicted in 2011 of Menacing – Constituting Domestic Violence and sentenced to two years of probation. In 2015, he was convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 10 years of post-prison supervision.
Criminal Alien 44 was convicted in 2020 of Rape in the Second Degree and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 150 months in prison. After a successful appeal, however, the judgment was modified to one conviction for Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and one conviction for Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree with a total sentence of 89 months in prison and 10 years of post-prison supervision.
Two Men Indicted in Lehigh Valley-Area Drug CasesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that two defendants have been charged in separate Lehigh Valley-area drug cases just unsealed.
Richie Rivera, 33, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was charged by indictment with possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
The indictment alleges that, on or about February 24, 2026, in Berks County, Pa., the defendant was found in possession of approximately 1.24 kilograms of heroin, approximately 435 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, medetomidine, and xylazine, approximately 711 grams of cocaine, and approximately 206 grams of methamphetamine.
The indictment further alleges that, prior to possessing these narcotics, Rivera was convicted in October 2023 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.
This case was investigated by the Reading Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalynda M. Michetti.
Samuel Paulino, 51, of Union City, New Jersey, was charged by indictment with possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.
The indictment alleges that on or about March 2, 2026, in Northampton County, Pa., the defendant was found in possession of approximately four kilograms of heroin and approximately six kilograms of cocaine.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.
This case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Schopf.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Two Georgia Men Face Life in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl from ChinaRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – Two men are facing a maximum of life in prison for trafficking fentanyl and a new synthetic designer drug from China into Georgia, one of whom was an inmate directing the operation from behind bars.
Devito Duran Young, aka “Big” aka “Big Man,” 46, of Macon State Prison and Marietta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Young faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and an $8 million fine.
Trace Davrin Works, 29, of Mableton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Works faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and an $8 million fine.
The defendants pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on April 1. Their sentencing dates are scheduled for July 8, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.
“From a Georgia prison, the defendants trafficked fentanyl from China, profiting from the suffering of others,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Our office, in collaboration with law enforcement, is dedicated to dismantling criminal organizations, whether they operate from prisons or across borders.”
“These defendants profited from the opioid epidemic and endangered thousands of lives by trafficking fentanyl,” said FBI Georgia Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Robert Gibbs. “Disrupting the manufacturers and distributers of this poison remains a high priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners.”
“These defendants were involved in a fentanyl trafficking ring contributing to the opioid crisis in our communities,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This case demonstrates the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its partners’ commitment to protecting the public, combating the spread of deadly drugs and holding accountable those who profit from addiction.”
The following individuals have been charged by a federal indictment returned on May 14, 2025, and unsealed on August 7, 2025:
Andreaus Benard Oliver Sr., aka “Doomie Oliver,” 43, of Macon State Prison and Cordele, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $2 million fine;
Andreaus Benard Oliver Jr., aka “Dray Oliver,” 27, of Cordele, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of using or maintaining a drug premises and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine;
Xin Wang, 28, of China, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and he faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a $5 million fine for the fentanyl charge and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance charge; and
Gao Yong, 29, of China, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Oliver Sr. and Oliver Jr. had their initial appearances in August 2025 and were remanded into federal custody by U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle. Wang and Yong are fugitives and have active warrants for their arrest. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Photos of Xin Wang and Gao Yong.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Young conspired to acquire and distribute fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids (marijuana) from China to the United States beginning in 2023. It is alleged that Oliver Sr. conspired with Young while both were inmates at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Georgia.
The shipments of the synthetic cannabinoids arrived at an address allegedly occupied by Oliver Jr. on 4th Avenue in Cordele. Wang and Yong are alleged to have facilitated the sale and distribution of synthetic controlled substances from China to customers around the world, including to Oliver Sr. and Young.
Online advertisement of drugs for sale; this evidence was admitted as part of the forfeiture proceedings.
Yong allegedly communicated directly with customers, negotiated the sale of the drugs and provided shipment tracking information. Wang allegedly directed the sale of fentanyl worldwide and maintained cryptocurrency wallets for payments. Yong was allegedly aware that the substances were being introduced into prison facilities.
Young placed multiple orders of fentanyl using encrypted chat applications he accessed using a contraband cellphone while in prison. Young directed Works to acquire the fentanyl and ship it to customer addresses, including addresses in the Middle District of Georgia, and both Young and Works paid for the drugs with cryptocurrency.
Oliver Jr. and other co-conspirators allegedly placed multiple orders for synthetic cannabinoids from Wang and Yong online and paid them with cryptocurrency, directing the packages to addresses in Cordele and his 4th Avenue residence, referred to as the “lab.”
After a package originating from China was intercepted by law enforcement, agents executed a search warrant at Oliver Jr.’s residence on July 22, 2024, and found more than 175 metal pans with sheets of paper; multiple jugs and bottles containing suspected cannabinoids; several measuring beakers; more than 350 dried sheets of paper soaked with cannabinoids; return address labels purporting to be from various attorneys; shipping labels addressed to inmates in jail and prison facilities around the country; cash; and ledgers indicating how many sheets had been processed. In addition, $170,000 in cryptocurrency was seized and forfeited from Wang as part of the investigation.
Interior of Oliver Jr.’s residence which allegedly served as an illegal drug conversion lab. This image shows papers being soaked in pans with synthetic cannabinoid liquid. This evidence was admitted during the criminal proceedings.
Young and Works are being held accountable for trafficking 2,610 fentanyl pills weighing 279.64 grams and 5,502.55 grams of MDMB-4en-PINACA, a new synthetic cannabinoid.
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.
FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigated the case, with assistance from the GBI and Georgia Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Two Defendants Plead Guilty in Transnational Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE –Two individuals have pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for their roles in orchestrating and executing a transnational fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly victims in the United States and Canada, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Fangzheng Wang, 25, of Westborough, MA, a Chinese national and Cynthia Jia Sun, 25, of Houston, TX, a naturalized United States citizen born in China pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Sun and Wang are both scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, Wang and Sun were part of a transnational fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in the United States and Canada.
Members of the conspiracy used pop-up messages and telephone calls falsely claiming that the victims’ financial accounts had been compromised or were at risk. The pop-up message contained information that directed victims to call a “live agent,” who informed the victims that their financial assets were at risk or could be garnished, but that they, the agent, could assist in protecting their assets.
During a series of calls, victims were connected with other persons who falsely claimed to be “representatives” of the victim’s financial institutions and/or government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Reserve Bank. Those “representatives” were, in fact, members of the conspiracy. Some victims were told to transfer their funds via wire transfers and cryptocurrency into accounts controlled by conspiracy members.
Other victims were directed to withdraw cash or purchase gold bars with withdrawn cash and provide the cash or gold bars to a purported government courier, after being told that the courier would transfer the cash or gold to a secure government location until the issue with the victims’ accounts was resolved.
Wang and Sun participated in the scheme by communicating and coordinating with co-defendants to make pickups of cash and gold from victims, traveling to the victims’ residences and picking up the cash and gold from the victims, and thereafter transporting and transferring the victims’ cash and gold to other conspiracy members.
At the time of the indictment, law enforcement had identified approximately 300 individuals in at least 37 states, including several in Rhode Island, who have been defrauded. To date, victims of the conspiracy group of which Wang and Sun were members are estimated to have suffered known losses exceeding $5 million. However, investigators have identified a bank account through which approximately $16 million in additional suspected fraud funds appear to have been laundered.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, followed by a term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Providence and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, as part of the Rhode Island Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), a multi-agency task force focused on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Twice Deported Peruvian National Previously Convicted of Narcotics and Other Offenses Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CESAR RUBEN YLLESCAS, 52, a citizen of Peru, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
As alleged in court documents, between 1995 and 2015, Yllescas was arrested, convicted, and sentenced multiple times in Connecticut Superior Court and Chicopee, Massachusetts District Court for narcotics offenses, threatening, assault, failure to appear in court, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle. In June 2016, Yllescas was deported to Peru. He subsequently reentered the U.S., was convicted in federal court of unlawful reentry and, in December 2019, was sentenced to 10 months of imprisonment. In May 2020, Yllescas was again deported to Peru.
It is further alleged that Yllescas again illegally reentered the U.S. On March 20, 2026, he was arrested by the West Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department for motor vehicle-related charges and on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court in 2015 for a violation of probation. After Yllescas was released on bond on those state charges, he was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations on March 23, 2026, in West Springfield.
Yllescas appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Yllescas faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and 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 matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
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.
Tuba City Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Wyatt Op Maloney, 24, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced on March 26, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 144 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Maloney previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
On July 14, 2023, Maloney assaulted the victim by striking and kicking him multiple times in the head and face, causing the victim to sustain fatal blunt force trauma injuries. Maloney, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim in Tuba City on the Navajo Nation. The victim was also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
The FBI Phoenix office in Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-08099-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-053_Maloney
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Texas Resident Charged with Five Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On March 30, 2026, JESSICA LACOUR (“LACOUR”), age 38, currently of Texas and formerly of the Eastern District of Louisiana, was charged with participating in multiple acts of fraudulent conduct, including generating fake evidence for a lawsuit, stealing from two COVID-19 assistance programs, creating over $200,000 in fake store receipts, and misusing persons’ identities, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. The bill of information charges LACOUR with five counts of wire fraud, with each count alleging a different fraud scheme.
As alleged in the first count, LACOUR used a fake tax return to obtain a forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loan, which was a type of assistance authorized during the COVID-19 pandemic. As alleged in the second count, LACOURused the identities of other people to obtain emergency rental assistance, which was another type of COVID-19 aid. As alleged in the third count, LACOUR created hundreds of fake Walmart receipts purporting to have been issued by at least 10 stores totaling at least $228,114. It is alleged that the receipts were used by an accomplice to steal merchandise, which was then sold. As alleged in the fourth count, LACOUR helped generate false evidence for a lawsuit filed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court. As alleged in the fifth count, LACOUR misused people’s identities to open accounts, such as utility and financial accounts. As part of that scheme, LACOUR allegedly used her job at a French Quarter hotel to take pictures of a hotel guest’s driver’s license and credit card, which she then sent to an accomplice.
Each of the five wire fraud charges is punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment, which may be followed by up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. 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.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Teleworkaholic pleads guilty to claiming to work multiple government jobs at onceRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A King George woman pled guilty today to wire fraud for submitting timecards for the same hours at multiple government jobs.
According to court documents, from May 2022 through at least in or around April 2025, Nehemie Almonor, 41, electronically submitted timecards certifying that she had performed full-time work during overlapping hours for multiple entities, including a private company, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Almonor commonly submitted timecards for full-time work at three positions simultaneously, attesting to having worked 120 hours or more in single 40-hour periods.
Almonor, a human resources specialist, would commonly keep at least three work laptops open next to each other to falsely represent to her employers that she was online and working full-time solely for each of them. Over the course of being employed by at least three full-time positions simultaneously, TSA received multiple complaints that Almonor was commonly unreachable during the hours she was certifying on her timecards. While employed in various full-time telework positions at once, Almonor applied to other government agencies claiming to be unemployed and therefore available to start immediately. Almonor also claimed full-time work while on military orders with the U.S Air Force at the same time she claimed full-time work for three other entities.
Almonor collectively defrauded her employers of at least $291,905.
Almonor is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Transportation Security Administration, Office of Law Enforcement/Investigations investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Drucker is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-45.
Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shaylyn Holmes, age 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Homes with knowingly possessing one semi-automatic pistol and nine rounds of assorted ammunition on January 30, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Holmes will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Spring resident sent to prison for over 13 years after distributing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 41-year-old area man has been ordered to federal prison for multiple child pornography convictions, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Joshua Jerome Finney pleaded guilty Jan. 5.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now imposed a total 160-month-term of imprisonment – 160, 160 and 120 months for the respective counts of distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography to be served concurrently. At the hearing, the court heard and considered additional evidence regarding the lifelong damage Finney caused to the minor victims and how he encouraged further abuse for his pleasure.
Finney was further ordered to pay restitution and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completing of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to the internet.
In December 2023, authorities discovered child sexual abuse material on a dark web forum.
The investigation eventually led to Finney who had been communicating with others. In some of the text messages, Finney discussed having sex with minors and received several CSAM images and videos.
A search warrant at Finney’s residence resulted in the seizure of his cell phone. Forensic examination ultimately uncovered 178 images and 260 videos depicting CSAM. The material depicted children under the age of 12, sadistic or masochistic conduct, bestiality and acts of violence such as the penetration of the minors.
Communication on that device also showed he was receiving and distributing child pornography with other individuals through his Telegram account.
Finney has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI - Houston conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Valenti and Kimberly Leo are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Southern Indiana Tax Preparers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Multi Million Dollar Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- Two tax preparers have been sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a multi-year tax fraud scheme that generated millions in fraudulent refunds. Both defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false and fraudulent tax return, and filing false tax returns.
Angel De La Rosa, 41, of Jasper, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $15,005,149.83 in restitution.
Yaimy Real, 34, of Louisville, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $ 15,019,543.84 in restitution.
According to court documents and information presented in court, De La Rosa and Real operated a tax return preparation business, “De La Rosa Multiservices,” in both Jasper, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky. From January 2018 through July 2021, they prepared approximately 5,892 fraudulent federal tax returns for tax years 2017 through 2020. Their conduct caused an estimated $10,577,612 in tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service.
A central component of the scheme involved filing returns that falsely claimed the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). The pair routinely submitted Form 8863 (Education Credits) asserting that taxpayers were enrolled at one of two institutions: Sacerdotes Del Sagrado Corazon, located in Louisville; or YMR Language Services LLC, located in Jasper. Neither entity qualified as an eligible educational institution under federal law. By fabricating tuition and education‑related expenses, the defendants generated inflated refunds for clients who were not entitled to receive them.
When the IRS began scrutinizing their clients’ returns, the defendants attempted to conceal their fraud by creating and submitting false records. These fabricated documents included enrollment verification letters and receipts designed to make it appear that their clients qualified for the AOTC.
De La Rosa and Real also prepared returns that falsely claimed self-employment losses on Schedule C and inflated itemized deductions on Schedule A.
When preparing returns for their clients, the defendants acted as ‘ghost’ return preparers. Federal law requires paid tax return preparers to sign the returns they prepare and include a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number. De La Rosa and Real failed to identify themselves as the preparers, which allowed the returns to be filed without disclosing their involvement.
Through the scheme, the defendants collected approximately $736,500 in fees from their clients.
De La Rosa also filed false personal tax returns for tax years 2017 through 2020, causing a tax loss of approximately $6,374. Real filed false personal returns for tax years 2017 and 2018, resulting in a tax loss of approximately $4,000.
“Due to the defendants’ deceit, the United States lost over ten million dollars in unjustified refunds. The defendants compounded their fraud by creating and submitting false records during the IRS’ investigation,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Preparing or filing false tax returns is a serious crime that deprives the government of vital revenue for public services, and today’s sentence sends a clear warning to anyone considering such fraudulent conduct.”
“Angel De La Rosa and Yaimy Real hid in the shadows as ghost preparers, filing fraudulent returns to line their pockets while leaving honest taxpayers to pick up the tab,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “IRS-CI special agents followed the money, unraveled the fraud, and brought it into the light. We will continue using our forensic accounting expertise to track down and hold accountable any preparer who thinks they can cheat the tax code without consequences.”
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.
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Restaurateur Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Insurance Fraud Scheme and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the arrest of ZHAN PETROSYANTS, a/k/a “Johnny,” in connection with the unsealing of an Indictment charging PETROSYANTS with operating an extensive no-fault insurance fraud scheme that submitted tens of millions in fraudulent medical claims and laundering the proceeds. PETROSYANTS was taken into federal custody last night and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Ona T. Wang in Manhattan Federal Court. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.
“As alleged in the indictment, Zhan Petrosyants orchestrated a complex scheme to cheat insurance providers out of millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “No-fault insurance fraud schemes raise costs for everyone and reduce benefits to consumers, an unnecessary burden we all unfortunately share. Today’s arrest demonstrates this Office’s continuing commitment to rooting out this pernicious type of fraud that imposes costs on all New Yorkers.”
“Zhan Petrosyants allegedly stole money by submitting fabricated medical claims to receive millions of dollars in unauthorized payments,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI remains dedicated to dismantling fraudulent schemes that exploit benefits at the expense of New Yorkers.”
According to allegations in the Indictment and other publicly filed information in this case:[1]
Under New York State Law, every vehicle registered in New York State is required to have no-fault automobile insurance, which enables the driver and passengers of a registered and insured vehicle to obtain benefits of up to $50,000 per person for injuries sustained in an automobile accident, regardless of fault (the “No-Fault Law”). The No-Fault Law requires prompt payment for medical treatment, thereby obviating the need for claimants to file personal injury lawsuits in order to be reimbursed. Under the No-Fault Law, patients can assign their right to reimbursement from an insurance company to others, including medical clinics that provide treatment for their injuries. New York State law also requires that all medical clinics in the State be incorporated, owned, operated, and/or controlled by a licensed medical practitioner in order to be eligible for reimbursement under the No-Fault Law. Insurance companies will not honor claims for medical treatments from a medical clinic that is not actually owned, operated, and controlled by a licensed medical practitioner.
PETROSYANTS and his co-conspirators defrauded automobile insurance programs designed to provide health care benefits for motor vehicle accident victims out of millions of dollars. PETROSYANTS and his co-conspirators agreed to and did submit fraudulent claims to the insurance programs for services that were never provided, services that were unnecessary and excessive, and services that were billed under the names of medical corporations that were not actually owned, operated, and controlled by licensed medical professionals, as required by New York State laws and regulations. If insurance companies had known that the nominee medical corporations were actually owned and controlled by non-medical professionals, the insurance companies would have denied payment for claims submitted by the nominee medical corporations.
To carry out the scheme, PETROSYANTS and his co-conspirators recruited purported physicians, psychologists, and other clinicians under whose names the fraudulent no-fault insurance claims were submitted, and prepared fraudulent no-fault insurance claims to obtain benefits from the automobile insurance companies. When preparing these fraudulent bills, the conspirators frequently used the license information and signatures of licensed psychologists and medical professionals on fraudulent billing records submitted to insurance companies.
In furtherance of the scheme, PETROSYANTS and his co-conspirators obtained advance payments based on the fraudulent claim amounts through financing agreements with funding companies. In particular, PETROSYANTS arranged for his-conspirators to use the services of a funding company (“Funding Company-1”) affiliated with a law firm, which provided quick access to criminal proceeds through advances paid by the funding company and provided a veneer of legitimacy to the scheme. In exchange for securing financing from Funding Company-1, PETROSYANTS received a referral fee from Funding Company-1 as well as kickback payments from his co-conspirators representing a portion of the advances paid by Funding Company-1 to the scheme participants. Some of the kickback payments were paid to PETROSYANTS using blank, pre-signed checks drawn on accounts nominally controlled by certain of the No-Fault Providers, which were filled out by co-conspirators in PETROSYANTS’s presence.
Further, PETROSYANTS caused Funding Company-1 to pay millions in advances on no-fault medical claims to two shell corporations. Neither shell company was a provider of medical services and the bank accounts in their names that received Funding Company-1’s advances were not controlled by a medical professional. Substantially all of the money that these shell companies received from Funding Company-1 was then transferred to a bank account nominally held by a jewelry business based in the Diamond District of midtown Manhattan.
As a result of their fraudulent scheme, PETROSYANTS and his co-conspirators caused insurance providers to be billed tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent no-fault medical claims.
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ZHAN PETROSYANTS, 44, of Edgewater, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cecilia Vogel, Christopher Brumwell, and Eli J. Mark are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Registered sex offender arrested on multiple new child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Peterson, 42, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography by a person with a prior child pornography conviction, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A.C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in June 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip from the messaging app Kik that two files of suspected child pornography were uploaded between June 14 and June 16, 2025. The files were uploaded with the username “hardinny41_mkc” and were shared with other Kik users. On July 05, 2025, NCMEC received another CyberTip from Kik that a file of suspected child pornography was uploaded on June 28, 2025 by someone with the username, hardinny4_mf7” and had also been shared with other Kik users. Subsequent investigation traced the uploaded files to Peterson. On December 3, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant on Peterson’s person, seizing his cell phone. A forensic analysis identified approximately nine image files and five video files of suspected child sexual abuse material. Some of the images included infants, toddlers, and prepubescent children.
Peterson is a level 1 sex offender following a 2010 misdemeanor conviction in Carroll Town Court for Attempted Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16 Year of Age. He was subsequently convicted in 2023 in Chautauqua County Court of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16 Years of Age and Criminal Possession of a Firearm.
Peterson made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on April 2, 2026.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.
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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Providence Man Charged After Attempting to Obtain Fentanyl Shipped from CaliforniaRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment charging the Kelvin German Luperon De Jesus with attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Luperon De Jesus, 32, is charged with one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He was arrested in October 2025. An arraignment date in federal court on the indictment is not yet scheduled.
According to court documents, on October 14, 2025, Luperon De Jesus attempted to obtain a package that was shipped from California to Rhode Island and contained fentanyl. The package was flagged as being suspicious and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents tested the contents and determined that the package contained approximately one kilogram of fentanyl.
Two days later, the defendant was arrested by DEA agents as part of an undercover investigation.
If convicted, the charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years of imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman.
The matter was investigated by the DEA.
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Man Indicted for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tahid Green, age 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on March 3, 2026, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Green distributed more than 40 grams of fentanyl; and that on March 25, 2026, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Green possessed with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson is the assigned prosecutor.
The maximum penalty under federal law for each of these offenses is forty years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Philadelphia Man Convicted at Trial of Unlawful Possession of a Gun and Ammunition by a FelonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Arthur Thompson, 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted late yesterday afternoon at trial of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
As detailed in court filings and proven at trial, on December 20, 2022, two Philadelphia police officers saw the defendant commit a traffic violation and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Thompson stopped his car, got out, tossed a loaded firearm, and ran away from the officers. After a brief foot chase, the defendant was detained and later charged locally with firearms violations.
Thompson was federally indicted in January of last year and then charged by superseding indictment in December. He had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and was not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8 and faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Gun Violence Task Force, and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Special Assistant United States Attorney Tracie J. Gaydos.
Peoria Tax Preparer Indicted for Preparing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On March 17, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a tax preparer in Peoria, Arizona, with 17 counts of tax evasion.
Butoyi Mechack, 38, of Peoria, is charged with three counts of Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return and 14 counts of Willfully Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False or Fraudulent Tax Returns.
According to the indictment, from 2019 to 2023, Mechack prepared and assisted in the preparation of numerous false and fraudulent tax returns on behalf of clients of his business, PTPS Tax Services, LLC. In helping prepare these returns, Mechack overstated and misrepresented tax credits, deductions, income, and expenses to fraudulently reduce the taxpayers’ tax liability and claim refund amounts to which they were not entitled. Mechack also filed individual tax returns for himself for tax years 2021, 2022, and 2023, that substantially underreported his income.
Mechack’s arraignment was held on March 26, where he pleaded not guilty to charges and was released on conditions.
A conviction for Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. A conviction for Willfully Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False or Fraudulent Tax Returns carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Rapp, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
As we head into the final weeks of tax season, IRS Criminal Investigation wants to remind the public to protect themselves when choosing a tax preparer. Keep these tips in mind:
- Be wary of tax return preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than others can.
- Avoid tax return preparers who base their fees on a percentage of the refund or who offer to deposit all or part of your refund into their financial accounts.
- Ensure you use a preparer with a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Paid tax return preparers must have a PTIN to prepare all or substantially all of a tax return.
- Use a reputable tax professional who enters his or her PTIN on the tax return, signs the tax return, and provides you a copy of the return (as required).
- Consider whether the individual or firm will be around for months or years after filing the return to answer questions about the preparation of the tax return.
- Never sign a blank tax form.
- Good preparers will ask to see your records and receipts. They’ll also ask questions to determine your total income, tax deductions and credits.
- Check the preparer’s history. Taxpayers can ask the local Better Business Bureau about the preparer.
- Check the preparer’s credentials. Only attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS in all matters, including audits, collections, and appeals. Other tax return preparers who participate in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program have limited practice rights to represent taxpayers for audits of returns they prepared and signed. See Annual Filing Season Program for more information.
CASE NUMBER: CR-26-00247-PHX-KML (JZB)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-054_Mechack
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Pensacola Man Sentenced for Illegal Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Isaiah Markeis Sims, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 27 months’ in federal prison following his previous guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The term of imprisonment will be followed by three years on federal supervised release. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines of the fight against dangerous criminals in our communities, and my office stands ready to back them up with successful prosecutions like this one to keep our streets safe. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward eliminating the threats to our communities posed by dangerous criminals, and my office is committed to ensuring we are successful in that effort.”
Court documents reflect that in August 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which the defendant was a passenger. After detecting the odor of marijuana in the vehicle, law enforcement asked the occupants to step out of the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle, the defendant fled on foot and deputies gave chase, catching him when he later fell to the ground. After detaining him, deputies found a loaded Glock handgun that the defendant had dropped next to him on the ground. The defendant is a convicted felon.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Keisand Santiago-Maldonado, 33 years old, of Milton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after a jury convicted him of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Santiago-Maldonado was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Santiago-Maldonado was driving a rental car on the interstate in LaPorte County. Law enforcement observed Santiago-Maldonado commit traffic infractions and performed a traffic stop. During the stop, officers found 997 grams of cocaine underneath the passenger’s seat.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office, and Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius, Hannah T Jones, and Appellate Chief Joseph P. Falvey.
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Creating and Distributing Animal Crush VideosRead the Press Release
Joseph Garrett Buckland, of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to create and distribute “animal crush” videos. Buckland was charged on Feb. 26 with violating the federal Animal Crushing statute.
According to court documents and statements made in court during a change of plea hearing, Buckland was a member of several online chat groups and private payment groups dedicated to the creation, distribution, and discussion of sexual and violent videos depicting monkeys being tortured, including baby and adult monkeys having their limbs broken and genitals mutilated. Buckland personally collected money to create and distribute obscene torture videos.
“Today’s plea should serve as a warning: animal crush videos are illegal, and we will prosecute individuals engaged in this sadistic behavior,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Investigating and prosecuting cases like this is not easy, and we commend all who worked to bring this perpetrator to justice.”
“Producing and trafficking in animal crush videos is a serious federal crime,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “Intentionally inflicting harm and torture on innocent animals not only feeds a broader market of criminal depravity, it also often is linked to, or leads to, additional dangerous and violent conduct that further erodes society and public safety. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute all crimes involving violations of federal law relating to horrific acts of cruelty to animals.”
“Buckland’s decisions, actions, and financial investments directly contributed to the brutal torture of defenseless animals,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans. “Thanks to the diligent investigative efforts of our special agents, in collaboration with the FBI, he has now admitted his role and will face justice in federal court. HSI will continue to investigate these heinous crimes and work with our law enforcement partners, domestically and abroad, to identify, pursue, and hold offenders accountable.”
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 29. Buckland faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to create and/or distribute animal crush videos. A U.S. District Court judge will determine sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
HSI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Locher for the Western District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case.
Panama City Beach Meth Dealer Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Jerry Thomas McCarigie, 49, of Panama City Beach, was sentenced to over six years in federal prison after a jury previously found him guilty of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Eliminating the scourge of methamphetamine in our communities requires close collaboration between our state and federal law enforcement partners and aggressive prosecutions to send the peddlers of this deadly poison to prison. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward dismantling and eradicating drug trafficking networks that have invaded our communities, and my office will continue to deliver successful prosecutions like this one to deliver on the promise that our citizens deserve safe, drug-free streets.”
Evidence and testimony admitted at trial established that on November 15, 2023, the Bay County Sheriff's Office’s Special Investigations Division conducted a drug trafficking investigation at a motel located in Panama City Beach. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s motel room. During the execution of the warrant, the defendant was detained and law enforcement located fentanyl, multiple baggies containing more than 48 grams of methamphetamine, and a digital scale in the defendant’s pockets.
“We continue to have success targeting criminals in the Panhandle region,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Drug Enforcement Administration Tampa Field Division. “We will not rest until they are brought to justice.”
After serving his term of imprisonment, McCarigie will have to serve 4 years on supervised release.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Norfolk man convicted at trial for his role in a cocaine and heroin trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal judge convicted Brehon Kanell Davis, 44, of Norfolk, today on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin. Davis was further convicted on two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least April 2021 to December 2023, Davis’ co-conspirators procured cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and parafluorofentanyl from out-of-state sources and had it shipped in wholesale quantities to Virginia. Davis and others then received the drugs for further distribution in Norfolk. Davis and his fellow distributors used internet payment services, such as Cash App, to pay for the narcotics.
Davis faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on July 28. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Norfolk Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Cournoyer are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Marek and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Graham Stolle and Marc W. West assisted in the prosecution.
This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-53.