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31 March 2026
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Pharmacist indicted for stealing drugs from employerRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas pharmacist for allegedly taking prescription drugs from a former employer for his personal use.
According to court documents, Logan Marshall Abbott, 33, of Maize was indicted on one count of acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by deception/subterfuge.
Abbott is accused of using his position as a pharmacist to illegally acquire amphetamine (Adderall), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and oxycodone from his employer without authorization.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Marcus S. Castillo, 45, of Wichita was indicted on three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Wichita Police Department is investigating the case.
Ramiro M. Ciprian-De La Cruz, 32, an illegal alien from Guatemala was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
David Colorado-Loredo. 47, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Brooklyn Edward McKnight, 28, of Marquette was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Pensacola Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Kill an Escambia County Sheriff’s DeputyRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Darrion K. Finley, 22, of Pensacola, Florida, has been sentenced in federal court on charges related to a shooting incident in late 2024. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentencing.
The Indictment charged Finley with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, attempting to kill an Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy to prevent certain communications, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case shows the deadly threats our brave men and women in law enforcement face every day as they fight to remove violent criminals from our communities. My office remains firmly committed to aggressively prosecuting those violent offenders, and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement partners in the fight to keep our streets safe. 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.”
Court documents reveal that on December 17, 2024, the defendant was driving in Pensacola in a stolen vehicle. When the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the defendant, he accelerated and law enforcement began its vehicle pursuit. One of the pursuing deputies executed a PIT maneuver to immobilize Finley’s vehicle, after which Finley fired a 9-millimeter pistol at the Deputy’s vehicle, striking the passenger side door of the patrol vehicle. As the Deputy and his K9 approached the defendant’s vehicle, Finley exited the car armed with the pistol, and began pointing it at the officer. The Deputy released his K9, which lunged at Finley and prevented him from firing the pistol, after which Finley attempted to flee on foot but was immobilized and detained. Upon recovering Finley’s handgun, it was discovered that a live round had lodged in the ejection port, indicating the defendant had tried to fire the weapon a second time at the Deputy but it malfunctioned.
“Darrion Finley’s brazen attempt to murder one of our deputies during a routine traffic stop highlights the extreme dangers our officers face every single day,” said Escambia County Sheriff Simmons. “Thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of our deputy and his K9 partner, a dangerous felon is now off our streets for decades. We will continue working shoulder-to-shoulder with our federal partners to hold violent criminals accountable and keep Escambia County safe.”
“Escambia County residents are better off with this violent man behind bars,” said Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Change Kirk Howard. “The suspect shot at law enforcement with complete disregard for the community and this sentencing sends a clear message that acts of violence against law enforcement and our community will not be tolerated.”
The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pawtucket Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Pawtucket man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence to one count of possession of child pornography, including hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
William Dickson, 61, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty on March 27, 2026 to one count of possession of child pornography. Dickson will be sentenced on July 13, 2026. The sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years.
According to court documents, law enforcement identified an online peer-to-peer file sharing account used by Dickson to download and share CSAM. On April 10, 2024, federal agents executed search warrants on Dickson’s residence, person, and vehicle, where they seized multiple electronic devices.
A forensic analysis of the defendant’s devices revealed approximately 820 images and 20 videos depicting CSAM.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
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
Panama City Man Indicted for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Michael Ray Pennington, 60, of Panama City, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for Attempted Enticement of a Minor. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Pennington appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Charles Stampelos in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 26, 2026, before District Court Judge Mark Walker.
If convicted, Pennington faces a minimum 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to Life imprisonment.
The case is being jointly investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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.
Oviedo Man Convicted of Attempting to Coerce and Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Rusbel Montoya Mandujano (32, Oviedo) guilty of attempting to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Montoya Mandujano faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 25, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on June 25, 2025, Montoya Mandujano began communicating online and via text messaging with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old “girl.” The “girl” was actually a team of detectives working with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in an undercover capacity. After Montoya Mandujano learned the “girl’s” age, he initiated discussions of various sexual acts he wanted to engage in with her and made a plan to meet up with her to do so. When Montoya Mandujano arrived at the meeting location on June 26, 2025, he was arrested by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Onetaste Founder Nicole Daedone Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Forced Labor ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Nicole Daedone, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of OneTaste, Inc. (OneTaste), a sexual wellness education company founded in San Francisco, California, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Diane Gujarati in federal court in Brooklyn to nine years in prison for her role in a forced labor conspiracy. Also today, Rachel Cherwitz, OneTaste’s former Head of Sales, was sentenced by Judge Gujarati to 78 months in prison for her role in the scheme. Daedone and Cherwitz were convicted by a federal jury in June 2025 of forced labor conspiracy following a five-week trial. The Court also imposed a $12 million forfeiture money judgment against Daedone, and awarded $887,877.64 in restitution to seven victims of Daedone and Cherwitz.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentences.
“This case exposed a decade-long scheme in which the defendants used psychological, emotional, and financial coercion to control their victims and extract labor and services for their own benefit,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The jury’s verdict and today’s sentences demonstrate that coercion can take many forms—and that those who exploit others through such means will face serious consequences. Coercion disguised as wellness or empowerment is still exploitation and it is a crime that causes harm to vulnerable victims. The defendants’ combination of forced labor with sexual exploitation caused trauma to the victims in ways that extend beyond lost wages or long hours.”
“For decades, Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz preyed on vulnerable women, coercing them into a calculated forced labor conspiracy. These defendants subjected their victims to repeated psychological manipulation and sexual abuse to obtain unpaid or underpaid labor and services for their personal and financial benefit. The FBI is committed to holding accountable those who traffic in human labor and exploit others for profit. We thank the victims for their courage in coming forward,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
OneTaste was a privately held company co-founded by Daedone in 2004. Its principal place of business was San Francisco, California, and it operated at various locations within New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Austin, and London. OneTaste promoted itself as a sexually focused wellness education company that offered hands-on classes on “orgasmic mediation” (OM), which involved stroking a woman’s genitals for 15 minutes. OneTaste generated revenue by providing courses, coaching, OM events, and less-publicized courses in other sexual practices in exchange for a fee.
From approximately 2006 through May 2018, Daedone and Cherwitz orchestrated a scheme to obtain the labor and services of multiple young women who had turned to OneTaste seeking healing and spiritual growth by coercing them to perform labor, including sexual labor, for the defendants’ benefit. OneTaste advertised that its courses and teachings could heal past sexual trauma and dysfunction. In reality, Daedone and Cherwitz used abusive and manipulative tactics designed to control OneTaste members by making them emotionally and psychologically dependent on OneTaste, including encouraging them to incur debt by opening lines of credit to finance the expensive courses, subjecting them to constant surveillance in communal homes, collecting sensitive information about their prior trauma and sexual histories, depriving them of sleep, and subjecting them to sexual abuse.
Once they had secured the loyalty and indebtedness of certain OneTaste members, Daedone and Cherwitz engaged in exploitative labor practices. They directed OneTaste members to work long hours—often seven days per week—with little or no compensation. This work included manual labor and the provision of sexual services. For example, Daedone and Cherwitz coerced their victims to engage in sexual acts with OneTaste’s then-current and prospective investors, clients, and employees for the company’s financial benefit. Three witnesses testified at trial about how they were coerced into becoming “handlers” for OneTaste’s initial investor, who was also Daedone’s boyfriend, which required them to live with him, perform sex acts at his direction, and provide domestic labor for him. Multiple other witnesses testified that they were coerced under threat of termination, demotion, ostracism, and financial and spiritual ruin by Daedone and Cherwitz into performing various sex acts with OneTaste’s potential clients and investors.
In 2017, Daedone sold OneTaste—a company built on the backs of coerced and unpaid or substantially underpaid labor—for $12 million.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Kayla Bensing, Kaitlin T. Farrell, Nina C. Gupta, and Sean Michael Fern are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Liam McNett and Marlane Bosler.
The Defendants:
NICOLE DAEDONE
Age: 58
New York, New YorkRACHEL CHERWITZ
Age: 45
New York, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-146 (DG)
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jeffrey Allen Jones, also known as “Ben,” 46, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 7, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jones’ Huntington residence and seized approximately 44 grams of fentanyl, approximately 23 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and a loaded Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol. As part of his guilty plea, Jones admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them, and that he possessed the firearm to protect himself and the seized drugs.
Jones also admitted to selling fentanyl on four occasions between January 2, 2025, and March 5, 2025, in quantities of approximately 1 gram each time to a confidential informant at the Huntington residence and in exchange for $80.
On December 17, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington motel room, where they arrested Jones and seized approximately 15 grams of crack and 5 grams of fentanyl in his possession.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, a consecutive term of at least five years and up to life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to 1,250,000.00.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Taylor and Courtney L. Finney are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-153.
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New Jersey Man Admits to Stealing More Than $1 Million in Investment Fraud Scheme involving Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, NJ. – A New Jersey man admitted to a scheme to defraud elderly and other victims out of more than $1 million that he told the victims he would invest on their behalf or otherwise use for their benefit, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Antonio Petrosino, a/k/a Anthony Petrosino, 60, of Union City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler on March 25, 2026 to Count One of an Indictment charging him with wire fraud.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
From in or around January 2016 through in or around November 2024, Petrosino fraudulently induced the victims to transfer investment funds, mortgage payments, and other money to Petrosino. As part of the scheme to defraud, Petrosino held himself out to be a financial services professional to his victims and falsely led them to believe that he would invest the victims’ money in brokerage accounts and other investment products or otherwise use it for their benefit. To perpetuate his fraud, Petrosino provided one elderly victim with falsified investment statements that purported to show that she had hundreds of thousands of dollars deposited in various investment accounts in her name. Petrosino also made various statements to victims assuring them that their money had been invested or used as promised.
In reality, Petrosino failed to invest the victims’ funds or otherwise use victim monies for the victims’ benefit as promised. Instead, Petrosino misappropriated the money to pay for his personal expenses, including gambling, credit card payments, and rent on his luxury apartment unit. When confronted by victims about the status of the money they sent to Petrosino, he provided the victims and their family members false reassurances about the status of the victims’ funds to cover up his fraud. In total, Petrosino stole approximately $1.1 million from the victims.
The wire fraud charge that Petrosino pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for August 5, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; special agents of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker; and the Wyckoff Police Department, under the direction of Chief David V. Murphy, with the investigation leading to Petrosino’s indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kozar, Co-Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s General Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Michael A. Thomas, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
petrosino.indictment.pdfNevada Man Indicted for Attempted Child Sexual Exploitation and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Nevada man made his initial appearance in court on Friday to face allegations of attempting to coerce children to produce sexually explicit content and receiving child sexual abuse material.
As alleged in the indictment, between about January 6, 2023, and about May 29, 2024, Carl Schilbe attempted to order and coordinate the live streaming of the sexual abuse of children. Between about April 18, 2024, and about April 19, 2024, Schilbe received child sexual abuse material.
Schilbe is charged with three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by HSI. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin of the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Naples Man Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Targeting Elderly Hurricane Ian VictimRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Luis Emilio Hernandez (45, Naples) today pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering in connection with a scheme to defraud an elderly victim following Hurricane Ian. Hernandez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for each money laundering count. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of over $1.2 million and other assets traceable to the proceeds of the offenses. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, following Hurricane Ian in 2022, Hernandez convinced an 85-year-old victim to write him personal checks totaling over $1.2 million for construction materials and repairs that were never performed. Instead, Hernandez cashed the checks for his own personal gain. Investigators confirmed that Hernandez did not hold a contractor’s license in Florida, and no permits were ever pulled for any of the alleged work. Even after the elderly victim sold the home and it had been demolished, Hernandez continued to contact the victim through text messages and even made personal visits to their assisted living residence, intentionally lulling the victim to provide him with additional funds. To conceal the source of the funds, Hernandez laundered the victim’s money by purchasing and flipping vehicles in trade-ins at multiple car dealerships throughout the area.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Bribing Commercial Driver's License Skills TesterRead the Press Release
BOISE – Ryan Basnaw, 29, of Meridian, pleaded guilty to federal program bribery, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to court records, to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Idaho, an applicant must, among other requirements, receive a passing score from a CDL skills test examiner. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) contracts with third-party CDL skills test examiners to administer CDL skills tests in Idaho.
On July 2, 2025, Basnaw offered and agreed to give a CDL skills tester $500 cash in exchange for a passing score on a CDL skills test without ever taking the test. Basnaw did so corruptly and with the intent to influence and reward the CDL skills tester, so that Basnaw could have three restrictions removed from his CDL without taking the required CDL skills test.
In 2025, the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles, a department of ITD, received more than $10,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation under a CDL Program Implementation Grant.
Basnaw is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Transportation—Office of Inspector General, which led to charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol prosecuted the case.
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Maryland Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years for Drug Trafficking and Unlawful Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for more than a decade for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing drugs, some of which contained fentanyl.
The Honorable Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Anthony McNair, 37, to 140 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition and possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute. McNair, who received a 210-month federal sentence in the District of Columbia for multiple counts of robbery last year, will serve his Maryland sentence consecutive to the District of Columbia sentence.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to the guilty plea, on April 21, 2022, PGPD officers conducted a traffic stop on McNair’s vehicle for multiple traffic violations in Suitland, Maryland. Prior to the traffic stop, officers observed McNair as he continued driving his vehicle for an additional 18 seconds before coming to a complete stop. Based on training and experience, officers knew that the “slow roll” technique is a way for individuals to attempt to hide contraband before officers approach a vehicle.
When officers approached, they smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Then McNair provided the officers with a driver’s license that belonged to someone else. After McNair handed an officer three bags of marijuana, totaling 19.5 grams, officers directed him to exit the vehicle.
In response, McNair began to rev the car engine in an apparent attempt to flee from the scene. The officers removed McNair from the vehicle and detained him. Law enforcement then recovered a firearm with nine rounds of .45 caliber ammunition from McNair’s vehicle. They also discovered approximately 43.4 grams of a white powdery substance in a clear glassine baggie; 26 blue pills; drug paraphernalia; a digital scale; and a box of sandwich baggies. This is McNair’s sixth felony conviction, and as a convicted felon, McNair is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Rosenthal and Patrick D. Kibbe, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanay Mitchell, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Maryland Man Charged with Defrauding Crypto Exchange of over $50 Million in HacksRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Kevin Murphy, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) San Diego, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging JONATHAN SPALLETTA, a/k/a “Cthulhon,” a/k/a “Jspalletta,” with computer fraud and money laundering in connection with his hacks of the decentralized cryptocurrency exchange Uranium Finance (“Uranium”). SPALLETTA surrendered today and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.
“As alleged, Jonathan Spalletta repeatedly hacked smart contracts to steal millions of dollars’ worth of other people’s money for himself, and destroyed a cryptocurrency exchange in the process,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “In describing his alleged ‘heist,’ Spalletta told another individual ‘Crypto is just fake internet money anyway.’ Stealing from a crypto exchange is stealing—the claim that ‘crypto is different’ does not change that. For the victims, there is nothing different about having your money taken. Spalletta cost real victims real losses of tens of millions of dollars, and now he’s under real arrest.”
“This indictment demonstrates HSI’s commitment to protecting the integrity of financial systems and holding cybercriminals accountable, regardless of the complexity or novelty of their schemes,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy. “HSI will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploit vulnerabilities in emerging technologies for personal gain and ensure that justice is served for victims of these crimes.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
Uranium was a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange that allowed users to deposit and exchange different kinds of cryptocurrencies via liquidity pools. In April 2021, SPALLETTA committed two separate hacks of Uranium.
In the first hack, on April 8, 2021, SPALLETTA engaged in a deceptive series of transactions with Uranium’s smart contract that SPALLETTA used to withdraw far more “rewards” in cryptocurrency than he was authorized to receive. He repeated those transactions over and over until he had drained the liquidity pool of nearly all its rewards tokens. In total, SPALLETTA successfully extracted cryptocurrency worth approximately $1.4 million in the first hack. Approximately two weeks after he fraudulently obtained the funds, SPALLETTA told another individual in writing, “I did a crypto heist of $1.5MM a couple of weeks ago . . . There was a bug in a smart contract, and I exploited it . . . Crypto is all fake internet money anyway.” SPALLETTA subsequently extorted Uranium into agreeing to allow him to keep approximately $386,000 of the money he stole as a sham “bug bounty” to help him evade prosecution in exchange for return of the remainder of the stolen money to Uranium.
In the second hack, on April 28, 2021, SPALLETTA exploited an error in the Uranium smart contract that governed how much cryptocurrency he could withdraw in a liquidity pool on Uranium. SPALLETTA exploited that issue across 26 separate Uranium liquidity pools, fraudulently obtaining approximately $53.3 million in cryptocurrency and causing Uranium to shut down due to lack of funds.
SPALLETTA then laundered the funds he had fraudulently obtained from Uranium through a complex series of cryptocurrency transactions, including by using the cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash.
After laundering the funds, SPALLETTA used the money he had fraudulently obtained to purchase personal collectable items, including but not limited to (i) rare cards for the trading card game Magic: The Gathering (“Magic Cards”); (ii) rare cards for the trading card game Pokémon (the “Pokémon Cards”); and (iii) antique Roman coins (the “Antique Coins”), among other items. In particular, SPALLETTA used the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase: (i) a “Black Lotus” Magic Card for approximately $500,000; (ii) 18 packs of sealed “Alpha Booster” Magic Cards for approximately $1,512,500; (iii) one sealed box of first edition “Booster” Pokémon Cards for approximately $257,500; (iv) one first edition complete base set of Pokémon Cards for approximately $750,000; (v) a piece of fabric from the original Wright brothers’ airplane that was subsequently transported to the surface of the moon by astronaut Neil Armstrong on the first moon landing, for approximately $137,500; (vi) one “Eid Mar Denarius,” an Antique Coin commemorating the assassination of Julius Caesar, for approximately $601,545.
Photographs of the Black Lotus Magic Card, the piece of fabric from the original Wright brothers’ airplane that was subsequently transported to the surface of the moon by astronaut Neil Armstrong, and certain of the Antique Coins, all of which were seized from the residence of SPALLETTA pursuant to a judicially-authorized search warrant, are below.
In addition, on February 24, 2025, law enforcement seized pursuant to a judicially-authorized seizure warrant cryptocurrency worth approximately $31 million at the time of seizure that SPALLETTA had fraudulently obtained from Uranium.
If you believe you have been a victim of the Uranium hack, please contact [email protected].
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SPALLETTA, 36, of Rockville, Maryland, is charged with one count of computer fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of HSI.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and William C. Kinder are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
Martin Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Federal Prison for Vehicular Assault of an Elderly Man in the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Martin, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on March 23, 2026.
Jose Jimenez, 40, was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay $31,523.68 in restitution to the victim of his crime and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jimenez was indicted for two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on December 8, 2025.
In July 2024, at approximately noon, Jimenez was driving a truck eastbound toward Batesland when he encountered another vehicle on Highway 18. In a no-passing zone on a hill, and while speeding, Jimenez struck the victim’s vehicle head on. The elderly male victim was life-flighted to Monument Health in Rapid City. He suffered multiple spinal injuries, a facial fracture, and multiple contusions and has undergone multiple surgeries. Jimenez and his passenger were uninjured.
After crashing into the victim’s vehicle, Jimenez discarded a bottle of alcohol from his vehicle. In the truck, law enforcement found one empty bottle of alcohol and another, unopened bottle of alcohol. Jimenez tested positive for alcohol on scene but was under the legal limit at the time of the accident. At sentencing, Jimenez asked for leniency due to his substance abuse history and because he was “hung over” at the time of the accident.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Jimenez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug trafficking and firearm offenses.
Denys Gonzalez Hernandez, 33, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 28 grams or more of cocaine base and methamphetamine. The defendant also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2026. Hernandez was indicted in March 2025, along with his alleged co-conspirator Lexus Perez.
During a February 2025 search of Perez and Gonzalez Hernandez’s shared apartment in Lynn, it is alleged that two loaded firearms, 465 grams of fentanyl, 34 grams of cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine) and 21 grams of methamphetamine were seized. Following the search, Gonzalez Hernandez was located and taken into custody. During a search of his person, 16 baggies of cocaine and two baggies of fentanyl were found inside Gonzalez Hernandez’s sock.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 28 grams or more of cocaine base and methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime supervised release and a fine of $10 million. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking carries a sentence of at least five years consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. 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; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; and Christopher P. Reddy, Chief of the Lynn Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Kenton County Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Crescent Springs, Ky., man, Quenton Abell, 22, was sentenced on Monday to 60 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Abell’s residence in Kenton County on August 25, 2025, after surveillance officers observed Abell outside his residence in possession of two firearms. During the search, law enforcement located two handguns and multiple magazines, including loaded extended magazines. Abell was aware at the time of the search that he had a prior felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Messages on Abell’s phone indicated that he was involved in buying and selling controlled substances while in possession of the firearms.
Abell was previously convicted in 2023 of Second Degree Assault and First Degree Wanton Endangerment in the Kenton County Circuit Court.
Under federal law, Abell must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Scott Hardcorn, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Justice Department Sues Minnesota to Protect Girls’ Sports and Intimate SpacesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division today filed suit to enforce the protections of Title IX and ensure fairness and safety for female student athletes in Minnesota.
According to the complaint, Defendants Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) have engaged in sex-based discrimination by requiring girls to compete against boys in athletic competitions that are designated exclusively for girls and allowing boys to invade intimate spaces designated exclusively for girls, such as multi-person locker rooms and bathrooms. These unfair, intentionally discriminatory practices violate the very core of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that receives federal funding. In open defiance of Title IX’s anti-discrimination protections, Minnesota’s policies and practices create unfair competition, deny girls equal athletic opportunities, and expose girls to a hostile educational environment with heightened risks of physical injury and psychological harm. The lawsuit thus seeks declaratory, injunctive, and damages relief for violations of Title IX.
“The Trump Administration does not tolerate flawed state policies that ignore biological reality and unfairly undermine girls on the playing field,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice is proud to partner with HHS and the Department of Education to protect our girls in Minnesota and across the country.”
“The Justice Department cannot ignore a state’s brazen defiance of federal antidiscrimination law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “In service of radical gender ideology, Minnesota’s actions violate Title IX and deny female athletes their hard-earned trophies, records, dignity, and safety.”
“We will not allow girls to be denied equal opportunity and basic privacy,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Title IX is clear: schools that accept federal funding must protect the rights, safety, and dignity of female students.”
“The Trump Administration will always fight for the safety and civil rights of women and girls,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Minnesota’s policies allow men to dominate women’s sports, denying female athletes fair competition and eroding their right to equal access in educational programs and activities. Thank you to Attorney General Bondi for bringing this fight to the courts to hold Minnesota accountable.”
MDE receives more than $3 billion in federal funding from the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Health and Human Services. As a condition to receiving this federal funding, MDE agreed to comply and ensure its funding subrecipients, including local schools, comply with Title IX. Minnesota law and local schools have ceded responsibility for scholastic sports to MSHSL. MDE has authority over MSHSL and local schools’ athletic policies, including nondiscrimination rules. MSHSL currently has more than 500 member schools. The complaint is available here.
Illegal Alien with Serious Criminal History Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in Fresno CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Gilberto Arteaga, 43, of Michoacan, Mexico, illegally residing in Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 19 years and five months in prison for his role in a fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Oct. 1, 2022, and July 16, 2023, Arteaga joined in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in Fresno County. On July 15, 2023, a car that law enforcement agents believed Arteaga and his co-conspirators were using crossed from the United States into Mexico and then back, all in less than 12 hours. The car then traveled to a residence in Sanger. Law enforcement agents followed the car, stopped it along with a second car and searched both cars. Arteaga was the sole occupant of one car and two of his co-defendants were in the other car. One of the cars had about 30 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 6 pounds of fentanyl.
Law enforcement agents searched Arteaga’s cellphone and found photographs of packages of methamphetamine as well as messages between Arteaga and his co-defendants with directions about unloading drugs out of the gas tank. Further evidence revealed that for at least seven months, Arteaga and his co-defendants had been smuggling drugs across the border in the gas tank of a car, traveling to a residence in Sanger, and then disassembling that car to remove the drugs for distribution.
Arteaga pleaded guilty to the charge on May 19, 2025. He is the last defendant in this case to be sentenced.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fresno and Clovis Police Departments conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.