Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Thursday 29 January 2026
Four Individuals from Oahu Sentenced in Tax Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that four individuals from Oahu were sentenced this week in federal court by Senior United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright for their roles in a tax refund fraud scheme following their convictions by a federal jury on August 27, 2025.
Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, 52, formerly of Kapolei, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States, aiding in the preparation or filing of false tax returns, and money laundering. Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao, 61, of Honolulu, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States, money laundering, and making a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding. Finally, married couple Elvah Miranda, 64, and Daniel Miranda, 64, of Waipahu, were sentenced to 48 months and 30 months in prison, respectively. Elvah Miranda was convicted of conspiring to defraud the United States, filing a false tax return, and money laundering. Daniel Miranda was convicted of conspiring to defraud the United States and making a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding. All four defendants were also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from at least January 2015 through September 2018, the defendants conspired to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As part of their tax refund fraud scheme, the defendants filed fraudulent individual tax returns and other tax documents that reported false withholdings from mortgage lenders and then claimed substantial refunds from the IRS. After processing the false returns, the IRS issued refunds to Dumlao and the Mirandas totaling over $1 million. The defendants created trusts, opened new bank accounts in the names of business entities and the trusts, and transferred the criminal proceeds between the accounts to conceal the funds from the IRS. Lastimado-Dradi, Dumlao, and Elvah Miranda laundered the fraudulently obtained refunds through a series of bank transactions.
The defendants also engaged in conduct to obstruct IRS efforts to recover the fraudulently obtained refund money, including sending frivolous correspondence to the IRS, filing retaliatory liens against the IRS employee assigned to recover the fraudulently obtained funds, and filing for bankruptcy. Dumlao and Daniel Miranda each filed for bankruptcy and made false statements under oath in relation to their respective bankruptcy proceedings. Lastimado-Dradi successfully promoted the tax fraud scheme to at least five participants in the District of Hawaii, which caused a total tax loss of at least $2,122,837.24. In exchange for her assistance promoting the fraud scheme and obstructing IRS collection efforts, Lastimado-Dradi received a cut of the fraud proceeds totaling approximately $998,261.
In sentencing Lastimado-Dradi to a term of imprisonment of nine years, Judge Seabright called Lastimado-Dradi the “mastermind of the scheme in Hawaii” and said that “her fingerprints are just everywhere in this scheme.”
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Seabright ordered Lastimado-Dradi to pay $1,724,503.94 in restitution to the United States, Dumlao to pay $325,981.86 in restitution, and both Elvah and Daniel Miranda to jointly and severally pay $567,789.55 in restitution.
“Today’s sentences send a strong warning to those who seek to evade our nation’s tax laws – there is nowhere for you to hide,” said United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue and convict those who seek to steal from our country, and its honest tax paying citizens, through the operation of schemes to frustrate the lawful assessment and collection of taxes.”
“For years, Ms. Lastimado-Dradi directed her co-conspirators to conceal this theft from the public through trusts and business entities,” said Carrie Nordyke, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “In the end, our agents followed the money, and this ruling has given that money back to taxpayers.”
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates and Trial Attorney Sarah A. Kiewlicz of the Criminal Division Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
Former teacher sentenced to 7 years in prison for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A former teacher at a Catholic school who was fired 25 years ago for hands-on sex offenses to students was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 84 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography.
Martin Bayhan, 58, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty to the instant offense in July 2025.
In 1999, while working as a teacher at a Catholic school in Pittsburgh, Bayhan molested two teen boy students. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor crimes and received probation.
According to court documents, Bayhan’s Kik, SnapChat and Telegram accounts were all flagged for uploading child sexual abuse material. Agents executed a search warrant at Bayhan’s home and discovered child pornography on his cell phone and a thumb drive. In total, investigators located 36 videos and 300 images of child pornography.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Sentenced for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Anthony John Crowley, 52, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer, was sentenced today to 71 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release after having pleaded guilty last year to distributing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen. In addition to the custodial sentence, Crowley was also ordered to pay a $10,000 assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
Rosen was joined in the announcement by Interim Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of FBI Minneapolis.
According to court documents, Crowley, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, knowingly distributed one or more images which contained visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In 2022, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) received a cyber tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The tip informed them that someone was using the Kik application to upload child pornography images. The Kik user ID was linked to Crowley’s phone number and email address. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Crowley’s Kik account and his home and seized his electronic devices. On his Kik account, they located evidence that he had distributed child pornography images to other users and participated in chat groups related to pictures of children. On his electronic devices, law enforcement found child pornography and age-questionable images and what are known as “child erotica” stories.
At the time of his crimes and of his arrest, Crowley was a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer stationed at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Minnetonka Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for their investigation and hard work on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca E. Kline prosecuted the case.
Former Palatka Housing Authority Employee Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Federal FundsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Thomas B. Hoffman (46, Florahome) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for theft of federal funds. The court also ordered Hoffman to forfeit $155,706, the proceeds of the offense, and pay restitution to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Hoffman was an employee of the Palatka Housing Authority (PHA) which received federal funds from HUD to administer public housing programs in Palatka and neighboring municipalities. Hoffman was responsible for information technology and accounts payable. During an audit of vendors in 2025, PHA identified an unapproved company called “Data Max,” which had received approximately 48 fraudulently issued payments from PHA’s general account between July 2023 and February 2025, totaling $155,706. A federal investigation determined that Hoffman owned and controlled Data Max and its corporate bank account, and that he had caused the fraudulent payments to be issued. Bank surveillance footage obtained by investigators showed Hoffman cashing PHA checks issued to Data Max on numerous occasions. The investigation revealed that Hoffman used the funds for his personal benefit.
“Thomas Hoffman’s selfish actions caused harm to multiple potential victims. He engaged in a multi-faceted fraud scheme by stealing over $155,000 in federal funds that were intended to provide housing for vulnerable community members,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “He not only violated the public trust to oversee federal funds but also took away housing opportunities from our most vulnerable community members and job opportunities for other legitimate business owners. HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to diligently pursue and hold accountable individuals who take advantage of their positions of trust to defraud HUD programs and our low-income housing communities.”
This case was investigated by HUD – Office of Inspector General and the Palatka Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.
Former NYPD Officer Pleads Guilty to Bribery, Narcotics, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that ANDREW NGUYEN, a former officer in the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres to conspiring to solicit and receive bribes, conspiring to distribute narcotics, and possessing a firearm in connection with the conspiracy to distribute narcotics. NGUYEN is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2026.
“Andrew Nguyen betrayed the community he swore to protect,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “In exchange for bribes, Nguyen used his power as a police officer to distribute deadly drugs in New York City. New Yorkers have the most effective and most respected police department in the world because the NYPD and the people of New York will not tolerate bad cops. Today’s guilty plea reinforces that message.”
According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in court:
For approximately three years, between at least in or about 2020 and November 2023, NGUYEN used his position as a police officer in the NYPD to solicit and accept tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments in exchange for assisting another individual (“CC-1”) with the operation of CC-1’s drug trafficking enterprise. For example, NGUYEN transported drugs, including approximately eight kilograms of cocaine, for CC-1 while NGUYEN was armed with a firearm, including NGUYEN’s NYPD-authorized off-duty firearm, which NGUYEN planned to use to protect CC-1 if violence occurred. While transporting those drugs, NGUYEN also carried his NYPD credentials and an NYPD parking placard, which NGUYEN planned to use to evade arrest in the event he was pulled over by other members of the NYPD. Overall, NGUYEN, who was at all relevant times an officer in the NYPD, accepted more than $30,000 in bribe payments from CC-1 (and solicited tens of thousands of dollars in additional bribes) in connection with NGUYEN’s participation in CC-1’s drug trafficking enterprise.
* * *
NGUYEN, 41, of Harriman, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other term of prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum penalties 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit and Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. King and Jonathan Rebold are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Government Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A former General Services Administration (GSA) contracting officer’s representative pled guilty today, for his role in agreeing to accept bribes from construction companies.
Lennie Lamont Miller, 60, of Brandywine, Maryland, pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official. According to his guilty plea, Miller conspired with Christopher Brackins, 52, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, to direct GSA federal project work to Company A, which Brackins owned. Miller also conspired with James Tillman, 58, of Washington, DC, owner of Company D, to engage in a similar scheme. GSA is a federal agency that manages federal properties. Company A and Company D are general construction companies that performed subcontracting work on GSA projects.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, Department of Justice (DOJ) – Criminal Division; Deputy Inspector General Robert C. Erickson, GSA Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Inspector General Platte B. Moring III, U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG); and Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG).
As outlined in court documents, between 2018 and 2021, Miller and Brackins knowingly and willfully conspired together for Miller to exercise his authority over the GSA contracting process. Through the scheme, Miller directed GSA federal project work to Company A in exchange for cash and other things of value.
Miller effectively paired Company A with prime contractors Company B and Company C to work on GSA federal projects. He solicited and accepted things of value, in return, from Brackins, including cash, checks, payments for repairs to his vehicle, and payments for repairs at a residence owned by Miller’s relative.
Brackins provided Miller with approximately $50,000 worth of money and other things of value. Bribery payments included, in late 2018, Brackins paying a fraudulently inflated bonus to one of his employees. Brackins then directed the employee to pay Miller $8,000 in cash from the fraudulently inflated bonus check. Similarly, in early 2021, Brackins paid Miller $25,000, at Miller’s direction, using an intermediary who accepted the payments through the intermediary’s air-conditioning repair business.
Beginning in early 2020, and continuing until at least mid-2021, Miller also funneled work to Company D in exchange for cash and other things of value. Miller introduced Tillman to Company C personnel, effectively pairing Company D and Company C together to bid on GSA federal projects. The former GSA contracting officer’s representative then solicited and accepted things of value from Tillman, including cash, a sports car, and moving expenses for his romantic partner.
Miller faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman scheduled sentencing for Thursday, April 30, at 2 p.m.
Tillman pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal public official in February 2025. His sentencing is Thursday, April 2, at 10 a.m. Brackins pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal public official, wire fraud, and unlawful possession of a machine gun in April 2025. He is getting sentenced on Thursday, August 6, at 10 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the GSA-OIG, FBI, DHS-OIG, and DoD OIG Defense Criminal Investigative Service for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo, along with Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan and Trial Attorney Jonathan Jacobson, DOJ Criminal Division – Public Integrity Section, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Former Government Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A former General Services Administration (GSA) contracting officer’s representative pleaded guilty for his role in agreeing to accept bribes from construction companies.
Lennie Lamont Miller, 60, of Brandywine, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Christopher Brackins, 52, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, and James Tillman, 58, of Washington, DC, to direct GSA subcontracting work to construction companies owned by Brackins and Tillman. GSA is a federal agency that manages federal properties.
According to court filings, between 2018 and 2021, Miller solicited and received cash and other things of value in exchange for exercising his authority over the GSA contracting process to direct work to his co-conspirators’ companies. In total, Miller received more than $100,000 in cash and other things of value, including a sports car.
Miller pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to bribe a federal official and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has not been set.
Tillman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal public official and bribery in February 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2026. Brackins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal public official, wire fraud, and unlawful possession of a machine gun in April 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 6, 2026.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland made the announcement.
The FBI Baltimore Field Office, GSA Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan and Trial Attorney Jonathan Jacobson of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo of the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
Former Google Engineer Found Guilty of Economic Espionage and Theft of Confidential AI TechnologyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury today convicted former Google software engineer Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, 38, on seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets for stealing thousands of pages of confidential information containing Google’s trade secrets related to artificial intelligence technology for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The jury’s verdict follows an 11-day trial before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria.
“Silicon Valley is at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation, pioneering transformative work that drives economic growth and strengthens our national security. The jury delivered a clear message today that the theft of this valuable technology will not go unpunished. We will vigorously protect American intellectual capital from foreign interests that seek to gain an unfair competitive advantage while putting our national security at risk,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“This conviction reinforces the FBI’s steadfast commitment to protecting American innovation and national security. The theft and misuse of advanced artificial intelligence technology for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China threatens our technological edge and economic competitiveness,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI San Francisco division serves Silicon Valley and the companies who lead the world in innovation, and we are committed to safeguarding their work. This case demonstrates the strength of collaboration between the FBI and the private sector, including leading companies like Google, whose partnership is critical to protecting sensitive U.S. technology. Today’s verdict affirms that federal law will be enforced to protect our nation’s most valuable technologies and hold those who steal them accountable.”
Ding was originally indicted in March 2024. A superseding indictment returned in February 2025 described seven categories of trade secrets stolen by Ding and charged Ding with seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets.
According to the evidence presented at trial, between approximately May 2022 and April 2023, while a Google employee, Ding stole more than two thousand pages of confidential information containing Google’s AI trade secrets from Google’s network and uploaded them to his personal Google Cloud account. Ding also secretly affiliated himself with two PRC-based technology companies while he was employed by Google: around June 2022, Ding was in discussions to be the Chief Technology Officer for an early-stage technology company based in the PRC; by early 2023, Ding was in the process of founding his own technology company in the PRC focused on AI and machine learning and was acting as the company’s CEO. In multiple statements to potential investors, Ding claimed that he could build an AI supercomputer by copying and modifying Google’s technology. In December 2023, less than two weeks before he resigned from Google, Ding downloaded the stolen Google trade secrets to his own personal computer.
The jury found that Ding stole trade secrets relating to the hardware infrastructure and software platforms that allow Google’s supercomputing data center to train and serve large AI models. The trade secrets contained detailed information about the architecture and functionality of Google’s custom Tensor Processing Unit chips and systems and Google’s Graphics Processing Unit systems, the software that allows the chips to communicate and execute tasks, and the software that orchestrates thousands of chips into a supercomputer capable of training and executing cutting-edge AI workloads. The trade secrets also pertained to Google’s custom-designed SmartNIC, a type of network interface card used to facilitate high speed communication within Google’s AI supercomputers and cloud networking products.
In presentations to investors, Ding called out the PRC’s national policies prioritizing AI development and innovation in the PRC, and in late 2023 Ding applied for a government sponsored “talent plan” in Shanghai, PRC. The jury heard evidence pertaining to the PRC government’s establishment of talent plans to encourage individuals to come to China to contribute to the PRC’s economic and technological growth. Ding’s application for this talent plan stated that he planned to “help China to have computing power infrastructure capabilities that are on par with the international level.” The evidence at trial also showed that Ding intended to benefit two entities controlled by the government of China by assisting with the development of an AI supercomputer and collaborating on the research and development of custom machine learning chips.
Ding is next scheduled to appear at a status conference on Feb. 3, 2026. Ding faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of theft of trade secrets in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1832 and 15 years in prison for each count of economic espionage in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1831. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Boome, Molly K. Priedeman, and Roland Chang are prosecuting this case, with assistance from Veronica Hernandez and the National Security Division. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Former Brookline Doctor Convicted of Health Care Fraud and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Brookline, Mass. physician was convicted following a 10-day jury trial in federal court in Boston of health care fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Dr. Pankaj Merchia, 52, of Brookline, Mass. and Boca Raton, Fla., was convicted on Jan. 27, 2026 of one count of health care fraud, three counts of money laundering, two counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for April 28, 2026. Merchia was indicted for money laundering and health care fraud in December 2022 and later charged for tax offenses in a superseding indictment along with alleged co-conspirator Dr. Shona Pendse in February 2023.
Merchia perpetrated two distinct health care fraud schemes. First, Merchia billed former patients’ insurance companies for monthly rentals of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPap) machines from 2017 to 2019, despite not having treated the patients since at least 2011. In some cases, the patients had returned the devices to him. Merchia used the proceeds of this fraud to purchase an expensive home in Brookline.Additionally, Merchia defrauded another insurance company out of over $390,000 by submitting claims for a CPAP machine provided to his brother. After he was told that the insurance carrier would not pay for treatment rendered by a family member, Merchia created a new medical business and submitted new claims so that the company would pay. Merchia used the proceeds of this fraud to fund a wire transfer of $250,000 and to purchase at least $140,000 in securities.
Finally, from 2009 to 2019 Merchia did not report, or pay taxes on, over $6.5 million in income he earned from his medical businesses by falsely claiming that those businesses were owned by his co-conspirator. To defraud the IRS, Merchia fabricated a sham transaction by which he claimed to have sold his medical businesses to his co-conspirator in 2008. To ensure that his co-conspirator did not owe taxes, they claimed large amortization deductions, spread across many years, for the fabricated sale.The charges of money laundering and health care fraud provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the IRS provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Anthony M. DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Bostonian of the Year Sentenced for FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The founder and former Chief Executive Officer of a Boston-based nonprofit was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for using thousands of dollars in donations to Violence in Boston (VIB) to pay for personal expenses; defrauding the City of Boston out of COVID-19 relief funds and rental assistance money; defrauding the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office out of Community Reinvestment Grant funds; filing false tax returns; and failing to file tax returns for two years.
Monica Cannon-Grant, 44, of Taunton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to four years’ probation, with six months of home detention and 100 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $106,003 as well as forfeiture in an amount to be decided at a later date. The government recommended a sentence of 18 months in prison.
In September 2025, Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty to 18 counts: three counts of wire fraud conspiracy; 10 counts of wire fraud; one count of mail fraud; two counts of filing false tax returns; and two counts of failing to file tax returns. In March 2023, Cannon-Grant was charged along with her co-conspirator and late husband Clark Grant in a 27-count superseding indictment. Clark Grant’s charges were dismissed in May 2023 due to his death. Cannon-Grant and Clark Grant had previously been charged in an 18-count indictment in March 2022.
In 2020, Cannon-Grant was lauded as a Bostonian of the Year and social justice advocate, recognized for being a “voice for the community” and social justice advocate.
“Monica Cannon-Grant’s crimes were not a momentary lapse in judgment — they were a calculated pattern of deception that spanned years. She repeatedly lied to donors, government agencies, and the public, even after being caught — all while presenting herself as a champion for others. Fraud disguised as activism or charity is still fraud. You don’t get partial credit for stealing,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This case makes clear that exploiting public trust for personal enrichment is a serious federal crime, no matter how it is packaged.”
“Ms. Cannon-Grant’s actions were crimes of greed and opportunity but will not go unpunished thanks to the law enforcement community, who have dedicated their mission to uncovering and putting an end to such devious schemes. This case illustrates that anyone who defrauds state programs and exploits their position in the community, will be held accountable for their actions. Postal inspectors are ever vigilant in bringing to justice individuals who use the U.S. Mail to defraud and otherwise take advantage of the financial circumstances of innocent consumers,” said Nicolas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
“Monica Cannon-Grant illegally enriched herself through a scheme that fraudulently diverted critical taxpayer resources from individuals who depended on unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. This case reinforces our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to safeguard vital U.S. Department of Labor programs and to ensure accountability for those who seek to exploit them.”
“This case against Monica Cannon-Grant demonstrates IRS-CI’s commitment to protecting all American citizens, especially those who are in need of assistance, like those that Cannon-Grant claimed to care about,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Cannon-Grant not only stole from her own non-profit organization but did so at the expense of multiple public financial programs designed to help those truly in need. While Cannon-Grant personally profited from her own scheme, those in the communities seeking a lifeline from her organization had to go without.”
Cannon-Grant was the founder and CEO of VIB, an anti-violence nonprofit formally established in 2017, the stated purpose of which was to reduce violence, raise social awareness and aid community causes in Greater Boston, among other purposes.
From 2017 through at least 2020, Cannon-Grant represented herself as an uncompensated VIB director to donors and other charitable institutions when, in reality, she and her late husband agreed to utilize their control over VIB’s accounts and funds to pay for personal expenditures through cash withdrawals, cashed checks, wire transfers to personal bank accounts and debit purchases. Cannon-Grant also applied for, and certified the applications for, grants offered by public and private entities that included materially false representations. For example, Cannon-Grant conspired to use VIB to defraud the Boston Resiliency Fund (BRF), a charitable fund established by the City of Boston to provide aid to Boston residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. After receiving approximately $53,977 in pandemic relief funds, Cannon-Grant withdrew approximately $30,000 in cash from the VIB bank account, made deposits of $5,200 and $1,000 into her personal checking account, and made payments on her personal auto loan and car insurance policy. Cannon-Grant did not disclose any of these personal expenses to BRF and, instead, falsely reported to BRF that all of its grant funds had been appropriately expended.
Cannon-Grant also conspired to defraud Boston’s Office of Housing Stability by concealing thousands of dollars of household income in order to obtain $12,600 in rental assistance from the City of Boston. Instead of truthfully reporting accurate information about the family’s earnings and benefits, Cannon-Grant and her late husband misrepresented their actual household income to obtain rent relief funds that were intended to aid Boston residents who were facing housing insecurity.
Cannon-Grant and her late husband also conspired to defraud the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance by submitting fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment assistance and certifying on a weekly basis that they were not working and did not receive over $89 in income during the prior week. In addition, Cannon-Grant filed false tax returns for 2017 and 2018 and failed to file tax returns for 2019 and 2020, omitting tens of thousands of dollars in income that Cannon-Grant received in salary from VIB and through work as a consultant.
U.S. Attorney Foley; USPIS Acting INC Bucciarelli; DOL Inspector General D’Esposito; IRS-CI SAC Demeo; Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; and Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Boston Children’s Hospital Anesthesiologist Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former pediatric cardiac anesthesiology fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital was sentenced yesterday to nearly two decades in prison for producing, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Defendant was previously a fellow in pediatric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.
Christopher Sheerer, 37, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 22 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Sheerer was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $65,722. An additional amount of restitution will be determined at a hearing scheduled for March 26, 2026. In September 2025, Sheerer pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; and one count of sexual exploitation of children. Sheerer was arrested and charged in July 2024 and has remained in federal custody since.
“Every time child sexual abuse material is created, shared, or viewed, children are revictimized again and again,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Each case serves as a difficult reminder that child predators are embedded in our communities. This defendant did not just possess this heinous material – he produced it himself and shared it with others. Moreover, his chosen employment increased his direct contact with children. Today’s sentence reflects the devastating harm these crimes inflict on real children and sends a clear message that those who fuel this abuse will face severe consequences. Our office will continue to work tirelessly to protect children, pursue justice for victims and hold offenders fully accountable.”
“Sheerer is among the worst kind of criminal we investigate. He held a position of trust in the community, but behind closed doors he was a predator of the highest order, not only participating in online groups dedicated to the sharing of photos depicting the sexual abuse of children but also acting as a hands-on offender. Now, he’s facing over two decades behind bars,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations New England. “When our special agents go to work every day, they’re working toward making the world a safer place for children. We hope that today’s sentence does just that and brings a measure of security to the family of the child he victimized as they move forward and begin to heal.”
Sheerer was a fellow in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology at Boston Children’s Hospital at the time of his arrest and was previously a fellow in pediatric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.
In May 2024, an investigation began into a user of an online, encrypted chat application who belonged to a group dedicated to the sharing of CSAM. The target user was subsequently identified as Sheerer, with an IP address tracing him to Johns Hopkins University. Sheerer uploaded imagery of a child known to him to gain admission to that group.
Following a search of Sheerer’s residence in Boston, multiple chats were discovered on Sheerer’s phone, several of which contained pictures and videos appearing to be CSAM involving children as young as infants. Forensic analysis of devices seized pursuant to the warrant showed that Sheerer was involved in dozens of chats with users of the encrypted application, several of which included the exchange of CSAM, including imagery of a child known to him.
U.S. Attorney Foley and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Districts of Maryland and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore and Harrisburg; and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Soto and Anne Paruti of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Florida Man Sentenced to 48 Months for Role in $1.5 Million Cross-Country Scheme to Defraud National Cellular ProviderRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida man was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment for his role as one of the leaders and organizers of large scheme to defraud a national cellular provider that spanned multiple states, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Defendant Arrantes Garrincha Green, a/k/a “Don Gucci,” a/k/a “Gucci,” 47, of Margate, Florida had previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with his role in the scheme. U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton imposed the sentence on January 28, 2026, in Newark federal court. Seven other defendants have previously been sentenced in connection with the same scheme. Six more have also pleaded guilty in the case and are awaiting sentencing.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From June 2015 through June 2017, the defendants and others, led by Green, conspired to steal electronic equipment, including new smartphones, from a national cellular service provider. Members of the conspiracy used stolen personal identifiers, including stolen Social Security numbers, as well as stolen debit and credit card information to place orders with the victim company. Green alone was responsible for placing fraudulent orders for over $200,000 in stolen equipment. Green and others then transmitted anticipated delivery dates and locations of the fraudulently-ordered products to other conspirators who were employed as drivers with a major parcel delivery company. These drivers were paid to divert the products mid-delivery to other members of the conspiracy. Proceeds generated through the scheme were shared by wire transfer or depositing the funds in designated bank accounts. The scheme compromised the identities of hundreds of residents in multiple municipalities across multiple states, including Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, and caused losses in excess of $1.5 million to the victim company.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Green to three years of supervised release.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Upper Saddle River Police Department, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the NYPD, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the West Hartford Police Department and the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office, Hartford Judicial District, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sammi Malek, Peter Laserna, and Michael Hardin of the Criminal Division in Newark.
###
Defense counsel: John McMahon, Esq.
Florida Laboratory Owner Pleads Guilty to $52M Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Genetic TestsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Florida man pleaded guilty on Jan. 15 for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting over $52 million in false and fraudulent claims for genetic testing that Medicare beneficiaries did not need and that were based on prescriptions purchased through illegal kickbacks and bribes.
According to court documents, Sean Alterman, 38, of Lake Worth, owned and operated two laboratories, Live Beyond Medical MGMT, LLC and Dynix Diagnostics LLC, through which he purchased doctors’ orders for expensive genetic testing from patient recruiters. The patient recruiters ran deceptive telemarketing campaigns that targeted Medicare beneficiaries and persuaded them to agree to take the tests to justify the fraudulent billing.
“Healthcare fraud is not a paperwork crime, it is theft from patients and taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “By buying prescriptions, running deceptive telemarketing campaigns, and billing tens of millions for tests no one needed, this defendant treated Medicare like an ATM. That conduct will be met with aggressive prosecution, forfeiture, and prison time.”
As part of the scheme, the patient recruiters used a tactic known as “doctor chasing” – faxing physicians false and misleading requests for prescriptions designed to trick them into signing off on tests their patients did not need. The faxes and accompanying materials falsely stated, among other things, that the prescription requests were made on behalf a mutual patient. But they were generated by call centers that deceived the Medicare beneficiaries to agree to the tests without being examined or treated by physicians for the diseases underlying the tests.
Alterman’s laboratories billed approximately $52 million to Medicare for the false and fraudulent claims, of which Medicare paid approximately $36 million. Alterman made roughly $5.5 million from the scheme, much of which he received through shell companies he owned called Shivv LLC and Shank LLC. As part of his plea agreement, Alterman agreed to forfeit his Lake Worth estate and a 2022 Rolls Royce Ghost purchased with money traceable to the scheme:
Alterman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to offer and pay kickbacks. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16 and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris Caldwell of the FBI; and Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Aisha Schafer Hylton of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadya Cheatham for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
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-80105.
###
First Brands Executives Charged with Multibillion-Dollar FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, David M. Toepfer, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”) Washington, D.C. Field Office, Kareem Carter, and Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Jared Murphey, announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging PATRICK JAMES, the founder and former CEO of First Brands Group, LLC (“First Brands”), and his brother EDWARD JAMES, a former senior executive at First Brands, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of wire fraud and bank fraud, in connection with various schemes to defraud lenders regarding the liabilities and financial condition of First Brands. PATRICK JAMES was charged in an additional count of managing a continuing financial crimes enterprise in connection with the charged schemes.
As alleged in the indictment, PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES perpetrated a yearslong fraud at First Brands, eventually bankrupting the global automotive company in September 2025. At the time of its bankruptcy, First Brands—a company that reported approximately $5 billion in net annual sales worldwide—declared just $12 million in cash in its corporate bank accounts and over $9 billion in liabilities. As a consequence of the defendants’ fraudulent schemes, FIRST BRANDS’ lenders and creditors now face billions in losses.
PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES were arrested in Ohio this morning and are expected to be presented later today in the Northern District of Ohio. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.
Also unsealed today is the guilty plea of PETER ANDREW BRUMBERGS in connection with his role in the scheme. BRUMBERGS pled guilty pursuant to an Information before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres on January 26, 2026. BRUMBERGS is cooperating with the Government.
“As alleged in the indictment, Patrick James, together with his brother, Edward James, perpetrated a staggering fraud at First Brands Group,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The James brothers obtained billions for First Brands—and millions for themselves—by presenting their lenders with the impression of a successful, growing international business. The indictment and the guilty plea unsealed today describe a very different reality: a business run through fraud, fake documents, and false financials. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue working tirelessly to uncover every aspect of this fraud and vindicate the rights of every victim.”
“Individuals who lie about the financial health of their company for the purposes of greed create shockwaves across the business sector that endanger the economic wellbeing of others,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer. “The fallout from selfish and deceptive actions—such as those alleged in this case—can cascade down to honest and hardworking company employees based right here in Ohio. Their jobs and livelihoods are at stake due to the corrupt actions of a few individuals. Together with our federal partners, we will seek justice on behalf of all victims affected by this travesty.”
“These executives allegedly inflated invoices, double- and triple- pledged collateral, and falsified financial statements to unlawfully trick lenders into giving them billions of dollars,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Not only did their alleged deceit exploit the integrity of our financing system, they also betrayed the trust of the companies funding First Brands by mispresenting their business’s financial position. The FBI will never cease its pursuit of fraudsters seeking to manipulate financial institutions for greedy gains.”
“HSI remains ever vigilant to detect money laundering and financial fraud schemes that undercut fair and honest business practices, especially one like this, which allegedly contributed to billions in losses,” said HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “HSI special agents, alongside our FBI and IRS partners, remain committed to enforcing the rule of law and ensuring justice for victims. As law enforcement, we have a solemn responsibility to protect the integrity of our financial system and to hold violators accountable.”
“The defendants operated First Brands as a ‘Ponzi’ scheme in which new loan proceeds were used to pay back old lenders and to fund their extravagant lifestyle,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Washington, D.C. Field Office Kareem Carter. “Today’s announced indictment of defendants Patrick James and Edward James demonstrates IRS-CI special agents’ and our law enforcement partners’ commitment to investigate, prosecute, and hold accountable criminals who allegedly defraud banks and lenders out of billions of dollars. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are specially equipped to follow the complex financial trail left by criminals, and I would like to thank our Global Illicit Financial Team for their vigilant, professional, and dedicated pursuit of those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
From at least in or about 2018 through in or about 2025, PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES, the defendants, built and bankrupted First Brands Group, LLC (“First Brands”). First Brands operated as an automotive aftermarket parts supplier that developed, marketed, and sold replacement parts such as brakes, filters, wipers, and lights under various brand names. PATRICK JAMES, the defendant, founded First Brands and served as its Chief Executive Officer. EDWARD JAMES, the defendant, was First Brands’ former Senior Vice President and is PATRICK JAMES’s brother. As alleged, the defendants perpetrated multiple fraud schemes to fake and falsely inflate invoices for accounts receivable and payable; double- and triple-pledge loan collateral; falsify corporate financial statements; and conceal substantial liabilities from lenders. These schemes yielded billions of dollars in financing to First Brands and enabled PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES to reap millions of dollars in fraud proceeds.
To sustain First Brands’ growth-through-acquisition strategy, PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES misled various counterparties to fraudulently inject cash into First Brands. First, PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES deceived First Brands’ factoring partners, that is, financing counterparties that purchased First Brands’ accounts receivable (invoices) and the right to payment thereunder, in exchange for advancing a portion of the value of those invoices upfront. At the direction and with the approval of PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES, the defendants, First Brands obtained billions in invoice-based financing from factors through a series of fraudulent schemes. As part of those schemes, and under the defendants’ direction and supervision, First Brands employees routinely submitted fake invoices, fraudulently inflated invoices, and double-pledged invoices for the purpose of selling and pledging them to factoring counterparties as if they represented valid, collectible receivables from customers. In some instances, invoices were generated for transactions that had never occurred, while in others the dollar amounts on invoices were altered to make them appear more valuable. Through the defendants’ fraud schemes, First Brands sold its factoring partners billions of dollars of purported customer receivables that did not exist.
Second, First Brands defrauded factoring partners to whom it sold accounts payable (amounts owed to First Brands’ suppliers). At the direction and with the approval of PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES, the defendants, First Brands submitted false and misleading invoice information and false and misleading information about First Brands’ financial position to induce financers to increase the funds advanced, a portion of which First Brands diverted to itself to cover cash needs. At First Brands, these self-payments were referred to as “round trips” or, euphemistically, as “corporate initiatives.” PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES, the defendants, closely monitored and managed these “round trip” transactions as part of First Brands’ daily cash-management process.
Third, PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES defrauded First Brands’ lenders by disseminating materially false and misleading financial information about the company and secretly encumbering assets subject to the lenders’ borrowing base and priority liens. At the direction and with the approval of PATRICK JAMES, First Brands employees made unsupportable financial statement adjustments to meet financial benchmarks set by PATRICK JAMES. To implement these directives, First Brands employees maintained internal “bridge” files that juxtaposed accurate corporate financials with the manipulated versions.
Unbeknownst to First Brands’ lenders, PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES also incurred massive off-balance-sheet debt through inventory-financing arrangements involving entities wholly owned and controlled by PATRICK JAMES (the “James Entities”). The James Entities were nominally separate from First Brands. In fact, they had no independent business operations. Through the James Entities, PATRICK JAMES entered financing arrangements with at least three inventory financers (the “Off-Sheet Lenders”), whereby the lenders advanced funds to the James Entities to purchase inventory from First Brands. The James Entities, in turn, pledged that inventory purchased from First Brands back to the Off-Sheet Lenders as collateral for their loans. At the direction of PATRICK JAMES, the defendant, the inventory financing arrangements with the James Entities were maintained outside the First Brands corporate balance sheet and thereby concealed from First Brands’ senior lenders, who routinely requested and received First Brands’ financial statements. To further obscure the Off-Sheet Lenders as a source of funds to First Brands, PATRICK JAMES routed the loan proceeds from the Off-Sheet Lenders through a customer collections entity maintained outside the First Brands corporate structure, then disbursed the proceeds to First Brands subsidiaries before sweeping the funds into First Brands’ operating account. The defendants designed this flow of funds so that the funds appeared to be ordinary customer receipts from retail subsidiaries rather than loan proceeds from related-party financing arrangements with the James Entities.
Finally, at the direction of PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES, First Brands made false and misleading representations to the Off-Sheet Lenders to fraudulently induce them to extend and expand financing. The James Entities pledged inventory that PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES, the defendants, purported to be unencumbered but in fact was already subject to liens by, or otherwise pledged to, First Brands’ senior lenders and remained on First Brands’ balance sheet.
By 2025, after years of acquisitions and expansion using fraudulently obtained financing, First Brands faced overwhelming liabilities and unsustainable cash requirements. In 2025, PATRICK JAMES and EDWARD JAMES, the defendants, led efforts to refinance First Brands’ debt or to sell the company, including through last-ditch attempts to deceive lenders and potential acquirers by disseminating false financials. These efforts failed when First Brands was unable to provide the prospective counterparties with the financial diligence they sought. On September 28, 2025, First Brands filed for bankruptcy.
Even as the frauds unraveled and First Brands’ financial issues mounted, PATRICK JAMES, the defendant, continued to enrich himself as the owner of First Brands. Through the series of frauds he directed, PATRICK JAMES caused billions of dollars in gross proceeds to flow into First Brands from counterparties and received at least hundreds of millions of dollars in gross proceeds into his personal accounts.
* * *
A chart containing the names, ages, residences, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is attached.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI, IRS-CI, and HSI. Mr. Clayton further thanked the Northern Ohio Money Laundering Task Force.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo, Marguerite B. Colson, Peter J. Davis, and Sarah Mortazavi, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Collyer are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DefendantAgeResidenceChargesMaximum Potential Sentence(s)Minimum Potential Sentence(s)United States v. Patrick James and Edward James, 26 Cr. 29 (AT)
PATRICK JAMES61Chagrin Falls, OHContinuing Financial Crimes Enterprise, 18 U.S.C. § 225
(Count One)
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution and Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1349
(Count Two)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Three)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Four)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Five)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Six)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Seven)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Eight)
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (Count Nine)
Life
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
20 years
10 yearsEDWARD JAMES60Canton, OHConspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution and Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1349
(Count Two)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Three)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Four)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Five)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Six)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Seven)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Eight)
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (Count Nine)
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
20 years
United States v. Peter Andrew Brumbergs, 26 Cr. 25 (AT)
BRUMBERGS45Chagrin Falls, OHConspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution and Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1349
(Count One)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Two)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Three)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Six)
(Count Four)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1349
(Count Five)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Six)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Seven)
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (Count Eight)
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
20 years
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Firearms Violators Sentenced to Multiple Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Four men were sentenced this week for various firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Tomez Faulkner, 39, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. Faulkner was stopped on Interstate 70 in Ohio County for erratic driving. A 9mm pistol was in plain view inside the vehicle. The firearm had been stolen from Corapolis, Pennsylvania. Faulkner is prohibited from having firearms because of an aggravated assault conviction in Pennsylvania.
Steven Wayne Springer, 57, of Proctor, West Virginia, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. An off-duty officer observed Springer with a firearm and reported it to the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) because the Springer had a history of disregarding wildlife hunting regulations. A DNR officer, knowing Springer is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior felony drug conviction, visited with Springer, who admitted to having multiple firearms. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at Springer’s home and seized two rifles, a shotgun, and 96 rounds of various ammunition.
Peter Alexander Ruskin, 52, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 18 months for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic violence call at Ruskin’s home. Ruskin was hiding in the basement. As officers searched for Ruskin, they found a firearm hidden under a couch in the residence. During a later legal search of his home, officers located multiple rounds of ammunition. Ruskin is prohibited because of prior domestic battery convictions.
Steven Wayne Tubby, 45, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. Tubby was convicted of the unlawful possession of a firearm after he threatened someone with a firearm at his residence. Officers executed a search warrant at Tubby’s residence and found a firearm and ammunition. Tubby is prohibited because of two prior felonies involving assault with a dangerous weapon and wanton endangerment involving a firearm.
Investigative agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources; the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office; the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office; and the Moundsville Police Department.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Felon Sentenced for Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A man previously convicted of armed robbery was sentenced today for possessing a loaded firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby sentenced Ramsey Nathaniel Hogan, 60, for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Judge Shelby ordered Hogan to serve 60 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
Nine months after being released from federal prison, Hogan was arrested on an outstanding warrant. While he was being searched, United States Marshals found a loaded firearm in his waistband. Court records show that the arrest warrant was issued for failing to comply with the terms of his supervised release.
From 2001 through 2005, Hogan was convicted of four felonies involving a firearm. He pleaded guilty in 2005 to brandishing a firearm while robbing an auto parts store and a video store.
Hogan will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The U.S. Marshal Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Mike Flesher prosecuted the case.
Felon Mexican National Sentenced for Being Unlawfully in the United StatesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national previously removed from the United States three times was sentenced today, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby sentenced Oscar Palacios Castorena, 34, for Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Judge Shelby ordered Palacios Castorena to serve 37 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
Court records show that Palacios Castorena has a lengthy criminal history while in the United States. In 2010, he was convicted of drug conspiracy in the Northern District of Oklahoma and ordered to serve 30 months imprisonment. In 2012, Palacios Castorena was convicted again for drug conspiracy and unlawful reentry in the Western District of Texas. He was ordered to serve 45 months' imprisonment. In July 2025, state court records show that Palacios Castorena pleaded guilty to domestic abuse in the presence of a minor. He was sentenced to a one-year suspended sentence, which was later revoked after being arrested and charged with stealing a vehicle in state court. During the booking process, law enforcement discovered that Palacios Castorena is not lawfully in the United States. Records show that he was removed from the United States in 2011, 2012, and 2015.
Palacios Castorena will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard prosecuted the case.
Fayetteville Grandmother Gets Five Year Federal Prison Sentence for Stealing over $5 Million in Community College Scholarship ScamRead the Press Release
A federal judge sentenced a Fayetteville grandmother, Cynthia Denise Melvin, age 60, to five years in federal prison for wire fraud stealing over $5 million from federal student aid for community colleges all around North Carolina. She pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025. The federal judge also ordered Melvin to pay back $3,641,473 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Education.
“We have seen dishonest thieves stealing taxpayer dollars all over the country, including right here in Eastern North Carolina. In her federal student aid fraud scheme, this grandmother stole the most money ever prosecuted in North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle. “We will find and prosecute criminals who steal tax dollars from benefit programs intended to help students who need it to pursue education. She should have been taking care of her grandkids, setting an example of how to be a good person. Instead, now she will spend half a decade in federal prison apart from them.”
“I’m proud of the work of OIG special agents and our law enforcement colleagues for shutting down yet another student aid fraud ring and holding Ms. Melvin accountable for her criminal actions,” said Andrew Balceniuk, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Regional Office. “The Office of Inspector General is committed to stopping student aid fraud rings, and we will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who participates in them.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, between approximately 2016 and 2023, Inmate Melvin organized, led, and conspired with approximately 80 “straw students” to fraudulently apply for federal student aid at multiple community colleges in North Carolina, including Wake Tech, Cape Fear Community College, and Fayetteville Tech. Federal investigators from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General (OIG), estimate that the scheme resulted in over $5 million in financial aid awards and more than $3.5 million disbursed. This scheme is the largest of its kind ever prosecuted in the State of North Carolina.
Federal Student Aid (FSA), part of the U.S. Department of Education, administers financial aid programs to assist qualified students in their pursuit of college level education. FSA also develops, distributes, and processes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After a school applies a financial award to a student’s tuition and fees, any remaining balance is refunded to the student for education-related expenses.
According to the investigation, Inmate Melvin collected personal identifying information from straw students and submitted fraudulent applications at the targeted schools. Then, inmate Melvin faked the attendance at classes, completion of work, and interactions with the target schools when, in reality, inmate Melvin impersonated these straw students. Inmate Melvin submitted FAFSA forms for the straw students through FSA’s website and concealed her identity as the preparer.
During the execution of a federal search warrant at inmate Melvin’s home, OIG investigators recovered evidence establishing the operation and mechanics of the scheme, including personal information and coursework for straw students, FSA account usernames and passwords, and bank account and routing numbers.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief Judge Richard E. Myers, II. The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-14-M.
Execution of Federal Search Warrants at 14 Phoenix-Area Zipps Restaurants Results in Illegal Employment and Identity Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations and the IRS-Criminal Investigation executed federal search warrants at 14 Zipps restaurants in the Phoenix area, Monday, Jan. 26., after a year-long investigation into unlawful employment of aliens, identity theft, and document fraud.
As a result of the investigation, Diego Gonzalez-Rosales, 36, a Mexican national illegally residing in the United States, was charged by criminal complaint with Pattern and Practice of Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens, Knowingly Making False Attestations on a Form I-9, Knowingly Transferring Mean of Identification Without Authority, and Aggravated Identity Theft.
As the individual responsible for hiring kitchen staff for all Zipps locations in Arizona, Gonzalez-Rosales is alleged to have recruited and hired illegal aliens at multiple locations, using fraudulent identification documents to verify their eligibility to work via the E-Verify online employment verification system.
Employees Edwin Flores Rosales, 28, Salvador Villenueva-Rosas, 48, and Ludwin Benjamin Perez Velasco, 22, all unlawfully present in the United States, have also been charged in criminal complaints for lying when filling out the Form I-9, stating they were U.S. citizens and using false identification and social security numbers.
In total, 39 individuals unlawfully present in the United States and working at Zipps were taken into custody during the operation.
According to the complaint and probable cause documents, in March 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) served 14 Zipps locations, plus corporate headquarters, with a notice of inspection requiring the company to produce their Forms I-9, after receiving information alleging that employees may have been using fraudulent identification documents to verify their eligibility to work using the E-Verify system.
HSI later reviewed documents provided by the company that revealed alleged instances in which the name, social security number and date of birth on the forms were being misused to gain employment.
A review of employee wages identified 76 employees who had suspicious patterns of employment, showing between three and 42 active employers other than Zipps Sports Grill during the second quarter of 2025. These individuals certified themselves as U.S. citizens, which meant they were not required to list an Alien Registration Number on their Forms I-9, a form that verifies work eligibility of employees.
The review further showed multiple jobs and extremely high wages earned in the same quarter which is consistent with aggravated identity theft. In line with the patterns identified, Gonzalez-Rosales is alleged to have knowingly employed illegal aliens and assisted individuals in lying on their I-9 forms, claiming the individuals were U.S. citizens and using other individual’s names and identification to complete the forms for employment.
A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
HSI Arizona is continuing the investigation based on information seized during the execution of the search warrant with support from IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Phoenix, is prosecuting the case.
CASE NUMBERS: 26-3019MJ, 26-3017MJ, 26-3015MJ, 26-3016MJ
26mj3019_complaint_as_to_diego_gonzalez_rosales.pdf us_dis_azd_2_26mj3017_complaint_as_to_edwin_flores_rosales_0_0.pdf us_dis_azd_2_26mj3016_complaint_as_to_ludwin_benjamin_perez_velasco_.pdf us_dis_azd_2_26mj3015_complaint_as_to_salvador_villenueva_rosas.pdfRELEASE NUMBER: 2026-011_ Gonzalez-Rosales, Flores Rosales, Villenueva-Rosas, and Perez Velasco
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az /
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Essex County Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man pled guilty today to a three-count Information for his online enticement and exploitation of minors, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Abdur-Razzaaq Henderson, 29, of East Orange, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Katharine S. Hayden, in Newark federal court, to an Information charging him with two counts of producing child pornography and one count of possessing prepubescent child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In April 2023 and July 2023, respectively, Henderson texted with two different minor victims located outside of New Jersey. On both occasions, at Henderson’s request, the minor victims created and texted him videos of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, Henderson engaged the second minor victim in a conversation about sexually assaulting a younger sibling.
On March 5, 2024, law enforcement found Henderson with a cell phone that contained multiple videos depicting child pornography in the “Hidden” folder among his photos.
In his plea agreement, Henderson also accepted responsibility for enticing seven additional minor victims to produce sexually explicit material.
The production of child pornography charges are each punishable by a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The prepubescent child pornography possession charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Jacobs of the Criminal Division in Newark.
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 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
###
Defense counsel: John Yauch, Esq.
henderson.information.pdfEl Paso Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Tunnel Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to 33 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to use a border tunnel to smuggle aliens.
On Jan. 10, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol and ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents discovered a man-made tunnel connecting Juarez, Mexico and El Paso. According to court documents, Oscar Ivan Carrillo, 20, along with co-conspirators, used handheld tools to create new tunnels connecting existing storm drain tunnels to the man-made tunnel. Carrillo and the others would guide aliens through the tunnels and into the U.S. At the tunnel exit, a box truck modified with a trap door was driven over a manhole cover; the trap door was then opened, allowing the aliens to climb up out of the tunnel and into the box truck without being detected.
Carillo was named in a four-count indictment on April 2, 2025, and arrested on June 10. On Nov. 4, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a border tunnel.
“Mexican drug cartels and the alien smuggling organizations (ASOs) with which they partner care nothing about the hopes and dreams of those they illegally smuggle into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. “They care only about the money each of the illegal aliens pay to be smuggled. Even after putting their lives at risk by entering the country using the method employed in this case, as well as more dangerous methods, the cartels and their ASOs often extort these illegal aliens by holding them in U.S. stash houses until their family members can pay additional money for their release. In the Western District of Texas, in support of our law enforcement partners with U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations, we will always aggressively pursue alien smugglers because doing so hits cartels right where it hurts: in the pocketbook. And weakening Mexican drug cartels makes this country a place where Americans cannot just survive, but thrive.”
“This case highlights the relentless efforts of our special agents and U.S. Border Patrol partners to disrupt dangerous smuggling operations,” said Taekuk Cho, ICE HSI El Paso acting Special Agent in Charge. “Criminals continue to innovate and exploit our border for profit, putting lives at risk and undermining our nation’s security. Through coordinated efforts and strategic partnerships, we are committed to identifying, investigating, and dismantling these dangerous smuggling networks.”
“This case demonstrates the unwavering commitment and teamwork of our U.S. Border Patrol agents and partners to dismantle dangerous smuggling operations,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz. “The discovery and shutdown of this sophisticated tunnel, and the successful prosecution of one of those responsible, sends a clear message: We will relentlessly pursue those who threaten our border security and bring them to justice.”
ICE HSI and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum prosecuted the case as part of Joint Task Force Alpha.
Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), is a highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
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.
###
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of TexasImage showing the white box truck parked at the storm drain exit
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of TexasImage of the modification to the floor of the box truck, allowing access into the back of the box from the tunnel
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of TexasImage of the modification allowing access from the storm drain. It also displays an image of the ladder left behind during a foiled smuggling event located inside the storm drain
Edwardsville Man Sentenced to 24 Months’ Imprisonment for False Passport Application and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Arturo Perez Ramirez, age 35, of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on January 28, 2026, to 24 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for making a false statement in application for a passport and aggravated identity theft.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Perez Ramirez was ordered to be removed from the United States in 2019, after he failed to appear for immigration proceedings. In 2020, Perez Ramirez purchased the identity documents of an American citizen, obtained a U.S. Passport under that identity, and thereafter resided in the United States under the assumed identity.
The U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.
# # #
Durant Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal Prison for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Durant man was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for transportation of child pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received multiple CyberTips that an account, later determined to be associated with Bryce Kenneth Gregoire, 31, had files containing child sexual abuse material, which Gregoire uploaded. Further investigation showed that Gregoire had uploaded images and videos containing child sexual abuse material to his account, including the material from the CyberTips, from his residence, and his personal cell phone. Gregoire’s account also contained images and videos of child sexual abuse material that was not included in the CyberTips.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Gregoire will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Gregoire was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.
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 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Dunbar Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Kanawha County Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Allen Corkhill, also known as “Mike” and “Mike Mike,” 31, of Dunbar, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Corkhill admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Corkhill participated in the conspiracy during the time period by obtaining methamphetamine from co-defendant Amanda Marie Mace and redistributing it to customers in an around Charleston. Corkhill further admitted to distributing quantities of the methamphetamine on four occasions between October 22, 2024, and January 16, 2025, each time to a confidential informant at or near South Charleston. Corkhill also admitted that Mace was present during one of these transactions, on December 11, 2024.
Corkhill is scheduled to be sentenced on April 27, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.
Corkhill and Mace are among 16 individuals indicted as the result of a federal investigation on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Corkhill and Mace are among six defendants in the main indictment who pleaded guilty. Mace, also known as “A,” 42, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 9, 2026. Four additional defendants pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-78.
###
Dominican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Lawrence, Mass. has been indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Jose Alberto Tejeda Turbi, 46, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Tejeda Turbi will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
In July 2015, Tejeda Turbi was convicted in federal court in Boston of heroin distribution and conspiracy, for which he was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. Tejeda Turbi was deported from the United States in March 2020 upon his completion of the sentence imposed.
According to the charging documents, sometime after his March 2020 removal, Tejeda Turbi illegally reentered the United States without permission.
In June 2024, Tejeda Turbi was sentenced in Lawrence District Court to two years in prison for assault and battery resulting in serious bodily injury and three years of probation for remaining charges.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad A. Rocheville of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Doctor Convicted at Trial for Defrauding IRS and Health Care InsurersRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Boston, Massachusetts, convicted a medical doctor Tuesday for health care fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the IRS, and tax evasion.
“Over ten years, the defendant hid millions in income from the IRS and defrauded insurers through his medical practice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant—a highly educated physician — put greed over his integrity, lining his own pockets through lies and deceit at the expense insurers and Americans who pay healthcare premiums, then doubling down on his lies and deceit and attempting to hide his ill-gotten gains from the IRS. The Criminal Division will prosecute doctors and other professionals like this defendant who abuse the system, and through their crimes, inflate insurance costs for all Americans and fail to pay their taxes due and owing.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. Pankaj Merchia, of Boca Raton, Florida and Brookline, Massachusetts, was a Harvard-educated sleep doctor who controlled several sleep medicine companies. From 2017 to 2019, the defendant fraudulently billed insurance companies millions of dollars for sleep apnea machines that had not been used by his former patients for years. Merchia billed up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient for the medical devices, even when in some cases those patients had returned the devices to him. Merchia used the proceeds of the fraud to purchase a $2.1 million home in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Merchia also defrauded a health insurer out of over $390,000 by submitting fraudulent claims for treating his brother. After being told that he could not bill insurance for treating a family member, Merchia created a new medical business in the name of a nominee and submitted new claims so that the insurance company would continue paying the illicit reimbursement.
In addition, from 2009 to 2019, Merchia did not report, or pay tax on, over $6.5 million [PC1] in income he earned from his medical businesses by falsely claiming that those businesses were owned by a co-conspirator. To defraud the IRS, Merchia fabricated a sham transaction, falsely claiming that he sold his medical businesses back in 2008. To ensure that his co-conspirator did not owe taxes, they claimed deductions, spread across many years, for the fabricated sale payment.
Merchia was convicted of one count of health care fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS, and two counts of tax evasion. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 28, 2026. Each count of healthcare fraud and money laundering carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. Tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the IRS each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Gallagher of the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to 11 Felony Drug Crimes, Admitting to Role in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Lamarr Anthony Welch, also known as “Joe,” 35, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, to 11 felony drug offenses, admitting to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Welch admitted to participating in the conspiracy, to distributing various quantities of methamphetamine totaling 651 grams on multiple occasions between March 3, 2025, and August 27, 2025, and to distributing 4.4 grams fentanyl on August 27, 2025, as part of the DTO.
Welch pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count each of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Welch conducted transactions arranged by or at the direction of co-defendants Joshua Willie McCarver, also known as “TJ,” 27, of Detroit, McCarver’s nephew Darnell Marice McCarver, also known as “WAP,” 19, of Detroit, and Geon Lavell Henderson, also known as “Money,” 52, of Huntington. These three individuals and Welch are among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO while it operated from in or about January 2025 to in or about August 2025. Darnell Marice McCarver pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026, to aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13, 2026. Two other co-defendants pleaded guilty. The charges against Joshua Willie McCarver, Henderson, and the other defendants remain pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Welch is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.
“This defendant repeatedly sold drugs in an already vulnerable community, flooding it with dangerous drugs and profiting from the pain, addiction, and devastation of its residents. He now faces the consequences of his crimes,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “This is another drug trafficking conspiracy dismantled by the incredible work of our law enforcement partners: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department. I also commend Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney for securing guilty pleas from this defendant in all 11 counts against him in the indictment.”
“Methamphetamine and fentanyl destroy lives in our community. Actively bringing this poison into our neighborhoods fuels addiction and drives violent crime. Removing traffickers from our streets means protecting families who never chose to be touched by these dangerous drugs. The FBI and our partners will never stop holding accountable those who think they can continue to profit from addiction,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek.
“This is why we participate and are a part of the Federal Drug Task Force/(Toc-West) when you see the hard work of that unit pay off,” said Cabell County Sheriff Doug Adams. “The men and women of that Task Force do a wonderful job, and this is the result of the work they do to and their efforts to make Cabell County safer for the families that call it home. Hope that this sends a clear message to others that want to plague our county with narcotics that have impacted our community in ways that are unimaginable.”
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154.
###
Dayton man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for 12 armed robberiesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man was sentenced in federal court here today to 240 months in prison for committing 12 separate armed robberies at businesses throughout southwest Ohio.
In December 2024, Timothy Farr, 44, brandished a firearm at local gas stations, convenience stores and drive thru stores, demanding cash and cigarettes.
During the robberies, Farr often wore a dark jacket, pants and shoes, as well as gray two-tone style gloves and a black balaclava mask covering part of his face. In some instances, Farr also wore an N-95 style mask. He brandished a black firearm.
As the crime spree progressed, the defendant became more aggressive with his verbal commands to store clerk victims and his use of the firearm.
Law enforcement was able to identify a vehicle of interest using the Flock Safety Camera System and identified a 2011 red Ford Taurus linked to armed robbery locations.
When Dayton police officers initiated a traffic stop of the red Taurus on Dec. 16, 2024, Farr was in the front passenger seat wearing the outfit described in the armed robberies, had an N-95 style mask on the floorboard and gray two-tone gloves in his pocket. Farr also had a 9mm pistol in his waistband.
Farr admitted to committing armed robberies on:
- Dec. 3, 2024, at Sunoco gas station on Wayne Avenue in Dayton,
- Dec. 4, 2024, at Marathon gas station on Linden Avenue in Riverside,
- Dec. 6, 2024, at Ray’s Xenia Avenue Market on Xenia Avenue in Dayton,
- Dec. 7, 2024, at Free Pike Drive-Thru on Free Pike in Dayton,
- Dec. 8, 2024, at Sunoco gas station on Selma Road in Springfield,
- Dec. 8, 2024, at Family Dollar on Salem Avenue in Trotwood,
- Dec. 10, 2024, at Mini Mart on N. Main Street in Dayton,
- Dec. 11, 2024, at Marathon gas station on E. Fifth Street in Dayton,
- Dec. 12, 2024, at White Oak Deli on Cheviot Road in Green Township,
- Dec. 14, 2024, at Family Dollar on West Main Street in Springfield,
- Dec. 15, 2024, at Sammy’s Drive-thru store on Woodman Drive in Riverside, and
- Dec. 15, 2024, at United Dairy Farmers on Vine Street in Cincinnati.
The defendant was charged federally in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; Green Township Police Chief James Vetter; Cincinnati Police Interim Chief Adam Hennie; Trotwood Police Chief Erik Wilson; and Riverside Police Acting Chief Angela Jackson announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders and Christina E. Mahy are representing the United States in this 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.
# # #
Dog Fighting & Firearms Convictions Send Panama City Men to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Fredricus White, 38, and Cornelious Johnson, 41, both of Panama City, Florida, were sentenced to federal prison for possession of fighting dogs and firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. White was sentenced to seven years in prison, while Johnson was sentenced to two years and six months. Both men are to serve their sentences consecutive to federal sentences handed down last year by a District Court Judge in Georgia for an unrelated dog fight. The defendants will be on supervised release for three years following their release from prison. The sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These defendants engaged in the cruel and continued mistreatment of animals, and now they find themselves locked in a federal cell for their crimes. Dismantling this dog fighting enterprise was made possible through the outstanding investigative work of Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford’s deputies and our federal law enforcement partners, and this successful prosecution was secured with excellent support from the Department of Justice’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division. My office is firmly committed to ending the cruel infliction of pain on animals purely for sport and financial gain in the Northern District of Florida.”
Court documents reflect that White and Johnson entered into a conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act from 2018 through February 2024, by participating in organized dog fighting, to include breeding fighting dogs, participating in gambling involving illegal dog fights, and training dogs to participate in dog fights. White and Johnson were previously arrested in Georgia for participating in a dog fight in 2022. Federal arrest warrants in February 2024 for the Georgia dog fight led to the discovery of two rural Panama City area properties where White and Johnson had continued to keep, breed, and train fighting dogs. White’s residence was also searched, and three firearms were found. White was prohibited from possessing firearms due to felony convictions in 2009 and 2012. As part of the case, authorities seized twenty-seven dogs from the properties. The dogs were surrendered to the United States Marshals Service, who handle the care and rehabilitation of seized animals for the United States government.
“The Bay County Sheriff’s Office stands up for victims who have a voice and for those who cannot speak for themselves,” said Sheriff Tommy Ford. “This type of conduct will not be tolerated in our community, and we hope this sends a clear message to anyone who intends to harm our pets.”
“We are glad to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida to bring perpetrators of dog fighting to justice,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Dog fighting is a vicious crime that’s often connected with other criminal activity. ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section is proud to work with our colleagues throughout the Department of Justice to enforce the law.”
The convictions were the result of a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith L. Steer and Kaitlin Weiss with assistance from ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section.
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, human and drug trafficking.
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.
Court Allows Alaska Energy Exploration to ProceedRead the Press Release
The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska rejected an attempt to halt a project exploring federal oil and gas resources in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve.
In November 2025, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved a permit application allowing ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. to conduct a one-year project involving seismic exploration and the drilling of multiple exploration wells in the National Petroleum Reserve. The plaintiffs sued, challenging the permit approval and seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the project. The court denied plaintiffs’ request, finding that they failed to raise even serious questions on the merits because BLM conducted a reasonably thorough analysis of the project’s impacts.
“Developing Alaska’s extraordinary resource potential involves many challenges. Lawsuits like this shouldn’t be one of them,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We stand ready to advance President Trump’s objective of unleashing American energy.”
Convicted Child Rapist Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material with Two Separate Victims, Faces 25-100 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Andrew Edick, 39, a Level 2 registered sex offender of Mohawk, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Each count related to Edick’s exploitation of a separate victim. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
In pleading guilty, Edick admitted that in in the summer of 2022, he filmed the genitalia of a female child born in 2013 and knowingly transported the video between Facebook accounts he controlled. Edick also admitted that later that year, he filmed himself having sexual intercourse with a female child born in 2009. Edick later sent the video to the child and told her to delete it after viewing.
In 2012, Edick was convicted after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual misconduct in Herkimer County Court. As part of his plea in that case, Edick admitted that he had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female child without her consent. As a result of that conviction, Edick has been registered as a Level 2 sex offender in New York State, including when he committed the new offenses in 2022.
Edick’s plea resolves an indictment on which he was scheduled for trial beginning February 2, 2026. Edick was originally charged in connection with these crimes by a complaint filed in May 2023, following an investigation by HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Edick was arrested when HSI executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered a cellular phone that contained, as Edick admitted in his plea, numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse material. Edick has been detained ever since his initial arrest.
“Andrew Edick is a relentless sexual predator, whose nightmarish crimes are over,” Acting United States Attorney Sarcone said. “I commend the work of our prosecutors and HSI in securing this conviction. Their work ensures that this dangerous predator will spend decades in prison, and our children are exponentially safer today.”
"Andrew Edick’s actions represent the most egregious betrayal of trust and innocence imaginable. Edick, an already convicted child rapist, repeatedly abused vulnerable minors and deliberately documented and distributed images depicting their suffering. The trauma he inflicted is permanent, and his crimes are beyond reprehensible. HSI remains relentless in our pursuit of predators like Edick and our commitment to protecting children from such evil.”
Edick is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on May 29, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, a maximum sentence of 100 years in prison, a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life, a fine of up to $500,000, and will again be required to register as a sex offender. In addition, Edick is responsible for restitution to the victims of his crimes and forfeiture of the device used in connection with his crimes. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
HSI investigating the case, with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Michael J. Whalen are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Columbia Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison After Hiding a Gun at a Local BusinessRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Doron Guider, 27, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On Jan. 9, 2025, Columbia Police officers responded to a complaint about a man with a handgun at an extended stay hotel on Forest Drive. Officers circled the area and went to a nearby store where the manager and an employee stated that the man, later determined to be Guider, had entered the business. With the help of the business’s employees, officers reviewed surveillance video and saw Guider enter the store. Officers searched the store and found Guider, who had changed into clothing marked for sale. Further review of the surveillance video revealed that Guider had hidden the handgun between two pallets in the store, along with his original clothing. Officers were able to recover the handgun and the clothing.
Guider has prior convictions for strong arm robbery, breaking into a motor vehicle, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent felony, all of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm under federal law.
United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Guider to 46 total months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the City of Columbia Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall prosecuted the case.
###
Clinch County Ex-Spouses Guilty for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Clinch County, Georgia, man involved in a methamphetamine trafficking network linked to a Mexican source of supply in Atlanta was sentenced to serve more than 24 years in prison, after he and his former spouse admitted to their roles in the crime.
Crage Bernard Harris, 47, of Homerville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 295 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Jan. 28, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 1, 2025.
Co-defendant, Bridget Denise Harris, 53, of Homerville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 1, 2025. Bridget Harris faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 19.
Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Trafficking methamphetamine and other addictive illegal drugs in the Middle District of Georgia will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Law enforcement agencies at every level are working together to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our communities and hold all those profiting from these deadly substances accountable for their crimes.”
“Methamphetamine trafficking fuels addiction, violence and instability in our communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This significant sentence removes a dangerous trafficker from our streets and helps make our communities safer.”
“This case highlights the reach and danger of methamphetamine trafficking networks and the damage they cause in our communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Through strong partnerships with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners, we will continue to target those who profit from these drugs and hold them accountable.”
“I want to express my sincere thanks to the DEA and the GBI for their unwavering dedication and hard work in helping to keep drugs off the streets,” said Clinch County Sheriff Raymond Peterson.
According to court documents and statements in court, Crage Harris was under investigation for methamphetamine distribution from a Mexican source in 2022, after federal agents discovered packages containing illegal drugs delivered to a residence on Travis Lane in Clinch County, Georgia, associated with him. Based on the suspicion of drug trafficking, additional multi-agency surveillance continued at the Travis Lane location. A search warrant was executed at Travis Lane in April 2022 following the delivery of several packages, under surveillance by the GBI and the Clinch County Sheriff’s Office. Harris’s former wife, co-defendant Bridget Harris, was seen placing the packages in the trunk of a car. Inside the packages, agents found bottles containing liquid methamphetamine and seized approximately 731 grams of methamphetamine.
The DEA, the GBI, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Clinch County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Clay County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Loaded Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –David Neil Haas (38, Clay County) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to 46 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Haas to forfeit a Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol and ammunition, which was used in the commission of the offense. Law enforcement arrested Hass on September 22, 2025, and he was subsequently detained. Haas pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on August 11, 2025, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) pulled over a motorcycle driven by Haas for driving without a tag. The CCSO also determined that Haas was driving on a suspended license. When speaking with Haas, a deputy observed a large bulge in the vest being worn by Haas. A subsequent search of the vest by the deputy revealed a black Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol, loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Haas had multiple prior felony convictions, which prohibit him from possessing firearms under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
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.
Charlotte Businessman and Founder of Charitable Organization Indicted for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office unsealed an indictment today, charging a Charlotte man with tax fraud for filing fraudulent income tax returns and failure to file income tax returns on money he transferred from a charitable organization he founded and controlled, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Michael Kahn, 65, is charged with two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and two counts of failure to file a tax return. He appeared in court this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Alboulhosn.
Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
According to the indictment, the defendant established The Michael A. Kahn Family Foundation (The Foundation) in 2010 as a tax-exempt organization purportedly dedicated to advancing charitable, religious, and educational purposes. Kahn held all leadership roles within The Foundation, including Director, President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Chairman of the Board of Directors, and The Foundation had no other officers, board members, or employees. The indictment alleges that, between 2020 and 2023, Kahn transferred over $4.5 million from The Foundation to himself and failed to report those funds as income on his 2020 and 2021 tax returns filed with the IRS. The indictment also alleges that Kahn failed to file tax returns for calendar years 2022 and 2023, despite receiving income in excess of $25,900 and $27,700, respectively.
Following the court hearing, Kahn was released on bond. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and up to one year in prison for each count of failure to file a tax return. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The IRS-CI handled the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges against the defendant are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
California Woman Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a San Jacinto, California woman convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on January 26, 2026.
Nicole Dorrough, 52, was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Dorrough was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in May 2024. She pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025.
Dorrough was a member of a large drug trafficking organization that was responsible for sending hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from California to Sioux Falls. The group also trafficked cocaine and marijuana. Dorrough specifically received drug proceeds from co-conspirators in South Dakota through electronic payments like Cash-App or Zelle. Significant amounts of cash were deposited into her bank account during her involvement in the conspiracy. Once she had received the drug proceeds from South Dakota, she would then provide them to a co-conspirator in California. The scheme allowed funds to quickly be transferred from state to state while keeping the name of the main co-conspirator off the transactions. Investigators identified approximately $700,000 of money laundering activity by the group, of which Dorrough was personally involved in transactions totaling approximately $200,000.
“People who launder and move around the dirty money obtained from drug deals are just as culpable as the dealers directly funneling that poison into our neighborhoods and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Dorrough was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
California Man Sentenced for Half Million Dollar Charles Loloma Jewelry Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – After posing for years as a source of rare Native American art, a California man was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay $134,443.60 in restitution for running a counterfeit jewelry operation that exploited the reputation of famed Hopi artist Charles Loloma and siphoned roughly five hundred thousand dollars from collectors nationwide.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Robert Haack, 59, carried out a years long scheme to defraud collectors by selling counterfeit jewelry falsely represented as authentic works by renowned Hopi artist Charles Loloma.
The evidence established that between approximately 2008 and 2015, Haack manufactured dozens of fake Loloma jewelry pieces in his California home and sold them through eBay and direct sales. Haack marketed the items as genuine pieces made in Loloma’s workshop in Hotevilla, Arizona. Those representations were false. An investigation by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service later confirmed that the jewelry was not made by Loloma. In total, Haack sold the forged pieces to more than ten victims across the country for approximately five hundred thousand dollars.
In 2018, federal authorities began criminal proceedings after undercover United States Fish and Wildlife Service agents purchased two forged pieces from Haack. In 2019, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Haack with multiple fraud related offenses arising from his counterfeit jewelry scheme.
In 2021, Haack entered guilty pleas to three fraud counts pursuant to a plea agreement that contemplated a sentence of home confinement. As sentencing approached, Haack refused to provide required financial information to the United States Probation Office. As a result, the court rejected the plea agreement, and Haack later withdrew his guilty pleas.
After the case was set for trial, Haack delayed the proceedings by feigning a cognitive medical condition, which raised competency concerns and resulted in a significant continuance. Following a thirty-day inpatient forensic evaluation, the court determined that Haack had been malingering and was competent to proceed.
In June 2024, after a four-day trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a federal jury found Haack guilty of two counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud and two counts of violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
“When individuals falsely claim jewelry as authentic Native American art for personal gain, they distort the marketplace and exploit both artists and consumers,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “I commend the professionals whose diligence brought this case to verdict and justice for those harmed. Upholding the integrity of our markets and holding accountable those who undermine public trust remains a priority for this office.”
"Robert Haack’s counterfeit operation victimized customers and directly harmed the economic and cultural livelihood of Native American artists," said Assistant Director Doug Ault, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Protecting American Indian and Alaska Native culture and traditions is a critical part of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. Our dedicated team of special agents, working in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, diligently safeguards both American Indian and Alaska Native artists, as well as the consumers who seek genuine Native American art and crafts. This sentencing underscores the importance of these protections, and we thank our partners at the Department of Justice and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board for their invaluable assistance in this investigation."
“The Indian Arts and Crafts Board of the U.S. Department of the Interior (IACB) administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA), a truth-in-marketing law,” said the Board’s Director Meridith Stanton. “The IACA is intended to rid the Indian arts and crafts marketplace of fakes to protect the economic livelihoods and cultural heritage of Indian artists, craftspeople, and their Tribes, as well as the buying public. Authentic Indian art and craftwork is an important tool for passing down cultural traditions, traditional knowledge, and artistic skills from one generation to the next. The IACB commends the U.S. Attorney - District of New Mexico and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s IACA Investigative Unit for their outstanding work that led to today’s sentencing of Robert Haack for his manufacture and sale of counterfeit Charles Loloma (Hopi) jewelry. As the father of contemporary Indian jewelry, Charles Loloma not only broke many Indian art industry barriers with his masterful work, he also inspired his Indian artist contemporaries and generations that followed to excel, push boundaries, and elevate Indian jewelry to new levels as never before. Mr. Haack’s sales of counterfeit Indian art demean and rob authentic Indian artists who rely on the creation and sale of their artwork to put food on the table, make ends meet, and pass along these important cultural traditions and skills from one generation to the next. His actions undermine consumers’ confidence in the Indian art market in the Southwest and nationwide. Now Mr. Haack has been brought to justice, and his sentencing should send a strong message to IACA violators that we will diligently work to find you and prosecute you under the IACA.”
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Doug Ault, Southwest Region Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, made the announcement today.
The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Law Enforcement investigated this case with assistance from the Indians Arts and Crafts Board. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
Buffalo woman pleads guilty to meth chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Stephanie Kroh, 40, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, which carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that in April 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Kroh’s residence on Edson Street, recovering 232 grams of methamphetamine and 91 grams of fentanyl. In November 2023, Kroh traveled to the Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, NY, with two packages, which she concealed with the intent of distributing them to an inmate in the correctional facility. The first package contained approximately 24 grams of marijuana, and the second contained approximately 10 grams of an unknown crystal white substance.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Enforcement Division and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Craig Macy.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
# # # #
Buckner Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Buckner, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine and for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug distribution.
Charles J. Dunne, 62, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to more than 15 years in federal prison without parole. Dunne will serve 125 months for drug distribution and 60 months, consecutive, for possessing 29 firearms in connection with his drug distribution.
In early 2023, law enforcement received information that Dunne was distributing large quantities of narcotics from his home. Between March 2023 and Sept. 2023, law enforcement intercepted numerous individuals who purchased narcotics from Dunne. After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement searched Dunne’s home and discovered large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana. They also discovered dozens of weapons, including six functional hand grenades. When law enforcement arrived, Dunne ingested a lethal dose of fentanyl. Law enforcement, assisted by emergency medical services, administered lifesaving care to Dunne.
On March 27, 2025, Dunne pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense.
Dunne has many prior narcotics-related convictions, including a federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in 1998.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jackson County Drug Task Force.
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Coercion and Enticement of MinorsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Steven LaBianca was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to 12 years’ imprisonment for coercion and enticement of minors and possession of child pornography. LaBianca communicated with multiple minor victims over the internet and coerced them into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. LaBianca pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2024.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“Today, the defendant received a significant and deserved jail term for using manipulation and deception to exploit vulnerable victims, wrongly believing he could act without consequence,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This prosecution makes clear that coercion and enticement and possession of child pornography—particularly when directed at minors—will be met with the full force of federal law. Our Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and hold sexual predators accountable.”
“For years, Steven LaBianca prowled online platforms to exploit minor victims by forcing them to engage in sexually explicit conversations and create pornographic material. Not only did his coercion abuse the innocence of young girls, it also revictimized those whose recordings were shared in other threads for LaBianca’s twisted desires. The FBI will continue its mission to protect children from online sexual predators and investigate anyone who attempts to exploit them,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As set forth in court filings, in 2017, LaBianca communicated online with a 15-year-old girl who resided in Cyprus (Jane Doe 2). LaBianca induced Jane Doe 2 to send him photographs and videos of herself nude and engaging in sexual activities, and instructed her to watch pornographic videos involving other young girls. LaBianca threatened to leave Jane Doe 2 for a younger girl once she grew up and advised Jane Doe 2 to delete incriminating evidence from her devices if she was ever approached by law enforcement authorities. Over the course of their communications, Jane Doe 2 sent LaBianca hundreds of photographs and videos of her engaged in sexual activities.
Additionally, from September 2017 through May 2020, LaBianca communicated with multiple young girls—some as young as 13-years-old—and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit photographs and videos through social media platforms such as Omegle, Skype, and Instagram.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andy Palacio is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
STEVEN LABIANCA
Age: 53
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-206 (AMD)
Brockton man pleads guilty to assault and sexual assault charges on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Brockton man accused of assaulting a man and sexually assaulting a minor on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Eithan Toby McKay, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. McKay faces a maximum imprisonment of 15 years, a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set for a later date. McKay was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in September 2024, law enforcement received information about a juvenile female, Jane Doe, being pregnant. Doe was subsequently interviewed and identified Eithan Toby McKay as the father. Doe and McKay met on social media and started hanging out. The two engaged in a sexual relationship and conceived a child. Based on the due date, it was determined that Doe was 13 years old at the time of conception. McKay was 19 at the time. DNA testing later determined that Doe and McKay are 5.7 billion times more likely to be the parents than if Doe and an unrelated randomly selected person are the parents.
Additionally, shortly after 2:00 am on March 4, 2025, a person called 911 to report an assault at an address in Brockton. The person said an individual was struck over the head with a machete and was bleeding. When asked by the 911 operator if the perpetrator was still there the caller said, “He just walked in the living room - he’s drunk - it’s Eithan McKay.”
Law enforcement arrived and found the victim, John Doe, with serious injuries to his head, arm, and shoulder. Doe was bleeding heavily. The responding officer could see Doe’s bones in multiple places and applied a tourniquet. Doe said Eithan McKay slashed him with a machete because Doe wanted to leave and McKay didn’t want him to leave. As they loaded Doe into an ambulance, McKay walked over with his hands in the air and said he did it. He continued by saying he stabbed Doe and then Doe took the machete from him.
Doe was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital with severe lacerations to the shoulder, arm, head, and back. He was provided fentanyl for pain management. He was air flighted to Billings for treatment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
XXX
British National Convicted on International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Charges Linked to the 2017 Deaths of Two Navy SubmarinersRead the Press Release
Faces a Sentence of 20 Years to Life Imprisonment
BRUNSWICK, GA: British national facing a possible life sentence following his jury trial conviction in the Southern District of Georgia for conspiring to distribute and import fentanyl analogues and other novel controlled substances on a dark web platform called “Dream Market.” The importation and distribution of these substances led to the death of two members of the United States Navy.
Paul Anthony Nicholls, 47, of Great Britain, was convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances Resulting in Death and one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Resulting in Death following a 4-day jury trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. When a sentence is imposed by the Honorable Lisa Godbey Wood, United States District Judge, Defendant Nicholls faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years imprisonment, with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, as well as significant monetary penalties. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This conviction was achieved through the hard work and cooperation of our law enforcement officers and Canadian law enforcement. Two of our navy sailors died because of Nicholl’s distribution of lethal drugs. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who harm people in our communities.” said U.S. Attorney Meg Heap.
As described in court documents and testimony, Defendant Nicholls conspired with at least one other person to run a drug trafficking organization titled “Canada1” on the now-defunct dark web marketplace “Dream Market.” “Canada1” advertised various controlled substances for sale on “Dream Market” including the synthetic opioid U-47700 and the fentanyl analogue Methoxy acetyl fentanyl. “Canada1” advertised that they would ship these substances anywhere in the world from their basis of operation in Vancouver, British Columbia. Investigators, utilizing surveillance and other investigative methods, identified Defendant Nicholls as routinely interacting with his conspirator and taking numerous packages bearing the logo for a shell company named “East Van ECO Tours” to be sent out via Canada Post, the Canadian mail system. Following weeks of surveillance, investigators intercepted over 40 packages bearing the “East Van ECO Tours” markings and found them all to contain dangerous fentanyl analogues in both nasal spray and powder form.
After confirming the “East Van ECO Tours” packages contained controlled substances, investigators executed search warrants at Defendant Nicholls’ home, Defendant Nicholls’ car, and the car and home of Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator. Expert witness testimony at trial valued the fentanyl analogues recovered from Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator’s home at $24,000,000 and indicated that there were enough substances present to kill 375,000 people.
Also located in the home were receipts bearing tracking numbers for thousands of packages sent out by the conspirators to addresses all over the world. Among those receipts, were tracking numbers for two packages that traveled to Kingsland, Georgia in October 2017. Following delivery of those packages, United States Navy submariners B.T.J. and T.L.B. consumed the contents of the packages and each died of opioid overdoses at T.L.B.’s home approximately 4 days apart in October 2017.
"This conviction reflects the FDA’s commitment to holding accountable those who peddle illicit narcotics, including fentanyl and its analogues, to Americans,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berrios, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. "No matter where in the world these individuals operate, the FDA will work with our law enforcement partners to find them and bring them to justice.”
“The overdose deaths associated with this investigation are a tragic reminder of the dangers of illegal narcotics being shipped by transnational criminal organizations,” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge, Miami Division. “The United States Postal Inspection Service remains committed to work with our state, local and international partners in the pursuit of those who traffic in poison.”
“Those who disregard the highly toxic nature of fentanyl by heartlessly distributing it for personal gain must be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Norman Dominesey of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. “NCIS and our partners are committed to aggressively investigating any individual or entity complicit in illicit distribution of substances that would threaten national security, undermine warfighter readiness, and endanger Department of the Navy communities.”
“Drug traffickers who operate on the dark web often believe their crimes are detached from real-world consequences. This conviction proves that couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendant’s role in this international conspiracy contributed to the deaths of two Navy submariners, an outcome that underscores the deadly reach of these criminal networks. DEA will continue working with our state and local partners in pursuing those who endanger lives for profit.”
“This conviction sends a clear message that those who use the dark web to traffic deadly drugs will be held accountable, no matter where they operate,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The deaths of these two U.S. Navy submariners in this case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of synthetic opioids and fentanyl. Through coordinated international and federal partnerships, we will continue to pursue those who profit from poisoning our communities and bring them to justice.
“Our department remains committed to strong partnerships with our community and our local, state, and federal agency partners,” said Chief of Police Rick M. Evans. “By working together, we are better equipped to target those who distribute and possess illegal drugs, reduce crime, and enhance the safety and quality of life for our residents. Collaboration is key to protecting our community and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator, not named herein, has not been tried on his indictment. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Post, the Canadian Border Services Agency, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Kingsland (GA) Police Department, and the Surrey (Canada) Police Department. Additionally, Health Canada and the Pasco County (FL) Sheriff’s Office provided logistical and trial support. The case was prosecuted for the United States of America by Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Timothy P. Dean and former Assistant United States Attorneys Frank M. Pennington, II and E. Greg Gilluly, Junior.
Brazilian National Living in Bridgeport Charged with Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter today announced that JOAO VICTOR BORGES DE QUEIROZ, 33, a citizen of Brazil last residing in Bridgeport, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on December 23, 2025, a victim of domestic violence reported to Bridgeport Police that she had just been attacked by Borges de Queiroz while she was driving her car, and that Borges de Queiroz had fired a gun during the attack. The victim was able to take the gun away from Borges de Queiroz during the struggle and throw it out the car window. The victim jumped out of the moving car in the area of Orange Street and Central Avenue. Borges de Queiroz held onto her, fell on top of her and continue the assault, but assisted by intervening bystanders, she was able to escape. Responding officers located the handgun, a black Taurus 9mm Model G2C, on Orange Street. Investigators obtained videos from surveillance cameras, which confirmed details of the incident. As a result of the investigation, state authorities issued an arrest warrant charging Borges de Queiroz with criminal attempt to commit murder, kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm, and stalking in the second degree.
It is further alleged that on December 24, 2025, Borges de Queiroz was detained at the Highgate Springs, Vermont Port of Entry at the U.S. and Canadian border after he attempted to enter Canada, was denied entry, and attempted to reenter the U.S. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered an active armed and dangerous alert for Borges de Queiroz and detained him.
It is alleged that Borges de Queiroz was first encountered by CBP in Arizona in May 2023 and the agency determined that he did not have lawful status in the U.S. Immigration records indicate that Borges de Queiroz missed a court date in April 2025 and has a final court hearing scheduled for November 30, 2026.
Borges de Queiroz, who has been detained since his arrest, appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford. The charge of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the U.S. carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bridgeport Police Department, with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
The State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Fairfield is prosecuting the state case against Borges de Queiroz.
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.
Boone County Man Indicted for Cyberstalking and Sending Threatening Communications to United States Congressman and United States SenatorRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, KY- A Florence, Ky., man, Benjamin Aaron Keebler, 55, was indicted on January 15 for cyberstalking and sending threatening communications to a United States Congressman and a United States Senator.
The indictment alleges that from February 2023 to May 2025, Keebler used a cell phone to engage in a course of conduct with the intent of harassing and intimidating a United States Congressman. Specifically, the indictment alleges that on separate occasions Keebler called a phone system affiliated with the Congressman and threatened to injure the Congressman, including a threat to shoot him in the head at a town hall, and a threat to lynch the Congressman. In addition to those threats, the indictment alleges that Keebler used a cell phone to call a phone system affiliated with a United States Senator and threaten injury against that person as well, stating, among other things, “somebody needs to come to [the Senator’s] house and do a . . . hammer visit.”
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Chief Michael G. Sullivan, U.S. Capitol Police, announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Capitol Police. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Boone.
Keebler’s initial appearance in court occurred on January 29, 2026. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
— END —
Arthritis & Rheumatology Center, P.C. and Jatin Patel settle False Claims Act case for $2.18 MillionRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Arthritis & Rheumatology Center, P.C. (“ARC”) and its owner, Jatin Patel, M.D., will pay $2.18 million to settle allegations that ARC used medical assistants to perform infusion services in violation of Georgia law and submitted claims for those services to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act.
“Physicians who disregard state and federal law by allowing unqualified individuals to perform unauthorized medical services place patients in needless danger,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will hold accountable those who participate in federal healthcare programs but seek to enrich themselves by not following the rules.”
An investigation into Dr. Patel and his practice began when an ARC employee filed a whistleblower complaint alleging ARC improperly used unlicensed medical assistants to infuse powerful chemotherapy medications into ARC’s patients, even though Georgia regulations prohibit such conduct. The Medicare program does not pay for services rendered in violation of state law. Accordingly, the whistleblower alleged that ARC’s conduct resulted in the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729, et seq.
This civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by former ARC employee Phillips Allender (the Relator) under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, U.S. ex rel. Allender v. Arthritis & Rheumatology Center, P.C. and Jatin Patel, M.D., No. 1:21-cv-4530-MLB. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may bring suit for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. The Relator will receive $414,200 from the settlement.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. Nugent.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in Conspiracies to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine and to Launder the ProceedsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Tucson, Ariz., man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with his role in distributing, and laundering the proceeds of, truckloads of fentanyl and cocaine.
Reginel Cazares, a/k/a “Junior,” 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine) and money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for May 6, 2026. Cazares was indicted on June 13, 2024.
According to court filings, in August 2023, a cooperating witness told law enforcement about an individual he knew as “Junior” – later identified as Cazares – based in Tucson, Ariz., who organized multi-kilogram deliveries of fentanyl and cocaine from California to Massachusetts. The kilograms were driven by tractor trailer from the area of Ontario, Calif., to Massachusetts. In November 2023, and again in December 2023, Cazares directed the cooperating witness to pick up drug proceeds in Massachusetts from two co-defendants, with approximately $600,000 in drug proceeds picked up in Tewksbury, Mass., at Cazares’ direction. On Feb. 16, 2024, Cazares directed the cooperating witness to pick up four kilograms of fentanyl and nine kilograms of cocaine in Ontario, Calif., which were to be driven to Massachusetts and the Carolinas. The narcotics were intercepted by law enforcement.
In 2012, Cazares was convicted of cocaine conspiracy in the District of New Jersey and sentenced to 57 months in prison.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine) provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Riverside (Calif.), Bakersfield (Calif.) and Tucson (Ariz.) DEA Offices; San Bernadino County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Department; Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team; the Methuen Police Department; and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Antitrust Division and U.S. Postal Service Make First-Ever Whistleblower Payment: $1M Awarded for Reporting Antitrust CrimeRead the Press Release
The Antitrust Division today announced its first-ever whistleblower reward: a $1 million reward to a whistleblower who provided information that led to EBLOCK Corporation resolving criminal antitrust and fraud charges through a deferred prosecution agreement, under which it has agreed to pay a $3.28 million criminal fine.
EBLOCK Corporation offers an online auction platform for used vehicles. In November 2020, EBLOCK acquired Company A, another online auction platform for used vehicles. According to the Criminal Information and Deferred Prosecution Agreement filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, EBLOCK did not take immediate action after the acquisition to end the bid-rigging conspiracy and fraud at Company A. From November 2020 to February 2022, individuals at Company A conspired with individuals at Company B to suppress and eliminate competition for used vehicles sold on Company A’s online auction platform, in violation of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1. EBLOCK also did not take immediate action to end “shill bidding” on Company A’s platform, resulting in the placement of fake bids intended to artificially increase the sales prices for used vehicles, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343.
“Whistleblowers serve as the Justice System’s greatest disinfectant against criminal antitrust conspiracies,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “A car is the second largest purchase most Americans will make in their lifetimes. This whistleblower helped expose a brazen $16 million scheme that made it more expensive for hardworking Americans to afford second-hand cars across the country. This $1 million reward not only recognizes a whistleblower for bravely stepping forward to report crimes to the Antitrust Division, but also underscores the indispensable role whistleblowers will continue to play in the Division’s criminal enforcement program. Remember, the first company in an antitrust cartel that reports its collusion to the Antitrust Division might receive Leniency — but the race is faster now, because employees and their attorneys are incentivized to blow the whistle and beat their companies to the Division’s doorstep.”
“Today’s reward shows that the Antitrust Division leverages whistleblower reports to drive forward our investigations,” said Acting Director of Criminal Enforcement Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “If a whistleblower provides new information that ultimately assists the Antitrust Division in bringing charges, the whistleblower might receive a significant award — even if the criminal activity has already ended.”
“Whistleblowers play a critical role in helping law enforcement to identify and investigate a wide variety of criminal activities,” said Acting Assistant Director Mark Remily of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “In this case, information from a whistleblower led to the identification and dismantlement of a criminal antitrust conspiracy, that if unreported, would have continued to harm American consumers who were unknowingly overpaying for automobiles.”
“In this case, the defendant used the U.S. Mail to send documentation related to the scheme; a scheme that valued illegal profits over protecting unsuspecting car buyers. The Postal Inspection Service does not tolerate this abuse of the U.S. Mail or its customers and will pursue these types of criminals wherever they are,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. “This $1 million dollar award comes only six months after the Whistleblower Rewards Program first started. This award shows the commitment the U.S. Postal Service and the Antitrust Division to support those who provide accurate, actionable intelligence about antitrust and related competition crimes with a connection to the U.S. Mail.”
As described in the court documents, legacy employees at Company A conspired with employees at Company B to share bidding information and agree on the maximum amount Company A or Company B would bid on certain vehicles. Company A employees provided special access and user permissions to Company B that enabled it to view the confidential bidding information of other buyers and sellers on its auction site. The co-conspirators maintained a shared inventory of vehicles purchased pursuant to the bid rigging scheme, and they coordinated to relist those vehicles and place shill bids with the intention of artificially increasing the prices paid by legitimate buyers. They also misrepresented the numbers and identities of these fake bidders during the online auctions by commissioning the development of software that would automatically place shill bids under the names of actual auto dealerships without those dealerships’ consent. The co-conspirators pooled and split the profits from the scheme. During the course of these actions, various documents in support of the scheme were sent via U.S. Mail.
In addition to the $3.28 million fine, the deferred prosecution agreement requires EBLOCK to undertake remedial measures, including implementing an appropriate compliance program and cooperating with the Justice Department’s ongoing criminal investigation and any resulting prosecutions.
Federal law protects employees who report criminal antitrust violations from retaliation by their employers. At all times, the Antitrust Division will take reasonable steps to protect whistleblowers and minimize risks that use of the information will lead to public identification. More information on confidentiality and anti-retaliation protections is on the Confidentiality page.
The Antitrust Division works with its law enforcement partners the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General to pay rewards to whistleblowers. 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.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Melanie Krebs-Pilotti and Patrick Hallagan, and Assistant Chief Kristina Srica for the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section, are prosecuting the case.
Wednesday 28 January 2026
“Free Palestine” radical who urged overthrowing the government charged with stalking President Biden in 2024Read the Press Release
ATLANTA – Adam Benjamin Hall was arrested and appeared in federal court today on a federal charge of traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to kill then-President of the United States Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
“Threats against the President are gravely serious and must be treated as such,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Hall’s alleged actions went beyond mere words and included traveling to Georgia with a firearm to murder President Biden. Political violence is never acceptable and must be countered by swift intervention and meaningful consequences.”
“Our highest priority is protecting the President of the United States, and every potential threat is treated with the utmost seriousness,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Donovan of the U.S. Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office. “Our agents, working in close coordination with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, worked tirelessly to advance this investigation. Hall’s arrest is representative of the effectiveness of our combined efforts to safeguard our nation’s leadership.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: on June 27, 2024, Adam Benjamin Hall allegedly drove from Alabama to Atlanta planning to sneak into the presidential debate hosted by CNN that evening so he could kill then-President Biden. A screenshot of a map allegedly found on Hall’s phone contained a location marker indicating that the phone was three blocks from the debate site approximately 28 minutes before the debate’s scheduled start time (when adjusted to local time).
Hall’s phone also allegedly contained a note that Hall termed his “exposé” or “manifesto.” The note was addressed “[t]o all the Palestinian journalists . . . and in remembrance of the ones who lost their lives along the way.” It further stated in part:
- “Hopefully my actions snap you all awake long enough to thoroughly understand the point I will make in this exposé.”
- “Our enemies are not in any other country but our own and Israel’s.”
- “It’s time we overthrow these bastards and threaten to pull a f--king D-Day on Tel Aviv . . . .”
- “On the week of July 4th, forget your f--king barbecues and pool parties. Instead do the patriotic thing by marching on Capitol Hill, the White House, and the Supreme Court armed with whatever you have . . . . Unless the feds shoot first, you must not engage. If they are unwilling to comply after a few hours, then I permit you to march into those buildings and do what is necessary to regain control of our country from the deep state.”
Hall’s manifesto concluded “Free Palestine” next to an emoji of the flag of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority.
Adam Benjamin Hall, 23, of Crane Hill, Alabama, was charged by a criminal complaint on January 26, 2026, with interstate stalking. He was arrested today and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Staci G. Cornelius in federal court. Notwithstanding Hall’s arrest, the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed later.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Pearce is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
West Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C.— Phillip O’Neal McCoy, 45, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented in court revealed that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives identified McCoy as a felon involved in the unlawful sale of firearms and narcotics in the West Columbia area. On Jan. 5, 2024, McCoy distributed a quantity of crack cocaine while also in possession of additional controlled substances. Five days later, on Jan. 10, 2024, McCoy sold a loaded semiautomatic pistol while in possession of additional controlled substances.
Federal law prohibits McCoy from possessing firearms and ammunition based on prior convictions for pointing and presenting a firearm, first-degree assault and battery, domestic violence, and multiple convictions for distributing various controlled substances. McCoy was also on probation at the time of this federal offense.
U.S. District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Phillip O’Neal McCoy to 77 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.
###
Wanblee Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler sentenced a Wanblee, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on January 26, 2026.
Bradlee Doyle, age 22, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Doyle was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 24, 2025.
Doyle was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in November 2023 in United States District Court, District of South Dakota. Based on his conviction, he is required to register or update his registration every time he moves or changes his address. Doyle registered his address in Rapid City, SD, in July 2025. Doyle subsequently left his address and did not update his address within three days. Doyle was aware of his obligations to register and knowingly failed to do so. Doyle was later located and arrested in August 2025, on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen handled the prosecution.
Doyle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.