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19 March 2026
Career Offender Convicted of Sex Trafficking, Drug Trafficking, and Unlawful Possession of Firearms Sentenced to 30 Years Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that James Anthony Stinson, age 55, of Spokane, Washington was sentenced March 18, 2026, to 30 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release following his trial convictions for 11 felonies pertaining to Sex Trafficking, Drug Trafficking, and Unlawful Possession of Firearms. The Court also imposed $28,000 in restitution to the victims.
Based on evidence presented during the jury trial, the investigation into Mr. Stinson began in 2021 following a series of controlled purchases of crack cocaine. Some of those purchases occurred from Mr. Stinson’s hotel room in the Spokane Valley. Based on the controlled purchases, law enforcement with the FBI, Spokane Police Department, and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Mr. Stinson’s adjoining hotel rooms. They located distribution quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl pills, along with multiple illegally possessed firearms, as well as evidence that the rooms may also have been used for sex trafficking. Mr. Stinson had installed video surveillance cameras controlled by him to film the activities in the rooms. Further investigation into Mr. Stinson’s phones and other digital evidence revealed videos of Mr. Stinson threatening and violently beating one of the victims he trafficked. Messages on Mr. Stinson’s phones revealed his ongoing use of force, fraud, and coercion to force victims to engage in sex work and provide him with the proceeds of the activity, as well as evidence of significant financial gains from his combined human trafficking and drug trafficking operations.
Mr. Stinson was previously convicted in Washington State Superior Court for Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine), for which he served 132 months and was released in 2011. In 2012, Mr. Stinson was convicted in federal court in the Eastern District of Washington for Addict and Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, for which he served 120 months in prison. At the time of his arrest in 2021, Mr. Stinson was on federal supervised release.
First Assistant Serrano said, “The sentence imposed here reflects the seriousness of Stinson’s actions. Crimes involving drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession are devastating to our communities. Mr. Stinson distributed controlled substances and exploited and coerced, through violence or the threat of violence, multiple vulnerable women to engage in sex work. He took advantage of these women’s addiction and other personal vulnerabilities for his own benefit. Mr. Stinson is a violent predator with a lengthy criminal history, and I am grateful for the work of many law enforcement partners whose efforts led to Mr. Stinson being taken off the streets.”
“As this investigation into Mr. Stinson progressed, it revealed even more crimes, all of them harmful to the public,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Unfortunately, he did not seem to learn his lesson from prior convictions and returned to criminal activity, including distribution of dangerous drugs, illegal possession of firearms, and even sex trafficking through force and coercion. This case highlights the importance of the FBI’s Spokane Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force, which was instrumental in bringing Mr. Stinson to justice and is an effective asset in keeping our Eastern Washington communities safe.”
This case was a multi-jurisdiction investigation conducted by the FBI Spokane Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force, which is a partnership between the FBI, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, and Spokane Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca R. Perez and Lisa Cartier-Giroux.
Bronx Felon Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of the Bronx, New York, has been sentenced in federal court to 46 months in prison on his conviction of possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Jose Baez Cabrera, 35, also ordering Baez Cabrera to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term in the event he is not removed from the United States based on his immigration status.
According to information presented to the Court, on August 16, 2023, Baez Cabrera was caught transporting eight kilograms of cocaine across Pennsylvania with the intent to deliver them to drug dealers in Erie. He was on probation at that time following a 2021 felony conviction in New York for possessing a kilogram of fentanyl.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pennsylvania State Police and Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Baez Cabrera.
Bridgeville Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Prison for Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Bridgeville man was sentenced yesterday to 96 months in prison for trafficking over 10 kilograms of cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall imposed the sentence.
According to court documents, Terry Hammond, 31, was pulled over by the Bridgeville Police Department on March 8, 2024, while driving an improperly registered Chevrolet Silverado. During the traffic stop, a drug-sniffing dog detected the smell of drugs in the car. When officers attempted to search the car, Hammond forcibly resisted arrest. The search ultimately revealed approximately 10.5 kilograms of cocaine packaged in brick form, a loaded semiautomatic pistol, ammunition, a digital scale, and nearly $16,000 in cash.
On May 7, 2024, less than two months after his initial arrest and while on state pretrial release, Hammond was arrested again by the Delaware State Police following a foot pursuit. Authorities recovered nearly $3,000 in cash from his person, as well as an additional $27,000 in currency, over 100 grams of cocaine, and roughly 117 bags of suspected fentanyl in the area where he had been spotted.
Hammond pleaded guilty on November 5, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
“Terry Hammond demonstrated a blatant disregard for the safety of our community and the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “He transported over 10 kilograms of cocaine—a wholesale quantity—alongside a loaded firearm. He resisted arrest when he was caught the first time. And when he was caught the second time—reoffending while on pretrial release—he ran from the police. My office will continue to work relentlessly alongside our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who bring illegal guns and deadly drugs into Delaware.”
“Yesterday’s sentence ensures that Terry Hammond is held fully accountable for continuing to endanger our communities through armed drug trafficking, even after being granted pretrial release,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Eric McLoughlin. “This case highlights the serious threat posed by drug traffickers who carry firearms, resist arrest, and persist in their crimes despite court oversight. HSI, together with the Bridgeville Police Department, Delaware State Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to aggressively pursue those who bring narcotics and gun violence into Delaware neighborhoods and ensure they face the full consequences of their actions.”
The Bridgeville Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-55-JLH.
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Brazilian National Convicted for Scheme to Smuggle Machine Gun Parts from the United States to BrazilRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Brazilian national was found guilty by a federal jury for his role in a scheme to smuggle firearm parts capable of being assembled into fully automatic assault rifles from the U.S. to Brazil.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Victor Waldeck Oliveira Iglesias, 31, conspired with co-defendant Alvaro Teixeira, 50, to smuggle eight sets of HK firearm parts to Brazil. The co-defendants planned to conceal the illegal gun parts inside shipments that were otherwise legally licensed for export. Evidence at trial showed that Iglesias and Teixeira intended to smuggle many more firearm parts kit if the scheme had succeeded.
“This case involved an effort to secretly move machine gun components out of the United States and into the international black market,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The evidence at trial showed that the defendants planned to conceal these parts inside legitimate export shipments and send them overseas, where they could be assembled into fully automatic firearms. Thanks to the work of ATF agents and our law enforcement partners, this scheme was stopped before those weapons reached the streets.”
Law enforcement agents later executed a search warrant at Iglesias’s apartment and discovered eight HK gun kits in a large box prepared for shipment. Agents arrested Iglesias at that time. After Iglesias’s arrest, Teixeira delivered 10 additional firearm parts kits to an individual he believed was a buyer in the parking lot of Dolphin Mall.
The jury convicted Iglesias of one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. and one count of attempt to smuggle goods from the U.S. He faces up to 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count and up to 10 years on the attempted smuggling count. U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams will sentence Iglesias on May 4, after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Teixeira was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison on March 10 after pleading guilty to the same charges.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
The ATF Miami Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Almas Abdulla, Christian Harris, and Joseph Mahoney are prosecuting the case.
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-20161.
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Authorities disrupt world’s largest IoT DDoS botnets responsible for record breaking attacks targeting victims worldwideRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The U.S. Justice Department participated in a court-authorized law enforcement operation today to disrupt Command and Control (C2) infrastructure used by the Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid and Mossad Internet of Things (IoT) botnets.
The operation was conducted simultaneously to law enforcement actions conducted in Canada and Germany, which targeted individuals who operated these botnets. The four botnets launched Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks targeting victims around the world. Some of these attacks measured approximately 30 Terabits per second, which were record-breaking attacks.
During the operation, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s (DoDIG) Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) executed seizure warrants which targeted multiple U.S.-registered internet domains, virtual servers, and other infrastructure allegedly engaged in cyber-enabled criminal activity, including DDoS attacks against IP’s owned by the Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN).
According to court documents, the four botnets targeted in the operation together infected millions of devices worldwide. The majority of these devices were IoT devices, such as digital video recorders, web cameras, or WiFi routers. The KimWolf and JackSkid botnets are accused of targeting and infecting devices which are traditionally “firewalled” from the rest of the internet. The infected devices were enslaved by the botnet operators. The operators then used a “cybercrime as a service” model to sell access to the infected devices to other cyber criminals. The operators and their customers forced the victim devices to participate in hundreds of thousands of DDoS attacks, targeting computers and servers located throughout the world. As of March 2026, the number of infected devices hijacked worldwide by the botnet administrators exceeded three million, with hundreds of thousands of infected devices located in the United States.
Some victims reported the DDoS attacks resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses and remediation expenses. Cybercriminals used these botnets to launch hundreds of thousands of attacks, in some cases demanding extortion payments from victims. Court documents allege that the Aisuru botnet issued more than 200,000 DDoS attack commands, the KimWolf botnet issued more than 25,000 DDoS attack commands, the JackSkid botnet launched more than 90,000 DDoS attack commands and the Mossad botnet launched more than 1,000 DDoS attack commands.
This operation, in coordination with other international law enforcement actions, is intended to disrupt communications associated with the Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid, and Mossad botnets, preventing further infection to victim devices and limiting or eliminating the ability of the botnets to launch future attacks.
“Today, the United States joined international law enforcement partners in coordinated enforcement actions to disrupt DDoS threats impacting Alaskans and victims around the world,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Effective collaboration bolsters our collective ability to combat emerging threats. The United States is steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding critical internet infrastructure and fighting the cybercriminals who jeopardize its security, wherever they might live.”
“Today’s disruption of four powerful botnets highlights our commitment to eliminate emerging cyber threats to the Department of Defense and its warfighters,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “Cybercriminals infiltrate infrastructure beyond physical borders and DCIS participates in international operations to help safeguard the Department’s global footprint. Collaboration among law enforcement and industry partners has proven vital to this success.”
“By working closely with DCIS and our international law enforcement partners, we collectively identified and disrupted criminal infrastructure used to carry out large-scale DDoS attacks,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This operation reflects the strength of that collaboration and our shared commitment to combatting cybercrime and protecting victims worldwide.”
DoDIG DCIS is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office.
Law enforcement agencies from Canada and Germany conducted their own operations targeting botnet administrators and botnet infrastructure. International partners include:
- Germany: Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) Cyber and Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cologne (ZAC NRW)
- Canada: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Sûreté du Québec (SQ)
Additionally, the U.S. Justice Department thanks Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, DigitalOcean, Epieos, Google, Hydrolix, Lumen, Nokia, Okta, Oracle, PayPal, Registrar of Last Resort, The Shadowserver Foundation, Sony Interactive Entertainment, SpyCloud, Synthient, Team Cymru, Unit 221B, XLAB and Netherlands Politie and EUROPOL’s PowerOFF team for their assistance provided during this investigation and operation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Adam Alexander is prosecuting this matter.
If anyone has information on the alleged threats or other DDoS threats, please contact U.S. authorities at [email protected].
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Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty in Child Sex Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A California man with ties to Albuquerque pleaded guilty in federal court to sex trafficking two minors and transporting them to New Mexico for commercial sex acts, and a second defendant pleaded guilty to concealing the offense.
According to court documents, in December 2024, Roderick Norseweather Jr., 26, recruited two minors in California and transported, provided for, and maintained them for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts. Norseweather purchased cell phones for the minors, required them to use the Life360 app—an application designed to monitor family members—so he could monitor their locations, created a coded emoji system to track their commercial sex activity, rented hotel and motel rooms, and paid for food, clothing, and other services to keep them engaged in commercial sex for his benefit.
On December 29, 2024, Norseweather sent the two minors and Tajahne Johnson, 22, by Amtrak from California to New Mexico using tickets he purchased so the minors could engage in commercial sex in another state. Johnson was aware of the plan and engaged in commercial sex alongside the minors in Albuquerque.
From December 30, 2024, through January 3, 2025, Norseweather directed the minors to engage in commercial sex through text messages and Instagram, posted commercial sex advertisements online using their photos, and arranged meetings with buyers. He later traveled to Albuquerque to collect over $3000 in proceeds from their commercial sex acts.
Court documents show that, after law enforcement made contact on January 3, 2025, Johnson texted Jane Doe 2 not to come to the area and lied to law enforcement about the minors’ relationship to Norseweather in order to conceal his involvement.
Johnson pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and remains in custody pending sentencing. She faces an agreed upon sentence of three years in prison.
Norseweather pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking of children and two counts of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He will remain in custody pending sentencing and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life.
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 FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley and Patrick E. Cordova are prosecuting the case.
Albany Manufacturer to Pay $1.9 Million to Resolve False Claims Act PPP Loan CaseRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – The United States has reached a $1.9 million settlement with Sark Wire Corporation to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by applying for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was ineligible.
“The False Claims Act allows the United States to recover funds obtained through material misrepresentations,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “PPP eligibility rules required counting employees of foreign affiliates. Sark Wire didn’t do that; if it had, it would not have been eligible for the PPP loan it received. I commend Sark Wire for promptly acknowledging its ineligibility and proactively initiating settlement discussions with the United States.”
Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on March 27, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans affected by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the Paycheck Protection Program, administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), to provide forgivable loans to eligible small businesses during the national emergency. The PPP provided loans in two draws. For second-draw PPP loans, applicants were required to certify that they and their affiliates, including foreign affiliates, employed fewer than 300 employees and otherwise satisfied applicable program eligibility requirements.
As part of the settlement agreement, Sark Wire admitted that it did not meet the applicable employee-count threshold when accounting for its foreign affiliates. The company acknowledged that it failed to disclose in its PPP loan and forgiveness applications that it was majority owned by a Turkish conglomerate and failed to include the employees of its foreign affiliates in its eligibility calculation. Sark Wire further acknowledged that when employees of its foreign affiliates were included as required under program rules, it exceeded the size threshold for second-draw PPP eligibility and forgiveness.
“The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration, including SBA’s Office of General Counsel, working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other federal law enforcement agencies to recover the proceeds of this fraud as well as penalties,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis.
This matter arose from a qui tam complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. The False Claims Act permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. Under the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $190,000 as its statutory share. The case is captioned United States ex rel. GNGH2 Inc. v. Sark Wire Corp., Case No. 1:24-cv-1120 (N.D.N.Y.).
The investigation and resolution of this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and the SBA Office of General Counsel. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Katz and Special Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Kelly.
2 Foreign Nationals Among 11 Arrested on Charges They Used Stolen Identities to Fraudulently Obtain Loans Backed by PropertiesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Eleven defendants – including two foreign nationals – were arrested today on a 15-count federal indictment charging them with executing a scheme in which they stole the identities of elderly victims, used that information to obtain title reports for residential properties, then solicited millions of dollars in hard money loans from private lenders by falsely representing the loans as being secured by the elderly victims’ properties.
The following defendants were arrested this morning and all but two of them are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles:
- Nazaret Chakrian, 65, a.k.a. “Niko,” of Hollywood;
- Arnold Moradians, 57, a.k.a. “Julian,” of Hollywood, an Iranian national who has an outstanding warrant for removal from the United States;
- Avetis Hekimyan, 38, a.k.a. “Chef Avo,” of North Hollywood;
- Ross Tarkhan, 32, of Glendale;
- Tigran Hovanesian, 56, of Glendale;
- Armen Vardevaryan, 55, a.k.a. “Gonch,” of North Hollywood;
- Craig Higdon, 66, of Naples, Florida, who will make his initial appearance in the Middle District of Florida;
- Helen Spangler, 62, of Oakdale, California, who will make her initial appearance in the Eastern District of California;
- Victor Lossi, 43, of Thousand Oaks; and
- Marine Sarkisian, 49, of Hollywood, an Azerbaijani national and green card holder.
The following defendant arrested today is expected to be arraigned tomorrow in Los Angeles federal court:
- Cynthia Borjas, 51, of Koreatown.
All defendants except Hovanesian are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and seven counts of wire fraud. Chakrian, Moradians, Borjas, Hekimyan, Tarkhan, Spangler, Lossi, and Sarkisian are charged with one count of aggravated identity theft. Chakrian, Moradians, Tarkhan, and Hovanesian are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Tarkhan is further charged with five counts of money laundering.
“There is no shortage of massive fraud occurring within California,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Today’s operation represents one of many sophisticated schemes used by criminals – including foreign nationals – to defraud U.S. citizens and taxpayers of their hard-earned property. Those days are over under this U.S. Department of Justice. These defendants will be facing significant prison time for their charged conduct.”
“The growing problem of title fraud victimizes homeowners and lenders, many of whom are elderly and have their identities stolen, in addition to their hard-earned money,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “An investigation by the FBI Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force, LAPD, and other law enforcement partners led to today's arrests of multiple perpetrators of this cruel scheme who now face lengthy prison sentences.”
“The defendants didn’t just steal identities, they used those stolen identities to secure high value real estate loans, fabricate financial documents, and move millions of dollars through a maze of fraudulent businesses and funnel accounts,” said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Los Angeles Field Office. “Our agents traced every wire, every transfer, and every shell account to expose the financial backbone of this conspiracy. This indictment sends a clear message, IRS CI will dismantle the money pipelines that allow complex fraud schemes to flourish, and we will hold accountable those who profit from exploiting our financial system.”
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on February 5, from January 2021 to May 2023, Chakrian and Moradians fraudulently obtained the personal identifying information (PII) of elderly victims. The victims owned properties in Santa Monica and in the following Los Angeles neighborhoods: Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Westwood, and Chinatown.
Chakrian and Higdon then used the victims’ PII to create counterfeit identification documents. Borjas and Hekimyan created email accounts in the victims’ names to impersonate them.
Using the victims’ PII, the fraudulent ID documents, and the fraudulent email addresses, Chakrian, Moradians, Hekimyan, Vardevaryan, and Spangler misrepresented themselves as the victims’ agents, brokers, representatives or relatives, and submitted fraudulent applications to private money lenders for hard money loans secured by the victims’ properties.
Chakrian, Hekimyan, Higdon, and Spangler created false and fabricated documents – including bank statements, rental agreements, doctors’ notes, and death certificates – to the lenders. These documents contained lies about the victims’ identities, assets, finances, and health as well as the loan proceeds’ intended purpose, and the types of properties being used to secure the loans.
Upon receiving closing documents from the lenders, Chakrian, Hekimyan, Lossi, and Sarkisian caused the documents to be fraudulently notarized and signed by individuals representing the victims.
Tarkhan used stolen PII to create synthetic identities – profiles or ID documents combining fictitious profile information with real victim PII. Using these synthetic identities, Tarkhan caused bank accounts to be opened under false names. These accounts were used to funnel proceeds derived from the scheme.
Private money lenders relied on the false statements, misrepresentations, and certifications to cause funds to be disbursed via check and wire to mailboxes and bank accounts controlled by Chakrian, Tarkhan, and others.
The total intended loss in this case is approximately $17.4 million, and the total actual loss is approximately $6 million.
“This case reflects the relentless work of our investigators and the strong collaboration with our federal partners to unravel a complex and calculated criminal scheme,” said Interim Glendale Police Chief Robert William. “Their focus and determination ensured those responsible are held accountable and that justice is delivered.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each fraud- and money laundering-related count, and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft count.
This case is being investigated by the Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force (EOCTF) and the Los Angeles Police Department – Commercial Crimes Division. The EOCTF includes agents and task force officers from the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Glendale Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Claire E. Kelly of the General Crimes Section and Hava Mirell of the Criminal Appeals Section are prosecuting this case.
18 March 2026
Woodford County Woman Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., woman, Melissa Wilhoite, 40, was sentenced on Wednesday to 180 months by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for two counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to her plea agreement, on November 22, 2024, emergency personnel responded to an overdose at the Woodford County Detention Center. It was discovered that after Wilhoite’s arrest on November 21, 2024, she smuggled a quantity of fentanyl into the facility, and then distributed it to two of her cell mates. Those two victim inmates exhibited signs of an overdose, including loss of consciousness and discoloration, and were transported to a hospital for further treatment. Wilhoite later admitted to distributing fentanyl inside the facility.
Under federal law, Wilhoite must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will each be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Ron Young, Versailles Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Versailles Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Wilmington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Wilmington, Delaware, man pleaded guilty today to possessing a firearm as a prohibited individual. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika accepted the plea.
According to court documents, members of the Wilmington Police Department were on patrol in the vicinity of S. Harrison Street and Maryland Avenue when they saw a car commit traffic violations. Officers stopped the car and identified Ikeem McDole, 32, as one of the passengers in the car. McDole attempted to flee the car and was taken into custody at the scene. During a search of McDole, officers found a loaded Smith & Wesson firearm concealed in his jacket. McDole was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to prior felony convictions.
McDole pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a prohibited person and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer made the announcement.
ATF, with assistance from the Wilmington Police Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 26-cr-004.
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Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Tampering with Evidence After Helping Boyfriend Charged with Snap Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Virginia woman pled guilty to a superseding indictment in federal court today. The charges stem from her attempt to help her boyfriend tamper with evidence after authorities arrested him for participating in a SNAP benefits fraud scheme.
Dominique Collins, 38, of Stafford, Virginia, is charged with tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. Collins attempted to help her boyfriend Brendyn Andrew, 34, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, alter an email account associated with the scheme.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge David Richeson, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Washington Field Office.
According to the guilty plea, in March 2025, Collins spoke to Andrew on the phone while he was detained at the Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore, Maryland. During the conversation, Andrew asked Collins to delete a Google email account to make it unavailable for use in an official proceeding. Collins then submitted a request to Google to delete the email account.
Collins faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Thursday, July 2, at 9:30 a.m.
In January 2026, Andrew pled guilty to a federal 10-count superseding indictment, including SNAP benefits fraud, possessing unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and witness tampering. Andrew’s sentencing is slated for May 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended USDA-OIG and DSS for their work in the investigation, and the Montgomery County Police Department for its investigative assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy who are prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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U.S. Attorney Charges Dutchess County Man with Coercion and Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today the arrest of Gregory Graff in connection with communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl and attempting to meet the individual to engage in sexual activities. Graff was taken in federal custody today, presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court, and detained.
“Gregory Graff is every parent’s nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He allegedly used the internet to convince an individual, whom he believed to be a minor, to meet him for sexual activity. This prosecution shows that we will use every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish to the fullest extent of the law those who exploit New York’s most vulnerable citizens: our children. There may be other victims. If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
On January 21 and January 22, 2026, a New York State Police Investigator (“Investigator‑1”), posing as a 13-year-old girl named “Sammi” on a social media application, communicated with GRAFF. During the communications, GRAFF asked “Sammi” for sexually explicit photos and indicated that he wanted to meet with her to have sex.
Furthermore, in her conversations with GRAFF, Investigator-1 referred on multiple occasions to the fact that she was 13 years old, also telling GRAFF that she was in 8th grade. Among other things, GRAFF told her, “It’s risky to talk to you but it’s quite hot.” GRAFF described in detail various sexual activities that he wanted to engage in with her and said that he would want her to call him “daddy” when they have sex. During their communications, GRAFF sent Investigtor-1 a number of sexually explicit photos, as well photos of his face, including this one:
On January 21, 2026, GRAFF made a plan to meet “Sammi” in Orange County, New York. On January 22, 2026, when GRAFF arrived at the agreed-upon meeting spot, he was arrested by the New York State Police. Following his arrest, GRAFF was charged in the Town of Wallkill with Attempted Rape in the Second Degree, Attempted Act in the Manner to Injure a Child Less than 17, and Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the 1st Degree.
There may be other victims. If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.
* * *
GRAFF, 27, of Poughkeepsie, New York is charged with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, which carries a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, New York State Police Troop F – Computer Crimes Unit, New York State Police Troop K, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcia S. Cohen and John Wynne are 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.
Two Gainesville Felons Indicted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm & AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Reginald Duante Davis, 35, and Kelvin Quentin Scott Wright, 32, of Gainesville, Florida, have each been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted felons. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Davis appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Wright appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for April 8, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.
Davis and Wright each face up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.
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 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.
Twice Deported Ecuadorian National Previously Convicted of Sex Abuse, Other Offenses, Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE RAUL MAITA, 55, a citizen of Ecuador, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
As alleged in court documents, in June 1996, Maita was granted status as a legal permanent resident in the United States following approval of an application based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen. In February 1998, Maita was convicted in Westchester County Court in New York of sexual abuse first degree involving sexual contact by forcible compulsion. The victim of the offense was nine years old. Maita was sentenced to five years of probation and was required to register as a sex offender. In November 2000, Maita was convicted in New York of failure to register as a sex offender. In August 2001, he was convicted of driving while intoxicated and for violating his probation stemming from his sexual abuse conviction. Maita’s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to one year of incarceration. In October 2003, Maita was deported to Ecuador.
It is further alleged that Maita illegally reentered the U.S. and, in November 2006, he was convicted in Westchester County Court of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. In April 2007, he was convicted in New York of failure to register as a sex offender. In April 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Maita and, in October 2008, he was convicted in the Southern District of New York of unlawful reentry. In August 2009, Maita was again removed to Ecuador.
It is further alleged that, on September 20, 2025, Maita, who identified himself as “Jose P. Maita” and provided a false date of birth, was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Southbury on charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle without a license and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Maita was subsequently released on bond.
On November 4, 2025, the U.S. District Court in New Haven issued a criminal complaint charging Maita with unlawful reentry. He was located and arrested this morning in Waterbury.
Maita appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Maita faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Thomas E. Wheeler II Sworn in as United States Attorney for the Southern District of IndianaRead the Press Release
On March 11th, 2026, Thomas E. Wheeler II was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana by United States District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. President Donald J. Trump nominated Wheeler to serve as United States Attorney, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 18, 2025. Prior to his confirmation, he served as Interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
“I am honored to work alongside the dedicated public servants of this office, whose commitment to justice and service to our communities sets the highest standard. It is a privilege to once again serve the people of my home state of Indiana and to continue building on the relationships I’ve developed throughout my career,” said Wheeler. “I deeply value the longstanding partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement, and I look forward to strengthening those relationships that have supported our shared mission for so many years. In this role I will focus our efforts on the Department of Justice’s core priority of reducing violent crime, while also continuing to lead national initiatives that protect taxpayer‑funded research at colleges and universities from theft by foreign adversaries and to safeguard children from online exploitation and threats to school safety as Chair of the Federal School safety Task Force.”
As the chief federal law enforcement officer in the district, United States Attorney Wheeler will lead an office of approximately 45 Assistant United States Attorneys and 32 support professionals responsible for criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, and public safety efforts throughout the Southern District of Indiana which comprises approximately two-thirds of the State of Indiana.
The Investiture Ceremony, held at the Indiana War Memorial, was attended by state and federal judges, law enforcement leaders, attorneys, and government officials from across the country. The program included remarks from distinguished speakers:
- The Honorable Mick Zais, Brigadier USA (Ret.) and former Acting United States Secretary of Education;
- The Honorable Nicholas Kent, Under Secretary of Education delegated the duties of the Deputy Secretary of Education, United States Department of Education;
- The Honorable Stanley E. Woodward, Jr., Associate Attorney General, United States Department of Justice; and
- Chaplin Ron May, Commander, USN (Ret.).
Prior to his appointment, United States Attorney Wheeler served as the Acting General Counsel for the United States Department of Education. This appointment marks a return to the Department of Justice, where he previously held the role of Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, overseeing a broad portfolio, including the Appellate, Criminal, Disability Rights, Education, Immigrant and Employee Rights, Housing, and Voting sections.
His prior federal service also includes serving as Senior Adviser to the White House Federal Commission on School Safety as well as Senior Counsel to the Secretary of Education during the COVID-19 pandemic. In that role he worked with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the Center for Disease Control.
Read more about U.S. Attorney Wheeler’s career here.
The Frightening Reality of Online PredatorsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice is calling on parents, caregivers, teachers, and community members to join law enforcement in the fight against a dangerous and growing category of online predators. These networks, often referred to as “764” or “Nihilistic Violent
Extremism” (NVE), represent a decentralized extremist subculture that weaponizes digital platforms to exploit and radicalize children. These perpetrators also may be engaging in criminal activity for sexual gratification, seeing an opening to prey on children. Other individuals may be drawn to the groups by a desire for social status or a sense of belonging and may not be ideologically motivated. Regardless, these networks exist on publicly available online platforms, such as social media sites, gaming platforms, and mobile applications commonly used by young people.The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat posed by these networks and is investigating hundreds of subjects nationwide, including investigations involving perpetrators and victims right here in the Central District of Illinois. Despite the determined work of FBI agents along with their partners at U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, more and more children are finding these groups online. The Federal Bureau of
Investigation currently has identified over 450 subjects tied to these networks nationwide.
The majority of victims are under the age of 18, with some as young as nine years old.Understanding the Threat: What is NVE?
Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a form of violence motivated by a hatred of society and a drive to cause its collapse through indiscriminate chaos. Unlike traditional extremist groups with clear political or religious agendas, NVE members advocate for destruction across the world by glorifying mass killers, promoting animal cruelty, and urging self-harm.
These predators methodically target vulnerable individuals, primarily children and teens, on social media and gaming platforms. Once contact is established, they use "sextortion," manipulation, and blackmail to coerce victims into producing "gore" content or child sexual abuse material or performing acts of violence and self-mutilation, often demanding these acts be livestreamed. These actors have even manipulated children to take their own lives.
“Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a direct assault on the safety of our youth,” said FBI
Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge, Karen Marinos. “These groups specifically seek out vulnerable children to coerce them into horrific acts of self-harm and violence. The
FBI’s priority is to disrupt these networks at their source, ensuring that the predators who orchestrate this exploitation are held accountable for the lives they attempt to destroy.”
“We are working tirelessly to protect our children and ensure that those who perpetrate these evil acts face justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “The dedicated prosecutors and staff in my office, alongside our FBI partners, will use every available tool, from sophisticated digital forensics to community outreach, to dismantle these nihilistic networks and protect the Central District of Illinois.”Awareness and Prevention: Warning Signs for Parents
Awareness is the first line of defense: do not count on filters or parental controls to stop these activities. NVE actors are highly skilled at bypassing restrictions or teaching victims how to bypass them. Law enforcement urges parents to have open, ongoing conversations with their children about their digital lives and to discourage the use of devices in nonshared areas of the home.
These predators methodically target vulnerable individuals, primarily children and teens, on social media and gaming platforms. Once contact is established, they use "sextortion," manipulation, and blackmail to coerce victims into producing "gore" content or child sexual abuse material or performing acts of violence and self-mutilation, often demanding these acts be livestreamed. These actors have even manipulated children to take their own lives.
“Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a direct assault on the safety of our youth,” said FBI
Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge, Karen Marinos. “These groups specifically seek out vulnerable children to coerce them into horrific acts of self-harm and violence. The
FBI’s priority is to disrupt these networks at their source, ensuring that the predators who orchestrate this exploitation are held accountable for the lives they attempt to destroy.”“We are working tirelessly to protect our children and ensure that those who perpetrate these evil acts face justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “The dedicated prosecutors and staff in my office, alongside our FBI partners, will use every available tool, from sophisticated digital forensics to community outreach, to dismantle these nihilistic networks and protect the Central District of Illinois.”
Awareness and Prevention: Warning Signs for Parents
Awareness is the first line of defense: do not count on filters or parental controls to stop these activities. NVE actors are highly skilled at bypassing restrictions or teaching victims how to bypass them. Law enforcement urges parents to have open, ongoing conversations with their children about their digital lives and to discourage the use of devices in nonshared areas of the home.
Potential signs of victimization include:
- Physical Markers: Fresh cuts, scratches, or scars, often in patterns (including
"764"-related terms or platform names). These cuts will often be on hidden places
of the body (thigh, chest, groin). - Behavioral Changes: Becoming suddenly withdrawn, moody, or irritable. Changes
in school performance, eating, or sleeping habits. These may be drastic and without
warning. - Animal Cruelty or Aggression: Sudden interest in harming animals or unexplained
aggression toward younger siblings. - Digital Red Flags: Reports of personally identifying information being posted online
("doxing") or unexplained gifts/packages arriving at the home. - Dark Ideation: Openly talking about death, "not being wanted," or threatening
suicide. Actively seeking tools for violence such as firearms, explosives, or
chemicals.
Reporting and Resources
If you or someone you know is a victim of these tactics, retain all digital evidence
(usernames, emails, platform names) and report it immediately:- 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov
- FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov
- In case of imminent danger, call 911.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) provides a free service known as Take It Down, which helps minor victims, or adults who were victimized as minors, to remove or stop the online sharing of nude or sexually explicit content taken while under 18 years old. For more information, visit https://takeitdown.ncmec.org.
These investigations are part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the
Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child
Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about
Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.
- Physical Markers: Fresh cuts, scratches, or scars, often in patterns (including
Texas woman pleads guilty for her role in cross country narcotics conspiracy originating in MexicoRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Shannell Gosine, 28, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler, Donna Duncan, and Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who are handling the case, stated that between April 2023, and February 20, 2025, Gosine conspired with others to sell cocaine that came from Mexico and was transported from Texas to multiple locations throughout the United States, including Buffalo. Gosine’s role was primarily that of a drug courier and the receiver of bulk currency for counting. She personally made numerous trips with bulk cocaine to Buffalo and took numerous trips back to Texas with bulk U.S. currency.
On April 8, 2023, the Ohio State and Highway Patrol seized 18.93 kilograms of cocaine from a co-conspirator who was attempting to transport the cocaine from Texas to Buffalo. On December 12, 2023, Tennessee’s 23rd Drug Task Force seized $100,000 in U.S. currency from Gosine and one of her co-conspirators, some of which currency had come from Buffalo. On May 7, 2024, the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office seized 9.3 kilograms of cocaine and 3,528 grams of pure methamphetamine from a co-conspirator during a traffic stop. On a typical trip, Gosine or her co-conspirators transported approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine to Buffalo and additional kilograms of cocaine to other destinations.
Gosine was arrested in April 2025, along with six other defendants, including: Winnie Taru Woods a/k/a Ru, Sharron McCullough a/k/a Black, Marlon Holt, Jr. a/k/a Scooter a/k/a Professor, Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr., Ian Dyer, and Norman Patillo. Gosine is the second to be convicted.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo/Rochester comprises agents and officers from HSI and the FBI with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Enforcement Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office, the 23rd Judicial Taskforce, Tennessee, as well as Homeland Security Investigations in NY, and Houston and Austin, Texas.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 28, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Rigging Bids for Healthcare-Related U.S. Air Force ProjectsRead the Press Release
The owner of a storage sales company pleaded guilty to two felony counts for conspiring to rig bids and defraud the U.S. Department of War in connection with the sale of shelving and storage products to the U.S. Air Force to service multiple healthcare facilities, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today.
According to the information and plea agreement filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Eric J. Caddy, 62, of Huntington, Texas, and his co-conspirators submitted collusive bids for multiple healthcare-related projects at Air Force Base Moody in Valdosta, Georgia, including: (1) the Medical Logistics Warehouse Project; (2) the Pharmacy Modernization and Renovation Project; (3) the Veterinary Clinic Project; and (4) the Dental Lab Clinic Project. One of Caddy’s co-conspirators instructed Caddy to submit intentionally higher prices for the projects and even provided Caddy with the specific pricing to include on bids for the projects. Caddy then submitted the collusive bids to a prime vendor for the federal government, which in turn submitted the collusive bids to the U.S. Department of War. Caddy and his co-conspirators concealed the bid rigging from the government by having Caddy “re-write” certain bid forms “in [Caddy’s] own handwriting” before transmitting them. The projects, which totaled over $1.6 million, were funded through the Defense Logistics Agency’s Facilities Maintenance, Repair, and Operations Program. The guilty plea is the first in an ongoing investigation into bid rigging and fraud impacting U.S. military facilities in the United States.
“Defending free and fair competition in healthcare spending is a critical priority for the Antitrust Division, particularly when it affects the U.S. military,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force and its partners will continue to find and prosecute those who corrupt the competitive process and increase healthcare-related costs in the United States.”
“Bid rigging harms taxpayers, honest contractors and all of us who play by the rules, and will not tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division has been an invaluable partner in ensuring that competition remains free and fair in the Middle District of Georgia.”
“The Air Force Office of Special Investigations remains steadfast in our mission to protect the integrity of Department of War procurement processes and safeguard resources critical to the readiness and welfare of our Airmen,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrell Freeman of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Southeast Field Office. “Bid rigging schemes like this undermine fair competition, inflate costs for essential healthcare infrastructure, and ultimately harm the brave men and women serving in our military. Working alongside our partners at the Antitrust Division, DCIS, and DLA OIG, we will continue to vigorously investigate and hold accountable those who seek to defraud the United States.”
“Bid rigging involving military healthcare contracts isn’t just illegal, it’s a direct betrayal of the service members and their families who rely on these facilities,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jason Sargenski, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office. “Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that companies and individuals who cheat the competitive bidding process for contracts that support our nation’s defense will be held accountable. DCIS, alongside our partners, remains committed to protecting the public interest and the integrity of the defense contracting process.”
The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Defense Logistics Agency Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Daniel Chung and Christian Neumeister of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
The maximum penalty for a conspiracy to rig bids in violation of the Sherman Act for an individual is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to defraud the United States is five years in prison and a $250,000 criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine. Caddy is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
South Carolina woman sentenced to prison for multi-state unemployment insurance fraudRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, Georgia: A South Carolina woman was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay substantial restitution for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.
Ricki Johnson, 42, of Trenton, South Carolina, was sentenced to 54 months in prison after pleading guilty to Mail Fraud, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Johnson to pay restitution and criminal forfeiture of $104,632 and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Relaxed rules during the pandemic era made it easier for individuals to access many government-provided services, but unfortunately it opened the floodgates for scammers who took advantage of the system to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will identify these criminals and hold them accountable.”
In March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds.
As described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period Johnson electronically submitted false unemployment insurance benefit applications to approximately 18 states. Seven of those states (Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania) paid out approximately $104,632 in benefits to her. Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Johnson through the U.S. Mail.
Johnson and her mother, Cheryl Galloway, 66, of Yulee, Florida, subsequently were named in a seven-count indictment in the Southern District of Georgia in May 2025, alleging their participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits in multiple states.
Galloway, who is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud and three counts of Mail Fraud, awaits further court proceedings. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Her son and Johnson’s brother, identified in court as the late Nick Morrison, was listed as an unnamed co-conspirator in the indictment.
“Ricki Johnson and her co-conspirators stole from American taxpayers – filing fraudulent unemployment claims across multiple states and abusing programs meant to help workers in need,” said Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “At the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, we are relentless in pursuing fraud. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance system and ensuring criminals who exploit it are held accountable.”
Anyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at www.oig.dol.gov/hotline.htm.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 144 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Aguila Binion, 48 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after a jury convicted him of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Binion was sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, police found Binion asleep behind the wheel of a running car. Binion had a bag of cocaine and more than $1,500 cash in his pockets. He had boxes of plastic baggies, a digital scale, and several small baggies of pre-packaged cocaine in the front seat. Within arm’s reach in the back seat, he had a fully loaded pistol.
“The Defendant was all set up to distribute poison in our community. He had the product, the packaging, money to make change, a scale to make accurate sales, and a gun to protect his illicit business enterprise. He has forfeited twelve years of his life because of his crimes. The Northern District of Indiana is safer for the efforts of the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Police Department, the Indiana State Police Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” said Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Police Department and the Indiana State Police Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Luke N. Reilander.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Repeat felon sent to prison following discovery of weapons in vehicle while unconscious in driver’s seatRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Chase Langston Wiatt pleaded guilty Sept. 25, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Wiatt to serve 92 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about Wiatt’s prior convictions and arrests involving the possession and use of a firearm. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his extensive criminal history and prior violence.
On Oct. 28, 2021, law enforcement responded to a call regarding an unconscious driver in a vehicle. They arrived and found Wiatt unresponsive in the driver’s seat with the vehicle in drive.
Authorities noted Wiatt had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He admitted to consuming a cannabis edible prior to operating the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of two pistols - one located between the driver’s seat and center console and the other on the passenger seat.
The investigation revealed Wiatt had prior felony convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, escape and credit card abuse. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse prosecuted the case.
Reedsburg Woman Sentenced for Her Role in Fentanyl Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Chrystal D. Mueller, 41, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 18 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Mueller pleaded guilty to this charge on September 4, 2025.
Between January 14, 2022, and April 8, 2022, Mueller and others worked together to distribute fentanyl pills in Wisconsin. The drugs would be sent from California and mailed to residences associated with Mueller, who would then distribute them locally. Mueller would get a discount on the fentanyl for her part in the conspiracy.
In rejecting her request for a probationary sentence, Judge Peterson noted that Mueller participated in the conduct for almost two years and brought her then-significant other into the conspiracy.
Kenneth O. Phillips, 40, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, the local leader of the group, was sentenced on November 21, 2025, to six years in prison. Brandon Stevens, 40, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to a year and a day in prison. Stevens worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier and would pick up parcels containing drugs that were on his route and bring them to his partner, Mueller.
The investigation determined that a total of 19 parcels were mailed from California to Wisconsin between January and April 2022. The United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted parcels addressed to Phillips, Mueller, and Stevens in March and April and found they contained fentanyl pills.
Another individual in the conspiracy, Ames Basham, has also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on April 7, 2026.
The charges against Mueller were the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Previously Deported Dominican National Charged with Illegal Reentry After Drug Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Providence has returned an indictment charging a previously deported Dominican national with illegal reentry into the United States following a drug trafficking conviction, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Fabio Lenin Aza-Velez, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, is charged by indictment with illegal reentry into the United States following deportation after conviction for an aggravated felony.
According to the indictment, Aza-Velez was previously removed from the United States on November 10, 2009, after being convicted in New York for felony narcotics offenses, including criminal sale of a controlled substance on school grounds.
Court records indicate that on January 12, 2006, he was sentenced to three to nine years’ imprisonment for those offenses. The indictment alleges that after having been removed from the United States, the defendant illegally reentered the country without obtaining consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission.
Aza-Velez was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on March 12, 2026.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime
Poughkeepsie Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Selling Guns, Fentanyl, and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that Joseph Crocco was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison for dealing guns, fentanyl, and crack in Poughkeepsie, New York, while on federal supervised release. In June 2025, the defendant was convicted following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, who imposed yesterday’s sentence.
“Joseph Crocco sold deadly drugs and loaded guns to New Yorkers, understanding that they would be used to violent and poisonous ends,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New York families want repeat offenders, particularly those who deal in fentanyl and guns, off the streets. This sentence delivers that.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, the evidence at trial, court filings, and statements made in court:
Between June and July 2024, CROCCO sold narcotics and firearms from his residence in Poughkeepsie, New York, to an undercover New York State Police officer. During a series of controlled purchases made at CROCCO’s home, CROCCO sold fentanyl, crack, cocaine, and cutting agents such as xylazine, also known as “tranq.” CROCCO also sold two loaded semi-automatic handguns and boxes of ammunition to the undercover officer as part of one of the drug deals.
Firearms, Ammunition, and a Portion of the Drugs Sold by CROCCO
On July 24, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at CROCCO’s residence and recovered additional narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and ammunition. CROCCO had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses that made it illegal for him to possess a firearm, including voluntary manslaughter. At the time he committed these offenses, CROCCO was on supervised release following a prior federal bank robbery conviction.
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In addition to the prison term, CROCCO, 49, of Poughkeepsie, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit all of the firearms and ammunition involved in the offense.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New York State Police, and the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Reyhan Watson, and Benjamin Klein are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Samantha Olsen.
Panama City Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm Found After Overheard on Jail CallRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Kendrick Parham, 47, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping dangerous, violent felons off our streets is the prime objective of Operation Take Back America, and this successful prosecution delivers on that promise. Our community will be safer and healthier now that this drug-peddling, violent criminal will be locked away in prison rather than roaming our streets.”
Court documents reflect that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives assisted the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Panama City, during which five ounces of methamphetamine were discovered, and he was arrested on state charges. While in jail, the defendant – a four-time convicted felon legally prohibited from possessing firearms – made incriminating statements during a monitored phone call about the presence of a firearm in his residence that was not previously found by officers during the search. After obtaining a new search warrant based on those incriminating statements, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office conducted another search of the defendant’s residence and recovered the firearm.
The defendant faces imprisonment for up to 15 years at sentencing.
The case involved an investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 29, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Owner of Now-Closed Milwaukee Prenatal Care Coordination Company Sentenced to 121 Months’ Imprisonment for Healthcare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 17, 2026, Markita Barnes (age 33) was sentenced to 121 months’ incarceration for committing a healthcare fraud scheme through which she stole $2,361,799.17 from a Medicaid benefit program meant to help at-risk pregnant women and women with young children.
Following a two-week trial in November 2025, a federal jury convicted Barnes of ten counts of healthcare fraud, three counts of false statements related to healthcare matters, three counts of violating the anti-kickback statute, one count of attempting to obstruct a healthcare fraud investigation, one count of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
In announcing the sentence, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper discussed the substantial negative impact Barnes’ fraud scheme, and others like it in the Milwaukee area, has had not only on public trust in government benefit programs, but on the availability of the benefit program she defrauded. Chief Judge Pepper noted that, because of significant fraud surrounding this benefit program, the state of Wisconsin has scaled back the benefit to such an extent that it is largely not available to the women who actually need it.
Chief Judge Pepper also explained that the significant sentence of incarceration she imposed was necessary to account for the seriousness of Barnes’s conduct and to send a message of deterrence to others considering engaging in fraud against hard-working taxpayers.
In addition to the 121-month period of incarceration, Chief Judge Pepper issued a money judgment of forfeiture in the amount of $2,361,799.17 and ordered Barnes to pay restitution to Medicaid in the same amount.
“The substantial sentence holds Ms. Barnes accountable for her very serious crimes. She stole limited public resources that were intended for our neighbors most in need of public assistance,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “Many people in need will not receive help due to the defendant’s actions. This is a strong message to other fraudsters that we are coming for them, and they will be punished.”
“The FBI is dedicated to ensuring those who defraud the American people through healthcare fraud face justice,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “Markita Barnes devised a scheme in which she defrauded Medicaid of millions of dollars at the expense of at-risk mothers and children. The lengthy sentence and order of restitution should serve as a warning for those who seek to enrich themselves through fraud. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat healthcare fraud and root out those who steal from the American people.”
“The defendant’s appalling conduct undermined the ability of vulnerable individuals to get support,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “This outcome demonstrates how seriously government benefits fraud is taken.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit, the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel prosecuted the case.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Ossian Woman Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Janis A. Sexton, 63 years old, of Ossian, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Sexton was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $1,679,934 in restitution to multiple identified victims.
According to documents in the case, Sexton knowingly conspired with others to defraud victims of millions of dollars and then laundered the fraud proceeds through her shell companies and bank accounts. Starting in December of 2020, and extending through August of 2022, Sexton created four shell companies and established accounts at multiple banks. Through a variety of schemes, the conspiracy deceived victim businesses and some individuals into wiring money to accounts under Sexton’s control. After laundering the money through her accounts, Sexton sent fraud proceeds to an overseas conspirator, sometimes by converting the money into cryptocurrency. In total, the conspiracy tried to steal over $4 million, and Sexton and her conspirators actually obtained a little over $2 million in fraud proceeds, primarily through business email compromise schemes and fraud against a government program.
This conspiracy victimized many businesses through business email compromise schemes. With this type of scheme, conspirators gained access to a business’s emails and obtained inside information about existing invoices and accounts receivable or accounts payable. Conspirators then sent emails that looked legitimate and purported to change existing payment information, with the new payment account being under the control of a conspirator such as Sexton. In wiring money, victims believed that they were sending payment to their vendors, clients, and business associates, but they were instead deceived into sending money to Sexton.
“The Defendant was extremely sophisticated. Thanks to the professional investigation put together by the FBI with the assistance of the Stamford Police Department in Connecticut, the Defendant was caught, prosecuted, and sentenced,” Mildred said.
“This wasn’t a simple scheme - the defendant set up shell companies, opened multiple accounts, and even coordinated with an overseas contact, all in an attempt to avoid detection. In the end, that didn’t work,” said Timothy J. O’Malley. “Cases like this show that even complex fraud leaves a trail, and the FBI remains committed to identifying and holding accountable those who break the law.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Stamford, Connecticut, Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.
Ohio Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl-laced Drugs that Resulted in FatalityRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 34-year-old Lorain County man has been indicted on drug trafficking charges that resulted in one person’s overdose.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Roderick Cross, Jr., AKA Chubb, of Elyria, Ohio, with the following:
- Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack)
- Distribution of Cocaine and Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Para-fluorofentanyl
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Attempted Murder and Felonious Assault in 2010; Robbery in 2018; and Drug Trafficking and Drug Possession in 2025.
According to the allegations, on March 15, 2025, Cross intentionally distributed several controlled substances to a person, J.K., who then fatally overdosed. The victim was found to have ingested cocaine and fentanyl which investigators connected to the defendant. During search warrant executions at two locations suspected of being connected with Cross, agents seized firearms, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Elyria Police Department-Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the FBI’s Lorain/Elyria Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Crook and Stephanie A. Wojtasik for the Northern District of Ohio are leading the prosecution.
If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. Cross faces enhanced sentencing penalties as a result of the victim’s death resulting from illegal drug distribution and for prior serious felony convictions.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
New Rochelle Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Social Security Benefits and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that JAMES PAVLOUNIS was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for perpetrating a 12-year scheme to defraud the Social Security Administration and obtain disability benefits to which he was not entitled, and causing his valet parking service business to evade paying corporate income taxes for five years. In September 2025, PAVLOUNIS pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern, who imposed today’s sentence.
“James Pavlounis stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a government program meant to support those truly in need, while also evading taxes through his business,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Programs like Social Security depend on honesty, and tax obligations fund essential services that New Yorkers rely on. Those who exploit these systems for personal gain will be held accountable.”
According to the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings and filings:
From January 2013 through March 2025, PAVLOUNIS obtained approximately $646,370 in Social Security benefits by providing false information to the Social Security Administration. He claimed he was too disabled to support himself and failed to disclose he was receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from the operation of valet parking service businesses.
Further, from January 2018 through December 2022, PAVLOUNIS evaded the collection of the taxes of Select Parking Systems Inc. (“SPS”), one of the valet parking service businesses, due for the years 2017 through 2021, by making it appear that he was not operating SPS, concealing the income he was earning from SPS from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), and making it appear that SPS was not profitable. Through this scheme, PAVLOUNIS caused SPS to evade payment of approximately $248,810 in taxes.
PAVLOUNIS perpetrated the scheme by, among other things: having a family member named as the owner of SPS; paying for his personal expenses using money from SPS’s business bank account; failing to inform SPS’s tax return preparer (the “Preparer”) that he was paying his personal expenses using money from SPS’s bank account; not filing his own individual income tax returns with the IRS, thereby not reporting any individual income; providing ledgers to the Preparer and representing that they contained SPS’s expenses for renting parking lots when there were no such expenses (the “False Ledgers”); causing the Preparer to falsely report on SPS’s corporate income tax returns that SPS paid a total of $1,054,204 in expenses for renting parking lots over the years 2017 through 2021; falsely representing, during a meeting with IRS Special Agents that all the information contained on SPS’s tax returns for 2017 through 2021 was true and correct and that reported rental expenses were amounts expended to rent parking lots where SPS valets parked cars for valet customers; and, producing the False Ledgers in response to a grand jury subpoena.
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In addition to the prison term, PAVLOUNIS, 62, of New Rochelle, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $895,180 and forfeiture of approximately $646,370.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Margery Feinzig is in charge of the prosecution.
Milton Man Indicted for Possessing a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 17, 2026, charging a Milton, Delaware, man with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition.
According to the indictment, on December 9, 2025, Andre Brickhouse, 34, was found in possession of a 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number, a large-capacity magazine, and 21 rounds of ammunition. Brickhouse is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of a prior felony conviction.
Brickhouse is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division made the announcement. ATF and the Laurel Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey J. Hauser is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-45.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Mexican man who entered the United States after being previously removed was sentenced today to time served, 219 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Juan Diego Rojas-Meneses, 20, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of reentry of a removed alien.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on August 12, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Belgrade, Montana where they discovered Rojas-Meneses. He was interviewed at the scene and admitted being a citizen of Mexico without the necessary documentation to be in the United States.
A records check confirmed Rojas-Meneses is a citizen of Mexico who was last was removed from the United States on September 1, 2024, and September 23, 2024, through El Paso, Texas.
There is no record that he obtained the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Belgrade Police Department, and Montana Division of Criminal Investigations.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
XXXMexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Accused of Laundering Millions of Dollars in Narcotics Trafficking ProceedsRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.— The owner and operator of Tienda Santa Maria II LLC has been charged with money laundering after using his money service businesses to launder narcotics trafficking proceeds and structure financial transactions to avoid suspicion of law enforcement.
Jose Alonso Paramo Arguello, 45, a citizen of Mexico and unlawfully residing in the United States, has been charged by criminal complaint with money laundering.
According to court documents, Arguello is the owner and operator of Tienda Santa Maria II in Phoenix, Oregon, along with two other businesses, Tienda Santa Maria in Medford, Oregon, and Paramos Barber Shop in Central Point, Oregon. Arguello uses his three businesses to transfer narcotics trafficking proceeds to Mexico by breaking down transactions into smaller amounts and using fake names and addresses for the money senders to conceal the true nature and source of the funds.
From January 2, 2024, through December 3, 2025, Arguello’s three money service businesses transferred more than $13 million in wire transfers of $500 or more to Mexico, an amount often indicative of narcotics trafficking. Of that, over $7 million was sent to locations in Mexico associated with narcotics trafficking.
The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) provided an informant with cash to attempt to wire money to Mexico. The informant told Arguello he was a drug dealer to which Arguello responded, “You sell whatever you want, you’re a merchant, period.” From November 2025 through January 2026, Arguello laundered over $45,000 in what the informant represented as drug trafficking proceeds through 22 wire transfers. While doing so, Arguello received a 10% commission to launder the funds. Arguello referred to this commission as a bribe.
Arguello made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate judge. He was ordered detained pending a further court proceeding scheduled for March 23, 2026, in Medford.
IRS-CI is investigating the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET), and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Cardani and Julia Jarrett are prosecuting the case.
This arrest is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air and Army National Guard Counterdrug program, Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mexican Illegal Alien Charged with Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Mexican illegal alien today, in connection with illegal re-entry charges.
Fortunado Cuatlatl-Flores, aka Furtunado Cuatlatl-Cuatle, 44, is charged with illegally re-entering the United States after he was previously removed from the country following a conviction for an aggravated felony.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to court documents, on February 20, 2026, law enforcement encountered Cuatlatl-Flores in Wicomico County, Maryland, while performing an area-enforcement operation. After encountering Cuatlatl-Flores, law enforcement checked the license plate and registration on the vehicle the illegal alien was driving.
When ICE-ERO officers investigated further, they discovered a restriction code that indicated that Cuatlatl-Flores may not be legally present in the United States. ICE-ERO officers then conducted a vehicle stop.
During a brief investigative interview, Cuatlatl-Flores provided a Mexican voter identification card, with the name ‘Fortunato Cuatlatl’ on it, affirming his identity. Cuatlatl-Flores also admitted he is a citizen and national of Mexico who entered the U.S. without permission. Based on Cuatlatl-Flores’s admission, and confirmation of his identity, law enforcement took him into custody. Upon further investigation, law enforcement discovered Cuatlatl-Flores was previously removed from the U.S. twice, following a felony child sexual abuse conviction.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Cuatlatl-Flores faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended Salisbury ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Maryville Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempted EnticementRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On March 18, 2026, Ryan Patrick Garrett, 41, of Maryville, TN, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, Garrett will be on supervised release for 30 years and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Garrett agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of attempted enticement in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).
According to filed court documents, on March 13, 2025, detectives with the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) and agents of the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested 41-year-old Ryan Patrick Garrett on a federal complaint of Enticement of a minor for the purposes of an illegal sexual act. Garrett was arrested after an investigation conducted by the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force revealed that Garrett was making plans to meet at a location in Knoxville to engage in sexual activities with a nine-year-old and twelve-year-old. KPD Detectives and HSI Special Agents took Garrett into custody after he arrived to meet the children.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The arrest and criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by KPD, the lead agency of the Tennessee ICAC Task Force which is a partnership of 74 state and local law enforcement agencies. The TN ICAC Task Force operates under a grant from the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The investigation was led by HSI KPD ICAC Task Force Officer Tom Evans.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.”
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Maryland and Alabama Men Sentenced to a Combined 64 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – A Maryland man was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for his involvement with a website dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Sean Edward Young, 47, of Rockville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise and to distribute child pornography on Sept. 24, 2025. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Young was a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and discussions of child sexual abuse. He advertised and distributed CSAM on this website, counseled other users on how to avoid law enforcement, and bragged about having sexually abused children in the past.
Young’s sentencing follows the earlier sentencing of co-defendant and co-conspirator Jacob Parker, 49, of Auburn, Alabama. On Jan. 15 Parker was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography. According to court documents, Parker, like Young, was a high-level moderator of the same website and spent time and effort managing it and sharing CSAM with fellow users.
“Sean Young and Jacob Parker were part of an online community of offenders who came together to share, discuss, and celebrate depictions of child sexual abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Both made every effort to use technology to hide from law enforcement, but they could not. People who prey on our children will pay a heavy price by losing their liberty with the imposition of significant incarcerative sentences like these.”
“The exploitation of children through the distribution of child sexual abuse material is a disturbing crime that causes lasting harm to its victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “Those who participate in online networks that advertise and distribute this material will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable. Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect children and bring offenders to justice.”
“It is unconscionable for someone to advertise and brag about sexually abusing children,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “We must bring depraved people like Young and his co-conspirators to justice and ensure that they lose their freedom for a very long time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland will always stand ready to assist our partners to ensure that all predators are met with the full force of the law.”
“Child predators victimize the most vulnerable and innocent members of our society, their families, and their communities,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “Young’s role as a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and his purposeful actions to conceal his activities and advise others how to avoid law enforcement makes him amongst the worst offenders. Now he will serve time for what he has done. Along with The Department of Justice and our federal, state, and local partners, the FBI is fully committed to identifying individuals who exploit children and bringing them to justice as quickly as possible.”
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case along with the FBI’s Auburn Resident Agency and Baltimore field office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cyber Division and the Auburn Police Department.
Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and J. Patrick Lamb of the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan McKoy of the District of Maryland provided valuable assistance.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland and Alabama Men Sentenced to a Combined 64 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A Maryland man was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for his involvement with a website dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Sean Edward Young, 47, of Rockville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise and to distribute child pornography on Sept. 24, 2025. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Young was a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and discussions of child sexual abuse. He advertised and distributed CSAM on this website, counseled other users on how to avoid law enforcement, and bragged about having sexually abused children in the past.
Young’s sentencing follows the earlier sentencing of co-defendant and co-conspirator Jacob Parker, 49, of Auburn, Alabama. On Jan. 15 Parker was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography. According to court documents, Parker, like Young, was a high-level moderator of the same website and spent time and effort managing it and sharing CSAM with fellow users.
“Sean Young and Jacob Parker were part of an online community of offenders who came together to share, discuss, and celebrate depictions of child sexual abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Both made every effort to use technology to hide from law enforcement, but they could not. People who prey on our children will pay a heavy price by losing their liberty with the imposition of significant incarcerative sentences like these.”
“The exploitation of children through the distribution of child sexual abuse material is a disturbing crime that causes lasting harm to its victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “Those who participate in online networks that advertise and distribute this material will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable. Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect children and bring offenders to justice.”
“It is unconscionable for someone to advertise and brag about sexually abusing children,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “We must bring depraved people like Young and his co-conspirators to justice and ensure that they lose their freedom for a very long time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland will always stand ready to assist our partners to ensure that all predators are met with the full force of the law.”
“Child predators victimize the most vulnerable and innocent members of our society, their families, and their communities,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “Young’s role as a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and his purposeful actions to conceal his activities and advise others how to avoid law enforcement makes him amongst the worst offenders. Now he will serve time for what he has done. Along with The Department of Justice and our federal, state, and local partners, the FBI is fully committed to identifying individuals who exploit children and bringing them to justice as quickly as possible.”
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case along with the FBI’s Auburn Resident Agency and Baltimore field office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cyber Division and the Auburn Police Department.
Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and J. Patrick Lamb of the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan McKoy of the District of Maryland provided valuable assistance.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland Man Admits to Role in a Large-Scale Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Hagerstown, Maryland man has admitted to his part in a large-scale drug operation in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties that has ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
David Reyes, 61, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin. According to statements made in court, Reyes was a source of supply, organizer, and decision-maker within the drug conspiracy. Reyes worked with those in Puerto Rico to further the drug operation. Saul Alex Padilla-Garcia, the leader of the organization, and 17 others, including Reyes, were operating the fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operation out of an autobody shop in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The group imported significant amounts of drugs from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Postal Service as well as from a source connected to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Of the 18 defendants in this case, 12 have entered guilty pleas and 8 have been sentenced for their roles in the organization.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force was the lead investigative unit. Other investigative agencies that assisted include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Juan, and Philadelphia Field Offices; United States Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Service; Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisville and Chicago Divisions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Martinsburg Police Department; Ranson Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; West Virginia Air National Guard; Mineral County Sheriff's Office; Grant County Sheriff's Office; Hampshire County Sheriff's Department; Keyser Police Department; Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, Virginia; Pennsylvania State Police; Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania; Winchester Police Department, Virginia; Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Virginia; Virginia State Police; Sunnyvale Police Department, California.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Manhattan Man Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl That Killed A VictimRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Northeast Regional Associate Chief of Operations of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Frank A. Tarentino III, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ADAM SLOAN, a/k/a “Slug,” with distribution of narcotics resulting in death in connection with the July 15, 2025, fentanyl overdose death of a resident of New York, New York. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
“As alleged, Adam Sloan sold fentanyl to a victim in Manhattan, causing his death,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Fentanyl is an extraordinarily dangerous drug that has no place in the streets of New York. When drug dealers sell fentanyl, the cost is paid in human lives. Together with the DEA, the NYPD, and our other law enforcement partners, the women and men of the SDNY will fight for these victims and hold killers accountable.”
“While fentanyl remains the greatest drug threat this nation has ever faced, the greatest danger comes from the individuals who continue to push this poison into our communities,” said DEA New York Task Force Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts. “Today’s indictment sends a clear message to those threatening our families. We will find you; and we will bring you to justice. The DEA remains relentless in ensuring justice is delivered to the families who have lost loved ones to this drug epidemic.”
“The defendant showed zero regard for life when he allegedly sold a lethal amount of fentanyl to a New Yorker who was trying to turn his life around—and now a family is left grieving that loss,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “We know how dangerous even the smallest trace of this poison can be, and we will continue to hold accountable any drug peddler who carelessly puts our communities at risk. I thank our NYPD investigators, our partners at the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued commitment to keeping our streets safe.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings:
On July 15, 2025, SLOAN sold fentanyl to a Manhattan man, killing him.
This was not the victim’s first overdose. In October 2024, after suffering a nonfatal overdose, the victim tried to turn his life around by entering inpatient drug treatment and keeping handwritten notes to try to avoid relapse.
When the victim ultimately relapsed, however, SLOAN was ready and willing to sell fentanyl to the victim. On the evening of July 15, 2025, the victim and the defendant arranged to meet. Surveillance video footage likewise shows that the victim and the defendant left their respective homes, walked towards one another for the meeting, and then returned to their respective homes. After consuming the fentanyl that SLOAN had sold him, the victim suffered a fatal overdose.
* * *
SLOAN, 44, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of distribution of narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA and NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Mandilk is in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the Indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Little Rock Man Who Led Police on High-Speed Chase with Kilograms of Fentanyl in Car Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A drug dealer who led police on a chase reaching speeds of 114 miles per hour with multiple kilograms of fentanyl and a firearm in his car will spend 140 months in federal prison. Clifford Siglar, 38, of Little Rock, was sentenced today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which also included five years of supervised release.
A grand jury indicted Siglar on September 11, 2024, charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Siglar pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl on October 1, 2025.
A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation revealed that Siglar was distributing fentanyl out of a residence in Little Rock. In the summer 2024, officers observed Clifford conducting what they believed to be narcotics sales. On August 26, 2024, officers saw Clifford at the residence known for drug sales place what was believed to be narcotics in his vehicle, a black Chevrolet Camaro. Officers then attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Camaro.
Siglar noticed the presence of law enforcement before officers could initiate a traffic stop and fled. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department and Arkansas State Police (ASP) joined in the pursuit of Siglar, with the chase reaching speeds over 114 miles per hour. An ASP trooper immobilized the Camaro, which then crashed into trees. Siglar was ejected from the car and continued to flee on foot before being caught by police.
Law enforcement searched the Camaro and located a .57-caliber handgun on the driver’s floorboard and a backpack in the trunk of the vehicle which contained approximately 2.6 kilograms of fentanyl and scales. Fentanyl can be used and sold in doses as small as one-tenth of a gram, which would have resulted in more than 26,000 individual doses of fentanyl from the backpack seized.
Siglar has a prior felony conviction for possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver.
The case was investigated by the DEA, along with the Little Rock Police Department and Arkansas State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Eldridge.
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Lame Deer man sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempted sexual abuseRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who attempted to sexually abuse a minor was sentenced today to 216 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Dean Allen Wallowing Bull, 46, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of attempted sexual abuse.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in 2009, Wallowing Bull and John Doe, a minor at the time, were drinking together at Wallowing Bull’s residence. Doe eventually fell asleep on a couch in the basement. When he awoke, he could see Wallowing Bull laying behind him and felt him reaching over Doe’s stomach toward his crotch. Doe got off the couch to leave, but Wallowing Bull blocked the doorway. Doe returned to the couch and fell asleep again.
After approximately 15 minutes, Doe awoke to find Wallowing Bull laying behind him again and reaching toward his crotch. When Doe tried to get off the couch to leave, Wallowing Bull pinned him to the couch to prevent him from escaping. Doe fought back and Wallowing Bull eventually allowed Doe to exit the basement. Evidence gathered throughout the investigation established that Wallowing Bull intended to remove Doe’s clothing in order to have anal or oral sex with Doe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, BIA, and Northern Cheyenne Investigative Services.
Lake County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Materials ChargesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 45-year-old Lake County man has been sentenced to prison for sharing sexual abuse images and videos of children with others on a social media platform.
Todd Oravecz, of Kirtland, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Lioi, after pleading guilty in October 2025 to Receipt, Distribution, and Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $39,000 in restitution.
Court documents show that federal agents received a tip from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about suspected CSAM activity on a social media platform. Investigators found that the sexual abuse materials observed online were linked to an account in the Cleveland area and Oravecz was identified. In December 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his residence and among the items seized were six cellphones, a laptop, a computer tablet, a handgun, and ammunition. During the investigation and analysis of his electronic devices and online accounts, agents found more than 100 CSAM images and videos that included prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Other evidence presented in court includes a 2021 police report accusing the defendant of sexually assaulting a five-year-old minor.
The investigation leading to the indictment was led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Kirtland Police Department. The USAO would also like to acknowledge valuable assistance from the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Kane for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Lake City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while illegally possessing a gun pled guilty March 18, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
Clayton Brown, age 34, from Lake City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Brown has seven prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing guns.
At the plea hearing, Brown admitted being in a conspiracy that distributed at least four pounds of methamphetamine in about eight-months in 2025. Twice in October 2025, Brown distributed over 80 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During a search of Brown’s home, officers seized a Glock handgun, methamphetamine, marijuana, over $2,000 in cash, and other items related to drug distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Brown remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Brown faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3057. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Koreatown Man Arrested on Charges that He Obtained More Than $2 Million in COVID Business Loans That He Invested in CryptocurrencyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A rideshare driver from the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles has been arrested on a five-count federal indictment charging him with fraudulently obtaining more than $2 million in COVID-19 pandemic business-relief loans on behalf of his nonexistent companies, which he instead used to buy cryptocurrency, the Justice Department announced today.
Bruce Choi, 34, was arrested Tuesday at San Francisco International Airport after arriving on a flight from Japan. He is charged with four counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution and one count of transactional money laundering.
He is expected to make his initial appearance today in United States District Court in San Francisco. He will be arraigned in Los Angeles federal court in the coming weeks.
According to the indictment, which was returned in October 2025 and unsealed today, from May 2020 to December 2024, Choi schemed to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and financial institutions out of government funds aimed to help businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout.
Choi, representing himself as the CEO and owner of a business called “Premier Republic,” applied for a $1,995,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. In support of this application, Choi falsely claimed that Premier Republic had an average monthly payroll of $798,000, was in operation in mid-February 2020, and paid salaries and payroll taxes.
In fact, Premier Republic was a fictional entity that neither had business operations nor hired anyone.
To support his false claim that Premier Republic was a real business, Choi submitted to a lender several fraudulent documents, including a fake 2019 individual tax return that claimed his “company” received gross receipts of nearly $11.8 million in 2019 and that it made a gross profit of nearly $9.6 million that year.
Choi also submitted a fake bank statement listing “deposits” and “transfers” of $798,000 during the fictitious period of February 1, 2020, through February 31, 2020.
Further, Choi submitted a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application through the SBA in which he falsely stated his business “Bruce” was involved in real estate, employed 10 people, and enjoyed gross revenues of $475 million in 2019. In fact, no such business existed.
As a result of his scheme, the victim lender disbursed $1,995,000 to Choi and the U.S. Treasury disbursed a $10,000 EIDL advance. Choi later wired proceeds from his scheme to a Kraken cryptocurrency exchange account.
Pursuant to a court-issued warrant, federal prosecutors have seized nearly 40 bitcoins and other cryptocurrency as part of the investigation.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Choi would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years in federal prison on the money laundering count.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the SBA’s Office of Inspector General are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Tara B. Vavere of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section and Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Schwab, Acting Chief of the Criminal Division, are prosecuting this case.
Kalkaska County Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in Case Tied to Fentanyl OverdoseRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Robert Graham Ward, 43, from Rapid City, Michigan, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin.
According to court records, on January 12, 2025, first responders responded to a 911 call at a hotel in Gaylord, Michigan and pronounced a 25-year-old man dead of a drug overdose. A woman who was last with the decedent before his death cooperated with law enforcement and stated that she received the drugs the day before from Robert Graham Ward at his residence in Rapid City, Michigan. Unbeknownst to Ward, investigators utilized the woman to order additional drugs from the defendant under police supervision. When Ward arrived, he was taken into custody. Investigators found several grams of heroin and fentanyl in his car. Investigators also executed a warrant at Ward’s Rapid City home and found over 21 grams of fentanyl.
Months after Ward was told that his fentanyl killed a man, and weeks after he was warned that he was the target of a federal drug trafficking investigation, a trooper with the Michigan State Police (MSP) stopped the defendant’s vehicle in Kalkaska County on April 4, 2025. Police searched Ward’s vehicle and found 5.69 grams of a mixture of fentanyl, heroin, and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer resistant to naloxone, [1] 7.9 grams of methamphetamine, and other drugs.
“Fentanyl distribution has devastated communities large and small across our district,” stated U.S. Attorney VerHey. “In this case, the defendant’s persistent drug dealing can be tied to the tragic loss of a 25-year-old. Our office remains steadfast in bringing to justice those responsible for endangering our citizens through drug dealing.”
“Fentanyl trafficking continues to threaten lives and destroy families throughout Michigan,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This case underscores the dangers posed by drug traffickers who disregard the death and destruction they bring to our communities. HSI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate and disrupt narcotics networks, and to hold accountable those who endanger our communities with these lethal substances.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement (SANE), Traverse Narcotics Team (TNT), and Michigan State Police (MSP). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vito S. Solitro.
[1] See, e.g., “The Growing Threat of Xylazine and its Mixture with Illicit Drugs,” DEA Joint Intelligence Report (Oct. 2022) available at https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/The%20Growing%20Threat%20of%20Xylazine%20and%20its%20Mixture%20with%20Illicit%20Drugs.pdf.
Justice Department Files Case to Revoke U.S. Citizenship of Mastermind Behind Multimillion-Dollar Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has filed and served a civil denaturalization complaint in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Maryland, against Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem, a native of Nigeria who organized a vast conspiracy to steal identities and file fraudulent tax returns. In 2017, he was convicted of 19 counts of mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and sentenced to 15 years in prison. But in 2024, then-President Biden commuted his sentence after only six years.
“The Trump Administration will not permit wrongdoers to retain the U.S. citizenship that they were never entitled to in the first place,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “U.S. Citizenship is a privilege, and we will continue to ask courts to revoke a status that was obtained through fraud and deceit.”
The newly filed denaturalization complaint alleges that Kazeem’s fraud scheme, which he committed in the years before and after his naturalization, along with his concealment of his crimes, precluded him from obtaining his naturalization lawfully. The complaint also alleges that Kazeem had, prior to his fraud scheme, engaged in a sham marriage to obtain permanent resident status and then married a second woman, further disqualifying him from naturalization.
According to court documents and evidence presented at Kazeem’s criminal trial, in May 2013, a victim in Medford, Oregon, notified the IRS that false federal and Oregon state tax returns were filed electronically using her and her husband’s personal identifying information (PII) including social security numbers and dates of birth.
An IRS investigation led to search warrants of residences in Illinois, Maryland, and Georgia and to numerous email and instant messenger accounts used by Kazeem and other co-conspirators. At a Chicago residence, agents seized approximately 150 prepaid debit cards and $50,000 in money orders. In Maryland and Georgia, agents seized more than 50 electronic devices, 40 money orders in amounts exceeding $29,000, $14,000 in cash and numerous prepaid debit cards containing over $12,000 in fraudulent tax refunds. The search warrants helped agents identify Kazeem as the leader and mastermind of the scheme.
The scheme resulted in the conspirators possessing stolen PII of more than 259,000 victims. Kazeem purchased more than 91,000 identities from a Vietnamese hacker that originated from an Oregon company’s private database. The company provided pre-employment and volunteer background checks for thousands of clients. Kazeem divided the identities into batches and shared them with other co-conspirators. They were in turn used to file fraudulent tax returns between 2012 and 2015.
In carrying out the scheme, Kazeem trained and directed his co-conspirators including his younger brother, Michael Oluwasegun Kazeem, to use stolen PII to obtain thousands of electronic filing PINs to bypass IRS authentication procedures. They acquired over 19,500 E-File PINS during the course of the conspiracy. Kazeem also used taxpayers’ PII to gain unauthorized access into many taxpayers’ IRS transcripts, which contain sensitive personal financial information. Conspirators also used pre-paid debit cards with the victims’ stolen identities to receive direct electronic tax refund deposits from the IRS.
In total, Kazeem was linked to 10,139 fraudulent federal tax returns attempting to get over $91 million dollars in refunds and successfully receiving over $11.6 million dollars. Refunds were withdrawn from the debit cards and at least 2,000 wire transfers totaling over $2.1 million dollars were sent to Nigeria. Over 700 of those wire transfers, totaling more than $690,000, were directly linked to Kazeem.
Kazeem used the conspiracy windfall to place a nearly $200,000 down payment on a newly constructed house and to purchase a $175,000 townhouse, both in Maryland. His average monthly credit card payment during 2012 to 2015 was over $8,300. Kazeem also attempted to use his ill-gotten funds to develop a $6 million dollar, 4-star hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.
In May 2015, Kazeem transferred the townhouse to his sister in Nigeria for $10 and included her on the deed to his Maryland residence, also for $10. He was arrested one day later.
On June 20, 2018, Kazeem was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $12 million in restitution. However, on Dec. 12, 2024, then-President Joe Biden commuted Kazeem’s sentence, along with nearly 1,500 others who had been serving under house arrest following their release from prison due to conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kazeem’s criminal conviction resulted from a joint investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the FBI. Investigative support was provided by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Department of State; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (DHS HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Kazeem’s criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron Chatfield and Gavin Bruce for the District of Oregon. Kazeem’s denaturalization case was investigated by DHS HSI and will be litigated by the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. More than 11,000 Fentanyl Pills SeizedRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison on Tuesday, March 17th in federal court for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement identified Roman Walker, 35, as a distributor of narcotics from Hinds County, Mississippi. Court filings reflect that Walker was distributing a “menu” of narcotics, business hours, and prices for different drugs he was selling. On or about January 24, 2023, while executing a search warrant of Walker’s residence, law enforcement discovered large quantities of narcotics including more than 11,000 blue fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and methamphetamine packaged for distribution into the metro Jackson area.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer made the announcement.
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Independence Man Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for of tax evasion.
Michael Robert Jett, 60, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Douglas Harpool to 23 months’ imprisonment, 3 years of post-release supervision, and ordered to pay $361,078.81 in restitution for tax evasion against the United States.
“Those who violate our tax laws cause honest taxpayers to lose faith that the system is fair,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Melissa McFadden. “For that reason, IRS-CI partners with the US Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute those who willfully choose tax evasion. Falsifying documents to avoid paying taxes is stealing, and offenders must be held accountable.”
“This time of year is a good reminder to all taxpayers of the consequences of not timely and accurately paying your fair share,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price. “You will be prosecuted and face the loss of your freedom if you do not.”
Jett, a salesperson for a time share company, falsely claimed that he was exempt from paying federal or state income taxes. As a result, Jett’s employer did not withhold any money from his wages. Jett, despite having no taxes withheld from his salary, then either refused to pay his yearly income taxes or submitted false tax return documents to evade any payment of his personal income taxes. Over the period of six years, between 2017 and 2022, Jett failed and willfully evaded his financial responsibility to pay his yearly income taxes to both the United States and the State of Missouri. Jett was ordered to pay $330,649.43 to the United States Government, and an additional $30,429.38 to the State of Missouri, for a total restitution amount of $361,078.81.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
Illinois Businessman Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for $14 Million Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – An Illinois businessman has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $14 million across 1,500 fraudulent small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The scheme netted SHARHABEEL SHREITEH at least $741,000 in kickback payments. In turn, Shreiteh then funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in loan proceeds fraudulently obtained from the United States government to financial institutions in the Palestinian Territories, much of which was used to build a second home there. He also used some of the fraud proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle in the United States, including renovations to his residence in Crete, Ill., and vacations to South Carolina and Florida. Under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and consistent with the Administration’s priorities to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal fraud in the federal government entitlement and benefit programs, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois is taking a fresh look at Covid-19 fraud.
Shreiteh engaged in fraud in 2020 and 2021 related to the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created by the CARES Act to cover lost revenue due to economic disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic. Shreiteh, who worked as a tax preparer in Palos Hills, Ill., recruited purported sole proprietors, self-employed individuals, and businesses to provide their personal identifying information and other documents, and then submitted more than 1,500 fraudulent PPP loan applications on their behalf, causing the government to disburse at least $14 million in fraudulent PPP loans. As part of the scheme, the applications contained numerous misrepresentations that inflated the applicants’ operations, payroll, income, and other expenses. For each successful fraudulent loan, Shreiteh received at least $1,000 to $4,000 in kickback payments from the loan applicants.
Shreiteh, 46, pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge. On March 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold sentenced Shreiteh to ten years in federal prison and ordered him to forfeit $741,000 to the United States government. Judge Pacold also ordered Shreiteh to pay $14 million in restitution to the United States government. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Pacold remarked, “Any fraud against any government program, but in particular a program that was an emergency relief program, to take advantage of those emergency funds and ultimately to steal from taxpayers is a terrible thing, and it’s a very serious offense.” Judge Pacold continued, “This was emergency money, it was supposed to help people who were suffering. It was supposed to help people who were suffering the effects of the Covid pandemic. It was funded by the government, therefore, by the American taxpayers, and [the fact] it was then sent overseas is very aggravating. And it's true, as the government pointed out, the next time there’s a crisis . . . people will point to this sort of fraud as a reason why there might be a problem with putting this sort of program out there, and that just hurts ultimately the people who really needed the funds.”
Judge Pacold also cited evidence that Shreiteh collected unemployment benefits from the states of Illinois and Ohio in 2020 and 2021 while simultaneously receiving the PPP fraud proceeds and working as a tax preparer. “That just shows a general disregard for the law, and . . . [a] willingness to lie to get money from government programs,” Judge Pacold said.
U.S. Attorney Boutros announced the sentence along with Adam Jobes, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office.
“In America’s time of need, the defendant saw a chance to upgrade his lifestyle,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “His fraudulent scheme resulted in a massive loss to the federal government at a time when Americans were struggling in the pandemic and legitimate businesses needed money to pay their employees. This was a massive, callous fraud motivated purely by greed.”
Anyone with information about suspected Covid-19 fraud can report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721, or by submitting an online complaint here.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Juan De La Cruz Mejia Castro, 33, of El Salvador, was sentenced to ten months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as an alien unlawfully in the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This dangerous illegal alien is precisely the kind of violent criminal that Operation Take Back America was launched to target and remove from our communities. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have devoted the full might of the Department of Justice toward keeping our citizens safe from the perpetrators of violent crime, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to give the residents of the Northern District of Florida the safe streets they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that law enforcement responded to a report of shots fired, and upon making contact with the defendant he admitted to drinking alcohol in his truck before firing two rounds from a 9-millimeter pistol around 10:30 p.m. Deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office found two spent shell casings at the scene, as well as a small amount of marijuana possessed by the defendant.
“The illegal possession of firearms by those unlawfully present in the United States poses a direct threat to the safety of our communities and the rule of law,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue and prosecute anyone who endangers public safety. Those who violate our nation’s immigration and gun laws will face swift and decisive consequences.”
The case was investigated by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke DiSalvo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced an undocumented immigrant living in St. Charles County, Missouri to 10 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material.
Francisco J. Ocana-Talamantes, now 48, was arrested on March 8, 2024, for abusing a child. A subsequent court-approved search of his phone uncovered 338 images and videos containing child sexual abuse material.
Ocana-Talamantes pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in December to one count of possession of child pornography.
He will be deported after his release from prison, as he is in the United States illegally.
The FBI, the St. Charles Police Department and the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.