Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
31 March 2026
Great Falls man sentenced to over 3 years in prison for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Great Falls man who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced today to 43 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Nicholas Charles Williams, 46, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that between 2021 and March 2025, law enforcement officers investigated a group of individuals suspected of distributing methamphetamine in and around Great Falls. Williams was one of the members of the group. As part of the investigation into Williams, officers conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from him utilizing a confidential informant. On each occasion, the drugs were sent to the DEA Laboratory for testing, which confirmed each of the substances acquired from Williams was methamphetamine.
On July 9, 2024, officers interviewed Williams and he admitted to selling methamphetamine between 2021 and late June 2024.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Montana comprises agents and officers from a number of federal agencies as well as drug task forces throughout the state, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Jeff Starnes prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force and DEA conducted the investigation as part of the HSTF.
XXX
Georgia Man Guilty of Misprision of a FelonyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ELDER CAMACHO (“CAMACHO”), age 36, a resident of Georgia, pled guilty on March 25, 2026, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to misprision of a felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 4, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, on May 25, 2022, CAMACHO, drove a codefendant from Atlanta, Georgia to New Orleans, in order to launder bulk cash drug proceeds from the Eastern District of Louisiana to Texas. CAMACHO also assisted in purchasing packaging materials to conceal the bulk cash.
CAMACHO faces up to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office, and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.
* * *
Georgia Man Charged with Christmas Eve KidnappingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Georgia man was charged with kidnapping his former girlfriend on or about December 24, 2025 and transporting her to New Jersey without her consent after shooting her in his car, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
Jovan Young, 37, was charged by a two-count complaint with one count of kidnapping and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. He had an initial appearance earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark, III in Newark federal court and was ordered detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On or about the evening of December 24, 2025, Young and the victim, who had been traveling from Georgia to New York to celebrate Christmas with the victim’s family, engaged in a dispute while they were driving in Young’s car in New York. At that time, Young pulled out a gun and shot the victim in her abdomen, paralyzing her. Young then transported the victim from New York to New Jersey without her consent and trapped her in Young’s vehicle for several hours after the shooting before leaving her on the side of the road in or around Denville, New Jersey, where she was later found by law enforcement. Following Young’s arrest on December 25, 2025, he was found to be in possession of a firearm with a green laser that matched the victim’s description of the gun that he used to shoot her.
The kidnapping charged in Count One is punishable by a maximum penalty of life in prison. The unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition charged in Count Two is punishable by a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Both are also punishable by a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss or gain, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s North Jersey Violent Crimes Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, and the Denville Police Department Detective Bureau, under the direction of Chief Scott Welsch, with the investigation leading to the charge. He also thanked the Boonton Police Department for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Guarracino of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
###
young.complaint.pdfFormer congressional staffer pleads guilty to using access to Congressperson’s bank account to pay her own credit card billsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria woman pled guilty today to wire fraud after misusing the financial information of her former employer, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
According to court documents, Courtney Melissa Hruska, 40, was employed on the member’s staff from August 2015 to January 2022. To fulfill part of Hruska’s official duties and responsibilities, the member entrusted Hruska with the member’s personal credit card and bank account information. On Jan. 30, 2022, Hruska left the office for a new position with a federal agency.
Without authorization, Hruska retained the member’s personal credit card and bank account information. Between Aug. 19, 2023, and July 30, 2024, Hruska used the member’s bank account information to make payments towards the balance of Hruska’s own personal credit card bills on 10 separate occasions. The member did not use electronic banking and did not receive immediate alerts from the bank. Because more than a year had lapsed between Hruska’s first fraudulent transaction and the member’s discovery of the theft, the member recovered less than nine percent of the stolen funds in fraud compensation.
In total, Hruska caused a loss to the Representative of at least $22,865.07.
Hruska is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General 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-57.
Former Secretary of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Take Illegal Kickbacks to Award Government ContractsRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE– On March 31, 2026, former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (“LDWF”) Jack Montoucet pled guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States by corruptly soliciting and accepting kickbacks in return for being influenced in awarding state contracts and committing wire fraud. Montoucet faces up to five years in federal prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
“The citizens of Louisiana deserve and demand honesty and integrity from those entrusted with public office, including when they contract for services on behalf of our Louisiana communities,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Officeholders like Mr. Montoucet who abuse that trust undermine confidence in government and the public contracting process, and our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute these abuses and see that offenders face justice.”
"Mr. Montoucet helped a co-conspirator get a lucrative state contract to provide online courses for kickbacks," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "Thankfully, there are still good people out there who reached out to the FBI and local law enforcement to report this illegal activity. The FBI and our partners will continue to ensure public officials honor the public’s trust."
“Public officials are entrusted with serving the people – not enriching themselves. Today’s guilty plea makes clear that the defendant abused that trust by engaging in a scheme to manipulate the contract process and steer contracts for personal gain,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office Special Agent in Charge Demetrius D. Hardeman. “We will continue to work in concert with our partner organizations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold accountable those who exploit their official positions for personal profit.”
According to court documents, Montoucet agreed, while Secretary of the LDWF, to steer a LDWF contract to a company called DGL1, LLC, in exchange for one-third of the profit that would result from the contract, with the other two-thirds divided between Montoucet’s two conspirators, Dusty Guidry and Leonard Franques. On January 27, 2021, Montoucet caused LDWF to award a no-bid contract to DGL1 to provide online hunter and boater education courses. Then, when the Louisiana Department of Administration, Office of Special Procurement raised concerns about the no-bid contract, the LDWF put out a public bid for the contract that Montoucet influenced for DGL1 to win. Then, on October 8, 2021, Montoucet acted on behalf of LDWF as Secretary to sign a contract with DGL1 to provide the hunter and boater classes, knowing he was to receive bribery kickbacks from the contract. A month later, Montoucet met with Franques and Guidry to discuss how to conceal and disguise the source, ownership, and payout of these kickbacks, with the parties agreeing that Franques would hold Montoucet’s portion until after he’d departed LDWF and then pay it to him as a “signing bonus” to Montoucet for consulting work.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Myers P. Namie, Lauren L. Nickel, and LaDonte A. Murphy, along with Trial Attorney Alex Dempsey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice and with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
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 25-cr-00134.
###
Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Former Boston Housing Secretary Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Overtime FormsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former executive secretary at the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to falsifying overtime forms. The defendant lied about working overtime and forged her supervisor’s signature on the overtime forms.
Helen Murray, 41, of Malden, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 7, 2026.
From 2017 to 2024, Murray worked as an executive secretary at BHA. As an executive secretary, Murray was responsible for collecting weekly BHA timesheets, as well as overtime forms from other BHA employees. Murray was also eligible to work overtime and receive overtime pay.
To collect overtime, Murray’s overtime work had to be pre-approved by her senior management. Specifically, Murray would have to perform the overtime work, accurately and truthfully fill out an overtime form and submit it to her immediate supervisor via email to be approved electronically.
However, in January 2023, Murray began submitting false overtime forms to BHA payroll. Instead of submitting the forms to her supervisor for approval, Murray entered overtime hours that Murray had not worked and then falsified her supervisor’s signature on the form, without her supervisor’s knowledge nor permission. Murray would then submit the falsified overtime forms directly to BHA Payroll via email, after which BHA payroll would include Murray’s fraudulent overtime pay in her weekly paycheck.
In total, Murray submitted over 100 falsified overtime forms between January 2023 to August 2024 – ultimately collecting approximately $72,131 in fraudulent overtime pay.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. The Boston Housing Authority provided valuable assistance during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, is prosecuting the case.
Former Board Chairman and Executive Director of Healthcare Non-Profit Indicted for Embezzlement, Bribery, and Kickback SchemesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Jean Ronald Tirelus and Roberto Samedy for embezzling more than $1.3 million from a Brooklyn-based non-profit organization that provided home care services and operated homeless shelters in New York City. Tirelus was the former chairman of the organization’s board of directors, and Samedy was the executive director of the organization. In addition, the indictment charged Tirelus, Samedy, Edouardo St. Fort and Miguel Jorge for their roles in a related scheme in which Tirelus and Samedy steered business to companies controlled by St. Fort and Jorge in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. Tirelus and Samedy were each charged with wire fraud, embezzlement, and bribery-related offenses, and conspiracy to commit the same, as well as money laundering conspiracy. St. Fort and Jorge were charged with federal program bribery and related charges. Tirelus, Samedy and Jorge are being arraigned this afternoon before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. St. Fort was arrested in Boston, Massachusetts and will be arraigned in Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher Ryan, Acting Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI); and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the arrests and indictment.
“As alleged, the defendants used their leadership positions to loot public funds from an organization devoted to serving vulnerable New Yorkers,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Rooting out corruption is a priority for our Office, and we will hold accountable anyone who exploits charitable trust for private gain.”
“As charged, these defendants devised a scheme that siphoned more than $1.3 million from a publicly-funded nonprofit that provided home health care services and received City homeless shelter contracts. Two of the defendants were leaders at the nonprofit who capitalized on the City’s urgent need for homeless shelter providers by allegedly steering business to favored vendors in exchange for bribes and kickbacks, according to the indictment. Those who exploit the City’s need for homeless shelters endanger the very programs meant to help unhoused people. I thank the City Department of Social Services for originally referring issues related to this nonprofit to DOI; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Easten District of New York and the FBI for their partnership on this investigation and their commitment to protect precious tax dollars,” stated Acting DOI Commissioner Ryan.
"Jean Tirelus and Roberto Samedy allegedly stole more than $1.3 million from their nonprofit through fabricated investment opportunities, while separately steering contracts to other co-defendants. Tirelus and Samedy allegedly abused their executive positions to selfishly enrich themselves at the expense of vulnerable citizens and taxpayer dollars. The FBI is committed to protecting charitable organizations and public funds from illicit corruption and greed," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As set forth in court filings, the charges arise from an investigation of a Brooklyn-based nonprofit organization that provided home care services to elderly New Yorkers and individuals with acute medical needs and also operated homeless shelters (the Public Interest Organization, which operated two charitable entities known as Nonprofit #1 and Nonprofit #2). The Public Interest Organization received millions of dollars in Medicaid payments and has been awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in funding from New York City.
As a result of their leadership positions at the Public Interest Organization, Tirelus and Samedy exercised significant control over its operations and finances. Between August 2020 and January 2024, Tirelus and Samedy exploited their positions, stealing more than $1.3 million from the Public Interest Organization through several forms of embezzlement and fraud. For example, in May 2023, Tirelus and Samedy fraudulently induced the board of directors to authorize an $800,000 payment that went to a shell company controlled by Tirelus. Tirelus and Samedy falsely advised the board of directors that the Public Interest Organization had been approached by a bank regarding a joint venture to invest in affordable housing. After the board approved a proposal authorizing the Public Interest Organization to invest, Tirelus and Samedy caused Nonprofit #1 to wire $800,000 to a bank account controlled by Tirelus, who diverted the funds to the benefit of himself and Samedy.
Separately, St. Fort and Jorge controlled several vendor companies that provided private security services, facilities maintenance, and furniture to homeless shelters operated by the Public Interest Organization. Between February 2023 and January 2024, Tirelus and Samedy steered millions of dollars of the Public Interest Organization’s business towards the companies controlled by St. Fort and Jorge in return for bribes and kickbacks.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Tirelus and Samedy each face up to 20 years in prison, and St. Fort and Jorge face each face up to 10 years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Public Integrity Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Zuckerwise and Andrew Wang are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Daniel Arakawa.
The Defendants:
RONALD JEAN TIRELUS
Age: 50
Brooklyn, New YorkROBERTO SAMEDY
Age: 50
Brooklyn, New YorkEDOUARDO ST. FORT
Age: 47
Taunton, MassachusettsMIGUEL JORGE
Age: 52
College Point, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-69 (RER)
Five Recent Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) Cases Disrupt Significant Drug Trafficking Operations by Illegal Aliens and Others Across Louisiana’s Western DistrictRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, LA – Today, United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller, together with federal partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced five significant HSTF drug trafficking cases charged by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana (“USAO”) that it charged between mid-February and mid-March and that involved the arrest of illegal aliens and local gang members who were trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the District.
“The five HSTF cases we’re announcing today, which involve over a dozen defendants and hundreds of kilograms of hard drugs, show how our federal and state partners are disrupting major drug trafficking operations that impact every corner of this District,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Our Office is laser-focused on HSTF’s mission to stamp out every foothold that transnational criminal organizations like the Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel and Gulf Cartel make in peddling poisons like fentanyl and methamphetamine in our communities. And for traffickers still operating in our Louisiana communities, the message here is simple: we’re doing everything we can to come for you, and when we do you’re going to be facing charges that can land you in prison for decades.”
“The Homeland Security Task Forces led by FBI and HSI integrate federal, state, and local law enforcement to focus targeted investigations on Foreign Terrorist Organization-designated drug cartels and transnational gangs," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "This criminal organization led by Mr. Baker tried to flood our streets with illegal drugs and poison our people. However, the HSTF is effectively rooting these groups out of Louisiana.”
“Whether it is concealed in ice cream machines or hidden in the cab of an 18-wheeler, the DEA and our partners are seeing right through the deceptive tactics of these criminal organizations,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer. “Removing nearly 550 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine from the supply chain in just two stops is a massive victory for public safety. We remain relentless in our mission to dismantle these networks and protect our communities from the violence and addiction these traffickers bring to our doorstep.”
“Investigations like this one show the power of true partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright, Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans. “Working with the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Task Force and the DEA, HSI helped take 15 kilograms of cocaine off the streets and ensure the defendants in this case will face justice. Whether narcotics are crossing our borders or transiting through the United States, HSI will continue to use the HSTF model and our vital partnerships to follow the evidence, dismantle cartel-driven networks, and protect our communities from the violence and devastation caused by illegal drugs.”
The following five cases build upon HSTF’s cases in the Vernon Parish and Natchitoches areas that the USAO has prosecuted recently:
In the Shreveport area, the matter United States v. Willie Baker et al., No. 25-cr-00296, involves 10 defendants trafficking kilogram quantities of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and methamphetamine from transnational criminal organizations through Houston and ultimately to Shreveport. This case charges that one death resulted from the fentanyl trafficking and that two of the defendants, including Willie Lee Baker, have prior drug trafficking convictions that expose them to higher mandatory minimum and maximum penalties. If convicted, the defendants face sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. The case is being investigated by FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Shreveport Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica D. Cassidy and Sam Crichton with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon.
The following images depict some of the narcotics and guns involved in this case:
In Breaux Bridge area, the matter United States v. Ranulfo Garcia Rodriguez and Christian Antonio Sanchez Ramirez, No. 26-cr-00070, involves two Mexican nationals towing several ice cream freezers concealing several fabricated metal boxes, which were welded to the back wall of the insulated freezer compartment. Inside of the metal boxes, agents located approximately 147 kilograms of methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendants face sentences that range from 10 years to life in federal prison. The matter is being investigated by the DEA and Louisiana State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Vermaelen with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
The following images depict the ice cream machine and the methamphetamine it was concealing:
In the Lafayette area, the matter United States v. Lance Fields and Ronald Adams, Jr., No. 26-cr-00102, involves an 18-wheeler found to be trafficking approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine, concealed in a hidden compartment inside of the cab of the 18-wheeler. If convicted, the defendants face sentences that range from 10 years to life in federal prison. The matter is being investigated by the DEA and Louisiana State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Vermaelen with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
The following are a few images of the cocaine recovered in this investigation:
In the Lake Charles area, the matter United States v. Juan Francisco Gonzalez de Leon et al., No. 26-cr-00106, involves two Mexican nationals conspiring with another person to traffic approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine on behalf of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). The three were stopped by members of the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Taskforce (“CAT”) and arrested in February and then indicted in March. The matter is being investigated by HSI and CAT and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte Murphy with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
The following is an image of the cocaine recovered in this investigation:
In the Alexandria area, the matter United States v. Elijah Jones, No. 26-cr-00074, involves the trafficking of approximately 6.2 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 1 kilogram of oxycodone pills, as well as approximately $34,000 in cash, that were concealed in a storage unit in Alexandria. The matter is being investigated by FBI and the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement group at the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Vermaelen with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
The following is an image of the narcotics and cash recovered in this investigation:
These cases reflect the USAO’s ongoing priority to vigorously enforce federal laws designed to protect law enforcement officers, our judicial process, and those who serve the administration of justice. Federal law provides significant penalties for threats, assaults, and obstruction of officers and court personnel, and those who violate these statutes will be held accountable.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 15 (New Orleans) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.
Indictments are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
CONTACT
Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Five Accused of Stealing $511,000 from Missouri Childcare Expansion ProgramRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Five people have been indicted and accused of stealing $511,692 from a Missouri childcare expansion program and using some of the money for kickbacks, travel and luxury goods.
LaDonna P. Smith, 43, pleaded not guilty Monday to five counts of wire fraud and two counts of identity theft. Dennis L. Douglas, 40, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to five counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Deaun A. Flowers, 61, Princess T. Jones, 47, and Toi P. Jones, 65, were each indicted with one count wire fraud and one count of theft of government property. All three appeared in court last week.
The March 18, 2026, indictment says that between August 2021 and February 2023, the five took advantage of a Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education program to award Child-Care Relief Funds for the opening of new childcare facilities or the expansion of existing facilities. The CCRF funds came from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRSSA).
The indictment says Smith submitted fraudulent CCRF applications on behalf of “Little Precious Angels Childcare 2” that resulted in a total of $100,000 in payments and another application on behalf of “Little Precious Angels Childcare 3” that resulted in $127,066. Douglas fraudulently received $79,927 on behalf of “Above and Beyond Playmate Center,” the indictment says.
Smith, Flowers and Toi Jones submitted a fraudulent application on behalf of “Totta Tots Daycare” that resulted in $129,699, the indictment says, $30,000 of which went towards a kickback for Smith. After DESE demanded repayment of $100,000 for failing to spend the funds on allowable expenses within four months, Flowers wrote Toi Jones a check for $15,000 and wrote herself a $11,000 check, the indictment says. Douglas and Princess Jones fraudulently obtained about $75,000 on behalf of “Childhood Memories Daycare and Learning Center,” $20,000 of which was paid as a kickback to Douglas, the indictment says.
The defendants submitted fraudulent receipts and documentation showing that they had paid for furniture, equipment, materials, salaries and benefits, lease or rent payments, supplies and/or remodeling for a daycare, to verify that the requested CCRF money had been spent on allowable expenses related to opening or expanding a childcare facility, the indictment says. In some cases, the receipts, invoices or lease agreements were false. In others, the documents had been altered to make purchases occurring outside allowable dates eligible for reimbursement.
Smith and another person also attempted to fraudulently obtain $125,000 on behalf of “Bright Star Academy,” the indictment says.
“We take allegations of fraud involving programs meant to help Missouri’s children and families very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “We’d like anyone with concerns about public benefit programs to contact investigators so that we can ensure the integrity of these programs.”
“The federal relief funds at the center of this case are intended to support families and strengthen childcare services across Missouri, and any attempt to divert such resources through fraud is taken seriously,” said Linda T. Hanley, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer-funded programs and pursue accountability whenever federal funds are put at risk.”
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Final defendants convicted at trial in south Georgia drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, Georgia: The final two of 35 defendants in a south Georgia drug trafficking operation have been convicted after a four-day trial in federal court.
Marquan Jenkins, aka “Anna Brooke,” aka “Mary Thompson,” 31, and Christopher Hawkins, aka “Rayshon Hawkins,” 30, of Douglas, Georgia, were convicted in a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Waycross, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Jenkins was convicted on a charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, and one count of Distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life. Hawkins was convicted on a charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, 11 counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to two life sentences. There is no parole in the federal system.
“These drug traffickers operated inside and outside Georgia’s prison system, distributing dangerous, illegal drugs throughout communities in rural Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These guilty verdicts confirm our commitment to the relentless pursuit of drug traffickers, whether they are in big cities or small towns, and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Jenkins and Hawkins were the remaining defendants in USA v. Brinson et al., a sweeping, 60-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in January 2025. The indictment alleged the participation of 37 defendants in a conspiracy to import and distribute large amounts of illegal drugs in the Douglas, Georgia, community and in surrounding counties during a roughly four-year period from early 2021 through the time of the indictment.
Much of the conspiracy was directed from inside Georgia state prisons using contraband cell phones, and the indictment included a notice of seizure of 21 illegally possessed firearms.
Testimony during the trial before U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood showed that Jenkins led the drug conspiracy from inside the walls of the Georgia State Department of Corrections where he has been serving a custodial sentence for Georgia state robbery convictions since 2012. Hawkins was identified as a major distributor in the drug conspiracy.
Of the other defendants, 35 were convicted or entered guilty pleas to various drug- and gun-related charges, with 17 of them sentenced to terms of up to 126 months in prison and the others awaiting sentencing. One defendant passed away before adjudication; and another was acquitted at trial.
Judge Wood will schedule sentencings for Jenkins and Hawkins after completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners uncovered a dangerous drug trafficking network that brazenly operated both on the streets and from inside a prison cell, fueling the spread of methamphetamine across rural Georgia,” said Brad Snider, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Georgia’s Savannah office. “These convictions send a clear message that no matter where offenders attempt to hide or operate – from behind bars or within our communities – the FBI remains committed to dismantling criminal organizations and protecting the public from the violence and addiction they drive.”
“A person in possession of a firearm with the intent to distribute illegal drugs is a serious threat to public safety,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “ATF and our law enforcement partners are focused on stopping those who endanger our communities, and we’ll continue to utilize every resource we have to keep our streets safe.”
Agencies conducting the investigation in USA v. Brinson et al. include the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, the Georgia State Patrol, the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, the Waycross Police Department, and the Jacksonville (Florida) County Sheriff’s Office. The case is prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson, Ryan E. Bondura and Joshua K. Davis.
Felon Gang Member Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A prior felon and gang member was the last of three defendants sentenced today for working with others to distribute methamphetamine around Tulsa, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Kenneth Lee Camp, 44, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to Drug Conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell ordered Camp to serve 180 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In 2022, law enforcement began investigating methamphetamine being trafficked over state lines into Tulsa. Law enforcement discovered that Camp is a high-ranking member of the Indian Brotherhood and was conspiring with other gang members, and his co-defendants, Jeremiah Jacob James Harper and Billy Gene Talley, to distribute methamphetamine. When law enforcement served a search warrant on Camp and Harper’s home, they found more than two pounds of methamphetamine, $2,800 in cash, firearms, ammunition, and several cellphones. Agents reviewed the cellphones and found drug-related conversations between the defendants and others.
Court records show that Camp has a lengthy criminal history. While being investigated for this crime, Camp was charged with beating up a pregnant woman and obstructing a police officer. Previously released on bond, Camp was taken into custody following today's sentencing and will remain pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Camp’s co-defendant, Jeremiah Jacob James Harper, 31, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Use of Communication Facility. He was sentenced on March 2 and was ordered to serve 60 months imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release. Camp’s second co-defendant, Billy Gene Talley, 44, of Hutchinson, Kansas, pleaded guilty to Drug Conspiracy. He was sentenced on March 16 and was ordered to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.
Federal Prosecutor for District of South Dakota Recognized as Midwest HIDTA Outstanding Prosecutor of the YearRead the Press Release
(Left to Right Group): U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons, AUSA Mark Hodges, Midwest HIDTA Director Dan Neill, EAUSA Alison Ramsdell, FAUSA and Criminal Chief Gregg Peterman
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges has been selected by the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) as the Outstanding Prosecutor of Year. Hodges was presented with the Award by Daniel Neill, Executive Director, Midwest HIDTA, Office of National Drug Control Policy, during a ceremony at the Sioux Falls Police Department on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.“This well-deserved award is a recognition of Mark’s tireless commitment and incredible success working with agents and offices at all levels of law enforcement in the prosecution and conviction of drug dealers and their money launderers throughout the state, our nation, and reaching across international borders,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “His hard work and dedication, day in and day out, helps make South Dakota a safer place to live. Mark is truly a prosecutor’s prosecutor, and we are proud to have him as our colleague.”
“A critical component of Midwest HIDTA’s mission is to reduce the availability of illicit drugs by targeting, disrupting, and dismantling drug trafficking organizations. The Midwest HIDTA Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Initiative for the District of South Dakota is strategically designed to strengthen the capacity of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ensure aggressive, coordinated federal prosecution. AUSA Hodges’ efforts exemplify the impact and intent of this initiative—holding traffickers accountable while making our communities safer,” said Executive Director Neill.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges began his career as a federal drug prosecutor in 2020, when he was selected to serve as the HIDTA-funded Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. After just one year in that position, he was hired by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division. Since joining the office, he has prosecuted dozens of complex, multi-defendant drug conspiracies and fentanyl overdose deaths, racking up more than 2,500 years of federal prison time for drug dealers. In 2024, he was promoted to OCDETF Lead Attorney, and today, he serves as the District’s Homeland Security Task Force Lead Attorney.
Comprised of 73 designated counties in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Illinois, the Midwest HIDTA is designed to disrupt the market for illegal drugs throughout the “heartland” of America by identifying, targeting, and dismantling the most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations operating in the Midwest. Its goal is to enhance and facilitate the coordination of regional drug-control efforts among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies—through information and intelligence sharing, cooperative investigations, and joint operations—to reduce drug trafficking and its deadly consequences across the region. The Midwest HIDTA currently supports 61 different initiatives across seven states, including 44 drug task forces, six domestic highway interdiction programs, and five intelligence initiatives.
Federal Judge Revokes Naturalization of Married Couple Who Conspired to Steal Medical Trade Secrets and Share Them with ChinaRead the Press Release
On March 30, Judge James E. Simmons Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California entered an order revoking the naturalized U.S. citizenship of husband and wife Li Chen and Yu Zhou, finding they illegally procured their naturalization. Chen and Zhou each previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which the court determined constituted crimes involving moral turpitude that prevented them from having the good moral character necessary to naturalize. The court additionally found that both Chen and Zhou were ineligible to naturalize because they committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on their moral character for which there were no extenuating circumstances.
“Gaining citizenship after committing serious crimes against the American people is an unacceptable abuse of our immigration system,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These latest denaturalizations illustrate this Department of Justice's focus on ensuring that citizenship remains a privilege to obtain, not a right to abuse.”
“Naturalization is not a right — it’s a privilege given by the generous people of this nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Divison. “When the generosity of America’s immigration process is abused, our system works to correct such abuse. Full stop.”
Chen, a Chinese national, entered the United States in 2007 on an H-1B Specialty Occupation visa sponsored by Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH). In 2011, after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker as an alien of extraordinary ability, Chen adjusted her immigration status to permanent resident. Zhou, also a Chinese national, entered the United States in 2005 as an exchange visitor. In 2008, Zhou arrived in the United States again on an H-1B Specialty Occupation visa sponsored by NCH, and he adjusted his immigration status to permanent resident in 2011 as the derivative spouse of his wife, Chen. Chen naturalized in 2016, and Zhou naturalized in 2017.
In 2019, both Chen and Zhou were arrested for criminal conduct involving the theft of medical trade secrets used in the course of their employment as NCH research scientists focused on exosome isolation. Each indictment alleged that the couple personally benefitted from their theft and sale of NCH trade secrets by establishing their own company and by acquiring shares in another company that utilized the stolen trade secrets. In addition, both Chen and Zhou received funding from the People’s Republic of China’s State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs. In total, Defendants jointly received nearly $1.5 million in transactions resulting from their exchange of exosome isolation intellectual property. Chen was subsequently sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and Zhou was sentenced to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release, with over $2.6 million in restitution ordered to be paid jointly and severally between them.
The court held that the couple’s wire fraud — and thus their conspiracy to commit wire fraud — constituted a crime involving moral turpitude that warranted the revocation of Defendants’ naturalization. The court additionally determined that, given the lack of any extenuating circumstances, Zhou and Chen’s crimes of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit trade secret theft constituted unlawful acts that reflected adversely on their moral character, and therefore these crimes represented a separate basis to revoke their U.S. citizenship.
These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the ICE Office of the Principle Legal Advisor (OPLA). The cases were litigated by the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation. The underlying criminal cases were prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
Federal Court sentences foreign national drug trafficker who moved thousands of kilograms of cocaineRead the Press Release
DETROIT – U.S. District Court Judge Denise Page Hood sentenced an Albania national, Ylli Didani, 48, to 25 years in prison. A federal jury recently convicted him of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. and Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon, Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA Detroit Field Division.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Marty Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and Chief John Piggott, Farmington Hills Police Department.
Evidence at trial proved Didani was a leader of an international drug trafficking organization with ties to the United States, South America, and Europe. Didani and other unindicted co-conspirators planned and financed the distribution of cocaine from several locations including the Eastern District of Michigan. Didani arranged the distribution of enormous shipments of cocaine from South America to Europe, where the cocaine was seized by law enforcement. As a result of this investigation, in 2019 and 2020, law enforcement seized over 4300 kilograms of cocaine Didani’s organization loaded onto five different containerships that were bound for international ports. The seized cocaine has a street value of over $100,000,000.00.
The evidence at trial proved Didani and other members of his organization planned the design of an underwater drone that would be utilized to transport large quantities of cocaine to Europe. The drone, which was going to be equipped with an underwater modem and GPS antenna, would transport the cocaine while attached to the bottom of a commercial containership. The drone would then be remotely released from the containership off the shore of Europe. The drone and cocaine would then be picked up by a fishing boat controlled by Didani’s organization.
“The interagency collaboration on this case is a prime example of how the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) is designed to combat transnational criminal organizations just like this one. We thank our partners for sinking this operation and bring justice to a foreign national who was poisoning our friends abroad,” said Gorgon.
“This sentencing sends a clear message that no drug trafficking organization is beyond our reach,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Dixon. “The DEA works side-by-side with our local, state, federal, and international partners to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these global criminal networks. The seizure of more than 4,300 kilograms of cocaine during this investigation demonstrates what we can achieve when we stand united in protecting the public from those who profit from addiction.”
“The laws governing the trafficking of drugs in the United States are very clear, there is no separate set of rules if the drugs are trafficked by land or sea,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentencing sends a direct message to drug traffickers globally that they will he held accountable for drug trafficking and the money laundering that comes with it. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to be on the team with our law enforcement partners, keeping illicit drugs off our streets and out of America.”
“Today’s sentencing marks a definitive victory in our ongoing mission to dismantle transnational criminal organizations that profit from the scourge of dangerous drugs in our communities,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon. “This outcome is the result of seamless cooperation between CBP and our law enforcement partners and this sense of collective vigilance remains our strongest tool in protecting our communities and securing our borders.”
This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Detroit comprises agents and officers from numerous agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Department of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service and the Farmington Hills Police Department provided critical assistance in this investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Bilkovic and Tim McDonald.
Dominican National Extradited to the United States to Face Child Sexual Exploitation Charges After Fleeing ProsecutionRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Dominican national extradited from the Dominican Republic to face child sexual exploitation charges appeared in federal court today, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, joined U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
“Hinojosa is accused of exploiting children and then fleeing the United States to evade prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We will not give up on those that flee; we will track down and prosecute those who prey on our children, wherever they go.”
“Roberto Severino Hinojosa was indicted in the Western District of North Carolina, nearly a decade ago and fled the U.S., likely believing he had escaped the reach of the FBI and the Department of Justice. He was proven wrong when he was apprehended and handcuffed in the Dominican Republic. By leveraging the strength of our law enforcement partners in this country and around the world, there is no place to hide for those who prey on children,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge.
On February 22, 2017, a federal grand jury in Charlotte returned a five-count indictment charging Roberto Severino Hinojosa, 29, a Dominican national who was a lawful permanent resident at the time of his offense, with one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one count of transportation of CSAM, and three counts of receipt of CSAM.
After being interviewed by the FBI, Hinojosa fled the United States. With the assistance of the FBI Law Enforcement Attaché in the Dominican Republic and Dominican Law Enforcement, Hinojosa was located in the Dominican Republic and subsequently arrested on Jan. 30 by Dominican authorities at the request of the United States. On March 25, 2026, Dominican authorities extradited Hinojosa from the Dominican Republic. On March 26, 2026, Hinojosa appeared in federal court in Charlotte for his initial appearance. Today, Hinojosa had his arraignment and detention hearing and was ordered detained pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to allegations in the indictment, between May and June 2015, Hinojosa engaged in the sexual exploitation of children by possessing, transporting, and receiving child sexual abuse material, some of which involved prepubescent minors that had not yet attained 12 years of age.
If convicted, Hinojosa faces a statutory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of receipt and transportation of CSAM, and up to 20 years in prison for possession of CSAM. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation was led by the FBI in Charlotte with assistance from the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, FBI LEGAT, and Dominican authorities provided significant assistance in securing Hinojosa’s arrest and extradition.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Spaugh with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
District Man Sentenced to 19.5 Years in Prison for Murder and CarjackingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Maleek Thomas, 23, was sentenced Friday to 19.5 years in prison, in connection to a deadly carjacking that killed Melvin Dock, Jr., , in Southeast Washington, D.C. on October 30, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Thomas pleaded guilty on December 2, 2025, to one count of second-degree murder while armed for the murder of Melvin Dock, Jr. and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for the shooting of the victim. On March 27, 2026, Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson sentenced Thomas to 19.5 years of incarceration and five years of supervised release at the conclusion of his sentence.
The government’s evidence indicates that on October 30, 2023, Thomas messaged an individual, the intended carjacking victim, via Instagram to hang out in Southeast DC. The individual travelled from out of town to meet the defendant. Unbeknownst to this victim, Thomas’ true intention was to carjack this victim at gunpoint. When the defendant got into this victim’s car, he pointed a pistol at the victim and instructed the victim to give up the car. The victim would not relent. Instead, the victim attempted to flee. Around the same time as Thomas attempted to carjack the victim, Melvin Dock, Jr., approached the driver-side door of the car. The defendant pulled the trigger and, because the pistol was equipped with a “switch” that initiated automatic gunfire, multiple rounds were expelled and both the victim and Dock were shot. The victim slammed on the gas and made his escape. He ultimately survived. Dock, however, succumbed to his injuries later that night.
Thomas was arrested by MPD in February of 2024.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wes Faulkner, Jr. and Sabena Auyeung.
2024 CF1 001758
Denton County man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison under Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Denton man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison under the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Brandon Lynn Hunter, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 31, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in 2021, Hunter was identified as a source of methamphetamine in the Denton area. A search of Hunter’s residence in June 2021 resulted in the seizure of over 35 grams of methamphetamine and drug trafficking paraphernalia. Hunter admitted to being involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing at least 45 kilograms of a substance containing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Denton Police Department; Pilot Point Police Department; Little Elm Police Department; Cooke County Sheriff’s Office; Denton County Sheriff’s Office; and Texas Department of Public Safety. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
D.C. Man Sentenced to 205 Months for Role in 29 Armed Robberies and Attempted RobberiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tavarus Thompson, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 205 months in prison for his role in a spree of dozens of armed robberies and attempted armed robberies of commercial establishments that included restaurants, convenience stores, and liquor stores in the metropolitan region during early 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Thompson pleaded guilty March 29, 2024, before Judge Reggie B. Walton to Conspiracy to Interfere with Interstate Commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), and to Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. In addition to the 205-month term of incarceration, Judge Walton ordered Thompson to serve five years of supervised release.
“Tavarus Thompson committed dozens of armed robberies and attempted armed robberies in less than three months—targeting restaurant workers, store clerks, and gas station attendants, ordinary people simply doing their jobs. Each time, they were forced to stare down the barrel of a gun,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Thompson turned workplaces into war zones. This is the kind of individual who does not belong in our society, and today, he is being held fully accountable.”
According to court documents, the spree began on Jan. 12, 2022, with the gunpoint robbery of a gas station on 18th Street NE. It ended in March 2022, after law enforcement stopped a stolen car on March 6 at the intersection of 1st Street NW and Gallatin Street NW, leading to the arrests of co-defendant Stephon Harrigan. Thompson was arrested in South Carolina on March 18, 2022. Co-defendant Aaron Harrigan, was arrested March 29, 2022.
Thompson acknowledged that he engaged in 29 of the robberies or attempted robberies. In all of them, at least one firearm was brandished including, many times, by Thompson himself.
Aaron Harrigan, 30, pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2023, to a charge of Conspiracy to Interfere with Interstate Commerce by Robbery for his participation in the conspiracy and was sentenced on Sept. 25, 2023, to 87 months in prison.
Stephon Harrigan 32, pleaded guilty on March 29, 2024, Conspiracy to Interfere with Interstate Commerce by Robbery and Possession of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence for his participation in the conspiracy and was sentenced on Aug. 1, 2024, to 210 months in prison.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Carjacking Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Columbia, South Carolina, Field Office, and the Mount Rainier, Md., Prince George’s County, Md., and Montgomery County, Md. Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Kinskey and Andrea Duvall, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Fletcher.
22cr104
Corpus Christi resident admits to producing child sexual child abuse material involving toddlerRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 31-year-old local man has entered a guilty plea to production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
The investigation into Troy Vasquez began after law enforcement discovered he had been uploading child pornography over the internet. They executed a search warrant at his home where they discovered child sexual abuse material he had created the day before the search.
A forensic examination of his phone uncovered another video Vasquez recorded two days after Christmas 2024. In it, he is encouraging a three-year-old child to perform sexual acts.
U.S. District Judge David Morales will impose sentencing June 20. At that time, Vasquez faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman prosecuted 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.
Convicted Felon Sentenced in Illegally Possessing Stolen of Firearm After Fleeing OfficersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Guy Cummings, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 50 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Cummings was found guilty by a federal jury on July 16, 2025, following a three-day jury trial before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. In addition to the 50-month prison term, Chief Judge Boasberg ordered Cummings to serve three years of supervised release.
This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Jan. 18, 2025, about 1:30 a.m., Metropolitan Police Department officers on patrol in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood observed a group of individuals on the sidewalk in the 300 block of 50th Street NE.
As officers approached, Cummings immediately separated from the group and fled on foot between buildings. An officer gave chase and never lost sight of Cummings as he ran through the Lincoln Heights complex in a circular pattern. The officer observed Cummings make a tossing motion with his right hand over a brick wall on the 300 block of 50th Street NE before he was apprehended nearby.
Officers retraced Cummings' path and discovered a stolen black Glock 26 9mm pistol in the snow on the other side of the brick wall, loaded with one round in the chamber and 15 rounds in the magazine. The firearm had been reported stolen.
Cummings had previously been convicted in 2017 of robbery and carrying a dangerous weapon and sentenced to 36 months in prison, making him ineligible to possess a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, with assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand.
CAPTION: Officers recovered a Glock 26 pistol where Cummings had tossed it on a snow-covered path.
25cr44
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube
Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dcConvicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of a Machine Gun & Other Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – James Wiley Kelley, Jr., 51, of Altha, Florida, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act weapon, possession of a machinegun, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America is not just a powerful initiative that deploys the full might of the Department of Justice toward targeting dangerous criminals, it is a long-overdue recognition that our citizens deserve safe streets and crime-free communities. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to Take Back America from the perpetrators of violent crime who have plagued our streets, neighborhoods, and communities, and my office will continue to fulfill that promise with every successful prosecution we deliver.”
Court documents reflect that United States Customs Border Protection Agents identified a parcel bearing a fictitious name and an Altha, Florida, address while inspecting packages from a flight originating in China. Examination of the parcel revealed a small box purporting to be plastic vent mounts for a smart phone but contained three metal component parts comprising a machinegun conversion device (MCD), which enable a semi-automatic firearm to be converted into a fully automatic weapon. Following a controlled delivery of the MCD, agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence, resulting in the seizure of pistols, rifles, shotguns and ammunition of various calibers, as well as methamphetamine. The defendant was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to prior felony convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude a marked police car and possession of a controlled substance.
The case involved a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jason R. Coody prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty in Connection with $50 Million Real Estate Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A convicted felon pleaded guilty to orchestrating a years-long real estate investment fraud scheme that raised more than $50 million from investors through false promises about high-value property assets and the use of investor funds.
Jean Joseph, also known as “Jon,” 55, of Boca Raton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. His co-defendant, Janalie Camille Bingham, also known as Janalie Camille Joseph, 44, also of Boca Raton, previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
“These defendants sold the illusion of a $450 million real estate portfolio that simply did not exist,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Instead of investing $50 million as promised, they diverted millions into speculative trading, paid high commissions to keep money flowing, purchased a luxury home for themselves, and used new investor funds to make Ponzi-style payments to earlier investors. That is fraud, plain and simple. In South Florida, if you build a scheme on deception and misuse investor funds, you will be investigated and you will be prosecuted.”
According to court records, Joseph and Bingham formed Wells Real Estate Investment, LLC in or around 2017 and operated the company together, with Bingham serving as the Chief Executive Officer. Beginning in approximately 2019, Joseph and Bingham concealed Joseph’s involvement in the business after he became a convicted felon.
Despite beginning to serve a prison sentence in June 2020 in an unrelated wire fraud case, Joseph continued to direct aspects of the scheme from prison. Earlier, in October 2019, Joseph and Bingham opened a bank account in the name of Wells Real Estate, with Bingham as the sole authorized signer due to Joseph’s pending criminal prosecution. Joseph nevertheless directed transactions in the account, including while incarcerated.
From approximately 2019 through 2024, Joseph and Bingham solicited investors to purchase promissory notes issued by Wells Real Estate. They falsely represented that investor funds would be used to acquire and improve residential and commercial real estate and that the notes were backed by valuable real estate holdings. In reality, only a small portion of investor funds was used for real estate. Instead, Joseph diverted approximately $28 million into speculative equities trading.
Joseph and Bingham also falsely claimed that the investment notes were secured by a real estate portfolio purportedly worth as much as $450 million. In truth, neither Wells Real Estate nor the defendants owned sufficient real estate assets to secure the investments.
Joseph and Bingham further misled investors by claiming that Wells Real Estate did not pay commissions on note sales. In fact, the company paid up to 15% in commissions, distributing approximately $8 million in investor funds to sales personnel.
To sustain the scheme, the defendants used funds from newer investors to make more than $8 million in Ponzi-style payments to earlier investors, without disclosing the source of those payments.
They also used more than $2 million in investor funds for personal expenses, including a down payment on a $1.95 million home that they used as their primary residence. Shortly after purchasing the home through a limited liability company, the property was transferred into Bingham’s name.
Joseph and Bingham are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez. Bingham’s sentencing is scheduled for May 8, and Joseph’s sentencing is set for June 4. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, which previously brought a civil action against Joseph and Bingham.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli S. Rubin and Roger Cruz are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20483.
###
Colombian National Unlawfully in the United States Pleads Guilty to Interstate Burglary Conspiracy Targeting Asian American Business OwnersRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— A Colombian national unlawfully residing in the United States pleaded guilty today in federal court for his role in a multi-state burglary conspiracy that targeted Asian American business owners in Oregon and Washington.
Jhon Alexander Quintero, also known as Edwin Andres Cadena-Pineda, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods.
According to court documents, in early October 2025, Quintero and six co-conspirators targeted homes for burglary in Oregon and Washington by traveling from state to state, staying in short-term rentals, identifying and surveilling potential burglary victims—who were all Asian American business owners—and then performing reconnaissance on the victims’ residences.
When they carried out the burglaries, Quintero and his co-conspirators employed signal jamming technology, perimeter countersurveillance, and seven-way group calls. They entered their victims’ homes by shattering glass doors. Once inside, they ransacked the residences, stealing United States and foreign currency, jewelry, designer handbags, purses, wallets, travel documents, and other valuables. After the burglaries, the crew returned to their short-term rental and package the proceeds for transport, transfer, or transmittal.
The investigation revealed that Quintero and the crew burglarized a home in Auburn, Washington, on October 3, 2025, then a home in Gresham, Oregon, on October 5, then a home in Eugene, Oregon, on October 6, and a home in Salem, Oregon, on October 9. All the burglary victims were Asian American business owners who were away working at their businesses. Between the Eugene and Salem burglaries, detectives with the Eugene Police Department became aware of the group’s movements and began surveillance.
Following the burglary in Salem, detectives learned that Quintero and his co-conspirators returned to their rental in Eugene and executed a search warrant at the rental that night. Investigators recovered money and property, believed to be stolen from the various residences, more than a dozen cell phones, believed to be used by the burglary crew, evidence of money wires to Bogota, Colombia, and various Colombian travel documentation, including passports. They also located commercial-grade Wi-Fi signal jammers that were plugged in and charging following their suspected use during the burglary that day.
Upon noticing the officers executing the search warrant, Quintero and the rest of the crew fled into a nearby wooded area. Law enforcement eventually detained all seven individuals. Investigators later performed searches of the devices, which revealed additional evidence of the conspiracy, including sending and receiving coordinates for the houses they burglarized, surveillance communications, and shared messages containing messages highlighting the burglary targets from the preceding days. For instance, Quintero researched the value of jewelry the night of the Auburn burglary, received the contact information for a Colombian shipping company two days after the Eugene burglary and then called that company, and returned to the Eugene rental to package stolen property the night of the Salem burglary.
On November 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Quintero and the other six members of the burglary crew with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods.
On December 3, 2025, Quintero made his initial appearance in federal court and was ordered detained.
Quintero faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on June 30, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Eugene Police Department with assistance from the Salem Police Department, the Auburn Police Department, and the Gresham Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren.
Closing the National Center for Disaster FraudRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department announced the closure of the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), effective March 31, 2026. The NCDF was established in the fall of 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to coordinate disaster fraud complaints from victims across the country. Since its founding, the NCDF processed more than a million complaints, and served as a national hub for disaster fraud referrals to federal, state, and local law enforcement.
Over the past two decades, the law enforcement landscape has evolved significantly. Following a 2023 program review, the Criminal Division determined that the NCDF’s intake function was no longer the most effective avenue for pursuing disaster fraud. Many of the NCDF’s original agency partners now operate their own dedicated hotlines, and advances in data analysis have given federal investigators powerful new tools to identify and pursue fraud at scale – particularly the large, multi-district schemes that represent the highest enforcement priorities. This closure will save the Department more than $600,000 per year.
Fraud targeting Americans in their most vulnerable moments, whether following natural disasters or during public health crises, is a serious federal crime that the Department of Justice will continue to investigate and prosecute vigorously. Victims of disaster fraud should report their complaints to the appropriate law enforcement agency based on the type of fraud. Reporting information can be found at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud.
Clarksburg Woman Admits to Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Clarksburg, West Virginia woman has admitted to purchasing a firearm for someone who was prohibited from possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Shayla Ann Jackson, 27, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to straw purchase a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, Jackson was working with others to purchase firearms for a person prohibited from possessing firearms.
Jackson faces up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Choctaw County Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy Wayne Shirley, age 41, of Sawyer, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Stolen Firearm, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on October 21, 2025, Shirley knowingly possessed a stolen semi-automatic pistol that had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the firearm was stolen.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Shirley will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
California man appears on fraud chargesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A California man accused of scamming money and gold from his victim appeared for an arraignment yesterday, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
The defendant, Lingwei Yang, 24, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. If convicted of the most serious charge, Yang faces 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Yang was detained pending further proceedings.
Count one of the indictment alleges that beginning in or about October 2025 and continuing thereafter until at least February 20, 2026, at Missoula, Yang knowingly and unlawfully conspired with others to commit the offense of wire fraud.
Count two of the indictment alleges that beginning in or about October 2025 and thereafter until at least February 20, 2026, at Missoula, Yang, having devised and intending to devise a material scheme and artifice to defraud, and for the purpose of executing such scheme and artifice, and attempting to do so, knowingly transmitted and caused to be transmitted by means of wire communication in interstate and foreign commerce, writings, signs, signals, pictures, and sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme and artifice.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
PACER case reference. CR 26-17-M-DLC.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
XXX
CEO of Credit Monitoring Company Pleads Guilty in Connection with Nationwide Online Marketing SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the guilty plea of MICHAEL BROWN for his operation of a nationwide online marketing scheme to make money by posting fake advertisements for rental properties across the United States on a classified advertisements website. The purpose of the scheme was to fraudulently induce potential renters to enter their credit card information on credit monitoring websites owned by BROWN and pay for a credit report under false pretenses, including by automatically enrolling the customers in a paid monthly membership for credit monitoring services. BROWN pled guilty on Monday, March 30, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
“Many Americans rely on online websites to safely and securely search for housing,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “For years, Michael Brown perpetrated an online scam by tricking ordinary Americans looking for housing, including here in New York, into paying for services they did not need and did not want. The defendant’s company made millions from over 160,000 victims. Mass online fraudsters try to hide by hitting each victim for a small amount. As demonstrated in this case, that will not work.”
According to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
BROWN owned and operated Credit Bureau Center, LLC, formerly known as MyScore LLC (“MyScore”), a company that provided credit reports and credit monitoring services via the websites eFreeScore.com, FreeCreditNation.com, and CreditUpdates.com, among other sites (collectively, the “MyScore Websites”). In order to drive potential customers to the MyScore Websites, BROWN employed the use of affiliate marketers. In affiliate marketing, a seller of goods or services such as MyScore uses other firms or individuals known as “affiliates” to market the seller’s goods or services by attracting customers to the seller’s websites.
From at least in or about 2014 through at least on or about January 10, 2017, BROWN and his affiliate marketers engaged in a nationwide online marketing scheme to post fake advertisements for rental properties across the United States on a classified advertisements website (the “Advertising Website”). The purpose of the scheme was to fraudulently induce prospective renters to enter their credit card information on the MyScore Websites and pay for a credit report under false pretenses in order to automatically enroll them in paying for a monthly membership for credit monitoring services.
The advertisements used in the scheme typically contained photos of the supposed rental properties and showcased properties in desirable locations for below-market prices in order to attract interest. The advertisements were posted for rental properties in metropolitan areas across the United States, including, among other locations, New York City, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Diego. In actuality, the rental properties did not exist as advertised or were not actually available for rent through the posts on the Advertising Website. The advertisements also did not disclose the specific address of the rental properties but instead contained a contact email address inviting prospective renters to contact the property owner if they were interested in the rental property.
When prospective renters inquired about the rental properties posted on the Advertising Website by responding to the advertisements, they received a form email purporting to be from the property owner requiring the prospective renter to obtain a copy of their credit report, and referring the prospective renter to one of the MyScore Websites to obtain a credit report, before scheduling a tour of the property. The form email typically described purported features of the advertised property and falsely informed the prospective renter, in substance and in part, that he or she was the second person to respond to the advertisement, that the first responder no longer needed the property, and that the property owner was ready to lease the property to the prospective renter with flexible terms and had just completed all new renovations.
Once a prospective renter clicked on the hyperlink in the form email from the purported property owner to obtain a copy of their credit report, the prospective renter was directed to the “landing page” of one of the MyScore Websites. The landing page of the MyScore Websites typically featured a large banner that stated, in substance and in part, “Get Your Free Credit Score and Report” with significantly smaller text referencing an unspecified “7-day trial” and a “Monthly membership of $29.94 automatically charged after trial.” In order to get the credit report, prospective renters were required to enter identifying information and credit card information through a series of webpages. Once the prospective renter entered credit card information, the prospective renter was charged $1.00 and was automatically enrolled in a monthly membership for credit monitoring services with recurring charges of typically $29.94 per month until the membership was canceled.
When prospective renters responded to the purported property owner asking to schedule a tour of the advertised property now that they had a copy of their credit report, there was typically no response, as the property was not actually available for rent as advertised and the scheme had succeeded in fraudulently generating a monthly membership subscription for MyScore. Many prospective renters who obtained a credit report from the MyScore Websites as a result of the scheme did not realize that they had been automatically enrolled in MyScore’s membership until they discovered the monthly charges on their credit card statements. Some prospective renters also had difficulties canceling the membership when they contacted MyScore’s customer service department.
BROWN continued to execute the scheme through at least on or about January 10, 2017, despite numerous complaints during the course of the scheme from customers and consumer organizations about the fraudulent nature of the rental advertisements on the Advertising Website, the automatic enrollment of customers in MyScore’s monthly membership with recurring charges without their knowledge, and the difficulties in cancelling the monthly membership.
In total, the scheme caused over approximately 2.7 million unique visits to the MyScore Websites and generated at least $6.8 million in revenue from at least 169,000 customers who were automatically enrolled in MyScore’s monthly membership for credit monitoring services through the scheme.
If you believe you may be a victim of the conduct described in this press release, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or use the online tips page: https://tips.fbi.gov.
* * *
BROWN, 41, of Indian Trail, North Carolina, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, for a total maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. BROWN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Failla on September 1, 2026.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Federal Trade Commission for their assistance with the case.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Connie L. Dang, Matthew Weinberg, and Shaun E. Werbelow are in charge of the prosecution.
Bryan County Resident Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Marissa Laneau Dill, age 38, of Caddo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine; one count of Involuntary Manslaughter of an Unborn Child in Indian Country, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, each punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on May 5, 2025, Dill unlawfully killed the victim in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, that is failing to devote full time and attention to driving, contrary to Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 11-901b, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of any intoxicating substance other than alcohol which may render such person incapable of safely driving or operating a motor vehicle, contrary to Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 11-902, and in the commission in an unlawful manner and without due caution and circumspection of a lawful act, that is, operating a motor vehicle left of the center line of the roadway, which might produce death.
The Indictment further alleged that on May 5, 2025, Dill unlawfully killed the victim’s unborn child in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, that is failing to devote full time and attention to driving, contrary to Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 11-901b, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of any intoxicating substance other than alcohol which may render such person incapable of safely driving or operating a motor vehicle, contrary to Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 11-902, and in the commission in an unlawful manner and without due caution and circumspection of a lawful act, that is, operating a motor vehicle left of the center line of the roadway, which might produce death.
The Indictment also alleged that on May 5, 2025, Dill assaulted two other victims, resulting in serious bodily injuries to each.
The crimes occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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.
Dill is free on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Christopher Young, 31, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 78 months in prison in connection with distributing thousands of files of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Young, aka “Topher Young,” pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025, before Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan, to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, Judge Sooknanan ordered Young to serve 10 years of supervised release.
“Christopher Young distributed more than 1,600 videos of children—some as young as infants—being sexually abused, and he did it, hoping people were watching, but thinking he would never get caught,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will use every tool to identify those who exploit the most vulnerable and ensure they face serious consequences. Today's sentence sends a clear message: there is no anonymity for those who exploit children.”
According to court documents, on Oct. 4, 2024, Young, identifying himself as “too Nasty,” sent a private message on a mobile messaging application focused on dating and sexual encounters, to another online user, who was located in Washington, D.C. In the message, Young indicated his sexual interest in young children and asked the other user to contact him on the messaging platform Telegram.
On Oct. 7, 2024, Young and the online user communicated on Telegram using Young’s “Mrnunyab” Telegram handle. During the chat, Young stated that he was from Baltimore, reiterated his sexual interest in children, and asked if the other online user wanted to exchange pictures.
On Oct. 15, 2024, Young sent a link to a file that contained 1,616 videos depicting children as young as infants engaged in sexual conduct with adults.
On Dec. 13, 2024, Young sent the online user a picture of himself, which law enforcement used to identify him as the individual who distributed child pornography.
Law enforcement arrested Young on Feb. 13, 2025, in Baltimore. A forensic examination of Young’s iPhone revealed two videos and three images depicting child pornography.
This case was investigated by the MPD-FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen and 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
25cr50
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube
Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dcArkansas Man Pleads Guilty to Insider TradingRead the Press Release
Washington- An Arkansas man pleaded guilty today to securities fraud in connection with insider trading based on material, nonpublic information that he misappropriated from a senior executive at a publicly traded company headquartered in Idaho.
According to court documents, Douglas Dalton, 48, of Bentonville, Arkansas, was close personal friends with Michael Smith, the then-President and Chief Operating Officer of Company-1. During a July 26, 2024, telephone call between Dalton and Smith, Dalton learned material nonpublic information regarding Company-1’s impending acquisition by another company at a price of approximately $31 per share. Given Smith’s senior role at Company-1 and their close personal relationship, Dalton knew that this information was confidential and material.
Based on the material nonpublic information he received from Smith, Dalton purchased Company-1 call options for approximately $19,985.30. After Company-1’s acquisition was publicly announced on August 7, 2024, Dalton sold the stock options he had purchased for a profit of approximately $96,515.44, representing a nearly 500% return on his illegal insider trading.
Dalton pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. In November 2025, Michael Smith pleaded guilty to the same offense. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group (USPIS-CI) made the announcement.
USPIS-CI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kyle Crawford and John Liolos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
###
Arkansas Man Pleads Guilty to Insider TradingRead the Press Release
An Arkansas man pleaded guilty today to securities fraud in connection with insider trading based on material, nonpublic information that he misappropriated from a senior executive at a publicly traded company headquartered in Idaho.
According to court documents, Douglas Dalton, 48, of Bentonville, Arkansas, was close personal friends with Michael Smith, the then-President and Chief Operating Officer of Company-1. During a July 26, 2024, telephone call between Dalton and Smith, Dalton learned material nonpublic information regarding Company-1’s impending acquisition by another company at a price of approximately $31 per share. Given Smith’s senior role at Company-1 and their close personal relationship, Dalton knew that this information was confidential and material.
Based on the material nonpublic information he received from Smith, Dalton purchased Company-1 call options for approximately $19,985.30. After Company-1’s acquisition was publicly announced on August 7, 2024, Dalton sold the stock options he had purchased for a profit of approximately $96,515.44, representing a nearly 500% return on his illegal insider trading.
Dalton pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. In November 2025, Michael Smith pleaded guilty to the same offense. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group (USPIS-CI) made the announcement.
USPIS-CI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kyle Crawford and John Liolos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
52 Members of the Criminal Organization known as La Familia Nunca Muere (the Family Never Dies) Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in San Juan, Morovis, and Cataño, Puerto Rico as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 17, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 52 gang members from the municipalities of San Juan, Morovis, and Cataño with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) San Juan Strike Force, with the collaboration of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) and Air and Marine Operations (AMO), the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Today during the arrests, the following agencies provided support: Puerto Rico National Guard, Guaynabo Municipal Police, Bayamón Municipal Police, and San Juan Municipal Police.
“Thanks to the great investigative work of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, the important leaders, enforcers and other members of the violent gang are being taken off our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “These arrests reflect our steadfast determination to remove violent gangs from our communities.”
“This operation makes one thing absolutely clear, those who choose to spread violence and poison our communities will be relentlessly pursued and dismantled,” said Acting DEA SAC Evan Martínez. “There is no safe haven for criminal organizations in Puerto Rico. Together with our federal and local partners, we are applying every resource, every authority, and every strategy to hold these individuals accountable. We will not stop, we will not slow down, and we will not back off until our communities are safer and justice is served.”
The indictment alleges that from 2018 to the present, the drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of the Los Lirios (San Juan), Jardines de Cataño (Cataño), Juana Matos (Cataño), El Coquí (Cataño), and Nemesio Rosario Canales (San Juan) Public Housing Projects (PHPs), and areas near those locations, all for significant financial gain and profit.
The object of the conspiracy was to distribute wholesale quantities and street amount quantities of controlled substances at those PHPs. At times, gang members would pool resources from different areas such as the Luis Lloréns Torres and the Vista Hermos PHPs, Barriada Figueroa and others within the municipalities of San Juan, Morovis, and Cataño. The organization referred to itself as “La Familia Nunca Muere” (The Family Never Dies) (hereinafter “LFNM”), also sometimes referred to as “Los Incorregibles” (The Incorrigibles) or “La Colectora” or “La Cole” (The Collectors). The defendants communicated with each other using two-way radios and cell phones, via instant messaging and social media. Members of LFNM promoted themselves, their narcotics, their firearms, their money, and their gang using social media. Some leaders who were incarcerated participated in meetings using contraband cellular phones, normally via video call.
It is alleged that members of LFNM participated in acts of violence, including shootings and murders, in response to mere perceived threats, without first verifying the veracity of the threats. The defendants carried out shootings and murders in public places, in broad daylight, and in the presence of innocent bystanders, including children. Shootings also took place in public establishments such as bars and nightclubs. During the commission of these shootings, LFNM members would often use bulletproof vests, gloves, face masks and other face coverings. At times, they would use stolen or carjacked cars to evade capture and arrest by law enforcement. The investigation, including investigation regarding murders committed by the gang, remains ongoing.
The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including as leaders, suppliers, drug point owners, enforcers, runners, sellers, lookouts, and facilitators. Forty defendants are facing one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and twenty-one of those defendants are facing one count of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The defendants charged in the indictment are:
[1] Tomás Junior Sánchez-González, a.k.a. “Father/Boss/Patrón/Gemelo”
[2] Junior Tomás Sánchez-González, a.k.a. “Bere/Bereta/Gemelo”
[3] Jaime Vázquez-Román, a.k.a. “Tio/Tioito”
[4] Edwin Rivera-Pérez, a.k.a. “Bubu”
[5] Carlos D. Valladares-Díaz, a.k.a. “Dany/Lalo/Ojos Bellos/Ojos Lindos”
[6] Omar Matías-Martínez, a.k.a. “KTM”
[7] Duhamel J. Natal-González, a.k.a. “Banchi”
[8] Luis Joel Rivera-Torres, a.k.a. “Taly”
[9] Nestor N. González-Muñíz, a.k.a. “Silencio/Mudo”
[10] Randy Padilla-Fernández, a.k.a. “R”
[11] Tomás Niochar Sánchez-Feliciano, a.k.a. “Nio”
[12] Ángel De Jesús-Vasquez, a.k.a. Ángel De Jesús-Vázquez/El Negro/D.O.”
[13] Jonathan González-Agosto, a.k.a. “Tatán”
[14] Israel J. González-Rosado, a.k.a. “Kiko”
[15] Saúl Rodríguez-Serrano, a.k.a. “Patroncito”
[16] Javbdiel López-Paz, a.k.a. “Dreki Malo”
[17] Luis Antonio Rosa-Hernández, a.k.a. “Menor de Fajardo”
[18] Luis Isander Medina-Vázquez, a.k.a. “Sugar/Flaco/Trenzas”
[19] Kevin M. Rijos-Sepúlveda, a.k.a. “Yeezy”
[20] Jorge S. Rodríguez-Rivera, a.k.a. “Gallero”
[21] John Michael Rentas-Rivera, a.k.a. “Dálmata”
[22] Gabrielle Eliud Delgado-Garay, a.k.a. “Kayak/KK”
[23] Pedro Antonio Barreto-Martínez, a.k.a. “Pedrito/Mago/Maguito”
[24] Pedro A. Polanco-Febus
[25] Yadiel Daniel Rosario-Castro, a.k.a. “Papote”
[26] Jeancarlos Reynoso-Peralta, a.k.a. “Domi/Greña”
[27] Jordanish Manuel Torres-Villegas, a.k.a. “Mutombo”
[28] John Huertas-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Casque”
[29] Giann Luis Rijos-Sepúlveda, a.k.a. “Yeesy/Yisi/Yeezysito”
[30] Freddy Maldonado-Castillo, a.k.a. “Sonrisa/Sonri”
[31] Carlos Rosario-Reyes, a.k.a. “Carlos Papi”
[32] Yahir Armando Ayala-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Duende”
[33] Yecdiel Daniel-Oliveras, a.k.a. “Chagui”
[34] Josten Anthony Ramos, a.k.a. “Justin Ramos/Prosper”
[35] Carlo André Díaz-Sepúlveda, a.k.a. “Chavito”
[36] Adrián Gabriel Ramos-López, a.k.a. “ADN”
[37] Javier Colón-Oppenheimer, a.k.a. “Javielito/Javi/TT de Trastalleres”
[38] Adam Yadiel Díaz-Santiago, a.k.a. “El Menor”
[39] Joshua Yadie De Jesús-De Jesús, a.k.a. “Tokio/Yadiel”
[40] Jonathan Ramón González-Pérez, a.k.a. “Tripi/Cripi”
[41] Fabián O. Martínez-Maldonado, a.k.a. “Dreki Bueno/Draky Bueno”
[42] Noriel Iván Alvarado
[43] Joseph Colón-Pagán, a.k.a. “Canito”
[44] Elliott Francis Correa-Martorell, a.k.a. “Ele”
[45] Adin Jafet Cruz-Sastre, a.k.a. “J”
[46] Pauliana Santiago-Vega
[47] Yatniel Iván Ramos-Borrero, a.k.a. “Chama”
[48] Miguel Sánchez-Reyes, a.k.a. “Cabe”
[49] Ronny Arias-Paulino, a.k.a. “Karate”
[50] Elvin Josué Jiménez-De la Rosa, a.k.a. “Bin”
[51] Jomar Rashid Torres-Torres, a.k.a. “Jomo/Yomo”
[52] Juan Gianny Rodríguez-Tosado, a.k.a. “Guasy”Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares, AUSA Joseph Russell, and AUSA María López-Aponte are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges in Count Four, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison. The defendants charged with possession of machineguns in furtherance of drug trafficking in Count Five face a mandatory sentence of thirty years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed on the drug trafficking charges. All defendants are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $12,796,800.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
30 March 2026
Zuni Man Charged with KidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man has been charged with kidnapping after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman he tricked into getting in his car by offering her a ride home.
According to court documents, on March 23, 2026, Barton Rico Cooeyate, 41, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted Jane Doe after offering her a ride home in Zuni, New Mexico, only to transport her to an abandoned rural residence 15 miles away. The victim escaped from Cooeyate’s vehicle and hid until a Zuni Pueblo Tribal Ranger conducted an unrelated DWI stop on Cooeyate. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered injuries including a contusion to her left forearm.
Cooeyate is charged with kidnapping by inveiglement. This means Cooeyatelured the woman into his car by false representations or promises, or other deceitful means. He will remain in La Pasada Halfway House pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Cooeyate faces up to life in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Fish and Wildlife and the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Worcester Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting MinorsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man has been sentenced for sexually exploiting three minor females.
Antonio Merced, 29, was sentenced on March 26, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 30 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. This sentence will run consecutive to his state prison sentence. In July 2025, Merced pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography.
In July 2024, Merced exposed two minor victims to pornography and sex toys. A subsequent investigation revealed that Merced had been sexually abusing three minors and producing videos of their sexual abuse. Documentation of the abuse occurring in 2023 of a six year old child, and videos created in 2024 of two other children being sexually abused by Merced were found during the investigation. At a plea hearing in July 2025, Merced admitted to using the three minors to create sexually explicit videos and to possessing hundreds of photos and videos of child sex abuse material of children unknown to him.
Merced was arrested in September 2024 and was subsequently indicted in Worcester Superior Court. He was convicted of 10 counts of aggravated rape of a child and sentenced to 25-30 years in state prison.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Waco Area Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing, Sharing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – A Clifton man was sentenced in a federal court in Waco to 480 months in federal prison for possessing and distributing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, on Feb. 24, 2025, Redus Duncan Smith, 28, sent another individual a private KIK message containing a 15-second video file that depicted child sexual abuse of a prepubescent girl. That same day, he sent an additional five video files of toddlers and prepubescent children being sexually assaulted. Using the username “big_john7895,” he stated in the chat that his name was Reed, he was 27 years old, lived in Texas, and worked in fast food. He also sent two “selfie” styled photos of himself. An investigation determined that through his chats with other KIK users, Smith was intent on teaching others how to groom children in order to sexually abuse them.
FBI agents executed a search warrant at Smith’s home on Aug. 26, 2025, seizing digital devices that contained approximately 858 images and 704 videos of child sexual abuse material, including sexually explicit depictions of prepubescent minors, infants and toddlers. Smith was arrested during the search. He pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2025, to one count of distribution of visual depictions of sexual activities by minors and one count of possession of visual depictions of sexual activities by minors. U.S. District Judge Alan D. Albright sentenced Smith to two consecutive 240-month terms of imprisonment followed by 20 years of supervised release. Smith was also ordered to pay $33,000 in restitution.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Gloff prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
###
Two Grey Hills Man Sentenced for Assault with a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Two Grey Hills man was sentenced to eight and a half year in prison for brandishing and discharging a firearm while threatening multiple individuals.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on February 28, 2025, James Smiley Jr., 56, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, unlawfully entered a residence within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and pointed a firearm at three individuals without provocation. During the incident, Smiley threatened to kill the victims and discharged the firearm into the ceiling.
Smiley pleaded guilty to one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Upon his release from prison, Smiley will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Treasurer for Maryland Candidate’s Political Campaigns Indicted on Embezzlement ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed an indictment, charging a treasurer who works for several political candidates and organizations, in connection with an embezzlement scheme.
James Appel, 58, of Annapolis, Maryland, is charged with wire fraud and money laundering. The indictment alleges that, in 2024, Appel stole approximately $100,000 from a Maryland State Delegate’s campaign accounts and embezzled an additional $100,000 from an Anne Arundel County community organization. It is further alleged that Appel reported the stolen funds as his own assets on a loan refinance application for his yacht.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the indictment, in May 2023, Appel transferred $100,000 from Politician 1’s Account A to Politician 1’s Account B, which was an account for which he was the sole designated representative. Then in April 2024, Appel contacted a bank about refinancing a loan on his Pacific Mariner 65 Motoryacht. The bank advised Appel that he needed to provide information about his assets, including the balances of his bank accounts.
In May 2024, Appel transferred campaign funds from Politician 1’s Account B into his business account before eventually moving the money into his personal financial accounts. Specifically, on May 13, Appel transferred $40,000 from Politician 1’s Account B to his business account.
Then, on May 13, Appel transferred $20,000 from his business account to one of his personal accounts and transferred another $40,000 from his business account to pay part of the outstanding balance from his line of credit. Additionally, on May 30, Appel transferred $60,000 from Politician 1’s Account B to his business account. On the same date, Appel then transferred $60,000 from his business account to his personal account. In total, Appel embezzled $100,000 from Politician 1’s campaign accounts.
On June 5, Appel transferred $100,000 from the Anne Arundel community organization account to his business account. On the same day, Appel transferred that $100,000 from his business account to his personal account. Additionally, on June 5, Appel emailed the bank about a refinancing loan for the yacht. In the email, he wrote: “I will be able to pull [bank] statements dates 6/18 and 6/22 for our checking account and [money market account] and they will show balances of 70k and 100k.”
Then in August 2024, Appel submitted false and fraudulent information about his assets to the bank. He also prepared, signed, and submitted a false and fraudulent campaign report to the Maryland Board of Elections. This report falsely inflated the total balance of Politician 1’s campaign accounts.
Additionally, in January 2025 and January 2026, Appel prepared, signed, and submitted false and fraudulent campaign reports to the Maryland Board of Elections. These reports falsely inflated the total balance of Politician 1’s campaign accounts. In 2026, Appel also falsely and fraudulently represented the status and amount of Community Organization 1’s assets to its board members.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Appel faces a maximum of up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire-fraud count and up to 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation and the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor for its valuable assistance. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Wenner and Ari D. Evans who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
# # #
The Rosenda Strong/Jedidah Iesha Moreno Murder Cases Have ConcludedRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – As of March 30, 2026, all seven defendants indicted for their involvement in the Rosenda Strong/Jedidah Iesha Moreno murders have been sentenced. The following information was made public during the legal proceedings.
In early October 2018, Rosenda Strong, who was an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, was reported as missing. Later that month, Jedidah Iesha Moreno was also reported as missing. Both women were reported as last being seen within the boundaries of the Yakama Nation Indian reservation. The Yakama Nation Police Department (“YNPD”) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) began two separate investigations into the cases of the missing women. Cissy Strong, the sister of Rosenda Strong, led a public campaign to ensure that her sister would not be forgotten.
On November 28, 2018, the remains of Jedidah Iesha Moreno were discovered in the closed area of the Yakama Nation. It was determined that she had been bound and shot by multiple caliber bullets.
On July 4, 2019, human remains were found in a freezer within the boundaries of the Yakama Nation Indian reservation. Dental records confirmed that the human remains were those of Rosenda Strong.
Despite the lack of physical evidence, the FBI and the YNPD refused to allow these cases to go cold. Over the next few years, the FBI and the YNPD conducted hundreds of interviews, followed up on leads throughout the United States, dug up multiple areas were tipsters advised remains would be located, and obtained and executed multiple search warrants. As the investigation progressed, the FBI learned that the two cases were related. The FBI learned that Jedidah Iesha Moreno had shot and killed Rosenda Strong at a residence in Wapato, Washington.
After the murder, Andrew Zack and Jamaal Pimms stuffed Rosenda Strong’s body into a freezer. Andrew Zack, Kevin Todd Brehm, and Michael Moody attempted to find a location to dump the freezer. Ultimately, the FBI learned that Andrew Zack contacted Wilson Louis Hunt and advised him of the situation. Zack inquired about a good location to dump the body. Wilson Louis Hunt subsequently met with the men and advised him of a place to dump the freezer that contained the body. The men then dumped the freezer at the location in which it was later found.
A day or so after the murder of Rosenda Strong, Jedidah Iesha Moreno shot Wilson Louis Hunt. Later that evening. Moreno and Zack were at a residence in Toppenish, Washington. Moreno and Zack exchanged words, and Zack entered a garage to urinate. Moreno took out her gun and fired multiple shots at Zack. Zack suffered a minor wound and hid on the floor of the garage. Zack was able to make phone calls and beg for assistance.
Ultimately, Uriel Balentine Badillo arrived at the residence. Badillo found Moreno but could not find Zack. At that time, Zack was still on the floor hiding in the garage. Badillo transported Moreno to another location to look for Zack. Upon arrival, a Native American female advised Badillo that he needed to restrain Moreno and take her back to the residence in Toppenish. Moreno was bound and gagged and transported back to the residence.
Upon their return to the residence, Zack had emerged from his hiding spot. Zack, Badillo, and two juveniles were present. Badillo forced Moreno into the trunk of a stolen vehicle. Badillo shut the trunk and fired multiple shots into the trunk. Moreno was struck by multiple bullets. The two juveniles were instructed to dump Moreno’s body at another location. After dumping the body, one of juveniles fired multiple rounds into Moreno’s lifeless body.
The following day, Joshua Max Estrada arrived home and learned what had happened. The juvenile told Estrada where he had dumped the body. Estrada teased the juvenile for dumping the body in such a public place. Estrada and the juvenile were then tasked with picking up Moreno’s body and dumping it at another location. Estrada and the juvenile found Moreno’s body, put it into the back of Estrada’s truck, the dumped the body in the closed area. After dumping the body, the juvenile again filed multiple rounds into the lifeless body.
On June 13, 2023, an Indictment was returned charging all known individuals who were involved in the murder investigations. Ultimately, all of the Defendants pled guilty. Cissy Strong was present for almost every court hearing and exercised her right to speak at the sentencing hearings.
United States District Chief Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed the following sentences:
- Kevin Todd Brehm, to 70 months in federal prison for being an Accessory After the Fact. Brehm will also serve a 3-year term of federal supervised release after serving his custodial sentence. Brehm was sentenced on March 30, 2026.
- Uriel Balentine Badillo, to 292 months in federal prison for Kidnapping Resulting in Death. Brehm will also serve a 5-year term of federal supervised release after serving his custodial sentence. Badillo was sentenced on March 25, 2026.
- Wilson Louis Hunt, to 84 months in federal prison for being an Accessory After the Fact. Hunt will also serve a 3-year term of federal supervised release after serving his custodial sentence. Hunt was sentenced on January 14, 2026.
- Andrew Norris Zack, to 43 months in federal prison for being an Accessory After the Fact and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Zack will also serve a 3-year term of federal supervised release after serving his custodial sentence. Zack was sentenced on December 2, 2025.
- Jamaal Antwan Pimms, to 26 months in federal prison for Misprision of Felony. Pimms will also serve a 1-year term of federal supervised release after serving his custodial sentence. Pimms was sentenced on May 28, 2025.
- Joshawa Max Estrada, to 100 months in federal prison for being an Accessory After the Fact. Estrada will also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after serving his custodial sentence. Estrada was sentenced on March 26, 2025.
- Michael Lee Moody, to 87 months in federal prison for being an Accessory After the Fact. Moody will also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after serving his custodial sentence. Moody was sentenced on March 11, 2025.
“The sentencing of Kevin Brehm today concludes an intensive seven-year long investigation by our tribal partners, federal agencies, local police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring justice to Rosenda Strong,” stated First Assistant Pete Serrano. “Rosenda Strong was senselessly murdered and for years her family sought answers. Through the tireless efforts of law enforcement, the advocacy of Rosenda Strong’s sister and family, we hope today brings a measure of peace and finality to this community. The United States Attorney’s Office is grateful for all the partners who worked so hard to seek answers and to the Strong family for their relentless pursuit of justice for Rosenda. We will continue to fight for those silenced by violence.”
“Seven and a half years after this horrific murder, the final sentence in this tragic case has been handed down,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Seattle. “We hope today will help bring a degree of comfort and closure to the families of the victims, in knowing that justice has been served. FBI Seattle has a strong, long-standing commitment to investigating violent crime on tribal lands alongside our partners in tribal law enforcement and at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We do not forget. We do not give up. And we will hold violent offenders accountable, no matter how long it takes.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Yakama Nation Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Murphy and Tom Hanlon.
Ten Foreign Nationals Charged in an International Operation Targeting Cryptocurrency Market ManipulationRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Federal grand juries indicted ten executives and employees of four different cryptocurrency financial services firms (known as “market makers”) for orchestrating fraud schemes to artificially inflate the trading volume and price of cryptocurrencies. Three defendants, including two chief executive officers, were arrested and extradited from Singapore and made their initial appearance in federal court in Oakland today.
Employees from the four firms, Gotbit, Vortex, Antier, and Contrarian, have been charged in three separate indictments. The indictments allege that the defendants not only conspired to inflate the trading volume and price of cryptocurrencies but also profited through the sale of the cryptocurrencies at inflated prices to unwitting investors. These so-called pump-and-dump schemes caused losses to investors in the United States and elsewhere. In addition to the three extradited defendants, two others have already pled guilty and were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín. More than $1 million in cryptocurrency has been seized to date.
The indictments and arrests were the result of an undercover operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) targeting illicit “wash trading” in the cryptocurrency industry. As part of the undercover operation, the FBI created several cryptocurrency tokens.
According to the indictments, all of the schemes followed a similar pattern. The defendants acted as illicit market makers by “wash trading” the cryptocurrency to artificially inflate the trading volume and price. As described in the indictment, wash trading occurs when a single trader, or a number of traders, working in coordination, act as both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction or a series of transactions. This fraudulent trading tactic creates the appearance that these cryptocurrencies have more active, organic trading than really exists, thereby inducing investors to purchase the cryptocurrencies at artificially inflated prices.
On March 25, 2025, a federal grand jury in San Francisco, California indicted Taiwanese national Antoine Tsao (Business Development Manager for Gotbit), Russian national Ian Sofronov (Sales Manager for Gotbit), and Serbian national Nemanja Popov (Account Manager for Gotbit) on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud for a scheme to artificially inflate the price of a cryptocurrency token. Tsao was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport on March 30, 2025. On June 2, 2025, Tsao pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín in Oakland, California. Nemanja Popov was arrested at San Francisco International Airport, and pled guilty and was sentenced on February 10, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín.
On August 28, 2025, a federal grand jury in Oakland, California indicted Russian nationals Gleb Gora, 24, (Chief Executive Officer of Vortex), Sergei Ryzhkov (Chief Financial Officer of Vortex), and Michael Vogel (Business Development Manager for Vortex) on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud for a scheme to artificially inflate the price of a cryptocurrency token while planning to liquidate their holdings once trading reached a high price. Gora was arrested in Singapore on October 2, 2025, at the request of the United States. Gora made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge today in Oakland following his extradition from Singapore.
On September 4, 2025, a federal grand jury in Oakland, California, indicted Indian nationals Manu Singh, 34, (Chief Executive Officer of Contrarian), Kushagra Srivastava (Chief Financial Officer of Contrarian), Vasu Sharma, 26, (Business Development Associate at Contrarian), and Sabby Singh, a Business Development Manager at a Contrarian partner firm Antier Solutions Private Limited. The defendants were charged with wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy for a scheme to pump up the price of a cryptocurrency token while at the same time planning to dump their holdings of the token when it reached a high trading price. Defendants Manu Singh and Vasu Sharma were arrested in Singapore on October 2, 2025, at the request of the United States, and made their initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge today in Oakland following their extradition from Singapore.
Defendants Gora, Singh, and Sharma are currently in federal custody.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo, and IRS-CI Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.
Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Law Enforcement Attaché’s Office in Singapore and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, working with the Singapore Police Force and Attorney General’s Chambers, for securing the arrests and extraditions of Gora, Singh, and Sharma to the United States.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin K. Kleinman, Daniel M. Pastor, and Molly K. Priedeman are prosecuting the cases with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation led by the FBI with the assistance of IRS-CI.
Suspect arrested in O’Fallon bank robbery investigationRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A man appeared in federal court last Wednesday to face a federal charge for allegedly robbing a bank in O’Fallon, Illinois.
George E. Habermehl, Jr., 62, is facing one count of bank robbery.
“Anyone who robs a bank will face federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The O’Fallon Police Department acted decisively. They released the suspect’s image immediately, mobilized the public’s tips, and brought this defendant into custody the very same day. That is outstanding police work and exactly the kind of strong partnership that delivers results for our community.”
According to the complaint, Habermehl is accused of robbing a federally insured bank on Highway 50 in O’Fallon around 11:10 a.m. on March 20. He allegedly approached the teller, presented a demand note, and demanded cash. After receiving the cash, Habermehl took off from the bank on foot. Following the robbery, the O’Fallon Police Department released still images of the alleged suspect on social media. According to the complaint, the O’Fallon Police Department received several tips identifying the suspect as Habermehl. Habermehl is on federal probation for bank robbery, and recently absconded. Officers took Habermehl into custody after locating him in East St. Louis.
"Protecting the integrity of our financial institutions and the safety of our citizens who work there is a top priority," said FBI Springfield’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Karen Marinos. "Thanks to the diligent investigative work and support of the O’Fallon Police Department, we are sending a clear message that these actions will not be tolerated in our community."
A complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI Springfield Field Office is investigating with support from the O’Fallon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Fischer is prosecuting the case.
Sparks Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of Multiple ChildrenRead the Press Release
RENO – A Sparks resident was sentenced today by United States District Judge Miranda M. Du to 23 years in prison for sexually abusing four Native American children on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and two other children.
“This sentence underscores the severity of the sexual abuse crimes the defendant committed against children,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the diligent work by our law enforcement partners, the defendant is no longer a danger to the community. We will continue to work together to protect our youth from child predators.”
“Angel Fernandez is a child predator, and today he received a fittingly severe sentence,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “We must protect the children in our community from the actions of sex offenders like Fernandez, who abused four Native American children on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and two others. The FBI is committed to tirelessly working to identify and arrest anyone who preys on innocent children. I am grateful for the law enforcement officers and prosecutors who investigate these horrifying cases and hold dangerous child predators accountable.”
From 2004 until 2022, Angel Fernandez engaged in the sexual abuse of multiple children and continued to abuse some of the victims after they reached 16 years of age.
Fernandez pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor within Indian Country and two counts of abusive sexual contact within Indian Country. Following his release from imprisonment, the Court ordered that he serve 15 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender.
The FBI and Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady and Andrew Keenan prosecuted the case.
###
South Carolina Businessman Who Operated Bowling Entertainment Business in Massachusetts Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A South Carolina businessman has pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to COVID relief fraud.
David Breen, 54, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property, for misappropriating COVID-19 funds for personal use. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2026.
Breen spent more than $1.2 million in Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) money that he obtained from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to build a home and purchase motor vehicles. Through the EIDL program, the SBA provided loans to small businesses that suffered substantial economic injury due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, in March 2022, Breen applied for EIDL funds on behalf of ‘Fun Zone,’ an entity through which he operated ‘Pinz,’ a bowling alley and other entertainment venue in Milford, Mass. To obtain the loan, Breen entered into a loan agreement with the SBA in which he agreed, among other things, to use the loan proceeds as working capital for his business. After receiving approximately $1.5 million from the SBA, Breen used more than $1.2 million of this money, through June 2023, to build a home for himself in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and for down payments on a $111,000 truck and a $98,289 Mercedes.
The charge of theft of government property carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine 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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan D. O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
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 via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
Six Pittsburgh-Area Defendants Charged with Hate Crime and Obstruction of Justice for Late-Night Antisemitic Attack on Jewish MaleRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has charged six residents of the greater Pittsburgh area with violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, obstructing justice, and conspiring to obstruct justice in relation to a September 2024 attack on a Jewish male in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The seven-count Indictment named Muhammed Koc, 27, of Pittsburgh; Omar Alshmari, 28, of Monroeville; Abraham Choudhry, 22, of Monroeville; Emirhan Arslan, 24, of McKees Rocks; Ali Alkhaleel, 19, of Pittsburgh; and Adeel Piracha, 22, of Murrysville, as defendants.
“We will prosecute this alleged act of violent antisemitism to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will always protect the First Amendment right to worship freely and without fear for Jewish Americans and all Americans of faith.”
“As alleged in the Indictment, this incident began with two defendants physically attacking an individual because of the victim’s Jewish identity,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “Then, these defendants corruptly colluded with one another to provide false and misleading testimony before a federal grand jury tasked with investigating the assault. Obstruction is illegal and undermines the pursuit of justice; it will not be tolerated within our legal system, particularly when defendants testify falsely in an effort to protect individuals who commit hate crimes and acts of violence.”
According to the Indictment, on or about September 27, 2024, at 2:01 a.m., the defendants except for Piracha were all part of a group that made virulent antisemitic statements to a passerby in Oakland upon seeing the individual’s necklace bearing a Star of David pendant. Following a verbal confrontation, during which additional antisemitic comments were made, Koc and Alshmari physically attacked the victim, causing bodily injury that included physical pain, a split lip, and headaches. The Indictment charges Koc and Alshmari, aiding and abetting one another, with willfully causing bodily injury to the victim because of the individual’s actual and perceived race and religion.
Later that day, and throughout the following months, Piracha and the other defendants discussed the incident via social media messaging and group chats, during which Alshmari identified himself and Koc as two of the individuals listed in a University of Pittsburgh crime alert about the attack. In subsequent conversations by text messaging, both Alshmari and Koc admitted to being involved in the attack on the victim.
The Indictment further alleges that the defendants conspired with one another to obstruct and did obstruct the due administration of justice regarding this crime by, for example, agreeing to falsely align their testimony about the attack and providing false and misleading information before the federal grand jury. Several defendants testified falsely as to whether they or others struck the victim, whether the attack was related to the victim’s Jewish identity and Star of David necklace, and whether they had discussed with any others what to say to the grand jury, among other false statements. Read the full Indictment here.
“Antisemitism has no place in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to investigate allegations of violence against people of faith and will work to ensure the safe exercise of religious practices—whether that be through wearing religious symbols or visiting houses of worship.”
“Violence that targets someone because of their religious beliefs is unacceptable in American society,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec. “Freedom of religion is a fundamental principle at the core of many communities across our nation. FBI Pittsburgh and our local, state, and federal partners stand committed to protecting all faith communities from acts of hatred and intimidation. Incidents such as this will be met with a swift, decisive law enforcement response as we will pursue those believed responsible with the full force of the law.”
For the hate crime and obstruction of justice counts, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. For the conspiracy to obstruct justice count, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler and Trial Attorney Adam Hassanein from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, aided by the University of Pittsburgh Police, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Six Pittsburgh-Area Defendants Charged with Hate Crime and Obstruction of Justice for Late-Night Antisemitic Attack on Jewish MaleRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has charged six residents of the greater Pittsburgh area with violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, obstructing justice, and conspiring to obstruct justice in relation to a September 2024 attack on a Jewish male in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
The seven-count indictment named Muhammed Koc, 27, of Pittsburgh; Omar Alshmari, 28, of Monroeville; Abraham Choudhry, 22, of Monroeville; Emirhan Arslan, 24, of McKees Rocks; Ali Alkhaleel, 19, of Pittsburgh; and Adeel Piracha, 22, of Murrysville, as defendants.
“We will prosecute this alleged act of violent antisemitism to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will always protect the First Amendment right to worship freely and without fear for Jewish Americans and all Americans of faith.”
“The FBI's work to protect the American people and uphold the constitution includes the assurance to every single American that they are allowed to practice their religion without fear of harm,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These defendants were not only charged for the alleged violence but also the additional act of obstructing justice. The FBI and its partners will simply not allow that to happen without consequence.”
“Antisemitism has no place in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to investigate allegations of violence against people of faith and will work to ensure the safe exercise of religious practices — whether that be through wearing religious symbols or visiting houses of worship.”
“As alleged in the indictment, this incident began with two defendants physically attacking an individual because of the victim’s Jewish identity,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “Then, these defendants corruptly colluded with one another to provide false and misleading testimony before a federal grand jury tasked with investigating the assault. Obstruction is illegal and undermines the pursuit of justice; it will not be tolerated within our legal system, particularly when defendants testify falsely in an effort to protect individuals who commit hate crimes and acts of violence.”
“Violence that targets someone because of their religious beliefs is unacceptable in American society,” said Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office. “Freedom of religion is a fundamental principle at the core of many communities across our nation. FBI Pittsburgh and our local, state, and federal partners stand committed to protecting all faith communities from acts of hatred and intimidation. Incidents such as this will be met with a swift, decisive law enforcement response as we will pursue those believed responsible with the full force of the law.”
According to the indictment, on or about Sept. 27, 2024, at 2:01 a.m., the defendants except for Piracha were all part of a group that made virulent antisemitic statements to a passerby in Oakland upon seeing the individual’s necklace bearing a Star of David pendant. Following a verbal confrontation, during which additional antisemitic comments were made, Koc and Alshmari physically attacked the victim, causing bodily injury that included physical pain, a split lip, and headaches. The indictment charges Koc and Alshmari, aiding and abetting one another, with willfully causing bodily injury to the victim because of the individual’s actual and perceived race and religion.
Later that day, and throughout the following months, Piracha and the other defendants discussed the incident via social media messaging and group chats, during which Alshmari identified himself and Koc as two of the individuals listed in a University of Pittsburgh crime alert about the attack. In subsequent conversations by text messaging, both Alshmari and Koc admitted to being involved in the attack on the victim.
The indictment further alleges that the defendants conspired with one another to obstruct and did obstruct the due administration of justice regarding this crime by, for example, agreeing to falsely align their testimony about the attack and providing false and misleading information before the federal grand jury. Several defendants testified falsely as to whether they or others struck the victim, whether the attack was related to the victim’s Jewish identity and Star of David necklace, and whether they had discussed with any others what to say to the grand jury, among other false statements.
For the hate crime and obstruction of justice counts, the law provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. For the conspiracy to obstruct justice count, the law provides for a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The FBI, aided by the University of Pittsburgh Police, conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl J. Spindler for the Western District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Adam Hassanein of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Note: Read the full Indictment here.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 5 years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota man convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on March 16, 2026.
Gregory Henderson, 63, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gregory Henderson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in May of 2024. On December 4, 2025, he was found guilty at trial of the Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and acquitted of the Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
The case involved Henderson moving money on behalf of a drug trafficking organization, by sending drug proceeds via multiple electronic means, including CashApp, to individuals identified by his co-conspirators, in order to conceal the fact that the money was derived from the sale of narcotics and to conceal the ownership of the funds.
The drug trafficking organization that Henderson laundered funds for was led by Darrell Devorce. The group trafficked methamphetamine from California to South Dakota over multiple years. Devorce coordinated loads of methamphetamine to be driven to South Dakota by multiple different couriers. He also directed multiple people from South Dakota to electronically send money to people in California who were associated with him. In total, the Devorce drug trafficking organization was responsible for trafficking approximately 200 pounds of methamphetamine and laundering over $700,000. The investigation resulted in the convictions of 13 defendants in federal court.“This case is a continuation of the outstanding efforts by federal law enforcement agents to follow the money as it is sought to be laundered by drug trafficking organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.
“This case is another great example of what happens when we combine resources with our law enforcement partners,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “Anyone involved in putting dangerous drugs onto our streets needs to be tracked and stopped. Finding the funding source of the drug trafficking operation is what IRS-CI special agents do best.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and IRS – Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges and Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
Henderson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Shooting at DEA Special Agent and Drug Trafficking Crimes Results in 30-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Pensacola FelonRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Austin James McCastler II, 36, was sentenced on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, attempted prevention of the government’s authority to take property during an authorized search and seizure, assault with a deadly weapon of a Special Agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. John Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentencing today.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplified the extreme dangers faced by the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe from violent criminals. I am incredibly proud of the outstanding trial work by the talented prosecutors in my office that resulted in this successful outcome. Let me be clear: anyone who threatens, shoots at, or in any way harms a law enforcement officer in the Northern District of Florida will face the full might of the Department of Justice.”
McCastler was sentenced after being found guilty in a jury trial. Trial testimony and court documents revealed that, after undercover law enforcement purchased methamphetamine from McCastler’s Pensacola residence on two occasions, a warrant was obtained to search for and seize illicit narcotics from his home. On March 7, 2025, law enforcement attempted to execute the lawful warrant, but McCastler refused to comply with commands to surrender, instead arming and barricading himself in the home. As law enforcement surrounded the residence, McCastler opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, including shooting at a DEA Special Agent. McCastler then fled from the residence in his vehicle, leading to a high-speed chase that ended after an Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy executed a PIT maneuver to immobilize McCastler’s vehicle. McCastler then tried to flee on foot, but law enforcement captured him. A search of his residence led to the recovery of a loaded semi-automatic rifle and two spent casings from the shots fired by McCastler, a second firearm, dozens of rounds of ammunition, fentanyl, and marijuana.
“Most investigations happen without incident,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, DEA Tampa Field Division. “However, times like this reinforce how dangerous this career can be. I’m thankful no one was injured.”
“If you fire at law enforcement, we will use every tool and partnership to bring you to justice,” said Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “This incident could easily have ended in tragedy for law enforcement or innocent bystanders, but this sentencing will ensure this suspect is no longer a danger to our community.”
Escambia County Sheriff Simmons said: “Austin James McCastler II chose violence over compliance when law enforcement came to execute a lawful search warrant at his home. His decision to open fire on officers, including taking a shot at a DEA Special Agent, endangered the lives of brave men and women who were simply doing their jobs to remove dangerous drugs from our community. Thanks to the professionalism and courage of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies involved in the pursuit and apprehension, along with our federal and local partners, this violent offender is now facing serious consequences. We remain committed to working together to protect Escambia County families from drug traffickers and those who arm themselves against law enforcement.”
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and the danger posed to our community and law enforcement,” said Sheriff Johnson, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. “When an individual chooses to traffic deadly drugs and use violence against officers, there must be strong consequences. I commend the courage and professionalism of all deputies and partner agencies involved in bringing this case to justice.”
The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available 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.
Reporting Voluntary Self-Disclosures of Violations of National Security Laws Under the Department-wide Corporate Enforcement PolicyRead the Press Release
The mission of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division (NSD) is to protect and defend the United States against the full range of national security threats, consistent with the rule of law. Business organizations and their employees are at the forefront of protecting the national security of the United States by preventing the unlawful export of sensitive commodities, technologies, and services, as well as unlawful transactions with sanctioned countries and designated individuals and entities. Enforcing our export control and sanctions laws, and holding accountable those who violate them, is a top priority for NSD.
On March 10, 2026, the Department released its first-ever Department-wide corporate enforcement policy (CEP) for criminal matters, promoting uniformity, predictability, and fairness in how it pursues white-collar cases to protect the American people.
As the announcement explains, the “Department-wide CEP provides concrete benefits to incentivize companies to voluntarily disclose discovered misconduct, cooperate with our investigations, and timely and appropriately remediate the wrongdoing. For companies that do, absent certain limited aggravating circumstances, the Department will decline to prosecute the company. Incentivizing corporate self-disclosures — while still permitting prosecutions in appropriate circumstances — allows the Department to quickly pursue culpable individuals, secure justice for victims, and deter white-collar crime, all while not unduly burdening American businesses.”
Under the CEP, “disclosure must be made to the appropriate component of the Department,” CEP n.5, and all resolutions under the CEP “must be approved by the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for the relevant Division.” CEP Background ¶ 4. The CEP also provides that a “[g]ood faith disclosure to one component where the matter is later brought to another appropriate component for investigation will also qualify” for declination. CEP n.5
As pertaining to national security laws, the Justice Manual (JM) assigns the “enforcement of all criminal laws affecting, involving or relating to the national security, and the responsibility for prosecuting criminal offenses, such as conspiracy, perjury and false statements, arising out of offenses related to national security . . . to the AAG of NSD.” JM § 9-90.010.
The scope of these matters, which includes violations of the U.S. government’s primary export control and sanctions regimes — the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), 22 U.S.C. § 2778, the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), 50 U.S.C. § 4801 et seq., and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. § 1701 et seq. – can be found at JM § 9-90.020.
While the conduct of business organizations and their employees has the greatest potential to implicate U.S. national security interests in the enforcement of export control and sanctions laws, the conduct of business organizations and their employees can also violate other U.S. national security laws, including laws prohibiting material support to and financing of foreign terrorist organizations, criminal violations in connection with the work of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (Team Telecom). Companies are encouraged to voluntarily self-disclose to NSD any potential criminal violations of U.S. law relating to matters conducted, handled, or supervised by the NSD AAG.
All voluntary self-disclosures concerning potential criminal violations of U.S. national security laws should be sent, with the company name in the subject line, to NSD’s email inbox for voluntary self‑disclosures: [email protected].
Registered Sex Offender Charged with Attempted Sexual Exploitation of A MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the arrest of LOUIS K. WEST III. WEST, a registered sex offender, is charged with communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl and attempting to meet the individual to engage in sexual activities and record the encounter. WEST was taken into federal custody on Friday, March 27, 2026, presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court, and detained.
“There are few crimes as horrific as the sexual exploitation of our children, particularly in cases like this one where the defendant has a history of sexual violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New York families have zero tolerance for this conduct, and we are acting on their behalf. Please read the allegations in this complaint and, if you think you see something similar, say something: call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or use the online tips page: https://tips.fbi.gov.”
“Louis West, a registered sex offender, allegedly attempted to arrange a sexual encounter with a minor victim before authorities intercepted him,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “West allegedly sought to sexually abuse a young teenager for his own twisted gratification. The FBI continues to partner with state and local law enforcement to target sexual predators seeking to harm vulnerable children.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
On March 26, 2026, WEST was identified as part of a multi-agency enticement operation. WEST attempted to meet with an underage minor female for the purpose of engaging in sex acts. WEST negotiated the details of a sexual encounter with an undercover law enforcement officer (“Officer-1”). Officer-1 and WEST agreed on a place to meet for WEST to engage in sex with the minor.
Later that evening, WEST arrived at the agreed upon meeting location and spoke with another undercover law enforcement officer (“Officer-2”). When asked if he had brought condoms, WEST confirmed that he had and flashed a condom from inside his pocket. WEST confirmed that he could “take his time” with the minor. Officer-2 moved to enter the location where WEST believed the 14-year-old to be located, and WEST followed. At that point, WEST was arrested by FBI agents. Upon searching WEST, agents found covert recording equipment, including a hidden camera disguised as an alarm clock and a pair of apparent video recording eyeglasses.
* * *
WEST, 50, of Poughkeepsie, New York, is charged with one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count of committing a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender. The statutory minimum for these charges is 35 years in prison, and the maximum is life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum 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 efforts of the FBI’s New York Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, New York State Police - Troop F, Internet Crimes Against Children Proactive Investigations Unit - Albany, Special Operation Response Team, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Town of Newburgh Police Department, Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, the New York State Intelligence Center, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, and the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Isabelle Lelogeais is in charge of the prosecution.
[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.
Prior felon going to prison on drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eric Rivera, 39, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute of 400 grams or more fentanyl and being felon in possession of ammunition, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine, who handled the case, stated that on March 14, 2024, the Niagara Falls Police Department was executing a search warrant at an Ontario Avenue residence. Shortly after entering the residence, an investigator looked out the back door and saw a male throw a shopping bag over a fence, jump over the fence, and run, before entering an abandoned garage next door with the bag, and then exiting without the bag. The male looked back toward law enforcement vehicles, while attempting to hide. Investigators quickly located the male identified as Rivera. A narcotics detection K-9 dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the back of the garage, where investigators located the bag Rivera was seen holding. Investigators seized approximately 18 grams of cocaine and fentanyl, 642 grams of heroin and fentanyl, approximately eight grams of cocaine, 1511 grams of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, a firearm, magazines, and ammunition.
In March 2007, Rivera was convicted in Erie County Court of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division.
# # # #