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24 September 2026
Kosovar National Pleads Guilty to Operating Cybercrime Marketplace Offering Tools and Products to CybercriminalsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Ardit Kutleshi, 28, a Kosovar national, has pleaded guilty to charges related to his creation and operation of Rydox, an illicit website and marketplace for cybercriminals to buy, sell, and trade stolen personal information, and to access devices and other tools for carrying out cybercrime and fraud.
“Cybercriminals Ardit Kutleshi and his brother Jetmir—who pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December 2025 prior to his deportation back to Kosovo—operated the Rydox marketplace for their own gain, making hundreds of thousands of dollars from the marketplace where cyber criminals could purchase information and tools to effect and further their online crime,” said United States Attorney Troy Rivetti of the Western District of Pennsylvania. “These types of cybercrimes cause not only financial loss, but also ongoing psychological harm to the victims who lose both money as well as trust in institutions and the online market infrastructure. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to find and prosecute individuals who attempt to profit from the illegal sharing and sale of other people’s personal information and access devices, and related cybercrime.”
“Rydox turned stolen information and criminal tools into a marketplace, making it easier for criminals to convert someone else’s loss into their next crime,” said FBI Pittsburgh Assistant Special Agent in Charge Amie Loos. “Dismantling this platform was about more than taking a website offline—it was about disrupting the criminal infrastructure that fueled fraud and identity theft against thousands of victims. The FBI, together with our international partners, will continue to impose risk, consequences, and accountability on criminals who believe they can hide behind anonymity.”
According to court documents, since at least 2016, Rydox conducted over 7,600 transactions involving stolen personally identifiable information (PII), stolen access devices, means of identification, and cybercrime tools and services, receiving at least $232,000 in revenue. These transactions involved the sale of PII stolen from victims located in the United States. Kutleshi pleaded guilty on September 22, 2026, before the Honorable Mark R. Hornak in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania to aggravated identity theft and money laundering conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2027, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft count and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy count. Judge Hornak will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kutleshi was arrested by Kosovo law enforcement in December 2024 and extradited from Kosovo to the United States in 2025. In December 2024, the United States also judicially seized the domain www.Rydox.cc, which hosted and facilitated access to the Rydox website. The seizure of this domain prevented the owners and third parties from using the site to continue to buy and sell cybercrime tools and stolen personal identifying information of U.S. citizens.
“The guilty plea of Ardit Kutleshi for operating the Rydox marketplace exposes a sophisticated scheme to profit from stolen identities and cybercrime tools,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This guilty plea sends a strong message to all cybercriminals that the Justice Department will identify, arrest, and prosecute cybercriminals regardless of where they are in the world through international cooperation, technical expertise, and cutting-edge law enforcement.”
“Rydox put cybercriminal tools and sensitive data up for sale, including the stolen identities and logins of thousands of people,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI and its foreign partners shut the marketplace down, and now the man who created it and ran it pleaded guilty. We will continue to use every legal tool at our disposal to extradite cybercriminals and take down their infrastructure.”
The FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office investigated this case in coordination with the Kosovo State Prosecutor’s Special Prosecution Office, the Kosovo Police’s Cybercrime Investigation Directorate, the Albanian Special Anti-Corruption Body (SPAK), the Royal Malaysia Police’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department, and the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Stockey of the Western District of Pennsylvania and Senior Counsel Thomas Dougherty of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance.CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Kosovar National Pleads Guilty to Operating Cybercrime Marketplace Offering Tools and Products to CybercriminalsRead the Press Release
Ardit Kutleshi, 28, a Kosovar national, pleaded guilty to charges related to his creation and operation of Rydox, an illicit website and marketplace for cybercriminals to buy, sell and trade stolen personal information, and to access devices and other tools for carrying out cybercrime and fraud.
“The guilty plea of Ardit Kutleshi for operating the Rydox marketplace exposes a sophisticated scheme to profit from stolen identities and cybercrime tools,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This guilty plea sends a strong message to all cybercriminals that the Justice Department will identify, arrest, and prosecute cybercriminals regardless of where they are in the world through international cooperation, technical expertise, and cutting-edge law enforcement.”
“Cybercriminals Ardit Kutleshi and his brother Jetmir — who pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December 2025 prior to his deportation back to Kosovo — operated the Rydox marketplace for their own gain, making hundreds of thousands of dollars from the marketplace where cyber criminals could purchase information and tools to effect and further their online crime,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti of the Western District of Pennsylvania. “These types of cybercrimes cause not only financial loss, but also ongoing psychological harm to the victims who lose both money as well as trust in institutions and the online market infrastructure. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to find and prosecute individuals who attempt to profit from the illegal sharing and sale of other people’s personal information and access devices, and related cybercrime.”
“Rydox put cybercriminal tools and sensitive data up for sale, including the stolen identities and logins of thousands of people,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI and its foreign partners shut the marketplace down, and now the man who created it and ran it pleaded guilty. We will continue to use every legal tool at our disposal to extradite cybercriminals and take down their infrastructure.”
According to court documents, since at least 2016, Rydox conducted over 7,600 transactions involving stolen personally identifiable information (PII), stolen access devices, means of identification, and cybercrime tools and services, receiving at least $232,000 in revenue. These transactions involved the sale of PII stolen from victims located in the United States. Kutleshi pleaded guiltyin the District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania to aggravated identity theft and money laundering conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 9, 2027, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft count and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy count. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kutleshi was arrested by Kosovo law enforcement in December 2024 and extradited from Kosovo to the United States in 2025. In December 2024, the United States also judicially seized the domain www.Rydox.cc, which hosted and facilitated access to the Rydox website. The seizure of this domain prevented the owners and third parties from using the site to continue to buy and sell cybercrime tools and stolen personal identifying information of U.S. citizens.
The FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office investigated this case in coordination with the Kosovo State Prosecutor’s Special Prosecution Office, the Kosovo Police’s Cybercrime Investigation Directorate, the Albanian Special Anti-Corruption Body (SPAK), the Royal Malaysia Police’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department, and the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia.
Senior Counsel Thomas Dougherty of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Stockey for the Western District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Kansas City Man Sentenced for Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Alverez O. McCullough, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered McCullough to forfeit to the government $15,000.
On May 21, 2026 McCullough pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. McCullough admitted he and other co-conspirators sold fentanyl to confidential sources between May 1, and Sept. 10, 2025. During the conspiracy, McCullough sold $15,000 worth of fentanyl to the confidential sources.
On Sept. 15, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant of McCullough’s residence. During the search warrant execution, investigators recovered United States currency, marijuana, five firearms, an AR-15 magazine loaded with 25 live rounds of ammunition, approximately 74 grams of fentanyl, approximately two grams of cocaine, and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
McCullough admitted to investigators to selling, trading, and using drugs. McCullough admitted to selling fentanyl and possessing five firearms, which he described as four pistols and an AR-15. McCullough told investigators he carried the firearms for protection and occasionally carried a firearm on drug deals.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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.
Justice Department Sues Minnesota, St. Paul, and Minneapolis over Firearm Purchase Waiting PeriodRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department filed suit against the State of Minnesota, the City of Minneapolis, and the City of St. Paul. As stated in the lawsuit, Minnesota’s permit to purchase and waiting period regulatory scheme violate the Second Amendment for law-abiding citizens who desire to acquire firearms for self-defense in their homes. For Minnesotans who do not intend to carry in public, state law imposes a thirty-day waiting period. The lawsuit also challenges waiting periods in St. Paul and Minneapolis, where some citizens are forced to wait nearly 60 days.
“The Supreme Court held that the home is where the need for defense of self, family, and property is most acute. When a person needs to defend their home, they need to defend it now, not thirty to sixty days from now,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Law-abiding citizens do not need government permission to purchase a firearm, and forcing a citizen who has already passed a background check to wait up to sixty days to obtain a firearm is intolerable under the Constitution.”
“We are committed to protecting Minnesotans’ right to purchase firearms and we will not tolerate procedures that are wielded in a way that impairs that right,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota.
The Civil Rights Division’s Second Amendment Section enforces the Second Amendment, the Police Pattern or Practice Act (34 U.S.C. § 12601), and Executive Order 14206. If you are a current or prospective gun owner and believe that a state or local government has infringed your right to keep or bear arms, please submit a complaint through www.justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section.
Justice Department Ends over 50 Half-Century-Old Desegregation Cases Throughout the United StatesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today the dismissal of more than fifty desegregation cases — from Waterbury, Connecticut, to Flagler County, Florida — ending matters that had remained on court dockets for more than half a century.
“In this administration, we are ending prolonged federal oversight of these school districts because the effort does not reflect the reality of those classrooms today,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “In some cases, school districts have been under federal control for more than 60 years. Now these local school districts can redirect taxpayer dollars back to benefitting students, instead of funding onerous and outdated consent decrees.”
The Department is undertaking a thorough case-by-case review of pending school desegregation cases, which were filed in connection with the unlawful operation of a dual school system based on race. Cases still on the docket in federal courts were filed in the 1960’s and 70’s. After concluding that a school district has achieved unitary status, the Department will seek dismissal of the case.
Jefferson City Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Derrick Crumble, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 96 months in federal prison without parole and three years of supervised release. On Feb. 10, 2026, Crumble pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On June 2, 2025, Jefferson City Police Department responded to a shooting call. While at the scene officers observed Crumble walking with a backpack. Upon contact with Crumble, officers observed what appeared to be a firearm in the backpack. Officers searched the backpack and found a loaded 233-caliber pistol with a 60-round magazine in the firearm. When questioned, Crumble told officers that he found the firearm and planned to sell the firearm. Crumble has prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Maness. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jefferson City Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Inland Empire Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in Crime Ring that Fraudulently Obtained $3.5 Million in COVID Business-Relief LoansRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A Riverside County man pleaded guilty today – making him the third defendant in his case to plead guilty this week – to fraudulently obtaining from COVID-19 business-relief loans then helping others fraudulently obtain COVID business loans in exchange for a cut of the illicit proceeds, causing a total loss to taxpayers of approximately $3.5 million.
Daryl D. Knighten, Jr., 34, of Perris, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Two co-defendants pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of wire fraud for their roles in the scheme: Vanessa M. Williams, 37, of Corona, and Denise Mata, 36, of Moreno Valley. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for January 14, 2027.
According to the defendants’ plea agreements, from March 2021 to August 2021, Knighten, Williams, and Mata submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for themselves, family members, close associates, and individuals they recruited. Congress created the program in 2020 to assist businesses dealing with COVID-19’s severe economic impact.
The defendants lied to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and banks in connection with the fraudulent PPP loan applications. Each application falsely stated that the PPP loan applicant was self-employed and falsely certified that each loan would be used for permissible business purposes. Each loan application also contained fraudulent tax forms to deceive the SBA and PPP participating lenders into disbursing loan funds.
Lenders approved PPP loans for the defendants and more than 100 co-schemers. The lenders then disbursed the PPP loan funds into bank accounts belonging to the defendants and their co-schemers. Co-schemers paid kickbacks to the defendants within days of receiving the fraudulently obtained PPP loan funds.
Knighten, Williams, Mata, and their co-schemers used the illicitly obtained money for their own personal benefit and not for expenses allowable under the PPP. The defendants also submitted fraudulent documents to the SBA and lenders to obtain loan forgiveness for the illegally obtained PPP loans.
Knighten admitted to causing at least $145,550 in losses to the PPP loan program. Williams and Mata admitted to causing losses of at least $187,497 and $201,642, respectively.
Federal prosecutors believe the total loss resulting from this scheme is approximately $3.5 million.
United States District Judge Kenly Kiya Kato scheduled a January 14, 2027, sentencing hearing for Knighten, who like Williams and Mata, at that time will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Co-defendant Mikhail G. Hoalim, 35, of Moreno Valley, has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of wire fraud and is scheduled to go to trial on November 9 for his alleged role in this scheme.
As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by Amtrak Office of Inspector General with support from Homeland Security Investigations. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help offices of inspectors general and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric L. Mackie of the Major Crimes Section and Senior Litigation Counsel Gary Bell and Trial Attorneys Andrew Schupanitz and Phil Huynh from the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division are prosecuting this case.
Illegal Alien from Guatemala Sentenced to Federal Prison for Violating Immigration LawsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Guatemalan national illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, was sentenced to seven months in federal prison for violating immigration laws.
On May 18, 2026, Jose Manuel Lopez-Maderos, 40, pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported. This case marks his first federal conviction for illegal reentry.
On Feb. 15, 2026, officers with the Independence, Missouri Police Department arrested Lopez-Maderos for driving without a license. After using fingerprints to confirm his identity, officers learned he had previously been deported. The Independence Police Department contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations who took custody of Lopez-Maderos.
Lopez-Maderos was first found in the United States on Aug. 23, 2009, after being arrested by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department for driving under the influence. It was determined that he had entered the United States illegally and he was given the opportunity to appear in immigration court to contest his removal. He failed to appear at that hearing and was ordered deported in absentia. He was eventually located and deported on Aug. 9, 2013.
Lopez-Maderos was found in the United States again on May 13, 2017, when he was arrested in Johnson County, Kan. for driving under the influence. After his conviction, he was deported on Aug. 3, 2017. Lopez-Maderos was apprehended crossing the United States-Mexico border on June 23, 2018. He was convicted of illegally entering the country and deported. He was most recently deported after being apprehended again at the border on Feb. 21, 2019, and was deported for the fourth time.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Nichols. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Independence, 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Harrisburg Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jeffery Bell, age 50, of Harrisburg, was indicted by a federal grand jury for failing to register as a sex offender after relocating to New Jersey.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that from October 2025 through February 2026, despite being required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), Bell traveled in interstate commerce from Pennsylvania to New Jersey and failed to register his address as required by SORNA.
This matter was investigated by the United States Marshals Service (USMS). Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Harlem man sentenced to nearly 3 years for trafficking meth and fentanylRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Harlem man who tried to hide a tin of fentanyl pills under a child’s leg was sentenced Wednesday to two years and 11 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Harold Edwin Main, 29, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Main was driving in Fort Belknap on April 15, 2024, with another adult and two children. Fort Belknap police pulled him over and in the vehicle the officer found methamphetamine and 42 fentanyl pills. The majority of the pills were found in an Altoids tin tucked under the leg of one of the children.
Following the traffic stop Fort Belknap police served a search warrant on Main’s house on Fort Belknap. There officers discovered more meth, some of it bagged, along with two digital scales, packaging material with smaller baggies, small blue and white pills, and other drug paraphernalia. Officers seized a total of 5 grams of methamphetamine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Ferrari-Agudelo is prosecuting the case. Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
Hammond Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Jonathan X. Hall, 26 years old, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Hall was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on January 26, 2026, law enforcement observed a video Hall posted on Facebook of him possessing a black and silver 9mm handgun while walking down the 5600 block of Walter Avenue in Hammond, Indiana. Law enforcement subsequently learned Hall had a prior 2023 felony domestic battery conviction, which prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. On February 20, 2026, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle where Hall was a passenger and recovered the black and silver 9mm handgun that he earlier possessed in the video he posted.
“Jonathan Hall was sentenced today to federal prison for knowingly possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The defendant’s actions demonstrate his disdain for civil society and make him a continual threat to the safety of our communities. This successful prosecution was made possible by the strong working relationships and seamless collaboration between the Hammond Police Department and the Alcohol, Tabacco, and Firearms Administration. Together, these agencies remain dedicated to removing dangerous weapons from the hands of violent offenders and maintaining safe neighborhoods for all residents. This sentence sends a clear message that illegal firearm possession will not be tolerated, and our collaborative law enforcement partnerships will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes," said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with the assistance of the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Grand Prairie bookkeeper indicted for allegedly embezzling $1.2 million from elderly coupleRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Grand Prairie woman was federally indicted Sept. 15 alleging that she embezzled at least $1.2 million from an elderly Waxahachie couple who trusted her with their family finances.
Nancy Black, 69, was charged with ten counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. She had her Initial Appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Toliver Judge on Sept. 23.
“Stealing more than a million dollars from a family who relied on you is a profound breach of trust and betrayal of the highest magnitude,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Crimes like this don’t just drain bank accounts; they upend lives and inflict lasting hardship. My office will pursue anyone who targets vulnerable populations and weaponizes trust to commit fraud and identity theft.”
“For years Black allegedly lived a life of financial deception, stealing money and the identity of the family she worked for as a bookkeeper. Financial crimes like this one significantly and horribly impact everyday people. There are always victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus, of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Texas Field Office. “Our special agents are law enforcement officers who are experts in solving financial crimes. Working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we are driven to hold these types of alleged criminals accountable.”
According to the indictment, from at least 2018 to 2024, Black worked as a bookkeeper for a Waxahachie couple who had originally hired her since at least in the early 2000s. In this role, Black allegedly stole from the couple by forging checks made payable to herself, using the victims’ bank accounts to pay offer her own credit card bills and withdrawing cash from an account she had been tasked with closing over a decade earlier.
If convicted, Black faces a maximum penalty of thirty years in prison for each of the bank fraud counts and two years for each of the two aggravated identity theft counts.
IRS-Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ignacio Perez de la Cruz of the Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska - September 2026Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 12 unsealed Indictments charging 12 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
John Deal, age 46, of North Platte, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Deal with receipt of child pornography beginning on at least October 21, 2011, and continuing to at least December 29, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Deal with possession of child pornography on or about August 4, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Miguel Angel Bartolo-Juan, age 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Bartolo-Juan with travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct between on or about August 17, 2024, and on or about August 30, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Bartolo-Juan with production or attempted production of child pornography beginning on or about February 16, 2024, through on or about August 14, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Dontae Middlebrook, age 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about August 19, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 4 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Noe Polanco-Flores, age 42
Juan Pacheco-Perez, age 54
Ronald Ezequiel Rivas Sibrian, age 38
Jairo Reyes-Guardado, age 44
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Rigoberto Barrera Mendoza, age 42
Hector Curiel-Galindo, age 64
Jose Natividad Lopez-Delgado, age 53
Macario Solis Morales, age 43
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment
The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following an aggravated felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Elvis Vargas-Murillo, age 38
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Four Massachusetts Men Arrested and Charged for Fraud, Money Laundering SchemesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Four individuals have been indicted as part of ongoing investigations into the theft and fraudulent deposit of more than $12.2 million in stolen U.S. Treasury checks and more than $1 million in other frauds targeting federally insured banks and credit unions and their customers.
The following defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count each of bank fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
1. David Obeng, 24, of Dedham; 2. Lynley Joseph, 26, of Brockton; 3. Lindsley Georges, 33, of Everett; and
4. Shaunsayh Addo, 33, of Leominster.A second indictment also charged Obeng with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, five counts of bank fraud, two counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft.
All four defendants were arrested this morning. Following initial appearances in federal court in Boston, Joseph and Addo were released on conditions and Obeng and Georges remain detained pending hearings to be scheduled at a later date.
According to court records, Georges was previously convicted of money laundering in the District of Massachusetts in January 2022. Georges was serving a term of federal supervised release at the time of his alleged participation in the conspiracies charged in the indictment.
“United States Treasury checks belong to the American people. Defendants who steal and deposit them, like the defendants charged today, steal from all of us,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Fraudsters who saddle banks, credit unions, and their customers with million-dollar losses harm consumers too. My office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to pursuing justice for victims of financial scams, and we will hold accountable those who attempt to prey on the public’s money and American financial institutions.”
“Today’s indictment of these four individuals is a major step in bringing justice for all those impacted by this self-serving crime,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “For too long, organized criminal elements have preyed on the American public. These individuals thought that they were untouchable, operating with impunity, as they stole treasury checks intended for hard working taxpayers. IRS-CI is committed to finding defendants involved in fraud and bringing them to justice.”
“Today, we arrested four men for their alleged roles in a years-long, sprawling fraud ring that not only defrauded multiple banks and credit unions out of millions of dollars, but dragged dozens of innocent victims into their scheme. These men apparently thought they found an easy way to score some fast cash, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. Fraud is never the answer if you feel your paycheck isn’t up to par,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division. “The FBI will investigate anyone engaged in this sort of alleged criminal behavior. To those thinking about following in their footsteps: get ready to learn the same lesson, courtesy of the FBI and our law enforcement partners.”
“The arrests made today highlight the broad reach of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service when it comes to dismantling complex financial crimes. This investigation showcases the results that postal inspectors strive to achieve in collaboration with our law enforcement partners. We remain steadfast in our mission of protecting the integrity of the U.S. Mail and all customers who use it,” said Justin Page, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
According to the first indictment, the defendants allegedly coordinated the theft and deposit of United States Treasury checks, totaling at least $12.2 million between 2023 and 2026. As alleged, each of the U.S. Treasury checks was issued to a true payee but had been altered to be payable to shell companies the defendants controlled. Each defendant allegedly directed the deposit of fraudulent checks at banks or credit unions in and around Metro Boston in exchange for a cut of the proceeds of those deposits. Following the initial fraudulent deposits, the defendants allegedly conducted and caused others to conduct financial transactions to conceal the origin of the stolen funds, including, among other things, the purchase and deposit of cashier’s checks, the purchase of $310,000 in luxury watches and a $425,000 real estate loan secured by property in Nantucket, Mass.
Eight other individuals in June 2025 and one other individual in June 2026 were charged with the theft of government funds or bank fraud in connection with the deposit of the same stolen Treasury checks.According to the second indictment, Obeng and others allegedly obtained unauthorized electronic access to victims’ bank and retirement accounts, including through sending texts that were made to appear to be from the victims’ banks seeking to confirm a recent purchase and by posing as bank representatives in calls with victims. In the calls, conspirators allegedly posed as fraud investigators and persuaded victims to provide codes needed to authorize withdrawals from their accounts under the guise of verifying their identities. Obeng and others allegedly used this access to transfer funds from victim accounts to accounts Obeng and his coconspirators controlled. The indictment also alleges that Obeng and others recruited individuals to go into bank branches and pose as customers, open accounts, transfer or deposit fraud proceeds into these accounts and then withdraw the funds in cash.
The charges of bank fraud and bank fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy 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 charges of money laundering and money laundering conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for sentence of no less than two-years in prison to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The 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.
U.S. Attorney Foley; IRS SAC Demeo; FBI SAC Docks; and Acting USPIS IIC Page made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Kearney and Seth B. Kosto of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the cases.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Four Aliens Charged with Election FraudRead the Press Release
Four aliens, including 2 illegal aliens, have been charged with election-related crimes, announced United States Attorney David Metcalf.
“Our sovereignty as a nation belongs to the American people and no one else,” U.S. Attorney Metcalf said. “Anyone, including illegal aliens, who votes illegally in our elections will be prosecuted for corrupting our democracy.”
“Voting by noncitizens is illegal and has real consequences for the American public,” said HSI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Nathan Abel. “Every unlawful ballot can undermine confidence in the election process and diminish the voices of American citizens. HSI Philadelphia remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate election-related fraud and help protect the integrity of U.S. elections.”
Cliff Sanon, 39, an illegal alien from Haiti who has been residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of submitting a fraudulent voter registration application. According to the complaint, Sanon allegedly submitted a voter registration application in February 2026 in Philadelphia County prior to the May 2026 primary election, despite being a citizen of Haiti and not an American citizen. The complaint further alleges that this was among eight fraudulent voter registration applications submitted by Sanon, who also voted in the November 2022 election. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of five years of imprisonment, one year of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
Image of Cliff Sanon, 39, an illegal alien from HaitiDilea Ochoa-Perez, 43, an illegal alien from Mexico who has been residing in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, was charged by information with two counts of voting as an alien. According to the information, Ochoa-Perez allegedly illegally voted in Chester County in the November 2022 and November 2024 general elections, even though she was a citizen of Mexico at the time of both elections and not an American citizen. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of two years of imprisonment, one year of supervised release, a $200,000 fine, and a $50 special assessment.
Trinidad & Tobago national, Sade Guppy, 37, a lawful permanent resident, was charged by information with one count of voting as an alien. According to the information, Guppy allegedly illegally voted in Philadelphia County in the November 2022 general election, even though she was not a United States citizen. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of one year of imprisonment, one year of supervised release, a $100,000 fine, and a $25 special assessment.
Image of Trinidad & Tobago national, Sade Guppy, 37, a lawful permanent resident Image of Trinidad & Tobago national, Sade Guppy, 37, a lawful permanent residentMexican national, Eduardo Gallardo Maldonado, 66, a lawful permanent resident, was charged by information with one count of voting as an alien. According to the information, Maldonado allegedly illegally voted in Philadelphia County in the November 2024 general election, even though he was not a United States citizen. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of one year of imprisonment, one year of supervised release, a $100,000 fine, and a $25 special assessment.
These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
The charges and allegations contained in the criminal complaint and information are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Fort Wayne – Gerald Martin, 52, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced by Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Martin was sentenced to 180 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
“Martin used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. Gerald Martin will spend the next fifteen years in prison for his actions. Child exploitation and production of child pornography cases are a parent’s worst nightmare. These offenses have life-altering, lasting impacts on victims and their families and require severe punishment to deter others from engaging in this heinous behavior. The United States Attorneys’ Office will use whatever resources at our disposal to aggressively prosecute these offenders and get justice for their victims.” Said U.S. Attorney Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery
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.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Fort Wayne – Gerald Martin, 52, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced by Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Martin was sentenced to 180 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
“Martin used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. Gerald Martin will spend the next fifteen years in prison for his actions. Child exploitation and production of child pornography cases are a parent’s worst nightmare. These offenses have life-altering, lasting impacts on victims and their families and require severe punishment to deter others from engaging in this heinous behavior. The United States Attorneys’ Office will use whatever resources at our disposal to aggressively prosecute these offenders and get justice for their victims.” Said U.S. Attorney Mildred.
“Children should never be targets for sexual exploitation, and the harm caused by these crimes can last a lifetime,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who exploit children, and we will continue working closely with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to protect victims and pursue justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery
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.
Fort Mill Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Wesley Keith Zimmer, 31, of Fort Mill, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for transportation of child sexual abuse material.*
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Zimmer possessed, transported, and distributed child sexual abuse material. He additionally solicited two children to produce child sexual abuse material and sent sexually explicit images to one minor.
In May 2024, FBI agents received information that Zimmer was communicating with a 13-year-old girl on the website quora.com. After learning the girl’s age, Zimmer continued to send sexually explicit images to the victim and eventually compelled the victim to send similar sexually explicit pictures of herself back to him. Zimmer directed the victim to delete their chats and provided instructions on how to remove messages from her device. Additionally, Zimmer specifically directed the child to delete the images she sent to him from her WhatsApp chat.
A review of Zimmer’s electronic devices, including an iPad, an iPhone and a laptop, revealed Zimmer was in communication with another minor victim on Snapchat. The Snapchat communication between Zimmer, an adult male and a 15-year-old girl revealed several screenshot CSAM images taken by Zimmer, which appeared to be from “live” audio/video Snapchat groups with the three of them as participants. Zimmer distributed the screenshot CSAM images from the Snapchat group to the adult male and the 15-year-old girl.
FBI agents reviewed several historical National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cybertips regarding Zimmer and his alleged online activity involving CSAM. The Cybertip indicated that the CSAM images were downloaded by Zimmer in North Carolina. FBI agents executed a search warrant on Zimmer’s residence in South Carolina. They found 364 “visually unique” CSAM images on Zimmer’s iPhone that were identical to many of the images found in the NCMEC Cybertips. Zimmer transported those images from North Carolina to his residence in South Carolina.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Zimmer to 240 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. He was also ordered to pay $48,500 in restitution to the victims.
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.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Lothrop Morris prosecuted the case.###
* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.
Former New Hampshire Residents Indicted for Scheme to Steal and Launder Money Stolen from ATMsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Former New Hampshire residents Christopher Skinner, 41, and Amee Skinner, 37, have been indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with a total of twenty counts between them for their scheme to steal and launder money from bank ATMs, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Defendant Christopher Skinner, formerly of Milford, is charged with 18 counts of bank theft, two counts of money laundering, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Defendant Aimee Skinner, formerly of Conway, is charged with two counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Christopher Skinner was arrested on August 30, 2026, in Texas, waived his initial appearance, and pleaded not guilty. Amee Skinner waived her initial appearance and pleaded not guilty to the charges this week.
According to the charging documents and the public record, in February 2024, Christopher Skinner was employed by a business responsible for loading currency into ATMs throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. Beginning on February 2, 2024, Skinner allegedly stole cash while loading the ATMs. Between February 2 and February 26, 2024, Skinner allegedly stole approximately $259,574 from ATMs belonging to two victim banks.
The indictment alleges that beginning on February 3, 2024, Christopher and Amee Skinner made frequent cash deposits into a joint bank account and an account held solely in Amee’s name. From February 3 to July 22, 2024, the two allegedly deposited $117,175 in cash into the two accounts. The defendants allegedly used the stolen funds to make substantial personal purchases, including $40,000 in cash for a 2019 GMC Sierra and $28,814 in cash for a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. According to the indictment, the defendants also used stolen funds to pay for additional travel, retail, and online purchases.
The bank theft counts each carry a maximum prison term of 10 years. The money laundering counts carry a maximum prison term of 10 years, and the money laundering conspiracy count carries a maximum term of 20 years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes governing the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy is prosecuting the case.
Former Executive Director of Meriden and Groton Housing Authorities Charged with Fraud and Money Laundering OffensesRead the Press Release
ROBERT CAPPELLETTI, 60, of Middlebury, has been charged in a nine-count indictment with fraud and money laundering offenses related to employment as the executive director of housing authorities in Meriden and Groton.
The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI; and Shawn Rice, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region.
On September 22, 2026, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Cappelletti with five counts of wire fraud and four counts of making illegal monetary transactions, and Cappelletti was arrested today. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and was released on a $500,000 bond pending trial.
As alleged in the indictment, from approximately 2009 to May 2025, Cappelletti served as the executive director of the Meriden Housing Authority (“MHA”), which provides public housing for low-income families in Meriden, and as a board member of the Maynard Road Corporation (“MRC”), a non-profit corporation that supported development and redevelopment projects for the MHA. From approximately 2016 to January 2025, as part of a shared services agreement with the MHA, Cappelletti also served as the executive director of the Groton Housing Authority (“GHA”), which provides public housing for low-income families in Groton. In 2022, Cappelletti fraudulently borrowed $16,200,000 from a victim lender, purportedly on behalf of the MRC. As part of the loan transaction, Cappelletti executed a promissory note on behalf of the MRC and a guarantee of the promissory note on behalf of the MHA without obtaining authorization from either entity’s board of directors. Cappelletti falsely represented to the lender that the MRC and the MHA authorized the loan transaction, which he substantiated with fraudulent resolutions from the MRC and the MHA purporting to authorize the loan.
The indictment alleges that, in July 2022, the victim lender wired $13,961,750, which represented the amount of the loan after costs and fees, into a MRC bank account. Thereafter, Cappelletti directed a series of financial transactions designed to enrich himself and conceal his fraudulent conduct. Through those transactions, Cappelletti converted a portion of the money for his own use, including depositing approximately $450,000 into his personal investment account and paying $374,752.87 toward the mortgage on his personal residence.
The indictment further alleges that even though the GHA and the Greater Groton Realty Corporation (“GGRC”), a non-profit corporation that supports development and redevelopment projects for the GHA, were not parties or guarantors of the loan, Cappelletti used his position as GHA’s executive director to direct a series of payments toward the loan using GHA funds. Cappelletti misrepresented to the GHA and GGRC that the payments were related to a forthcoming bond for a development project in Groton and would be reimbursed, and he submitted forged invoices to justify the payments and conceal his scheme.
Wire fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, and making illegal monetary transactions carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Gentile and Raymond Miller.
Florida Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Robbery Affecting CommerceRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Andrew Wells, Sr., 51 years old, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to robbery affecting commerce, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Andrew Wells, Sr., was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $25,699 in restitution to the victims of the offense.
According to documents in the case, on October 25, 2022, in Hammond, Indiana, Wells robbed two cigarette delivery workers of 11 cases and 2 cartons of cigarettes valued at $25,699 with another robber while a third robber held the victim workers at gunpoint.
“Andrew Wells, Sr. has been sentenced to a lengthy federal prison term for orchestrating a violent, armed robbery against delivery drivers employed by the very company he was hired to protect. Our delivery workers provide an essential service to our communities, and they have the absolute right to do their jobs without a firearm pointed at their faces. The defendant did not just commit an act of senseless violence; he utterly violated a position of trust. Instead of protecting his colleagues, he used his insider knowledge as a security guard to target them, making his crimes particularly egregious and fully deserving of today’s severe sentence. This successful prosecution sends a clear message that violent crime will be met with swift and decisive justice. We are deeply grateful for the seamless collaboration and tireless efforts of the FBI’s Gang Response Investigative Team (GRIT) Task Force and the Hammond Police Department. Their exceptional teamwork ensured this dangerous individual was taken off our streets and held fully accountable,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
“People should be able to go to work, do their jobs, and make it home safely without having a gun pointed at them,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This defendant took advantage of his position of trust and used what he knew about the company’s operations to target innocent workers and put their lives at risk. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to follow the evidence, identify those responsible for violent crimes, and make sure they are held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation/Gang Response Investigative Team Task Force and the Hammond Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean R. Lanter.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Florida Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Brad Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 22, 2026, Ahmad Chadwick Houston Elliott, (age 26) of West Palm Beach, Florida, was sentenced to five years in federal prison by United States District Judge Lynn Adelman.
Over the course of five months, Elliott, who was twenty-one years old at the time, contacted a twelve-year-old Milwaukee girl on Facebook. He convinced her to send him naked pictures and videos of herself. When law enforcement spoke to Elliott, he admitted to instructing the victim to be alone in her room so they would not get caught and to delete any pictures or videos from her phone.
At his sentencing hearing, Judge Adelman said these were extremely serious crimes. Upon completion of his federal prison sentence, the defendant will spend five years on supervised release. He will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
“Crimes like this steal innocence from children,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel, “and we have no more important mission than to bring child sex predators like this defendant to justice.”
“The FBI is committed to identifying and investigating individuals who seek to victimize children. Mr. Elliott reprehensibly exploited a twelve-year-old child,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to protect children in our Wisconsin communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Assistant United States Attorney Megan J. Thomas.
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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Florida Doctor Sentenced for Making False Statements in Connection with Multi-Million-Dollar Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida-based doctor was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2026 in federal court in Boston for making false statements in connection with a multi-million-dollar health care fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary genetic testing and durable medical equipment (DME).
Simon Grinshteyn, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to four years of probation with six months in home confinement and 400 hours of community service. The defendant was also ordered to pay $3,160,809.43 in restitution. The government recommended a sentence of 18 months in prison followed by 18 months of supervised release. In March 2026, Grinshteyn pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements relating to health care matters. Grinshteyn was charged in January 2026.
Between February 2020 and June 2020, Grinshteyn worked with a purported telemedicine company to sign medical documentation, including doctors’ orders, for medically unnecessary genetic testing and DME. The medical records and doctors’ orders Grinshteyn received and signed were pre-populated and made it appear that Grinshteyn was providing legitimate consultations to Medicare beneficiaries and had conducted examinations of the beneficiaries and/or would provide further medical care to them. Grinshteyn generally did not contact the beneficiaries himself and had no provider-patient relationship with the beneficiaries. DME suppliers and laboratories ultimately submitted claims to Medicare for these signed orders. As a result of Grinshteyn’s participation in this scheme, Medicare paid more than $3.1 million in claims for DME and genetic testing that were based on false documentation.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Robert Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; Justin Page, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Kelly Lawson, Regional Director, Boston Regional Office, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor; and Christopher Silvestro, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Brazier and Lindsey Ross of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit prosecuted the case.
Feds dismantle interstate drug ring: Colorado woman handed 11-year sentenceRead the Press Release
CASPER, Wyo. — A Colorado woman received more than 11 years in federal prison for her role as a distributor in a multi-state drug trafficking ring that pumped large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl across state lines.
Nicole Rae Phipps, 42, was sentenced Sept. 16, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl to 133 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Phipps previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations uncovered the drug ring during a joint probe into illicit operations across Colorado and Wyoming.
According to federal court documents, investigators began tracking Phipps and co-defendant Denny Jason Shrove in August 2025. Wiretaps and surveillance revealed the pair made weekly supply trips to Colorado to obtain methamphetamine and fentanyl. Communications intercepted by federal agents indicated no fewer than five smuggling trips in October 2025 alone. Investigators calculated that Phipps was conservatively responsible for trafficking between 22 and 44 pounds (10 to 20 kilograms) of methamphetamine.
A federal complaint filed in January named Phipps and six co-defendants. Dozens of other co-conspirators were charged in state court. Phipps waived her right to an indictment and pleaded guilty May 18, admitting to possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith issued a stern warning to trafficking networks operating within the state, emphasizing that federal prosecutors are working with law enforcement to aggressively dismantle regional distribution networks entirely.
"This isn't just about making arrests. It’s about taking our streets back," Smith said. "We are pooling every ounce of local, state and federal power to lock up the drug peddlers driving this crisis, and we will not stop until our neighborhoods are safe."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case.
Case No. 26-CR-00048-SWS.
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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Federal grand jury indicts Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootingsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury indicted Lamont Champion, 27, of Cincinnati, charging him with three counts of federal firearms crimes. Champion allegedly possessed ammunition or firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.
Champion was originally charged by criminal complaint on Sept. 11.
According to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized that firearm.
Champion was later involved in two separate shootings. First, Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. Then, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center.
Analysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.
Agents executed a search warrant at Champion’s residence on the morning of his arrest and recovered two 9mm handguns, both with extended magazines.
Champion’s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the “reaper,” explained how good he was at shooting/killing people, how he did it with a smile on his face and how “hittin a mother***er” would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.
Champion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm or ammunition as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Champion is charged with two counts of illegally possessing ammunition and one count of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie; and Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederic C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson’s Office are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Federal Judge Sentences Man to 25 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking and Abusing a MinorRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sex trafficking and abusing a 16-year-old girl.
RUBEN CARTER knew the girl was 16 years old when he caused her to engage in commercial sex acts over a four-month period in 2019. Carter took nude and explicit photographs of the girl and used them in online advertisements for sexual services. He then arranged for the girl to meet individuals for commercial sex in various locations in the Chicago area. The girl gave Carter all the money she received from the customers.
Carter often beat the girl and threatened to kill her if she did not comply with his demands. Carter also engaged in sex acts with the girl on multiple occasions, often recording the abuse on his cell phone.
Carter, 39, of Forest Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of sex trafficking of a minor. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold sentenced Carter to a term of 25 years in federal prison and ordered that it be followed by ten years of court-supervised release.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the Forest Park, Ill. Police Department.
“Ruben Carter targeted a vulnerable sixteen-year-old runaway, lured her into his orbit, and sexually exploited her for his own financial benefit,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Asheeka Desai argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s crimes were violent, exploitative, and incredibly serious.”
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678 or logging on to http://www.missingkids.com. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
El Paso Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Paycheck Protection Program of More Than $2 MillionRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso woman pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to two charges related to Paycheck Protection Program fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Araceli Benitez, 47, owned and operated Garaas Insurance Tax Services (GITS) and Ashley Home Care Services (AHH) out of a storefront in El Paso. Through those businesses, Benitez helped various other businesses obtain Paycheck Protection Program loans from the federal government, charging clients a percentage of the loan they would receive.
In at least one instance, Benitez received income tax information from a client for the purpose of a PPP loan application, then prepared and filed a false Form 1040 that reflected different figures from the client’s true Form 1040. The Form 1040 filed by Benitez for the PPP loan application also did not contain her client’s signature. Additionally, the client’s signature on the loan application was forged and the application had not been reviewed by the client before Benitez submitted it. For her work in preparing the PPP loan application, Benitez charged the client $6,000 and deposited the funds into the GITS bank account.
Additionally, Benitez provided false information to the IRS via a Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return. On July 12, 2022, Benitez filed the form, claiming to have paid several employees higher wages that she had actually paid out. As a result of the false information, Benitez received a tax refund of $52,267.92.
“The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to help American small businesses survive the economic crisis that was the COVID era,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Araceli Benitez saw that as an opportunity to enrich herself through an illegal fraud scheme. Fraud against federal programs is a selfish crime against every taxpaying American. Like many other convicted fraudsters who have faced the consequences, Benitez must be held accountable.”
“The Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans were a resource to assist the American people and their small businesses in a time of uncertainty, instead Ms. Benitez used deceptive practices to exploit a government program for her own personal gain” said Coult W. Markovsky, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI El Paso Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to identify and investigate anyone who tries to defraud federal government programs in this way.”
“Benitez filed fraudulent tax returns using a refundable tax credit called the employee retention credit. When criminals use a refundable tax credit on their tax returns, the fraud can turn into a tax refund, which is stealing from every tax payer,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr., of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Texas Field Office. “IRS-CI initiated more than 560 investigations, involving more than $5.61 billion of potentially fraudulent employee retention credits. We are returning the money back to the Treasury where it can help take care of the needs of all taxpayers.”
Araceli pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims to the IRS. She faces up to 30 years in prison for the wire fraud and up to five years for the false claim. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Clausen and Adrian Gallegos are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Eight Individuals Charged in Drug Conspiracy, Including Former Federal Prisoner Whose Sentence was CommutedRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jason Lozada, age 51, of Philadelphia, PA; Michael Rinaldi, age 49, of Philadelphia, PA; Ryan Kehoe, age 49, of Wilkes-Barre, PA; Michelle Hall, age 46, of Wilkes-Barre, PA; William Miller, age 43, of Forty-Fort, PA; Dylan Mohr, age 29, of Benton, PA; Keith Sassaman, age 48, of Shavertown, PA; and Melissa Butler, age 49, of Wilkes-Barre, PA, were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that the eight defendants conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine, from in or around August 2025 through in or around September 2026. The 21-count indictment also alleges that the defendants distributed and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl on numerous occasions, in addition to multiple firearms charges.
According to public records, Michael Rinaldi was sentenced on July 26, 2021, by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani to serve 235 months of imprisonment following a conviction on federal drug trafficking charges. On January 17, 2025, Rinaldi received an Executive Grant of Clemency from former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., commuting Rinaldi’s remaining term of imprisonment.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation with assistance from the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, Hazelton Police Department, Wilkes-Barre Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department, Kingston Police Department, and Pittston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for the drug offenses charged is 20 years’ imprisonment per count. The maximum penalty for the firearm offenses charged ranges from 15 years to life imprisonment. Each charge comes with a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Dunkirk woman sentenced for theft of government funds involving COVID-19 fraudRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Angela Kellogg, 35, of Dunkirk, NY, who was convicted of theft of government money, was sentenced to serve three years’ probation by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
In July 2020, Kellogg provided her identification information and social security number to a co-conspirator, knowing that it would be used to obtain money she was not entitled to. After she provided her personal information, Kellogg received a check totaling $11,586 from the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources. The money used to fund the check belonged to the United States as it was issued through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Kellogg did not reside or work in Puerto Rico and was therefore legally ineligible to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds from the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources. In September 2020, Kellogg deposited the check into a checking account at an Inner Lakes Federal Credit Union bank in Westfield, NY. She then withdrew some of the funds, which she provided to her co-defendants as part of the scheme. Kellogg kept $5,000 of illegally obtained federal funds for her own benefit. The Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources lost a total of $67,524 as a result of the scheme.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone, Northeast Region.
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District Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearm and Ammunition Following Stolen Car Crash and Foot PursuitRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Kamar Clayton, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm equipped with an extended magazine after crashing a stolen car and fleeing police on foot, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Clayton pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony crime. U.S. District Court Judge Amy B. Jackson ordered Clayton to serve 24 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on March 23, 2026, at approximately 7:26 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were patrolling with federal law enforcement officers in Southeast Washington, D.C. Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a dark-colored car in a parking lot in the 4900 block of G Street SE. As that car stopped, an unrelated black Chrysler 300 sped out of the parking lot, struck three unoccupied parked cars, and fled the scene.
Two of the Three Cars the Chrysler 300 Ran Into
Law enforcement tracked the Chrysler 300 to the intersection of 46th Street SE and G Street SE, where the vehicle had crashed into a grassy lawn next to a residence. Officers observed the driver and a passenger exit the running vehicle and flee on foot. Following a short pursuit, officers apprehended the driver—identified as Clayton—in the 4600 block of G Street SE. Federal law enforcement officers apprehended the passenger.
The Chrysler 300 Where Clayton Left It
A law enforcement database search revealed that the Chrysler 300 had been reported stolen from Prince George’s County, Maryland, on February 6, 2026. Clayton, who did not have a valid driver’s license, was placed under arrest for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
During a search incident to arrest, Clayton informed officers, “I got a gun on me.” Officers recovered a Glock Model 21, .45 ACP-caliber semiautomatic pistol from Clayton’s left pant leg. The firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and five rounds in an attached 26-round capacity extended magazine. Clayton did not have a license to carry a firearm. Officers also recovered the vehicle's keys, six clear bags, and $400 in cash from Clayton.
Clayton’s Firearm with an Extended Magazine
At the time of the offense, Clayton was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction. In 2023, Clayton was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of Carrying a Pistol Without a License, for which he received an 8-month prison sentence.
This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Ibanez.
The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
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Dauphin County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Ardavan Alamoutinia, 36, of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $3,177,376 by United States District Judge Juan R. Sánchez for a scheme to fraudulently obtain emergency funds meant for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defendant was charged by indictment in May 2023 and pleaded guilty this March to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, 10 counts of mail fraud, one count of theft of government money, and one count of aggravated identity theft. His co-defendant, Aryanah Davison, 26, of Harrisburg, Pa., pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme in January 2025 and will be sentenced at a later date.
As detailed in court filings, Alamoutinia and Davison used stolen identities to file over 500 fraudulent applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”). These 500-plus fraudulent applications were filed using at least 375 identities of current or former employees of Company 1, Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”) which a co-conspirator had stolen and transferred to Davison.
After receiving the PII, Alamoutinia and Davison filed, or caused to be filed, the fraudulent PUA applications in 27 different states, resulting in a loss to the government of at least $2,886,876.
The two co-defendants converted at least $2,500,000 of the fraudulent proceeds in this case, spending them, in part, on a luxury sports vehicle and hundreds of thousands of dollars of cryptocurrency.
This case was investigated by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney S. Chandler Harris.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
DOJ Announces $25M “Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws” (ANGEL) Grant Opportunity for Local Law Enforcement in Honor of Americans Killed by Illegal Aliens and Illicit DrugsRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department announced the “Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws” (ANGEL) Grant Program.
This initiative seeks to protect American citizens from being victimized, harmed, or killed by violent criminal illegal aliens. No additional families should endure the trauma and life altering devastation experienced by victims of violent crime and Angel Families. This funding opportunity will support state, local, and tribal government’s activities to identify, disrupt, and prevent violent crime and enhance public safety through coordinated, intelligence-led law enforcement operations.
“This funding opportunity is a way for local law enforcement to honor victims and counter the dangerous sanctuary policies that have decimated public safety in so many states,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “The Trump Administration and this Department of Justice want to ensure local law enforcement have the resources they need to ensure the deaths of innocent Americans never happen again. To the departments whose states have failed to provide you with the support you need to conduct law enforcement or immigration enforcement and to protect your communities from murders and trafficking: this program is for you.”
Funding must be used by local law enforcement for:
- Locating and apprehending aliens who have committed a crime under federal, state, or local law, in addition to being unlawfully present in the United States (hereafter referred to as “criminal illegal aliens”).
- Collection and analysis of law enforcement investigative information within the United States to counter gang or other criminal activity.
- Investigating and prosecuting (a) crimes committed by aliens within the United States; and (b) drug and human trafficking crimes committed within the United States.
- Court operations related to the prosecution of (a) crimes committed by aliens; and (b) drug and human trafficking crimes.
- Temporary criminal detention of aliens.
- Transporting aliens described in paragraph (1) within the United States to locations related to the apprehension, detention, and prosecution of such aliens.
- Vehicle maintenance, logistics, transportation, and other support provided to law enforcement agencies by a state agency to enhance the ability to locate and apprehend aliens who have committed crimes under federal, state, or local law, in addition to being unlawfully present in the United States.
Eligible local law enforcement Awards from this program will be used to support significant participation in and support of Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) activities and other DOJ efforts to combat gangs, cartels, and other violent crime.
This program is authorized under the BIDEN Reimbursement Fund established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II (codified at 34 U.S.C. § 61101), provides funding for grants to eligible States, State agencies, and units of local government and tribal governments, pursuant to their existing statutory authorities to support the seven statutory purposes outlined in 34 U.S.C. § 61101.
Local law enforcement can apply here.
Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Convicted of Unlawful Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Emiliano Rafael Hernandez Escamilla, 26, of Mexico, was sentenced after a federal conviction for possession of ammunition by an alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche remain committed to devoting the full might of the Department of Justice toward protecting our communities from criminal illegal aliens threatening the safety of our citizens. My office will continue to aggressively enforce our nation’s laws to deliver the secure borders and safe streets that our citizens deserve.”
A federal investigation revealed that on March 27, 2026, law enforcement located fifty rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition during a lawful search of the Escamilla’s vehicle. Immigration records revealed that Escamilla was a native of Mexico and did not have lawful status in the United States. Escamilla admitted to ownership of the ammunition and admitted he was illegally present in the United States.
Escamilla was sentenced to credit for time served (approximately 134 days) at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee by District Judge Mark E. Walker. As an illegal alien, Escamilla is subject to deportation.
The case involved a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Conehatta Man Pleads Guilty to Transportation of a Minor for Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – On September 23, 2026, a Conehatta man pleaded guilty to Transportation of a Minor with the Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity.
According to court documents, Taterrian Tyron Anderson, 22, transported a minor from her home in Oklahoma to his home in the Conehatta Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation. Anderson’s purpose was to have sex with the minor. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2025.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Robert Eikhoff, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office, made the announcement.
Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced in January of 2027 and faces incarceration of not less than ten years to life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Choctaw Police Department, Oklahoma City Police Department, the City of Union Police Department, and the FBI located in Oklahoma and Mississippi investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy prosecuted the case.
Chief Operating Officer Pleads Guilty for Role in $500M COVID-19 Test Billing FraudRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Hasan “Lucas” Seyhun, 45, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud for his role in a wide-ranging, nationwide scheme that logged more than $500 million in fake claims to government-backed healthcare programs, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced.
“At a time when Americans were scared for their families and their futures, Hasan Seyhun saw an opportunity to turn a national crisis into his own personal payday,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Instead of providing the American people with the assistance they needed during a critical time, Seyhun and his colleagues exploited their trust, and lined their pockets from fraudulent insurance claims. The Fraud Division will not let up in its relentless pursuit of COVID era fraudsters.”
“Ripping off the American taxpayer is bad enough. Using the fear and isolation of the COVID pandemic to do it is sickening," said United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. “Not only did Seyhun and his co-conspirators defraud the American public of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of fake services, but they were so confident in their scheme that they routinely submitted claims for payment before test kits were even delivered to the customer.”
According to court documents, Seyhun served as the Chief Operating Officer of New York-based Fast Lab Technologies, LLC (Fast Lab), which offered to individuals “no cost” Covid‑19 tests during the pandemic that could be ordered online through the company’s website.
Fast Lab then used customers’ insurance information to falsely bill for services that were never provided, including:
- False claims that antigen tests had been observed by medical professionals;
- That saliva samples had been collected by medical personnel;
- And that PCR testing had been conducted on those samples.
In his plea agreement, Seyhun also admitted that he conspired with previously charged defendants Cemhan “Jimmy” Biricik, Fast Lab’s CEO, and Dr. Martin Perlin, Fast Lab’s Medical Director, to carry out the scheme.
Seyhun also acknowledged that in his role as COO he orchestrated the submission of millions of dollars in fraudulent healthcare claims, resulting in at least $35M in illicit payments. Seyhun has agreed to a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $4,313,153, representing the amount of money he personally received from the scheme.
"A scheme of this magnitude undermines public trust and diverts critical healthcare dollars away from the people and programs who need it most. Today’s guilty plea is an important step toward accountability for conduct that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent billings,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI will continue working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to track down complex healthcare fraud schemes and hold those who conduct them fully accountable.”
“Laboratories that submit false claims for medical testing and services put profit over patient care at the taxpayers’ expense,” said OPM-OIG Special Agent in Charge Derek M. Holt. “We commend our investigative staff as well as our colleagues and law enforcement partners for their dedicated efforts to hold these companies accountable and safeguard the integrity of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.”
“Today’s guilty plea makes clear that exploiting a public health emergency for personal gain will be met with decisive action,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “This case highlights the strength of our interagency partnerships and the unwavering commitment of federal, state, and local investigators to protect patients and safeguard taxpayer funded programs. When individuals choose fraud over the public good, they will be held accountable.”
“All the defendants in this case had one thing in common – they were motivated by greed,” said Todd Strom, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Their pursuit of money, and the privileges it brings, led Mr. Seyhun and his associates to take advantage of the healthcare system and misuse funds intended for COVID-19 testing. Thanks to the dedication and financial expertise of IRS-CI special agents, who worked closely with our law enforcement partners, this scheme was brought to light, and these criminals will now face the consequences of their actions.”
Gorgon was also joined in the announcement by:
- Daniel Aronowitz, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA);
- Jessica Herrington, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS);
- Todd E Strom, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI);
- Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor General (DOL-OIG);
- Felicia B. George, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS);
- Owen Cypher, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan;
- Dana Nessel, Michigan Attorney General
Offices and Divisions also contributing the case include:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG);
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General (OPM-OIG);
- The Michigan Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Regina R. McCullough and Ryan A. Particka.
About the National Fraud Enforcement Division: On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Charlottesville Man, Previously Charged for Sexual Exploitation of Albemarle Teen, Charged in Second Assault of Federal Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Charlottesville man who was indicted in December 2025 on two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of possession of child pornography and charged a second time in February 2026 with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, was indicted yesterday on both the original assault allegation and two additional counts of assault on law enforcement officers in April 2026.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Gustavo Quintero, 25, with three counts of assault on a federal law enforcement officers.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia maintains a zero-tolerance policy for assault on law enforcement officers,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “Anyone who assaults a federal law enforcement officer will be arrested and prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law.”
“The assault of any officer conducting their lawful duty is simply unacceptable. Quintero was indicted by a grand jury after grave allegations of his sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl. Compounding the seriousness of those initial allegations, his alleged conduct towards officers carrying out their public safety duties resulted in additional charges today,” said Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. Acting Special Agent in Charge Kai Wah Chan.
According to the indictment, on January 15, 2026, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), along with officers from the Albemarle County Police Department traveled to the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail to execute a federal arrest warrant on Quintero. During an interaction with Quintero, he spit directly into the face of one of the agents.
Months later, on April 13, 2026, Quintero assaulted officers “M.G.” and “C.E.,” causing bodily injury to both. M.G. and C.E. were both officers at the Western Virginia Regional Jail, who were performing services for the United States Marshals Service.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Albemarle County Police Department.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Charlotte Man Charged with Selling Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Firearms, and a “Glock Switch” Appears in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man charged with selling fentanyl, methamphetamine, firearms, and a “Glock switch,” appeared in federal court today, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Last week, a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment against Abdul Abdullah, 42. Abdullah had his initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark T. Odulio following his arrest on Wednesday.
“Firearms and drug trafficking are a dangerous combination, and we have seen the deadly effects when the two are put together,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We are working to save lives by removing fatal drugs from our streets and taking guns from those who peddle them.”
“When traffickers move fentanyl and methamphetamine while arming themselves with guns and conversion switches, they endanger every neighborhood they touch,” said Mark M. Zito, special agent in Charge of HSI Carolinas. “HSI Carolinas will keep working with our partners to disrupt the criminal networks and individuals who traffic deadly drugs and weapons in the Carolinas.”
According to allegations in the indictment, from September 2025 to June 2026, Abdullah distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charlotte area. It is further alleged that, on at least two occasions, Abdullah possessed an illegal firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. The indictment also alleges that, in September 2025, Abdullah sold a gold-colored machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a “Glock switch” or “switch,” which is a device that transforms a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic machinegun.
Abdullah is in federal custody. He is charged with six counts of distribution of fentanyl, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of transfer of a machinegun. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any imposed sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges against the defendant are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department led the investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Brooklyn Man Convicted of Brandishing a Firearm During Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Vincenzo Randazzo was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The conviction arises from Randazzo’s robbery of an Empire State Bank branch in Brooklyn on March 5, 2026. The verdict followed a two-day trial before United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon. Prior to trial, on August 26, 2026, Randazzo pleaded guilty to the robbery of Empire State Bank on March 5, 2026. When sentenced, Randazzo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must run consecutively to the sentence imposed for the bank robbery.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.
“Today’s verdict rightly holds the defendant accountable for entering a Brooklyn bank with a loaded firearm, pointing it at a bank employee, and stealing money,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Brandishing a firearm during a bank robbery endangers innocent victims and transforms an already serious crime into a potentially deadly encounter. Our Office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute criminals who use firearms to terrorize our communities.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the case.
“Vincenzo Randazzo used a firearm to commit an armed bank robbery – a violent crime with serious consequences. This verdict sends a clear message: the FBI and our NYPD partners on the Joint Violent Crime Task Force will hold violent criminals accountable and protect New Yorkers,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As proven at trial, on March 5, 2026, Randazzo entered an Empire State Bank branch in Brooklyn, displayed and pointed a loaded firearm at a bank employee, and demanded money. After stealing over $6,000, Randazzo fled the bank in his vehicle, the license plate of which he had concealed, and discarded clothing he had worn during the robbery.
On March 17, 2026, law enforcement officers arrested Randazzo and executed a court-authorized search of his residence. During the search, officers recovered currency taken during the robbery, as well as four firearms together with ammunition and magazines. Three of the recovered firearms resembled the firearm Randazzo brandished during the robbery. In a recorded post-arrest interview, Randazzo admitted that he entered the bank, pulled and pointed a loaded firearm at a teller, and took money from two tellers.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Manzo is in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Heyward.
The Defendant:
VINCENZO RANDAZZO
Age: 60
Brooklyn, NYE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-74 (CBA)
Atlantic City Director of Constituent Services Charged for Accepting Bribes Related to a Cannabis BusinessRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Atlantic City public official was charged in connection with a scheme to solicit bribes from a cannabis business, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
Kashawn McKinley, 42, Director of Constituent Services in Atlantic City and a member of the Atlantic City School Board, was charged by complaint with honest services fraud and two counts of soliciting bribes. McKinley had his initial appearance today, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sharon A. King in federal court in Camden.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
McKinley solicited more than $20,000 in cash and marijuana in exchange for his official assistance to a cannabis business owner in connection with the opening of the business and resolving certain fees owed by the business owner to the City of Atlantic City. In one instance, McKinley received a bribe payment for his assistance in getting the cannabis business classified as a “micro” cannabis business instead of a standard cannabis business, which resulted in the business paying a $2,500 annual fee to renew its mercantile license instead of the $25,000 annual fee required for standard cannabis businesses.
In addition to receiving cash and cannabis, McKinley in one instance expected payment in the form of services. Specifically, in October 2025, McKinley directed the business owner to assault another person in exchange for McKinley’s official assistance in resolving the fee disputes between the business owner and Atlantic City. When McKinley was later shown what appeared to be a photograph of the injured victim, McKinley expressed pleasure and assured the cannabis business owner that when it came to the fee disputes with Atlantic City: “you don’t have to worry about nothing.”
The honest services fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The bribery charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Atlantic City Resident Agency and the FBI’s Atlantic City Public Corruption Task Force, both under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Francesca Liquori, Senior Trial Counsel for the Special Prosecutions Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Assistant United States Attorney Jena Tiernan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: James Maguire, Esq., AFPD
mckinely.complaint.pdfAs Part of Operation Take Back America, an Illegal Alien from Mexico Is Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Candelario Gameros-Ante, who is in the United States illegally, will spend the next 144 months in federal prison after being convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of firearms, being a felon in possession of firearms, and illegal reentry into the United States after he was previously deported. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
On June 3, 2025, Gameros-Ante, 47, of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a three-count Indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms, being an illegal alien in possession of firearms, and illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. On May 6, 2026, Gameros-Ante pleaded guilty to all three counts in the Indictment. In addition to the 12-year sentence, Judge Miller also sentenced Gameros-Ante to two years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On May 10, 2025, Searcy Police Department officers responded to a vehicle accident to discover that the driver, who was a minor, was shot in the neck and paralyzed. During a search of the area, officers discovered three shell casings in a yard in the proximity of the shooting and ultimately arrested someone who identified himself as Edgar Gameros. After obtaining a search warrant and searching his address, Searcy officers discovered three firearms, including the firearm used to shoot the minor driver. An investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration revealed that Gameros-Ante was in fact the person who previously self-identified as Edgar Gameros at arrest.
Gameros-Ante currently has Arkansas state charges of Terroristic Act and Battery-First Degree pending against him that are related to the shooting of the minor.
Gameros-Ante was previously removed from the United States to Mexico after a January 7, 2004, felony conviction for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Gameros-Ante then illegally reentered the United States and assumed the identity of his brother, Edgar Gameros.
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 investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Searcy Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews.
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Anderson Man to Serve More Than Four Decades in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Abuse CrimesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Keynan Santos, 44, of Anderson, has been sentenced to 44 years and one month in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, possession of child sexual abuse material, and committing a felony offense while required to register as a sex offender. Santos was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to Minor Victim 1.
Santos has a prior 2015 conviction for two felony counts of Child Molesting and was sentenced to eight years in the Indiana Department of Correction. As a result of that conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender for life.
According to court documents, between November and December 2024, Santos lived in Anderson, Indiana, with Minor Victim 1, who was under twelve years old at the time and under his care and custody. During this period, Santos sexually abused and exploited the child and recorded the abuse. He also messaged the victim and persuaded her to create and send additional sexually explicit images.
The Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force was alerted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after Google flagged an upload of child sexual abuse material linked to Santos’ account. Investigators subsequently searched Santos’ laptop and cell phone, discovering more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material across his devices.
“No child should ever fear the person entrusted with their safety. The defendant’s exploitation of a child in his care is a heartbreaking betrayal of the trust every child deserves at home,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The horrific abuse inflicted on this young victim is unconscionable, and our office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect children, hold offenders fully accountable, and bring justice to survivors.”
“There is no safe harbor for those who prey on children,” said Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “This sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s crimes: those who abuse children, produce child sexual abuse material, or use the internet to continue their crimes will be found, arrested, and held accountable. HSI is proud to stand with our federal, state, and local partners in protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice.”
“The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force commends the collaborative work of the Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, said Indiana State Police Lieutenant Christopher Cecil, the commander of the Indiana ICAC Task Force. “The ICAC is about building teams and working together to make our communities safer for children and their families.”
“We are fortunate to have a strong relationship with our federal partners, and the sentence imposed exemplifies the commitment to holding offenders accountable,” said Lt Doug Baker, Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force Supervisor.
The Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force investigated this case with assist from Homeland Security Investigations. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Justin R. Olson.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. Visit https://www.internetcrimesagainstkids.com to learn more about their efforts.
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Amherst man pleads guilty to distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jesus Collins, 26, of Amherst, NY, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.
In November 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at Collins’ residence, during which multiple electronic devices were seized, including his cellphone. A review of the cell phone recovered approximately 20 images and 55 videos depicting child pornography. The phone also contained messaging applications such as Signal, SimpleX, Telegram, and Teleguard, which Collins used to distribute and receive child pornography.
On Collins’ Telegram account, investigators discovered that he exchanged child pornography with other users, often offering or agreeing to “trade” child pornography in exchange for images and videos that they had. Over approximately 2,500 unique video files and approximately 600 unique images files constituting child pornography were found in Collins’ Telegram chats, some of which depicted infants and the use of restraints on minor victims. In addition, Collins used Telegram to communicate with minors. These communications included sexually explicit conversations, during which Collins solicited the minors to send him images and videos of themselves engaging in various sexual acts, many constituting child pornography. Collins also sent the minors videos of himself engaged in sexual acts.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose. The plea is the result of an investigation by the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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Aliens Charged with Illegally Voting in Federal Election and Making False Statements While Applying for U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man and a Middlesex County woman, both aliens, were each charged with illegally voting in a federal election and making false statements while applying for United States citizenship, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
Patrick Terrance Reid, 61, a Jamaican national and resident of Orange, New Jersey, and Danubis Bernat, 49, a Venezuelan national and resident of South Amboy, New Jersey, were each charged by separate complaints with voting by an alien in a federal election and making false statements while applying for United States citizenship. Reid had his initial appearance on September 24, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in federal court in Newark. Bernat had her initial appearance on September 24, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in federal court in Trenton.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Reid and Bernat were non-citizens when they registered to vote. In their voter registration forms they each falsely certified and attested that they were United States citizens. In order to register, and to vote in federal elections, a person must be a United States citizen.
Each of the defendants, still without United States citizenship, cast ballots in at least one federal election. Reid voted in-person in the presidential elections held in November 2012 and November 2016, and via mail-in ballot in the presidential elections in November 2020 and November 2024. Bernat voted in-person in the 2024 general election. Each of those elections included candidates who were vying for election to federal offices. At the time they cast their respective ballots, Reid, who entered the United States from Jamaica on an SA1 immigrant visa, and Bernat, who entered the United States from Venezuela on a B-2 tourist visa, were not United States citizens and were therefore not authorized to vote in federal elections.
After illegally voting in federal elections, each of the defendants applied to become a United States citizen by submitting applications for naturalization (an N-400). An N-400 requires the applicant to swear under penalty of perjury that the information provided in the application is complete, true, and correct. In their respective N-400 application, both Reid and Bernat falsely claimed that they had never registered to vote or voted in any federal elections.
The counts of voting by an alien, carry a maximum sentence of 1 year’s imprisonment, and a fine of up to $100,000. The counts of making false statements while applying for United States citizenship carry a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy; and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the investigations.
The cases were brought under the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force, a coalition of federal law enforcement partners focused on preserving and protecting the integrity of elections conducted in the District of New Jersey.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark McCarren and Joseph McFarlane of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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bernat.complaint.pdf reid.complaint.pdfAguadilla Man Indicted and Arrested for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 23, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging José Antonio Soto-Ramos, 37, of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, with possession, receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The arrest follows an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.
According to the indictment, in July 2026, Soto-Ramos knowingly received and distributed child exploitation material. From March to July 2026, the defendant possessed images of child pornography in his cellular phone.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute persons who use technology to victimize children who are victims of child exploitation crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez-Carbó. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and HSI encourage potential victims to come forward if you have knowledge that this defendant or any other adult has engaged in this type of criminal behavior. Tipsters may remain anonymous.”
“Child predators rarely present themselves as predators. They often disguise their identity as a trusted adult, another child, a female, or someone else to gain access, build trust, and exploit victims,” said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. “The arrest of José Soto Ramos, who was found in possession of a significant amount of child sexual abuse material, underscores HSI’s commitment to protecting children and identifying offenders. We encourage parents and guardians to maintain open, ongoing conversations with children, including the importance of pausing before responding to unknown contacts, avoiding private conversations with people they have not met in person, and seeking help from a trusted adult if an interaction feels uncomfortable. If you believe that someone you know may have been victimized by this individual, please contact HSI Communications Center immediately.”
Rivera-Santos had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mariana Bauzá Almonte and was ordered to remain temporarily detained at the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center pending further proceedings. If convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: (1) receipt of child exploitation material - a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and (2) possession of child exploitation material - a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after imprisonment of no less than 5 years up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elba Gorbea of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit, prosecuted the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI was in charge of the investigation, with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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23 September 2026
Wewahitchka Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida –Ronnie Lee Small Jr., 48, of Wewahitchka, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously being convicted of three counts of distribution of methamphetamine at jury trial. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “If the message from my office isn’t already abundantly clear, let me say it plainly now: if you peddle deadly drugs in our communities, my exceptional prosecutors will send you to federal prison. The citizens of this District deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities, and that is exactly what my office will deliver with continued aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences like this one.”
Evidence at trial demonstrated that the defendant sold methamphetamine to a confidential source working with the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office on three separate occasions with approximate weights of one ounce, one ounce, and two ounces.
This sentencing was the result of a joint investigation by the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Spaven and James A. McCain prosecuted the case.
“This sentencing reflects the strong partnership between the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office and our local, state, and federal partners,” said Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison. “Together, we remain dedicated to protecting our communities and ensuring offenders are held accountable.”
“We are coming for methamphetamine traffickers in the Florida Panhandle,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. “Our agents maintain a strong presence in that region and will continue to do so until these criminals are brought to justice.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro Announces Creation of Fraud and Asset Recovery Division to Strengthen Federal Anti Fraud EnforcementRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro today announced the creation of the Fraud and Asset Recovery Division, a specialized unit dedicated to investigating and pursuing fraud cases, with a particular focus on the False Claims Act. The new division marks a significant expansion of federal civil fraud enforcement capacity in the nation’s capital. Recent years have seen record setting False Claims Act recoveries and qui tam lawsuits. By creating a new division with AUSAs and support staff devoted to investigating and litigating cases involving all types of fraud against the government, this office will be a premier destination to fight rampant fraud in the epicenter of the federal government.
"President Trump has prioritized the elimination of fraud, waste, and abuse involving federal agencies and programs,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This new Fraud and Asset Recovery Division will reinforce and consolidate our resources to hold fraudsters accountable and recover taxpayer dollars. We are sending a clear message: those who cheat the federal government will face decisive, coordinated action."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office will significantly increase and realign its resources from its existing Affirmative Civil Enforcement unit within the Civil Division to form the new division. The reorganization draws a clear line between affirmative civil enforcement and the important defensive workload of the Civil Division, centralizing experience and maximizing results.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has a long history of combatting fraud and recovering billions of dollars on behalf of American taxpayers under the False Claims Act. Working in partnership with the Justice Department’s Civil Fraud Section, federal investigative agencies, and whistleblowers, the office has successfully resolved major cases, including:
- A large government contractor for improperly billing commercial and international costs to government contracts;
- A software manufacturer for defrauding the government through false disclosures and intentional overbilling;
- A medical device manufacturer for misbranding and off-label marketing; and
- A pharmaceutical manufacturer for failing to comply with laws regulating medication.
In recent years, the overwhelming demands of the office’s civil defensive docket have limited available resources for affirmative investigations and litigation. The creation of the Fraud and Asset Recovery Division ensures dedicated resources to establish a premier anti-fraud enforcement unit at the epicenter of the federal government in Washington, DC.
The Division will be comprised of dedicated AUSAs, investigators, auditors, and support staff. In addition to False Claims Act cases, the Division will handle other affirmative civil enforcement matters, including civil collections on behalf of federal agencies, enforcement of agency and OIG subpoenas, and civil asset forfeiture actions.
The Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be part of the Fraud and Asset Recovery Division. This unit collects special assessments, fines, and restitution debts imposed in criminal cases, and civil debts owed to the United States and Federal agencies such as civil judgments and settlements in affirmative cases, and student loan debts owed to the Department of Education.
Dan Schiffer will serve as Chief and Sean M. Tepe will serve as Deputy Chief overseeing the Division.
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Two Ocala Men Arrested for Distributing Cocaine and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Phillip Washington, Jr. (66, Ocala), a/k/a “Big Phil,” and Reginald Cornelius Sesler (46, Ocala), a/k/a “Hot Boy,” have been charged by indictment with distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Washington is charged in three counts and Sesler is charged in two counts. If convicted, Washington faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison on each count. Sesler faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40, in federal prison on each count. Both are currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal case. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Washington and Sesler, aiding and abetting each other, distributed and possessed with intent to distribute cocaine on June 10, 2024. Washington is also separately charged with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl on June 18 and July 18, 2024. Sesler is charged with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine during another incident on July 25, 2024.
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 Drug Enforcement Administration and the Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Two Men Each Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Firearm Crimes Committed in Monroe and Many as Part of Project Safe Neighborhoods InitiativeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT – On September 17, 2026, United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., sentenced Jamison Keontai King, 35, of Wallisville, Texas, to 60 months in federal prison after his guilty plea for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.
On September 18, 2026, United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Alonzo Deshaun Young, 41, of Monroe, to 60 months in federal prison after his guilty plea for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.
KING
According to court documents, King was taken into custody by Many, Louisiana, police officers (MPD) on October 23, 2024, after officers responded to a call made by a person who identified King as the suspect in a disturbance. Officers found methamphetamine and a Romarm/Cugir Micro Draco 7.62x39mm firearm in his possession at the time he was taken into custody. King admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine and that he possessed the firearm to further and advance his drug trafficking activities.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and MPD investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins with assistance from Legal Assistant Emily Favrot.
YOUNG
According to court documents, on May 28, 2025, Louisiana State Police (LSP) responded to a single car crash along Interstate 20 in Monroe. Young, the sole occupant of the vehicle, appeared unaware that he had been in an accident. Troopers found a partially burnt cigarette soaked in PCP on the driver’s floorboard and a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield (M2.0) pistol on the passenger floorboard. Young admitted possessing the firearm and acknowledged that his prior felony conviction made it illegal for him to do so.
ATF and LSP investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheyenne Y. Wilson with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcements.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 5:26 cr 00042 01 (King) and 3:26 cr 00006 (Young.)
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more at www.justice.gov/psn.
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(337) 262-6704Two Men Charged After 10.7 Kilograms of Fentanyl Seized During Traffic StopRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Two men are facing federal charges after New Mexico State Police allegedly discovered approximately 10.7 kilograms of fentanyl during a traffic stop.
According to court documents, on September 16, 2026, Armando Cordova-Rugerio, 25, and Francisco Javier Utrera Perez, 21, were traveling eastbound on Interstate 40 in Cibola County in a white sedan that had been identified by an out-of-state law enforcement agency as associated with a narcotics distribution ring.
A New Mexico State Police officer conducting patrol operations near mile marker 85 observed the sedan traveling in the left lane despite having an opportunity to return to the right lane and initiated a traffic stop. Rugerio was driving the vehicle, which was registered to Perez, who was seated in the passenger seat. Rugerio and Perez told the officer they were traveling to Albuquerque to visit Rugerio’s aunt.
A second New Mexico State Police officer arrived with a narcotics detection canine, which alerted to the vehicle during an open-air sniff. Both Rugerio and Perez consented to a search of the sedan.
Officers allegedly discovered multiple packages of blue pills concealed behind the trunk lining on both sides of the vehicle. A subsequent search at Homeland Security Investigations in Albuquerque uncovered additional packages of pills alongside the rear quarter panel. A sample of the pills tested positive for fentanyl. In total, officers recovered approximately 10.7 kilograms of fentanyl pills.
Rugerio and Perez are charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Perez will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. Rugerio will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026. If convicted of the current charge, Rugerio and Perez face up to life in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan G. McRae of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today.
HSI Albuquerque investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Cortesi is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Illegal Aliens from Mexico Indicted After Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to Seizure of Nearly 60 Kilograms of Crystal Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two illegal aliens from Mexico with alleged ties to a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) have been indicted after an investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) led to the seizure of nearly 60 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Martin Eduardo Hernandez Nunez, 36, and Juan Carlos Mojarro Sanchez, 38, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine; distribution of crystal methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine.
“We are laser focused on identifying transnational criminal organizations and their operatives who smuggle deadly drugs into our communities, fueling addiction and violence,” said U.S Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We are going after these organizations at every level to stop their drugs from reaching our streets.”
“Drug trafficking organizations don’t care who they hurt. They push dangerous drugs into our neighborhoods, fuel crime, and put lives at risk,” said Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Carolinas. “In this case, the Homeland Security Task Force took nearly 60 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, fentanyl, a gun, and alleged drug money out of circulation. HSI and our partners will keep going after these networks and the people who bring this poison into North Carolina.”
According to allegations in charging documents, Hernandez Nunez and Mojarro Sanchez had ties to a Mexico-based transnational criminal organization responsible for distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine in the Charlotte area. In May 2026, investigators recovered from the defendants’ residence nearly 30 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and two kilograms of fentanyl, and an additional four kilograms of crystal methamphetamine through controlled drug buys with the defendants. Investigators also seized from the residence a firearm, vacuum sealers, a money counter, drug ledgers, digital scales, and a large kilo press commonly used for repackaging narcotics. Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at a storage unit used by the defendants, seizing an additional 30 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Investigators also seized more than $66,000 in alleged drug proceeds over the course of the investigation.
Hernandez Nunez and Mojarro Sanchez are in federal custody. If convicted, they face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any imposed sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges against the defendants are allegations, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) is an 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 CORE 23 (Charlotte) is comprised of agents and officers from HSI; FBI; DEA; ATF; IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations; U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID); the Naval Criminal investigative Service (NCIS); the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FIDC) Office of Inspector General (OIG); the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security; the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s OIG; the North Carolina Insurance Bureau; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED); North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI); the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS); Greensville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU); South Carolina Department of Corrections; police departments from jurisdictions in North and South Carolina: Anderson City, Cary, Charleston County Airport, Charleston, Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CMPD), Cornelius, Eden, Gastonia, Greensboro, Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) International Airport, Huntersville, Kannapolis, Kings Mountain, Matthews, Nags Head, Piedmont Triad Internal Airport, Pineville, Raleigh, Stallings, Summerville, Waxhaw, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem; and sheriff’s offices from counties in North and South Carolina: Alamance, Alexander, Berkeley, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarendon, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Davie, Durham, Florence, Forsyth, Gaston, Greenville, Halifax, Iredell, Lee, Nash, New Hanover, Oconee, Richmond, Rowan, Sampson, Spartanburg, and Wake.
Prosecution is being led by the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys for the Districts of North and South Carolina.