Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Thursday 15 January 2026
Somersworth Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
Somersworth Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution
CONCORD – A Somersworth man was sentenced today in federal court for possessing 100 grams of fentanyl for distribution, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Antoine Valentin, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 96 months in federal prison and 4 years of supervised release. Valentin previously pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
“Today’s sentence reflects the serious threat posed by those who deal in lethal drugs like fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This defendant was preparing to distribute this deadly substance, putting lives at risk. Our office will continue supporting our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in drug interdiction efforts to prevent these deadly drugs from reaching our streets, and to hold accountable those who seek to profit from poisoning the public and devastating New Hampshire communities.”
“Fentanyl is causing tremendous damage to our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Those who distribute fentanyl are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. The men and women of the DEA will continue to work each day alongside our local, state, and federal partners to identify those who are responsible for distributing fentanyl and other deadly drugs.”
“The Dover Police Department is proud to have participated in this collaborative investigative effort with local and federal law enforcement to help remove these dangerous drugs from our communities. We believe that this substantial sentence is appropriate to hold Antoine Valentin accountable for his criminal conduct,” said Chief David Terlemezian, Dover Police Department.
On November 1, 2022, law enforcement authorities arrested Valentin at his Somersworth residence on a state assault charge, which led to the seizure of approximately 100 grams of fentanyl and drug proceeds totaling $1,300 in United States currency.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Somersworth Police Department led the investigation. The Dover Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Hampton Police Department, Seabrook Police Department, Rochester Police Department, University of New Hampshire Police Department, and the York, Maine, Police Department, provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega prosecuted the case.
This effort 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.
Semblex Corporation Agrees to Pay $3 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
Wilmington, Del. – Semblex Corporation, a Delaware corporation, agreed to pay $3,052,250 to resolve allegations that it improperly obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for which it was not eligible.
PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, and administered by the SBA. It was created to support small businesses and ensure that they could continue to pay employees and meet other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. To be eligible for a PPP loan, a business was required to certify that it had no more than 300 employees, including employees of any domestic and foreign affiliates.
Semblex engineers and manufactures advanced cold-formed fasteners and precision components for various applications across automotive, industrial, and consumer sectors. Semblex is indirectly, wholly owned by Jinhap Co., Ltd., a South Korean manufacturer.
In February 2021, Semblex applied for and obtained a $2,000,000 PPP loan after falsely certifying that it, together with its affiliates, had under 300 employees. Semblex later sought and received forgiveness from SBA of the full amount of that loan. Semblex, however, was ineligible for the loan because it, together with its affiliates including ultimate parent company Jinhap Co., had over 300 employees.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare handled the case, with assistance from Christopher J. McClintock of the SBA.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party—known as a relator—can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. In this case, the relator will receive a share of the settlement.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. The settlement agreement is attached to this press release. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-264-CFC.
The claims resolved by the settlement are merely allegations. There has been no determination of liability.
###
Salvadoran National Arrested for Sexual Assault of Albemarle Teen, Second Man Indicted for Role in Exploiting VictimRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILE, Va. – Gustavo Quintero, who was indicted by a federal grand jury last month for the repeated sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old Albemarle County girl months after he, and another man, got her so intoxicated she couldn’t walk, made his initial appearance in federal court today.
The indictment charges Quintero, 25, with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of possession of child pornography.
The second defendant, Bryan Sixto Arias-Chicas, 23, a citizen of El Salvador who previously had his green card revoked, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint in October.
According to the indictment and other court documents, on May 7, 2025, Quintero and Arias-Chicas encountered Minor Victim 1 (MV1), a 16-year-old female, near the intersection of Greenbrier Drive and Seminole Trail in Charlottesville. Quintero and Arias-Chicas did not know the victim before the encounter. However, they purchased alcohol for MV1. Specifically, they purchased Mike’s Harder Mango Lemonade (8% alcohol by volume) and Four Loko (13.9% alcohol by volume). MV1 consumed the alcohol and became intoxicated.
That same night, police received a call from a citizen reporting two males carrying a young female, who appeared to be intoxicated. The citizen stopped and asked if they needed help, but the two individuals said they were taking MV1 to the hospital.
After getting MV1 intoxicated, Quintero and Arias-Chicas sexually assaulted MV1 throughout the night and into the next morning. Late in the morning on May 8, 2025, Quintero and Arias-Chicas dropped MV1 off near an apartment complex in Albemarle County.
Law enforcement found MV1 wrapped in a brown blanket, staggering down the sidewalk on Commonwealth Avenue, visibly upset, and wearing clothes that she later said did not belong to her. Investigators were later able to identify Quintero and Arias-Chicas as two of the men who initially made contact with MV1. Further investigation revealed that Arias-Chicas was on probation.
On June 16, 2025, Arias-Chicas was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations on an unrelated matter. During this arrest, ICE recovered a phone belonging to Arias-Chicas, which contained evidence linking him to the sexual assault of MV1 on May 7 and 8.
Two months after assaulting MV1, in the middle of July 2025, Quintero reconnected with MV1 via social media, and they began to engage in sexual conversation. In the course of this conversation, Quintero also tried to get MV1 to engage in additional sexual activity with him.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations in Harrisonburg is investigating the case. The Albemarle County Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff 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.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding an Investor of $777,470Read the Press Release
Jaswant Singh Gill, 57, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud for orchestrating an investment fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between May 2024 and June 2025, Gill was the Chief Executive Officer of Kismet Capital Partners LLC. Using Kismet Capital, Gill executed a scheme to defraud that involved making false representations and promises in exchange for purported investments. Gill falsely represented to investors that Kismet Capital was an investment firm with about 20 employees. He falsely promised that funds invested into Kismet Capital would be used solely for investment purposes, and the investor would receive a specific monthly rate of return. Based on the promises, a victim investor sent approximately $777,470 in the form of cash and wire transfers to be invested into Kismet. The victim obtained these funds from sources including personal loans, loans against an IRA, and a home equity line of credit. Gill also used at least one of the victim’s credit cards to obtain cash advances.
Instead of using the funds for investment purposes, Gill used the stolen funds for his own personal use including, paying for dinners at restaurants, paying a personal driver, and purchases of luxury items. During the time that Gill was stealing the investor’s funds, Gill falsely assured the investor that their investment was growing, when in fact, the investment was not growing.
Also based on court records, Gill committed this scheme to defraud while on federal supervised release that was imposed after Gill’s 2018 conviction for wire fraud in another federal judicial district.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nchekube Onyima is prosecuting the case.
Gill is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. Gill faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Roxbury Man Convicted for Role in Fraudulent CDL SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Roxbury man was convicted yesterday in federal court in Boston for engaging in a scheme to cause the Massachusetts RMV to issue a Commercial Learners’ Permit (“CLP”) to an individual by providing that individual with the answers to CLP exam questions. In the state of Massachusetts, you must have a commercial learner’s permit before obtaining a commercial driver’s license.
Frank Castro, 52, was convicted of unlawful production of identification document. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2026. Castro was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024.
On or about Oct. 18, 2021, Castro told an undercover agent that he could help him obtain a CLP in Massachusetts for $3,000. On or about Dec. 10, 2021, Castro explained to the undercover agent that the agent would need to sneak a Bluetooth device into the testing area at the RMV, surreptitiously place the device into his ear, then cover it with headphones used during the exam. Castro explained that he would be connected with the undercover agent via the Bluetooth device such that Castro could hear the audio questions and provide the undercover agent with the correct answers.
On or about Dec. 22, 2021, the undercover agent deposited $3,000 into Castro’s bank account before proceeding to the Danvers RMV to take the CLP exam. The undercover agent connected with Castro using the Bluetooth device and Castro provided the exam answers to the undercover agent in real time during the exam. The undercover agent passed the exam with Castro’s unlawful assistance and received a Massachusetts CLP.
The charge of unlawful production of an identification document provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, Northeastern Region, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and David G. Tobin of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Ponca City Man Convicted of Possession of Unregistered Short-Barreled ShotgunRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – DOYLE GLEN WILSON, 59, of Ponca City, has been convicted by a federal jury of possession of an unregistered firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On October 7, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Wilson with possession of an unregistered firearm. Testimony presented earlier this week at trial showed that on July 11, 2025, officers with the Ponca City Police Department executed a search warrant at Wilson’s home while searching for a short-barreled shotgun used in an assault. Officers located the shotgun in a closet. Under federal law, possession of a short-barreled shotgun requires that the firearm be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Wilson had not registered the short-barreled shotgun found in his residence.
On January 14, 2026, a federal jury found Wilson guilty of illegally possessing an unregistered firearm.
At sentencing, Wilson faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ponca City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Gridley and Cole McFerren are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Prison Time for Bank Burglars Involved in Multi-State ATM Heist SchemeRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Quinnaland Jerome Rhodes, 39, of Apalachicola, Florida, Imuel Wade Thompkins, 31, of Missouri City, Texas, and Derron Skinner, 34, of Houston, Texas, were sentenced to prison for conspiracy to commit burglaries, bank burglary, and bank larceny. Thompkins was sentenced to four years in prison; Skinner received a three-year prison term; and Rhodes was sentenced to two years in prison. The sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding investigative work by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Port St. Joe Police Department, and the FBI, these offenders and their multi-state burglary scheme were stopped cold in their tracks. My office will continue to back up the hard work of our law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions to send criminals like these men to federal prison.”
On December 10, 2023, and December 23, 2023, Skinner, Thompkins, and Rhodes committed a string of ATM burglaries at banks in Port St. Joe and Callaway, Florida. To commit the burglaries, the defendants used stolen Ford F-250 trucks and tow chains to forcibly open the ATMs. After Thompkins and Rhodes were arrested, it was discovered that Skinner and Thompkins also committed ATM burglaries using stolen Ford F-250 trucks at banks in Oregon and Missouri. The conspirators’ criminal actions caused approximately $351,284 in damage.
“This case demonstrates the importance of strong partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement,” said Chief of Police Jake Richards, Port St Joe Police Department. “These were well-organized property crimes that impacted our community and others across the country. Because of coordinated investigative work, those responsible are now being held accountable.”
Sheriff Tommy Ford, Bay County Sheriff’s Office said: “When criminals target our communities, we work together to hold them accountable and protect the people we serve.”
All three defendants will be on supervised release for three years following their release from prison. They were ordered to pay $351,284 in restitution.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Port St. Joe Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pensacola Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms and Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Malcolm Terrell Louis, 40, of Pensacola, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams of more of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, my office was able to deliver this successful prosecution to keep drugs and this dangerous criminal off our streets. This is yet another win for Operation Take Back America, fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to unleash the full power of the Department of Justice to incapacitate the violent drug traffickers and career criminals who have terrorized our streets for far too long.”
According to court records, on December 17, 2024, law enforcement observed a parked vehicle outside a housing complex in Pensacola with the engine running and no one inside. Multiple bags of narcotics including methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, cell phones, and a Glock handgun were observed inside the vehicle. The cell phone was later identified as belonging to the defendant and his fingerprints were on one of the bags of narcotics. The methamphetamine weighed over 50 grams. On March 7, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Pensacola that was occupied by the defendant and others. Investigators located multiple firearms, ammunition, and multiple bags of narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana. The methamphetamine weighed over 25 grams. The defendant is a multi-time convicted felon, who was released from state prison in 2024 after a five-year sentence.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pensacola Man Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Adrian Dion Pettaway Jr., 24, of Pensacola, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with distribution of a controlled substance. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Pettaway appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon on December 22, 2025, in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for February 17, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Pettaway faces between five to 40 years’ imprisonment.
The case involved a joint investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Ohio Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years or Marijuana and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Michael Garringer, 43, of Troy, Ohio, was sentenced on January 14, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and money laundering. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Garringer to 135 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Garringer will begin a three-year term of supervised release.
Garringer was charged based on his involvement with a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that transported large quantities of marijuana and marijuana products, as well as the proceeds from the sale of those products, all across the country for more than 20 years. Garringer was involved in the DTO’s Midwest operations where a number of warehouses were used to distribute the marijuana products and proceeds. Garringer was responsible for managing warehouses in Chicago, Cincinnati, Nashville, and Florida, where loads of marijuana were delivered from California, then distributed to local customers. The proceeds from the sale of the marijuana were then collected and shipped back to California where it was distributed to other co-conspirators and owners of the marijuana. The investigation resulted in the seizure of thousands of pounds marijuana and marijuana products and more than $30 million in cash and assets purchased with the proceeds from the illegal sales.
This is the result of a long-term investigation that is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, Nebraska State Patrol, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and various other state and local agencies across the United States.
New York Man Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft in Connection with Stolen $810,000 Tax Refund CheckRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Yonkers, N.Y. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for a scheme to steal an $810,000 tax refund by impersonating a corporate executive in Connecticut.
Steven Ware, 64, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 40 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Ware was also ordered to pay $322,436.28 in restitution. In July 2025, Ware pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Ware was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in September 2024 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024.
In December 2023, Ware opened bank accounts in the name of a Connecticut investment company and one of its executives at a credit union in Tyngsborough, Mass. When opening the account, Ware identified himself as the executive – using the executive’s full name, date of birth, Social Security number and other documents.
Shortly after opening the account, Ware returned to the credit union pretending to be the executive and deposited a United States Treasury check payable to the company and the executive for $810,337.
Once the check cleared, a debit card was used to withdraw money from the account to buy goods at various retailers in New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Ware returned to the Tyngsborough credit union several times over the following days and weeks pretending to be the executive and wired more than $634,000 of the stolen funds.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; and Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, OIG made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Tyngsborough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dominic Love Davis, 52, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty today to failure to update his registration as a sex offender, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor in Kanawha County, West Virginia, Circuit Court on January 7, 2013, and required to register as a sex offender for life. From on or about May 20, 2021, through on or about April 15, 2025, Davis failed to update his registration including when he traveled from West Virginia to New York.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-72.
###
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Destruction of MailRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that PJ WHITAKER (“WHITAKER”), age 36, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on January 7, 2026 to one year of probation by U.S. District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry. WHITAKER previously pleaded guilty to two counts of destruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703.
According to court documents, WHITAKER, while employed as a Postal Service employee, unlawfully opened packages, intended to be conveyed by mail, that had come into his possession while he worked on a Small Parcel and Bundle Sorter.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican national sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin, illegally reentering United StatesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Daniel H. Rodriguez-Andrade, 52, of Mexico, was sentenced in U.S. District Court here to 120 months in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin and for illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony.
According to court documents, Rodriguez-Andrade has been deported from the United States on four previous occasions.
In July 2024, law enforcement officials encountered Rodriguez-Andrade in Pataskala, Ohio. The defendant possessed nearly two and a half kilograms of black tar heroin that he intended to sell for profit in Central Ohio. Rodriguez-Andrade attempted to sell the bulk heroin for $80,000 but was apprehended by law enforcement.
Rodriguez-Andrade was charged by federal criminal complaint in August 2024 and pleaded guilty in July 2025.
At the time of his instant offense, the defendant was on supervised release for a federal conviction in Arizona. The Court also sentenced him to 16 months in prison for violating his supervised release, with 12 months of that sentence to be served consecutively to the 120-month sentence imposed.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Matthew Stentz, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp announced the sentence imposed on Jan. 14 by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Sheila G. Lafferty is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
# # #
Mexican National Sentenced to 25 Years for Trafficking Narcotics in the Middle District of FloridaRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Lorenzo Valerio-Popoca (31, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to 25 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and for distributing methamphetamine in the Tampa Bay area. A jury found Valerio guilty on July 31, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe made the announcement.
Valerio, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States, was indicted in 2019 for trafficking methamphetamine in the Middle District of Florida. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2017 and 2018, Valerio routinely brokered and received kilogram-quantities of methamphetamine directly from his narcotics sources of supply in Mexico. Valerio then sold the methamphetamine in bulk to others in Manatee and Hillsborough Counties, among other locales. On behalf of Valerio, other conspirators regularly transported the methamphetamine throughout the Middle District of Florida to the respective buyers.
Valerio often arranged the sale of at least 1-2 kilograms of methamphetamine per transaction. In March 2018, Valerio’s courier delivered two kilograms of methamphetamine to a buyer in Hillsborough County; the drugs were later seized by law enforcement. Below are photos of the seized methamphetamine from March 2018.
Before he was arrested in 2019, Valerio left the Middle District of Florida and remained a fugitive from justice until 2022, when he was arrested for trafficking over 10 kilograms of methamphetamine in Pasadena, Texas. Pictured below is the seized methamphetamine from Texas belonging to Valerio and his transnational criminal organization.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (Tampa), the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Clearwater Police Department, and the Pasadena (TX) Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Asheville (NC) office and the United Stated States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (Houston office). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Pardo.
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.
Metairie Man Sentenced for Possessing Materials Involving Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Violating Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that ROBERT ANTHONY MARSH, JR. (“MARSH”), age 60, of Metairie, La. was sentenced on January 13, 2026, for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) and (a)(2), and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, on December 19, 2024, MARSH’s home was searched by state law enforcement officials and agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. At the time of this search, MARSH was on supervised release for a 2014 state conviction for Pornography Involving Juveniles. On December 19, 2024, following the search of his home, MARSH was arrested by Louisiana State Probation and Parole for possession of a Model 922 H&R Arms Co. firearm by a prohibited person and possession of child pornography. Thereafter, MARSH was transferred from state to federal custody in connection with this federal investigation.
MARSH was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 14, 2025, and on August 26, 2025, MARSH pled guilty in federal court to knowingly possessing over 21 videos depicting the sexual victimization of minors and to knowingly possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.
On January 13, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion sentenced MARSH to ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by ten (10) years of supervised release, sex offender registration, and a $200.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Jefferson Parish Police Department; and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Probation and Parole. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
* * *
Man Who Committed Two Chicago Carjackings Sentenced to 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for participating in two violent carjackings in Chicago.
EDMUND SINGLETON and two co-defendants conspired to commit the carjackings on a single night in November 2022. In the first carjacking, Singleton drove the trio in a stolen car to a gas station in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago, where the co-defendants violently took an Infiniti Q50 sedan from a driver who was pumping gas. One of the co-defendants jammed a gun so hard into the victim’s back that it left a bruise.
A few hours later, Singleton drove the trio to a gas station in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, where the co-defendants attempted to take a BMW X6 from a driver who was also pumping gas. The co-defendants pointed guns at the driver, who walked with the assistance of crutches. The victim fell to the ground after being approached by the armed men. The co-defendants tried to drive away in the BMW but gave up when they couldn’t operate the victim’s specially designed car. The co-defendants retreated into Singleton’s car, and he sped away from the scene.
A law enforcement officer soon spotted Singleton’s vehicle, and a chase involving police helicopters ensued. As police closed in, the defendants abandoned Singleton’s car and fled on foot while armed with guns. The defendants ran through backyards of residential homes and dropped their guns before police arrested them.
A federal jury last year convicted Singleton, 35, and co-defendant RAMONE BRADLEY, 27, both of Chicago, on carjacking and firearm offenses. On Jan. 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Singleton to 17 years in federal prison. Judge Kennelly found that Singleton committed obstruction of justice before trial when he paid a co-defendant to author a false alibi affidavit for Singleton.
Judge Kennelly last year sentenced Bradley to nine years in federal prison.
The third defendant—MARQUELL DAVIS, 23, of Chicago—pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted his role in the carjackings. Judge Kennelly last year sentenced Davis to 12 years in federal prison.
The sentences were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
“Defendant’s crimes were serious, violent, and showed a complete disregard for human life,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elie Zenner and Simar Khera argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Carjackings like those here not only leave the victims scarred and perhaps looking for new places to live, but they impact the sense of safety and security for all Chicagoans.”
Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI –United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that on January 12, 2026, John Paul Cunningham, 31, was sentenced by Senior District Judge Wilma A. Lewis for possession of child pornography. Judge Lewis sentenced Cunningham to 84 months’ imprisonment, 15 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Restitution will be determined later.
According to documents filed with the court, on or about May 5, 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children cyber tip line received information from Google, Inc. regarding a Gmail account user on St. Croix viewing or uploading what appeared to be child sexual exploitation materials. Google provided subscriber information, including the owner’s name and contact numbers for the account. The information revealed that the email address belonged to Cunningham. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) learned that Cunningham would be traveling from St. Croix to the mainland. On June 9, 2020, HSI agents went to Henry Rohlsen Airport and made contact with and interviewed Cunningham. After receiving Cunningham’s consent, agents searched his cell phone Google cloud account and found thousands of images of child sexual abuse material that showed minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images were produced using materials which had been mailed, shipped, or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, and Cunningham knew the visual depictions involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.Man Admits Using False Identity for Decades to Evade Arrest and Collect Social SecurityRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Leslie Kay Peterson, a U.S. citizen who was living in La Paz, Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraud charges, admitting that he created a false identity in the 1970s to evade a warrant for his arrest and illegally collect social security.
In his plea agreement, Peterson, 72, admitted that he used a forged birth certificate to apply for a new social security number under the name “Ronald Allen Steele” to avoid arrest after he violated terms of his probation for robbery in 1978.
The Social Security Administration assigned “Steele” a social security number in 1978, and after fleeing the country, Peterson used his new false identity to apply for a United States passport in Honduras. In 2018, Peterson applied for Retirement Insurance Benefits from the Social Security Administration as “Steele” and collected his benefits while living as a permanent resident in Mexico.
Once officials discovered his deception, Peterson was arrested while crossing the border on November 23, 2025, using the fraudulently issued passport in the “Steele” identity. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
As a part of his plea agreement, Peterson has agreed to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration in the amount of $130,632.80, representing all money fraudulently paid to him as “Ronald Allen Steele” since 2018. Sentencing is scheduled for April 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Robert S. Huie.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kete and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey D. Hill.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25-CR-4751-RSH
Leslie Kay Peterson (aka Ronald Allen Steele) Age: 72 La Paz, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Social Security Fraud – Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(4)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $262,265 fine
Passport Fraud – Title 18, United States Code, Section 1542
Maximum Penalty: Ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Department of State – State Diplomatic Security Service
Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General
Macomb County Resident Sentenced for Multi-Million Dollar Pandemic Assistance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A Macomb County resident was sentenced yesterday for her role in a multi-million-dollar Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
Joining in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit.
Rita Shaba, 40, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison after having pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.
According to court records, Shaba and her co-conspirators caused fraudulent PPP applications to be submitted for several business entities. Those applications misrepresented payroll information for the business entities and falsely certified that PPP loan funds would be used for permissible business-related purposes. The defendants also caused fictitious payroll, health insurance, bank, and tax records to be submitted in connection with the PPP loan applications.
The defendants received over $3 million in fraudulent PPP loan funds. To date, law enforcement has seized and recovered over $2.1 million of those funds.
The Paycheck Protection Program was created by Congress to provide assistance to businesses harmed by the economic dislocations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Shaba was sentenced by Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey. Her co-defendants, Samer Kammo and Christina Anasi, still await sentencing.
As part of her sentence, Shaba was also ordered to pay $3,294,798.50 in restitution.
According to court records, when Shaba learned of the government’s investigation, she messaged a co-conspirator and stated that she thought she was ““going on a long vacation” and “leaving for a few years.”
“Rita Shaba told countless lies in this case. But this is true: when you get caught committing major fraud in our district, we will aggressively prosecute you and seek substantial prison time,” stated U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
"When federal relief programs are fraudulently abused, accountability must follow,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Rita Shaba diverted pandemic relief funds intended to support workers and small businesses, exploiting a national emergency for personal gain. The sentence imposed demonstrates that fraudulent abuse will not be tolerated. This result would not be possible without the hardworking investigative efforts of our team from the FBI Macomb County Resident Agency, HSI, and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan whose diligence ensured this scheme was uncovered and brought to justice.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting the integrity of federal relief programs and holding accountable those who exploit them for personal gain,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey of HSI Detroit. “This sentence demonstrates that individuals who defraud programs intended to help businesses and workers in times of crisis will face serious consequences.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has also provided valuable assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind. Related forfeiture and restitution matters are being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Nathan.
Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty yesterday to a years-long drug conspiracy and a January 2023 armed robbery of a drug distributor, during which the defendant and another individual stole approximately $24,000 in drug trafficking proceeds intended for the purchase of cocaine.
Harvey Rodriguez, a/k/a “Big Opp,” 29, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of conspiracy interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for April 27, 2026. In August 2025, Rodriguez was arrested and charged.
Rodriguez was a participant in a multi-year drug conspiracy that took place in the Lynn area and on the North Shore of Massachusetts. As described in the court papers, Rodriguez conspired with numerous other distributors including those he supplied, and others who have been previously charged with federal drug offenses, including Vincent Caruso, a/k/a “Fatz”, Lawrence Michael Nagle, Jr. and Schuyler Oppenheimer, a/k/a “SK”. The drug conspiracy involved the manufacturing of counterfeit prescription pills and the sale of kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl in Lynn and throughout Massachusetts. Over the course of the investigation, Rodriguez distributed cocaine and methamphetamine to a cooperating witness and confidential informant on four occasions.
Rodriguez also participated in an armed robbery of a drug customer. On Jan. 30, 2023, a drug transaction was scheduled to take place at an apartment in Woburn, during which an associate of Rodriguez was to deliver a kilogram of cocaine in exchange for approximately $24,000. During the transaction, Rodriguez and Claudio Melo entered the apartment and pointed semiautomatic pistols at the drug customer before taking the $24,000 in cash, which was proceeds of drug trafficking activities the drug customer was engaged in. Rodriguez and Melo then forced the drug customer to open a safe in his bedroom, which was empty. Shortly thereafter, both robbers departed with the $24,000 cash.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 140 Months for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Derek Spurlock, 38, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 16, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with one prior conviction for a serious drug felony. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Spurlock to a total of 140 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Spurlock’s release from prison, he will begin an 8-year term of supervised release.
On November 7, 2024, Spurlock was arrested on an active arrest warrant. Spurlock was carrying a backpack with him when he was approached by law enforcement. A search of the backpack resulted in approximately 440 grams of methamphetamine, 231 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, two digital scales, syringes, and plastic baggies. Additionally, $341 in U.S. currency were located on his person. The methamphetamine was sent to the state crime lab and was confirmed to contain at least 410 grams of methamphetamine actual.
Officers applied for a search warrant for a hotel room in which he was staying. Inside the room, law enforcement found a glass pipe, plastic bags, and a plastic cup with methamphetamine residue.
In 2017, Spurlock was convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine in Lancaster County District Court.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Leader of Local Money Laundering Cell Pleads Guilty to $42 Million International Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Victor Marion, aka “Vic,” pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting he participated in an international fraud and money laundering scheme that tricked elderly victims in the U.S. out of more than $42 million.
In November 2025, Marion was charged alongside 21 other alleged coconspirators. Marion, the lead defendant, pleaded guilty to both a mail and wire fraud conspiracy and a money laundering conspiracy.
According to public documents, this case arises from a San Diego Elder Justice Task Force investigation into a long-running Indian call center scam operated from Dubai and India that targeted elderly individuals in the United States. The fraud scheme is alleged to have generated pop-up advertisements on individuals’ computers that directed them to call for technical support where scammers posed as technical support representatives (e.g., Microsoft, McAfee, etc.).
After scamming victims out of several hundred dollars in technical support payments, the scammers conducted yet another scam by claiming the victims were owed a refund. Rather than issuing refunds, scammers used remote desktop software to make it appear as if victims received tens of thousands of dollars more than they were entitled. Using a variety of techniques, scammers then baited victims into mailing and wiring those fake refund overages to money transmitters in the United States, including the large cell led by Marion in San Diego. While the full scope of the scam is still being uncovered, the FBI has identified over 500 victims and obtained approximately 100,000 recorded calls between the scammers and potential victims.
In his plea agreement, Marion admitted to participating knowingly in the mail and wire fraud as well as the money laundering portion of the scam for an organization that targeted elderly individuals. As set forth in his plea agreement, Marion assisted coconspirators in registering shell companies and opening bank accounts aimed at receiving fraud funds. In exchange, Marion retained a percentage of the fraud funds flowing through those San Diego-based shell companies’ accounts.
In addition to operating a money laundering cell, public documents alleged that Marion travelled to Thailand with others where he met the foreign organizers of the scheme. On that trip, the foreign organizers treated Marion and his group to high-end tourist activities, including petting Tigers and throwing stacks of money into the air on the stage at Thai clubs (below left – Marion depicted in a Thai club; below right – Marion depicted petting a tiger):
In his plea agreement, Marion admitted that he travelled to Asia with others to meet the foreign organizers of the scheme and learn how to conduct the fraud itself. And, while there, he learned how to conduct the refund portion of the fraud.
This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and San Diego Police Department.
A sentencing hearing for Marion is scheduled for April 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
The FBI requests that victims report:
- The name of the person or company that contacted you.
- Methods of communication used, including websites, emails, and telephone numbers.
- Any bank account number(s) to which you wired funds and the recipient name(s).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley E. Goff and Shivanjali A. Sewak.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr4061-TWR-1
Victor Marion Age: 43 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Mail and Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1349 and 2326
Maximum Penalty: Forty years in prison and $1 million fine
Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine or twice the amount of monetary instruments involved in the offense, whichever is greatest
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Elder Justice Task Force
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego Police DepartmentLawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Meet with a Minor for SexRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to using an interstate facility to transmit information about a child.
Alex Bou, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of use of an interstate facility to transmit information about a child before U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick who scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2026. In August 2025, Bou was arrested and charged.
On Aug. 17, 2025, Bou responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex acts. The advertisement contained images of a young female and language purported to be written by a female describing herself as a “flower ready to blossom.” On Aug. 17, 2025, Bou sent a text message to the number listed on the advertisement saying, “U available,” to which an undercover agent posing as the purported minor responded suggesting Aug. 19, 2025.
On Aug. 19, 2025, Bou continued his conversation with the undercover agent. In their conversation, the undercover agent stated that she was a 15-year-old girl available to perform sex acts in exchange for money. Upon being informed that the purported minor was 15 years old, Bou responded with, “Ok are you a virgin?” Bou agreed to pay $175 to have unprotected sex with the purported minor and acknowledged that he was agreeing to have sex with an “underage girl.” Bou obtained her address via text message, and shortly thereafter arrived at the location where he was placed under arrest.
The charge of using interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor provides for a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig E. Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Lackawanna father going to prison for 17 years for his role in kidnapping conspiracy attempting to force his daughter to marry in YemenRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Khaled Abughanem, 53, of Lackawanna, NY, who was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to kidnap a person in a foreign country, kidnapping conspiracy, and threatening to retaliate against a victim, was sentenced to serve 204 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that on September 8, 2021, Khaled and his son, co-defendant Adham Abughanem, flew from Buffalo, NY, to Guadalajara, Mexico to kidnap the Victim, who is the daughter of Khaled and the sister of Adham. Between September 10, 2021, and April 6, 2023, Khaled and Adham Abughanem conspired to transport the Victim from the Western District of New York to Cairo, Egypt, and then to Sanaa, Yemen, where they confined the Victim for approximately 16 months with the purpose of marrying her to a man not of her choosing. In addition, on March 14, 2023, Khaled Abughanem threatened to “slaughter[]” the Victim in retaliation for information she gave to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission of a federal offense.
Khaled and Adham Abughanem were previously convicted by a federal jury at trial. Adham Abughanem is awaiting sentencing. Another co-defendant, Waleed Abughanem, also a brother of the Victim, was previously convicted following a guilty plea to misprision of felony and sentenced to serve 36 months in prison.
“Khaled Abughanem, along with his sons and other family members, traveled internationally in an attempt to force his daughter and their sister into a forced marriage in Yemen,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “What this defendant and the others failed to recognize was holding someone against their will, so they can enter into a forced marriage, is a crime in the United States. Today’s sentencing reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct as he will now spend a significant period of time in prison.”
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that the FBI will aggressively pursue those who exploit family ties to commit violent crimes and deprive victims of their freedom,” said Philip Tejera, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to protecting victims and working with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice for crimes that cross international borders.”
“The Diplomatic Security Service welcomes today’s sentencing of Khaled Abughanem for conspiring to kidnap his own daughter in New York and attempting to force her to marry in Yemen,” said DSS Protective Intelligence Investigations Director Greg Anderson. “Justice was served thanks to the unshakable courage of the victim in this case as well as the close collaboration between DSS, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Lackawanna Police Department,”
Khaled Abughanem’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Protective Intelligence Investigations Director Greg Anderson. Additional assistance was provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard, Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and CPB in Boston, Massachusetts.
# # # #
Jury Convicts Orlando Man of Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Involving COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance BenefitsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Dexter Ray King (36, Orlando) guilty of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. King faces a mandatory penalty of 2 years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft and up to 30 years on each bank fraud count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to evidence presented at trial, during the COVID-19 pandemic, King filed dozens of fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits across several states. For many of the claims, King used stolen identities and fake addresses. Once the claims were approved, King changed the addresses on the claims to his Orlando apartment, ensuring that the debit cards containing the fraudulently obtained government benefits were mailed to him. He then used the debit cards to withdraw the funds from the bank. King also filed fraudulent claims using his own name, but Social Security numbers that did not belong to him, and had the resulting benefits direct deposited into his bank account. In total, King received more than $500,000 in fraud proceeds, which he spent on a new $77,000 SUV, a trip to Las Vegas, pricey restaurants, and luxury fashion brands.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
Jury Convicts Honduran National of Aggravated Identity Theft and Associated Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – A federal jury has found Nidia Roxana Maradiaga-Flores (28), an illegal alien from Honduras, guilty of aggravated identity theft, false representation of a Social Security number, and making a false claim of United States citizenship for employment purposes. Maradiaga-Flores faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 17, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Archer Western-de Moya Group Joint Venture II (Joint Venture), a construction company, is enrolled in E-Verify, a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. Maradiaga-Flores is an illegal alien from Honduras with no lawful status in the United States. On March 23, 2022, Maradiaga-Flores applied for employment with the Joint Venture in Pinellas County and filled out an I-9 form for use in the E-Verify system. On that form, Maradiaga-Flores falsely identified herself as a United States citizen and used another person’s means of identification to defeat the E-Verify system.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration–Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III, and Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
Jordanian Man Admits Selling Unauthorized Access to Computer Networks of 50 CompaniesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Jordanian man who was residing in the Republic of Georgia admitted his role as an “access broker” who sold unauthorized access to computer networks of at least 50 victim companies, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Feras Khalil Ahmad Albashiti, a/k/a “r1z,” a/k/a “Feras Bashiti,” and a/k/a “Firas Bashiti, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court today to an information charging Albashiti with fraud and related activity in connection with access credentials.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In May 2023, law enforcement officers were investigating an online forum where malware and malicious code was being offered for sale. Albashiti controlled an online moniker named “r1z” and used it in the online forum. On May 19, 2023, Albashiti sold to an undercover law enforcement officer unauthorized access to the networks of at least 50 victim companies in exchange for cryptocurrency.
The charge of fraud and related activity in connection with access devices carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of gains or losses resulting from the offense. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs secured the July 2024 extradition from Georgia of Albashiti. Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2026.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents and members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Deputy Chief of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
###
Defense Counsel: Rahul Agarwal, Esq.
albashiti.information.pdfJacksonville Minister Pleads Guilty to Tax CrimeRead the Press Release
A Jacksonville minister pleaded guilty today to obstructing the IRS’s efforts to collect his tax debts.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Brian Carn, Jr. operated a ministry under various names, including Healing House Ministries, Inc., Brian Carn Ministries, Inc., and Kingdom Culture City Churches. In 2016, Carn filed his tax return for 2015 that properly reported that he earned more than $1.4 million in income and owed more than $600,000 in taxes. He did not, however, pay those taxes to the IRS and instead came up with a scheme to deceive the IRS.
A few months later, when the IRS attempted to collect his unpaid taxes — including by placing liens on his properties and attempting to levy his bank accounts — Carn amended his 2015 tax return and falsely removed nearly $1.3 million in income that he previously reported. To accomplish this, Carn hired a new accountant and provided him with a fictitious, backdated employment agreement that provided for an annual salary of $120,000 and an annual parsonage allowance of $24,000. Carn represented to his accountant that this was all the income he earned for the year. Carn represented third parties on credit applications, financial account openings, and lease applications, and otherwise knew that the income he actually earned far exceeded the purported salary in the employment agreement provided to the new accountant..
In the following years, operating under the premise of the fictitious employment agreement, Carn filed a series of other tax returns that drastically underreported his true income. But in 2020, he stopped filing tax returns, despite continuing to earn income by using ministry funds to pay for personal expenses.
Finally, when the IRS was trying to collect the outstanding taxes, Carn made a number of false representations and material omissions to the IRS to conceal his assets and income.
Carn’s obstruction caused a loss to United States of between $550,000 and $1,500,000. Carn faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Deputy Chief David Zisserson and Trial Attorney Max Wilner-Giwerc of the Criminal Division, Tax Section are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Jacksonville Minister Pleads Guilty to Tax CrimeRead the Press Release
A Jacksonville minister pleaded guilty today to obstructing the IRS’s efforts to collect his tax debts.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Brian Carn, Jr. operated a ministry under various names, including Healing House Ministries, Inc., Brian Carn Ministries, Inc., and Kingdom Culture City Churches. In 2016, Carn filed his tax return for 2015 that properly reported that he earned more than $1.4 million in income and owed more than $600,000 in taxes. He did not, however, pay those taxes to the IRS and instead came up with a scheme to deceive the IRS.
A few months later, when the IRS attempted to collect his unpaid taxes — including by placing liens on his properties and attempting to levy his bank accounts — Carn amended his 2015 tax return and falsely removed nearly $1.3 million in income that he previously reported. To accomplish this, Carn hired a new accountant and provided him with a fictitious, backdated employment agreement that provided for an annual salary of $120,000 and an annual parsonage allowance of $24,000. Carn represented to his accountant that this was all the income he earned for the year. Carn represented third parties on credit applications, financial account openings, and lease applications, and otherwise knew that the income he actually earned far exceeded the purported salary in the employment agreement provided to the new accountant.
In the following years, operating under the premise of the fictitious employment agreement, Carn filed a series of other tax returns that drastically underreported his true income. But in 2020, he stopped filing tax returns, despite continuing to earn income by using ministry funds to pay for personal expenses.
Finally, when the IRS was trying to collect the outstanding taxes, Carn made a number of false representations and material omissions to the IRS to conceal his assets and income.
Carn’s obstruction caused a loss to United States of between $550,000 and $1,500,000. Carn faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Deputy Chief David Zisserson and Trial Attorney Max Wilner-Giwerc of the Criminal Division, Tax Section are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Illegal alien indicted for ramming immigration vehicle causing injury to federal agents in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
sanchezj.pdf indictment_0.pdfPLANO, Texas – An illegal alien has been indicted and charged with injuring federal immigration agents in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jerson Lopez-Sanchez, 28, a citizen and national of Honduras, was indicted and charged with three counts of assaulting federal immigration agents in the Eastern District of Texas.
The indictment alleges that on December 1, 2025, federal immigration agents attempted to conduct a lawful traffic stop on a vehicle owned by Lopez-Sanchez, a foreign national who was unlawfully in the United States. The vehicle, which contained at least five occupants, came to a stop in the 2400 block of S. Stemmons Fwy in Lewisville. Federal agents were in three separate vehicles, and all were wearing clearly marked law enforcement vests with police identifying insignia as well as carrying federal agent badges. Soon after he pulled over, Lopez-Sanchez suddenly placed the suspect vehicle in reverse and rammed the federal agent vehicle behind him while a federal agent had one leg outside of the vehicle injuring the agent. This maneuver caused enough space for Lopez-Sanchez to drive around the other law enforcement vehicles and attempt to flee. Federal agents began pursuit of Lopez-Sanchez with red and blue flashing lights engaged. One of the law enforcement vehicles was able to position itself between Lopez-Sanchez and his escape route. Instead of stopping, Lopez-Sanchez accelerated and rammed into that vehicle injuring the two agents inside. Lopez-Sanchez continued to evade with the third vehicle pursuing him on to East Valley Ridge Boulevard in Lewisville for about 10 minutes before the suspect vehicle stopped on a median and all five occupants fled by foot. Three of the occupants were ultimately detained after foot pursuits and with the help of civilians. Lopez-Sanchez was identified as the owner and driver of the vehicle and remains at large.
If anyone has knowledge that leads to the arrest of JERSON LOPEZ-SANCHEZ, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). You may be eligible for a cash reward.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Frisco Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Calli Bailey. This case 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.
Lopez-Sanchez faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count of the indictment if convicted. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
photos_of_vehicle_0.pdfIllegal alien faces federal charges for selling fentanyl at a farmers market produce standRead the Press Release
Atlanta – Luis Sanchez-Acevedo, an illegal alien from Mexico, appeared in federal court yesterday afternoon on charges related to his alleged distribution of fentanyl from a Forest Park farmers market produce stand.
“Sanchez-Acevedo allegedly distributed deadly “tranq” pills containing fentanyl and xylazine at a farmers market where he sold fruits and vegetables,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our community is a safer place now that this illegal alien and his lethal pills are off the streets.”
“This defendant is accused of distributing fentanyl, a drug responsible for countless overdose poisonings across our country,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “In support of DEA’s Fentanyl Free America Initiative, DEA remains committed to targeting those who traffic in this poison and holding them accountable through the federal justice system.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: DEA agents learned that Sanchez-Acevedo was allegedly selling counterfeit “M-30” pills containing fentanyl in the Forest Park, Georgia area. The investigation revealed that, in September and October 2025, Sanchez-Acevedo allegedly sold a total of 3,000 pills from or in the vicinity of his produce stand at a Forest Park, Georgia farmers market. DEA agents ultimately recovered the pills, and laboratory testing revealed that the pills contained fentanyl and xylazine, a powerful large animal sedative that is extremely dangerous to humans.
On January 13, 2026, agents arrested Sanchez-Acevedo at his produce stand. During a search of the stand, agents recovered approximately 1,000 additional counterfeit pills.
The investigation further revealed that Sanchez-Acevedo is a citizen of Mexico and illegally present in the United States.
Luis Sanchez-Acevedo, 41, of Tehuacán, Mexico, appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge yesterday on a criminal complaint that charged him with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by the Clayton County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz and Edward C. Robinson Jr. are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
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.
Honduran Man and Kansas Woman Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining Custody of an Unaccompanied Alien ChildRead the Press Release
An indictment unsealed yesterday in the District of Kansas charged a Honduran man and Kansas woman for conspiring to submit, and submitting, a sponsorship application with false statements to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to gain custody of an Unaccompanied Alien Child (UAC) after the child entered the U.S. illegally.
“This indictment represents the Justice Department’s ongoing commitment to prosecuting individuals who fraudulently pose as suitable UAC sponsors to obtain custody of vulnerable children,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This conduct represents a violation of the societal responsibility to safeguard children. Our efforts are a continuation of the Department’s commitment to hold accountable those who commit crimes related to the exploitation of UACs, and will serve to strengthen ORR’s UAC program and ensure it is not manipulated.”
“We are determined to protect the most vulnerable members of our society,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “This task often takes a multi-faceted approach involving multiple agencies and superior coordination. Given Task Force Alpha’s efforts, we are seeing real results, and my office is happy to be on the front line.”
According to the indictment, Romulo Hernandez Murillo, 45, a Honduran national without legal authorization to be in the U.S., agreed to pay defendant Lisa Marie Lopez Perdomo, 48, of Syracuse, Kansas, to assist him with applying to sponsor and obtain custody of a Honduran UAC. The agreement included being permitted to misrepresent himself by using Lopez’s address on the application to sponsor the minor. The defendants intended for the UAC to reside with Hernandez and work in the United States. In furtherance of his fraudulent sponsorship application, Hernandez submitted and signed, under the penalty of perjury, documents falsely claiming he resided at Lopez’s address. An employee of the HHS-funded care provider where the UAC was staying ultimately recommended that Hernandez’s application be denied after an investigation uncovered Hernandez’s false representations.
The defendants are both charged with one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement and one count of conspiracy to commit the same offense. If convicted of either offense, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This investigation was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests, which includes those of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood.
HHS’s Office of Inspector General and DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case with assistance from the Kansas Department of Labor, Special Investigations Unit; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; and the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. Additionally, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided invaluable assistance along with the United States Marshals Service.
Acting Deputy Chief Christian Levesque and Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for the District of Kansas are 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.
Guatemalan National Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison for Forcibly Assaulting Federal Officers During Immigration ArrestRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for assaulting multiple officers during an immigration arrest.
Guido Andres Cuellar Batres, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to eight months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In October 2025, Cuellar pleaded guilty to forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties. Cuellar was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2025.
Cuellar had overstayed his non-immigrant visa by more than four years and, as a result, there was an outstanding immigration warrant for his arrest. At approximately 9:45 a.m. on May 4, 2025, four federal officers – three Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and a Drug Enforcement Administration agent – set up surveillance in a parking lot in Marlborough. There, a vehicle was observed entering the parking lot, with Cuellar in the front passenger seat. The officers – who were wearing outer garments identifying themselves as law enforcement – approached the vehicle and ordered Cuellar, in both English and Spanish, to step out of the car. Cuellar refused. The officers then instructed Cuellar and the driver to unlock the vehicle, but they did not do so. After being instructed to keep his hands visible, Cuellar reached down such that officers lost sight of his hands – raising concern that he might be reaching for a weapon. Given this concern and the refusals to comply with orders, the officers broke the rear passenger side window, enabling them to gain entry to the vehicle and unlock the front passenger door.
Upon being removed from the vehicle, Cuellar resisted officer efforts to bring his arms behind his back for handcuffing. As officers continued to attempt to handcuff Cuellar, he tried to bite one of them in the leg, did bite another officer above his wrist and struck that officer in the head multiple times.
After the officers succeeded in handcuffing Cuellar, he continued to resist. As agents attempted to secure Cuellar in the rear seat of their vehicle, he jumped numerous times to avoid being put in the vehicle. One of the officers entered the opposite side of the vehicle to pull Cuellar into the rear seat. As the officer took hold of Cuellar, he head-butted the officer and spat directly into the officer’s eyes and face.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston; and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – On January 15, 2026, Kevin James Miller, 54 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Miller was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Restitution is left open, but to be determined within 90 days from the sentencing date.
According to documents in the case, law enforcement officers discovered that Miller was downloading child sexual abuse material from the internet. During the execution of a search warrant at Miller’s residence, agents discovered evidence on digital devices showing that Miller was purchasing and downloading child sexual abuse material. Over 1,500 images and 7 videos of child sexual abuse material were recovered from Miller. The materials included images of toddlers and prepubescent minors engaged in sexual acts and nudity. Miller was a registered sex offender and previously had been convicted twice of possession of child pornography and child exploitation.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Allen County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
The case was 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 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.
Former Storm Lake City Employee Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A former Storm Lake city employee was sentenced today to seven years’ imprisonment for possessing child pornography.
Brian Oakleaf, age 52, from Storm Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 9, 2025, guilty plea to two counts of possession of child pornography.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, from March 1, 2022, through July 29, 2024, Oakleaf received, distributed, and possessed child pornography, including depictions involving prepubescent minors, on two separate cell phones. In May 2024, law enforcement officers were investigating an online filesharing program and directed their focus on an IP address that was sharing child sexual abuse material. Investigators focused on the owner of the IP address, which led them to Oakleaf, a Storm Lake city employee.
On July 29, 2024, investigators searched Oakleaf’s home and his office at the Storm Lake City Hall. Officers seized cell phones and electronic devices. Analysis of Oakleaf’s devices showed that he used the filesharing program investigators were targeting. He also searched for many known child exploitation search terms to obtain child sexual abuse material. Evidence further showed that Oakleaf had used the alias Dan Dyle to look at and trade child sexual abuse material.
In the plea agreement, Oakleaf admitted he possessed a video that was over 90 minutes in length and over 20,000 images of child sexual abuse material on his two phones. The videos and images included depictions of toddlers, bondage, and sadistic and masochistic conduct.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Oakleaf was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment and must serve a five-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Oakleaf must also pay $54,000 in restitution to the victims in this case and an additional $1,200 in fines and assessments. Oakleaf remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4020.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Former Steuben County Sheriff’s deputy going to prison on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Stuart J. McHenry, 35, of Hornellsville, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison and 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated that McHenry knowingly possessed digital images of child pornography. At least one of the images depicted prepubescent minors under 12-years-old. The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip from the instant messaging application Kik, which stated that Kik user “acman990,” uploaded approximately 24 files of suspected child pornography. A review found that approximately 22 of the files constituted child pornography. Subsequent investigation traced the account to the defendant and revealed messages between the defendant and other users in which the defendant sought, received, and distributed child pornography. Some of the videos and images possessed by McHenry contained violent conduct, and one of the images depicted the sexual exploitation of an infant. At the time of the offense, McHenry was working as a deputy for Steuben County Sheriff’s Office.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Jim Allard.
Former Nurse Sentenced for Drug Diversion from Boston-Area HospitalRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former nurse was sentenced yesterday in federal court today in Boston for diverting benzodiazepine medication from a Boston-area hospital.
Ariana Foley, 37, of Needham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service. In November 2025, Foley pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception, and subterfuge.
Beginning in December 2018, Foley worked as a nurse at a Boston-area hospital. On July 16, 2022, Foley worked an overnight shift where she was assigned to an intubated and immobile patient in the intensive care unit. During her shift, Foley checked out a bag of Versed, which is a controlled substance and a benzodiazepine medication. She also checked out three bags of fentanyl, one of which was discarded when it began leaking. None of these medications were scanned into the patient’s medical records. Foley was discovered slumped over on the wall of the patient’s room after an emergency alarm went off. Foley was questioned by hospital administrators and found to have three syringes in her pocket.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations and Dr. Robert Goldstein, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie Queenin and Meghan Cleary of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Durham Police Department Officer Sentenced for Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
Rayshawn Deon Taylor, 36, a former Durham Police Department officer, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and two years of supervised release for sexually assaulting a man during a welfare check on Aug. 21, 2024. Taylor previously pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law involving sexual misconduct.
According to filed plea documents, on Aug. 21, 2024, Taylor was on duty as a corporal with the Durham Police Department (DPD) when he conducted a welfare check on the victim at the victim’s residence. During the welfare check, Taylor sexually assaulted the victim. Taylor communicated with the victim using a translation application on his personal cell phone and threatened to arrest the victim if he said anything about the assault. Investigators later determined that Taylor deleted the translation application from his cell phone and the cache information associated with the application. Taylor did not activate his body-worn camera during this encounter with the victim, in violation of DPD policy, but portions of the encounter were captured by the dashboard camera on Taylor’s patrol vehicle.
Assistant Attorney General K. Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Dan Bishop for the Middle District of North Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office and the Durham Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Waid for the Middle District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Five Ophthalmology Practices Agree to Pay Nearly $6M to Resolve Allegations of Fraudulent Claims to Medicare and Medicaid for Cranial UltrasoundsRead the Press Release
Florida ophthalmology practices Clay Eye Holdings LLC, Retina Macula Specialist of Miami LLC, Florida Eye Institute P.A., Miami Eye LLC, and Kendall Eye Institute Inc. have agreed to pay a total of nearly $6 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act arising from their billing for trans-cranial doppler ultrasounds (TCDs) through a kickback arrangement with a third-party testing company. All five practices have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations of other participants in the alleged scheme.
“Kickbacks and false claims increase healthcare costs for all Americans and undermine the integrity of healthcare decision-making,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Combatting such schemes will continue to be a priority for the Justice Department.”
“These settlements are a continuing testament to the United States’ commitment to fight healthcare fraud and ensure that federal healthcare dollars are spent consistently with the law,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida.
“Submitting false claims destroys the public’s trust in our federally funded healthcare programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “Working together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to prioritize safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s healthcare system and hold accountable those who try to profit from deception.”
“Kickback arrangements can corrupt legitimate medical decision-making and undermine the integrity of federal healthcare programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricardo Carcas of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate improper billing and kickback schemes to protect both Medicare and Medicaid as well as those served by these programs.”
The settlements announced today resolve allegations that the settling practices knowingly submitted, and caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary TCDs. The settling practices performed TCDs on thousands of patients and billed Medicare and Medicaid hundreds of dollars per test. Before the patients received the results of the test, the practices and the third-party testing company identified the patients as having received a serious diagnosis that could qualify the patient for reimbursement of a TCD by Medicare or Medicaid. However, nearly all patients who received TCDs never had that diagnosis, and it was not reflected in the patient’s medical history or in the TCD results. The settling practices paid the third-party testing company based on the volume or value of tests ordered and referred the patients to the testing company’s preferred radiology group for the TCDs’ professional component.
The United States alleged that as a result of this scheme, the settling practices submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for TCDs between Jan. 1, 2018 and June 1, 2022 that were medically unnecessary, that were premised on false diagnoses, and that resulted from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law.
As a result of the settlements, Clay Eye Holdings LLC will pay $2,140,000, Retina Macula Specialist of Miami LLC will pay $1,750,000, Florida Eye Institute P.A. will pay $1,250,000, Miami Eye LLC will pay $525,000, and Kendall Eye Institute Inc. will pay $310,000. Of the total settlement amount, $333,500 will be paid to the State of Florida for its share of Medicaid, which is a jointly funded federal and state program.
The civil settlements resolved claims in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam was filed by a whistleblower who will receive $1,135,250 in connection with the settlements.
The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the FBI. The United States previously resolved similar allegations against Brandon Eye Associates P.A. and Pinellas Eye Care, P.A. (doing business as Gulfcoast Eye Care).
The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorney Nelson Wagner in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S Attorney Mamie Wise for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Five Ophthalmology Practices Agree to Pay Nearly $6M to Resolve Allegations of Fraudulent Claims to Medicare and Medicaid for Cranial UltrasoundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Florida ophthalmology practices Clay Eye Holdings LLC, Retina Macula Specialist of Miami LLC, Florida Eye Institute P.A., Miami Eye LLC, and Kendall Eye Institute Inc. have agreed to pay a total of nearly $6 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act arising from their billing for trans-cranial doppler ultrasounds (TCDs) through a kickback arrangement with a third-party testing company. All five practices have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations of other participants in the alleged scheme.
“Kickbacks and false claims increase healthcare costs for all Americans and undermine the integrity of healthcare decision-making,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Combatting such schemes will continue to be a priority for the Justice Department.”
“These settlements are a continuing testament to the United States’ commitment to fight healthcare fraud and ensure that federal healthcare dollars are spent consistently with the law,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe of the Middle District of Florida.
“Submitting false claims destroys the public’s trust in our federally funded healthcare programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “Working together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to prioritize safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s healthcare system and hold accountable those who try to profit from deception.”
“Kickback arrangements can corrupt legitimate medical decision-making and undermine the integrity of federal healthcare programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricardo Carcas of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate improper billing and kickback schemes to protect both Medicare and Medicaid as well as those served by these programs.”
The settlements announced today resolve allegations that the settling practices knowingly submitted, and caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary TCDs. The settling practices performed TCDs on thousands of patients and billed Medicare and Medicaid hundreds of dollars per test. Before the patients received the results of the test, the practices and the third-party testing company identified the patients as having received a serious diagnosis that could qualify the patient for reimbursement of a TCD by Medicare or Medicaid. However, nearly all patients who received TCDs never had that diagnosis, and it was not reflected in the patient’s medical history or in the TCD results. The settling practices paid the third-party testing company based on the volume or value of tests ordered and referred the patients to the testing company’s preferred radiology group for the TCDs’ professional component.
The United States alleged that as a result of this scheme, the settling practices submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for TCDs between Jan. 1, 2018 and June 1, 2022 that were medically unnecessary, that were premised on false diagnoses, and that resulted from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law.
As a result of the settlements, Clay Eye Holdings LLC will pay $2,140,000, Retina Macula Specialist of Miami LLC will pay $1,750,000, Florida Eye Institute P.A. will pay $1,250,000, Miami Eye LLC will pay $525,000, and Kendall Eye Institute Inc. will pay $310,000. Of the total settlement amount, $333,500 will be paid to the State of Florida for its share of Medicaid, which is a jointly funded federal and state program.
The civil settlements resolved claims in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam was filed by a whistleblower who will receive $1,135,250 in connection with the settlements.
The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the FBI. The United States previously resolved similar allegations against Brandon Eye Associates P.A. and Pinellas Eye Care, P.A. (doing business as Gulfcoast Eye Care).
The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorney Nelson Wagner in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S Attorney Mamie Wise for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Federal Jury Convicts Georgia Man for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – CLEVELAND DAVID HALL, II, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, has been convicted of possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On September 2, 2025, a federal grand jury sitting in the Western District of Oklahoma charged Hall with being a prior convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On January 13, 2026, a federal jury found Hall guilty. Testimony at trial showed that on August 5, 2025, a deputy with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Hall on Interstate 40 in Oklahoma City. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered a firearm.
Public record reflects that Hall has a prior federal conviction in the Southern District of Georgia for drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in case number 11-CR-270.
At sentencing, Hall faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, and Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hoch and Drew E. Davis are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Federal Grand Jury Returns Two Indictments Charging Nine Individuals with Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – On January 7, 2026, a federal grand jury in Louisville returned two indictments charging nine Louisville residents and one Detroit, Michigan resident with drug trafficking offenses.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin W. Jackson of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to one indictment, Reginald Forsythe, 46, of Louisville, Damon Lewis, 50, of Louisville, Timothy McAtee, 46, of Louisville, Aiyisha Daniels, 43, of Detroit, James Henderson, 70, of Louisville, and Crystal Adams, 54, of Louisville are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Forsythe is also charged with one count of concealment money laundering. The drug conspiracy and money laundering activity occurred between September 3, 2024, and January 7, 2026.
According to the other indictment, Isaiah Washington, 43, Chelsea Brown, 42, and James Leffler, 38, all of Louisville, are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Both indictments stem from a months-long multi-agency investigation which identified and dismantled a drug trafficking organization responsible for the flow of large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine from Detroit, Michigan to the streets of Louisville and beyond. As part of the investigation, 10 federal residential search warrants were executed in Louisville and 5 more search warrants were executed in Detroit on January 10, 2026, in a coordinated law enforcement action involving multiple federal and state agencies.
All defendants have been arrested and made their initial court appearances this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
If convicted, all defendants face a sentence of a minimum of 10 year and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The cases are being investigated by the Louisville Metro Police Department, DEA Louisville, DEA Detroit, ATF, IRS, KSP, FBI, HSI, U.S. Marshal Service, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, St. Matthews Police Department, the Louisville Airport Police Department, and the Bardstown Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erwin Roberts, Mac Shannon and Robert Bonar are prosecuting the cases.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Nashville is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI, ATF, HSI, ERO, DEA, IRS, USMS, USPIS, USSS and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Eighth Member of the Brooklyn-Based Hyena Crips Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Crimes, Including MurderRead the Press Release
Richler Morette, also known as “Breezy,” a member of the Brooklyn-based Hyena Crips gang, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn to racketeering in connection with the murder of a man mistaken to be a rival gang member and conspiracy to murder rival gang members. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly. When sentenced, Morette faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Morette is the eighth member of the Hyena Crips to plead guilty to a superseding indictment charging members and associates of the violent street gang with racketeering activity over a decade, including the murders of Samuel Joseph, Leandre Mallinckrodt, and Roodson Polynice. When sentenced, Morette faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI-New York), and Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General (DOL-OIG), announced the guilty pleas.
“The prosecution of these Hyena Crips gang members has dismantled a violent and ruthless gang that terrorized our communities for too long, killing innocent people, robbing local businesses, and stealing the identities of hard-working peoples,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “It is my sincere hope that the guilty pleas represent justice and some measure of closure for the victims and their loved ones.”
"With this guilty plea, Richler Morette has acknowledged his link to vicious murders and attempted killings of the innocent public and rival gang members, alike,” stated HIS Special Agent in Charge Patel. “As a result of this investigation, eight Hyena Crips gangsters have plead guilty and will face the full force of the law — reflecting the real change that HSI New York, together with the our partners, are endeavoring to make within New York City communities. HSI New York remains committed to restoring safety and peace for all New Yorkers.”
"This guilty plea underscores the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General's unwavering commitment to bring to justice those who defrauded the unemployment insurance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated DOL-OIG Inspector General D’Esposito. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who engage in the exploitation of governmental programs and the American taxpayer.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations’ Violent Gang Task Force, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General for their outstanding work in this investigation.
As detailed in court filings, the Hyena Crips set of the Crips street gang was a violent criminal organization based in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn that earned money through fraud and robbery. To advance the gang’s operations and reputation, members and associates of the Hyena Crips committed murders, robberies, and fraud.
September 3, 2012 Murder of Leandre Mallinckrodt
On September 3, 2012, Rick Jasmin and other members of the Hyena Crips were at the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn when a brawl began. Jasmin fatally stabbed Leandre Mallinckrodt, who had been visiting Brooklyn from out of town, in the neck. Jasmin mistook Mallinckrodt as a rival gang member.
February 22, 2019 Murder of Samuel Joseph
As detailed in court documents, Martial H. Amilcar shot and killed 15-year-old Samuel Joseph on February 22, 2019 in retaliation for an altercation earlier the same day between Amilcar’s brother, Martial C. Amilcar, also a Hyena Crips gang member, and Joseph’s older brother. Shortly after the altercation, which occurred on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, Martial H. Amilcar contacted other members of the Hyena Crips. Martial H. Amilcar and another co-defendant drove to Samuel Joseph’s apartment building and waited outside. As Joseph walked down a staircase towards the building’s exit, Martial H. Amilcar walked into the building, pulled out a gun and shot Joseph three times at close range, killing him.
September 2, 2020 Murder of Roodson Polynice
As detailed in court documents, Dave Augustin directed Bradley Augustin, Morette, and other members of the Hyena Crips to retaliate against a rival gang for the non-fatal shootings of two Hyena Crips leaders. On September 2, 2020, Bradley Augustin, Morette, and others shot and killed Roodson Polynice during a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn while Polynice was sitting in his car. Following the murder, Morette responded to group Facebook messages about Polynice’s death in which he replied with three laughing-face emojis, before stating, “[d]on’t care who got hit” and “pic [sic] a side or get killed with them Hyenalifestyle or no life.”
The superseding indictment also charged the members of the gang with other racketeering acts, including agreeing to commit identity fraud in connection with unemployment-fraud insurance and in connection with defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA); money laundering; robberies; attempted murder; and conspiracy to murder rival gang members.
Seven members of the Hyena Crips previously pleaded guilty. On November 13, 2025, Martial H. Amilcar was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for racketeering, including predicate acts of the murder of Joseph and the attempted gunpoint robbery of a Brooklyn pharmacy. On November 12, 2025, Martial C. Amilcar was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment for racketeering in connection with defrauding the SBA and conspiring to murder rival gang members. Five co-defendants—Bradley Augustin, Dave Augustin, Matthew Harris, Rick Jasmin, and Wisny Joseph—are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Devon Lash, Jessica Weigel, and Joshua Dugan are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Elizabeth Reed and Erin Payne.
The Defendant:
RICHLER MORETTE (also known as “Breezy”)
Age: 30
Brooklyn, New YorkPreviously Convicted Defendants:
MARTIAL C. AMILCAR (also known as “Hype”)
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New YorkMARTIAL H. AMILCAR (also known as “Drippy”)
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New YorkBRADLEY AUGUSTIN (also known as “Cradley”)
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New YorkDAVE AUGUSTIN (also known as “Juice”)
Age: 39
Brooklyn, New YorkMATTHEW HARRIS (also known as “Kappy”)
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New YorkRICK JASMIN (also known as “Jab”)
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkWISNY JOSEPH (also known as “Weezy”)
Age: 34
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-18 (AMD)
Eden Man Indicted on Possession and Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Utah man was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with a drug crime after he allegedly possessed and attempted to distribute methamphetamine in the District of Utah.
Christopher Eric Johnson, 40, of Eden, Utah, was charged by complaint on January 2, 2026.
According to the allegations in court documents, in November 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), and the Unified Police Department (UPD) began investigating Johnson after information was received that Johnson was selling kilograms of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed, Johnson was communicating directly with a cartel member in Mexico to arrange for kilogram quantity shipments of methamphetamine to be sent to Utah. On November 18, 2025, a cooperating defendant from a separate drug arrest contacted Johnson asking for a quarter pound of methamphetamine and they agreed to meet in Midvale, Utah. Detectives conducted surveillance waiting for Johnson to arrive. Subsequently, he was taken into custody and law enforcement seized clear bags containing a crystal-like substance, which field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Johnson is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment was before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Unified Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant United States Attorney Vernon G. Stejskal of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The case was investigated by agents and officers of the HSTF Salt Lake and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Eric Jaeshon Ray, also known as “Brody,” 32, was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about May 2025 to in or about July 2025, Ray and co-defendant Franklin Fitzgerald Elly conspired together and with other individuals to distribute fentanyl in the St. Albans area of Kanawha County. On four separate occasions between May and June of 2025, Ray distributed quantities of fentanyl to a confidential informant in St. Albans with Elly’s assistance as part of the conspiracy.
As part of the investigation, officers searched an apartment in St. Albans where Ray was residing and recovered two loaded pistols, approximately 250 grams of fentanyl, approximately 236 grams of oxycodone, and $4,000. In all, Ray was held responsible for possessing or distributing approximately 1 pound of fentanyl.
Ray has a criminal history that includes a prior conviction for felony assault with intent to murder and a misdemeanor conviction for assault and battery.
Ray and Elly are among 16 individuals indicted as the result of a federal investigation on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Five defendants in the main indictment pleaded guilty. Ray and Elly are among four additional defendants who pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. Elly, also known as “Costco,” 36, pleaded guilty on September 2, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2026. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-128.
###
Detroit Man Charged with Drug Distribution in VermontRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on January 15, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Terry Dawayne Catchings, 31, of Detroit, Michigan, with two counts of distribution of cocaine and cocaine base and one count of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute it.
Catchings entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on January 15, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Catchings be detained pending trial.
According to court records, Catchings distributed cocaine and cocaine base on December 23, 2025, and December 30, 2025, at a location in Vermont. On January 7, 2026, Vermont State Police stopped Catchings for speeding on Interstate 89 in Randolph. A search of Catchings’s vehicle revealed approximately 114 grams of cocaine hidden in the fabric lining of the ceiling.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Catchings is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Catchings faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the three counts if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Morristown Police Department, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the FBI, and the Vermont State Police.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. Catchings is represented by Kevin Henry, Esq.
Delhi, India Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Illegally Export Aviation Components from Oregon to RussiaRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— A man from Delhi, India, was sentenced to federal prison today 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.
“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 today’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 pled 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 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.
Convicted Drug Trafficker on Federal Supervised Release Pleads Guilty to Distributing 63 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A convicted drug trafficker pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute more than 63 kilograms of cocaine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Matthew Gerard Hendy, 42, of Charlotte, was on federal supervised release for a previous drug conviction when he reoffended.
Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Sheriff Eddie Cathey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
According to the plea documents and other court filings, in 2012, Hendy was convicted in federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina of drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses and was sentenced to five years in prison followed by a term of supervised release. In 2023, and while Hendy was still under court supervision for the prior offense, law enforcement learned that he had arranged a large delivery of narcotics. On December 9, 2023, law enforcement intercepted the delivery when the tractor trailer loaded with the drugs arrived at the meeting location. When Hendy saw law enforcement on the scene he attempted to flee. Hendy later admitted he had ordered 63 kilograms of cocaine.
Hendy remains in federal custody. At sentencing, he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison due to the prior offense, and a maximum of life in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case, and the U.S. Probation Office for its invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Colorado Springs Woman Sentenced to 12 Months, One Day, After Being Convicted on Charges Arising from Hate Crime HoaxRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Ashley Blackcloud, 40, of Colorado Springs, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after a jury found her guilty in May 2025. Blackcloud and co-defendant Derrick Bernard were convicted after a trial on charges that they conspired to threaten or convey false information about a threat: a burning cross placed in front of a Black political candidate’s campaign sign, which they had defaced with a racial slur written in red spray paint. After staging the cross burning, Blackcloud, Bernard and a third convicted co-conspirator used email and social media to publicize the threat in the weeks before the Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election.
Evidence presented at the week-long trial showed that ten days before the cross burning, Bernard sent a message to the threatened candidate in which he explained he was “mobilizing my squad in defense. Black ops style big brother” and then immediately texted Blackcloud, “I got a plan.” After the burning occurred in the early morning hours of April 23, 2023, Bernard and Blackcloud then worked together to send an email to the candidate, media outlets, and other local, state, and national organizations. Attached to the email was a short video of the cross burning and a still photograph. The email falsely blamed the candidate’s political opponent for the crime. The defendants then worked together to maliciously convey false information about the cross burning via social media platforms.
The conspiracy was uncovered when the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) gathered surveillance footage around the scene of the cross burning. The CSPD’s extensive review of the footage revealed three people prowling through the darkness between 2:30 and 3:30 in the morning to stage the crime. Additional investigative work by the CSPD and exhaustive efforts by the FBI ultimately identified Bernard and Blackcloud, self-declared activists and social media personalities, as two of the culprits.
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing of Blackcloud.
Sentencing for Derrick Bernard is scheduled for March 2026.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Fields and Candyce Cline.
CASE NUMBER: 24-cr-00320-RMR