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2 March 2026
United States Attorney David C. Waterman Highlights National Leadership and Key Achievements at the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers SeminarRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – On February 27, 2026, United States Attorney David C. Waterman presented at the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers’ 63rd Annual Seminar. His presentation outlined the mission, priorities, and recent accomplishments of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
During the presentation, U.S. Attorney Waterman highlighted the office’s national leadership in several enforcement areas, including ranking second in the nation in overdose-related drug-trafficking prosecutions and among the top five districts nationwide in human-trafficking enforcement. He also discussed recent successes in complex litigation, including major RICO prosecutions involving the Fifth Street and OMB gangs, and significant white-collar cases focused on protecting vulnerable victims.
“Our office is committed to protecting the public through strong enforcement and close partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Waterman. “These recent results reflect the dedication, professionalism, and excellence of our federal prosecutors and law enforcement partners.”
U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa presents at the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers on February 27, 2026.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of over $15.5 Million to Compensate Victims of Massive Global Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that the Roger Knox Remission Fund has begun distributing more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also distributed an additional $3.1 million related to the securities fraud scheme to these victims.
Knox, with others, operated the Swiss-based asset management firm Silverton, which was later renamed Wintercap. Through the business, Knox facilitated pump-and-dump schemes by selling massive quantities of microcap securities on behalf of undisclosed control groups who secretly owned the stock through nominee entities formally owned by third parties. The shares were generally held by the nominees in blocks of less than 5% of the issuer’s total outstanding shares in order to evade the disclosure obligations and sale limitations in the federal securities laws. To generate investor demand for the shares, the undisclosed control groups simultaneously orchestrated promotional campaigns to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the shares. Knox then funneled the proceeds of the pump-and-dump schemes — totaling over $137 million between 2016 and 2018—to co-conspirators in the United States and around the world through a complex money transfer system that disguised the source and nature of the funds.
In January 2020, Knox pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges that he engaged with others in a massive global securities fraud scheme. In October 2023, Knox was sentenced to 36 months in prison, and in January 2024, he was ordered to pay over $58 million in restitution to more than 8,000 victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case.
The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the compensation process.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of over $15 Million for Victims of Global Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that the Roger Knox Remission Fund distributed more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. An additional $3.1 million turned over to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the securities fraud scheme was also distributed to the victims.
Knox, with others, operated a Swiss-based asset management firm called Silverton, and later renamed Wintercap. Through this business, Knox helped facilitate pump-and-dump schemes by selling massive quantities of microcap securities on behalf of undisclosed control groups who secretly owned the stock through nominee entities formally owned by third parties. The shares were generally held by the nominees in blocks of less than 5% of the issuer’s total outstanding shares in order to evade the disclosure obligations and sale limitations in the federal securities laws. To generate investor demand for the shares, the undisclosed control groups simultaneously orchestrated promotional campaigns to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the shares. Knox then funneled the proceeds of the pump-and-dumps – totaling over $137 million between just 2016 and 2018 – to co-conspirators in the United States and around the world through a complex money transfer system that disguised the source and nature of the funds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has pursued assets domestically, as well as in the United Kingdom, Malta, Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, Canada, and Switzerland.
In January 2020, Knox pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston. In October 2023, Knox was sentenced to three years in prison and, in January 2024, was ordered to pay over $58 million in restitution to more than 8,000 victims.
“Illegal pump-and-dump schemes cause financial hardship on countless innocent investors and erode the integrity of our capital markets. Not only is my office is committed to identifying fraudsters like Mr. Knox and holding them accountable,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We are fully committed to recovering funds to compensate victims of crime and ensuring that crime does not pay.”
“As Roger Knox whittled away his time behind bars for his role in a staggering global securities fraud scheme that defrauded thousands of victims out of tens of millions of dollars, the FBI’s been hard at work ensuring those victims are compensated for the significant financial and emotional harm they suffered,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “The distribution of $15 million is an important first step in making these unwitting investors whole and putting market manipulators on notice that they too will pay a hefty price for their criminal conduct.”
In addition to forfeited funds recovered from Knox, and funds recovered by the SEC, forfeited funds recovered from other related defendants Eric Landis, Richard Targett-Adams and Morrie Tobin were applied to the Knox Victim Remission Fund.
Previously, in 2022, $1.9 million in forfeited funds were applied to satisfy restitution ordered for over 1,000 victims in a related microchip stock fraud scheme.
The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work diligently to recover additional assets for these victims.
U.S. Attorney Foley; A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service’s Complex Asset Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit, handled forfeiture and restitution in the case.
The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s MNF, which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the remission process.
Two Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Fentanyl Related DeathsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Thomas Galiano III, 26, of Colorado Springs, and Hailee Anne Helton, 26, of Colorado Springs were separately sentenced after each pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with an intent to distribute a substance containing fentanyl. Galiano III was sentenced to 144 months. Helton was sentenced to 168 months.
According to the plea agreements, in August 2022, the Colorado Springs Police Department responded to a call to a unit at the Mountain View Apartment Homes on West Meadow Drive. Inside the unit, police found a 31-year-old man who was deceased. Evidence gathered at the scene included one blue tablet bearing an M-30 imprint, which later tested positive for fentanyl. Evidence collected at the scene, and electronic data, including CashApp payments and social media communications, demonstrated that Helton and Galiano sold the deceased man the drugs.
In October 2022, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on Park Road in Rye, Colorado, after a call about an unresponsive 18-year-old woman. At that scene, investigators found a small black bag with three blue tablets bearing an M-30 imprint, which later tested positive for fentanyl. Evidence, including electronic data from social media, connected the pills to Helton and Galiano.
In a third incident, also in October 2022, an undercover officer in Colorado Springs engaged Helton and Galliano in a drug deal in which the undercover officer purchased 16 fentanyl pills for $150 from Helton and Galiano.
“Fentanyl is a scourge on our society, and it has claimed the lives of two more young people in our community,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “These cases should serve as a warning to other fentanyl dealers that selling even just a handful of pills can put you in federal prison for a very long time.”
“Fentanyl continues to take lives within our community, and two lives are lost due to the careless actions of these drug dealers,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. “Working jointly with the Colorado Springs Police Department, FBI Denver was able to bring a measure of justice to their families and accountability to those responsible. We will not stop and will continue to target drug traffickers who bring violence and misery to our community.”
“While no sentence can bring the victims in this case back, we hope this outcome provides a measure of justice and comfort to their families and loved ones,” said Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to aggressively pursuing those who profit from poisoning our community.”
“The loss of a life to fentanyl is devastating, and we take every overdose death seriously. Our crime scene and narcotics detectives’ exceptional work in this case ensured that those who supplied the drugs were brought to justice,” said Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero, “This outcome reflects our commitment to treating these cases with the seriousness they deserve.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencings.
The FBI Colorado Springs Resident Agency, the Colorado Springs Police Department, and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation.
The Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section handled the prosecution.
Case Numbers: 23-cr-00371-CNS
Two Men Indicted for Targeting Senior Citizens Across Four States in Money Laundering and Gold Bars SchemeRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Two men have been charged for their involvement in a scheme to deceive senior citizens into giving them cash and gold bars amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 19 charging Tejas Bhupendrabhai Patel, 31, a resident of Toledo, and Navya Umeshkumar Bhatt, 22, a citizen of India registered to study at the University of Toledo on an F1 visa, with the following:
- Money Laundering Conspiracy,
- Concealment Money Laundering, and
- Promotion Money Laundering.
Over the course of an ongoing wire fraud and money laundering investigation, federal agents discovered a scheme in which victims were falsely made to believe that they were communicating with their bank or federal agents from the FBI, Social Security Administration, and Federal Trade Commission. The victims were manipulated through fear tactics – including in some cases threats that they faced criminal charges. Once misled, victims were directed to withdraw funds from their savings and retirement accounts, convert it to cash and/or gold bars, and provide it to scheme participants posing as bank employees or federal agents. The defendants and their co-conspirators physically traveled hundreds of miles to the victims’ locations to pick up the cash and the gold.
U.S. v. Patel et al., case# 3:26cr84 U.S. v. Patel et al., case# 3:26cr84According to the criminal complaint and underlying affidavit, the defendants and/or their co-conspirators drove from Toledo to victims residing in Toledo, Hudson, Sylvania, and Columbus, Ohio; Oscoda and Ann Arbor, Michigan; West Newton, Pennsylvania; and South Bend, Indiana.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency.
The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Melching for the Northern District of Ohio.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two Individuals Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals on child-exploitation charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
The following defendants were indicted:
- A two-count indictment charges Steven Roshee Powell, also known as “Champ G,” 35, of Birmingham, Alabama, with sex trafficking of children and attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. The incidents occurred between October 2, 2025, and October 29, 2025, in Jefferson County, Alabama.
- A two-count indictment charges Adam Joseph Hegler, 46, of Hueytown, Alabama, with distribution and possession of child pornography. The incidents occurred between November 2024 and April 2025 in Jefferson County, Alabama.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the cases along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer is prosecuting the cases.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Tampa Auto Dealer Sentenced to 54 Months’ Imprisonment for Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Exporting Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Mohamad Jihad Fakih (Tampa, 27) has been sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to four and a half years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and attempting to export a stolen motor vehicle. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $378,886.96, the proceeds of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Fakih was found guilty on August 21, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Fakih conspired with others to commit wire fraud by obtaining fraudulent loans from automotive financing companies. Because of Fakih’s role as a car dealer and wholesaler, he had access to a dealership website through which automobile financing applications could be submitted. To facilitate the scheme, Fakih and his coconspirator would identify straw purchasers and submit falsified loan applications to the victim companies on their behalf, misrepresenting that a vehicle was being purchased by the straw purchaser. In reality, there was no vehicle for sale.
After the financing loans were approved, the loan amounts would be disbursed to Fakih as the seller of the vehicle, and his coconspirator and straw purchasers would receive a cut from the proceeds. It was also part of Fakih’s scheme to file false insurance claims for the vehicles, reporting them as stolen. In other instances, Fakih attempted to export vehicles for which he had fraudulently obtained financing and for which the financing company held a lien. In total, Fakih repeated this scheme for at least six vehicles in the amount of at least $372,000.
Additionally, Fakih engaged in more straightforward theft, attempting to export stolen cars overseas. Fakih, using one of the straw purchasers, procured a stolen Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. He arranged for the Cullinan to be shipped in a container out of the Port of Savannah, the manifest for which had been falsified so as not to alert law enforcement as to its true contents. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the container and assessed that the stolen Cullinan’s MSRP was approximately $460,000.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.
St. Clair County Man Sentenced to More than 13 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
ANNISTON, Ala. – A St. Clair County man has been sentenced on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, announced Acting United States Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
United States District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Tyler Robert Curtis, 34, of Pell City, Alabama, to 162 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release. Curtis was also ordered to pay a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. In September 2025, Curtis pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, on September 4, 2024, the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Kik, a social media provider, reported to NCMEC that Curtis had uploaded images of child pornography to his account. During the investigation, the SBI determined that the IP address used to access the account originated from a residence in Pell City, Alabama. On September 11, 2024, SBI executed a state search warrant on the residence. The agents searched Curtis’s bedroom and seized his cell phone. A forensic examination of the device revealed images of child pornography. Curtis also searched for and downloaded child pornography on the cell phone.
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.
If you suspect or become aware of the possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 (AVAA) created new penalties and made several changes to existing child pornography laws. In the passage of this legislation, Congress intended for victims of child pornography to be compensated for the harms resulting from every perpetrator who contributes to their anguish. The amounts received as AVAA special assessments are deposited in the Child Pornography Victims Reserve to pay defined monetary assistance to victims.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation and the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Software Distributor Sentenced to 22 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic in Illicit Microsoft Certificates of AuthenticityRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Heidi Richards (52, Brandon) has been sentenced to 22 months in federal prison after a jury found her guilty of conspiring to traffic in illicit Microsoft certificate of authenticity (COA) labels. The Court also ordered Richards to pay a $50,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Richards, doing business as Trinity Software Distribution, paid co-conspirators millions of dollars for thousands of genuine, standalone Microsoft COA labels at prices significantly lower than the retail price of the associated software. Richards and her employees harvested product key codes from the labels, then sold them in bulk to her customers. Federal law prohibits the trafficking of standalone COA labels separate from the software programs they were intended to accompany.
COA labels authenticate Microsoft software, assist customers in identifying genuine software, and bear security features intended to dissuade counterfeit duplication. There is an illicit, secondary market for COA labels because they bear product key codes used to activate Microsoft software. COA labels are not to be sold separately from the license and hardware that they are intended to accompany, and they hold no independent commercial value.
Homeland Security Investigations (Kansas City Field Office) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Risha Asokan of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Jared Hosid of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) prosecuted the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime 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 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Seven Defendants Sentenced for Trafficking Thousands of Fentanyl Pills into MinnesotaRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Seven defendants have been sentenced in United States District Court for drug-trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
According to court documents, Latre Lamont Anderson (28), Khianna Rose Clark-Strong (23), Jacquez O’Neal Fondern (22), Rozell Antonio Grainger (27), Issac Oneal Maiden (32), Olivia Mae Erin Martineau-Johns (21), and Jeremy James Nelson-Caban, Jr. (22) were members of a drug-trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills throughout Minnesota, including the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation.
Between approximately the summer of 2022 and the summer of 2023, Anderson, Grainger, and Maiden frequently traveled from Minneapolis to Phoenix, Arizona, where they would obtain multi-pound quantities of fentanyl, which they would then mail to various addresses in the Twin Cities area, often concealing thousands of fentanyl pills in toys or household items. They would travel back to Minneapolis, and then distribute the fentanyl through various drug-traffickers, including Martineau-Johns. Martineau-Johns also obtained fentanyl for distribution from Nelson-Caban and Fondern, and Clark-Strong assisted Martineau-Johns with distributing the fentanyl. The investigation resulted in the seizures of approximately 200,000 fentanyl pills (over 14 kilograms of fentanyl), four firearms (some with high-capacity magazines and/or switches), and thousands of dollars of cash.
“As a direct result of this investigation, DEA and our law enforcement partners across the region prevented thousands of deadly doses of fentanyl from hitting the streets,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “If these deadly counterfeit pills had spread into our Minnesota communities, lives would have been lost and families broken. Our agency remains committed to disrupting the fentanyl supply chain and our enforcement efforts will not let up until the entire global distribution network has been dismantled and brought to justice.”
“This [drug-trafficking] organization pumped significant quantities of dangerous narcotics into Minnesota communities and fueled violence in the process,” said Joseph Persails, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “ATF special agents and our task force officers, working alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, committed months of work to dismantling this network and stopping the damage it was causing. These sentences hold the defendants accountable and send a clear message that those who profit from addiction and violence will face consequences.”
“Cases like these run deep into our neighborhoods and affect all those who live, visit and work in Saint Paul. We’re now able to hold these people accountable for their actions, thanks to the joint effort with our long-standing partnerships with the ATF, DEA, USPIS, and local law enforcement agencies. We’re proud of this investigation and of all those involved in this case,” said Saint Paul Police Chief Axel Henry.
The following sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis over the prior several weeks:
- Latre Lamont Anderson, of Minneapolis, was sentence to 156 months followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
- Issac Oneal Maiden, of Saint Paul, was sentence to 156 months followed by 3 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
- Rozell Antonio Grainger, of St. Paul, was sentence to 120 months followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Jeremy James Nelson-Caban, Jr., of Duluth, was sentenced to 36 months followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
- Olivia Mae Erin Martineau-Johns, of Cloquet, was sentenced to 9 months followed by 2 years of supervised release for violating her condition(s) of supervised release.
- Jacquez O’Neal Fondern, of Duluth, was sentence to time served followed by 3 years of supervised release for distribution of fentanyl.
- Khianna Rose Clark-Strong, of Duluth, was sentenced to time served followed by supervised release until October 23, 2027, for violating her condition(s) of supervised release.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspector’s Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Saint Paul Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement counterparts in northern Minnesota.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst prosecuted the case.
Rockford Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for possessing child pornography.
A jury last year convicted STEPHEN CANFIELD, 54, of two counts of possession of child pornography. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Canfield to six years and three months in federal prison.
According to evidence presented at trial, Canfield knowingly possessed images of child pornography on his cell phone and in a Dropbox account. The investigation began when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security received a cyber tip that the Dropbox account contained suspected child pornography.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ladd and Andrew M. Rosati.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Rochester man going to prison for selling fentanyl that led to a deathRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Herschel Dawson, 35, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of distribution of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 156 months in prison by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McGrath, who handled the case, stated that in April 2022, members of the Brockport Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a fatal fentanyl overdose at a Gordon Street residence. After a thorough investigation by local law enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, into the circumstances of the overdose, Dawson was identified as the drug dealer responsible for distributing the fatal dose of fentanyl. The investigation, which included an undercover purchase, also determined that Dawson was engaged in drug dealing for several years prior to the overdose incident.
The sentence is the result of an investigation by the Brockport Police Department, under the direction of Chief Paul Wheat, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
Riverside and Colorado Women Found Guilty of Stalking ICE Officer Home from Work and Livestreaming the Pursuit on Social MediaRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two women – one from the Inland Empire and the other from Colorado – have been found guilty by a jury of a felony stalking charge for following a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer home and livestreaming their pursuit on social media, the Justice Department announced today.
Cynthia Raygoza, 38, of Riverside, and Ashleigh Brown, 38, of Aurora, Colorado, were found guilty late Friday of one count of stalking.
“Justice has been served against two agitators who stalked a federal employee, livestreamed it on social media, and traumatized both the victim and his family,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Our Constitution protects peaceful protest – not political violence and unlawful intimidation.”
According to evidence presented at a four-day trial, on August 28, 2025, the defendants – while dressed in black and concealing their faces with black masks – followed the victim from a federal building in downtown Los Angeles to his personal residence. The victim was heading home to his family for an outing that included a surprise for his sons, ages three and seven.
The defendants livestreamed on their Instagram accounts their pursuit of the victim and provided directions as they followed the victim home, encouraging their viewers to share the livestream. The Instagram accounts they used to livestream the event were “ice_out_of_la,” “defendmesoamericanculture,” and “corn_maiden_design.”
Upon arriving at the victim’s neighborhood, the defendants shouted to bystanders while livestreaming on Instagram that their “neighbor is ICE,” “la migra lives here,” and “ICE lives on your street and you should know.” Raygoza also threatened to “pop” the victim. Both the victim’s wife and a concerned neighbor called 911 in response to the defendants’ actions.
Brown then publicly disclosed on Instagram an address approximately 100 feet from the victim’s home and told viewers, “Come on down.” In response, several individuals – also wearing masks – appeared outside the victim’s home.
The victim’s wife – whom the defendants targeted with racial slurs – and children witnessed the incident and suffered emotional distress. The increased traffic from onlookers in the ensuing weeks caused the victim and his family to relocate to a different county. The forced move significantly disrupted the education of the victim’s children. The victim’s 3-year-old son, who has a disability, lost several social and health care benefits that were tied to his former county.
United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson scheduled a June 8 sentencing hearing, at which time Raygoza and Brown will face up to five years in federal prison.
The jury found Raygoza and Brown not guilty of one count of conspiracy to publicly disclose the personal information of a federal agent. The jury also acquitted Samane Sandra Carmona, 25, of Panorama City, of both charges she faced: conspiracy and stalking.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren E. Border of the General Crimes Section and Clifford D. Mpare of the Major Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Repeat Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, a recidivist sex offender pled guilty in federal court to more child sex abuse crimes.
Patrick Daniel McKernan, 45, of Pasadena, Maryland, is charged with the sexual exploitation of a child as he persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police (AACOPD).
According to the guilty plea, McKernan exploited the minor child for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. In November 2023, McKernan produced sexually explicit images of the minor and distributed them on the internet. The images were found on the dark web, operated by the Tor Network, in a group messaging app related to child sexual abuse material. In 2016, McKernan was convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
McKernan faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years and a maximum sentence of 50 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox scheduled sentencing for Friday, May 22, at 3 p.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and AACOPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Parkersburg Man Admits to Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wood County, West Virginia man has admitted to possessing methamphetamine in Ohio County, WV with the intent to distribute the drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Jarrett Aaron Moran, 31, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Moran was traveling from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to deliver drugs to someone in West Virginia. The vehicle Moran was riding in was stopped by law enforcement, and officers seized 26 grams of methamphetamine, along with a small amount of cocaine and fentanyl.
Moran faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Pensacola Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Timothy Lamar McGee, 43, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful prosecution and substantial prison sentence is yet another win under Operation Take Back America, which was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing the peddlers of deadly drugs and violence from our communities. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve safe, drug-free streets, and my office remains committed to delivering on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions like this one.”
According to court records, in July, August, and September of 2024, the defendant sold crack cocaine during a law enforcement undercover operation. On September 25, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on North 6th Avenue in Pensacola, Florida. During a search of the residence and the defendant’s vehicles, investigators located over 500 grams of cocaine, over 350 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol, over 1,000 grams of marijuana, four firearms, over $32,000 in United States currency, and other drug distribution related items.
“This drug trafficker poisoned Florida Panhandle communities for some time,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “I am proud of how our agents and local police officers worked together to bring this criminal to justice.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
New Britain Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS TORRES ORTIZ, 25, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force identified Joseph Giovanni Soto as the leader of a cocaine trafficking operation that involved the shipment of parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various “drop addresses” in New Britain and Meriden, Connecticut, as well as addresses in Holyoke and West Springfield, Massachusetts. The organization used “runners” to pick up the parcels from the drop addresses and deliver them to Soto’s residence in Bloomfield and the residence of Soto’s uncle, Ramon Soto, in New Britain. Typically, Ramon Soto, at Joseph Soto’s direction, then delivered the cocaine to individuals in the Bronx, New York, and elsewhere, in return for payment.
During the investigation, task force members intercepted and seized 10 suspicious parcels, each of which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine, and identified approximately 280 suspicious parcels likely containing kilogram quantities of cocaine that had been delivered to the various drop addresses.
Joseph Giovanni Soto was arrested on May 1, 2023. In August 2023, investigators saw a reemergence of suspicious parcels coming from Puerto Rico to the New Britain and Meriden areas, and then to a Waterbury address where Jatniel Morales Gonzalez was living. Investigators determined that Morales Gonzalez and Soto had worked together prior to Soto’s arrest, and that Morales Gonzalez had assumed control of the Connecticut side of the cocaine trafficking network after Soto’s arrest. Investigators identified several new drop addresses for suspicious parcels and observed Morales Gonzalez, Torres Ortiz, and others retrieving the parcels and bringing them to Morales Gonzalez’s residence before they were ultimately delivered to the Bronx. During this part of the investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identified more than 90 additional suspicious parcels, 24 of which had been shipped to Torres Ortiz’s residence in New Britain. Court-authorized searches of four seized parcels found that they each contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine.
Torres Ortiz was arrested on December 19, 2024. On September 19, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Torres Ortiz, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on April 21.
Joseph Giovanni Soto, Ramon Soto, and Morales Gonzales pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms of 14 years, 10 years, and 10 years, respectively.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut State Police, the Hartford Police Department, and the Plainville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Konstantin Lantsman.
Mother and Son Plead Guilty to $5 Million Tax ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman and her son pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns with the IRS and diverting portions of the resulting tax refunds to themselves.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Iris Hondermann owned and operated a tax preparation business in Las Vegas. Her son Ivan Odiaga, also of Las Vegas, worked for the business. From approximately 2017 through 2021, Hondermann and Odiaga prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including business profits and losses, COVID-19 sick and family leave credits, and residential energy credits.
Between 2017 and 2021, Hondermann and Odiaga prepared false tax returns with the IRS seeking a total of more than $5 million in refunds that their clients were not entitled to receive. At times, Hondermann and Odiaga also diverted portions of client tax refunds without their clients’ knowledge or consent. From 2017 through 2021, they diverted more than $1.1 million in false tax refunds to bank accounts one or both of them controlled.
Finally, Odiaga filed approximately 279 tax returns using the unique identifier of another tax preparer without permission, even though the IRS had issued multiple letters warning him against such misuse.
Hondermann and Odiaga are scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, 2026. Both face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. They also face periods of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory for the IRS Criminal Investigation's Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Stuart A. Wexler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
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Miami-Area Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Videos Depicting Sexual Torture of Baby MonkeysRead the Press Release
Note: the press release has been updated to include a quote from U.S. Attorney Quiñones.
Francisco Javier Ravelo, 36, of Coral Gables, Florida, pleaded guilty today to distributing videos depicting the torture of monkeys, in violation of the federal Animal Crushing statute. Ravelo was charged in October 2025.
According to court documents, Ravelo created some and administered some online chat groups dedicated to the distribution and discussion of sexual and violent videos depicting monkeys being mutilated and burned, including baby and adult monkeys. Ravelo personally distributed more than 40 of these obscene crush videos.
“In his first term, President Donald J. Trump signed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act into law to end animal crushing,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “If you are involved in this sadistic activity, we will prosecute you.”
“This case is deeply disturbing,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “As a former state court trial judge who presided over domestic violence cases, I was trained to recognize lethality factors, warning signs that violence is escalating. Deliberate cruelty to animals is one of the clearest red flags. It reflects a willingness to dominate, torture, and inflict suffering without remorse. The defendant didn’t merely view this material. He created and administered online groups devoted to it and distributed dozens of obscene animal torture videos. That conduct fuels a market built on brutality. Animal crushing is a serious federal crime. In the Southern District of Florida, we will enforce that law firmly and without hesitation.”
“Our team worked diligently to ensure Ravelo was held accountable for his egregious crimes and to prevent further harm,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “We are grateful for the collaboration that brought this case to resolution and Ravelo to justice.”
Ravelo faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
HSI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke E. Latta for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
MS-13 gang member previously convicted of conspiring to commit murder sent to federal prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 28-year-old El Salvadorian national who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the country after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Ronald Alberto Rivas-Aguilar pleaded guilty Nov. 10, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge has now ordered Rivas to serve 23 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to again face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the country.
“Rivas-Aguilar pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit murder, was convicted, and removed from the United States—and still, he came back,” said Ganjei. “Gang members who believe that a prior removal is nothing more than an inconvenience should look carefully at what is happening in the Southern District of Texas. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure that you never have the chance to bring your violence back into our country.
In 2016, Rivas and another MS-13 gang member conspired to murder a rival gang member in Fort Bend County. Rivas transported the victim to Buffalo Run Park and tied the victim’s ankles with his shoelaces. A coconspirator then beat the victim to death with a machete. Rivas was subsequently removed to El Salvador after pleading guilty for conspiring to commit a murder.
However, he illegally returned to the United States. In July 2025, authorities encountered him during a traffic stop and took him into custody.
Rivas has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Valenti and Amanda Alum prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Louisville Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Defrauding CustomersRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville woman pled guilty on February 19, 2026, to defrauding over 50 customers in connection with her pool business.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, Tracy Davenport, 51, of Louisville, and others working at her direction, engaged in a scheme to induce customers into signing a contract for a pool installation and paying a large down payment up front. Davenport used those funds for purposes other than what was agreed upon.
Davenport pled guilty to wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and money laundering in a nineteen count Indictment. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Additionally, Davenport will be required to pay not less than $3,398,536.75 in restitution.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “This fraudulent conduct had a significant financial and emotional impact on many people. This defendant created numerous truly innocent victims who worked hard and, in some cases, worked their entire lives to be able to purchase a pool only have their money stolen. I am thankful to our law enforcement partners for everyone’s contributions toward attempting to right this wrong.”
“I want to applaud the extensive and outstanding work of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. The continued support of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners towards this case is a testament to what can be achieved through strong partnerships. These collaborations were all instrumental in this case’s resolution,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers. “I also want to particularly commend Commonwealth Attorney’s Detective Michael Smithers, who was instrumental in ensuring justice was served. His pursuit of this effort was over and beyond his day-to-day duties with us. His dedication to the victims in this case ensured the tools were there for this prosecution to be done at the federal level.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Louisville Office and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, and the United States Trustee’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Elver, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case.
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Long Island Medical Doctor Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Operating Oxycodone Pill Mill Out of her Great Neck OfficeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Dr. Roya Jafari-Hassad was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 7 years’ imprisonment for prescribing oxycodone pills without a legitimate medical purpose and fraudulently billing insurance providers for procedures which were never performed. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Brown imposed a fine of $150,000, and ordered Jafari-Hassad to pay restitution in the amount of $152,765. The defendant was convicted at trial in December 2024 of eight counts of prescribing oxycodone pills without a legitimate medical purpose. The defendant subsequently pleaded guilty to health care fraud in April 2025.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, Associate Chief of Operations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Northeast Region, and Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s Office of Investigations, New York Region (HHS-OIG), announced the sentence.
“Dr. Jafari-Hassad used her medical practice to deal drugs, a disgraceful betrayal of her doctor’s oath to do no harm,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s sentence holds her accountable for capitalizing on her patients’ dangerous opioid addictions to enrich herself. A jail term and serious financial penalties should serve as a warning to other healthcare professionals, that when they unlawfully prioritize profit over patient well-being, they will be brought to justice.”
United States Attorney Nocella also expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department for their assistance in this case.
“Today’s sentencing is a significant step for the DEA and our law enforcement partners pursuit of those health care professionals who exacerbate the ongoing healthcare crisis by prescribing dangerous and addictive opioids just for profit” stated DEA Associate Chief of Operations Tarentino. “Dr Jafari-Hassad knew the harmful effects opioids could have on her patients and yet she chose to jeopardize their health by turning her medical office into a modern-day pill mill.”
“The illegal prescribing practices for which this doctor was convicted and sentenced, were especially egregious and contributed to fueling the opioid epidemic,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure health care providers involved in schemes that threaten patient safety are held accountable.”
As proved at trial and set forth in court filings, the defendant was a licensed physician who provided medical services to patients from offices located in Great Neck, Forest Hills, Queens and Manhattan, New York. From approximately January 2019 through May 2022, the defendant charged her patients hundreds of dollars in cash in exchange for monthly prescriptions of oxycodone – a potent, highly addictive and frequently abused controlled substance – with no legitimate medical purpose. At times, the defendant provided these prescriptions to patients without even seeing them for an appointment; rather, their payment information would be obtained, and their prescription immediately refilled. The defendant made an estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, solely from these payments. She also submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and private benefit programs for medical services that were not rendered, and charged insurance companies – and was, in turn, paid for – services that she did not provide.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Katherine Onyshko are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder and Victim-Witness Specialist Stephanie Marroquin.
The Defendant:
ROYA JAFARI-HASSAD
Age: 59
Bayside, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-545 (S-2) (GRB)
Leader of Capital District Drug Trafficking Organization Admits Guilt in Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Felix Arencibia, age 40, of Amsterdam, New York, pled guilty on February 27, 2026, to conspiracy and methamphetamine distribution charges in connection with his distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and fentanyl.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, acting Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Arencibia admitted that between November 2022 and July 2023, the defendant received through the United States mail at least 5,615 grams of pure methamphetamine from Christian Mur-Santana, his Nevada-based drug supplier. Thereafter, Arencibia distributed the methamphetamine to drug re-distributors in the Capital District. For example, Arencibia admitted that on April 4, 2023, he sold 55.6 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for cash.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Large-scale drug trafficking operations like this one are a scourge on society, fueling addiction, violence, and despair in our communities. By dismantling this organization and holding its leader accountable, we are sending a clear message that those who profit from poisoning our neighborhoods will face serious federal consequences.”
DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam stated: “Once again, we see the extreme lengths individuals will go to as they exploit our mail system to conspire, distribute, and profit from the sale of methamphetamine and fentanyl, poisons capable of single handedly devastating families across New York’s Capital Region and beyond. DEA remains steadfast in its commitment to identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice those who distribute these deadly substances.”
Acting Inspector in Charge Nicholas Bucciarelli stated: “This case highlights the misuse of the U.S. mail system to facilitate the distribution of dangerous drugs. The Postal Inspection Service will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the mail and to ensure that those who attempt to exploit it for criminal gain are held accountable.”
Arencibia was the leader of the organization comprised of eight additional defendants charged in this investigation. The following defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced or are pending sentencing:
- Andrew Deleon was sentenced to 72 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release
- Stefanie Plass was sentenced to 24 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release
- Ahmad Burke was sentenced to 14 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release
- Todd Austin was sentenced to 78 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release
- Kevisha Duboise is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2026.
- Flor Arencibia is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2026.
- Melissa Karwan is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2026.
- Christian Mur-Santana is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2026.
At sentencing, Arencibia faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum term of life imprisonment, and a term of post imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. He will be sentenced on June 25, 2026 before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
These cases are being investigated by the DEA and USPIS. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the cases.
These cases are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Lead Defendant in Bowling Green Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced to 200 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – On February 25, 2026, Scottie Starks, Jr., the lead defendant, in a Bowling Green methamphetamine conspiracy was sentenced to serve 200 months in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Director Tommy M. Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force made the announcement.
According to court records, Scottie Starks, Jr., 46, was supplying methamphetamine to Cristopher Patterson, Bryan Murphy, and Isaac Hayes. He was responsible for trafficking over 5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 1 kilogram of cocaine. Starks, a convicted felon, also possessed a handgun illegally. Starks had previously been convicted in Warren County, Kentucky on May 21, 2012, of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (greater than 4 grams of cocaine); also in Warren County, Kentucky on September 24, 2007, of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence; and again in Warren County, Kentucky on January 24, 2000, of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and first-degree possession of a controlled substance. Starks also pled guilty to possessing his handgun in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
Starks was sentenced on February 25, 2026 to serve 200 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine (2 counts), possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Several of Starks’ co-defendants previously sentenced for their roles in connection to this drug conspiracy. Patterson was sentenced on November 13, 2025, to serve 10 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Hayes was sentenced on January 20, 2026, to serve 2 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Murphy is scheduled for final sentencing on March 5, 2026.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner commended the strong cooperation between state and federal law enforcement in achieving a significant result. Mr. Bumgarner further stated, “Starks is a career drug trafficker who has had multiple opportunities to put aside his drug trafficking career. Despite repeated state drug trafficking convictions, Starks continued to distribute poison into our community. Hopefully, Starks’ 16 year and 8-month sentence sends a strong message to other career drug traffickers to stop dealing and stop now. Otherwise, they will be joining Starks in federal prison for nearly a generation.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes stated, “Scottie Starks used violence and drug trafficking to torment this community and will now face a lengthy prison sentence for his crimes. ATF is proud to partner with the WCDTF and the WDKY USAO to remove armed drug traffickers from our community.”
Bowling Green/Warren County AHIDTA Drug Task Force Director Tommy M. Loving stated, “This case brings closure to a lengthy investigation into a major drug trafficker who was responsible for distributing crystal methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana throughout Warren County and South Central Kentucky. It stands as a clear example of what can be achieved when agencies work together with a unified mission. Through the strong partnerships we share with the ATF, the United States Attorney’s Office, and our state and local law enforcement partners, we are able to disrupt significant drug operations and make our communities safer.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office and the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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KC Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Cocaine Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Antoine R. Gillum, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
On June 19, 2024, investigators of the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department contacted Gillum inside a gas station convenience store. Gillum had discarded a Taurus, Model G3, 9mm pistol in an aisle between merchandise. Gillum also discarded a pill bottle containing cocaine base, oxycodone and acetaminophen, and oxycodone. Officers searched the vehicle Gillum arrived in and located approximately 32 grams of cocaine base.
On May 6, 2025, Gillum pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Jury Finds Man Guilty of 2011 St. Louis County Murder-For-HireRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Monday found a man guilty of conspiring with a woman to have her fiancé killed at his St. Louis County home in 2011.
Jurors convicted Michael Grady, 70, of one count each of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, aiding and abetting murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Evidence and testimony at the trial, which began last Monday, showed that Grady hatched the idea to kill Charles Harris III so that he and Harris’ financially struggling fiancée, Victoria Rena Williams, would receive an insurance payout. Grady also hired the person or persons who shot Harris in his home on Langford Drive on Oct. 5, 2011, telling Williams, “I have two young shooters,” the trial showed.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Grady was at the center of this,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj told jurors Monday.
Williams, 67, pleaded guilty in September to the same three counts and is awaiting sentencing.
Wiliams said that Grady witnessed an argument over money between her and Harris in the summer of 2010 and told her she “shouldn’t be going through that.” Prompted by Grady, Williams called an insurance company that he recommended and asked if an accidental death policy would pay out in the event of a fatal robbery. On Aug. 27, 2010, Williams started the application process for a $250,000 policy for Harris.
The murder occurred after the pair knew the policy was in effect and after Grady learned a different insurance scheme was not likely to pay out. Harris worked for an alarm company and sold suits out of his home to people he knew or through trusted referrals. Williams told Harris that the shooters were interested in buying suits. She told jurors that after backing out twice, when she tried to back out again, Grady told her that they were too far along, and it could be “bad for you” if she did.
Williams eventually received $224,444 from one life insurance company and then obtained a cashier’s check for $110,000 payable to Grady’s wife. Williams also received $175,762 from another insurance policy.
A trail of electronic evidence detailed the communications between Williams and Grady while they planned the murder and between Williams and Grady and one of the shooters before and after the murder was carried out, as well as the movements of the shooters and Grady. The shooter or shooters have not been identified. Only Grady knows their identity, Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Boyce told jurors in his opening statement.
Grady is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4 and faces life in prison. He is already serving a 226-month federal prison sentence for aiding a large-scale, violent drug conspiracy by trying to determine who was cooperating with investigators and prosecutors.
The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald Boyce, Nino Przulj and Ryan Finlen are prosecuting the case.
Judge Finds Probable Cause in Recording Studio ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Keyonte Johnson, 16, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged as an adult with the first-degree murder while armed for shooting and killing 20-year-old D.C. resident Roy Bennett, Jr. on the evening of December 5, 2025, in Northeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
On February 27, 2026, Judge Michael Ryan found probable cause for the charge of first-degree murder while armed and ordered Johnson held pending trial.
Johnson will next appear before Judge Ryan for a status hearing on March 26, 2026.
According to court documents, Johnson, the victim, and several other people were present in an apartment located in The Gantry – a luxury apartment building - near Union Market that was being used as a recording studio. As the victim was recording a song, Johnson, who was seated behind him on a sofa, began shooting. Johnson shot the victim seven times, including twice in the back of the head and twice in the chest. Johnson left the scene in a rideshare.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
2025 CF1 017939
Iowa Man Remains Detained on Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Joseph Lee Rhodes, Jr., 41, of Muscatine County, was detained pending trial today in connection with an indictment charging him with five counts of transportation of child pornography.
On January 14, 2026, Rhodes made his initial appearance. Following the March 2, 2026, detention hearing, a United States Magistrate Judge ordered Rhodes to remain detained pending trial.
If convicted, Rhodes could face a mandatory minimum of five years up to 20 years imprisonment for each count.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Lousia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating this case.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Scott Burd, 60, of Huntington, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 6, 2025, Burd sold approximately 29 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,000. As part of his guilty plea, Burd admitted that his co-defendant, Adrian Demetrius Ludaway, arranged the transaction beforehand and met with the confidential informant at Burd’s Huntington residence, where Burd distributed the fentanyl to the confidential informant.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Taylor and Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.
Ludaway, also known as “A1,” 35, of Wayne, Michigan, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, to nine years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl and a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-103.
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Houston man gets 20 years for sex trafficking minorRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 27-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison after luring a minor away from her family and forcing her to engage in prostitution, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Trevyeon Deshawn Prater pleaded guilty July 28, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now ordered Prater to serve 240 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information including a victim letter indicating how Prater’s conduct had negatively affected her over the years. In handing down the prison term, the court noted the crime was part of an evil cycle that takes advantage of people and how terrible it is to do so to a young lady. He added that this was a pattern which involved months of intentional acts. Prater will also serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Prater will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
On Nov. 29, 2022, a 13-year-old minor was reported missing. The investigation led law enforcement to the Bissonnet “blade,” where authorities recovered her.
She described how Prater personally coached her in person and over the phone. The minor victim also stated going to the blade over a period of months for Prater.
The blade or “track” is an area near I-59 Southwest Freeway and Bissonnet Street in Houston where pimps and traffickers commonly place their victims to engage in commercial sex.
At the time of his plea, Prater admitted he recruited the minor victim to engage in prostitution and knew she was a minor. He communicated with her by cell phone and lured her away from her family.
Prater has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Leo and Celia Moyer prosecuted the case.
FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance from Houston Police Department as part of the of Human Trafficking Rescue alliance.
HTRA law enforcement includes members of HPD, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor, DOL – Wage and Hour Division, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security – OIG, Social Security Administration – OIG and Sheriff’s Offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties.
Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.
Honduran national ordered to federal prison for fifth illegal reentryRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 40-year-old man who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for illegally reentering the country again, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Kevin Alexander Bueso-Medina pleaded guilty Dec. 17, 2025.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Bueso-Medina to serve 24 months in federal prison. Already on supervised release for a previous drug conviction, the court further imposed a 12-month sentence to be served consecutively for a total 36-month term of imprisonment. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to again face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about the crimes he committed while illegally present in the United States.
Bueso-Medina has multiple previous convictions for illegal reentry, importation and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, manufacture/delivery of cocaine and driving while intoxicated.
Law enforcement first removed Bueso-Medina from the United States in February 2007. He later returned illegally multiple times and was removed in June 2018, September 2019 and May 2023. Most recently, authorities found him again Sept. 25, 2025, in Harris County, with no authorization to be in the United States.
Bueso-Medina has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Whitney prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Harlingen man sent to prison for 168 months for possessing sexually explicit images and videos of childrenRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 57-year-old man has been sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Todd Edward Ellison pleaded guilty Dec. 17, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Ellison to serve 168 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. At the hearing, the court heard that Ellison was previously convicted of child exploitative offenses on two separate occasions. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution to the victims will be determined at a later date.
In May 2020, authorities suspected Ellison was using social media to impersonate and harass a female victim and obtained a search warrant for his residence. At that time, they located and seized numerous digital media devices. The evidence showed Ellison had knowingly possessed child sexual abuse material across multiple digital devices. Forensic analysis revealed he possessed over 1,500 images and 21 videos of child pornography.
Ellison will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitations Investigations Task Force conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ana C. Cano and Jose A. Esquivel prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Hanford Contractor, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS), Agrees to Pay $3.45 Million to Resolve Allegations of FraudRead the Press Release
Richland, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney S. Peter Serrano announced that on February 2, 2026, federal contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) paid $3,450,000 to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of a settlement agreement resolving allegations that HMIS fraudulently overcharged the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for millions of dollars in labor hours.
This settlement with HMIS resolves allegations under the False Claims Act that HMIS’ management was aware of and failed to prevent inflated labor hours being charged to DOE. These hours were paid to HMIS by DOE from federal funds and included payment for labor hours for which HMIS employees were not scheduled or assigned sufficient work to perform.
Since 2020, HMIS has had a multi-billion dollar performance-based prime contract with DOE for infrastructure and site services which are integral and necessary to accomplish the environmental cleanup mission. Under its prime contract with DOE, HMIS receives reimbursement for its claimed allowable costs, including labor. According to the allegations filed in court, HMIS fraudulently inflated reimbursable costs by failing to provide its employees with work assignments sufficient to fill an entire shift and then directed those same employees to record their time as if they had worked the entire shift. This false recording of time resulted in HMIS knowingly submitting false claims for the payment of those labor hours.
Under the settlement agreement entered into with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HMIS admitted that between August 17, 2020, and September 30, 2025, it sought and received reimbursement from DOE for labor hours made up of unallowable excessive idle time. HMIS has further admitted in the settlement agreement that, at times, it did not schedule or assign sufficient work to be performed by its personnel. HMIS has paid a total settlement amount of $3,450,000, of which $1,725,000 is restitution.
“Corporate fraud perpetrated upon the taxpayer at Hanford distracts from DOE’s vital clean up mission,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Serrano. “This resolution shows our continuing commitment to fighting fraud at Hanford and to ensuring that those tasked with the responsibility of essential environmental cleanup do not abuse our trust in them. I am grateful that HMIS ultimately did the right thing by admitting its conduct and paying back twice what it took from the taxpayers. I hope every individual and business that contracts with the federal government sees this settlement and knows there’s a real risk of prosecution when the United States is defrauded.”
In December 2021, a HMIS employee came forward with allegations of labor mischarging by filing a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court (EDWA) under the False Claims Act. In May 2024, the same individual, a whistleblower known as a “Relator” under the False Claims Act, came forward with a second qui tam complaint, also filed under seal, making additional allegations of HMIS’ fraud. When a relator files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act requires the United States to investigate the allegations and elect whether to intervene and take over the action or to decline to intervene and allow the relator to go forward with the litigation on behalf of the United States. The relator is generally able to then share in any recovery. This settlement resolves both qui tams filed by the relator. As part of the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $793,500 of the settlement amount and is entitled to have HMIS pay the relator’s attorney fees.
“I thank and commend the relator-whistleblower for bringing serious and credible allegations of fraud to our attention” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Serrano. “Through the relator’s information and the years’ long investigation, we are able to uncover fraud and hold HMIS accountable. I hope the public sees this and understands that when viable information is reported to law enforcement, whether that’s through the filing of an under seal qui tam complaint or stepping forward as a witness, they allow the Department of Justice to do its job and hold fraudsters accountable” continued Serrano.
“The Office of Inspector General remains committed to ensuring the integrity of the Department’s contractors by detecting and holding accountable those who engage in schemes to defraud the Government. The American taxpayers should never be responsible for the costs associated with work that was not performed. This settlement is the result of a collaborative effort with our Office of Investigation’s team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who have repeatedly demonstrated their dedication to ensure public funds are used for the mission-related purposes for which they are intended,” stated Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions. “I would like to extend my deep gratitude to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for pursuing this matter as we remain devoted to partner with them to aggressively investigate those who seek to defraud Department programs and American taxpayers.”
The settlement was the result of an investigation jointly conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) and the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General. The USAO’s investigation and prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Frieda K. Zimmerman, Jacob E. Brooks, Molly M.S. Smith, and Tyler H.L. Tornabene. The Relator was represented by the law firms of Smith & Lowney, PLLC, Mehri & Skalet PLLC, and Hanford Challenge.
Settlement Agreement
4:24-CV-05051-SAB
4:21-CV-05156-SAB
Guatemalan National Arrested and Charged for Employing Illegal Aliens at Caldwell BusinessRead the Press Release
BOISE – Brayan Adiel Gramajo-Reyes, 31, of Guatemala, was arrested Saturday on federal immigration charges, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. A federal grand jury in Pocatello returned an indictment charging Gramajo-Reyes with two counts of encouraging illegal entry of aliens to enter the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(a); eight counts of using false statements for employment verification by attesting that social security numbers were genuine and that the employees were authorized to work in the United States, knowing that was false, in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1546(b)(3); and one count of unlawful employment of aliens, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A).
The charges stem from allegations that Gramajo-Reyes persuaded two unaccompanied alien children to travel from Guatemala to the United States with prospects of opportunity, only to require them to work long hours of physical labor after arriving in Idaho. The other charges stem from allegations that Gramajo-Reyes employed numerous illegal aliens at his business.
Gramajo-Reyes is scheduled for an initial court appearance on March 5, 2026 at 10am before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond E. Patricco of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. If convicted of counts one through ten, Gramajo-Reyes faces a maximum of five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count. If convicted of count eleven, he faces up to six months in prison and a $3,000 fine for each alien that he unlawfully employed. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Enforcement and Removal Operations), which led to the charges.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by Idaho’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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).
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Gainesville Felon Faces Federal Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Curtis Lee Smith-Carter, 27, of Gainesville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Smith-Carter appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.
Smith-Carter faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Fully Suspended Sentences Handed Down for Armed Carjacking in September 2024Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Julan Byrd, 18, of Temple Hills, MD, was sentenced Friday in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, stemming from an armed carjacking in September 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Byrd, who was seventeen years old at the time of the offense and who was charged pursuant to Title 16, pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025, to one count of armed robbery and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. At Byrd’s sentencing on February 27, 2026, the United States requested a sentence of seven years of incarceration, the top of his sentencing guidelines, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The Honorable Jennifer DiToro sentenced Byrd to a fully-suspended sentence of 60 months, with 12 months of supervised probation. The Court’s sentence was entered pursuant to the Youth Rehabilitation Act, over the government’s objection, which permits a sentence beneath the mandatory minimum term of five years of incarceration for armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Byrd’s co-defendant, Antonio Kent, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on January 14, 2026 by Judge DiToro on one count of armed robbery and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. At Kent’s sentencing, the United States requested a sentence of seven years of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The Court also sentenced Kent pursuant to the Youth Rehabilitation Act, over the government’s objection, and gave Kent a fully-suspended sentence of 48 months, with two years of probation.
Byrd was in custody from his September 30, 2024, arrest until October 4, 2024, when he was released on electronic monitoring, over the government’s objection. Kent was in custody in Washington, D.C., from February 28, 2025, until January 14, 2026. Neither defendant will have to serve the remainder of his suspended sentence if he satisfactorily completes his term of probation.
According to the proffer of facts, on September 1, 2024, Byrd, Kent, and a third suspect approached the victim in the 5500 block of Jay Street NE, as he was washing his car. One of the suspects brandished a gun and took the victim’s car keys, and the suspects drove off in the victim’s vehicle. Byrd drove the vehicle to the Pentagon parking lot where the suspects bailed out and fled on foot. Byrd and Kent each discarded handguns while fleeing. When stopped by police, Byrd was wearing the victim’s key lanyard around his neck.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. In addition, they thanked the Arlington County Police Department, Pentagon Force Protective Agency, and the Virginia State Police who made the arrests. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Roberts and former Assistant United States Attorney Luca Winer, who prosecuted the cases.
2024 CF3 009865; 2025 CF3 002116
Fort Eustis woman pleads guilty to neglecting children, assaulting husbandRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A woman residing on Fort Eustis pled guilty today to assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, and felony child neglect.
According to court documents, Rachel Lorane Pendergrast, 30, lived with her husband and children in military housing on Fort Eustis. On Dec. 3, 2025, she was responsible for the care of her three minor children while her husband was away from the home; the oldest child was at school/childcare and the younger two children were home with Pendergrast. Pendergrast began drinking vodka that morning. When she left her house to pick up her oldest child, she took her one-year-old with her and left her three-year-old alone at home.
Law enforcement received a call from Pendergrast’s neighbor reporting that the three-year-old was standing at the edge of the roadway near the home, crying, and attempting to cross the street. The outside temperature was 48℉ and the child was wearing only a diaper and a t-shirt. Approximately 10 minutes later Pendergrast arrived with the other two children in the vehicle. When law enforcement arrived, they noted that she seemed disoriented and had glossy eyes and a strong smell of alcohol. Two preliminary breath tests registered .304 and .298 for Pendergrast’s blood alcohol concentration. A test performed approximately five hours after driving showed Pendergrast’s blood alcohol level was still .18.
On the morning of June 17, 2025, Pendergrast repeatedly struck her husband in the immediate presence of their five-year-old. The incident was captured on video. When responding officers arrived at the home, Pendergrast was passed out on the couch, intoxicated.
Pendergrast is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10 and faces up to seven years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Washington Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Black is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-cr-6.
Former President of Eastern Iowa Business Convicted of Bankruptcy CrimesRead the Press Release
The former president of a defunct Eastern Iowa telecommunications infrastructure business, who concealed assets and otherwise made false statements under penalty of perjury in his personal bankruptcy proceeding, was convicted on all counts by a jury on February 28, 2026, after a five-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Dennis Clifford Bruce, age 51, from Marion, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy, two counts of bankruptcy concealment, one count of false bankruptcy declaration, two counts of false statement under oath, and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity. The verdicts were returned following about five hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Bruce was the owner and president of BDC Group, Inc., an Eastern Iowa telecommunications infrastructure business that did business throughout the United States. In 2023, BDC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an attempt to reorganize but, in early 2024, the bankruptcy court converted BDC’s corporate bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 liquidation proceeding.
In March 2024, Bruce filed for personal Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. Bruce told the bankruptcy court that he had less than $50,000 in non-exempt assets. He sought to discharge over $30 million in debt from his creditors in his personal bankruptcy, which to a large degree consisted of personal guarantees on BDC’s loans.
The United States’s bankruptcy laws permit debtors a “fresh start” so long as they are scrupulously honest with the bankruptcy court, the trustees who oversee the debtor’s property, and creditors. The evidence at trial established that Bruce concealed assets and repeatedly made false statements to the bankruptcy court, trustees, and creditors about his property and prior transfers. The concealment and false statements included Bruce’s sale of a $50,000 pontoon boat and his ownership interest in an Eastern Iowa conduit company.
The trial evidence also established that Bruce hid an ownership interest in a limited liability company in Marion, which another person purported to operate from Bruce’s basement. On paper, the company was put in the name of that other person, but Bruce had obtained approximately $300,000 in seed money for the company and profited from its operations. The company solicited business from some of BDC’s prior customers, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”), on the false premises that the company was “woman owned.” For example, the company successfully obtained a nearly $500,000 contract with NASA to build a blast-proof bunker at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. While his Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding was pending, Bruce and another person received “rent” payments from the new company, compensation for a root canal, and a new deck on Bruce’s home in Marion. Evidence at trial revealed that the company’s internal financial records contained false statements to conceal these payments that benefited Bruce.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Bruce remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Bruce faces a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $1,750,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy L. Vavricek and Dan Chatham and was investigated by NASA, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-49.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Federal Jury Convicts Miami Man of Kidnapping, Alien Smuggling, and Racketeering-Related Violent CrimesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal jury in Miami convicted Victor Rafael Arcia Albeja, also known as “Vitico,” 32, of Miami, on Feb. 20 for his role in a violent human smuggling scheme that kidnapped and extorted Cuban migrants, holding them captive and threatening brutal harm to force payments from their families.
Arcia Albeja was the last of six defendants to be convicted for their roles in a South Florida-based alien smuggling and extortion scheme. Co-defendants Osmel Benitez, 40, of Opa-Locka; Victor Manuel Perez Cardenas, 40, of Tampa; Jhonny Walther Izaguirre Lopez, 46, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Yoelys Prada Ramos, 45, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Jose Angel Marrero Rodriguez, 52, of Houston, Texas, previously pleaded guilty.
“This was an organized human smuggling enterprise enforced through kidnapping, torture, and terror,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendants smuggled vulnerable Cuban migrants into our country and then treated them as commodities, imprisoning them, beating them with machetes, staging mock executions, and putting guns to their heads to extort ransom from their families. These are not immigration violations. They are violent federal crimes. If you exploit desperation for profit in South Florida, you will be hunted down, prosecuted federally, and face the full weight of the law.”
“The depravity of this kidnapping and smuggling operation is almost beyond description,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami. “Arcia Albeja and his co-defendants kidnapped, extorted, and tortured victims and their families by putting them in nightmarish circumstances such as a mock hanging, being beaten by a machete, and extorting large sums of money. Now all convicted, these defendants justly face significant prison sentences for their inhumane actions.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, in March and May 2024, Arcia Albeja and Perez Cardenas transported Cuban nationals by boat from Cayo Coco, Cuba to Key Largo. Benitez and other members of the alien smuggling enterprise then transported the aliens to a safe house in Miami Gardens, where members of the enterprise demanded $15,000 in smuggling fees per person from the aliens’ families and friends.
To enforce payment and deter noncompliance, members of the enterprise used threats and violence. When the aliens brought in March 2024 failed to pay, Prada Ramos showed the aliens a video depicting a man battering a victim with a machete, then shooting the victim dead. This video was shown to aliens who came on the May 2024 voyage before they boarded the boat. Further, Arcia Albeja and other members of the enterprise implemented a policy that no alien would be released until full payment was received.
On May 18, 2024, Arcia Albeja and Perez Cardenas brought approximately 15 aliens to Key Largo. After some attempted to flee, members of the enterprise pursued them. Meanwhile, Perez Cardenas drove some of the aliens to the safe house. At the safe house, enterprise members threatened the aliens with harm if payment was not made. When several aliens’ families failed to pay, five aliens were transported to a vacant farm property in northwest Miami-Dade County used for cockfighting.
At that location, members of the enterprise resumed their efforts to collect the aliens’ smuggling fees, including staging and recording acts of violence and sending the videos to aliens’ families. One alien testified that Izaguirre Lopez put her on a FaceTime call with her mother, put a gun to her head, and told her mother that if she did not pay, she would receive her daughter’s head. In another instance, Benitez and Arcia Albeja forced one of the aliens to participate in a mock hanging while being beaten with a machete.
When the extortion scheme failed, members of the enterprise attempted to transport the aliens to Louisiana for forced labor to satisfy the smuggling debts. On May 20, 2024, law enforcement stopped Izaguirre Lopez on the Florida Turnpike in Sumter County, arrested him, and rescued the aliens.
The jury convicted Arcia Albeja of conspiracy to kidnap, four counts of kidnapping, conspiracy to bring an alien to the U.S., bringing an alien to the U.S., and four counts of violent crimes in furtherance of racketeering. Arcia Albeja faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the kidnapping-related charges. He also faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the alien smuggling counts and up to 20 years in prison on each count of violent crimes in furtherance of racketeering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Skiles made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dwayne E. Williams and Bertila Fernandez are prosecuting the case.
FBI Miami is investigating the case. The Homestead Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office provided invaluable assistance.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from FBI Miami, Homestead Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website for the United States District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20397.
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Defendant Charged with Damaging the Brooklyn Headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch MovementRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Dan Sohail with intentionally damaging religious property, specifically the global headquarters for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement (Chabad Headquarters) in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Sohail was taken into federal custody earlier today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the charge.
“As alleged, the defendant’s conduct—driving his vehicle back and forth into an entrance of the synagogue five times— caused damage to a sacred religious institution,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will not tolerate conduct that endangers the safety of that community or any of our diverse communities. We will continue to protect religious gathering spaces to ensure worshippers are free to safely congregate.”
“Americans should be free to practice their faith without fearing defacement of their sacred places,” said Assistant Attorney General Dhillon. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate attacks on houses of worship, and will vigorously prosecute those who carry them out.”
“Dan Sohail allegedly rammed his vehicle five times into the Chabad Headquarters during a packed memorial service. Sohail allegedly jeopardized dozens of lives and damaged one of our city’s sacred synagogues. The FBI and the NYPD will continue to protect our community’s religious institutions to ensure a safe place for all worshippers,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.“Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe city where they can practice their faith freely and without fear," stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “The Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn is a sacred place for many Jews in New York City and around the world, and the purposeful destruction of this property is unacceptable. We will always work to ensure that those who violate the law are held accountable, and I thank our NYPD investigators, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's office for working swiftly to pursue justice in this case.”
As alleged in the complaint, on the evening of January 28, 2026, Sohail drove to the Chabad Headquarters located on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. The Chabad Headquarters was hosting an event that evening which was attended by dozens of people, marking the anniversary of the death of the movement’s leader. When Sohail arrived at the side entrance of the building, he exited his vehicle and moved barriers that were set up to protect the building, which includes a synagogue and religious gathering spaces. After gesturing for various congregants to move away, Sohail returned to his vehicle and drove his car into the building’s side entrance. He then reversed his vehicle and accelerated into the entrance four additional times. The impact knocked the entrance door off its hinges. No one was injured in the incident.
The charge in the complaint is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charge, Sohail faces up to three years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights and General Crimes Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Silverberg and Brachah Goykadosh are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Marlane Bosler.
The Defendant:
DAN SOHAIL
Age: 36
Carteret, New JerseyE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-MJ-41
sohail_complaint.pdfDefendant Charged with Damaging the Brooklyn Headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch MovementRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Dan Sohail with intentionally damaging religious property, specifically the global headquarters for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement (Chabad Headquarters) in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Sohail was taken into federal custody earlier today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky.
“Americans should be free to practice their faith without fearing defacement of their sacred places,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate attacks on houses of worship, and will vigorously prosecute those who carry them out.”
“As alleged, the defendant’s conduct — driving his vehicle back and forth into an entrance of the synagogue five times — caused damage to a sacred religious institution,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Nocella for the Eastern District of New York. “Our Office will not tolerate conduct that endangers the safety of that community or any of our diverse communities. We will continue to protect religious gathering spaces to ensure worshippers are free to safely congregate.”
“Dan Sohail allegedly rammed his vehicle five times into the Chabad Headquarters during a packed memorial service,” said Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle of the FBI New York Field Office. “Sohail allegedly jeopardized dozens of lives and damaged one of our city’s sacred synagogues. The FBI and the NYPD will continue to protect our community’s religious institutions to ensure a safe place for all worshippers.”
“Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe city where they can practice their faith freely and without fear,” said Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch of the New York Police Department. “The Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn is a sacred place for many Jews in New York City and around the world, and the purposeful destruction of this property is unacceptable. We will always work to ensure that those who violate the law are held accountable, and I thank our NYPD investigators, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's office for working swiftly to pursue justice in this case.”
As alleged in the complaint, on the evening of Jan. 28, Sohail drove to the Chabad Headquarters located on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. The Chabad Headquarters was hosting an event that evening which was attended by dozens of people, marking the anniversary of the death of the movement’s leader. When Sohail arrived at the side entrance of the building, he exited his vehicle and moved barriers that were set up to protect the building, which includes a synagogue and religious gathering spaces. After gesturing for various congregants to move away, Sohail returned to his vehicle and drove his car into the building’s side entrance. He then reversed his vehicle and accelerated into the entrance four additional times. The impact knocked the entrance door off its hinges. No one was injured in the incident.
The charge in the complaint is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charge, Sohail faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights and General Crimes Sections. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Silverberg and Brachah Goykadosh are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Marlane Bosler.
Coral Gables Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Videos Depicting Sexual Torture of Baby MonkeysRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Francisco Javier Ravelo, 36, of Coral Gables, pleaded guilty today to distributing videos depicting the torture of monkeys, in violation of the federal Animal Crushing statute. Ravelo was charged in October 2025.
According to court documents, Ravelo created some and administered some online chat groups dedicated to the distribution and discussion of sexual and violent videos depicting monkeys being mutilated and burned, including baby and adult monkeys. Ravelo personally distributed more than 40 of these obscene crush videos.
“In his first term, President Donald J. Trump signed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act into law to end animal crushing,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “If you are involved in this sadistic activity, we will prosecute you.”
“This case is deeply disturbing,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “As a former state court trial judge who presided over domestic violence cases, I was trained to recognize lethality factors, warning signs that violence is escalating. Deliberate cruelty to animals is one of the clearest red flags. It reflects a willingness to dominate, torture, and inflict suffering without remorse. The defendant didn’t merely view this material. He created and administered online groups devoted to it and distributed dozens of obscene animal torture videos. That conduct fuels a market built on brutality. Animal crushing is a serious federal crime. In the Southern District of Florida, we will enforce that law firmly and without hesitation.”
“Our team worked diligently to ensure Ravelo was held accountable for his egregious crimes and to prevent further harm,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “We are grateful for the collaboration that brought this case to resolution and Ravelo to justice.”
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Gustafson, U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Wright made the announcement.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke E. Latta for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of the ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under Case No. 25-cr-20477.
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Caldwell Woman Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BOISE – Kimberly Lee Freeman, 60, of Caldwell, Idaho, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to court filings, on December 27, 2023, Ms. Freeman delivered 192 grams of methamphetamine to another person in exchange for $1,200. On November 18, 2024, another person met with Ms. Freeman at her residence in Caldwell, Idaho. Ms. Freeman weighed out and delivered 226 grams of methamphetamine to this person in exchange for $1,300. On January 27, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ms. Freeman’s residence. Ms. Freeman admitted that there were several ounces of methamphetamine inside her purse. Law enforcement found 190 grams of methamphetamine in her purse.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Ms. Freeman to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the City-County Narcotics Unit (comprised of the Caldwell Police Department and Canyon County Sheriff’s Office), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Idaho State Police which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kane Venecia prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position.
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Bosnian Man Sentenced to Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison.
Hazim Kapic, age 61, from Bosnia, who was living in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 17, 2025, guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography.
In a plea agreement, Kapic admitted that he downloaded child pornography from February 2020 until August 2024. In August 2024, law enforcement officers searched his home in Waterloo, Iowa, and seized a hard drive with thousands of images and videos of child pornography, including of prepubescent minors. Kapic had depictions of child pornography involving an infant or toddler, and depictions involving sadistic and masochistic conduct.
Kapic was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Kapic was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to make $18,000 in restitution to victims in the case. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Kapic is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2025.
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Bond County meth dealer sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district court judge sentenced a Bond County man to 151 months’ imprisonment after he sold meth and engaged in a three-hour standoff with police.
Johnathan Joiner, 46, of Greenville, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of controlled substance: meth. Following imprisonment, he will serve three years of supervised release.
“Not only was the defendant guilty of selling meth in Bond County, but he endangered the lives of the law enforcement personnel assigned to his arrest by engaging in a standoff,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.
According to court documents, Joiner sold a total of 62 grams of pure meth in two law enforcement coordinated sales in July 2024. He was arrested in January 2025 following a three-hour standoff with police. Evidence at the sentencing hearing indicated that Joiner hid from law enforcement inside a self-made hiding hole.
“This sentence reflects the price criminals will pay if they put our citizens and law enforcement partners in danger,” said FBI-Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge Ruben Marchand-Morales. “The FBI remains committed to aggressively investigating and stopping criminals from bringing dangerous drugs into our communities.”
The judge also ordered Joiner to pay a $5,000 fine.
The FBI Springfield Field Office and the TOC-West Task Force led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson prosecuted the case.
Birmingham Man Charged with Impeding the Arrest of an Illegal ImmigrantRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has charged a Birmingham man with interfering in the arrest of an illegal immigrant, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Cesar Acosta, 34, with impeding a federal officer. According to court documents, Acosta interfered with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in the performance of official duties while the officer was attempting to arrest an illegal alien. The incident occurred on February 16, 2026, in Blount County.
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.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alan S. Kirk is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Armed Career Criminal faces 15 Years to Life in Prison for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Cortez Williams, 36, of Memphis, was convicted by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm and will face an enhanced penalty of 15 years to life imprisonment for being an Armed Career Criminal. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on June 11, 2024, officers with the Memphis Police Department pulled over a black Nissan Z for displaying tags belonging to a different car. The defendant, Cortez Williams, was driving the car. Instead of pulling over to the side of the road, he pulled into a gas station and began pretending he was putting air in one of the car’s tires. On recorded body camera, the jurors were able to see the two police officers park and approach Williams’s vehicle.
The first officer immediately saw a Glock 17 with a large 30-round extended magazine and a tactical light attached to it wedged between the driver’s seat and the center console. The officers asked Williams if he was a convicted felon. He said yes and was then arrested. Williams then also admitted to knowing the gun was in the car. The defendant’s girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter was in the front passenger seat of the car and was within inches of the loaded firearm.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty after about two hours of deliberation. The jury found that Williams had 4 previous convictions for violent felonies on different occasions including Facilitation of Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Robbery, and Aggravated Burglary. This finding will lead to Williams being sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal, and he will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Williams is set to be sentenced on June 11, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "THIS is how we reduce violent crime in Memphis and prevent the next homicide – Remove dangerous and repeat offenders from the community BEFORE they pull the trigger again. We will restore Law and Order in Memphis by imposing real consequences – aggressively and unapologetically.”
The case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney J. William Crow and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Cohenmeyer of the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
27 February 2026
Zuni man charged with sexual abuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man is facing federal charges for allegedly sexually abusing two minors.
According to court records, on or about February 9, 2026, the Zuni Tribal Police Department was notified of allegations that Vernon Rydell Sanchez, 38, an enrolled member of the Zuni tribe, sexually abused two minors. The minors were subsequently forensically interviewed and both disclosed sexual contact by Sanchez on multiple occasions. Law enforcement later interviewed Sanchez, who denied the allegations
Sanchez is charged with two counts of abusive sexual contact and will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Sanchez faces up to three years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan 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.
Westchester Construction Contractor Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Harry T. Chavis, Jr., announced that PHILIP CASTRACUCCO pled guilty today to filing false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns before U.S. District Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke in White Plains federal court.
“As he admitted today in court, Philip Castracucco filed false tax returns that underreported income from his business,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Castracucco attempted to avoid paying his full obligation back to the government, one we all collectively share for essential services and infrastructure. He has now pled guilty to a federal crime and faces time in prison. Cheating on your taxes is stealing from your fellow New Yorkers.”
“Philip Castracucco concealed income from the IRS and evaded the payment of taxes, contributing to our nation’s tax gap in the process. With today’s guilty plea, he is being held accountable. This outcome demonstrates the strength of our investigative efforts and our commitment to safeguarding the public from financial misconduct. He now faces the consequences of choosing fraud over compliance,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr.
According to the Information, public court proceedings and filings, as well as CASTRACUCCO’s admissions during his plea allocation:
CASTRACUCCO was the owner of a contracting business (“Company-1”) that performed construction work, primarily for masonry projects in the vicinity of Westchester County, New York. From 2017 through 2022, CASTRACUCCO caused Company-1 business receipt checks in a total amount of more than $3.5 million to be cashed through a check cashing business and converted to cash, rather than deposited into Company-1’s business bank account. CASTRACUCCO used this cash to pay salaries and wages to himself and his employees; for other items purchased for his own benefit; and for materials used by Company-1.
From 2018 through 2023, CASTRACUCCO filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) U.S. Income Tax Returns for an S Corporation, IRS Forms 1120-S, for Company-1 that omitted its gross receipts from the aforementioned checks and more than $1 million of salaries and wages paid by Company-1 to CASTRACUCCO and others. CASTRACUCCO also caused to be filed with the IRS Forms 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns, for Company-1 that omitted these salaries and wages.
From 2020 through 2023, CASTRACUCCO filed and caused to be filed with the IRS personal U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, IRS Forms 1040, that omitted more than $900,000 of business income CASTRACUCCO received from Company-1.
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CASTRACUCCO, 63, of Tuckahoe, New York, pled guilty to one count of making and subscribing to false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. CASTRACUCCO has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS, representing the additional tax due and owing as a result of his conduct, in an amount no less than $359,646.57. Sentencing before Judge Clarke is scheduled for September 9, 2026.
The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed on the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of IRS-CI in this case.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Coffman is in charge of the prosecution.
Waxahachie Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for $1.7M SIM Card Swapping Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Waxahachie man who coordinated a SIM card-swapping fraud scheme was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Kimionte Bennett, 30, was indicted in July 2025 and pled guilty in October 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, who also ordered Bennett to pay $1,769,438 in restitution.According to court documents, Bennett facilitated multiple “SIM swap” attacks, whereby Bennett and his co-conspirators gained control over their victims’ cell phone numbers by temporarily re-assigning the victims’ phone numbers to a SIM card controlled by Bennett or his co-conspirators. After conducting the “SIM swap,” Bennett and his co-conspirators used that phone access to intercept the multi-factor authentication codes, and used these codes to illicitly access the victims’ cryptocurrency accounts—from which Bennett’s co-conspirators would steal cryptocurrency from the victims.
In total, court records reflect that Bennett and his co-conspirators were responsible for an actual loss of $1,769,438 sustained by the various victims of this SIM card-swapping fraud scheme.
At the sentencing hearing, one victim said, “These weren’t just digital numbers on a screen; they represented my family’s savings, our future security, our dreams. I had planned to use that money to build a stable future for my [child]—[their] education, our home, our peace of mind. In an instant, it was all gone. Coming from a family whose parents came to this country with cheap plastic suitcases, and zero money, it was absolutely devastating . . . In an instant, that same American dream that my parents worked so hard to build, and continued through me, vanished.”
Two of Bennett’s co-conspirators, Leticia Contreras and Osvaldo Guajardo, were also prosecuted in related cases for participating in Bennett’s fraud scheme. Contreras, 30, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. Guajardo, 31, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.
FBI Omaha Field Division, FBI Dallas Field Division, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Detroit Field Division, and FBI Cyber Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric B. Chen, Matthew Weybrecht, and Justin Beck prosecuted the case.