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Friday 16 January 2026
Idaho Man Pleads Guilty to CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rigby, Idaho man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to cyberstalking a Massachusetts professor over the course of five months.
Edward John Kay, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking before U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick who scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2026. In July 2025, Kay was arrested and charged by criminal complaint.
Kay met the victim in January 2025 when he enrolled in the victim’s online course, which the victim taught at a university’s extension school. After one Zoom meeting with the victim and one virtual class session, Kay became fixated on the victim, dropped the course, and proceeded to harass and intimidate the victim over email and LinkedIn for five months.
- Between January and June of 2025, Kay sent the victim over 80 harassing communications via LinkedIn and email – including at least one anonymous email account. In the communications, Kay expressed his adoration and love for the victim and mentioned the victim’s minor child by name. The communications included:
- A LinkedIn message, in which Kay stated: “I miss you-truly, deeply- with all of my heart and soul. That day I saw you on Zoom…You were the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Not just appearance. Everything. Your presence. Your mind. Your light. To gain you…and then to lose you like that? It devastated me;”
- An email sent to several of the university’s offices with the victim copied, in which Kay stated: “Dr. [victim’s last name] has been copied on all communications. She knows what is coming.” He added that this was only the “VERY BEGINNING” because “Every day, starting today, will mark a **new action of serious consequence**, taken by me in accordance with divine alignment and institutional justice;” and
- An anonymous email sent to the victim from the email address [victim’s name][email protected], in which Kay professed his love for the victim, encouraged the victim to leave the university and stated, “You are still free. But you are not unreachable.”
In addition, Kay told another university professor about his obsession with the victim and his desire to separate the victim from her husband.
The charge of cyberstalking provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by FBI Salt Lake City and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
- Human Trafficking Prevention Month
High-ranking Sinaloa Cartel member extradited to Atlanta to face cocaine trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Following his extradition from Mexico to the United States, Roberto Najera Gutierrez, a/k/a Kunfu Panda and a/k/a La Gallina, pleaded not guilty in the Northern District of Georgia to a federal charge of conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine that he knew would be imported into the United States.
"Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and our brave DEA agents, the cartels are no longer free to import poison into our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We appreciate the work of our Office of International Affairs which secured the extradition of this alleged narco-terrorist, and our attorneys in the Northern District of Georgia will ensure he’s met with swift justice in the United States.”
“As a senior member of the brutal Sinaloa Cartel, Najera Gutierrez is allegedly responsible for distributing massive amounts of cocaine from South America and through Mexico that were intended to poison communities in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This federal indictment, as well as the recent arraignment in Atlanta of alleged Sinaloa Cartel trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, demonstrates the global reach of the Drug Enforcement Administration and underscores that narco-terrorists abroad will ultimately face justice in American courtrooms.”
“This indictment is part of a multi-agency collaboration dedicated to dismantling transnational criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking and violence,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Through sustained cooperation, we are holding cartel leaders accountable and reducing the harm they cause to our communities.”
“IRS-CI is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for trafficking massive amounts of cocaine and other illegal drugs into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office.
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In 2013, agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation of drug traffickers working with the Sinaloa Cartel to transport cocaine from South America to Mexico for importation into the United States, including into the Northern District of Georgia. The Sinaloa Cartel is a transnational criminal group based in Mexico. On February 20, 2025, the Sinaloa Cartel was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
As part of the investigation, agents identified Roberto Najera Gutierrez as a then-high-ranking member of the cartel who allegedly led and coordinated the transportation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine by boat from Colombia and Ecuador to Honduras and Guatemala. Once the drugs were in Central America, they were smuggled across the Guatemalan border into Mexico. Najera Gutierrez allegedly distributed that cocaine to other high-level drug traffickers in Mexico who imported the cocaine into Atlanta, Chicago, and the states of Florida, New York, and California. Najera Gutierrez also allegedly coordinated the collection and remission of drug proceeds through bank accounts.
Roberto Najera Gutierrez, 48, of Tizimín, Yucatán, Mexico, is in federal custody. The recently unsealed indictment against Najera Gutierrez was returned in March 2018. In October 2023, Najera Gutierrez was served with a warrant pursuant to the U.S. request for his extradition. On January 8, 2026, he was extradited from Mexico and surrendered to the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and IRS Criminal Investigation. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted in transporting Najera Gutierrez from Mexico to appear before the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurel Milam and Jonell L. Lucca are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department Criminal Division Office of Enforcement Operations assisted in the investigation, and the Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and January 8, 2026, extradition of Najera Gutierrez.
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.
These prosecutions are also 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
High-Ranking Sinaloa Cartel Member Extradited from Mexico to Atlanta to Face Cocaine Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Following his extradition from Mexico to the United States, Roberto Najera Gutierrez, also known as “Kunfu Panda” and “La Gallina,” pleaded not guilty in the Northern District of Georgia to a federal charge of conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine that he knew would be imported into the United States.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and our brave DEA agents, the cartels are no longer free to import poison into our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We appreciate the work of our Office of International Affairs which secured the extradition of this alleged narco-terrorist and our attorneys in the Northern District of Georgia will ensure he’s met with swift justice in the United States.”
“As a senior member of the brutal Sinaloa Cartel, Najera Gutierrez is allegedly responsible for distributing massive amounts of cocaine from South America and through Mexico that were intended to poison communities in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “This federal indictment, as well as the recent arraignment in Atlanta of alleged Sinaloa Cartel trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, demonstrates the global reach of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and underscores that narco-terrorists abroad will ultimately face justice in American courtrooms.”
“This indictment is part of a multi-agency collaboration dedicated to dismantling transnational criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Through sustained cooperation, we are holding cartel leaders accountable and reducing the harm they cause to our communities.”
“IRS-CI is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for trafficking massive amounts of cocaine and other illegal drugs into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Atlanta Field Office.
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In 2013, DEA agents began an investigation of drug traffickers working with the Sinaloa Cartel to transport cocaine from South America to Mexico for importation into the United States, including into the Northern District of Georgia. The Sinaloa Cartel is a transnational criminal group based in Mexico. On Feb. 20, 2025, the Sinaloa Cartel was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
As part of the investigation, agents identified Roberto Najera Gutierrez as a then-high-ranking member of the cartel who allegedly led and coordinated the transportation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine by boat from Colombia and Ecuador to Honduras and Guatemala. Once the drugs were in Central America, they were smuggled across the Guatemalan border into Mexico. Najera Gutierrez allegedly distributed that cocaine to other high-level drug traffickers in Mexico who imported the cocaine into Atlanta, Chicago, and the states of Florida, New York, and California. Najera Gutierrez also allegedly coordinated the collection and remission of drug proceeds through bank accounts.
Roberto Najera Gutierrez, 48, of Tizimín, Yucatán, Mexico, is in federal custody. The recently unsealed indictment against Najera Gutierrez was returned in March 2018. In October 2023, Najera Gutierrez was served with a warrant pursuant to the U.S. request for his extradition. On Jan. 8, 2026, he was extradited from Mexico and surrendered to the United States.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and IRS-CI. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted in transporting Najera Gutierrez from Mexico to appear before the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurel Milam and Jonell L. Lucca for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations assisted in the investigation, and the Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and Jan. 8 extradition from Mexico of Najera Gutierrez.
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.
These prosecutions are also 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 U.S. 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Claylon Leon Austin, a/k/a Clayton Leon Austin, age 38, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, punishable by no less than 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that beginning on March 13, 2025, and continuing until March 14, 2025, Austin enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating videos using a device which Austin knew was manufactured outside the state of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Austin will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Wayne Wasson, a/k/a Pops, age 64, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of a Felony Information for Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by a term of up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.
The Information alleged that on or about October 19, 2023, Wasson knowingly and willfully distributed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Wasson is remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edith A. Singer and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Caleb Chainey Hensley, age 26, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by a term of ten years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on May 13, 2024, Hensley knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hensley will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edith A. Singer and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Guatemalan National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced CARLOS EGBERTO JIMENEZ-TUN, also known as Carlos Egberto-Jimenez, 28, a citizen of Guatemala, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in April 2019, Jimenez was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas as part of a criminal alien smuggling investigation. U.S. Border Patrol determined that Jimenez was in the U.S. illegally and he was deported to Guatemala in July 2019. In September 2019, U.S. Border Patrol encountered Jimenez in Texas again. He was arrested for being in the U.S. illegally and was deported to Guatemala in November 2019.
Jimenez subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. Between November 2023 and October 2025, Jimenez was arrested, convicted, and sentenced multiple times in Connecticut Superior Court for larceny, failure to appear in court, interfering and resisting arrest, and violating probation.
Jimenez was arrested today in Bridgeport by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations following his release from state custody. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Jimenez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 2 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Greenville Man Indicted for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material While on Parole for Similar OffensesRead the Press Release
Greenville Man Indicted for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material While on Parole for Similar Offenses
CONCORD – A Greenville man was indicted on charges of possession and access with intent to view child sex abuse material, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
According to court documents, Paul Birner, 50, was previously convicted of possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in Utah. He served a term of incarceration and, after his release, relocated to New Hampshire. As part of his sentence, the defendant was under the supervision of New Hampshire Probation/Parole (NHPPO). On September 10, 2025, NHPPO conducted a scheduled meeting with Birner and reviewed data on his cell phone. A subsequent review revealed numerous images and videos containing CSAM.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The charging statute provides a sentence of not less than 10, and not greater than 20 years of imprisonment. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Gulfport Man Convicted at Trial of Fentanyl OffensesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – After a three-day trial, on January 14, 2026, a jury in Gulfport, Mississippi convicted, Marcus Agee, 35, of Gulfport, Mississippi of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the evidence and testimony presented during trial, Agee was serving a prison sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Beaumont, Texas, while running a drug trafficking conspiracy based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Agee directed other members of the conspiracy to make fentanyl sales, transfer the proceeds of fentanyl sales, and store fentanyl through messaging applications, text messages, and video calls on a contraband cell phone. He also arranged for the shipment of fentanyl to Gulfport, Mississippi for distribution.
Ultimately, law enforcement recovered a brick of fentanyl weighing over 900 grams and over 15,000 fake pills, some of which tested positive for fentanyl, which were attributable to Agee’s drug conspiracy. Photos are provided below:
Agee’s sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Gulfport Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, and Federal Bureau of Prisons, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter McCreight and Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.
Gulfport Man Convicted at Trial of Fentanyl OffensesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – After a three-day trial, on January 14, 2026, a jury in Gulfport, Mississippi convicted, Marcus Agee, 35, of Gulfport, Mississippi of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the evidence and testimony presented during trial, Agee was serving a prison sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Beaumont, Texas, while running a drug trafficking conspiracy based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Agee directed other members of the conspiracy to make fentanyl sales, transfer the proceeds of fentanyl sales, and store fentanyl through messaging applications, text messages, and video calls on a contraband cell phone. He also arranged for the shipment of fentanyl to Gulfport, Mississippi for distribution.
Ultimately, law enforcement recovered a brick of fentanyl weighing over 900 grams and over 15,000 fake pills, some of which tested positive for fentanyl, which were attributable to Agee’s drug conspiracy. Photos are provided below:
Agee’s sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Gulfport Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, and Federal Bureau of Prisons, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter McCreight and Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.
Former postal employee sentenced for stealing gift cards and money from the mailRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Anita D. Miller, 42, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of theft of mail by a postal employee and delay of mail by a postal employee, was sentenced to serve three years’ probation and 100 community service by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who handled the case, stated that on six occasions in February and March 2022, Miller, while employed by the U.S. Postal Service, stole gift cards and cash from mailed envelopes. In addition, one two occasions in March 2022, Miller delayed delivery of mailed envelopes.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent-in-Charge Northeast Field Office.
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Former IRS Employee Sentenced to 12 Months and a Day in Prison Following a More than $2M Financial Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Rodney Quinn Rupe, 47, of Syracuse, Utah, was sentenced to 12 months and a day imprisonment for wire fraud after he abused his position as a former IRS employee and attempted to steal more than $2 million in tax credits.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, comes after Rupe pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025, to wire fraud. The court also sentenced Rupe to two years of supervised release.
According to court documents and admissions made at Rupe’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on April 15, 2022, Rupe, an employee of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, accessed the IRS systems and moved tax credits in the amount of $2,021,986 from ExxonMobil’s taxpayer account to a taxpayer account for Ex XO Exteriors Ltd., a company Rupe created and controlled. He admitted that he moved the tax credits through three separate transfers, each of which used interstate wires. On September 18, 2023, Rupe transferred the tax credits so they would be applied to the 2019 tax year account for his company, knowing it would result in a refund check to Ex XO Exteriors Ltd. On October 31, 2023, Rupe resigned from the IRS and unsuccessfully attempted to deposit the refund check multiple times in 2024, and was subsequently arrested. See prior press release: Former IRS Employee Accused of Attempting to Steal More than $2M from the Government and ExxonMobil.
“As a former IRS employee, Mr. Rupe accessed an IRS database as a trusted government employee to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars for his own personal use,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “This administration is committed to ferreting out programmatic government fraud, particularly by those who abused their positions rather than protecting the Americans they swore to serve.”
The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
Assistant United States Attorney Carl D. LeSueur of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Former Canton Aldermen Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – Andrew Grant, 41, and Eric Gilkey, 58, of Canton, Mississippi were sentenced yesterday to 46 months in federal prison for their roles in a bribery scheme involving former Madison County engineer Rudolph M. Warnock Jr.
In July, a federal jury convicted their co-defendants, Rudolph M. Warnock Jr., and Cleveland Anderson, of multiple felony charges following an eight-day trial. Counts 1 and 2 of the indictment charged Warnock and Anderson with conspiring to commit bribery. Warnock was also charged in Counts 3 and 4 of the indictment with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and the completed offense of honest services wire fraud. Warnock and Anderson were both convicted on all the counts with which they were charged in the indictment. In December, Warnock was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Anderson was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Grant and Gilkey, both former members of the Canton Board of Aldermen, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Anderson and Warnock in the bribery scheme in November 2022. The Canton Board of Aldermen had authority to select and appoint members of the Board of Commissioners of the Canton Municipal Utilities agency (CMU). At Warnock’s behest, Grant and Gilkey appointed Anderson to serve on the CMU Board of Commissioners. It was Anderson who facilitated Warnock’s hiring as the CMU engineer in 2016.
The evidence at trial revealed that Warnock directed payments and rewards to Anderson, Gilkey, and Grant in exchange for preferential treatment that resulted in lucrative city engineering contracts for Warnock. The bribes supplied by Warnock included thousands of dollars in cash, concert tickets, and football tickets in New Orleans, Louisiana. In exchange for those bribes, Anderson, Grant, and Gilkey ceded control of the CMU purse to Warnock.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly T. Purdie and David H. Fulcher prosecuted the case.
Five people arrested for alleged drug conspiracy at Dumfries motelRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Five defendants made their initial appearance in court today on charges relating to criminal activity alleged to have taken place in and around the Red Carpet Inn in Dumfries.
“Drug trafficking and sex trafficking devastate communities by exploiting vulnerable individuals and fueling violence and addiction,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Our office is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises that profit from human suffering. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold offenders accountable and disrupt the cycles of exploitation that threaten our communities.”
“These arrests stem from a joint investigation between the FBI, the Prince William County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police,” said Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division. “I want to thank our partners for the investigative work they have done to further this investigation and to support one of our top priorities — combating violent crime. The FBI will continue to collaborate with federal and local law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug and sex trafficking rings and bring traffickers to justice.”
According to court documents, since May 2023, Kosha Sharma, aka Ma or Mama K, 52, and Tarun Sharma, aka Pop or Pa, 55, and Kosha LLC, doing business as “Red Carpet Inn,” have leased and operated the motel. As alleged in a criminal complaint, Kosha and Tarun Sharma, who are married, take a cut of the profits made from illegal activity conducted on the third floor of the hotel.
From May 28, 2025, through Dec. 17, 2025, law enforcement conducted nine prostitution encounters and 15 controlled purchases of fentanyl at the Red Carpet Inn. Eleven of the controlled purchases were for fentanyl, the other four for cocaine. The complaint alleges that Margo Waldon Pierce, aka Marko, 51, distributed the illegal narcotics in all 15 controlled purchases.
Joshua Roderick, aka Josh, 40, and Rashard Perrish Smith, aka Sean/Shawn, B, B-more, or Baltimore, 33, were also arrested for their alleged roles in the criminal activity at the Red Carpet Inn.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine Rosenberg and Megan Braun are prosecuting the case. The FBI, Prince William County Police Department, and Virginia State Police are investigating 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. 1:26-MJ-1.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This release was revised on January 16, 2026, to correct the spelling of defendant Joshua Roderick.False Claims Act Settlements and Judgments Exceed $6.8B in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
Settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act exceeded $6.8 billion in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, announced today. That amount is the highest in a single year in the history of the False Claims Act. This year, whistleblowers filed 1,297 qui tam lawsuits, the highest number in a single year, and the government opened 401 investigations, including matters announced as Administration policy objectives. Settlements and judgments since 1986, when Congress substantially strengthened the civil False Claims Act, now total more than $85 billion.
“Stopping rampant fraud is a top priority, and this record-breaking year proves the False Claims Act remains one of the government’s most powerful weapons against fraud,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will continue to aggressively deploy it to protect taxpayer dollars and hold all fraudsters accountable.”
“The achievements announced today reflect exemplary work by the Department’s dedicated employees to investigate and litigate cases involving fraud against the government and to ensure that America’s taxpayer dollars are used for their intended purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The False Claims Act and its whistleblower provisions are crucial tools for ensuring that public funds are spent properly and in the public interest.”
“The False Claims Act is at its best when it protects taxpayers and the Americans who rely on government programs,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brenna Jenny of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department’s False Claims Act enforcement is guided by a simple principle: the statute is a powerful tool, and it should be used responsibly. The record-breaking recoveries announced today show our commitment to holding bad actors accountable, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and protecting vulnerable populations.”
The False Claims Act imposes treble damages and penalties on those who knowingly and falsely claim money from the United States or knowingly fail to pay money owed to the United States. The False Claims Act thus safeguards government programs and operations that provide access to medical care, support our military and first responders, protect American businesses and workers, help build and repair infrastructure, offer disaster and other emergency relief, and provide many other critical services and benefits. The resolutions in fiscal year 2025 also reflect the Department’s focus on key enforcement areas, including combating fraud in the federal health care system and in the government’s procurement, loan, and grant programs and redressing the improper avoidance of tariffs and customs duties that are owed.
Health care fraud remained a leading source of False Claims Act settlements and judgments. Of the more than $6.8 billion in False Claims Act settlements and judgments reported by the Department of Justice this past fiscal year, over $5.7 billion related to matters that involved the health care industry. These recoveries restore funds to federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, the health care program for service members and their families. But just as important, in many cases, enforcement of the False Claims Act also protects patients from medically unnecessary or potentially harmful conduct. As in years past, the Act was used to pursue matters involving a wide array of health care providers, goods, and services. Most notably, the Department continued and expanded its success in three major areas: Managed Care, Prescription Drugs, and Medically Unnecessary Care. The amounts included in the $5.7 billion reflect recoveries arising only from federal losses, but in many of these cases, the department was instrumental in recovering additional amounts for state Medicaid programs.
The Department also continued its pursuit of fraud matters involving the purchase of goods and services by the government. Fraud on the military squanders government funds, can deprive servicemembers of critical resources and potentially put them at risk, and creates potential national security risks. The Department also continued to advance cases holding government contractors and grantees accountable when they knowingly violate applicable cybersecurity requirements. It likewise continued to invest resources in recovering hundreds of millions of dollars lost to fraud in pandemic programs.
Finally, the Department directed resources to combatting fraud that evades tariffs and customs duties, launching a cross-agency Trade Fraud Task Force to enhance efforts to prevent trade fraud that deprives the government of vital revenues, threatens critical domestic industries, undermines consumer confidence, and weakens national security. These matters focus on those who attempt to misrepresent the type of goods imported or an item’s country of origin or disguise items to evade duties.
In furtherance of its efforts to recover funds for the public fisc, the Department remained committed to incentivizing and rewarding entities and individuals that self-disclose misconduct, demonstrably cooperate in the course of an investigation, and take effective remedial measures. Several settlements over the last year acknowledged such cooperative measures and reflected credits afforded to the defendants in the form of reduced penalties or damage multiples in connection with the resolution, including several of the matters discussed in the attached Fact Sheet. These cooperative measures can include self-disclosures, assistance with the determination of government losses, disclosures of internal investigations and facts not known to the government, and remedial measures such as implementing compliance program enhancements or terminating or separating culpable employees.
In 1986, through the leadership of Senator Charles Grassley, Congress strengthened the False Claims Act by increasing incentives for whistleblowers to file lawsuits alleging false claims on behalf of the government. These whistleblower, or qui tam, actions comprise a significant percentage of the False Claims Act cases that are filed. Qui tam cases may be pursued by the government or the whistleblower, and this past year, significant recoveries were obtained by both. When a qui tam action is successful, the whistleblower, also known as the relator, typically receives a portion of the recovery ranging between 15% and 30%. The 1,297 qui tam suits filed in fiscal year 2025 breaks the prior record set in 2024 of 980 such cases. This past year, the Justice Department reported settlements and judgments exceeding $5.3 billion in these and earlier-filed qui tam suits.
On behalf of the Civil Division, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jenny expressed appreciation for the many public servants over the past year who supported the department’s enforcement efforts. “The results of the past fiscal year are the product of a talented team of civil servants who pursue righteous FCA cases and return funds to American taxpayers. These hard-working individuals tackle the most complex civil fraud matters and serve at offices across the country, including the Fraud Section of the Civil Division, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the agency Offices of Inspector General and Offices of General Counsel, and many other federal and state agencies that contribute to this important work.”
Except where indicated, the government’s claims in the matters described in the attached Fact Sheet are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. The numbers contained in this press release may differ slightly from the original press releases due to accrued interest.
View the statistics sheet here.
Dulce Man Pleads Guilty to AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an incident in which he discharged a handgun in a vehicle, striking the victim.
According to court documents, on July 21, 2025, Leandrew Cody Velarde, 22, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, became intoxicated in a park. The victim and another individual offered to drive him home, and he got into their vehicle. During an argument in the car, Velarde handled a handgun he had with him, and the firearm discharged, striking the victim. The victim required airlift transport to a hospital but survived the injury.
After the shooting, Velarde fled the scene and discarded the gun, which was later recovered by law enforcement along with a spent shell casing. He was arrested nearby in possession of marijuana, alcohol, and a cell phone.
Velarde pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing Velarde faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.
District Man Sentenced to 21 Years for April 2023 Murder at Southeast Apartment ComplexRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Darrell Hinkle, 37, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 21 years in prison for the April 2023 murder of Dajuan Blakney in front of an apartment complex in Southeast Washington, DC, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
On September 4, 2025, defendant Hinkle pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed in D.C. Superior Court. In sentencing the defendant, the Honorable Jason Park accepted the agreed-to sentencing range of 17 to 21 years and sentenced the defendant to 21 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at 12:01 a.m. on April 21, 2023, Hinkle parked his vehicle in front of an apartment complex located at 1511 19th Street SE. Thereafter, the defendant approached the victim, who was seated on the steps leading to the entrance of the complex. When Hinkle was within a few feet of the victim, he shot him with an assault-style rifle, killing him. He then fled the scene in his vehicle.
The defendant was arrested in October of 2023 and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by officers, detectives, and other personnel of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Carson.
2023 CF1 007468
Delhi, India Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Illegally Export Aviation Components from Oregon to RussiaRead the Press Release
Yesterday, in Portland, Oregon, a man from Delhi, India was sentenced to federal prison for conspiring with others to export controlled aviation components and a navigation and flight control system to end users in Russia, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act. Sanjay Kaushik, 58, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and 36 months of supervised release.
“Those who scheme to circumvent U.S. export control laws—especially when it involves technologies with military applications—will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The security of the United States demands that perpetrators of deceitful schemes like this one are held accountable for their actions.”
“This was no lapse in judgment. It was a calculated, profit-driven scheme involving repeated transactions, substantial gains, and coordination with foreign co-conspirators, including sanctioned Russian entities,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “This defendant sought, on multiple occasions, to undermine safeguards critical to U.S. national security and foreign policy for his own personal gain.”
According to court documents and following yesterday's sentencing, beginning in early September 2023, Kaushik conspired with others to unlawfully obtain aerospace goods and technology from the United States for entities in Russia. The goods were purchased under the false pretense that they would be supplied to Kaushik and his Indian company, when in fact they were destined for Russian end users.
In one such instance, Kaushik and his co-conspirators purchased an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), which is a device that provides navigation and flight control data for aircraft, from an Oregon-based supplier. Components such as the AHRS require a license from the Department of Commerce to be exported to certain countries, including Russia. To obtain an export license for the AHRS, Kaushik and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that Kaushik’s Indian company was the end purchaser and that the component would be used in a civilian helicopter. Kaushik and his co-conspirators obtained the AHRS – which was ultimately detained before it was exported from the United States – on behalf of and with the intention of shipping it, through India, to a customer in Russia.
Kaushik was arrested in Miami, Florida, on October 17, 2024, pursuant to a criminal complaint and arrest warrant and has remained in custody since then.
On November 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Kaushik with conspiring and attempting to export products in violation of the Export Control Reform Act and the Export Administration Regulations, specifically attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia through India, and false statements in connection with an export.
On October 9, 2025, Kaushik pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment, conspiring to sell export-controlled aviation components with dual civilian and military applications to end users in Russia.
The sentencing was announced by Scott E. Bradford, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Special Agent in Charge Brent Burmester of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), San Jose Field Office.
BIS Portland investigated the case, with valuable assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Gregory R. Nyhus, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.
Defense Contractor President Sentenced to 48 Months in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Philip Flores, the owner, president, and chief executive of Intellipeak Solutions, Inc., a former defense contractor based out of Fredericksburg, Virginia, was sentenced in federal court today to 48 months’ custody, after admitting that he participated in a bribery scheme with former Naval Information Warfare Center employee James Soriano.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson explained that the “fraud was pervasive” and “it is hard to understate in terms of this area of business practice any offense conduct which would be of a more serious nature – it goes to heart of the fairness of the contracting system.”
U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson also ordered Flores to pay $80,500 in restitution to three victims of the offense.
According to his plea agreement, Flores gave various things of value to Soriano, including expensive meals at restaurants in San Diego and Washington, D.C., field level tickets and parking passes to Game 5 of the 2018 World Series in Los Angeles, and tickets to the 2019 Super Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. The cost of tickets to these premier sporting events totaled over $18,000.
In return, Soriano used his position as a contracting officer’s representative at the Naval Information Warfare Center to ensure that Intellipeak was awarded numerous no-bid contracts through the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program. Soriano secured the contracts by falsifying technical evaluations, providing high ratings to Intellipeak to do the contracted work, and approving Intellipeak’s invoices on the awarded contracts, despite knowing that Intellipeak was not doing the work but instead subcontracting out all or most of the work to non-8(a) companies in violation of the SBA 8(a) rules.
Soriano also exploited competitive contracting through the SBA 8(a) program to benefit Intellipeak over other contractors. For example, Soriano secretly allowed Flores to draft contract discriminators to ensure that Intellipeak was selected as a winning bidder on a competitive contract. Soriano also allowed Flores to secretly draft procurement documents for an $87 million competitive contract and then performed multiple steps to attempt to award the contract to Intellipeak even though its bid was $7 million higher than another contractor.
According to his plea agreement, Flores also exploited Intellipeak’s 8(a) small business status by marketing Intellipeak to other defense contractors, who were not part of the 8(a) program, as a way for those companies to get access to 8(a) sole source contracts, generally in exchange for “pass through” fee that was equal to 6 to 8 percent of the contract value. Flores charged his 6 to 8 percent fee to the government, which Soriano approved, even though both knew that Intellipeak was not doing the work on the contracts and the fee did not reflect performed work.
According to his plea agreement, as a result of the conspiracy, the government paid Intellipeak more than $16 million to perform work on approximately 26 government contracts and task orders. The profit Intellipeak made from these contracts and task orders was conservatively estimated to be between $550,000 and $1.5 million despite performing little to no work on them.
According to the United States’ sentencing memorandum, this was not the first time that Flores and Intellipeak defrauded the government. Years before the bribery conspiracy, Flores engaged in a separate scheme to draft procurement documents and use sham quotes to ensure Intellipeak would be awarded millions of dollars of contracts through the SBA 8(a) program. Once obtained, Flores subcontracted the work to other companies in exchange for a fee. In 2022, Flores was indicted in the Northern District of Georgia with one count of conspiracy and two counts of major fraud against the United States. Flores went to trial and was found guilty of all charges. Flores was sentenced to four months in custody and allowed to remain on bond pending the resolution of his appeal.
“The integrity of the procurement process is not for sale,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Those who trade bribes for government contracts undermine our warfighters and betray the American taxpayer—and they will be held accountable.”
"The successful prosecution of Mr. Flores underscores the serious consequences for undermining the integrity of the Department of Defense’s procurement process. This outcome serves as a significant deterrent to any individual who would exploit their position for personal financial gain at the expense of U.S. taxpayers," said John E. Helsing, Special Agent in Charge for the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS remains committed to working with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to root out public corruption within the DoD.”
"The integrity of our defense acquisitions is built on fairness and transparency, but Mr. Flores’ illicit bribery scheme eroded that foundation and betrayed the public's trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS remains steadfast in protecting the Department of the Navy procurement process by holding wrongdoers accountable and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent in accordance with the law.”
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message: Anyone who exploits a position of trust to fuel personal greed will be found and held accountable,” said Marcus Sykes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Funneling money into bribery schemes instead of delivering promised services undermines the integrity of federal programs. HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice against those who defraud the American people.”
"This sentencing shows what happens when someone abuses the system for personal gain. Philip Flores cheated taxpayers and hurt fair competition for government contracts,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation remains steadfast in working with our law enforcement partners to follow the money, expose corruption, and ensure that those who exploit positions of trust are held fully accountable."
“Fraud and bribery have no place in SBA programs. SBA-OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of the 8(a) program and ensuring these opportunities benefit eligible small businesses,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “We will continue partnering with DOJ and law enforcement to pursue accountability and safeguard taxpayer funds.”
“The 8(a) Program is designed for legitimate small businesses in federal contracting – not as a vehicle for DEI, bribery, or political agendas,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “SBA is grateful to our law enforcement partners for their work to stop fraud and put criminals behind bars. We will continue to audit participants and investigate the 8(a) Program, while implementing oversight and accountability on behalf of America’s taxpayers and job creators.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Swan and Carling E. Donovan.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23-cr-2282-TWR-2
Philip Flores Age: 53 Nashville, TN
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General
If you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098
Dauphin County Man Sentenced to 46 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Francisco Baez, age 53, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on January 15, 2026, to 46 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for drug trafficking.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Baez pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025, to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl. Investigators conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baez during which he sold approximately seven grams of fentanyl to a Confidential Source. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed and law enforcement recovered approximately 137 grams of fentanyl, over $20,000 cash, and 977 grams of a cutting agent from Baez’s residence.
The matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Pointing a Gun at Taxi DriverRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Erick Blanco-Cordova, 24, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to pointing a firearm at a taxicab driver in November 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Blanco-Cordova pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. The Honorable Judge Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2026.
Blanco-Cordova’s codefendant, Lesly Taracena, was found guilty by a jury in April 2025 of conspiracy to commit an armed crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and other related charges, and was sentenced to five years in prison in June 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 6:55 p.m., on November 11, 2019, Blanco-Cordova and Taracena were picked up in Arlington, Virginia by the victim, a taxicab driver, and asked to be taken to Union Station in Washington, D.C. The victim drove the defendants to the corner of 7th and F Street, NW, at which point Blanco-Cordova and Taracena exited the victim’s taxicab without paying their fare. The victim followed them and asked them to pay. Taracena turned around and pulled a firearm out of her pocket, pointing it at the victim while Blanco-Cordova stood next to her. The victim ran away in fear. When MPD stopped the defendants, they found a 40 caliber Smith and Wesson SD40VE semi-automatic handgun on Blanco-Cordova.
Blanco-Cordova was arrested in Maryland in March 2025 on weapons charges and has been in custody ever since.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katerina Qesari.
The co-defendant Lesly Taracena was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Skopicki and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katerina Qesari.
2019 CF3 014456
Convicted felon sentenced to 13 years in prison for illegally possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man was sentenced yesterday to 13 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Jan. 11, 2024, Dwayne Leman Swinson, aka Weezy, 44, was driving a vehicle with 13.98 grams of fentanyl and three firearms. One of the firearms was loaded with 78 rounds of ammunition and another was equipped with a 30-round magazine. Though Swinson attempted to distance himself from the vehicle when encountered by law enforcement, his DNA was found on the drugs, two of the firearms, and the drum magazine of the third firearm.
Swinson has eight prior felony convictions, three of which involve narcotics distribution or firearms offenses. As a previously convicted felon, Swinson cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
“Dwayne Swinson’s possession of multiple firearms and deadly fentanyl posed a serious and unacceptable threat to public safety,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Our office is committed to holding dangerous offenders accountable and protecting our communities from narcotics trafficking and firearm violence.”
“Every day, FBI agents and law enforcement officers around the nation see the detrimental effects gun violence and drugs have on the welfare of our communities and families,” said Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. “With our partners, the FBI stands committed to investigating and holding accountable those who seek to undermine the safety and security of our citizens.”
The FBI and the Richmond Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Groover, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney 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 protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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. 3:25-cr-53.
California Man Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Gyasi Wallace (33, California) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger to 20 years and 10 months in prison for producing of child sexual abuse material. He pleaded guilty on August 26, 2025. Wallace is also required to serve 25 years of supervised release and register as a sexual offender.
According to court documents, on November 2, 2023, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a Greyhound bus station to investigate a missing person, a 12-year-old female. Officers located the child with Wallace, who had purchased a bus ticket to California for himself and the child. Wallace was arrested and the child was reunited with her mother. A search of Wallace’s electronic devices revealed that the child and Wallace began talking on a social media application when the child was 10 years old. Wallace’s cellphone contained videos of the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. There were also numerous videos and images found on Wallace’s devices containing children engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
“The exploitation of children leaves scars that last a lifetime—including invisible scars not only for the victims, but for their families and communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “Wallace’s actions were calculated, predatory, and deeply destructive. His calculated attempt to flee across state lines with a minor victim—boarding a bus bound for California—shows the lengths predators will go to evade justice and continue their abuse. Child exploitation is not a crime that ends when the abuse stops; it inflicts lifelong trauma on victims and their families. HSI and our INTERCEPT Task Force partners will remain relentless in our pursuit of justice for victims.”
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
It is another 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.justice.gov/psc.
Boyfriend Who Strangled His Romantic Partner Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Marcus Hazel, 32, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to strangling his romantic partner Sandy Watts, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hazel pleaded guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of strangulation. A Superior Court judge released the defendant today over the government’s objection pending sentencing, which is set for March 20, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 9:00 a.m., on November 28, 2025, the defendant and Ms. Watts were at an apartment in the 2700 block of New York Avenue, NE, when Hazel became angry about losing his cell phone. Ms. Watts offered to let the defendant use her cell phone until his was found or he bought a new one. Hazel became upset by this response and told Ms. Watts he did not want to use her phone. He wanted her to buy him a new cell phone. He began cursing at Ms. Watts and arguing with her. She asked the defendant several times to leave the apartment. He then placed both hands around Ms. Watts’ neck, applying pressure and restricting her ability to breathe. After that, he slammed the victim to the floor and continued applying pressure to her neck with both hands, again restricting her breathing. By the time Hazel released her, the victim had nearly lost consciousness. He then fled the scene on foot.
The defendant was arrested on November 29, 2025, and has been in custody ever since.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elias Feldman of the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
2025 CF3 016192
Atlantic Biologicals Corporation co-owner agrees to pay half a million for alleged failure to report suspicious controlled substance ordersRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 64-year-old Miami, Florida, woman has agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve violations of the Controlled Substances Act, including failing to maintain effective controls, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Karen Moody is the co-owner of Atlantic Biologicals Corporation, a licensed wholesale distributor registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration to distribute Schedule II-V controlled substances. The company is headquartered in Miami, Florida, with distribution warehouses there and in Morrisville, North Carolina. The company distributed pharmaceutical and medical products under its DEA registration through National Apothecary Solutions.
From 2018 through at least March 2023, nearly all opioids NAS distributed were sold to Houston-area pharmacies, according to DEA records. Most were hydrocodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone in their highest strengths which are commonly diverted to the Houston-area black market. During that time, the company also distributed millions of dosage units of opioids, as well as large quantities of other commonly abused controlled substances, including carisoprodol, alprazolam and promethazine with codeine.
Under the Controlled Substances Act, distributors must provide effective controls and procedures to guard against theft and diversion of controlled substances to include reporting suspicious orders and conducting due diligence on their customers. According to the allegations, NAS failed to report a single suspicious order to the DEA, despite at least 128 orders that were unusually large, deviated substantially from normal patterns or occurred with unusual frequency.
“For half a decade, Moody and Atlantic Biologicals turned a blind eye to keeping these dangerous and addictive controlled substances out of the wrong hands. Now, her bill has come due,” said U.S. Attorney Ganjei. “Moody will personally pay $500,000 to the United States; this is in addition to the $450,000 her company is paying. When distributors fail to identify and report suspicious orders of controlled substances, they are a part of the problem—and they will face the consequences.”
“NAS is the latest example of a drug wholesaler profiting at the expense of Houstonians, fueling the opioid crisis by allowing millions of highly addictive controlled substances to slip into the wrong hands,” said Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Brian C. Leardo. “The DEA is committed to holding companies like NAS accountable and combating the illegal diversion of controlled substances that drives drug overdose deaths and crime in our communities.”
DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia prosecuted the case.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no admission of liability.
Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Victor Antwan Perez, age 24, to 11 Years in federal prison for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, after a federal jury convicted him earlier this year.
“Crime doesn’t pay. If you try to steal money from a bank while terrorizing the nice employees and innocent customers, you deserve to go to prison for a long time. He will spend 11 years reconsidering his antisocial behavior and hopefully become a productive member of society.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Perez entered the PNC Bank in Zebulon on the morning of February 7, 2024, wearing a ski mask with a distinctive pattern, a black jacket, grey pants, black latex gloves, lavender crocs, and a black handgun.
Perez walked up to a teller, waved the handgun in her face, and demanded money while pointing the gun at her. As the teller gathered the money, Perez threatened to shoot her fingers off.
Perez sped off with the stolen loot. About three weeks later, law enforcement conducted a search warrant of Perez’s home and car. They recovered the distinctive patterned mask, and matching black jacket, grey pants, black latex gloves, lavender crocs, and a black handgun. Officers also seized Perez’s phone. Forensic analysis of that phone placed it at the bank during the robbery.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Loeser and Logan Liles prosecuted the case. The Zebulon Police Department and the FBI’s Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on USAO EDNC website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-110-D.
Anchorage woman indicted, arrested for wire, bank fraud scheme involving mail theft and aggravated identity theftRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage woman was arrested Wednesday in Anchorage after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last month alleging she executed a wire and bank fraud scheme where she stole victims’ personal identifying information to use in fraudulently obtaining funds from several Alaskan organizations and financial institutions.
According to court documents, between February 2021 and February 2022, Dusty Starr, 47, devised and executed a scheme to defraud and obtain money from victims through materially false and fraudulent pretenses.
The indictment alleges Starr executed a wire fraud scheme using stolen identities to fraudulently apply for rent relief funds available during the pandemic. On one occasion in July 2021, Starr applied for rent relief funds using a fraudulently created email account with information stolen from a victim. Starr used the victim’s stolen identity and a fraudulent business certificate she obtained in the victim’s name for an LLC to apply. In the application, Starr falsely claimed that the victim was a landlord needing help with a renter who could not pay rent. Between July and November 2021, three separate payments were made to a bank account Starr fraudulently opened in the victim’s name and that Starr controlled. The three payments totaled to over $17,000. Starr used similar conduct on other occasions to obtain additional funds. The total estimated loss from Starr’s fraudulent applications for rent relief is over $47,500.
Court documents also allege that Starr committed bank fraud by forging checks belonging to Alaska organizations to steal funds from their accounts at various financial institutions. On one occasion in September 2021, Starr deposited a forged check funded from a religious organization’s account at a federally insured financial institution to a different account in her name for $918. The organization reported the check and others to the Alaska State Troopers (AST). AST and the financial institution identified five fraudulent checks and one unauthorized electronic funds transfer from the organization’s account. The religious organization’s total estimated loss from the fraudulent transactions is over $6,250. Starr used similar conduct on other occasions to steal additional funds from other Alaska organizations.
Starr is charged with three counts of wire fraud, three counts of bank fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of possession of stolen mail. The defendant is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on Jan. 20, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for each aggravated identity theft charge, and up to 30 years in prison for the other charges. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska, Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division Office and Chief Sean Case of the Anchorage Police Department made the announcement.
More information about this case is available at www.justice.gov/usao-ak/united-states-v-dusty-starr. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Anchorage Domicile and APD are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. If anyone has information concerning Starr’s alleged actions, please contact the USPIS Hotline at 877-876-2455 or online at USPIS.gov/report.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Stewart is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Anaheim Man Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint Charging Him with Making Death Threats Against Vice President VanceRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging that he posted on Instagram death threats against Vice President JD Vance during his visit to Disneyland Resort last year.
Marco Antonio Aguayo, 22, of Anaheim, is charged with threats against the President and successors to the Presidency.
He is expected to make his initial appearance on Tuesday in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
“This case is a horrific reminder of the dangers public officials face from deranged criminals who would do them harm,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful that my friend Vice President Vance and his family are safe, applaud the police work that led to the arrest, and will ensure my prosecutors deliver swift justice.”
“We will not tolerate criminal threats against public officials,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “We are grateful the Vice President and his family remained safe during their visit. Let this case be a warning to anyone who thinks they can make anonymous online threats. We will find you and bring you to justice.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on July 12, 2025, Vice President Vance visited and stayed at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. On the same day, Aguayo posted several public comments on the Instagram account of The Walt Disney Company.
The first comment read, “Pipe bombs have been placed in preparation for J.D. Vance’s arrival.” Another comment read, “It’s time for us to rise up and you will be a witness to it.” A third comment read, “Good luck finding all of them on time there will be bloodshed tonight and we will bathe in the blood of corrupt politicians.”
Later that day, law enforcement visited Aguayo at home. He surrendered his telephone to law enforcement, who observed the three threatening messages left concerning the Vice President.
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
If convicted, Aguayo would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
The United States Secret Service is investigating this matter with assistance from the FBI and Anaheim Police Department.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Robert K. Quealy of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
Alleged Latin Kings gang member arrested on federal charges after stealing rifle from FBI vehicleRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A prior convicted felon was charged in a criminal complaint today with being a felon in possession of a firearm and theft of government property after breaking into an FBI vehicle and stealing a rifle, announced United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
Rosen was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Travis S. Riddle, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives St. Paul Field Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarrad Smith of FBI Minneapolis, Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito, Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigation St. Paul, and Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie, Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Field Division.
Charged was Raul Gutierrez, 33, of Minneapolis. Gutierrez is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court today.
United States Attorney Rosen stated, “Despite the incitement of violence against federal law enforcement by local officials, which resulted here in the theft of a firearm from an FBI vehicle and the destruction of government property, this United States Attorney’s Office and Department of Justice will always put the public safety of Americans first. This alleged gang member, who is a previously convicted felon, is a danger to the community and this case is an indictment of the weak-on-crime policies promoted by the Mayor and Governor.”
“This arrest underscores a simple truth. We will not tolerate individuals exploiting circumstances to engage in criminal activity,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle, of the St. Paul Field Division. “When criminal conduct results in a prohibited person unlawfully possessing a firearm, the risk to the public increases dramatically, and ATF will act accordingly. Taking advantage of any situation to endanger public safety or undermine the integrity of law enforcement will be met with swift and decisive action.”
“There is a clear, bright line between peaceful protest and lawless destruction," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarrad Smith of FBI Minneapolis. "Stealing, damaging, and destroying federal property endangers the community and jeopardizes the safe and peaceful exercise of First Amendment rights. The FBI will never tolerate interference in law enforcement activities. Together with ATF, DEA, and the invaluable partnership of all our federal, state, and local law enforcement allies, FBI Minneapolis will ensure public safety and that those engaging in violent and destructive behavior will be identified and will face justice.”
Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito of HSI St. Paul stated, "As alleged, this career criminal demonstrated a brazen and utterly unacceptable contempt for the sanctity of public safety and the American rule of law when he broke into a government vehicle and stole deadly weaponry, including a rifle and accessories. Public wellbeing must be non-negotiable — no political considerations or First Amendment rights should compromise the safety and stability of our communities, which descended into riots and chaos on Jan. 14. Standing side by side with our law enforcement partners, HSI is committed to investigating all criminal opportunists and bad actors seeking to exploit the public right to peacefully protest and, in turn, endanger our neighborhoods.”
“Gutierrez is known at DEA as a violent criminal with a history involving fentanyl and methamphetamine drug trafficking and distribution,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “In support of this investigation, DEA identified him as the individual seen breaking into an FBI vehicle on January 14. The combined efforts of federal law enforcement agencies and the Violent Offender Task Force led to the swift arrest and the removal of a Latin King member that instilled fear and pushed poisons into our communities.”
According to the criminal complaint, on January 14, 2026, members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation were assisting Department of Homeland Security officers as part of an ongoing federal operation in the Twin Cities, Minnesota metropolitan area. That evening, FBI personnel were operating on Minneapolis’s North Side in support of a DHS arrest operation that resulted in the use of force. As a result of the ensuing civil unrest, FBI and DHS personnel were forced to abandon their vehicles and property at the scene. Individuals in the crowd forced entry into an unmarked FBI vehicle and stole its contents. The contents included a Colt M16A1 rifle and a HUXWRX Suppressor, among other items.
Investigators with DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) promptly began an investigation to identify the individuals responsible for the theft and viewed numerous open-source social media posts and videos of the destruction and theft of government property. In one such video, investigators observed a male with a distinguishable facial tattoo, later identified as Gutierrez, remove a soft rifle case containing the Colt M16A1and HUXWRX suppressor from the trunk vault of the FBI vehicle that had just been broken into. Additional monitoring of open-source social media posts revealed another video that showed Gutierrez walking down the street carrying the soft rifle case and eventually place the rifle case in the backseat of a black Ford sedan.
The following morning, investigators with ATF and the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force (VOTF) established surveillance on Gutierrez’s residence. While at the residence, investigators observed a tow truck arrive and load a covered vehicle onto the back. A male wearing a face mask who matched Gutierrez’s height and weight entered the passenger side of the tow truck and departed. Investigators followed the tow truck for several minutes and during which the cover began to lift in the wind, revealing a black Ford sedan like the one identified in social media videos the previous night. Shortly thereafter, VOTF investigators attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the tow truck which resulted in the truck fleeing. The driver of the tow truck and Gutierrez both exited the truck and ran in different directions. Both the driver and Gutierrez were apprehended after a brief foot pursuit.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent. As a felony trial cannot be held on a complaint, a decision to seek an indictment will be made in the near future.
The case was investigated by the FBI, DHS, ATF, DEA and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Violent Offender Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner.
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.
Click here for a copy of the Criminal Complaint
40 Year Prison Term for Man Who Murdered Woman Inside Her Hotel Room in March 2023Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – George Sydnor, 46, of Washington, DC, was sentenced today for charges related to the stabbing of Christy Bautista, 31, in March 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Sydnor pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder while armed (premeditated) on October 17, 2025. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz sentenced Sydnor to the prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release.
“The victim, Christy Bautista, was visiting D.C. to attend a concert—an experience that should have been safe and routine,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Instead, this monster brazenly rode his bike up to her motel, entered her room, and launched a deadly stabbing attack against an innocent woman. Today’s 40-year prison sentence delivers justice and sends a clear message: those who commit acts of extreme violence will be held fully accountable.”
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 5:22 p.m., on March 31, 2023, the victim, Ms. Bautista, arrived at the Ivy City Hotel, located in the 1600 block of New York Avenue Northeast, D.C., after traveling from her home in Harrisonburg, Virginia to D.C. to attend a concert. She rented a room at the hotel and, after checking in, began to unload her personal items from her car. Sydnor was captured on surveillance footage, arriving at the hotel on a rideshare bike, approximately an hour and a half later. The defendant rode his bike towards a group of hotel rooms located on the ground floor—near Ms. Bautista’s room. The rooms were accessible from the street. Sydnor parked his bike in front of Ms. Bautista’s window and then stood at her door as if listening in before abruptly entering her room slamming the door behind him. Once inside, the defendant attacked Ms. Bautista, stabbing her multiple times, killing her. Hotel surveillance footage captured several loud thud noises immediately after Sydnor entered Ms. Bautista’s room and a witness heard a woman screaming for help. At the time of this offense, Sydnor was on release for a previous attempted robbery case.
Sydnor was arrested on March 31, 2023, and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Santiago and Lindsey Merikas, who prosecuted the case.
Thursday 15 January 2026
United States Files Forfeiture Action Against Two Anti-Submarine Warfare Crew Trainers En Route from South Africa to the Chinese MilitaryRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a forfeiture complaint against two mission crew trainers (MCTs) that were interdicted in transit from the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The MCTs are mobile classrooms intended to assist the PLA to train personnel on the use of airborne warning and control system and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
“TFASA masquerades as a civilian flight-training academy when in fact it is a significant enabler of the Chinese air and naval forces and a pipeline for transferring NATO aviation expertise, operational knowledge, and restricted technology directly to the People’s Liberation Army,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division will continue to act decisively to preserve the U.S. military’s qualitative edge by preventing U.S. technology from falling into the hands of our adversaries."
“This seizure demonstrates the ongoing threat that China and its enablers pose to the national security of the United States through the unlawful procurement of U.S. military technology,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners continue to be steadfast in our commitment to use every lawful tool available to keep this critical technology out of the hands of our adversaries.”
"The Test Flying Academy of South Africa illegally exported U.S. military flight simulator technology and recruited former NATO pilots for the purpose of training China’s military, jeopardizing U.S. national security and placing the lives of American service members at risk,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “The U.S. government will pursue every avenue available to defend the homeland, protect our warfighters, and hold accountable anyone who aids our adversaries.”
“TFASA’s continued attempts to leverage our nation's military expertise and software gravely threaten United States' national security interests and the lives of American service members around the globe," said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Vanessa Tibbits. “May today’s disruption reflect the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protect our country from foreign adversaries.”
“This successful interdiction highlights the critical role HSI plays in safeguarding U.S. national security and preventing sensitive technology from reaching adversarial military forces,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Homeland Security Investigations New York. “By disrupting the transfer of advanced anti-submarine warfare training equipment to the Chinese military, HSI New York and our partners denied adversaries access to vital U.S. tactics and capabilities and, in turn, protected vital American interests. I commend HSI New York and our law enforcement counterparts for their steadfast commitment to countering illicit procurement networks and defending the integrity of U.S. defense technology worldwide.”
As described in the complaint, TFASA is a South Africa-based company that specialized in military flight testing and training through facilities in South Africa and China. TFASA was founded in 2003 with the support of the South African government to facilitate cooperation with China. According to its website, “TFASA Flight Test Services” trained Chinese military pilots for fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) training standards.
According to court documents, the MCTs and associated software were designed and manufactured, using U.S.-origin software and defense technical data, by TFASA. The purpose of the MCT project – dubbed “Project Elgar” by TFASA personnel – was to train PLA aviators on anti-submarine warfare techniques, expanding their capability to locate and track U.S. submarines working in the Pacific.
The MCTs’ layout was modelled after the P-8 Poseidon, which is manufactured by Boeing and serves as the United States’ primary anti-submarine warfare maritime patrol aircraft. The MCTs were designed to run software specially designed by TFASA for Project Elgar. The software used a basic flight simulator program designed and marketed by a U.S. company, which TFASA software engineers then enhanced using technical data relating to Western anti-submarine warfare aircraft, including the P-8 Poseidon. Former NATO aviators with training in anti-submarine warfare techniques were part of TFASA’s Project Elgar team.
This interdiction is the latest instance implicating TFASA in its role as a primary trainer of the PLA. In June 2023, the Department of Commerce added TFASA and numerous of its subsidiaries and affiliates in South Africa and elsewhere to the Entity List “for providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources,” which the Department of Commerce noted was “contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.”
This interdiction of the MCTs is a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to stop the PLA and its enablers from further threatening U.S. national security. The forfeiture action comes as China, Russia, and Iran began a week of joint naval exercises in South Africa’s waters on Saturday, January 10.
The FBI, HSI New York Field Offices, and the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office are leading the investigation of TFASA and its activities.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven B. Wasserman and Rick Blaylock, Jr. for the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case.
The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.
MCT Inside Shipping Container Shipping Container Housing MCT Screenshots of Software Designed for MCTsU.S. Files Forfeiture Action Against Two Anti-Submarine Warfare Crew Trainers En Route to the Chinese MilitaryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has filed a forfeiture complaint against two mission crew trainers that were interdicted in transit from the Test Flying Academy of South Africa to the People’s Republic of China’s People’s Liberation Army, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The mission crew trainers (MCTs) are mobile classrooms intended to assist the Chinese military to train personnel on the use of airborne warning and control system and antisubmarine warfare aircraft.
“This seizure demonstrates the ongoing threat that China and its enablers pose to the national security of the United States through the unlawful procurement of U.S. military technology,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners continue to be steadfast in our commitment to use every lawful tool available to keep this critical technology out of the hands of our adversaries.”
“TFASA masquerades as a civilian flight-training academy when in fact it is a significant enabler of the Chinese air and naval forces and a pipeline for transferring NATO aviation expertise, operational knowledge, and restricted technology directly to the People’s Liberation Army,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division will continue to act decisively to preserve the U.S. military’s qualitative edge by preventing U.S. technology from falling into the hands of our adversaries.”
“This successful interdiction highlights the critical role HSI plays in safeguarding U.S. national security and preventing sensitive technology from reaching adversarial military forces,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Homeland Security Investigations New York. “By disrupting the transfer of advanced anti-submarine warfare training equipment to the Chinese military, HSI New York and our partners denied adversaries access to vital U.S. tactics and capabilities and, in turn, protected vital American interests. I commend HSI New York and our law enforcement counterparts for their steadfast commitment to countering illicit procurement networks and defending the integrity of U.S. defense technology worldwide.”
“The Test Flying Academy of South Africa illegally exported U.S. military flight simulator technology and recruited former NATO pilots for the purpose of training China’s military, jeopardizing U.S. national security and placing the lives of American service members at risk,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “The U.S. government will pursue every avenue available to defend the homeland, protect our warfighters, and hold accountable anyone who aids our adversaries.”
“TFASA’s continued attempts to leverage our nation's military expertise and software gravely threaten United States' national security interests and the lives of American service members around the globe," said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Vanessa Tibbits. “May today’s disruption reflect the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protect our country from foreign adversaries.”
According to court documents, the MCTs and associated software were designed and manufactured, using U.S.-origin software and defense technical data, by the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA). The purpose of the MCT project – dubbed “Project Elgar” by TFASA personnel – was to train Chinese aviators in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on anti-submarine warfare techniques, expanding their capability to locate and track U.S. submarines working in the Pacific.
The MCTs’ layout was modelled after the P-8 Poseidon, which is manufactured by Boeing and serves as the United States’ primary anti-submarine warfare maritime patrol aircraft. The MCTs were designed to run software specially designed by TFASA for Project Elgar. The software used a basic flight simulator program designed and marketed by a U.S. company, which TFASA software engineers then enhanced using technical data relating to Western anti-submarine warfare aircraft, including the P-8 Poseidon. Former NATO aviators with training in anti-submarine warfare techniques were part of TFASA’s Project Elgar team.
This interdiction is the latest instance implicating TFASA in its role as a primary trainer of the PLA. In June 2023, the Department of Commerce added TFASA and numerous of its subsidiaries and affiliates in South Africa and elsewhere to the Entity List “for providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources,” which the Department of Commerce noted was “contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.”
This interdiction of the MCTs is a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to stop the PLA and its enablers from further threatening U.S. national security. The forfeiture action comes as China, Russia, and Iran began a week of joint naval exercises in South Africa’s waters on Saturday, January 10.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and HSI New York Field Offices and the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office.
The case is being litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven B. Wasserman and Rick Blaylock, Jr. for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.
Inside of one of the containers seized by the U.S. Government.
Documented construction progress on the MCT showed the building and installation in
the shipping containers of consoles closely mimicking those found in the Boeing P-8 Poseidon.
The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.
tfasa_complaint_126-cv-00120_filed.pdfU.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $33M in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine collected over $33 million in civil and criminal actions in Fiscal Year 2025, U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson announced today.
The office collected $2,762,120.92 in criminal and civil actions during the past fiscal year. Of this amount, $1,422,280.10 was collected in criminal actions and $1,339,840.82 in civil actions. The office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $29,563,154.06 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $29 million was collected as part of a January 2025 agreement by SVCMC Inc., formerly known as Saint Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York, to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly retaining erroneously inflated payments received from the Department of Defense for healthcare services provided to retired military members and their families.
“One of our most important jobs as attorneys for the Department of Justice is to recover funds on behalf of crime victims and the taxpayers of the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Benson. “Both our Civil and Criminal divisions work every day to ensure that victims and taxpayers receive money that is due to them, and that wrongdoers are not unjustly enriched.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department of Justice’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $871,012.00in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More Than $4 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Acting U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma announced today that the Western District of Wisconsin collected $4,172,836 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $3,269,903 was collected in criminal actions and $902,933 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Western District of Wisconsin worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $58,199 in criminal actions pursued jointly by these offices.
Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma thanked the dedicated attorneys and support professionals who work on collection and forfeiture matters in the Western District of Wisconsin, “Their diligent efforts have been instrumental in upholding the law, holding wrongdoers accountable, and recovering funds for victims of crime.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Wisconsin, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $414,632 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Swears in New Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Special Assistant U.S. AttorneysRead the Press Release
MIAMI – United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones administered the oath of office this week to several new Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) and Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) during a swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Chris Dykstra, Violette Bishai, Daniel Reuter, and Benjamin Sardinas were sworn in as Assistant United States Attorneys assigned to the Criminal Division.
Tatiana Pino was sworn in as an Assistant United States Attorney assigned to the Appellate Division.
Vanessa Terrades and Jeffrey Pierce were sworn in as Special Assistant United States Attorneys to the Criminal Division. Both join the Office from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (ICE OPLA) and will serve in the Border and Immigration Crimes Enforcement (BICE) Section.
Liviu Lungu and Brittany Brock were sworn in as Special Assistant United States Attorneys to the Civil Division. They also join the Office from ICE OPLA and will serve in the Civil Immigration Unit.
Jackson Dering was sworn in as an Assistant United States Attorney assigned to the Criminal Division and will serve in the BICE Section.
“These attorneys represent the very best of public service: exceptional talent, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones. “They are joining this Office at a critical moment, and they will play an essential role in protecting our communities and enforcing the laws of the United States.”
The newly sworn AUSAs and SAUSAs will handle a broad range of matters, including federal criminal prosecutions, appellate litigation, and civil enforcement, with particular emphasis on security matters critical to the Southern District of Florida.
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Two Plead Guilty to Drive-By Shooting that Killed BystanderRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Iesha Marks, 31, of Bowie, Maryland and Daniel Bangura, 22, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty this week to the July 2023 shooting of 46-year-old Donald Childs, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Marks pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on January 13, 2026, and is facing a sentence between 13 and 25 years in prison, followed by a term of supervised release. Bangura also pleaded guilty on that day to obstruction of justice and is facing a sentence between 48 months and 96 months in prison, followed by a term of supervised release. Both guilty pleas are contingent upon the Court’s approval at sentencing. The Honorable Danya A. Dayson will sentence Marks on June 12, 2026, and Bangura on March 13, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, at 2:43 p.m. on July 30, 2023, Bangura drove Marks to the 100 block of Farragut Street, NW. As they rode through a busy intersection, Marks extended her arm out of the front passenger window and fired multiple shots directly into Farragut Street, striking and killing Mr. Childs, who was standing on the sidewalk. Bangura sped away from the scene and drove Marks to Pennsylvania in order to dispose of the murder weapon.
Marks was arrested in October of 2023 and has been in custody since. Bangura has been in custody since he was indicted in May of 2025.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by officers, detectives, and other personnel of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmin Emrani.
2023 CF1 007750
2025 CF1 005760
Two Individuals Plead Guilty to $68M Adult Day Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Two defendants pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud Medicaid by paying health care kickbacks for services that were not provided at two Brooklyn social adult day cares and a home health care company.
“The defendants were large-scale recruiters who bribed patients with laundered cash and billed Medicaid over $68 million for services that were not provided,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty pleas demonstrate the Department’s longstanding commitment to rooting out fraud in government health care programs by aggressively prosecuting those who steal from taxpayer-funded programs.”
“As demonstrated by today’s guilty pleas, our Office will hold accountable corrupt individuals who steer patients to health care providers in exchange for illicit kickbacks,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. of the Eastern District of New York. “We will continue to investigate and aggressively prosecute fraud schemes that steal from taxpayer funds from federal health care programs.”
“These defendants orchestrated an egregious scheme involving illegal kickbacks to steer Medicaid claims and to receive payment for services not rendered,” said Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Extensive fraudulent operations like this jeopardize the availability of federal health care program funds intended to support millions of beneficiaries. HHS-OIG is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who prioritize greed over patient care.”
“These defendants placed profit over people and public well-being and stole $68 million in welfare funds meant for those who need it most,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York. “Their guilty pleas today reflect that they knew exactly what crimes they were committing — they were cheating the system and, in turn, hurting vulnerable Americans. I commend HSI New York and our law enforcement partners for their unrelenting focus on dismantling and disrupting financial fraud schemes that exploit the American public and hurt our economy.”
According to court documents, Manal Wasef, 46, and Elaine Antao, 46, both of Brooklyn, were marketers and recruiters for two social adult day cares: Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc., as well as Responsible Care Staffing Inc., a home health care fiscal intermediary. Between approximately October 2017 and July 2024, in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes, Wasef and Antao referred Medicaid recipients to the social adult day cares and the home health company. The defendants also paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to Medicaid recipients for social adult day care services and home health care services that were billed to Medicaid but were not provided or that were induced by kickbacks and bribes. Wasef and Antao used multiple business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes. In connection with their guilty pleas, Wasef and Antao agreed to collectively forfeit approximately $1 million. Wasef and Antao are the sixth and seventh individuals, respectively, to plead guilty in this case.
Wasef and Antao pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Antao is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20 and Wasef is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27. They each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HHS-OIG, HSI, and the NYPD are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Patrick J. Campbell and Leonid Sandlar of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Castiglione for the Eastern District of New York is handling forfeiture matters.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Two Individuals Plead Guilty to $68 Million Fraud Scheme at Brooklyn-Based Adult Day Cares and Home Health Care CompanyRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Elaine Antao and Manal Wasef pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud Medicaid by paying health care kickbacks for services that were not provided at two Brooklyn social adult day cares and a home health care company. Today’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle. When sentenced, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Ricky J Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI-New York); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty pleas.
“As demonstrated by today’s guilty pleas, our Office will hold accountable corrupt individuals who steer patients to health care providers in exchange for illicit kickbacks,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “We will continue to investigate and aggressively prosecute fraud schemes that steal from taxpayer funds from federal health care programs.”
“The defendants were large-scale recruiters who bribed patients with laundered cash and billed Medicaid over $68 million for services that were not provided,” stated Assistant Attorney General Duva. “Today’s guilty pleas demonstrate the Department’s longstanding commitment to rooting out fraud in government health care programs by aggressively prosecuting those who steal from taxpayer-funded programs.”
“These defendants orchestrated an egregious scheme involving illegal kickbacks to steer Medicaid claims and to receive payment for services not rendered. Extensive fraudulent operations like this jeopardize the availability of federal health care program funds intended to support millions of beneficiaries,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who prioritize greed over patient care.”
“These defendants placed profit over people and public well-being and stole $68 million in welfare funds meant for those who need it most,” stated HSI Special Agent in Charge Patel. “Their guilty pleas today reflect that they knew exactly what crimes they were committing — they were cheating the system and, in turn, hurting vulnerable Americans. I commend HSI New York and our law enforcement partners for their unrelenting focus on dismantling and disrupting financial fraud schemes that exploit the American public and hurt our economy.”
According to court documents, Antao and Wasef were marketers and recruiters for two social adult day cares: Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc., located in Brooklyn, as well as Responsible Care Staffing Inc., a home health care fiscal intermediary. Between approximately October 2017 and July 2024, Wasef and Antao referred Medicaid recipients to the social adult day cares and the home health company in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes. They also paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to Medicaid recipients for social adult day care services and home health care services that were billed to Medicaid but were not provided or that were induced by kickbacks and bribes. Wasef and Antao used multiple business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes. As part of their plea agreements, Wasef and Antao agreed to collectively forfeit approximately $1 million. Wasef and Antao are the sixth and seventh individuals to plead guilty in this case.
Trial Attorneys Patrick J. Campbell and Leonid Sandlar of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case with Assistant United States Attorney Michael Castiglione of the Eastern District of New York’s Asset Forfeiture Section who is handling forfeiture matters.
The Defendants:
ELAINE ANTAO
Age: 46
Brooklyn, New YorkMANAL WASEF
Age: 46
Brooklyn, New YorkDefendants Who Previously Pleaded Guilty:
HASHMI, AMRAN
Age: 55
Brooklyn, New YorkHELMY, JOSEPH
Age: 50
Brooklyn, New YorkISMAIL, AMAL
Age: 59
Brooklyn, New YorkKHAN, ZAKIA
Age: 54
Brooklyn, New YorkMEMON, SEEMA
Age: 31
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-409 (NCM)
Three Georgia Fugitives, Including Federal Inmate, Charged in Violent Kidnapping and Armed Robbery SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A grand jury in Miami has returned an indictment Wednesday charging three Georgia fugitives for their alleged roles in a violent scheme to abduct and rob a victim, possessing a firearm to carry out the kidnapping and robbery.
According to court records, Stevenson Charles, 24, had been in federal custody until Dec. 5, 2025, when he was transferred to Georgia state custody to await trial on charges related to a 2022 murder and armed robbery. During a routine security check on Dec. 22, 2025, authorities discovered that Charles, along with Yusuf Minor, 31, and Naod Yohannes, 25, were missing from the facility.
After escaping, the defendants allegedly used a rideshare service in Georgia and kidnapped the driver. After entering the vehicle, one of the defendants allegedly wrapped a rope around the victim’s neck from behind, bound the victim’s hands, and forced the victim into the backseat. The defendants then allegedly threatened the victim’s life and told the victim to keep their head down while they drove into South Florida.
The defendants allegedly forced the victim to provide access to their banking accounts and funds and used the victim’s banking cards to make purchases at businesses in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, including securing a short-term rental residence in Broward County. The defendants allegedly assaulted the victim when the victim attempted to escape and transported the victim to the rental residence, where they allegedly prevented the victim from leaving.
Law enforcement later located Charles driving the victim’s vehicle, with Yohannes also inside. Charles allegedly led officers on a pursuit before fleeing on foot and was apprehended shortly thereafter. A firearm was recovered along the route of the pursuit. Yohannes was apprehended near the vehicle. Minor was also apprehended the same day.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, Hobbs Act robbery, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In addition, Charles is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison on the conspiracy, kidnapping, and firearm counts. Charles faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison on the firearm charge. Yohannes and Minor each face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years on the firearm count. All three defendants also face up to 20 years in prison on the Hobbs Act robbery charge. Charles additionally faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to life in prison on the felon-in-possession count.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Maultasch and Jonathan Jacobson are prosecuting the case.
An indictment/complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-60009.
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The Harvard Club of Boston Agrees to Pay $2.4 Million to Resolve Allegations of PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The Harvard Club of Boston, a private club that is not formally affiliated with Harvard University, has agreed to pay approximately $2.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was not eligible.
Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and the Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses through the PPP. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has longstanding guidance identifying businesses that are ineligible for loan programs including “private clubs and businesses which limit the number of memberships for reasons other than capacity” and “restrict patronage for any reason other than capacity.” SBA’s guidance also made clear that this restriction applied specifically to eligibility for PPP loans.
As detailed in the settlement agreement, The Harvard Club of Boston admits that, on May 4, 2021, it applied for and certified its eligibility for a first draw PPP loan. The Harvard Club of Boston later sought and received forgiveness from SBA of the full amount of its loan. At the time of its application, The Harvard Club of Boston operated as a private membership club that restricted membership to applicants who fit certain eligibility criteria, and therefore, it was ineligible for loans under the PPP program.
The settlement credits The Harvard Club of Boston for cooperation under the Department of Justice’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation and Remediation into Account in False Claims Act Matters.
The claims resolved in today’s settlement include claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. As part of today’s resolution, Mr. Foster will receive approximately $247,219. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Foster. v. Harvard Club of Boston, No. 25-cv-11530 (D. Mass. 2025).
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Wendell Davis, General Counsel for the Small Businesses Administration made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Ross of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the case.
harvard_club_settlement_agreement_fully_executed.pdfTampa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing More Than Half a Million Dollars in COVID Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Terrance Bradford (47, Tampa) was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 months in federal prison for obtaining multiple fraudulent COVID relief loans. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture of $533,648.32, which represents the proceeds he obtained through these offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, between April 2020 and March 2021, Bradford devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting multiple false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) and Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan applications. On these applications, Bradford was asked whether he was suspended from contracting with the federal government or whether he was presently in bankruptcy. In response to each question, Bradford answered “no.” Despite Bradford’s certifications, based on a prior investigation from the Department of Labor, Bradford was excluded from receiving any federal contracts or grants. Furthermore, Bradford’s business was in bankruptcy proceedings when he submitted his applications. By concealing this information on his loan applications, Bradford obtained $533,648.32 in COVID relief funds to which he was not entitled.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky is handling the forfeiture.
Sumter Man Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy in Sumter, Richland CountiesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jalik Shykeil Tucker, 31, of Sumter, has been sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in March 2023, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office began a joint investigation after receiving information that Tucker was selling large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl in both counties.
RCSD deputies made several undercover buys of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Tucker over a three-week period. During this same time, law enforcement was able to identify two locations in Sumter County and one location in Richland County that Tucker was using for storing and distribution of his drugs. They obtained search warrants for all three locations.
During the execution of the search warrants, law enforcement found more than $25,000 cash, including money they paid in purchasing the drugs. They also found methamphetamine, fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, firearms, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, digital scales, baking soda used in the making of crack cocaine, sandwich bags used in the distribution of the drugs, and an electric mixer also used in drug distribution.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Tucker to 235 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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Statement from First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan EllisonRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – On January 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge David Nuffer issued a ruling regarding the designation of leadership at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
First Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Ellison issued the following statement:
“Yesterday, a federal district judge ruled that my designation as Acting United States Attorney was invalid. Importantly, the judge also ruled that I was validly designated as First Assistant United States Attorney and, in that capacity, could continue supervising the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. The judge also declined to dismiss any of the challenged indictments or disqualify me from supervising those cases.
Since I was appointed last April, I’ve repeatedly used the phrase “for however long I serve” because the duration of my time leading the United States Attorney’s Office has always been uncertain. Even though my title has changed, my mission remains the same. As the top federal prosecutor in New Mexico, I will work tirelessly to enhance public safety for all New Mexicans. I look forward to continuing to work with public servants of all political stripes for the betterment of our state—for however long I serve.”
St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Drug DealingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a man from St. Louis County, Missouri who sold fentanyl and other drugs to 15 years in prison.
Dennis M. Davis, 48, pleaded guilty in September to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl. He admitted buying drugs from a Mexican source of supply and then returning some of the drug proceeds to a courier.
On Oct. 6, 2023, investigators conducted a court-approved search of Davis’ home in St. Louis County and found fentanyl, three handguns and $6,679 in cash. At a stash house in St. Louis used by Davis, they found a money counter, scales, kilograms of fentanyl and other drugs, four rifles and a handgun.
“Dennis Davis had enough fentanyl in his stash house to kill every single resident in the city of St. Louis,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “He was a threat to our city, pushing poisons, destroying lives and all the while lining his pockets with proceeds. Today’s sentencing demonstrates that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in our city, our state or our nation.”
“This case is another example of good task force work fueled by cooperation between both local and federal law enforcement agencies,” said IRS-CI St. Louis Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “IRS-CI’s role in narcotics investigations is to follow the money so we can disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations. We’re proud to provide our financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS – Criminal Investigations, the St. Louis County Police Department and the U.S. Marshals investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Delworth prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
St. Charles Man Admits $400,000 EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Charles, Missouri on Thursday admitted embezzling more than $400,000 from his employer.
Talon Lewis, 33, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of mail fraud. He admitted that from Oct. 21, 2019, to at least Feb. 19, 2025, he hatched the scheme while working as an accounts payable specialist at a medical business. Lewis routinely received lists of patients who were owed refunds and was supposed to upload that information so the company could generate and mail refund checks. Lewis added fake patients to the refund lists and then had refunds sent to him or to the homes of friends and acquaintances. Those friends and acquaintances then kicked back 30% of the money they fraudulently received to Lewis. He admitted stealing more than $400,000 in this manner.
Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16. Mail fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
St. Charles County Bartender Admits Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former bartender from St. Charles County, Missouri on Thursday admitted possessing child sexual abuse material and installing hidden cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of a former residence.
Anthony Thomas, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. He admitted possessing thousands of media files that contain child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he had downloaded and thousands more containing pornography where the age of those depicted is difficult to discern.
Thomas also admitted installing hidden cameras in a bathroom and bedroom of a former residence. The bedroom camera was disguised as a smoke detector. The bathroom camera was disguised as an outlet extension plug. Both captured images of a 14-year-old girl.
The investigation began in December 2024, when agents with Homeland Security Investigations learned that someone in St. Charles County was making CSAM available for download via the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. They then conducted a court-approved search of Thomas’ home and seized multiple electronic devices that contained CSAM.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Charles County Regional SWAT Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Springfield Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for fentanyl distribution and illegally possessing firearms.
Darius Burnett, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to a total sentence of 13 years in federal prison without parole.
Burnett pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on May 8, 2025.
On Nov. 8, 2023, investigators with the ATF, DEA, and Springfield Police Department executed a search warrant at Burnett’s residence. During the search of Burnett’s apartment and vehicle, officers located four loaded semi-automatic pistols, including two with extended magazines, body armor, ammunition, marijuana, over 1,000 pills containing fentanyl, and $78,935.80 in cash. In an interview, the defendant described himself as the “top dude” in Springfield, Missouri, for fentanyl sales, stated that he was purchasing 5,000 pills a month from a source in St. Louis, Missouri, and admitted that the cash located by law enforcement were drug proceeds.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Southern Utah Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Wire Fraud that Cost Investors Millions of DollarsRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Brian Garry Sewell, 54, of Washington County, Utah, was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment, followed by 36 months of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud that cost investors over $2.9 million. Additionally, in a separate case (4:24cr54), Sewell admitted that he operated an unlicensed money transmitting business where bulk cash was converted into crypto currency. In that case, he was also sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment and 36 months of supervised release.
Sewell’s two sentences will run concurrently with each other for a total of three years imprisonment. In addition to his term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, ordered Sewell to pay $3,605,182 in restitution to defrauded investors, a mortgage lender, and a credit union in case number 4:24cr55. He was also ordered to pay $217,727 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in case number 4:24cr54.
According to court documents and admissions made at Sewell’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Sewell participated in a scheme from December 2017 to April 2024, in Utah and elsewhere, to defraud others by obtaining victims’ money and cryptocurrency. Sewell obtained money from at least 17 investors by lying about his experience, education, and ability to generate large returns. As a result, Sewell’s fraudulent behavior led to him obtaining over $2.9 million.
Additionally, from March 2020 to September 2020, in the District of Utah and elsewhere, Sewell managed Rockwell Capital Management, an unlicensed money transmitting business, without registering it as required by law. Sewell and his company converted bulk cash to cryptocurrency on behalf of third parties, including criminals engaged in fraud and drug trafficking. Sewell charged the third parties a fee for each transaction. In total, he converted over $5.4 million to cryptocurrency. He did so without complying with federal laws designed to prevent the movement of illicit funds. See prior press release: Two Washington County Residents Indicted after Allegedly Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks our federal partners, and prosecutors for their hard work on this investigation and commitment to holding individuals like Sewell accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak. “My office is committed to stopping criminals from using our financial system to move dirty money. And we will continue to prosecute those who ignore statutes designed to stop the flow of illicit funds.”
“This sentencing brings to an end a multi-million-dollar investment fraud scheme that used the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business to defraud investors out of millions and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the federal government,” said IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory. “When this type of scheme emerges, all Americans are affected. Investors are victimized, taxpayers are defrauded, and dirty money is easily moved through the financial system with no scrutiny. IRS-CI will continue to investigate unlicensed money transmitting businesses and bring these fraudsters to justice.”
“Fraud schemes like this don’t just involve financial losses—they shatter trust and upend lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Sewell preyed on his victims by lying about his experience and promising returns he could not deliver, leaving individuals and families to bear the consequences of his deception. The FBI will continue to put victims first by holding offenders accountable and pursuing those who misuse cryptocurrency and unlicensed financial services to exploit others.”
“Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the integrity of the U.S. financial system. This case demonstrates that those who exploit unlicensed financial services and defraud investors will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Denver Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen. “Working alongside our federal partners, HSI will continue to pursue individuals who attempt to move illicit funds and undermine public trust. We are dedicated to ensuring that criminals cannot use our financial system to profit from deception.”
The case was investigated jointly by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen P. Dent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Southern District of Texas launches Operation Lighthouse, a new initiative to combat sexual assault of rideshare passengersRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A new Southern District of Texas initiative has resulted in the return of four separate indictments against Houston-area men for kidnapping women while working as rideshare drivers, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Cesar Martell, 32, Humble, and Janaka Manatunga, 57, Conroe, are set to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 2 p.m. Authorities previously arrested Barney Steven Flores, 35, Tomball, who remains in federal custody.
Also charged is Abdou Mbacke, 42, who last resided in The Woodlands. He is a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest.
These charges are the result of Operation Lighthouse, a Southern District of Texas initiative to combat sexual abuse involving ridesharing applications. The initiative leverages federal resources and sentencing laws to secure more meaningful penalties, bring justice to victims and ultimately promote a greater sense of safety within the community.
“Rideshare drivers who exploit the trust of their passengers will face the full force of law in the Southern District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Ganjei. “Operation Lighthouse is sending an unmistakably clear message–if you abuse your position to hurt others, we will find you, we will arrest you, we will prosecute you. Every passenger deserves to arrive at their destination safely; my office will fight to make that happen.”
“Cesar Martell, Barney Steve Flores, Janaka Manatunga, and Abdou Mbacke allegedly disguised themselves as trusted rideshare drivers to commit some of the most traumatic and violent crimes against female passengers,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “Today’s arrests are due in large part to the bravery of the victims who reported their kidnappings and sexual assaults to law enforcement. We encourage other potential victims of these men, or any other predators posing as rideshare drivers, to come forward and report it to the FBI.”
According to the indictments returned Dec. 16, 2025, Martell, Manatunga, Flores and Mbacke are charged with kidnapping victims and exploiting them for the purpose of sexual gratification. The charges also allege the defendants either drove their victims to locations other than what they had requested or prevented them from leaving the drivers’ vehicles.
In the case of Cesar Martell, he is alleged to have committed two separate sexual assaults while employed as a rideshare driver. Martell allegedly strangled his victims either before or during the sexual assaults.
Court records indicate all four men previously worked for a rideshare company over multiple years. However, the company allegedly terminated their accounts following victim reports. Some of the defendants are also facing state charges.
If convicted, each faces up to life in prison as well as a $250,000 maximum possible fine.
If you believe you are a victim of a similar sexual assault involving any rideshare service or if you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Mbacke, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law