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10 March 2026
Mexican Transnational Criminal Organization Co-Leader Gets 30 years in Federal Prison, $500K Money Judgment for Deadly Alien Smuggling OperationRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio Monday to 365 months in prison for his leadership role in a conspiracy to transport hundreds of illegal aliens, resulting in at least one death, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Pedro Luis Martinez-Jaquez, 36, of Piedras Negras, was a leader in an alien smuggling organization (ASO) that operated in southwest Texas from at least January 2021 through July 2022. Martinez-Jaquez and another co-conspirator supplied and organized the illegal alien loads and crossed them into the U.S. for the first leg of their journey. In one instance, Martinez-Jaquez called a co-conspirator, Miguel Angel Rivera, and said that one of the illegal aliens being transported had “passed out” and that he would “deal with it.” A search of Rivera’s phone during the investigation revealed photos of the alien, who was deceased.
Martinez-Jaquez’s phone number was found to be linked to the ASO via WhatsApp messages with Rivera, Rivera’s sister Luz Rivera, and co-conspirator Erica Aracely Carmona. A subsequent search of Martinez-Jaquez’s residence resulted in the discovery of 74 phones, 14 of which were seized. The remaining 60 phones were suspected to belong to illegal aliens who had been transported into the U.S. The majority of the 285 audio messages between Martinez-Jaquez and Luz Rivera referenced pickup coordination, as well as the storage and harboring of illegal aliens. ICE Homeland Security Investigations learned that the ASO was charging $9,500 per illegal alien to be smuggled into the U.S., with half of the proceeds going to Martinez-Jaquez.
The ASO smuggled more than 500 illegal aliens and generated over $4.7 million in proceeds between January 2021 and July 2022. Throughout their operation, the ASO used custom made “tow-behind” trailers to transport illegal aliens. The ASO began using an 18-wheeler with a false compartment inside the tractor trailer that held up to 40 aliens, but that trailer was interdicted by federal law enforcement on the first smuggling attempt.
Martinez-Jaquez was named in an initial indictment on Aug. 17, 2022, and in a superseding indictment on Feb. 28, 2024. He was arrested March 8, 2024, and on Nov. 26, 2024, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death. In addition to the 30-year imprisonment, Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses ordered a $500,000 money judgement.
“Martinez-Jaquez is one of the most prolific facilitators of alien smuggling in the last decade,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Over the course of an 18-month operation, he made hundreds of thousands of dollars transporting illegal aliens into the United States. The work we have done to secure the border over the last year has made it very difficult for ASOs like this one to operate and enrich themselves while endangering the lives of those they smuggle. This is a fight worth having, and it is one in which we, in the Western District of Texas, will continue to engage.”
Co-conspirators Evan John Herrera and Miguel Rivera were sentenced in May 2025 to 151 months and 216 months in federal prison, each with credit for time served. In January, Carmona was sentenced to 132 months in prison. The final defendant, Jose Eduardo Rodriguez Moreno, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 25.
ICE HSI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy Involving the Forced Labor of Mexican WorkersRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL — Alexander Villatoro Moreno, age 53, also known as Quichi, pleaded guilty in federal court in Tampa, Florida, to conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida had previously returned a six-count indictment against multiple defendants for their roles in the conspiracy, which victimized Mexican H-2A workers who, between 2015 and 2017, had worked in the United States harvesting fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products.
“Exploiting our nation’s immigration laws to victimize people seeking legitimate employment is not only illegal but unconscionable,” said U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory W. Kehoe. “The conspirators in this case deliberately deceived and trafficked individuals into the United States, then subjected them to deplorable conditions for profit. Diligent investigation and cooperation by our law enforcement partners assured that these criminals were brought to justice.”
According to court documents, Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants operated and managed Los Villatoros Harvesting (LVH), a farm labor contracting company, that functioned as a criminal enterprise compelling victims to work in Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia and North Carolina. Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants fraudulently recruited Mexican nationals to come into the United States on short-term, H-2A, agricultural visas and misled the United States to secure visas for the victims. Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants charged workers exorbitant recruitment fees to work for LVH and lied to the victims about how much they would be paid, the hours they would work, the working conditions and the reimbursement they would receive for paying recruitment fees and other expenses. The workers were then compelled to provide long hours of physically demanding agricultural labor, six to seven days a week, for far less pay than they were entitled to under the law.
In addition to the work conditions, Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants used various coercive means to compel the victims’ labor, including imposing debts on workers; confiscating the workers’ passports; subjecting workers to crowded, unsanitary and degrading living conditions; verbally abusing and humiliating the workers; threatening workers with arrest, jailtime and deportation; isolating workers by preventing them from interacting with anyone other than LVH employees; and threatening to physically harm the workers’ family members back in Mexico if the workers failed to comply with their demands.
When officials began investigating, Villatoro Moreno obstructed the federal investigation by helping to prepare false payroll information to conceal underpayments to the workers and distributing fake reimbursement receipts to the victims to make it appear that LVH was complying with the law by reimbursing the workers for their travel-related expenses.
Villatoro Moreno’s four co-defendants previously pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in the scheme. Bladimir Moreno, Alexander Villatoro Moreno’s brother, owned LVH and pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and conspiracy to commit forced labor. Efrain Cabrera Rodas and Christina Gamez, LVH supervisors, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act while Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza, another LVH supervisor, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct a federal investigation. In 2022, Bladimir Moreno was sentenced to 118 months in prison and ordered to pay over $175,000 in restitution to the victims while Rodas and Gamez were sentenced to 41 months and 37 months in prison, respectively. Mendoza was also sentenced in 2022 to serve eight months of home detention and a $5,500 fine to be paid over 24 months of supervised release.
The Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. The Task Force received assistance from the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farm Worker Division, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Farmworker Program and Indiana Legal Services Worker Rights and Protection Project.
The Government of Mexico, including the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), provided significant assistance in the extradition of Villatoro Moreno to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Villatoro Moreno.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilyssa Spergel for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case. Former Trial Attorney and current Assistant U.S. Attorney Maryan Zhuravitsky for the District of Maryland also prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy Involving the Forced Labor of Mexican WorkersRead the Press Release
Alexander Villatoro Moreno, age 53, also known as Quichi, pleaded guilty in federal court in Tampa, Florida, to conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida had previously returned a six-count indictment against multiple defendants for their roles in the conspiracy, which victimized Mexican H-2A workers who, between 2015 and 2017, had worked in the United States harvesting fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products.
According to court documents, Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants operated and managed Los Villatoros Harvesting (LVH), a farm labor contracting company, that functioned as a criminal enterprise compelling victims to work in Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia and North Carolina. Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants fraudulently recruited Mexican nationals to come into the United States on short-term, H-2A, agricultural visas and misled the United States to secure visas for the victims. Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants charged workers exorbitant recruitment fees to work for LVH and lied to the victims about how much they would be paid, the hours they would work, the working conditions and the reimbursement they would receive for paying recruitment fees and other expenses. The workers were then compelled to provide long hours of physically demanding agricultural labor, six to seven days a week, for far less pay than they were entitled to under the law.
In addition to the work conditions, Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants used various coercive means to compel the victims’ labor, including imposing debts on workers; confiscating the workers’ passports; subjecting workers to crowded, unsanitary and degrading living conditions; verbally abusing and humiliating the workers; threatening workers with arrest, jailtime and deportation; isolating workers by preventing them from interacting with anyone other than LVH employees; and threatening to physically harm the workers’ family members back in Mexico if the workers failed to comply with their demands.
When officials began investigating, Villatoro Moreno obstructed the federal investigation by helping to prepare false payroll information to conceal underpayments to the workers and distributing fake reimbursement receipts to the victims to make it appear that LVH was complying with the law by reimbursing the workers for their travel-related expenses.
Villatoro Moreno’s four co-defendants previously pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in the scheme. Bladimir Moreno, Alexander Villatoro Moreno’s brother, owned LVH and pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and conspiracy to commit forced labor. Efrain Cabrera Rodas and Christina Gamez, LVH supervisors, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act while Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza, another LVH supervisor, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct a federal investigation. In 2022, Bladimir Moreno was sentenced to 118 months in prison and ordered to pay over $175,000 in restitution to the victims while Rodas and Gamez were sentenced to 41 months and 37 months in prison, respectively. Mendoza was also sentenced in 2022 to serve eight months of home detention and a $5,500 fine to be paid over 24 months of supervised release.
The Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. The Task Force received assistance from the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farm Worker Division, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Farmworker Program and Indiana Legal Services Worker Rights and Protection Project.
The Government of Mexico, including the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), provided significant assistance in the extradition of Villatoro Moreno to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Villatoro Moreno.
Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilyssa Spergel for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Former Trial Attorney and current Assistant U.S. Attorney Maryan Zhuravitsky for the District of Maryland also prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Mexican National Living Illegally in West Virginia Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Federal Fraud CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jose Alfredo Cruz-Perez, 22, a Mexican national living illegally in Nitro, pleaded guilty today to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and was sentenced to time served. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration detainer on Cruz-Perez for his transfer to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 16, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant in Nitro and encountered Cruz-Perez working there. Investigators determined that Cruz-Perez used a counterfeit Immigration Form I-551, also known as a Permanent Resident Card or Green Card, to obtain employment at the restaurant from on or about November 26, 2024, to on or about January 16, 2026.
Cruz-Perez is among six foreign nationals indicted following the execution of the January 16, 2026, search warrant on charges alleging they were working at the restaurant without legal status. Restaurant owner Miguel Aguirre-Arello Sr., 65, and manager Miguel Angel Aguirre, 42, both of Nitro, were indicted on charges alleging each aided and abetted alien harboring. That indictment further alleges that Miguel Angel Aguirre aided and abetted the unlawful employment of aliens and aided and abetted fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. The indictments against Miguel Aguirre-Arello Sr., Miguel Angel Aguirre, 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.
This case is the result of Operation Country Roads, conducted by ICE with state and local law enforcement partners in January 2026 and yielding over 650 arrests throughout West Virginia.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Nitro Police Department, and the St. Albans Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case, as part of a special unit within the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia focused on the immigration enforcement objectives of Operation Take Back America.
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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. 2:26-cr-12.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced in Federal Court in Rhode Island for Trafficking More Than Three Pounds of Crystal MethRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Lawrence, Massachusetts man who trafficked more than three pounds of crystal methamphetamine was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Hector Gonzalez Michel, 35, was sentenced on March 5, 2026 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to 121 months of imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
“Methamphetamine trafficking continues to pose a serious threat to public safety and well-being of our communities,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “This sentence holds the defendant accountable and reflects the tireless work of our law enforcement partners to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs throughout New England.”
“Trafficking pounds of crystal meth isn’t just a crime, it’s a direct attack on the safety and health of our communities,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge, New England Field Division. “When someone moves this amount of methamphetamine, the damage reaches far beyond one neighborhood. Our mission is to stop that pipeline and hold those responsible accountable.”
Court records show that members of the Rhode Island DEA Task Force developed information that Gonzalez Michel was preparing to deliver a substantial quantity of crystal meth to an individual in Boston.
Rhode Island and Boston DEA Task Force agents and Boston Police Detectives later intercepted the delivery as he arrived outside a Boston residence where he was delivering the drugs. Police recovered approximately 3.4 pounds of crystal methamphetamine stored inside a small cooler that Gonzalez Michel was carrying.
Gonzalez Michel previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.
The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA, Rhode Island State Police, the East Providence, Cranston, Coventry, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments, Amtrak Police, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.
Members of the DEA Boston Task Force Group 5 assisted in the investigation and arrest of Gonzalez Michel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Maryland Woman Sentenced for Laundering Funds Stolen from Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland woman received a federal-prison sentence today, in connection with a money laundering scheme.
U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Tanoa Tanoh, 35, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, to 30 months in prison and ordered her to repay $1,037,762 to victims of the fraud scheme.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office.
In December 2025, Tanoh pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Tanoh acknowledged that she conspired with others to conceal the source of fraudulently obtained funds stolen from victims in Maryland and other states. She funneled the stolen funds through numerous bank accounts she created using false aliases. Additionally, Tanoh opened these bank accounts in the names of non-existent businesses registered with the State of Maryland. In total, between January 2019, and May 2021, Tanoh laundered or attempted to launder at least $3.8 million, from at least 27 victims, through her various shell companies.
Tanoh opened these shell companies with the State of Maryland by using false identification documents bearing her photograph. She opened “Hoch Investments LLC,” using the alias, Linda Hochman, and “Easy Supplies LLC,” using the alias, Anita Rawlings. The sole purpose of these companies was to open bank accounts in the companies’ names. After creating the bank accounts, co-conspirators used them to receive funds from victims of romance scams, elder-fraud scams, business-email compromises, and other fraud schemes.
Once Tanoh’s co-conspirators tricked victims into sending funds to her fake accounts, she transferred the fraudulently obtained funds between her own accounts or to others. These types of transfers make it more difficult for victims and law enforcement to trace and recover the fraud proceeds, which are often ultimately transferred to fraudsters directly scamming victims who are commonly located overseas. Individuals like Tanoh, who engage in laundering fraudulent funds, typically receive a percentage as a commission.
Co-conspirators Olumide Obidare, 32, and Steven Oseghale, 32, both Nigerian nationals, previously received sentences in the District of Minnesota. Obidare and Oseghale are currently serving 108-month and 56-month prison terms, respectively, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Each received two additional years for aggravated identity theft. A third co-conspirator, Emmanuel Okereke, 42, also a Nigerian national, is awaiting trial in the Northern District of Ohio.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI Baltimore and FBI Minneapolis Field Offices for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darren S. Gardner and Elizabeth Wright who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Maryland Man Who Conspired with Doctor to Illegally Distribute Promethazine-Codeine and other Controlled Substances Sentenced to 42 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – The first defendant sentenced for conspiring with Dr. Rotimi Iluyomade, an Annandale-based doctor convicted of distributing more than 7,000 oxycodone pills, 34,000 milliliters of hydrocodone-chlorpheniramine solution (also known as “Tussionex”), and 107,000 milliliters of promethazine-codeine solution (also known as “lean”), will serve 42 months in federal prison and forfeit $100,000 to the government.
Zion Oluwademilade Adeduwon, 24, of Bowie, Md., was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Roanoke. Adeduwon pled guilty in April 2025 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone and hydrocodone-chlorpheniramine solution, and to obtain possession of promethazine-codeine by fraud. He is the first of the co-conspirators charged with drug distribution to be sentenced.
Also charged in the conspiracy and awaiting trial or sentencing are: Obioma Alozie Ndubuka; Raymono Alfonzo Russel II; Cameron Isaiah Lewis; Elhadj Malick Diallo; Kenechukwu Brian Okwara; and Yared Michael Tesfaye.
According to court documents, in at least 2023 and 2024, Iluyomade and the co-conspirators entered into an agreement to distribute oxycodone pills and hydrocodone-chlorpheniramine solution to pharmacies in multiple states, including California, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas, West Virginia, and in the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia. At least 70 of the illegal controlled substance prescriptions were transmitted to and/or filled at pharmacies in the Western District of Virginia.
As part of the conspiracy, multiple individuals visited Iluyomade’s medical clinic to obtain fraudulent prescriptions. The individuals provided Iluyomade with lists of multiple “patients” with fake identifying information or different variations of names and false addresses, and requested prescriptions be sent to pharmacies throughout the United States for the “patients” on the lists.
Adeduwon frequented Iluyomade’s clinic in Annandale on a regular basis to obtain fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone, Tussionex, and lean. He paid approximately $300 per fraudulent prescription. Adeduwon requested the prescriptions be written in fake patient names and addresses and directed Iluyomade to send the prescriptions to pharmacies in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Virginia State Police, Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury, Maryland Police Department, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Police, HHS-OIG, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci, Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge DEA Washington Division, and Darren B. Cox, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.
Man Sentenced for Threatening to Murder Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Johnathan Trent Thomas, 27, of Linwood, N.C., was sentenced today to 15 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for making threats to murder federal officers to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the performance of their official duties, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
“Threatening the lives of law enforcement officers is a serious federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We take every threat against law enforcement seriously. Today’s case sends a clear message: those who threaten violence against law enforcement will be held accountable in federal court.”
“Ensuring the safety of our law enforcement officers is paramount,” said Special Agent in Charge Zito. “Threats of violence against federal agents and our local partners undermine the rule of law and jeopardize the security of our communities. HSI remains committed to working with our partners to investigate and bring to justice those who seek to intimidate or harm officers in the performance of their duties.”
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at approximately 12:00 p.m., a caller, later identified as Thomas, contacted the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) and threatened to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and CMPD officers if immigration enforcement actions did not stop. During a second telephone call with a CMPD officer, Thomas warned that he was coming to Charlotte with armor piercing ammunition, night vision devices, and body armor to kill law enforcement officers and threatened to “shoot them all” if he observed anyone making arrests. Thomas was referencing arrests made previously by ICE federal agents on Albemarle Road in Charlotte.
Court documents show that Thomas stated that if a police officer pointed a gun at him, he was just going to open fire. He also said that he would “Swiss cheese” the officers if they were doing the same thing they did before, meaning making arrests.
Thomas additionally threatened that if law enforcement came to arrest him, he had Tannerite (an explosive) all around his house. He threatened that he “could do a whole lot better than” April 29, 2024, the day four law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in Charlotte.
Thomas’s threats did not deter law enforcement, who not only arrested him, but executed a search warrant at Thomas’s residence, seizing three rifles, a handgun, and a variety of ammunition.
According to court records, Thomas has an extensive history of threatening law enforcement, to include the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and CMPD, and had previously followed CMPD officers in marked patrol cars while they were performing their official duties.
Thomas is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI for the investigation of the case and thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of North Carolina, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the Waxhaw Police Department, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Kelly and Stephanie Spaugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Louisville Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Louisville, Ky., man, Keith Wayne Bishop, 47, was sentenced on Tuesday to 120 months, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, beginning in January 2023 through September 2023, Bishop conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Specifically, during this timeframe, Bishop was obtaining upwards of pound quantities of methamphetamine, which he would then distribute to mid- and low-level drug dealers and end drug users in Laurel County. Bishop admitted to also supplying several other drug dealers in Knox, Whitley, Floyd, and Pike Counties.
Under federal law, Bishop must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff Mike Smith, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, and Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Licensed Mortgage Loan Officer Charged with Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL –A grand jury has returned a federal indictment charging Jason Morales (44, Chagrin Falls, Ohio) with six counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Morales faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each count. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Morales concocted and executed a mortgage fraud scheme targeting a financial institution. To ensure that otherwise unqualified borrowers were approved for mortgage loans, Morales created fictitious and fraudulent paystubs and other employment documents in the name of a construction company and consulting company that his clients never worked for. The bogus income documents falsely indicated that his clients had worked at these companies and had monthly earnings. Additionally, Morales altered legitimate bank statements provided by the borrowers and created fictitious bank statements that he submitted to the financial institution falsely representing that the borrowers had sufficient assets to qualify for the mortgage loans. Morales submitted the fictitious documents he created to the financial institutions who relied on them when making underwriting decisions.
To further deceive the financial institution, Morales created websites for the construction and consulting companies listing his email and phone number so that when the lenders called to verbally verify employment Morales impersonated company executives and falsely verified employment.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
KC Man Sentenced to 11 Years after Detective Witnessed ShootingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who shot at another man with a firearm was sentenced in federal court today for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing methamphetamine.
Clifford E. Porter, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 11 years in federal prison without parole.
On Sept. 11, 2025, Porter pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine.
On July 1, 2025, a Kansas City, Mo. Police Department detective observed a male riding a bicycle in the roadway on Spruce Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. The detective observed the male arguing with a group of approximately five people. The detective observed Porter run after the male, remove a firearm from his waistband, and fire a single round in the direction of the male on the bicycle.
The detective immediately notified uniformed officers of the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, who contacted Porter within seconds of the shooting. Porter refused verbal commands by the officers to raise his hands in the air and lie on the ground. Officers eventually arrested Porter and searched him incident to arrest.
Porter had a small bag containing approximately 2.73 grams of methamphetamine in his pocket. Officers located a Hi-Point, Model C9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol on the sidewalk, just to the south of where Porter was arrested. The firearm was loaded with a live round of ammunition in the chamber and additional live ammunition in the magazine.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Porter has two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and prior felony convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm, burglary in the first degree, and robbery in the second degree.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
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.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Possessing Gun as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Jerrell Demichael Dunson, 47, of Birmingham, to 30 months in prison. In October, Dunson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, on October 10, 2022, an officer with the Birmingham Police Department was dispatched to an apartment complex in Birmingham for a trespass call at a vacant apartment. When the officer arrived, he encountered Dunson at the vacant apartment. The officer asked Dunson for his identifying information so that the officer could write an incident report. Dunson had already left the scene when the officer discovered that he had 14 outstanding misdemeanor warrants. A short time later, the officer arrested Dunson in the Legion Field parking lot. Upon his arrest, Dunson was in possession of a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol.
Dunson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions for burglary and robbery.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.
Jamaican National Sentenced for Role in Lottery Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Jamaican national is headed to federal prison in connection with a lottery fraud scheme.
U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Nickoy Campbell, 30, to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Judge Hurson also ordered him to pay $3,074,765.28 in restitution.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Javan S. Wilson, U.S. Treasury, Office of Inspector General (Treasury OIG); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to public filings, beginning in September 2022, and continuing through February 2024, Campbell conspired with others to use the mail to obtain money from victims across the United States. Many victims impacted by the scheme were elderly.
Perpetrators use a lottery fraud scheme to lead victims to believe they won a large cash prize through a lottery or sweepstakes. When it’s time to collect the purported winnings, the victim is falsely led to believe that they must pay taxes or other fees in advance. The victim never receives their winnings, but instead, loses their advanced fees or payments.
In this case, Campbell and his co-conspirators solicited victims and led them to believe that they won a lottery or sweepstakes. Then they misled the victims to think that they were required to pay taxes and other fees in advance to Campbell and his co-conspirators’ attention. The conspiracy caused more than 10 victims to lose money in purported taxes and fees and to lose their winnings. Some victims of the scheme lost most of their life savings. In total, the court found that the victims lost more than $3 million, with Campbell receiving more than $500,000 of the victims’ funds.
Co-conspirators Tavoy Farquharson, 34, a Jamaican national, and brothers Wayne Henry, 36, and Dwayne Henry, 34, both of Landover Hills, Maryland, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Farquharson and Dwayne Henry both face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing for Dwayne Henry is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, and Farquharson’s sentencing is slated for Monday, March 23.
Wayne Henry faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including a mandatory sentence of two years consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing for Wayne Henry is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older, and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available. Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers through assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. Learn more about the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at www.elderjustice.gov. If you have information about criminal activity in your community should contact ICE’s Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or submit a tip online.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, HSI, Treasury OIG, and PGPD for their investigative efforts. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Motsay who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Individual in Stanislaus County Fentanyl and Firearm Trafficking Ring Sentenced to over 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Oleg Arreola, 28, of Modesto, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 11 years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with a drug and firearm trafficking conspiracy in Stanislaus County, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Operation Blue Death, an investigation into drug trafficking and illegal firearm trafficking in Stanislaus County, resulted in the arrest of seven individuals engaged in distributing fentanyl pills and firearms between September 2022 and June 2023.
The indictment alleges that throughout March and April 2023, co-defendant Arturo Madrid sold several firearms and thousands of fentanyl pills, including one instance on April 21, 2023, where Madrid sold 6,000 fentanyl pills and a Draco (PAK 9 9 mm Luger) rifle.
The indictment alleges that on June 13, 2023, Arreola and co-defendants Arturo Madrid, Andrew Rodriguez, and Enrique DeLeon arrived at a location for a pre-arranged purchase of 50,000 fentanyl pills. Officers arrested the four defendants shortly after they arrived. Officers seized an AK-style Draco rifle Arreola brought to the drug deal and had at his feet during his arrest. Co-defendant DeLeon had approximately 30,000 fentanyl pills inside a briefcase in his vehicle when officers arrested him.
In total seven individuals were charged with drug and firearm trafficking offenses in a 17-count indictment. Their status, based on court records, includes:
- Arturo Madrid, 29, of Modesto, pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm as a felon. He was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison on Nov. 17, 2025.
- Enrique Cruz DeLeon, 28, of Salida, pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 30,000 fentanyl pills. He was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison on April 21, 2025.
- Ebony Lambert, 48, of Turlock, pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl. She was sentenced to two years in prison on Aug. 25, 2025.
- Donnell Mays, 50, of Turlock, pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison.
- Andrew Madrid and Andrew Rodriguez are set for trial on Sept. 22, 2026. Madrid is charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distributing fentanyl. Rodriguez is charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, two counts of distributing fentanyl, two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, and using or carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. If convicted, both face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison. Rodriguez faces an additional mandatory minimum of five years in prison for carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
The Stanislaus Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple 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 Sacramento comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Illegal Alien with Prior Conviction for Attempted Rape of Minor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering United StatesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Samuel Sotero Ambrocio-Vicente, 34, a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty yesterday to illegally reentering the United States after a prior order of removal that followed his conviction for the New York State felony offense of attempted rape in the second degree (involving a minor who was less than 15 years old). First Assistant 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.
As part of his plea, Ambrocio-Vicente admitted that on February 4, 2020, he pled guilty to attempted rape in the second degree in Montgomery County Court. On February 12, 2020, Ambrocio-Vicente was removed to Guatemala. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") officers apprehended Ambrocio-Vicente on December 18, 2025, while conducting targeted immigration enforcement operations in the city of Albany. Ambrocio-Vicente admitted during a subsequent interview that he had not received authorization to reenter the United States.
At sentencing on July 8, 2026, Ambrocio-Vicente faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. He also faces deportation and removal in immigration court. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
“Samuel Sotero Ambrocio-Vicente was removed from the United States after attempting to rape a child, yet he brazenly returned in violation of federal law,” First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone said. “Individuals who commit serious crimes and then defy a lawful removal order have no place in this country. Cases like this make clear why the United States must maintain strong border security and strict immigration enforcement to prevent previously removed offenders from illegally reentering and putting our communities at risk. HSI’s targeted enforcement operations catch people like this, who belong as far away from our country as they can get.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated, “The arrest and resulting plea of Ambrocio-Vicente, previously convicted of attempted rape of a minor, is indicative of HSI’s ongoing effort to secure the safety of our communities and the rule of law. HSI Albany, in coordination with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and our federal partners, remains committed to identifying and arresting predators whose violent criminal histories pose an ongoing threat to the communities we are sworn to protect."
HSI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Paul V. DerOhannesian are prosecuting the case.
Honduran National Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Missouri – A Honduran national was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm and illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported.
Jhader Hernandez-Padilla, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 24 months in prison without parole for being an alien in possession of a firearm and for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported. Hernandez-Padilla pleaded guilty on Aug. 13, 2025.
On May 13, 2025, Hernandez-Padilla was pulled over by Kansas City Police Department Officers for a traffic infraction. When officers contacted Hernandez-Padilla, he was unable to produce a driver’s license and instead handed officers a Honduran passport. Officers asked Hernandez-Padilla if he had any weapons in his car, and he responded that he did not. After officers obtained permission to search the car, they discovered that Hernandez-Padilla had a loaded 9mm Century Arms Canik, Model TP9SA, between the driver’s seat and center console. Officers also located methamphetamine, suspected black-tar heroin, a digital scale, and unused plastic baggies, all of which are indicative of drug distribution. During a search incident to Hernandez-Padilla’s arrest, officers discovered more methamphetamine in his wallet. The defendant later admitted that he was in the country illegally and had been deported in 2019.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Operation Take Back America
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.
Hobbs-based Drug Trafficking Network Supplied by Mexican Illegal Alien DismantledRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A previously deported Mexican national, together with his Hobbs‑based distributor and her associates, has been charged in federal court with running a methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking network that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl and armed drug dealers into the Hobbs community.
According to court documents, Arturo Chihuahua‑Martinez, 61, a Mexican national previously deported from the United States, is alleged to have served as a source of supply bringing multi‑pound quantities of methamphetamine from California into Lea County, New Mexico, for redistribution in and around Hobbs. On or about February 17, 2025, Chihuahua‑Martinez was allegedly returning from Los Angeles when a Lea County Sheriff’s deputy stopped the truck on New Mexico Highway 380, near Tatum, and, following a positive canine alert, discovered a cooler and backpack containing 20 vacuum‑sealed packages with nearly 20 pounds of pure methamphetamine.
In a separate indictment, Natasha Ruiz, 33, is alleged to be a Hobbs‑based distributor who obtained methamphetamine and fentanyl from Chihuahua‑Martinez and coordinated retail‑level distribution through a network of local associates. On or about March 17, 2025, Ruiz allegedly met Chihuahua‑Martinez at a Hobbs hotel, where she picked up 421 grams of pure methamphetamine and 34.3 grams of fentanyl, which officers later recovered from a black backpack during a traffic stop.
The indictment further alleges that Ruiz used trusted associates to expand the organization’s reach by managing street‑level sales and insulating herself from direct contact with customers. On or about September 3, 2025, Ruiz allegedly agreed to sell fentanyl to an undercover agent and directed Erik L. Almaguer, 32, to complete the transaction. Almaguer then allegedly delivered 5.2 grams of fentanyl to the undercover agent for $500.
Ruiz also allegedly used Lorenzo Luna‑Espinoza, 30, Eli G. Rodriguez, 54, and Taylor Lydick, 31, to move methamphetamine into neighboring communities. On or about October 8, 2025, Ruiz allegedly supplied methamphetamine to Eli Rodriguez at a cabin in Seminole, Texas. When Eli Rodriguez left the cabin, officers stopped his vehicle and seized 44.56 grams of pure methamphetamine.
On the following day, October 9, 2025, Ruiz allegedly coordinated with Lydick to pick up methamphetamine from her the same cabin, and Lydick was later stopped while transporting 153.2 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Luna‑Espinoza, a Mexican national who had previously been removed from the United States, is alleged to have acted as both a methamphetamine and fentanyl supplier and a broker of firearms for the organization. On or about November 13, 2025, Luna‑Espinoza allegedly stored an AR‑15 rifle at another person’s residence, possessed 8.29 grams of pure methamphetamine and 22.89 grams of fentanyl in a vehicle, and discussed selling firearms, narcotics, and a ballistic vest. During one of the calls, Luna-Espinoza stated that he was not working and that he was instead concentrating on his narcotics trafficking.
The indictment charges Ruiz with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, and use of a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Almaguer is charged with conspiracy and distribution of fentanyl and faces up to 20 years in prison. Eli Rodriguez is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and use of a communication facility, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison. Lydick is charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Luna‑Espinoza is charged with conspiracy, distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute, multiple communication‑facility counts, illegal reentry after removal, and being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
In separate but related cases, two associates of Ruiz, Jamus Clydrell White, 38, and Gabriel Tercero, 48, are alleged to have possessed firearms and ammunition despite prior felony convictions. White is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition based on alleged conduct on or about July 10, 2024, while Tercero is charged with being a felon in possession of two handguns and ammunition on or about March 17, 2025. If convicted of the current charges, both men face up to 15 years in prison.
In another related case, Pedro Rene Palacios allegedly arranged to sell methamphetamine to a customer through Luna-Espinoza at a residence in Hobbs. On March 4, 2026, agents executed a search warrant at that residence and recovered approximately 3.5 grams of methamphetamine from Palacios’s bedroom and a firearm from his person. Palacios is charged with distribution of methamphetamine. If convicted of the current charges, Palacios faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today on behalf of the Homeland Security Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirk Williams and Renee Camacho are prosecuting these cases.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region II CORE 7 is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations (OFO), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and Air and Marine (AMO), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), United States Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Joint Task Force North (JTF-N), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshal Service (USMS), Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS), El Paso Police Department (EPPD), New Mexico State Police (NMSP), West Texas / New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Sixth Judicial District, Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Districts of Western Texas and New Mexico.
An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Hartford Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAFAEL ORLANDO GARCIA, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl and cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force identified Garcia, who has a prior federal conviction, as a significant Hartford-area narcotics trafficker. Between February and April 2025, investigators made three controlled purchases of narcotics from Garcia. Investigators purchased approximately 36 grams of fentanyl and 28 grams of cocaine on February 28, approximately 80 grams of fentanyl on March 12, and approximately 100 grams of fentanyl and 280 grams of cocaine on April 1.
Garcia was arrested on April 8, 2025. On October 15, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl and cocaine; possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine.
Garcia, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on May 11.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Mahard.
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.
Hagerman Man Sentenced in Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Case Adopted from Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s OfficeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A previously convicted felon was sentenced to 100 months in prison following multiple encounters with law enforcement which resulted in the recovery of multiple firearms and large quantities of narcotics.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, between June 2022 and January 2025, Jorge De La Cruz, 30, a previously convicted felon, was repeatedly found in possession of firearms and large quantities of narcotics during multiple encounters with law enforcement in Roswell and elsewhere in New Mexico. During these incidents, officers recovered several firearms, including stolen handguns, along with methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Specifically, on June 28, 2022, Roswell Police officers responded to a report of De La Cruz armed and using drugs. Officers recovered a loaded stolen .38 revolver, methamphetamine, and other narcotics from his vehicle.
During a February 7, 2023, traffic stop, Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force (CCMNTF) agents seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, and multiple firearms from De La Cruz.
On April 16, 2024, CCMNTF agents executed a search warrant at a residence where De La Cruz was present. Officers recovered a loaded handgun, fentanyl, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and additional firearms stored in a vehicle at the property.
In a traffic stop on October 2, 2024, Pecos Valley Drug Task Force agents recovered nearly 15 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and multiple firearms from a vehicle driven by De La Cruz.
At a highway checkpoint on January 7, 2025, Border Patrol agents located 94 grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine, a stolen firearm, drug paraphernalia, and ammunition in a backpack inside a vehicle with De La Cruz. Phone records later confirmed he had coordinated the distribution of these narcotics.
On October 21, 2025, De La Cruz pled guilty to five counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to five years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today.
HSI El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the Roswell Police Department U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirk Williams and Renee Camacho prosecuted the case.
Green Township man sentenced to 2 years in prison for constructing pipe bombsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Green Township man was sentenced in federal court here today to 24 months in prison for constructing three pipe bombs.
Robert Gilb, 51, caused the detonation of three improvised explosive devices (IED) in Hamilton and Butler counties in March and April 2025.
Specifically, on April 12, 2025, Hamilton County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Miami Township for a report of a loud explosion. They discovered what appeared to be a blast crater and components of an improvised explosive device (IED).
Further investigation revealed that there were two prior incidents in Morgan Township
that had similar characteristics to the incident in Miami Township. Butler County sheriff’s deputies had responded to incidents there on March 23 and March 28. Witnesses saw Gilb in his white BMW near the site of at least one of the devices when it exploded.
A search of Gilb’s residence revealed materials consistent with the construction of destructive devices.
Gilb was indicted in June 2025 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to possessing an unregistered destructive device.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, as well as the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Butler County Sheriff's Office, Ohio State Fire Marshalls Office, Greater Cincinnati HAZMAT, Green Township Police Department and Green Township Fire Department, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.
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German National Sentenced to 121 Months in Prison for Enticement and Sexual Abuse of A MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that THOMAS ALEXANDER BRANDENSTEIN, a German national, was sentenced today to 121 months in prison by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in connection with BRANDENSTEIN’s enticement of a 15-year old minor victim (the “Minor Victim”) to engage in sexual activity, and then traveling across state lines in order to engage in illicit sexual activity with the Minor Victim in 2023. On September 8, 2025, BRANDENSTEIN pled guilty to one count of enticement of a minor before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo.
“Brandenstein twice traveled from Germany to New York to entice a minor victim—over forty years his junior—to engage in illegal sexual acts,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Thanks to the extraordinary investigative work of our law enforcement partners at HSI and NYPD, Brandenstein was apprehended before he could prey on other innocent victims. Sexual abuse of children can cause severe trauma, often lasting into victims’ adulthood or their entire lives. This needs to stop. New Yorkers want law enforcement to do everything we can to prevent underage abuse, and we will. Today’s sentence underscores our commitment to prosecuting those who engage in predatory sexual behavior with our city’s children.”
According to the Indictment, other public court documents, and statements made during court proceedings:
From March 2023 through September 2023, BRANDENSTEIN, a German national, enticed a 15-year-old boy residing in New York (the “Minor Victim”) to engage in illegal sexual activity. While in Germany, BRANDENSTEIN, who was 57-years-old at the time, used internet-enabled messaging applications to send sexually explicit communications to the Minor Victim, including an image of a naked male in which the male’s penis was exposed. BRANDENSTEIN also sent sexually explicit videos to the Minor Victim, which depicted BRANDENSTEIN lying in bed, blowing kisses, and exposing his penis and masturbating, among other things. BRANDENSTEIN further communicated with the Minor Victim over these messaging applications about his plans to travel to New York with his spouse and co-defendant JOHN-PHILIPP PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN, who is also a German national, and sent the Minor Victim a video message depicting the two men on an airplane and writing, “next stop, New York.”
In June 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN traveled from Germany to the United States. In July 2023, they arrived in New York, where they met with the Minor Victim to engage in illegal sexual activity at a Manhattan hotel (the “Hotel”). BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN reserved a room at the Hotel from July 5, 2023 until July 13, 2023. BRANDENSTEIN brought the Minor Victim to the Hotel where BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN engaged in illegal sexual activity with the Minor Victim. Some of that illegal sexual activity was video recorded by BRANDENSTEIN. On July 13, 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN departed from New York and returned to Germany.
Following the July 2023 trip, BRANDENSTEIN continued to maintain consistent contact with the Minor Victim through frequent video calls, some of which involved sharing sexually explicit conduct. Several images recovered from BRANDENSTEIN’s phone, which was seized incident to his arrest, depict stills of those video calls.
In September 2023, BRANDENSTEIN returned to the United States for the purpose of engaging in additional sex acts with the Minor Victim. The defendant made a reservation at a hotel in Brooklyn where he directed the Minor Victim to meet him. On September 29, 2023, the defendant flew from Berlin to Queens, New York. The defendant was arrested upon arriving at the airport.
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In addition to the prison sentence, BRANDENSTEIN, 59, of Berlin, Germany, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi S. Steiner is in charge of the prosecution.
Fraud Ring Members Sentenced for $3.5 Million Credit Card SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Five individuals have been sentenced for their roles in a large-scale credit card fraud and money laundering scheme that resulted in more than $3.5 million in fraudulent charges.
Willan Pupo, 38, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison; Joel Castillo, 39, to 58 months; William Castillo, 42, was sentenced to 55 months in federal prison; Miriam Pupo, 36, to 37 months; and Jessica Forpomes, 40, to 36 months. Each defendant previously pleaded guilty to commit money laundering.
“This was a coordinated fraud ring that generated more than $3.5 million in fake charges by manipulating point-of-sale systems, stolen credit cards, and shell companies,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They exploited legitimate businesses, abused financial systems, and shifted losses onto banks and processors. Large-scale fraud like this undermines confidence in our financial markets. Those who build criminal enterprises around deception and stolen data will face serious federal prison time.”
According to court records, from at least February 2023 through June 2024, the defendants orchestrated a credit card fraud and money laundering scheme involving more than $3.5 million in fraudulent charges. To carry out the scheme, the defendants used legitimate businesses and shell companies to obtain point-of sale (POS) devices from merchant processors. These devices allowed them to process credit and debit card transactions and route funds into accounts under their control.
Once equipped with the POS devices, the defendants conducted fraudulent transactions in several ways. First, they used credit cards belonging to associates to generate sham purchases for goods and services that were never provided. Those associates later disputed the charges to obtain refunds. Second, the defendants purchased stolen credit card numbers on the dark web and through encrypted messaging platforms, including Telegram, and used those numbers to process unauthorized transactions. Third, they use credit cards stolen from the mail to conduct additional fraudulent purchases.
After processing the fraudulent transactions, the defendants quickly transferred or withdrew the proceeds from the associated bank accounts to prevent discovery by merchant processors. When victims reported the fraudulent charges, credit card issuers reversed the transactions, leaving merchant processors and financial institutions to absorb the losses.
To further facilitate the scheme, William Castillo, Willan Pupo, and Joel Castillo accessed a database containing extensive personal identifying information, including names, aliases, dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses, and other sensitive data. They used this information to identify and exploit victims, enabling them to activate stolen credit cards and accelerate their fraudulent activity.
As part of their efforts to make restitution, Joel and William Castillo have paid over $800,000 to date.
In addition to the credit card fraud scheme, Willan Pupo and Joel Castillo admitted to using shell companies to fraudulently obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), receiving more than $650,000 in proceeds.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations (AIGI) Scott Moffit of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Cybercrimes Investigations Division (CCID), made the announcement.
USSS Miami and TIGTA investigated the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Quin Landon prosecuted the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annika Miranda and Robin Waugh, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon, handled asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 25-cr-20184 (Miriam Pupo), 24-cr-20302 (Joel Castillo and Willan Pupo), 25-cr-20185 (Forpomes), and 25-cr-20177 (William Castillo).
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Fort Dodge Man to Federal Prison for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
A man who possessed stolen and unregistered short-barreled firearms was sentenced yesterday to more than eight years in federal prison.
Jason Jay Hoogland, 38, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 31, 2025, guilty plea to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm-short barreled.
At the hearings, Hoogland admitted that on January 20, 2025, in Fort Dodge, he possessed a stolen pistol and a short-barreled 20-gauge shotgun which was not registered to him as required by law. Law enforcement located these items, and drug paraphernalia, at defendant’s residence which was searched after Hoogland used a gun to assault a man at a local hospital. Later, on April 23, 2025, in Fort Dodge, Hoogland possessed another stolen firearm and short-barreled firearms not registered to him. Law enforcement located these items when aiding in the eviction of Hoogland from the residence where he was staying.
Hoogland was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hoogland was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hoogland is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
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.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-03033. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Former restauranteur sentenced to 30 months in prison for defrauding elderly victimRead the Press Release
Seattle – The former owner of a Lake Sammamish restaurant was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle 30 months in prison for wire fraud and filing a false tax return in connection with his theft from a former elderly customer, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Richard Dale Radcliffe, 62, admitted on November 12, 2025, that he illegally took $515,000 from the financial accounts of an elderly woman he befriended for the purpose of personally benefiting from her wealth. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, “(The victim) trusted and believed that you would use her money for her care… You used your access and control over accounts to enrich yourself…. You exploited her for your gain to the tune of half a million dollars.”
“This defendant ingratiated himself into the life of an elderly widow, encouraging her to make him and his family beneficiaries in her will,” said First Assistant Neil Floyd. “But he did not wait for her death to start taking her money – he raided her accounts to pay for his own luxuries. His callous conduct is deserving of this prison sentence.”
According to documents filed in the case, Radcliffe cultivated a friendship with a widow who lived near his restaurant after he learned about her significant wealth. The widow was elderly and suffering cognitive decline. Within a few months of their friendship beginning, Radcliffe arranged for a friend of his to serve as the power of attorney for the victim, with Radcliffe still having access and control over the victim’s bank accounts. Radcliffe became the beneficiary of her will shortly thereafter. The victim had no surviving family members, and trusted Radcliffe to assist her with her finances and take care of her bills. Radcliffe abused his access to her accounts and used her money for his own real estate purchases, gambling, travel, and restaurant operation expenses. He convinced his friend, as power of attorney, to liquidate over $800,000 from the victim’s retirement account to fund the purchase of a home for himself in North Carolina by falsely claiming that he was entitled that amount as reimbursement for money that he spent on the victim’s care and for remodeling her home.
The victim ultimately moved into an assisted living facility and passed away in November 2020. The facility where the victim lived noted that Radcliffe resisted paying for extra services and supplies she needed, claiming she did not have the money to pay for them. Instead, Radcliffe moved into her $2 million waterfront home and later inherited her sizable estate.
Following the victim’s death, Radcliffe attempted to claim a life insurance benefit by posing as her deceased spouse. The life insurance company reported the fraud attempt to the FBI, thus kicking off the federal investigation. However, numerous local investigations were already underway because several individuals reported their concerns to Washington State Adult Protective Services and the King County Sheriff’s Office about Radcliffe’s exploitative behavior.
In asking for a 46-month sentence Assistant United States Attorney Grace Zoller wrote to the court, “at its core, this case is about taking advantage of someone in their most vulnerable state. Radcliffe met an elderly widow, alone for the first time in over fifty years following the death of her partner, who was suffering from cognitive decline and (he)saw it as an opportunity to line his own pockets. Radcliffe manipulated that elderly widow with attention and flattery to the point she believed she was in a romantic relationship with Radcliffe…”
When Radcliffe filed his taxes in February 2021, he failed to report the $437,000 he embezzled from the victim’s accounts. That additional income resulted in a tax liability of $124,000 he did not report to the IRS. As part of his plea agreement Radcliffe will pay $124,000 to the IRS.
“It was exceptionally cold-hearted of Mr. Radcliffe to prey on this victim’s loneliness and age," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "He befriended her to take advantage of her, stealing her money, taking her home and estate. But ultimately, Mr. Radcliffe’s greed caught up with him, resulting in today’s well-deserved prison sentence. The FBI, IRS, and other partners will carefully follow the money to hold fraudsters accountable for their crimes.”
“While Mr. Radcliffe’s victim is, unfortunately, no longer with us, we’re glad the public knows her story,” said Carrie Nordyke, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “We hope this ruling gives pause to fraudsters who think they can escape accountability by targeting the vulnerable.”
Radcliffe will be on supervised release for three years following prison and was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine in addition to the forfeiture of $515,000 and $124,000 restitution to the IRS.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), with valuable assistance from the King County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Adult Protective Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Manca and Grace Zoller.
Former Randolph postal employee pleads guilty to stealing gift card from the mailRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Melissa Olson, 47, of Randolph, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to theft of mail by postal employee, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated Olson was hired by the United States Postal Service (USPS) in 2023 as a rural carrier associate assigned to the Randolph Post Office. Between April and May 2023, Olson opened a stamped, first-class mail envelope that had been entrusted to her for delivery and removed a Visa gift card from the envelope. Olson also admitted that on various dates in 2023, she opened various envelopes and mail that were entrusted to her for delivery, and rifled through the items, delaying their delivery.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent-in-Charge Northeast Field Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 9, 2026, before Judge Sinatra.
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Former Gastonia Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing A FirearmRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A former Gastonia police officer was sentenced to prison today for straw purchasing a firearm, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Xana Dayanae Dove, 28, was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
“No one is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We stand behind our law enforcement officers and support them as they work hard to reduce violent crime in our community. But when they become criminals that instead contribute to that crime, they get no special treatment.”
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with significant authority and very few choose to violate that trust, but those instances will not be tolerated. The FBI, and our law enforcement partners, remain committed to accountability and protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system. We thank the officers who proudly protect and serve their communities every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Davis.
According to filed documents and the court hearing, on May 25, 2023, Dove purchased a Springfield Hellcat Pro, 9mm pistol from Shooters Express, a licensed firearms dealer located in Belmont, North Carolina. As Dove previously admitted in court, in completing the purchase, she made a false and fictitious written statement when she falsely stated on ATF’s Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 that she was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm when the defendant knew this statement was false and fictitious.
At today’s sentencing hearing, the Court also ordered the forfeiture of a Springfield Hellcat Pro 9mm pistol. Dove will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI and ATF for their work on the investigation, and thanked Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Community Supervision, and the Gastonia Police Department for their assistance with Dove’s apprehension.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Former Corrections Officer and Mililani Resident Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kenneth Kazuichi Arasato, Jr., 63, of Mililani, Hawaii, was sentenced today to 63 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Arasato was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to an identified victim.
Arasato, a former corrections officer, pled guilty on August 28, 2025 to a two-count indictment charging him with possession of child pornography. According to information presented to the Court at sentencing, Arasato used an encrypted communications platform and password-protected vault application on his cellular phone to hide his activities. He possessed over 200 images of child pornography, including at least one image that depicted an infant and other images that depicted prepubescent minors.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mohammad Khatib prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Florida Man Sentenced to 73 Months in Prison for Nationwide Mass-Mailing Scam Targeting Small BusinessesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that ROBERT W. LEDERHILGER III was sentenced today to 73 months in prison for perpetrating a seven-year scheme to defraud small businesses across the United States, which resulted in losses of nearly $9 million to tens of thousands of victims. In September 2025, the defendant was convicted following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter, who imposed today’s sentence.
“Robert Lederhilger stole millions of dollars from tens of thousands of small businesses, $180 at a time,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Lederhilger thought his large scale, small sum fraud would go undetected. He was wrong. Stealing $5 million $180 at a time got him 73 months. Fraudsters like him should beware. This Office and our law enforcement partners will work to bring to justice anyone who takes advantage of the good people of New York and beyond. Today’s sentence reinforces that message.”
According to the Indictment, statements made in public court proceedings and filings, and the evidence at trial:
Between 2015 and 2022, LEDERHILGER designed and ran a sophisticated fraud scheme in which he mailed, and caused others to mail, nearly three million deceptive mailers that falsely appeared to their recipients—primarily small businesses that already had websites—to be invoices for purported web hosting services. The invoices typically listed $180 as the amount due. Tens of thousands of victims, believing that they owed the defendant money for web hosting services, paid the defendant’s “invoices.” Those victims, whose websites were hosted by other providers, received nothing from the defendant except another “invoice,” a year later, asking for more money. LEDERHILGER personally obtained at least approximately $5.2 million from the scheme.
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In addition to the prison term, LEDERHILGER, 44, of Bradenton, Florida, was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of approximately $5.2 million. The Court further ordered LEDERHILGER to pay restitution in an amount to be determined later.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Getzel Berger, Camille L. Fletcher, Kevin Grossinger, and Daniel G. Nessim are in charge of the prosecution.
Florida Man Arrested for Stealing More Than Half a Million Dollars of Onions and PotatoesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Jason Canals (39, Spring Hill) has been arrested and charged with eight counts of interstate transport of stolen property. If convicted on all counts, Canals faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Canals that the United States intends to forfeit the proceeds traceable to the offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Canals perpetrated multiple schemes to defraud wholesale produce companies. In one scheme, Canals, without permission, used a company’s name and email signature block to send communications to victim companies requesting produce. While the shipments were enroute, Canals diverted the produce to a new location and never paid the victim companies. In a separate scheme, Canals provided victim companies false documentation making the companies believe he had prepaid for the produce, when no such payment was ever made. In total, between the cost of the produce and its transportation, Canals’s schemes resulted in a loss of over $600,000 to the victim companies.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn E. Hoenemeyer.
Federal judge convicts man who fraudulently received $32 million business tax refund checkRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A federal judge has found an Atlanta-area man guilty of wire fraud and theft of public funds. In a separate bench trial, a second man was also found guilty of filing a false, retaliatory lien against a different federal judge.
Christopher Dowtin, 49, of Jonesboro, Georgia, fraudulently converted two businesses’ IRS accounts to his name and address. The defendant received tax refund checks – including one for more than $32 million – that were to be paid out to these two businesses.
Two months after Dowtin’s arrest on the tax crimes, Bondary McCall, 64, of Lithia Springs, Georgia, filed a false lien in the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation claiming that Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose owed Dowtin $32 million. Judge Rose was originally presiding over Dowtin’s fraud case.
The verdicts were announced on March 9 following bench trials before Senior U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.
According to court documents and trial testimony, Dowtin fraudulently submitted IRS forms claiming to be the responsible party for two separate companies.
In December 2024, the IRS processed eight Change of Address or Responsible Party-Business forms associated with Dowtin. Dowtin’s requests for changes were completed and accepted. He ultimately received two tax refund checks for those companies: one in the amount of $32,495,888.58 and one in the amount of $26,156.50.
Dowtin traveled from Georgia to Ohio with the two checks to open an account in the Southern District of Ohio.
On Feb. 13, 2025, Dowtin took the checks to a Morgan Stanley office in Beavercreek, Ohio, and attempted to negotiate the funds into a brokerage account in a trust in his name. Dowtin told the Morgan Stanley financial advisor that the two companies were paying him for illegally using his “personhood.” He said the payments owed to him had been transferred to him from the IRS. The financial advisor verified that the checks were valid U.S. Treasury checks.
On Feb. 19, 2025, an executive director at Morgan Stanley contacted the United States Secret Service and IRS Criminal Investigation regarding the suspicious nature of the checks and Dowtin’s supporting paperwork. The checks were seized by law enforcement.
Dowtin was charged and arrested in April 2025. He is convicted of wire fraud (punishable by up to 20 years in prison) and theft of public funds (up to 10 years in prison).
McCall faces up to 10 years in prison for making a retaliatory lien against a federal official.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Jason Rees, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service; announced the verdicts. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith and Erica D. Lunderman are representing the United States in the cases.
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Federal charges filed in fatal Houston Heights carjacking and shootingRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – An 18-year-old Houston man is now facing federal carjacking and firearms charges following a fatal shooting in the Heights area and subsequent vehicle and foot pursuit, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Darius Dewayne Hall is in custody on related state charges and is expected to make his appearance in federal court in the near future.
The federal criminal complaint alleges Hall shot the victim on the evening of March 6, stole the vehicle she was driving, changed his clothes to avoid identification, and engaged in a vehicle and foot pursuit before his arrest.
According to the allegations, the victim had dropped off a friend at an apartment complex in the Heights area of Houston after, spending the day at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She then parked the vehicle - a 2019 Toyota Highlander - on the street and began walking back toward the residence.
Shortly thereafter, the charges allege witnesses heard a female scream, followed by a loud popping sound. Hall was allegedly seen going through the victim’s purse near the area before driving off in the Toyota Highlander. According to the allegations, the victim had suffered a single gunshot wound to the neck. Authorities took her to Memorial Hermann Hospital where medical personnel pronounced her deceased shortly after midnight.
Law enforcement was able to locate the stolen Toyota Highlander and attempted a traffic stop, but it fled, according to the complaint. A short pursuit resulted in a crash, at which time Hall ran from the driver’s side and attempted to evade capture on foot, according to the charges.
Hall was allegedly wearing the same clothing observed at the shooting scene. However, during the ensuing foot chase, law enforcement recovered clothing Hall had allegedly discarded as he fled before they took him into custody.
The federal carjacking charge carries up to a life sentence or the possibility of death. He also faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life if convicted of the related firearms offense. Both convictions could also result in a $250,000 maximum possible fine.
FBI-Houston Field Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Federal Jury Finds Sarasota Woman Guilty of Making Threats on TikTokRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –A federal jury has found Desiree Doreen Segari (41, Sarasota) guilty of interstate communication of a threat to injure. Segari faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Segari was indicted on September 18, 2025.
According to evidence presented at trial, on August 17, 2025, Segari posted a video on TikTok calling for MAGA supporters to be shot on sight. Segari stated, “so if we all get our guns and use our second amendment right…and you see somebody with a MAGA hat, ‘pew pew’ that’s what we do, that’s the way, it’s the only way.” While saying “pew pew,” Segari used hand gestures mimicking the firing of a gun. She further stated, “Put them back in their basements, make them scared again to be racist, homophobic, and terrible just awful [expletive],” and “MAGA people deserve to be terrified and scared to walk in the streets because they should know that real Americans are gonna [mouths expletive] kill them.” When Segari posted the video, she included a caption: “#seemagapewpewmaga starting a new trend, hope it catches on. Please spread the word. Share this video. Repost it. Use the hashtag all over the internet. Let's go guys. It's time to fight back in a potentially effective manner.”
The next day, Segari posted another video on TikTok, in which she stated, “See MAGA pew pew MAGA, see MAGA pew pew MAGA, see MAGA pew pew MAGA so these [expletive] know we ain’t here to play” while again using hand gestures to mimic the firing of a gun.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
Fraudster Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID & Bankruptcy SchemesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Sean Eric Thompson, 44, formerly of Pace, Florida, was sentenced to four years in prison after previously pleading guilty in federal court to five counts of wire fraud, three counts of making a false statement, six counts of money laundering, and three counts of bankruptcy fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant tried to rip off the federal government by enriching himself with U.S. taxpayer funds intended to help small businesses struggling during the COVID pandemic, and then followed that up with further fraud during subsequent bankruptcy proceedings. My office remains committed to ensuring every last fraudster who stole taxpayer money during the COVID pandemic is held accountable.”
Court documents reflect that in May 2021, the defendant, who was a partial owner of a business that owned a brewery and restaurant, electronically submitted a fraudulent Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) application and supporting documents to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The RRF was created to provide funding for restaurants, bars, and similar businesses that served food and drink to keep their doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic. The application and supporting documents electronically submitted by the defendant falsely stated that the business had sustained $1,128,233 in COVID-19 related losses, and on May 25, 2021, the SBA paid $1,128,233 in RRF funds into an account designated by the defendant.
The defendant then spent the RRF funds on personal expenses, including transferring substantial funds to his personal investment account. Specifically, between August and November 2021, the defendant transferred $150,000 in RRF funds to his personal investment account.
In August 2023, the defendant filed for bankruptcy. The petition and schedules submitted by the Defendant contained a number of materially false statements and omissions, including failing to disclose the RRF funds and the defendant’s interest in a second, unrelated business. In connection with his bankruptcy proceeding, the defendant then testified falsely under oath during a September 2023 meeting of his creditors. Finally, in February 2024, the defendant caused fraudulently altered financial statements to be submitted to the trustee administering his bankruptcy estate.
“Pandemic relief funds were created to support businesses in crisis, not enrich individuals like Mr. Thompson,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and hold accountable anyone who abuses public trust and defrauds critical government programs for personal gain.”
“SBA Office of Inspector General remains committed to aggressively pursuing individuals who exploited pandemic relief programs for personal gain,” said Jason Xerri, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the SBA OIG’s Eastern Regional Office. SBA-OIG will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate fraud, protect taxpayer funds, and ensure those who abused these critical programs are held accountable.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Federal Child Pornography & Immigration Charges for Pensacola Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Osman Edgardo Cubas-Alvarenga, 36, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of production of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of illegal reentry into the United States by an unlawful alien. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Jury trial is scheduled for April 20, 2026, at 8:30 am before United States District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Cubas-Alvarenga faces a mandatory minimum 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment. Cubas-Alvarenga remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service in the Santa Rosa County Jail pending trial.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Eagle River man sentenced to 10 years for possessing a firearm as a felon during a crime of domestic violenceRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Eagle River man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for using a prohibited firearm during a crime of domestic violence.
According to court documents, in November 2023, Anchorage police officers were called after a bystander contacted a female victim after she escaped a domestic violence assault. The victim told police that Kyle Reynolds, 28, strangled her, slashed the tires of her vehicle and threatened her with a pistol. Reynolds also took the victim’s phone so she could not report the assault.
Anchorage police officers arrested Reynolds that same day. Officers recovered the knife Reynolds used to slash the victim’s tires and a handgun in Reynolds’ truck.
Shortly after his arrest, Reynolds called his mother and co-defendant, Elizabeth Chardome, 68, from custody and allegedly instructed her to force entry to his residence and attempt to secure a second firearm. Court documents alleged that Chardome, knowing that her son was prohibited from possessing firearms, purchased for Reynolds the firearm used to assault the victim.
Before the charged conduct, Reynolds had a prior felony conviction for assault and failing to stop at the direction of a peace officers resulting in injury. Reynolds is also a recidivist domestic violence offender.
On April 22, 2024, Reynolds was charged by complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. On Aug. 21, 2024, Chardome and Reynolds were indicted by a federal grand jury with crimes related to the November 2023 incident. Chardome is charged with one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and is scheduled for trial on April 27, 2026.
During sentencing, the Court also ordered Reynolds to serve three years on supervised release following the completion of his custodial sentence.
“Mr. Reynolds’ extensive criminal history reflects repeated abuse of women and a persistent disregard for the law,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This sentence sends a clear message that violent crimes committed with prohibited firearms will be met with significant penalties under federal law. I commend the survivor’s remarkable courage and the swift actions of law enforcement in holding Reynolds accountable.”
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions. Mr. Reynolds escalated an already dangerous domestic violence situation with a firearm he was prohibited from possessing,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the ATF Seattle Field Division. “When someone with a history of violence chooses to arm themselves, both the victim and community are at even greater risk. Our agency will continue to prioritize protecting survivors and ensuring that those who repeatedly commit acts of violence face meaningful consequences.”
The ATF Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
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Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass. pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Jose Alberto Tejeda Turbi, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for April 2, 2026. In January 2026, Tejeda Turbi was indicted by a federal grand jury.
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.
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, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad A. Rocheville of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
Department of Justice Releases First-Ever Corporate Enforcement Policy for All Criminal CasesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice released today the first-ever Department-wide corporate enforcement policy for criminal matters, promoting uniformity, predictability, and fairness in how it pursues white-collar cases to protect the American people.
“This Department of Justice is committed to transparency and fairness, and our first-ever Department-wide corporate enforcement policy is yet another example of that,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This policy draws on decades of experience across the Department and creates incentives for companies to come forward and do the right thing when misconduct occurs so that we may hold accountable the individual wrongdoers. Well-intentioned businesses know that, across the Department, they will be rewarded when they self-disclose wrongdoing, cooperate with our investigations, and remediate the misconduct. But for those that do not, make no mistake — we will not hesitate to seek appropriate resolutions against companies and individuals alike that perpetrate white collar offenses that harm American interests.”
“The Criminal Division has a long and storied history of corporate enforcement, and the corporate enforcement policy announced today takes the principles the Division has long promoted — disclosure, cooperation, and remediation — and applies them uniformly across the Department,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Division’s own corporate enforcement policy traces its roots to 2016. Since that time, based on our experience prosecuting the most sophisticated white-collar schemes, we refined our approach, culminating in the revisions announced in May 2025. Having helped craft the Department-wide policy, our prosecutors will continue to reward good corporate behavior, seek individual accountability, and root out criminal conduct in our mission to protect the American people.”
The Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy (CEP) provides concrete benefits to incentivize companies to voluntarily disclose discovered misconduct, cooperate with our investigations, and timely and appropriately remediate the wrongdoing. For companies that do, absent certain limited aggravating circumstances, the Department will decline to prosecute the company. Incentivizing corporate self-disclosures — while still permitting prosecutions in appropriate circumstances — allows the Department to quickly pursue culpable individuals, secure justice for victims, and deter white-collar crime, all while not unduly burdening American businesses. The CEP also provides predictability for companies and their counsel that approach these issues as it applies to all corporate criminal cases across the Department (aside from those relating to antitrust), superseding all component-specific or U.S. Attorney’s Office-specific corporate enforcement policies currently in effect.
Cincinnati man sentenced to prison for laundering proceeds of romance fraud conspiracy that scammed dozens of victims out of more than $2 millionRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Richard Opoku Agyemang, 41, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 41 months in prison for laundering the proceeds of a romance fraud conspiracy involving more than $2 million in losses to dozens of victims.
For years, Agyemang laundered millions of dollars in fraud proceeds to others in the United States and abroad and kept a substantial sum for himself.
The targets of the conspiracy were elderly or recently bereaved people who were looking for love on dating websites. As part of the romance fraud scheme, other individuals used stolen photographs and false information to create profiles on dating websites and establish online romantic relationships with victims. Victims were tricked into sending money under the false pretense that doing so would support a romantic partner for things like medical expenses.
Victims in this case detailed having to sell their homes and vehicles, cash in life insurance policies and 401k accounts, and max out credit cards because of their financial losses from the scam.
Many perpetrators were individuals living in Ghana. Because Agyemang lived in the United States, he was able to open American bank accounts to receive the fraud proceeds, which he then laundered to other accounts in the United States and in foreign countries.
According to court documents, victims sent more than $2 million by either wiring money or depositing checks to accounts controlled by Agyemang.
Separately from his money laundering, Agyemang also defrauded the Small Business Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic by fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program loan requesting pandemic relief funds. He ultimately received a loan for nearly $21,000 that was later forgiven.
The defendant was charged federally in April 2024 and pleaded guilty in September 2025. As part of his sentence, the Court has ordered him to pay nearly $1.4 million in restitution to the individual victims who could be identified and approximately $20,800 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie D. Garcia and Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo are representing the United States in this case.
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Chief Judge Orders Another Lengthy Federal Sentence in Smuggling Case Involving Kidnapping and Rape of a Pregnant WomanRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – An Eagle Pass man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio on Monday to 170 months in prison for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, Rodolfo Daniel De Hoyos aka “Rufles,” 22, was arrested on Nov. 22, 2021, in Kinney County. A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper observed three passengers in De Hoyos’s vehicle, each wearing dirty clothing, hiking boots, and camouflage backpacks. De Hoyos admitted that the three passengers were illegal aliens whom he was transporting to Del Rio. He said he would be paid $1,500 for smuggling the aliens, who were determined to be from Guatemala.
De Hoyos was arrested again in August 2023 for transporting illegal aliens for co-conspirator Anthony Ballones Jr. Information corroborating the admission was found in De Hoyos’s cell phone. The August 2023 smuggling event involved transporting a family of illegal aliens from San Antonio to Austin. The family, consisting of a man, a pregnant woman, and their seven-year-old child, were taken hostage by the Alien Smuggling Organization. In addition to sexually assaulting the pregnant woman, the defendants threatened to kill the woman’s seven-year-old boy if payments were not made, and they also threatened to sell the woman’s unborn baby if they did not get the money they sought. On July 9, 2023, a relative paid at least $1,000 to the ASO due to the threats made toward the family. Still, the ASO continued to demand payment to different accounts as a condition for the release of the aliens.
De Hoyos had been working with Ballones Jr. for approximately one year. He pleaded guilty to count one of a six-count indictment on Nov. 26, 2024.
On Feb. 11, co-defendant Juan Antonio Flores was sentenced to 212 months for his role in the case. Co-defendants Edwin Alfredo Barrientos-Mateo and Nelson Abilio Castro-Zelaya were sentenced to 360 months and 180 months in federal prison, respectively. Tomas Estrada-Torres was sentenced to 151 months. Four other co-defendants, Ambar Obregon, Pedro Ruiz Gonzalez, Armando Garcia-Martinez, and Ballones Jr., have pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses presides over the case.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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California Man Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme Targeting More Than a Dozen VictimsRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Richard Patterson, Jr., 44, of Norco, California, was sentenced yesterday to 68 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to commit wire fraud and failing to appear for a court hearing. Patterson was also ordered to pay $2,030,000 in restitution to more than 15 identified victims.
As admitted in his August 2025 plea agreement, Patterson and his two coconspirators, Dashawn Hill and Judy Ramos, carried on an “advance payment scheme,” wherein they made fraudulent representations to solicit upfront investments of between $5,000 and $550,000 from victims. Patterson and his coconspirators claimed they would use these upfront monies to pay fees for financial products that would generate 200% to 1000% risk-free returns. Patterson and his coconspirators instead used the victims’ money to pay for their living expenses, travel, entertainment, rent, and other personal expenses. According to court documents, Patterson used the money to live a millionaire’s lifestyle, renting a luxury condominium at Ala Moana, buying luxury goods, and enjoying luxury travel. As part of the scheme, Patterson held himself out under the alias “Xavier Carter,” used a fake accent, and claimed to be a foreign national when presenting himself as “Xavier Carter.” Collectively, Patterson and his coconspirators defrauded victims of over $2 million.
A week before his federal fraud trial was set to begin on October 28, 2024, Patterson failed to appear for two in-person court hearings. Patterson ceased communications with his counsel, refused to travel to Hawaii, and then fled the Central District of California, where he was out on bond. Patterson was arrested in the Southern District of California and brought back to Hawaii. His flight led to the continuance of the scheduled trial.
Co-defendants Dashawn Hill and Judy Ramos each also pled guilty pursuant to plea agreements and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 2, 2026 and May 13, 2026, respectively.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ANGEL ECHEVARRIA, also known as “Frenchie” and “Gordo,” 30, of Bridgeport, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department investigated an open-air drug market that was operating in the area of Noble Avenue and Shelton Street in Bridgeport. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics. Between March and September 2024, investigators made 11 controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily fentanyl, from various sellers, including Echevarria. At the time, Echevarria had pending state firearm possession and narcotics distribution charges and was released on bond.
Echevarria has been detained in state custody since September 11, 2024. On October 27, 2025, he pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Stratford Police Department. The Task Force is composed of personnel from the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Trumbull Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.
Binghamton Man Charged for Threats to President, ICE AgentsRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Jeffrey Scott Hamm, Jr., age 32, of Binghamton, NY appeared in federal court Friday, February 27, for an initial appearance on a charge of making threats to the President and federal agents using interstate communications.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division Craig Tremaroli made the announcement.
The Complaint alleges that on multiple dates in January, 2026, Hamm posted comments on YouTube threatening violence against the President, unnamed ICE agents, and supporters of the President.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “The defendant used interstate communications to threaten President Trump, ICE agents, and others with acts of violence. This Office, together with the FBI, will pursue anyone who makes such threats swiftly and aggressively. The defendant would have been better off saving his breath; now he’ll have plenty of time to reflect on his words while facing the consequences for them in federal court. Threats of this nature will not be tolerated, and anyone who ignores this warning will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Hamm tried to hide behind a keyboard, but this arrest should prove if you’re making dangerous threats of violence online, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable. Threats of violence against the President, public officials, law enforcement, or any member of our community are illegal and will not be tolerated. FBI Albany will continue to leverage the partnerships and resources of our Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) to identify, investigate, and ensure anyone taking part in such illegal activity is brought to justice.”
Hamm appeared in federal court on Friday, February 27 in Binghamton, New York before United States Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric and was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge filed against Hamm carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Green is prosecuting the case.
Beaverton Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Minors Online and Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Beaverton, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for sexually exploiting multiple minors online and receiving sexually explicit images and videos of the minor victims.
Misael Flores Ramirez, 35, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, it was reported that, from April 2023 through September 2023, Flores Ramirez was in contact with a 12-year-old minor victim. Flores Ramirez sent over 30 sexually explicit images and videos of himself to a minor victim who he met on the social media application Wink. Flores Ramirez requested and received over 30 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from the minor victim and threatened to stop talking if the images were not sent.
A search of Flores Ramirez’s phone revealed over 2,000 images of CSAM and contact with other minors. Specifically, beginning in February 2023 through March 2023, Flores Ramirez requested and received sexually explicit images from a 14-year-old minor victim. He then shared the videos and images of the minor victim with multiple Telegram users. Flores Ramirez used WhatsApp and Telegram chatrooms devoted to trading CSAM to receive images and share videos of minor victims.
On September 10, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Flores Ramirez with sexual exploitation of children, transfer of obscene matter to a minor, and distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography.
On September 18, 2025, Flores Ramirez pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.
This case was brought in collaboration with 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Arrest Made in Domestic Violence ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tyjuan Bazemore, 35, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged for shooting and killing his former girlfriend Nyesha Tranae Walden-Hatcher in the early hours of February 2, 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Bazemore was charged with one count of second-degree murder while armed and made his initial appearance before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond on March 10, 2026, where Judge Raymond found probable cause that Bazemore committed the offense and ordered that Bazemore be held without bond pending trial.
Bazemore will next appear before Judge Park for a preliminary hearing on March 20, 2026.
According to court documents, while Bazemore and Walden-Hatcher were in his apartment, Bazemore shot the victim once in the head, causing her death. In between the homicide and the date of his arrest, Bazemore fled to Connecticut. Members of the Connecticut Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force located Bazemore and assisted with his extradition to D.C.
At the time of this killing, Bazemore had an open domestic violence assault case concerning the victim. Bazemore was ordered, as a condition of his release, to stay away from her.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Dinan.
These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
2026 CF1 003647
Akron Career Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Trafficking Meth, Fentanyl, and CocaineRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for possessing and intending to distribute more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, as well as distribution quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, and for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Cedric Thomas, 47, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese after pleading guilty in December 2025 to the following charges:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
- Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; prior convictions include Trafficking in Cocaine and Possession of Cocaine in 2008; and Trafficking in Marijuana in 2020.
Thomas was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. Due to Thomas’ previous drug convictions, he was designated as a career offender.
According to court documents, detectives from the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit began investigating Thomas’ suspected drug trafficking activity in November 2023. On Jan. 24, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at his residence and caught Thomas attempting to flush drugs down a toilet. Investigators found that Thomas possessed 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, 29 grams of fentanyl, and 28 grams of cocaine, all intended for distribution throughout Northeast Ohio. Agents also seized:
- $2,132 in U.S. currency
- A Smith & Wesson model Bodyguard .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol
- A Taurus model GC3 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol
- Miscellaneous ammunition
The investigation was conducted by the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly for the Northern District of Ohio.
Aetna Agrees to Pay $117.7 Million to Resolve Allegations that it Violated the False Claims Act by Submitting or Failing to Correct Inaccurate Diagnoses for Medicare Advantage EnrolleesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced today that Aetna Inc., a national insurer incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $117,700,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting or failing to withdraw inaccurate and untruthful diagnosis codes for its Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees in order to increase its payments from Medicare.
“The government pays Medicare Advantage Organizations to facilitate vital healthcare to our seniors and other vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “When corporations or individuals threaten the Medicare Advantage program by diverting those limited government resources through fraud, waste, or abuse, we will continue to pursue all available remedies against them.”
Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may opt out of traditional Medicare and enroll in private health plans offered by insurance companies known as Medicare Advantage Organizations, or MAOs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays MAOs a fixed monthly amount for each enrolled Medicare beneficiary. CMS adjusts these monthly payments to account for various “risk” factors that affect expected health expenditures for the beneficiary. In general, CMS pays MAOs more for sicker beneficiaries expected to incur higher healthcare costs and less for healthier beneficiaries expected to incur lower costs. To make these “risk adjustments,” CMS collects medical diagnosis codes from the MAOs.
Aetna owns and operates MAOs that offer MA plans to beneficiaries across the country. The United States alleges that Aetna submitted inaccurate and untruthful patient diagnosis data to CMS in order to inflate the payments it received from CMS, failed to withdraw the inaccurate and untruthful diagnosis data and repay CMS, and falsely certified in writing to CMS that the data was accurate and truthful. The settlement announced today resolves these allegations.
The United States contends that, for payment year 2015, Aetna operated a “chart review” program, under which it retrieved medical records (also known as “charts”) from healthcare providers documenting services provided to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Aetna’s MA plans. Aetna retained diagnosis coders to review those charts to identify all medical conditions that the charts supported and to assign the beneficiaries diagnosis codes for those conditions. Aetna relied on the results of those chart reviews to submit additional diagnosis codes to CMS that the healthcare providers had not reported for the beneficiaries to obtain additional payments from CMS. According to the United States, Aetna’s chart reviews did not substantiate some diagnosis codes reported by providers that had previously been submitted by Aetna to CMS. Aetna did not delete or withdraw these inaccurate and untruthful diagnosis codes, however, which would have required Aetna to reimburse CMS. The United States alleges that Aetna used the results of its chart reviews to identify instances where Aetna could seek additional payments from CMS while improperly failing to use those same results when they provided information about instances where Aetna was overpaid. $106,200,000 of the settlement amount resolves those allegations.
The remaining $11,500,000 of the aggregate settlement amount resolves further allegations that, for payment years 2018 to 2023, Aetna obtained increased payments from CMS by knowingly submitting or failing to delete inaccurate and untruthful diagnosis codes for morbid obesity for individuals whose recorded BMI was inconsistent with a diagnosis of morbid obesity. The settlement related to morbid-obesity codes resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The settlement provides for the whistleblower, a former Aetna risk-adjustment coding auditor, to receive a $2,012,500 share of the settlement amount. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Mary Melette Thomasv. Aetna Inc., et. al., No. 24-cv-339 (E.D. Pa.).
“The government pays private insurers over $530 billion each year to care for Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “We will continue to hold accountable insurers that knowingly submit inaccurate or unsupported diagnoses to improperly inflate reimbursement.”
“Medicare Advantage relies on accurate reporting and attempts to manipulate the system undermine both the program’s integrity and the beneficiaries it serves,” said 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). “Today’s settlement makes clear that no company is beyond accountability, no matter how large or well known. Those who seek to exploit Medicare Advantage should expect to be identified and held responsible, and HHS‑OIG will continue to protect taxpayer funds and the integrity of this vital program.”
The matter was handled in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Carr and Gregory B. in den Berken, former auditor George Niedzwicki, and litigative consultant Lauren M. Cordrey, along with Civil Fraud Section attorney Nelson Wagner and Assistant Director, Edward C. Crooke. HHS-OIG assisted the investigation.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ or 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
3 Texas Tax Preparers Plead Guilty to Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas return preparer pleaded guilty today to conspiring with his employees to defraud the United States by filing false federal tax returns on behalf of clients. This plea follows recent guilty pleas of two other Texas return preparers who both admitted to filing false tax returns on behalf of clients as part of the same scheme.
The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: From approximately January 2019 to October 2022, Mathews Chacko conspired with others to file returns for clients that contained false business expenses. These false expenses artificially reduced the taxes that Chacko’s clients owed to the IRS, which enabled them to receive refunds to which they were not entitled. At times, Chacko and his co-conspirators included false business expenses on client returns without their clients’ knowledge, then sometimes provided false explanations to clients justifying the false items. At other times, Chacko and his co-conspirators informed clients by email that they were submitting false information to the IRS. Chacko admitted to causing a tax loss to the United States exceeding $3.5 million but less than $9.5 million.
Chacko admitted to the conspiracy shortly after two of his co-conspirators also pleaded guilty to committing federal tax crimes. Over the same period, from approximately January 2019 to October 2022, Anish Pillai and Mou Kundu both prepared federal tax returns for clients that included materially false items, which resulted in clients receiving refunds larger than they were entitled to receive. Pillai admitted that he caused approximately $1.5 million to $3.5 million in losses to the United States. Kundu admitted that she caused between $250,000 and $550,000 in losses to the United States.
All three individuals will be sentenced at a later date. Chacko faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Pillai and Kundu both face maximum penalties of three years in prison for helping clients file false tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the cases.
Trial Attorneys Marissa R. Brodney and Michael L. Jones of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the cases.
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9 March 2026
Wholesale steel distributors settle Paycheck Protection Program false claimsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Seven Allied Crawford corporations who are wholesale steel distributors incorporated in seven separate states, including Virginia (Allied Companies), have agreed to pay $3,316,973.98 to settle civil False Claims Act (FCA) allegations arising from the submission of statements on their applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, specifically, that each of the Allied Companies falsely certified it was eligible to receive the loans.
The United States alleged that the Allied Companies received PPP loans of more than $2.7 million, which later were forgiven, after submitting statements on loan applications falsely certifying eligibility, and again on applications for forgiveness of the loans between February 2021 and October 2021.
The settlement began with a lawsuit, United States ex rel. GNGH2, Inc. v. Allied Crawford (Petersburg), Inc., filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims presented to the federal government and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The whistleblower will receive a ten-percent share of the settlement. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McIntosh.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Case records may be found on PACER under case number 3:25-cv-200.
The civil claims settled are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
United States Asserts New Civil Forfeiture Theory Alleging Michael J. Miske Committed Suicide to Obstruct Criminal Forfeiture ProceedingRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that the government has moved for leave to amend its civil forfeiture complaint regarding the criminal proceeds of Michael J. Miske (“Miske”). The motion is based on evidence uncovered in an ongoing criminal investigation showing that Miske and others conspired to obstruct an earlier criminal forfeiture proceeding by smuggling fentanyl into prison so that Miske could die by overdose and thereby thwart the forfeiture of his criminal proceeds, estimated at over $20 million.
According to court documents, Miske was in prison pending sentencing at the time of his death on or about December 1, 2024, having been convicted by a federal jury on July 18, 2024 of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges. On July 24, 2024, in a related criminal forfeiture proceeding, the jury also found 27 assets seized from Miske forfeitable as property constituting or derived from proceeds of Miske’s racketeering activity. Miske’s death, however, resulted in the abatement of the criminal proceeding and criminal forfeiture proceeding. This abatement thwarted the government’s effort to obtain title to the assets subject to forfeiture because it terminated the criminal forfeiture proceeding. The government subsequently filed a civil forfeiture action as to those assets.
As alleged in court documents, an ongoing criminal investigation has uncovered evidence that Miske conspired with others to smuggle fentanyl into the Federal Detention Center, Honolulu (“FDC Honolulu”), which Miske used to commit suicide. Miske’s motivation in committing suicide was to interfere with the government’s criminal forfeiture of Miske’s seized assets, based upon advice Miske had received from his attorney(s). Miske arranged to provide a vehicle to another inmate who had been released from federal custody on conditions of supervised release. The vehicle was payment for the inmate deliberately violating his release conditions and smuggling fentanyl for Miske into FDC Honolulu when arrested and remanded into custody. Miske used small amounts of fentanyl in the day(s) leading up to his suicide, believing it would mislead investigators into thinking his death was an accidental overdose. As noted in court filings, the criminal investigation is still ongoing.
“Our criminal prosecution of Michael Miske demonstrated that he was a thug who used robbery, felony assaults, drug trafficking, fraud, chemical weapons attacks on his competitors, murder, and criminal obstruction to terrorize and intimidate Hawaii for many years,” said United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. “When he was found guilty by a brave Hawaii jury, Miske then resorted to a plan to frustrate the lawful forfeiture of his criminally derived property by scheming to kill himself while in federal custody awaiting sentencing. Today’s amended complaint demonstrates our solemn resolve to pursue criminally derived proceeds and deny criminals like Miske the power to dictate the fate of their ill-gotten gains.”
The assertions in the proposed second amended civil forfeiture complaint are merely accusations, and any potential defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI is investigating the criminal case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aislinn K. Affinito and Joseph McGinley and Trial Attorney Stephanie Williamson of the Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.
Undocumented Romanian Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Fraud of Nearly $200,000 in 22 StatesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Monday sentenced a Romanian national to 21 months in prison and ordered him to repay the almost $200,000 he stole from a nationwide retailer via “sleight-of-hand” schemes.
Bobi Covaciu, 39, tricked store cashiers in at least 22 states into believing that he had paid the full amount of cash for a purchase. Covaciu counted out cash matching the purchase price and then took the cash back from cashiers and secretly pocketed bills, shortchanging the retailer by hundreds of dollars or more per transaction. Covaciu would then return the merchandise to a different store for a full cash refund. In at least 90 fraudulent transactions from February 2022 to September 2024, Covaciu stole about $196,220 in money and property.
Covaciu will be deported after his release from prison.
Covaciu’s criminal history shows that he became involved in the fraud scheme as early as December 2016, just one month after he illegally entered the U.S., a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf says.
Covaciu pleaded guilty in December in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of wire fraud.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf prosecuted the case.