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Thursday 6 August 2026
D.C. Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than $1 Million in COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Robert A. Terrell, 51, of Washington, D.C., and Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to falsifying documents to secure $1.35 million in COVID-19 relief funds for his business, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Robert Terrell lied to steal over a million dollars meant to keep struggling businesses afloat, then gambled much of it away,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He forged documents, he denied his own name, and he thumbed his nose at a federal judge. Today, he was held accountable for his actions. My office will continue to aggressively identify fraud, bring consequences to those who misuse federal programs, and enforce strict protections for taxpayer resources.”
Terrell pleaded guilty to wire fraud before the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan. Following the plea hearing, Judge Sullivan scheduled sentencing for February 4, 2027.
Court documents establish that Terrell was the sole owner of District Logistics LLC, which was established in the District of Columbia in 2016. The company’s services include hauling sand, dirt, gravel, and asphalt, and performing snow and ice removal. Between July 2020 and January 2022, on behalf of District Logistics, Terrell applied for an Economic Injury Disaster loan (EIDL) and two EIDL modifications.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offered Economic Injury Disaster Loans to certain entities, including small business owners. These loans were provided directly from the SBA and were low-interest, fixed-rate, long-term loans that could only be used for specified purposes.
District Logistics initially received $125,800 in EIDL funds in July 2020. After Terrell applied for a modification to the loan, the business received an additional $384,100 in EIDL money in September 2021. Terrell then sought a second loan modification requesting $2 million.
On November 29, 2021, in connection with his second modification request, Terrell submitted a Schedule of Liabilities to the SBA, which showed District Logistics as having approximately $518,000 in outstanding debt to a creditor. Approximately one month later, on January 6, 2022, Terrell emailed the SBA an updated Schedule of Liabilities, which falsely showed District Logistics as now owing the same creditor just over $71,000. Terrell attached four PNC wire transfer receipts to the email, which he had doctored to show his business as having wired more than $400,000 to the creditor when it really had wired less than $20,000. By falsely attesting that District Logistics owed less money than it did, Terrell succeeded in getting the SBA to approve a second modification to the EIDL, which resulted in District Logistics receiving an additional $1.35 million that it otherwise would not have received.
The government’s investigation revealed that Terrell spent some of the EIDL funds day trading through his Robinhood account and gambling at casinos.
After he was indicted, Terrell’s case took an unusual turn. At his initial appearance in U.S. District Court, Terrell admitted that his name was “Robert Alphonso Terrell.” However, at his next court hearing and several thereafter, Terrell denied that he was “Robert A. Terrell” and instead insisted that he was “Robert Alphonso III, the General Executor of the Terrell Estate.” He repeated this bogus assertion in various pleadings while representing himself. In March 2026, in flagrant disregard of his pretrial release conditions, Terrell traveled to the Turks and Caicos for a weekend trip after securing a new passport. Although Terrell returned to the United States following the trip, as a result of his outrageous conduct, Judge Sullivan issued an arrest warrant for Terrell and ordered him detained after he was arrested on the warrant.
Terrell was previously convicted in 1998 of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and Carrying a Pistol Without a License.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kondi Kleinman and David Liss of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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Consumer Bankruptcy Firm Waives $90K in Fees After USTP Inquiry Reveals Lapses in DiligenceRead the Press Release
A consumer law firm agreed to waive more than $90,000 in fees after an investigation by the Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) revealed that the firm filed a series of bankruptcy cases with false financial information.
On July 22, the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered an order memorializing the agreement between the USTP and the Semrad Law Firm, also known as DebtStoppers. The agreement follows an investigation by the USTP’s Chicago office that found Semrad failed to exercise due diligence before filing 31 cases on behalf of consumer debtors whose sworn bankruptcy documents contained financial information that was materially inconsistent with the debtors’ federal tax returns.
Bankruptcy law requires debtors’ attorneys to exercise independent diligence and care in ensuring that the information in their clients’ bankruptcy documents have evidentiary support. But Semrad failed to review the debtors’ tax returns or tax transcripts before filing these cases. If it had, the firm would have discovered that the debtors had claimed significantly higher earnings and higher withholdings to generate sizeable refunds from their tax returns.
“Semrad cannot justify its fees for its lax approach to preparing these 31 cases,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Adam Brief of Region 11, which includes the Northern District of Illinois. “The firm failed its clients and the courts by allowing the spread of false information. The USTP will continue to aggressively pursue consumer debtors’ attorneys who fail to fulfill their basic obligations.”
Under the agreement, Semrad must return more than $26,000 to the debtors and notify them that nothing more is due under their fee agreements, for a total value of more than $90,000. Additionally, two of the firm’s attorneys must complete at least three hours of continuing legal education on professional responsibility in bankruptcy.
The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 82 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust.
City Man Indicted on Civil Rights Charge in Connection with July Arson at Northeast Philadelphia Islamic CenterRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon announced that Vincent Lang, 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged by indictment with one count of malicious damage by means of fire to a building used in interstate commerce and one count of damage to religious real property, in connection with an arson fire last month at a city mosque.
The defendant has been detained in federal custody since his July 16 arrest on a criminal complaint and warrant.
The indictment alleges that, in the early hours of July 5, 2026, Lang maliciously damaged and destroyed, and attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire, the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center, located on the 1400 block of Tyson Avenue.
The indictment further alleges that Lang carried out the act because of the religious character of that property, that is, because it was a mosque.
“We will not let anyone attack a place of faith,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “This case demonstrates our resolve to protect our core constitutional liberty of religion. It also exemplifies the swift and decisive response that results for anyone who attempts to disturb the faith of another.”
“Setting fire to a house of worship is an appalling act,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The Department of Justice will vigorously protect Americans’ right to be free from intimidation and violence while practicing their religion.”
“There is no place for acts of violence in our city, especially those motivated by bias,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI is grateful for the valued partnerships we share with law enforcement and public safety agencies across Philadelphia. Together, we remain committed to pursuing those who threaten the safety and wellbeing of those we are charged to protect.”
“We thank the city, state, and federal agencies that helped us in this important public safety case,” said ATF Philadelphia Field Division Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree. “Houses of worship fire investigations are an ATF priority that we tackle with all our considerable arson investigation resources.”
“An attack on a house of worship is an attack on the fundamental right of every person to practice their faith safely and without fear,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “The additional civil rights charge reflects the seriousness of what is alleged in this case and sends a clear message that acts intended to threaten or intimidate a religious community will be met with the full force of our collective law enforcement response. I am grateful to our investigators and our federal, state and local partners for their continued work to ensure accountability and protect every community in our city.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Philadelphia Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office Special Investigations Unit and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda R. Reinitz and J. Jeanette Kang and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
California Man Sentenced for Stalking, Harassing, and Threatening Women in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and in Other StatesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A California man who made hundreds of obscene, harassing, and threatening telephone calls to women in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and other states has been sentenced in federal court in Providence.
Justin Glauthier, 31, of Anaheim, California, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 36 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $400 special assessments. Glauthier previously pleaded guilty to four counts of stalking through cellular and internet communications.
According to court documents, Glauthier obtained women’s names, photographs, and other personal information from the internet and used that information to make repeated, unwanted, sexually explicit, and threatening calls.
During dozens of calls to at least nine identified victims, Glauthier, using a false name and hiding his identity by creating voice of internet protocol phone numbers or the *67 function on his phone, made sexually explicit and threatening statements, at times claiming to know where victims lived or worked and threatening to appear at their homes or workplaces if they did not comply with his demands to continue speaking with him or describing the sexual acts he wanted or was planning to do with the victims. On some of the calls, Glauthier would tell victims that he had masturbated to their online photos and would masturbate while on a call with a victim.
An investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Providence Resident Agency and FBI’s Orange County, California, Resident Agency linked the calls to Glauthier, who was arrested in Anaheim on March 5, 2025.
“Glauthier believed he could hide behind a phone and inflict fear without consequence,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “He was wrong. The federal system held him accountable, and we will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who thinks they can use digital tools to terrorize vulnerable victims.”
“Justin Glauthier was a prolific, persistent, and pernicious cyber predator who relentlessly taunted and tormented dozens of victims with sexually explicit and threatening calls, and deliberately took steps to hide his identity,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “We are especially grateful to the courageous victims who came forward—they’re willingness to speak up enabled the FBI to identify Glauthier and ultimately stop this incessant harassment. Today’s sentence should serve a lesson to anyone who attempts to inflict this type of cruelty on others: the FBI will find you and will ensure you are brought to justice.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton for the District of Rhode Island, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo of the Central District of California.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Calabasas Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for Running ‘DoorDash for Drugs’ Service that Led to Two Fatal Fentanyl OD’sRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Calabasas man was sentenced today to 324 months in federal prison for running what prosecutors called a “DoorDash for drugs” service that delivered illicit narcotics to buyers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and resulted in two fatal fentanyl overdoses.
Erick Oved Estrada, 37, a.k.a. “Franco Sanchez” and “Eric Freddy Hook,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald, who also ordered him to pay $43,145 in restitution.
Estrada, who has been in federal custody since November 2023, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to court documents, from May 2019 to March 2023, Estrada obtained narcotics, including cocaine and purported oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl. Estrada and his accomplices then provided these drugs to a network of drug delivery drivers for further distribution to customers or other drug distributors. The delivery drivers then directly provided the drugs to customers or distributors and collected payment.
On June 8, 2022, Estrada sold 25 fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills to co-defendant Arian Alani, 37, a Danish national living in Burbank, and a delivery driver. The following day, Alani sold some of these pills to the victim, identified in the indictment as “C.N.,” who ingested them and died of a drug overdose. Two days later, Alani confronted Estrada via text message and wrote, “my boy just died yesterday” – a reference to C.N. – and that Estrada “[s]houldn’t be selling [expletive] with fentanyl.”
In March 2023, Estrada knowingly and intentionally distributed fentanyl to a victim – identified in court documents as “S.M.” The victim earlier had texted someone to purchase two Xanax pills and two oxycodone pills for $80.
On the evening of March 8, 2023, Estrada’s driver, on Estrada’s behalf, provided to S.M. the purported Xanax pills and oxycodone pills, which contained fentanyl. S.M. then returned home, where she ingested the fentanyl she received from Estrada’s drug delivery service, which caused her to suffer a fatal drug overdose.
Alani pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and is scheduled for sentencing on December 2 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The DEA Overdose Justice Task Force, the Simi Valley Police Department, the Burbank Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided assistance.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. 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.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy K. Beecher of the Transnational Organized Crime Section and Nicholas G. Purcell of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Bunkie Man Indicted as Armed Career Criminal for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – On June 17, 2026, a federal indictment was returned against Rininski Edwards, 33, of Bunkie. Edwards is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon as an Armed Career Criminal, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime. Edwards faces decades of mandatory minimum sentences in federal prison if convicted of all charges.
“This Administration has made clear that drug traffickers and armed criminals have no place in our communities, and our Office will aggressively pursue and prosecute these offenders to get them off our streets,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “This Office looks forward to seeing justice done in this case, with a sentence that is commensurate to the crime and criminal history of this alleged offender.”
According to court documents, on March 31, 2026, Edwards is alleged to have possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute those drugs and a loaded .45 caliber pistol in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. It is further alleged that Edwards possessed that loaded .45 caliber pistol after having been convicted three separate times of drug trafficking or violent felonies, which renders him an Armed Career Criminal under the law.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Louisiana State Police investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Ashley Hammons with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 6:26-cr-00250.
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CONTACT: Public Affairs
[email protected]
United States Attorney’s Office
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Western District of Louisiana
Twitter @USAO_WDLABuffalo man pleads guilty to selling fentanyl that resulted in two deathsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Rashaun Crule, 32, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to distribution of fentanyl, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $1,000,000.
On February 10, 2023, Crule delivered a bag of fentanyl to an individual identified as M.M., at a location on Campus Drive in Amherst, NY. Within approximately 20 minutes of Crule delivering the fentanyl, M.M. did not communicate with anyone and was never seen alive again. On February 12, 2023, law enforcement officers arrived at the Campus Drive residence after receiving a 911 call from the mother of an individual identified as B.Y. The mother reported that she found a dead woman inside of her son’s home. Law enforcement found M.M. and B.Y. slumped over in close proximity to the dining room table. Both were deceased. The Erie County Medical Examiner's office determined that the cause of death for both M.M. and B.Y. was acute intoxication with fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol. At the time, Crule was on probation for a 2022 felony drug conviction in Erie County.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Chamberlin.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2026, before Judge Arcara.
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Buffalo man charged with possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanylRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jamarr A. Cunningham a/k/a Grass, 31, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and 40 grams of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
According to the complaint, in November 2025, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from a co-conspirator associated with Cunningham at a Palmer Street residence in Jamestown. On November 13, 2025, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the Palmer Street residence, seizing a quantity of suspected cocaine, suspected methamphetamine, suspected fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and a quantity of cash. Cunningham was the residence and taken into custody on New York State charges.
Cunningham made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released on conditions following a detention hearing.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Boyle County Man Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Junction City, Ky., man, Darion Ford, 26, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
In December 2024, law enforcement began investigating that Ford had recently re-upped a large supply of narcotics from Lexington. On December 18, 2024, Ford was observed leaving his residence and was stopped by law enforcement. When law enforcement talked with Ford, he stated that he had a gun and placed it on his console. He also had three bags containing powder and tablet forms of fentanyl. Ford told law enforcement that he had approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills and seven grams of fentanyl powder at his residence. Law enforcement seized approximately 85.146 grams of fentanyl that Ford intended to distribute. Ford also possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Tony Gray, Danville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Danville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Chapman and Amanda Morgan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Bovine Artificial Insemination Manager Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Bid-Rigging ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A South Carolina manager of a bovine artificial insemination firm pleaded guilty today to rigging bids for the purchase of cattle used either for the direct production of semen or for the development of animals for future semen production.
According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in Columbus, Ohio, Herbert D. Lutz, 56, of Chester, SC pleaded guilty to conspiring to rig bids between at least as early as October 2018 and at least as late as May 2024. In advance of cattle auctions, Lutz and his co-conspirators agreed which company would win the bid. During the sales, the agreed-upon losing firm would either not bid or would submit an intentionally-losing bid before bowing out to permit the agreed-upon winner to prevail. Through the efforts of Lutz and his co-conspirators, Lutz’s employer was able to acquire cattle worth over $1.6 million through rigged sales.
Bovine artificial insemination firms produce, market, and sell bovine semen for artificial insemination, research, and genomics. As part of their business, such firms purchase cattle from third parties, including through competitive public auctions, either for the direct production of semen for sale or to develop animals for future production.
“The tireless work of our Nation’s ranchers and farmers is essential to everyday affordability for all Americans,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “This Department of Justice will never stand for collusion that cheats hardworking, honest producers and raises prices for American families putting food on the table. Collusion and bid rigging is criminal, and we will prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Collusion in the agricultural industry ultimately leads to higher food prices for consumers,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division is dedicated to stamping out such collusion and prosecuting those responsible, thereby ensuring that our food supply remains affordable and plentiful for all Americans.”
“Bid rigging harms not only consumers, but also hard-working ranchers and farmers who are cheated out of competitive prices for their cattle,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Salvador Gonzalez of the Agriculture Department’s Office of Inspector General Midwest Field Office. “We will continue to work alongside our partners at the Antitrust Division to safeguard the rural way of life from corporate greed.”
Lutz is the first defendant to be charged and to plead guilty in the ongoing investigation into bid rigging in the bovine artificial insemination industry. Lutz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rig bids in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office is prosecuting the case, which was investigated with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation, or other antitrust and competition crimes, should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center by visiting www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
August Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Adrian Barrera Quiroz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Barrera Quiroz, 42, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2007 and three times in 2016. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-298
Levante Ladaniel Brewer. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Brewer, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-290
Jaleen Larenz Brown. Receipt of a Firearm While Under Indictment. Brown, 25, of Broken Arrow, is charged with receiving a firearm and ammunition knowing that it was unlawful to possess while under indictment for illegally possessing a machinegun. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Broken Arrow Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-289
David Wayne Burks, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Burks, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muskogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-296
Toan Chu. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Chu, 56, a Vietnamese national, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from December 2025 through April 2026. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-288
Derick Jean Davis. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Davis, 48, of Salina, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-124
Abraham Mendez Mendez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Mendez Mendez, 21, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2024. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-267
Terrance Dujuan Reed. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse in Indian Country; Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Reed, 34, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with kidnapping the victim and assaulting her with the intent to commit sexual abuse. He is further charged with aggravated sexual abuse and with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-287
Jesse Charles Ryan. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Ryan, 44, of Locust Grove, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm while drug trafficking and possessing a firearm knowing it was unlawful as a felon to possess a firearm. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and Stephen Flynn are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-286
Heatherlee Jade Smith. Wire Fraud (Count 1); Unlawful Monetary Transactions (Counts 2 through 6); Willfully Making and Subscribing a False Federal Income Tax Return (Counts 7 & 8). Smith, 34, of Skiatook, is charged with fraudulently directing at least $237,559.06 in payments from a law firm’s client to accounts she controlled. Smith made at least five financial transactions that were designed to conceal her unlawful activity. Lastly, Smith is charged with failing to report all her taxable income in 2021 and 2022. The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, and the Skiatook Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Whipple is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-285
Martin Villicana Lopez; Haley Nicole Adair. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 & 5); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 3); Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Count 4). Villicana Lopez, 40, of Tulsa and a naturalized citizen of Mexico, and Adair, 28, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. They are also charged with two counts of knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Additionally, Villicana Lopez knowingly possessed a firearm while drug trafficking and possessed a firearm, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore, Valeria Luster, and Jorge Diaz-Guma is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-284
Atlanta's "Master of Disguise" Faces Federal Charges for Nearly a Dozen Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Tracy Daryl Mingo, who came to be known as a “master of disguise,” was arraigned today on federal charges after he allegedly robbed ten Atlanta-area businesses at gunpoint from October 2025 to January 2026.
“During his months-long reign of terror, Mingo allegedly endangered the lives of more than a dozen store employees across ten different locations by robbing them at gunpoint,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “I am proud of the collaborative efforts of the FBI and our local police partners to identify Mingo and arrest him before anyone was seriously hurt.”
“For months, Mingo allegedly used disguises in an attempt to evade identification and continue targeting innocent workers at gunpoint. He underestimated the determination of the investigators pursuing him and the strength of the partnerships that exist between the FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Together, we shared information across jurisdictions, followed the evidence, and stopped an individual accused of threatening communities throughout metro Atlanta.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between October 20, 2025 and January 1, 2026, Mingo allegedly robbed ten Circle K, Subway, and Family Dollar stores in the Atlanta-area cities of College Park, Decatur, East Point, Fairburn, Marietta, and Union City. In each of these incidents, Mingo allegedly entered the store late at night, after all or nearly all customers had left, and then robbed store employees at gunpoint. Mingo allegedly wore different disguises during the robberies, including dressing as a construction worker, health care professional, and security guard.
The FBI and local law enforcement partners found and arrested Mingo on January 2, 2026, when it appeared he was putting on the same security guard disguise used during the robbery of a Circle K store the night before. News of Mingo’s arrest and his methods for committing the robberies led to some media outlets calling him a “master of disguise.”
Today, Tracy Daryl Mingo, 33, of College Park, Georgia, appeared in federal court to face twenty total counts of Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after a grand jury returned an indictment on July 28, 2026. If convicted of these charges, Mingo would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 63 years of imprisonment. He is detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the College Park Police Department, DeKalb County Police Department, East Point Police Department, Fairburn Police Department, Marietta Police Department, and Union City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Wylly is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Arrests, Seizures, and Federal Firearms Charges Surge in Oakland Through Coordinated Federal-Local Law Enforcement EffortsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners announced today the results of a surge in federal firearm enforcement measures in Oakland. From March 2026 to July 2026, coordinated federal and local law enforcement efforts resulted in the seizure of 76 illegally possessed firearms. Over the same period, the U.S. Attorney’s Office brought federal criminal charges against 51 defendants.
“The people of Oakland deserve peace in their daily lives. Working with our federal, state, and local partners, we took dozens of dangerous, armed felons off the street and made Oakland a safer place to live,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Rest assured that our work is not done. To the residents of Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, and the many great cities in Northern California, we will do everything we can to make our communities safer. And to the offenders out there, if you illegally carry a firearm, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
“The violent crime initiative was formed as a collaborative effort to address violent crime and illegal possessors of firearms in Alameda County with a focus on the city of Oakland,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge John Wester. “There were multiple arrests made in connection with this initiative. One case we can highlight is the Oakland nightclub shooting. That shooting resulted in two people being killed. Through this initiative, one of the individuals involved in that shootout, who is also a prohibited person, was charged.”
“Ensuring our community’s safety from gun violence requires collaboration,” said Oakland Police Assistant Chief Casey Johnson. “We appreciate our law enforcement partners for providing the resources and intelligence needed to hold 51 violent offenders accountable and remove illegal firearms from our streets. The Oakland Police Department is grateful for the teamwork that helps protect our residents, businesses, and visitors."
“Federal, state, and local teamwork is the reason this surge delivered results. By working side by side with the Oakland Police Department and our state and federal law enforcement partners, we were able to identify and target the individuals driving gun violence in Oakland” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble. “Together, we helped seize 76 illegally possessed firearms and supported federal charges against 51 defendants during this initiative. Our shared commitment to intelligence driven enforcement and community safety is making a measurable difference. The FBI San Francisco division will continue to stand with our partners to reduce violence and protect the people of Oakland.”
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Examples of recently charged federal firearms cases include:
- Jarvis Toussaint, 40, was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), for allegedly engaging in a shootout in a crowded downtown Oakland nightclub in the early morning of March 7, 2026, in which two people were killed, including a schoolteacher who was shot as she attempted to run from the gunfire. At least five others also suffered gunshot wounds during the incident. Toussaint was charged by complaint on May 8, 2026, and was indicted on May 14, 2026. Case No. 4:26-CR-235-JSW.
- Brice Burford, 25, was charged by complaint with being a prohibited person (having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence) in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9). At the time of his arrest, Burford was being investigated by Oakland Police Department for his alleged involvement in a robbery on the Oakland Blade where he was suspected of engaging in human trafficking. Burford was charged by complaint on March 31, 2026, and pled guilty on July 9, 2026. Sentencing is set before Judge Gonzalez Rogers on October 1, 2026. Case No. 26-CR-00264-YGR.
- Miguel Martinez, 39, was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He was charged by indictment on May 7, 2026, and a change of plea hearing is set before Judge Tigar on August 21, 2026. Case No. 26-CR-00223-JST.
- Kawan Hardy, 33, and Jamonn Blincoe, 32, were charged by complaint with being felons in possession of ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) for their alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on January 23, 2026, in a parking lot that is located across the street from two schools in Oakland. On June 12, 2026, Hardy pled guilty and on July 10, 2026, Blincoe pled guilty. Hardy’s sentencing is set before Judge Tigar on September 11, 2026. Blincoe’s sentencing is set before Judge Tigar on October 16, 2026. Case Nos. 26-CR-00271-JST and 26-CR-00270-JST.
The recent increased operations involved coordination among the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF, the Oakland Police Department, FBI, DEA, the United States Marshals Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Oakland Housing Authority, and the California Highway Patrol’s Golden Gate Division. Additional operations are planned in the coming months.
A criminal complaint, information, or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Armed Career Criminal from Memphis Found Guilty a Second Time for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Percy Jackson, of Memphis, Tennessee, who was on federal supervised release after federal convictions for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm in Tennessee, will spend the next 235 months in federal prison for committing the same crime, this time in Arkansas. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
A federal grand jury indicted Jackson, 41, on June 6, 2024, charging him with three counts: being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. A three-day trial was held before Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker. After deliberating approximately three hours, the federal jury returned a guilty verdict on count one, felon in possession of a firearm.
In addition to the 235-month sentence, Chief Judge Baker also sentenced Jackson to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Jackson was released from federal prison on September 28, 2022, after serving his prior 15-year federal sentence for illegally possessing guns. The evidence at trial revealed that on October 10, 2023, West Memphis Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on a car driven by Jackson for having a defective brake light and expired tags. Jackson was the only occupant of the vehicle and appeared nervous and sweating when questioned by law enforcement officers. Jackson was removed from the vehicle and law enforcement officers conducted a search of the vehicle. During the search, under the driver’s seat officers located a loaded Ruger 9mm firearm that had been previously reported stolen. A baggie with pills that contained fentanyl was found in the glove compartment.
At the time of this incident, Jackson was on supervised release with the Western District of Tennessee for his felon in possession of a firearm conviction.
Because of his violent criminal history, Jackson is classified as an armed career criminal. Jackson’s past criminal history includes five convictions for aggravated robbery, a conviction for attempted aggravated robbery, a conviction for facilitation of especially aggravated robbery, and the previous convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the West Memphis Police Department and the Second Judicial Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Eldridge.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Ajo Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Eric Garcia, 31, of Tucson, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 19 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Garcia previously pleaded guilty to one count of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child.
The investigation revealed that on an unknown date between November 11, 2014, and November 11, 2016, Garcia, an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, had sexual contact with a child under the age of 12 on the Tohono O’odham Nation near Hickiwan, Arizona.
The Tohono O’odham Police Department and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Cassell, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-5231-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-133_Garcia# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.73-Year-Old Cape Coral Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening to Kill ICE OfficersRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Joseph Rocco Giancola (73, Cape Coral) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek to six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for making interstate communications of threats to injure. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Giancola pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026.
According to court records, on August 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) identified true threats to injure ICE agents posted on the social media platform BlueSky by user @caindelonbsky.social. Additional investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents identified the user as Joseph Rocco Giancola who posted numerous threats between May and July 2025, including “Just shoot ice to kill”, “Get your guns and kill the ice nazis”, “They come near me and I shoot to kill”, “Band together in neighborhoods, arm the band, and kill these gestapo fucks. A few massacres and they will stop coming”; “Shoot the ICE Nazis down like the rabid dogs they are”; “Let there be blood – MAGA blood and lots of it… We should be shooting down ICE Proud Boys like the rabid dogs they are”; and “I’ll shoot to kill”, among others.
HSI subsequently executed a federal court authorized search warrant on Giancola at his Cape Coral residence on October 30, 2025, where they encountered him in his bedroom with an unlocked computer displaying the @caindelonbsky.social BlueSky account on the screen.
At the sentencing hearing, the Court held Giancola accountable for making more than two true threats against official victims on account of the victim’s employment status.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Cape Coral Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Redavid.
Wednesday 5 August 2026
United States Attorney’s Office Sues State College Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation in HousingRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today it filed a lawsuit against Venkatachalam Mani, a landlord in State College, Pennsylvania, for sexually harassing his female tenant and then retaliating against her when she refused his sexual advances, in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The tenant filed a complaint against Mr. Mani with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After an investigation, HUD determined that Mr. Mani discriminated against the applicant in violation of the Fair Housing Act and issued a charge of discrimination. After the tenant chose to have the matter decided in federal court, HUD referred the matter to the Department of Justice. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate the tenant and her children and a court order barring future discrimination.
The lawsuit alleges Mr. Mani made sexual advances toward his tenant; she rejected the advances; he sexually assaulted her; and then he engaged in months long retaliation by showing up at the leased property uninvited and failing to complete required maintenance on the property. The lawsuit also alleges that Mr. Mani’s refusal to fix a furnace after his tenant rejected his advances caused the tenant to be without heat in freezing cold temperatures and move out of the home when the furnace eventually caught fire.
“This lawsuit involves a landlord who failed to fix a tenant’s furnace despite freezing temperatures because she refused his sexual advances, forcing her family to move out even though they did not have another place to live,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This conduct is immoral and unlawful. The Justice Department will continue to uphold the rights of female tenants to housing without the threat of sexual harassment by a landlord.”
“Attempts to exploit tenants for sexual favors, sexual assault, and retaliation by landlords will never be tolerated in the Middle District of Pennsylvania,” said U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller.
If you are a victim of sexual harassment by a landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This case is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers, and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 53 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered approximately $19 million for victims of such harassment. Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violation to the office’s Civil Rights Coordinator by calling 717-614-4911 or email [email protected].
Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Butler represents the government in this lawsuit.
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U.S. Attorney's Office joins law enforcement, community leaders, and residents for National Night Out events in KansasRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) is again participating in National Night Out events alongside law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions of people take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities. The outreach events are held in August in most areas of the country.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office prioritizes participation in National Night Out because these event are opportunities for meaningful interaction with the public that help foster trust and strengthen relationships,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “This year we will be in Derby and Topeka. In previous years, we’ve gone to Gardner, Wichita, Overland Park, and El Dorado where we enjoyed speaking one-on-one with some of our fellow Kansans.”
On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the USAO-KS staff took part in the Derby Police Department’s National Night Out event at High Park. The Outreach Team set up an information table and passed out brochures to visitors on topics like about how to spot and avoid financial scams, resources for victims of crime, and the dangers of fentanyl use.
USAO-KS will be at the 2026 City of Topeka National Night Out Community Resource Expo on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization, administers the program.Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out brings police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, safety demonstrations, youth events, and more. National Night Out sends a message of unity that says by working together, neighbors can keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Joins Communities Across Massachusetts for National Night OutRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts participated in National Night Out events in communities across the Commonwealth. The annual campaign brings together law enforcement, community organizations and residents to strengthen relationships and promote safer neighborhoods.
National Night Out is held each year on the first Tuesday in August and is celebrated in thousands of communities across the country through neighborhood gatherings, block parties, cookouts, youth activities, safety demonstrations and other events.
“The work of keeping our communities safe extends far beyond the courtroom. It depends on strong partnerships between law enforcement and the people we serve,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “National Night Out is a meaningful opportunity to connect with residents, listen to their concerns and reinforce our shared commitment to safer, stronger communities throughout Massachusetts.”
National Night Out is coordinated locally by law enforcement agencies and community volunteers and encourages meaningful engagement between residents and the public safety professionals who serve them. In the District of Massachusetts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office participated in National Night Out events in cities and towns across the state.
Established in 1984 with support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the U.S. Department of Justice, National Night Out is administered by the National Association of Town Watch.
For more information about National Night Out, visit www.natw.org.
U.S. Attorney Announces District Election Officer to Ensure Voting Integrity in West TennesseeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Will Crow will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee for the upcoming general and primary elections on August 6, 2026.
United States Attorney Dunavant said, "Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process."
In this capacity, DEO Crow will be responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
DEO Crow will be on duty while the polls are open to respond to complaints and concerns during the upcoming election and ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities. He can be reached by phone at 901-544-4231.
In addition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will have special agents available throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The Nashville Division of the FBI, which covers the entire state of Tennessee, can be reached by the public at 865-544-0751.
However, if you witness a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying, and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Anyone with specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud should make that information available to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
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Two Illegal Aliens from Honduras Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking Following Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Olver Anacleto Amador-Calderon, 24, and Alexander Josue Viatoro-Arita, 22, both illegal aliens from Honduras, were sentenced to prison yesterday for trafficking fentanyl, following an investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Amador-Calderon was ordered to serve 14 years in prison, and Viatoro-Arita was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Following the completion of their prison sentences, both defendants will be deported. The defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
“These defendants entered our country illegally and fueled the distribution of deadly fentanyl while armed with stolen firearms. They will serve time in an American prison before they are deported, and we will continue our fight to completely eliminate fentanyl from our community,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, in January 2025, Viatoro-Arita sold 24.99 grams of fentanyl to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. Later the same day, investigators arrived at the hotel where the defendants were staying. Investigators searched the hotel room, where they recovered more than 330 grams of fentanyl, approximately $33,000 in cash, and two ledgers documenting drug sales. The ledgers documented approximately $159,400 in drug transactions between December 2024 and January 2025, totaling 11.665 kilograms of fentanyl and just under 3.3 kilograms of methamphetamine. In addition, investigators recovered firearms concealed in the defendants’ waistbands. Amador-Calderon possessed a .380 caliber Titan pistol, and Viatoro-Arita possessed a stolen 9mm Taurus pistol with a partially obliterated serial number.
The defendants are currently in federal custody. They will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.
The investigation was handled by the FBI, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and the Gastonia Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) is an initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF CORE 23 (Charlotte) is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshal Service (USMS), United States Customers and Border Protection (CBP), United States ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), the Naval Criminal investigative Service (NCIS), the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FIDC) Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), the North Carolina Insurance Bureau, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Raleigh Police Department, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, the Cary Police Department, the Nash Count Sheriff’s Office, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, the Halifax County Sheriff’s office, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, the Brunswick Count Sheriff’s Office, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilmington Police Department, the Nags Head Police Department, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS), the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the Kannapolis Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Waxhaw Police Department, the Gaston County Police Department, the Gastonia Police Department, the Huntersville Police Department, the Cornelius Police Department, the Matthews Police Department, the Pineville Police Department, the Stallings Police Department, the Kings Mountain Police Department, the Greensville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) International Airport Police Department, the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the Anderson City Police Department, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston County Airport Police Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Summerville Police Department, the Greensboro Police Department, the Winston-Salem Police Department, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the Alamance County Sheriff’s office, the Davie County Sheriff’s Office, the Eden Police Department, the Piedmont Triad Internal Airport Police Department, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Districts of North and South Carolina.
Texas Physician Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Operating a Houston-Area Pill MillRead the Press Release
A Texas physician was sentenced yesterday to 12.5 years in prison for operating her Kingwood medical clinic as an illegal pill mill that issued prescriptions for over 3 million opioid pills.
According to court documents, Maryam Qayum, M.D., 68, of Montgomery County, Texas, owned, operated, and was the sole prescriber at Recare Health Clinic (Recare). Qayum operated Recare as a cash-only pill-mill, selling controlled substance prescriptions to street-level drug dealers who were referred to at Recare as “providers.” “Providers” purchased prescriptions for high strength, highly addictive opioids oxycodone and hydrocodone. Qayum issued these prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose, and often without ever interacting with the patient. According to court documents, Qayum issued prescriptions for more than 3 million opioid pills between 2022 and 2025, when her clinic was shut down by law enforcement.
Court documents detail how Recare, like many pill-mill clinics, operated well outside the course of a normal medical practice, including charging more for prescriptions for drugs with higher street value. A prescription for oxycodone 30mg cost as much as $500, while hydrocodone prescriptions were often $300, and Recare’s staff frequently took “tips” from drug dealers to fast track their patients and prescriptions. The following note listing the cash price for each prescription was seized when law enforcement executed a search warrant at Recare.
Note seized from Qayum’s clinic showing cash prices for control substance prescriptionsIn March 2026, Qayum pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.
In addition to Qayum, four other defendants were previously sentenced in this case:
- Melvin Sampson, 56, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 210 months in prison in June 2026. In March 2026, Sampson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. Sampson was a street-level drug dealer who brought patients to Recare, filled prescriptions at Surge Rx and elsewhere, and resold the drugs he obtained on the black market.
- Tomi-Ko Bowers, APRN, 71, of Cleveland, Texas, was sentenced to 96 months in prison in June 2026. In March 2026, Bowers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and was a nurse practitioner at Recare.
- Lester Stokes, 38, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 63 months in prison in June 2026. In March 2026, Stokes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and was Recare’s security guard.
- Jared Williams, RPh, 49, of Pearland, Texas, was sentenced to 42 months in prison in July 2026. In March 2026, Williams pleaded guilty to unlawfully distributing a controlled substance and was the owner and pharmacist in charge at Surge Rx, which filled illegitimate prescriptions issued by Qayum.
DEA and the Conroe Police Department investigated the case.
Acting Assistant Chief Devon Helfmeyer and Trial Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Alum for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offenses and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Amontea Allen John Mitchell, 28, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the continued vigilance of our state and federal law enforcement partners to stay one step ahead of the sexual predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize kids online. Aggressively prosecuting these sick individuals and ensuring they remain locked away in prison is the best way we can ensure our kids stay safe.”
Court documents reflect that in April 2026, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tallahassee Police Department conducted an undercover operation to identify individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, Mitchell responded to an online advertisement for a female escort and began communicating through text message with an undercover officer who was posing as a 15-year-old child. After the undercover officer told the defendant he was speaking to a 15-year-old female, the defendant proceeded to send an obscene photograph and asked the child to produce child pornography to send to him. The defendant ultimately expressed an interest in engaging in sex with the child. Law enforcement arrested the defendant near an arranged meeting location. Inside the defendant’s backpack, agents found three condoms and a firearm. Mitchell is a felon with multiple prior felony convictions, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Mitchell faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum of life imprisonment, for the attempted enticement of a minor count; up to a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for the attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor count; and up to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
This case involved a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Emma Schwan is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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.
Taiwan LED Manufacturer Agrees to $5.15M Settlement of False Claims Act and Administrative Allegations of Evading Customs DutiesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, today, that Everlight Electronics, a publicly traded Taiwanese company that manufactures light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and Everlight Americas, its Texas-based subsidiary, agreed to pay the United States $5.15 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act, common law, and the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, by knowingly failing to pay duties owed on LEDs imported from the People’s Republic of China.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the settlement with Executive Assistant Commissioner Susan S. Thomas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Trade.
“Companies that seek to import goods into the United States must comply with customs laws and pay the rightful duties owed,” Hayes said. “As evidenced by this case, we will use all tools available to identify and hold accountable those who commit trade fraud by falsely identifying the country of origin of imported goods to pay lower customs duties than actually owed.”
“Trade fraud undermines the U.S. Government’s ability to collect the proper revenue, hurts legitimate companies, and puts American consumers at risk,” Thomas said. “Trade fraud isn’t a victimless crime, and we work around the clock with our partners to ensure that bad actors face consequences.”
When entering goods into the United States, an importer must declare, among other things, the country of origin of the goods, the classification of the goods, whether the goods are subject to duties, and pay the amount of duties owed. CBP collects applicable duties, including Section 301 tariffs imposed by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Section 301 tariffs protect U.S. industry by imposing trade sanctions on foreign countries that violate U.S. trade agreements or engage in other unreasonable acts that burden U.S. commerce. During the relevant time period, Chinese-manufactured LEDs were subject to Section 301 tariffs.
The settlement resolves allegations that, from July 2018, through January 2022, Everlight knowingly misrepresented the country of origin on Chinese-manufactured LEDs. More specifically, the U.S. alleged that Everlight knew these products were manufactured in China, and then transshipped to Taiwan, before shipping them to the U.S. Everlight allegedly misrepresented to CBP that the products originated in Taiwan rather than China to avoid paying applicable Section 301 tariffs. The settlement also resolves allegations that, from January 2022, through November 2025, Everlight continued to import LEDs from Taiwan, some of which were manufactured in China based on the country of origin of the dice of the LED, without further segregating the Chinese-made dice from the Taiwanese-made dice during LED manufacturing.
This civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Tao Wang, a former employee of Everlight. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Relator’s share of the proceeds of the settlement will be $876,146. The qui tam action is captioned United States ex rel. Wang v. Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd., et al., No. TDC-21-cv-1607 (D. Md.).
On Aug. 29, 2025, the Department of Justice launched a cross-agency Trade Fraud Task Force to enhance efforts to combat and prevent trade fraud that deprives the government of vital revenue, threatens critical domestic industries, undermines consumer confidence, and weakens national security. The Task Force augments existing coordination mechanisms within the Department of Justice, leveraging expertise from both the Civil and Criminal Divisions, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, to aggressively pursue enforcement actions against any parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties, as well as smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the American economy. The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to utilize the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended CBP for its work in the investigation and providing critical support through the Electronic Center of Excellence and Expertise and the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel, Baltimore Northeast Region. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tarra DeShields and DOJ Trial Attorney Jennifer Chorpening who handled this case.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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St. Louis Bus Driver Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sex with 12-Year-Old Michigan GirlRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Maria A. Lanahan on Wednesday sentenced a St. Louis bus driver to 15 years in prison for engaging in sex acts with a 12-year-old Michigan girl.
After meeting the victim via social media in 2023, Harold Paul White, now 56, drove to Michigan to pick her up and bring her back to St. Louis. White engaged in illegal sex acts with the minor at his apartment in St. Louis and recorded those acts with a phone. When the victim realized that she had been reported missing, White bought her a bus ticket home.
“This is the second child predator we've sent to federal prison in as many days, underscoring the persistent threat these offenders pose to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Child exploitation is not an isolated problem; it is a daily reality that the FBI and our law enforcement partners confront across the country. Parents need to understand that a child's bedroom is no longer a barrier between them and those who would do them harm. Online platforms give predators constant access to potential victims, making vigilance, communication, and reporting more important than ever.”
White pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in May to one count of interstate travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
The FBI and local police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards prosecuted the case.
Springfield Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Springfield, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford.
Robert Eugene Josh Jr, 65, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and 3 years’ supervised release. 25 months of the sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to a separate case.
According to court documents, in January 2024, Josh Jr. possessed almost three pounds of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. In late January 2024, as part of a larger federal and state investigation, Eugene Police Department officers stopped Josh Jr.’s vehicle and located almost three pounds of methamphetamine. Josh Jr. told the officers he purchased the methamphetamine, was acting as a middleman, and was going to sell it to somebody else for a profit. Josh Jr. was also arrested for a shooting as part of a drug deal gone bad. Josh Jr. was convicted in Marion County Circuit Court of attempted assault I and unlawful use of a weapon. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison related to the shooting.
On May 5, 2026, Josh Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On June 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Josh Jr. with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Eugene Police Department and the Springfield Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Sweet.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
South Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Posting Online Threats Against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Kristi NoemRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami man pleaded guilty Friday to posting online threats targeting Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of State Special Envoy Kristi Noem.
According to court records, Jon Christopher Enriquez, 47, of Miami, used the social media platform X to post multiple public threats targeting Secretary Rubio and Special Envoy Noem on May 27. The threats were made in three separate public posts over the course of the afternoon. Among other things, the posts threatened that both officials would be executed at specific times.
“Threatening to execute public officials is not political speech, it is a federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Enriquez used a public platform to issue repeated, specific threats against Secretary Rubio and Special Envoy Noem. Today’s guilty plea makes clear that those who attempt to terrorize public servants or intimidate them through threats of violence will be swiftly identified, prosecuted, and held accountable.”
“Threatening a Secretary of State or any senior State Department official is a serious federal offense,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and Director of the Diplomatic Security Service Nicholas Collura. “Protecting the people who serve this country is our highest priority, and we will not hesitate to act against anyone who threatens their safety.”
Enriquez pleaded guilty to three counts of transmitting threats through interstate communications. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Diplomatic Security Service is investigating the case, with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the City of Miami Police Department, and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Y. Carré is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-20239.
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Sioux City Man Faces up to 50 Years in Federal Prison After Pleading Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
Gabriel Jauregui, age 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty August 5, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. Jauregui was previously convicted of attempt to entice a minor in the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County in 2020.
At the plea hearing, Jauregui admitted that between July 15, 2024, and August 20, 2025, Jauregui sexually exploited a sixteen-year-old child. A review of the minor victim’s phone revealed messages relating to drugs and sexual acts between Jauregui and the minor. Officers also located videos and photographs of nudity involving both parties. Jauregui filmed himself engaging in sex acts with the minor on his phone and then sent the videos to the minor. A forensic review showed that the material was sent from the phone number Jauregui had registered with the sex offender registry. Jauregui also forcibly injected the minor with methamphetamine. The minor discussed their active addiction to methamphetamine while exchanging images and videos with Jauregui. The videos contained material that depicted sadistic or masochistic conduct, or other depictions of violence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Jauregui remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Jauregui faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and is being 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 25-4051.
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Sanostee Woman Pleads to 2022 AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Sanostee woman pleaded guilty in federal court to using a rifle to seriously injure one individual and threaten another during an August 2022 incident.
According to court documents, on August 20, 2022, Leticia Washburn, 42, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, retrieved a rifle during an argument and threatened two individuals with the weapon. During the confrontation, she discharged the rifle, striking one victim in the abdomen and causing serious bodily injury.
Washburn pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. At sentencing, she faces no less than seven years and up to life in prison followed by up to five years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.
San Francisco Woman Convicted of Selling Counterfeit Native American JewelryRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A woman convicted of selling counterfeit Native American jewelry was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine yesterday in federal court.
Molly Breivis, 57, of San Francisco, California, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Alison Bachus to time served in addition to the fine. Breivis pleaded guilty on the same day to Misrepresentation of Indian Produced Goods of Less Than $1,000. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Breivis agreed to issue a public letter of apology to the Native America community that will be published on the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB) website.
Breivis fraudulently sold Native American jewelry online between approximately 2020 and 2024 on her eBay store. She claimed the jewelry was produced by Apache, Laguna, Navajo, or Zuni artists. Breivis, however, imported the jewelry from Asia and it was not produced by Native American artists. Breivis received two warning letters from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the IACB, warning her that selling counterfeit Native American jewelry violated the Indian Arts and Crafts Act but she ignored those warnings. In total, Breivis admitted to selling over $92,000 in counterfeit jewelry. In her letter of apology that will be published on the IACB website, Breivis wrote, “I recognize that my conduct harmed customers and affected Native American artists, artisans, and businesses that depend on the sale of authentic work. I understand that it also undermined confidence in the market for authentic Native American jewelry.”
“The deliberate misrepresentation and sale of counterfeit Native American jewelry, as seen in this case, inflicts real harm on both the marketplace and the cultural heritage of Native American artists and tribes,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “These fraudulent practices deceive consumers and undermine the economic wellbeing of Native American communities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, remains steadfast in investigating Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations. Our dedicated team of special agents works tirelessly to protect the integrity and authenticity of Native American art, ensuring that artists and tribes are recognized and respected for their genuine craftsmanship.”
“By statute, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, is responsible for administering and enforcing the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a truth-in-marketing law intended to remove counterfeit Indian art from the marketplace to protect Indian artists, economies, and cultures, as well as consumers nationwide,” said Indian Arts and Crafts Board Director Meridith Stanton. “By selling imported jewelry from Asia misrepresented as authentic Apache, Laguna, Navajo, and Zuni jewelry through her eBay store, Breivis undercut the livelihoods and traditions of these Tribes and the integrity of their artists’ creative work and defrauded vulnerable customers. We thank the Office of the U.S. Attorney-District of Arizona and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service IACA Investigative Unit for their diligent work on this case.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aron Ketchel, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-26-00846-PHX-ASB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-132_Breivis# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Salvadoran national pleads guilty to illegally reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – An illegal alien from El Salvador pled guilty today to illegally reentering the United States after multiple previous removals.
According to court documents, on Oct. 6, 2015, Salvadoran national Luis Antonio Tejada-Santamaria was arrested for illegally entering the United States. Following his conviction, Tejada-Santamaria was deported on Jan. 13, 2016. On April 1, 2016, Tejada-Santamaria was arrested for illegally reentry, and on May 18, 2016, was again removed from the United States.
On Nov. 2, 2024, Tejada-Santamaria was arrested in Chesterfield County for assault on law enforcement and obstruction, and he was convicted of the latter in the Chesterfield County court.
Tejada-Santamaria is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24. He faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison and remains subject to the previous order of removal. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C., made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Joseph McGorman and Angela Mastandrea 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.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-42.
Rhode Island Department of Human Services Supervisor Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island Department of Human Services (RI-DHS) supervisor has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges stemming from her misuse of her official position to improperly access and exploit the personal information and benefits of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.
On August 4, 2026, Nadine Jean Baptiste, 59, of Warwick, admitted to repeatedly accessing SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card information, conducting unauthorized telephonic balance inquiries, and altering PIN numbers associated with those cards. Many of the affected individuals were juveniles, homeless, or incarcerated at the time their information was accessed.
In total, EBT cards containing more than $300,000 in SNAP benefits were improperly accessed. It is further alleged that Jean Baptiste and her daughter used fraudulently accessed SNAP benefits to make personal purchases.
The investigation began in September 2023 after the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit received multiple complaints from SNAP recipients through its Fraud Hotline, reporting that they never received the EBT cards issued to them. SNAP cards are typically mailed to a recipient’s address or provided in person at a DHS office, including to homeless individuals who pick them up onsite.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Moreira.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, and Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit and Program Integrity- Fraud Detection & Prevention Unit. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Warwick Police Department, Providence Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.
Repeat Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation ChargeRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – James Baker, 37, of Dickson, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on July 27, 2026, to receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee.
According to court documents, in August 2024, the FBI received information that Baker was communicating through the social media application Kik with an undercover law enforcement employee who was posing as the father of an 11-year-old girl. During those communications, Baker claimed that he was sexually abusing his own teenage daughter and offered advice about abusing the purported 11-year-old. Baker also transmitted sexually explicit images that he falsely claimed depicted his daughter although Baker did not have a daughter. He later admitted that he had obtained the images online and did not know the individual depicted.
“After already being released from state prison for a child exploitation offense, this defendant was found to have child sexual abuse material on his cell phone,” said U.S. Attorney Boucek. “Those who target children will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable. Our office will continue using every available federal law-enforcement resource to protect children from exploitation.”
“This case serves as a reminder of the dangers sexual predators, especially repeat offenders, pose to the most vulnerable every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “I am proud of the diligent work of the FBI Clarksville Resident Agency and partners whose vigilance and thorough oversight were key to uncovering Baker’s latest offenses. The FBI is committed to finding predators like him and bringing them to justice while also ensuring those they’ve victimized are safe and well-supported.”
Emergency disclosure information obtained from Kik, and other service providers identified Baker as the person operating the account. In September 2024, FBI agents interviewed Baker and seized his cellphone. Baker admitted that he had communicated with the undercover employee and that his phone had contained child sexual abuse material.
A court-authorized forensic examination of the cellphone identified images and videos of child sexual abuse, including material involving prepubescent children, which led to Baker’s indictment for receipt of child pornography.
Baker was a registered sex offender at the time of the federal offenses. In March 2020, he pleaded guilty in Dickson County to sexual exploitation of a minor and was sentenced to six years in state prison. Baker was released from state custody in March 2024.
Baker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and forfeiture. A federal district court judge will determine Baker’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for November 9, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Eli J. Richardson. Baker was ordered to remain detained pending sentencing.
The FBI’s Clarksville Resident Agency investigated the case with assistance from the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison is prosecuting the case.
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Repeat Narcotics Dealer Found Guilty by Federal Jury in Distributing PCP at a Southwest D.C. Rec CenterRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jermaine Fairnot, 46, a three-time convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was found guilty in U.S. District Court today of his fourth felony in connection with intending to deal narcotics out of his car in the parking lot of a recreation center in Southwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Jermaine Fairnot is a repeat offender who chose to possess PCP while armed with a loaded gun just feet from a children's playground,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today a federal jury found him guilty on all counts, and now he's facing a mandatory minimum of 25 years in federal prison, which is exactly where career criminals like Fairnot belong.”
Following a four-day trial, the federal jury deliberated for approximately six hours and found Fairnot guilty of two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of unlawful possession with intent to distribute PCP, and unlawful possession of PCP with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a playground. Chief Judge James E. Boasberg scheduled sentencing for Nov. 24, 2026.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Metropolitan Police Department officers on Oct. 14, 2022, were on patrol at the King Greenleaf Recreation Center in Southwest Washington when they encountered a group of men standing around a Toyota Camry registered to Fairnot.
Upon arrival of MPD, the men dispersed. Officers got out of their vehicle and shone their flashlights into the Camry, illuminating the barrel of a handgun protruding from under the driver’s seat. Police recovered a loaded Smith and Wesson semiautomatic pistol, roughly four ounces of PCP, and 56 empty vials.
A few weeks later, on Nov. 9, 2022, law enforcement executed a warrant for Fairnot’s arrest while he was meeting with his probation officer at the courthouse. Officers seized Fairnot’s car keys and called in a canine unit to conduct a sweep of his Camry in a nearby parking lot. The dogs indicated the presence of firearms or ammunition and officers uncovered 4.85 grams of cocaine base, three vials filled with approximately 30 grams of PCP, empty glass vials, a scale, and a loaded Glock semiautomatic pistol. Officers also recovered mail, receipts, and a vehicle registration card belonging to Fairnot.
Fairnot subsequently was indicted on two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute (PWID) PCP, one count of PWID PCP within 1,000 feet of a playground, one count of PWID cocaine, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense.
Fairnot has three prior narcotics convictions for which he was sentenced to terms of more than a year and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Helfand and Joshua Satter.
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Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Commanding the Exploitation of a Then-Four-Year-Old Child in New Jersey and Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Texas man was sentenced in United States District Court to 25 years in prison in connection with the exploitation of a child and production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
“Crimes against children strike at the heart of our communities, and the exploitation of a child is among the most disturbing crimes we encounter. This case is particularly egregious because it involved a man directing and commanding a mother to abuse her own four-year-old child and then capture those images in video recordings. Particularly troubling is the fact that this defendant was already a registered sex offender. The children of our state deserve to be protected. Our Office is committed to holding accountable anyone who exploits children, whether they abuse a child directly or direct others to do so. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: Those who prey on children will be identified, prosecuted, and held fully accountable for the devastating harm they cause.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
Russell Lynn Davis, Jr., 48, of Texas previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court to conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and receipt of child pornography. Judge Kiel imposed the sentence today.
According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in Court:
Between June and August 2021, Davis received at least fourteen videos from a female based in New Jersey who engaged in sexual contact with her then-four-year-old child and then produced and sent those videos to Davis. Law enforcement’s review of messages between Davis and the abuser revealed that Davis had directed and commanded the abuser in committing specific sexual acts against the child. Davis is a registered sex offender.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Kiel also sentenced Davis to 10 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the Criminal Division in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Anhtony Iacullo, Esq.
Registered Sex Offender from Rhode Island Arrested for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man has been arrested and charged in connection with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Frank DeCaro, 47, of Westerly, R.I., was charged with one count of possession of child pornography. DeCaro was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston at 1 p.m. today.
According to the charging documents, DeCaro is a registered sex offender following a 2014 conviction for possession of CSAM in Rhode Island state court, for which he received a probationary sentence. In November 2025, DeCaro was stopped at Boston Logan Airport attempting to enter the country from an international trip to Italy. During a subsequent search, multiple images and videos depicting CSAM were allegedly discovered on DeCaro’s phone.
The charge of possession of child pornography after a previous similar offense provides for a sentence of no less 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five 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; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Jennifer B. De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Rhode Island State Police and the Westerly (R.I.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Prior sex offender arrested on new child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James Mitchell, 40, of Gowanda, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt, distribution and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 19, 2026, the New York State Police responded to Mitchell’s Broadway Road residence in Gowanda, after receiving information that he allegedly possessed child pornography on his cellular phone. The information came from an individual (Informant) who is part of an online organization, not affiliated with law enforcement, performing volunteer activities to identify child abusers on the internet. Law enforcement received information that Mitchell engaged in sexually explicit communications over TELEGRAM (an encrypted communications application) with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old boy. During these conversations, Mitchell discussed plans to meet the 13-year-old to engage in sexual acts in Fredonia and Amherst, NY.
Law enforcement seized Mitchell’s cellphone. A subsequent search recovered numerous videos containing child pornography. In addition, investigators located a conversation on Telegram with an unidentified user, during which Mitchell stated: “Lol. I prefere 11+, so most the stuff I have is in the 11-17 range,” indicating that he primarily had a sexual interest in children ages 11 to 17 and that he possessed child pornography depicting 11-to-17-year-old children. Mitchell exchanged approximately 143 videos and/or images depicting child pornography during the conversation. In another conversation, he advised another individual that he had “over 6000” videos of child pornography on a flash drive, but “only like 15 of them are kids and animals.”
Mitchell is a Registered Level 1 sex offender in New York and Indiana following a June 25, 2007, conviction in Cattaraugus County Court for Possessing an Obscene Sexual Perform by Child Less Than 16 Years Old.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug and firearm charges, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Darion Ethridge, 26, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV to one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and heroin and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on June 24, 2021, state and local law enforcement conducted a drug suppression detail in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, after authorities received information that a male operating a black Jeep Cherokee with tinted windows would be bringing 10 bricks of heroin to a hotel. Upon the arrival and parking of the vehicle, a detective positioned his vehicle with lights and siren activated behind the Jeep, exited his vehicle, identified himself as police, and directed the driver to exit. The driver responded by starting his vehicle, reversing the Jeep into the detective’s vehicle, and driving through the parking lot until law enforcement boxed in the Jeep, at which point, the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot, with officers pursuing and arresting the driver.
A search incident to arrest resulted in the seizure of approximately $3,952. From the vehicle, authorities seized 991 bags containing a fentanyl and heroin mixture, a loaded .40 caliber handgun which was determined to have been reported stolen, and a medical marijuana card and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections card both bearing Ethridge’s name. Ethridge had previously been convicted of four felonies in the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for September 14, 2026. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both for the drug trafficking crime and not less than five years and up to life in prison to be served consecutively to the drug trafficking sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, or both on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime count. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the Court ordered Ethridge remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Monroeville Police Department and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ethridge.
Pierce County woman sentenced to federal prison for child pornographyRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, Georgia: A Patterson woman has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to producing sexually explicit images of a child.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Brandy Marie Gill, 43, of Patterson, Georgia, was sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Production of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct. Gill was ordered to pay $5,000 to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance fund and will also be required to register as a sex offender.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Court documents and testimony show that in August 2025, Gill persuaded a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing material to be distributed electronically.
“Every image of child sexual abuse material represents the exploitation and victimization of a real child,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who possess, distribute, or produce CSAM.”
If you are or have information about victims of child exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri A. Stephan and Brad Thompson.
Pflugerville Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding PPP Loan ProgramRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – A Pflugerville woman was sentenced in federal court today to 21 months in prison for submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Loan (PPP) applications, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, on March 10, 2021, Aisha Jackson, 34, doing business as Logo Boosters, submitted a PPP application to a loan processor. The application contained false statements and documentation, including a fabricated voided check stub. Federal agents found that Jackson had opened the bank account reflected on the check stub in her own name but used the stolen social security number of a minor victim. Bank records showed that no checks were written from the account. Further investigation revealed that Jackson used the same victim’s social security number in 2016 to obtain a vehicle loan.
Agents also found that Jackson had submitted a false 2019 Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business, using the business name Logo Boosters, and listing nearly $80,000 in net profit. Jackson did not file a 2019 Form 1040. Jackson received the PPP load deposit of $16,628 on March 15, 2021.
Less than two weeks later, on March 24, 2021, Jackson dba WCS Consulting, submitted another PPP loan application containing false statements and documentation. A review of Jackson’s bank records showed Jackson did not open the bank account until March 16, 2021, and used the same social security number belonging to a minor to open the account. As with her business, Logo Boosters, Jackson provided a false 2019 Schedule C with the business name WCS Consulting, listing a net profit of $53,900, and she did not file a 2019 Form 1040. Jackson completed and signed a PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Form on Oct. 5, 2021, indicating that she had complied with all requirements of the PPP rules.
The total loss to the U.S. Government amounted to $43,980 over three PPP loans received by Jackson. Jackson used the proceeds from her fraudulently received loans to purchase jewelry such as tennis bracelets and necklaces, two Rolex watches and a Cartier Santos watch.
Jackson was arrested on Jan. 15, 2025, and released on bond. On Jan. 13, 2026, she pleaded guilty to one count of false statement on a loan or credit application and one count of theft of government property. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Christopher Wolfe sentenced Jackson to serve 21 months in federal prison and pay the $43,980 in restitution. Judge Wolfe also ordered Jackson to forfeit the fraudulently purchased jewelry.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gloff prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Orlando Men Sentenced for Attempting to Coerce and Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Richard Kowalczyk (46, Windermere) and Eric Patrick (31, Windermere) have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Kowalczyk was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison and Patrick was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Patrick pleaded guilty in February 2026 and Kowalczyk pleaded guilty in April 2026. Both are also required to register as sex offenders. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Kowalczyk and Patrick, who are married, engaged in a sexually graphic conversation online that discussed their interests in minors. In July 2020, Kowalczyk and Patrick attempted to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and share sexually explicit images with them. Kowalczyk also possessed child sexual abuse images and videos, including minors under the age of 12, on his cellphone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Operation Clean Sweep Produces Major Arrests and Seizures in Onondaga CountyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK — Law Enforcement officials announced the results of Operation Clean Sweep – Onondaga County, a major enforcement initiative resulting in several arrests and significant seizures of firearms and narcotics.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in charge New York division Bryan DiGirolamo, Federal Bureau of Investigation Albany Field Office Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam, Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin, Onondaga County Sheriff Tobias Shelley, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James, made the announcement.The success of this operation reflects enhanced cooperation between federal and local law enforcement, working collectively through integrated planning, intelligence sharing, and unified resources to address violent crime in Onondaga County.
Officials highlighted that this level of interagency coordination represents one of the most collaborative enforcement actions undertaken in the county in recent years.
Operation Clean Sweep – Onondaga County Results:
- 13 arrests connected to narcotics distribution and firearm offenses
- 11 kilograms of cocaine seized
- 615 grams of crack cocaine seized
- 365 grams of fentanyl seized
- 3 pounds of methamphetamine seized
- 37 illegally possessed firearms seized
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said, “I want to thank my friend, U.S. Attorney John Sarcone for honoring his commitment to work collaboratively with local law enforcement to keep Syracuse and other communities in the Northern District as safe as possible. In my three decades as District Attorney, this represents the highest level of cooperation we have had with our federal partners. Let this serve as fair warning to those who seek to prey on our community with deadly firearms and narcotics.”
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Today’s results prove that when local law enforcement and local prosecutors, work together with federal law enforcement and federal prosecutors we can make a difference in the community. As a result of this operation, 37 illegal firearms have been removed from our streets—each one representing countless potential lives saved. In addition to significant quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, this operation seized 365 grams of fentanyl. To put that into perspective, 365 grams of fentanyl equates to approximately 180,000 potentially lethal doses. That is enough fentanyl to fatally poison the equivalent of more than four sold‑out crowds at the JMA Wireless Dome.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo said, “Violent crime doesn’t respect agency boundaries, and neither does our response. Operation Clean Sweep reflects what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal partners share intelligence, coordinate enforcement efforts, and pursue the individual’s driving violence in our communities. Together, we’ve removed dozens of illegal firearms, significant quantities of deadly drugs and disrupted criminal networks that threaten public safety. ATF NY remains committed to working alongside our partners to reduce gun violence and ensure those who traffic firearms and drugs are brought to justice. Thanks to the steady partnership with ATF NY Syracuse, Syracuse PD, NYS DOCCS & USAO NDNY.”
"Operation Clean Sweep is a clear example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies come together with a shared mission of protecting our community and holding those who choose to bring violence and dangerous drugs into our neighborhoods accountable. This operation highlights the strength of the partnerships we have built with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. By working together, we are able to identify and disrupt criminal networks, remove dangerous individuals and illegal firearms from our streets, and make a meaningful impact on public safety,” said Chief Mark Rusin, Syracuse Police Department.
“Operation Clean Sweep Onondaga County demonstrates what is possible when law enforcement agencies unite with one mission: protecting our communities from violent drug traffickers and armed criminals,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “The seizure of 37 illegally possessed firearms, along with significant quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl represents more than evidence—it represents lives protected and violence prevented. Every firearm removed from our streets is one less weapon that can be used to intimidate or kill, and every gram of fentanyl seized is another step toward preventing a tragedy. The DEA New York Enforcement Division remains steadfast in our commitment to dismantle the criminal organizations fueling addiction and violence across Central New York.”
FBI Albany Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli said, “Operations like Clean Sweep present the invaluable opportunity for federal, state, and local law enforcement to deliver a unified response to our shared mission of crushing violent crime and protecting our communities. By coming together, we can identify problematic criminals wreaking havoc in our communities, then quickly get to work to leverage our collective resources and hold them accountable. The success of this joint operation is the direct result of that remarkable collaboration. 37 illegal guns and a significant amount of deadly narcotics will never make it into our neighborhoods. FBI Albany remains deeply committed to continuing this important work with our outstanding partners throughout Onondaga County.”New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Disrupting the flow of illegal guns and narcotics and mitigating their source of supply remains a top priority for the State Police. Not only has the success of this operation saved lives, but it has also put an end to the violence associated with these illegal possessions. I commend our State Police members and all law enforcement partners involved for their intelligence, coordination, and expertise in keeping New Yorkers safe.”
"Operation Clean Sweep is about a direct, unwavering commitment to the safety and peace of mind of every resident in Onondaga County. By working shoulder to shoulder with our local and federal partners, we are actively pulling dangerous weapons and illegal drugs off our streets before they can destroy more lives or disrupt our neighborhoods. I want the people of Onondaga County to know, without a doubt, that law enforcement is working diligently in your communities every single day. We are focused, relentless, and unified in our mission to protect your families, restore peace to our streets, and ensure that our county remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Sheriff Tobias Shelley
Today’s announcement underscores the shared commitment of all participating agencies to protect the community, disrupt violent criminal networks, and hold offenders accountable. The arrests and seizures described are at various stages of judicial proceedings. Accordingly, any statements made here constitute allegations only. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.These cases are being investigated by Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, Syracuse Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
Oklahoma Inmate Sentenced to Life in Prison for Coercing South Florida Child to Produce Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MIAMI – An Oklahoma inmate who used a contraband cellphone to sexually exploit and coerce a 12-year-old South Florida child into producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) was sentenced to life in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith imposed the sentence on Jeffrey Allen Holden, 45, after he pleaded guilty to five counts of production of visual depictions involving sexual exploitation of minors and three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
“Even a lengthy prison sentence for rape did not stop Jeffrey Allen Holden from seeking out and sexually exploiting another vulnerable victim,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. “From his prison cell, he used a contraband phone and a false name to manipulate a 12-year-old child into producing CSAM. His life sentence is a just consequence for conduct that was calculated, predatory, and profoundly cruel.”
According to court documents, in October 2024, the mother of a 12-year-old child discovered sexually explicit communications between the child and an individual using the name “Jeremy” on a messaging platform. The communications included text messages, voice recordings, photographs, and videos. Although the child initially told Holden she was 13, she later disclosed that she was 12.
After the mother reported the communications to law enforcement, investigators reviewed the child’s cellphone and discovered CSAM exchanged through direct messages between Holden and the victim. Investigators also found that Holden had sent the child sexually explicit photographs and videos of himself and had persuaded the victim to create sexually explicit content.
Investigators identified Holden through a photograph he sent the victim. At the time, Holden was incarcerated at the Howard McLeod Correctional Facility in Oklahoma, where he was serving a 25-year sentence for rape. A subsequent search of Holden’s prison cell uncovered a contraband cellphone.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille Smith and Vanessa Bonhomme prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-60108.
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Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm Used in Drive-By ShootingRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MARREE KAVON CURRIE, 43, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 144 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on August 22, 2025, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department stopped a vehicle driven by Currie after observing he was not wearing a seatbelt. During the stop, Currie told officers there was a firearm inside the vehicle, which officers recovered. At that time, Currie had numerous prior felony convictions, including convictions in Oklahoma County District Court for:
- malicious injury to property in case number CF-2001-69;
- placing bodily fluids on a government employee in case number CF-2001-70;
- possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, possession of drug proceeds, and destruction of evidence in case number CF-2007-5267; and
- felon in possession of a firearm in case number CF-2022-5350.
Ballistics testing later tied the firearm to a drive-by shooting eight days earlier, during which shots were fired into an occupied residence. Currie’s vehicle was captured by the Flock surveillance system within blocks of the scene several minutes before the shooting, and a digital extraction of his phone showed that it was powered off ten minutes before the shooting and powered back on ten minutes after the shooting, consistent with someone attempting to avoid detection.
At a sentencing hearing on August 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Currie to serve 144 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Russell noted Currie’s disregard for the law and the danger he posed to the public.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Moore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gridley prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Ohio Felon Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Checking Luggage Containing Concealed Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, has been sentenced in federal court to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of possessing a firearm as a felon and carrying a weapon on an aircraft, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Luis Rojas Cay, 29, on July 29, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about April 26, 2024, Rojas Cay was attempting to travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from the Pittsburgh International Airport on a commercial airline when agents discovered in his checked luggage a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun, an unloaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun, an unloaded 40 SW caliber semiautomatic handgun, and approximately 204 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The firearms and ammunition were concealed in packages wrapped in multiple layers of foil-backed tape and contained inside a metal briefcase that was also lined with sheet metal. The briefcase was then placed inside a suitcase that Rojas Cay checked with the airline. Rojas Cay was previously convicted in Kansas on robbery and attempted kidnapping charges. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allegheny County Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rojas Cay.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Nigerian Citizen and Three Other Individuals Sentenced in Connection with a $1.7 Million Money Laundering OperationRead the Press Release
Greensboro, N.C. – Four individuals have been sentenced to imprisonment in connection with a money laundering operation in which the individuals attempted to launder the proceeds of approximately $1.7 million in fraud proceeds, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
According to court documents, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Services (“USPIS”) investigated Adedayo Fateru, a Nigerian citizen and U.S. Permanent Resident, Lisa Farrow, William Atwater, and Victoria Stone for a money laundering ring involving the proceeds of various wire fraud schemes including business email compromises (“BEC”), modified check schemes, false ACH schemes, false applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, and false applications for unemployment benefits. Farrow recruited Stone and Atwater into the conspiracy to work along with Fateru. Farrow and Fateru provided Stone and Atwater directions on opening bank accounts and how to move the fraud proceeds. Farrow and Fateru would also collect portions of the money that Stone or Atwater withdrew from their bank accounts.
Stone opened ten bank accounts and received, across those accounts, approximately $1,036,679 in proceeds from various wire fraud scams, including BECs. Stone was able to withdraw approximately $187,375 by conducting hundreds of smaller transactions, including automated teller machine withdrawals and debit card cash advances designed to move and conceal the fraud proceeds. William Atwater opened numerous bank accounts in his name to receive the proceeds of various wire fraud schemes including, among others, false applications for EIDLs and a BEC scam. In total, Atwater received fraud proceeds of approximately $704,320 into his bank accounts. Atwater was able to withdraw or remove approximately $390,352 by conducting over 150 different transactions designed to move and conceal the fraud proceeds.
Fateru was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Upon completion of his sentence, Fateru will be transferred to ICE custody for removal proceedings in accordance with U.S. immigration law. Farrow was sentenced to 45 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, Atwater was sentenced to 33 months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release, and Stone was sentenced to 25 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the USPIS are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Waid of the Middle District of North Carolina is prosecuting the case.
New Charges and Rewards Announced for the Capture and/or Conviction of Senior Leaders of Notorious Mexican CartelRead the Press Release
Note: Copies of the indictments filed in the District of Columbia can be obtained by clicking on Julio César Montero Pinzón, Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela, Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, and Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez. A copy of the superseding indictment filed in the Eastern District of New York can be found here.
Reward posters of the eight CJNG fugitives can be found in English here and in Spanish here.
Today the Department of Justice, in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and National Coordination Center (NCC) announced new charges of the most-wanted leaders of Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), one of the most prolific and dangerous drug cartels in Mexico. Alongside the indictments, the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) announced more than $100 million in reward offers for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of Juan Carlos Valencia González also known as “Pelón,” 41; Audias Flores Silva also known as “Jardinero,” 45; Julio César Montero Pinzón also known as “Tarjetas,” 44; Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela also known as “La Firma,” 40; Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán also known as “Sapo,” 37; Ricardo Ruiz Velasco also known as “RR” / “Tripa,” 42; Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez also known as “Chorro,” 49; and Griselda Margarita Arredondo Pinzón, 36. These new enforcement actions are part of the NCC Homeland Security Task Force initiative to counter the narco-terrorist cartels that endanger the American people.
“The American people gave us a mandate to keep this country safe, and we will not rest until it is fulfilled,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Today's unsealing of criminal charges against five high-ranking CJNG leaders marks another decisive step in our campaign to dismantle the cartels that have plagued this country for far too long. With these charges now public, and with more than $100 million in State Department rewards for the capture or conviction of eight CJNG fugitives, this administration will use every tool at its disposal to bring these defendants to justice – no matter where they hide.”
“Every day, the Department fights to eradicate CJNG and bring its leaders to justice for the death and destruction they inflict on the American people,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and resolve, we continue to advance our mission to destroy foreign terrorist organizations and prosecute narco-terrorists. We will leave them nowhere to hide.”
“Last year, prosecutors in our Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section and International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section obtained a superseding indictment against two senior leaders and a criminal associate of CJNG in connection with a fraud scheme targeting Americans who owned timeshare properties in Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Thousands of U.S. victims have reported hundreds of millions of dollars in losses attributable to timeshare fraud schemes in Mexico. It is significant that our white-collar prosecutors are teamed with our narcotics prosecutors in this case because increasingly, transnational criminal organizations such as CJNG fund their illicit operations not only through drug trafficking and other forms of street crime, but sophisticated fraud schemes as well. It is our hope that the rewards being announced today will lead to capture of the fugitives so they can face American justice in a federal courtroom. Our prosecutors stand ready to hold them accountable.”
“DEA has never been more focused on dismantling CJNG and bringing its leaders, members, facilitators, and corrupt enablers to justice,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “As one of the world’s largest narco-terrorist organizations, CJNG poses a serious threat to the United States and our international partners. Juan Carlos Valencia González is one of DEA’s Most Wanted fugitives, and today’s coordinated actions demonstrate the full weight of the U.S. government behind this effort.”
“The FBI, alongside our Homeland Security Task Force partners, will systematically dismantle every piece of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “President Trump has given us the authorities we need to annihilate the drug trade and their criminal enterprise into fraud. This foreign terrorist organization’s complex time share fraud scheme stole hundreds of millions of dollars from U.S. citizens and continues to exploit our nation through widespread drug trafficking, money laundering, and systemic violence. This announcement puts the cartel on notice with the full force of the U.S. government committed to cutting off every source of illicit income that fuels this savage cartel.”
“Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación is a violent foreign terrorist organization that threatens the United States through drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, money laundering, fraud, and intimidation,” said HSI Executive Associate Director John Condon. “HSI-led investigations in Arizona and the Carolinas have targeted CJNG’s weapons, money, narcotics, and facilitators. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI will continue working with federal, state, local, and international partners to follow the evidence, follow the money, and dismantle the networks that enable CJNG to harm American communities.”
“CJNG’s criminal enterprise has exploited financial systems and defrauded thousands of Americans, fueling violence and narcoterrorism across borders,” said Deputy Chief Gary Shapley of IRS-CI. “IRS-CI is committed to dismantling these networks — tracking illicit proceeds, exposing fraud, and holding cartel leaders accountable. Today’s coordinated action demonstrates the power of U.S. law enforcement partnerships and our resolve to protect the American public from the devastating impact of transnational crime. We will continue to pursue those who threaten our communities, wherever they operate.”
“CBP in close coordination with our federal and international law enforcement partners, supported critical actions in support of this investigation,” said Executive Assistant Commissioner Diane J. Sabatino of CBP’s Office of Field Operations (OFO). “CBP officers through targeted inspection and information sharing contributed to the direct action taken against the CJNG drug traffickers and money laundering subjects. This operation reflects OFO’s commitment to disrupting transnational criminal organizations, protecting the public, and helping ensure that those who enable money laundering and fraud schemes are held accountable.”
“The Department of State, together with our U.S. law enforcement partners, will continue to safeguard our nation, the American people, and our Hemisphere from the violence and terror inflicted by CJNG,” said INL Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador Michael C. Gonzales. “We will use every tool at our disposal to hunt down, dismantle, and destroy these ruthless foreign terrorist organizations and defend America from the violence and drugs that have torn apart our families and communities.”
CJNG produces and traffics multi-tonnage quantities of drugs, including cocaine and methamphetamine, into the United States, and uses extreme violence to further its operations. On Feb. 20, 2025, the State Department designated CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization. About a year later, in February 2026, CJNG’s notorious top leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” was killed during a Mexican military operation. According to court filings, Valencia González assumed the role of CJNG’s top leader following El Mencho’s death.
Increased Rewards Announced
The Department of Justice previously unsealed a federal indictment charging Valencia González with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for unlawful importation into the United States, as well as use of firearms, one of which was a machinegun, during and in relation to the charged drug trafficking crime. Valencia González is El Mencho’s stepson, who reportedly organized numerous crimes of violence as a CJNG leader, in addition to manufacturing, transporting, and distributing tonnage quantities of narcotics. The State Department announced today the newly increased reward of up to $25 million for information leading to Valencia González’s arrest and/or conviction.
The superseding indictment against Flores Silva was originally unsealed in May 2026, charging him with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine destined for the United States, use of firearms, one of which was a destructive device, in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime, and money laundering conspiracy. Flores Silva, a high-ranking member of the CJNG, was arrested in Mexico in April 2026. The State Department announced today the newly increased reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Flores Silva’s conviction.
If convicted of these charges, which were filed in the District of Columbia, Valencia González and Flores Silva face up to two consecutive life prison terms.
New Charges and Rewards Announced
The Department of Justice also announced the recent unsealing of criminal charges against five additional senior CJNG leaders.
According to court filings, at El Mencho’s direction, Montero Pinzón and Rivera Varela founded and led a group of highly trained and heavily armed sicarios, or hitmen, known as the “Grupo Elite.” The Grupo Elite allegedly acts as the CJNG’s enforcement arm to further CJNG’s drug trafficking operations, including by overseeing CJNG territories and murdering public officials and rival cartel members. As alleged, the Grupo Elite ran infamous training camps, wherein recruits learned weapons handling, such as the use of rocket launchers, .50-caliber machineguns, and rocket-propelled grenades, as well as the use of violence and torture to further CJNG’s objectives. Montero Pinzón and Rivera Varela allegedly had over 1,000 personnel reporting to them and ran the Guadalajara Plaza, one of the most important CJNG territories.
The filings allege that Mendoza Gaytán, El Mencho’s godson, procured the majority of the CJNG’s weapons, trained sicarios at CJNG’s training camps, and oversaw operations, including forced recruitment and violent enforcement, across multiple strategic CJNG locations.
The court documents further allege that Ruiz Velasco, another close associate of El Mencho and a Grupo Elite leader, oversaw all CJNG operations in several Mexican territories, including drug trafficking, bribery, procurement of weapons, and enforcement. Ruiz Velasco is also allegedly involved in the transportation, importation, and distribution of drugs, including the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin within the United States and the collection of narcotics proceeds.
The court filings allege that Castillo Rodríguez, El Mencho’s former son-in-law, was responsible for various aspects of the CJNG’s operations, including overseeing CJNG operations in Colima, Mexico, collecting drug proceeds, paying for precursor chemicals used by the CJNG to manufacture methamphetamine, purchasing tonnage quantities of methamphetamine from CJNG suppliers, and overseeing the transportation of cocaine and methamphetamine shipments for importation into the United States.
The unsealed indictments allege that these five defendants participated in conspiracies to manufacture and distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl destined for the United States for over a decade. The indictments further allege that these defendants used, carried, brandished, or discharged firearms, some of which were semi-automatic weapons, machineguns, and destructive devices, during and in relation to the charged drug trafficking crimes. If convicted of these charges, which were filed in the District of Columbia, all five defendants face up to two consecutive life prison terms.
The State Department also announced today a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Mendoza Gaytán’s arrest and/or conviction; a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Castillo Rodríguez’s arrest and/or conviction; a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Montero Pinzón’s arrest and/or conviction; a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Rivera Varela’s arrest and/or conviction; and a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Ruiz Velasco’s arrest and/or conviction.
Relatedly, the State Department also announced a reward of up to $2 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Arredondo Pinzón, Montero Pinzón’s half-sister. In coordination with Montero Pinzón and Rivera Varela, the three allegedly ran an international fraud scheme organized and controlled by the CJNG, which targeted Americans who own timeshare properties in Mexico. As announced in September 2025, Arredondo Pinzón is charged in the Eastern District of New York with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. A superseding indictment returned in October 2025, also charges Montero Pinzón and Rivera Varela with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to provide and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and charges Montero Pinzón with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted, Arredondo Pinzón, Montero Pinzón, and Rivera Varela face up to 20 years in prison on each count related to the fraud scheme.
The timeshare fraud investigation is being investigated by the FBI New York Field Office, Threat Finance Task Force, DEA New York Division, IRS-CI New York Field Office, with support from CBP’s New York Field Office. The narcotics and firearms offenses are being investigated by DEA Bilateral Investigations Unit Los Angeles and HSI.
The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit (NDDU) of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Health and Safety Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting these cases.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations, and related transnational criminal organizations.
The Health and Safety Unit of the Fraud Section works with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute violations of federal laws designed to protect public health and safety. The unit focuses on corporations and individuals who make and sell dangerous drugs, food, and other consumer products that could cause significant harm to Americans.
The Transnational Criminal Organizations Strike Force investigates and prosecutes cartels and transnational criminal organizations by bringing charges that include terrorism, racketeering, and operating a continuing criminal enterprise. DEA’s Bilateral Investigations Unit is an elite group of experienced DEA special agents that are entrusted with handling the most sensitive, expansive, and difficult investigations that target the world’s most violent drug traffickers and terrorists.
These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Nevada Doctor Charged with $95M Wound Care Fraud on MedicareRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Nevada returned an indictment yesterday charging Stephen Dubin, M.D., 74, of Henderson, Nevada, with a $95 million scheme to defraud Medicare by billing for medically unnecessary amniotic wound allografts that he and others applied to elderly Medicare patients.
“This indictment exposes a scheme driven by greed, not medicine. As alleged, this provider exploited elderly patients by pushing costly and unnecessary medical procedures, then lied to Medicare to pocket millions of taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Schemes like this drain Medicare of resources and impose substantial burdens on the taxpayers who fund it. Let this serve as a warning: any healthcare professional who tries to get rich at the expense of patient care can expect to face the same scrutiny — and the same consequences.”
“Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime; it steals vital resources from elderly and vulnerable citizens who truly need life-saving treatments,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “These defendants prioritized personal greed over patient care by weaponizing complex billing codes for advanced wound care products. As part of the West Coast Health Care Strike Force, our office, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively dismantle predatory schemes that target public healthcare programs.”
“Dr. Duben, as a physician, had a duty to prioritize the well-being of his patients; however, he engaged in unethical practices by prescribing costly, unnecessary allografts at taxpayer expense,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “This betrayal of trust and exploitation of his healthcare position for personal financial gain is both cruel and premeditated. The FBI remains dedicated to collaborating with federal, state, and local agencies to investigate individuals like Dr. Duben and to safeguard federally funded healthcare programs from provider abuse.”
“These charges reflect a clear and calculated betrayal of elderly Medicare patients who depend on trusted providers for legitimate care,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Schemes like this siphon taxpayer dollars, undermine patient safety, and erode confidence in our health care system. HHS‑OIG, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to identify and hold accountable those who exploit federally funded health care programs for personal gain.”
“Fraud involving TRICARE, the healthcare program that provides medical coverage for active duty service members, retirees, and their families, strikes at a benefit earned through service to our nation,” said Special Agent in Charge John Helsing of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS is steadfast in protecting TRICARE from individuals who manipulate medical billing for personal gain. The West Coast Health Care Fraud Task Force, working with our federal partners, greatly enhances our ability to detect and dismantle these schemes, ensuring we preserve the integrity of our nation’s military health system.”
According to court documents, Dubin, a medical doctor and sole owner of Dubin Medical Consultants, Inc. (also known as Wound MD) caused Medicare to be billed over $95 million for expensive amniotic allografts that he procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. Dubin allegedly applied these allografts to elderly patients — including vulnerable patients in hospice care — without medical necessity. Medicare paid over $54 million based on Dubin’s false and fraudulent claims.
As alleged in the indictment, Dubin received illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates from two different allograft distributors. Some of these illegal payments were falsely structured to appear as legitimate “Rebate Agreements” while concealing their true nature and illegal payments. These purported rebates substantially reduced Dubin’s true net cost of acquiring the allografts. Dubin allegedly submitted claims to Medicare seeking reimbursement for the price listed on sham full-price invoices, instead of the actual price he paid for the allografts. Dubin and others allegedly kept as profit the difference between Medicare’s reimbursement and the price paid for the allografts.
The indictment also alleges that Dubin received illegal kickbacks from one allograft distributor through payments from a pass-through bank account held in the name of a shell company in exchange for purchasing allografts from the distributor.
Induced by these illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates, Dubin and his co-conspirators applied allografts without regard to medical necessity, including by applying allografts to infected wounds; to wounds that were not responding to allograft treatment; without first attempting, completing, or confirming conservative wound care treatment as required by Medicare; and in quantities that far exceeded the size of wounds. Dubin allegedly selected allografts that would maximize his profit, not based on the patient’s need. To conceal the lack of medical necessity, Dubin falsified patient medical records to make it appear as though the application of allografts was medically reasonable and met Medicare requirements.
Dubin used the proceeds of his alleged offenses to fund a lavish lifestyle, including having multi-million-dollar yachts built for him.
Dubin is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count.
FBI, HHS-OIG, and DCIS are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Chris Wenger and Shane Butland of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
On April 30, the Fraud Division announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Nevada Doctor Charged with $95 Million Wound Care Fraud on MedicareRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury in the District of Nevada returned an indictment on Tuesday charging Stephen Dubin, M.D., 74, of Henderson, Nevada, with a $95 million scheme to defraud Medicare by billing for medically unnecessary amniotic wound allografts that he and others applied to elderly Medicare patients.
“This indictment exposes a scheme driven by greed, not medicine. As alleged, this provider exploited elderly patients by pushing costly and unnecessary medical procedures, then lied to Medicare to pocket millions of taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Schemes like this drain Medicare of resources and impose substantial burdens on the taxpayers who fund it. Let this serve as a warning: any healthcare professional who tries to get rich at the expense of patient care can expect to face the same scrutiny—and the same consequences.”
“Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime; it steals vital resources from elderly and vulnerable citizens who truly need life-saving treatments,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah of the District of Nevada. “These defendants prioritized personal greed over patient care by weaponizing complex billing codes for advanced wound care products. As part of the West Coast Health Care Strike Force, our office, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively dismantle predatory schemes that target public healthcare programs.”
“Dr. Dubin, as a physician, had a duty to prioritize the well-being of his patients; however, he engaged in unethical practices by prescribing costly, unnecessary allografts at taxpayer expense,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “This betrayal of trust and exploitation of his healthcare position for personal financial gain is both cruel and premeditated. The FBI remains dedicated to collaborating with federal, state, and local agencies to investigate individuals like Dr. Dubin and to safeguard federally funded healthcare programs from provider abuse.”
“These charges reflect a clear and calculated betrayal of elderly Medicare patients who depend on trusted providers for legitimate care,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Schemes like this siphon taxpayer dollars, undermine patient safety, and erode confidence in our health care system. HHS‑OIG, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to identify and hold accountable those who exploit federally funded health care programs for personal gain.”
“Fraud involving TRICARE, the healthcare program that provides medical coverage for active duty service members, retirees, and their families, strikes at a benefit earned through service to our nation,” said John Helsing, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS is steadfast in protecting TRICARE from individuals who manipulate medical billing for personal gain. The West Coast Health Care Fraud Task Force, working with our federal partners, greatly enhances our ability to detect and dismantle these schemes, ensuring we preserve the integrity of our nation’s military health system.”
According to court documents, Dubin, a medical doctor and sole owner of Dubin Medical Consultants, Inc. (a/k/a Wound MD) caused Medicare to be billed over $95 million for expensive amniotic allografts that he procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. Dubin allegedly applied these allografts to elderly patients—including vulnerable patients in hospice care—without medical necessity. Medicare paid over $54 million based on Dubin’s false and fraudulent claims.
As alleged in the indictment, Dubin received illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates from two different allograft distributors. Some of these illegal payments were falsely structured to appear as legitimate “Rebate Agreements” while concealing their true nature and illegal payments. These purported rebates substantially reduced Dubin’s true net cost of acquiring the allografts. Dubin allegedly submitted claims to Medicare seeking reimbursement for the price listed on sham full-price invoices, instead of the actual price he paid for the allografts. Dubin and others allegedly kept as profit the difference between Medicare’s reimbursement and the price paid for the allografts.
The indictment also alleges that Dubin received illegal kickbacks from one allograft distributor through payments from a pass-through bank account held in the name of a shell company in exchange for purchasing allografts from the distributor.
Induced by these illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates, Dubin and his co-conspirators applied allografts without regard to medical necessity, including by applying allografts to infected wounds; to wounds that were not responding to allograft treatment; without first attempting, completing, or confirming conservative wound care treatment as required by Medicare; and in quantities that far exceeded the size of wounds. Dubin allegedly selected allografts that would maximize his profit, not based on the patient’s need. To conceal the lack of medical necessity, Dubin falsified patient medical records to make it appear as though the application of allografts was medically reasonable and met Medicare requirements.
Dubin used the proceeds of his alleged offenses to fund a lavish lifestyle, including having multi-million-dollar yachts built for him.
Dubin is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count.
FBI, HHS-OIG, and DCIS are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Chris Wenger and Shane Butland of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
On April 30, the Fraud Division announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
NFT Startup Founder Charged with FraudRead the Press Release
Sean S. Buckley, Deputy United States Attorney, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced that TAJ TARSHA, the founder of Few and Far Limited (“Few and Far”), has been indicted for securities and wire fraud for defrauding investors of the crypto startup he founded by making false and misleading statements regarding the use of investor funds and subsequently misappropriating those funds. TARSHA was previously arrested on June 6, 2026. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
“As alleged, Taj Tarsha raised millions of dollars from investors by promising that their investments would be used to build a marketplace for non-fungible tokens, but he instead breached their trust by stealing those funds for his own personal benefit,” said Deputy United States Attorney Sean S. Buckley. “Investors are entitled to the truth when choosing to make an investment, and this Office and our law enforcement partners will hold business leaders responsible when they lie for their own gain.”
“Taj Tarsha is alleged to have concealed fraudulent conduct behind his crypto startup, using investor funds for personal benefit,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Protecting the integrity of our financial markets is a priority, and the FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to conducting thorough and fact-driven investigations into potential financial offenses.”
According to the Indictment:(1)
TARSHA was the founder and sole equity owner of Few and Far, a startup that claimed to be developing a decentralized marketplace for non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”). Beginning in February 2022, TARSHA solicited investments in Few and Far through Simple Agreement for Future Tokens (SAFTs), under which investors paid upfront for rights to receive FAR tokens—a proprietary token meant to be integrated into the marketplace—at a later date. The offering materials promised investors that their funds would be used to advance the development of the Few and Far marketplace and the FAR tokens. Through these sales, TARSHA raised over $10 million from the sale of 95 million FAR tokens to at least 67 investors.
Almost immediately, however, TARSHA began misappropriating investor funds for his personal use, including gambling at an online casino and purchasing speculative cryptocurrencies. TARSHA also siphoned nearly a million dollars of investor funds under the pretext of legitimate compensation in the form of two bonuses—which he deliberately hid from investors and a co-founder—and a high salary that he acknowledged was unreasonable in light of Few and Far’s lack of product and “zero revenue.”
In June 2023, an audit uncovered the misappropriation. TARSHA falsely told investors that the bonuses were tied to predetermined FAR token presales targets and all transactions were done for the benefit of Few and Far, and he claimed all investor funds were still needed to complete the company’s mission. In reality, he had fired nearly all staff and instructed the remaining contractor to do work that merely created the appearance of continued development of the marketplace. For at least another year, he used investor funds for personal expenses, including cryptocurrency purchases, a Miami condominium loan and interior design services, and his DJ hobby. When he finally launched the FAR token in May 2024, it was effectively worthless and soon ceased trading.
* * *
TARSHA, 34, of Miami, Florida, is charged with securities fraud and wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Buckley praised the outstanding work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. DiBattista is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact descried therein should be treated as an allegation.