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22 September 2026
Federal grand jury indicts Buffalo man on multiple gun and drug chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Aden Ibrahim, 30, of Buffalo, NY, with being a felon in possession of ammunition, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and maintaining a drug involved premises, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
According to the superseding indictment and a previously filed complaint, on the morning of July 9, 2025, Buffalo Police responded to a Woodette Place residence for a report of an “Unwelcomed Guest.” Upon arrival, the complainant told officers that an individual known as “Beano” refused to leave the residence. The complainant also stated that “Beano” was in possession of crack cocaine and a firearm. Officers later observed “Beano,” exit the residence and attempt to flee on foot. He was in possession of a U.S. Permanent Resident Card identifying him as Aden Ibrahim. Detectives were then called to the residence, where they observed in plain view a revolver with tape on the handle lying on the floor in a bedroom. The complainant stated that “Beano” was staying in the room and that all the contents in the bedroom belonged to him.
Detectives subsequently executed a search warrant at the residence, seizing a revolver, ammunition, approximately 26 grams of suspected crack cocaine base, and drug paraphernalia. Ibrahim was convicted of felonies in March 2022 and January 2024 and is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition.
Ibrahim was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Romer and was detained.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys MacCaelin A. Sedita and Joshua A. Violanti. The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone.
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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Extradited Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering in Connection with Sextortion and Romance ScamsRead the Press Release
Olamide Shanu, 35, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty yesterday in the District of Idaho to charges related to his role in several cyber-enabled schemes that defrauded approximately 150 American victims and caused millions of dollars in losses. Shanu made more than $2,500,000 from these fraud schemes.
“This case exposes a sophisticated international scheme that exploited Americans through sextortion and romance fraud, laundering millions in criminal proceeds,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Criminals, like Olamide Shanu, who prey on vulnerable victims in this manner rob them of their savings and sense of decency. The Criminal Division’s Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative was launched to confront exactly these threats — dismantling networks like this and ensuring justice for those harmed.”
“This prosecution demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they operate in the world. By securing the extradition of this defendant from Nigeria and bringing him to justice for sextortion and other cyber-enabled fraud schemes, we are sending a clear message that those who exploit victims and launder millions in illicit proceeds will face serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho. “This guilty plea, involving more than $2.5 million in laundered proceeds, reflects the dedicated efforts of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners to disrupt international criminal networks, protect victims, and ensure that cyber-enabled crime does not go unanswered.”
“Financially motivated sextortion is a heinous crime that preys on fear, shame, and trust to exploit victims in deeply personal ways,” said Assistant Director Brent Daniels of the U.S. Secret Service’s (USSS) Office of Field Operations. “This guilty plea is an important step toward justice for the victims harmed by this international scheme and reflects the Secret Service’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who use cyber-enabled fraud to target Americans.”
According to court documents, Shanu and his coconspirators participated in an international, financially motivated sextortion, romance fraud, and money laundering scheme. As part of the sextortion scheme, Shanu and his co-conspirators typically targeted male victims, persuaded them to send sexual images of themselves, and then threatened to send the victim’s sexual images to the victim’s friends and family unless the victim made payments to the co-conspirators. Shanu and his co-conspirators engaged in this extortion of numerous victims across the United States, including an individual located in Idaho. In the romance scams, Shanu and his co-conspirators, using fake identities on social media, made contacts with victims — typically older women and men — and established deceptive emotional relationships. The co-conspirators gained the victims’ trust, persuaded the victims that they had a romantic future together and then convinced the victims to send the co-conspirators money based on various purportedly urgent needs for funds. Proceeds from the schemes were laundered using peer-to-peer payment applications and several cryptocurrency wallet addresses before being transferred to the co-conspirators in Nigeria.
Shanu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 15 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The USSS and the Boise Police Department are investigating the case.
Senior Counsel Vasantha Rao of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney Campbell and Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case. Substantial assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the State Department and the U.K. authorities.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
This case is part of efforts being undertaken by the Criminal Division’s Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative (CSI). The CSI is a dedicated team of prosecutors built to find scammers who prey on Americans, disrupt their networks, and hold them accountable. CSI coordinates across the Criminal Division’s Sections, bringing together prosecutors and subject matter experts in complex frauds and investment schemes, cybercrimes and dismantling cyber infrastructure, online child exploitation, international evidence gathering and extradition, overseas prosecutorial development and assistance, and financial tracing and asset forfeiture.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Activity at Cambria County PrisonRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty in federal court on September 22, 2026, to a charge of violating federal racketeering laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Ashley Aguilar, 27, pleaded guilty to Count Two of the Indictment before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around July 2023 through in and around October 2023, Aguilar conspired to commit money laundering. Aguilar acted as a facilitator in racketeering activities by sending and receiving payments on behalf of inmates at the Cambria County Prison for smuggled contraband.
Aguilar is among 10 residents of Pennsylvania and Arizona indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025 for their alleged participation in the racketeer-influenced corruption organization (RICO) conspiracy. Read the Indictment news release here.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for February 10, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, and the Cambria County Prison conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Aguilar.
Court Allows U.S. Government to Exchange Land with SpaceX in South TexasRead the Press Release
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas yesterday allowed a land exchange to proceed between the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and SpaceX in South Texas. The court denied a preliminary injunction request, finding that the plaintiffs failed to establish an injury in fact to support standing and they failed to establish irreparable harm.
“This land exchange is a win-win for the American people that achieves significant benefits for conservation and national security,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “The United States will acquire several hundred acres of high-quality habitat in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge that the Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to protect, and SpaceX will acquire land with a lower biological value that will help it achieve its mission for NASA and the Air Force.”
Attorneys in ENRD’s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.
Colombian National Charged with Impersonating ICE Official to Extort Food Truck EmployeeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Colombian national has been charged with impersonating a high-ranking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official and allegedly using that false authority to threaten and attempt to extort an employee of a Miami Gardens food truck.
According to court records, Jonathan Christian Gonzalez Reyes, 45, residing in Miami, arrived at the food truck in a personal vehicle equipped with blue flashing lights and sounded an air horn resembling one used by law enforcement. Gonzalez Reyes allegedly identified himself to the victim as a high-ranking ICE official and claimed that, in exchange for money, he could assist the victim with immigration-related matters.
Gonzalez Reyes then allegedly threatened to plant drugs in the food truck so that the business would be shut down. He also allegedly unholstered and brandished a firearm and threatened to pistol-whip the victim’s son. Fearing for his life, the victim did not comply with Gonzalez Reyes’s demands. Gonzalez Reyes then allegedly left the scene while activating his vehicle’s police-style siren.
Gonzalez Reyes is charged with one count of false impersonation of an officer of the United States. If convicted, he faces up to three years in federal prison. Any sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge-East of ICE Office of Professional Responsibility and Field Office Director Matthew Elliston for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Miami made the announcement.
The ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, with the assistance of the ICE Enforcement and Removals Operations Criminal Prosecution Unit, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson Dering is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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-mj-03725.
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Chicagoland Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking and Forced LaborRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Northern District of Indiana convicted Anthony Mayers, 36, of Gary, Indiana, of four counts of trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and other related charges. Mayers lured vulnerable women into his scheme with promises that they would make enormous sums of money or be provided safe housing or other needs, and then he turned violent, coercing them to engage in commercial sex and taking the money they earned. Victims testified that he beat and threatened them by brandishing a firearm and shooting at them inside the house.
“Anthony Mayers is an extremely violent sex trafficker who preyed upon vulnerable women for money,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The jury in this case heard testimony from the victims of how the defendant physically assaulted and intimidated them. He beat them, threatened them with death and bodily harm, and brandished firearms in their presence. The evidence included that he even administered a lethal injection to a heroin-addicted woman in front of one of the victims and forced that victim to help him move the body to an abandoned house. That is the pinnacle of fear and coercion. The jury’s verdict sends a clear message and helps vindicate the perils that the victims endured.”
“We are thankful for the jury’s careful deliberation and attention to detail on each specific count after hearing very difficult evidence and arguments of counsel over a period of nine days,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred for the Northern District of Indiana. “Verdicts like this in extremely serious cases only happen after the superior investigative work of our law‑enforcement partners, including the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals, and the Harvey (Illinois) Police Department that worked tirelessly to uncover the truth. That partnership allowed the legal team of Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin M. Padula and Nadia Wardrip for the Northern District of Indiana to prosecute the case. Most of all, we are thankful for the cooperation of the brave witnesses and survivors of crime who testified in this most difficult case.”
“Traffickers rely on fear and violence to control their victims, but none of that will stop the FBI from bringing them to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “This criminal preyed on vulnerable women, abused them, and profited off their suffering. The FBI will relentlessly pursue violent offenders like him, break apart the coercive systems they build, and ensure they are held fully accountable for every act of harm they inflict.”
According to court documents, witness testimony, and evidence presented at trial, Mayers compelled four victims to engage in commercial sex acts in his residence and for his financial benefit using fraud, physical violence, firearms, addictive narcotics, and threats of physical force and death to keep the victims working under his control. Mayers used similar physical abuse and threats to compel another woman to work in his house daily, cleaning the “sex room” where he compelled the other victims to engage in commercial sex. One victim testified that she witnessed Mayers purposefully administer a “hot shot” — a lethal dose of narcotics — to another commercial sex worker causing the woman to fatally overdose. He then told the victim that she would suffer the same fate if she did not follow his rules. A second victim tried to leave Mayers’ residence in a car driven by another individual, only to have Mayers chase the car down the street, pull the victim from the car by her hair, and slam her head into a nearby fence, continuing to beat her until she agreed to return. When a third victim tried to escape, Mayers prevented her from leaving with her friend and fired his gun at the friend’s car as she drove away.
When law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mayers’ residence, they recovered a “ghost gun” with an extended magazine, two rifles, ammunition, and cartridge casings. Law enforcement also observed numerous bullet defects in the walls of the residence.
The jury convicted Mayers of four counts of sex trafficking, one count of forced labor, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin M. Padula and Nadia Wardrip for the Northern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Cedar Rapids Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
A woman who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than 16 years in federal prison.
Larissa Marie Ruffin, age 48, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 12, 2026, guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
Information from the sentencing hearing showed that Ruffin distributed methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement officers or an undercover officer on multiple occasions between April and July 2023. On September 30, 2023, officers stopped a car that Ruffin had been driving. Officers located a little less than 20 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately half a pound of cocaine, and over a pound of marijuana in the car.
Ruffin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Ruffin was sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ruffin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF Kansas City is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, covering Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. HSTF Kansas City is composed of agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the State Investigative Agencies for Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.
This HSTF case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by HSTF Kansas City, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 26-CR-18.
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Armenian National Extradited to the United States Sentenced to Federal Prison for Ransomware Extortion SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—An Armenian citizen, extradited from Ukraine to the United States, was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in RYUK ransomware attacks and an extortion conspiracy targeting companies throughout the United States, including in Oregon.
Karen Vardanyan, 35, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,219,106.00 in restitution to the victims in the case.
According to court documents, Vardanyan, sometimes using the monikers Maneeken or Karl Lagerfeld, was a member of a conspiracy that deployed Ryuk ransomware on victim computer networks to extort over $1 million from several victims. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that attacks a victim’s computer or servers and renders them unusable unless the victim makes a payment to the attackers. These payments were made with some form of cryptocurrency, usually Bitcoin. Vardanyan participated in the conspiracy from March 2019 to approximately June 2020 to deploy the Ryuk ransomware against companies, schools, and other entities throughout the world. One of the victim companies was in Wilsonville, Oregon.
On February 22, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a superseding indictment charging Vardanyan with conspiracy, fraud in connection with computers, and extortion in connection with computers.
On June 20, 2025, Vardanyan made his initial appearance in federal court upon extradition from Ukraine. He was detained by the magistrate judge.
On July 8, 2026, Vardanyan pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud in connection with computers.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Rykken.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Vardanyan’s arrest and extradition from Ukraine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Ukrainian authorities for their assistance in this matter.
21 September 2026
Violent Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearms and MachinegunRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kokou Sanoumegah, 29, of Memphis, has pled guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and illegal possession of a machinegun. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.
On April 16, 2025, a private fugitive recovery unit located Sanoumegah, a fugitive with active arrest warrants, in Memphis, Tennessee. According to the evidence, while taking him into custody, they discovered a Glock 17 9mm pistol in Sanoumegah’s waistband and a Diamondback DB-15 AR-style pistol located next to where Sanoumegah had been sitting.
The Glock contained a machinegun conversion device (MCD) known as a “switch”, as well as an extended magazine with 39 rounds and 1 round in the chamber. The Diamondback AR-style pistol was found with a drop-in auto sear, designed to convert it to a fully automatic weapon, with 59 rounds in the magazine and 1 round in the chamber. The AR pistol had been reported stolen, and neither firearm contained a proper serial number.
Sanoumegah is a convicted felon after previously pleading guilty to a 2016 armed robbery offense in Desoto County (MS). While in custody for these firearms offenses, Sanoumegah was charged with aggravated assault and possession of contraband in a penal institution for an incident on August 6, 2025, in which it is alleged that he stabbed another inmate in the Shelby County Jail 17 times with a homemade weapon, causing paralysis to the victim.
In June 2024, Sanoumegah was charged with possession of a firearm, theft of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and aggravated criminal trespassing; that case was dismissed about a year later due to lack of prosecution, State court records show.
On September 16, 2026, Sanoumegah pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and possession of a machinegun. Sanoumegah is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Lea on December 16, 2026 and faces a sentence of 144 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Sanoumegah has a demonstrated history of violence, and has no hesitation about repeatedly committing multiple crimes when the risk to human life is high. Now the federal system will accomplish justice by doing what should have been done a long time ago – imposing a real consequence that will justly punish and incapacitate him for at least 12 years.”
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin N. Frizzell, a United States Marine Corps Judge Advocate, and Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin N. Frizzell, a United States Marine Corps Judge Advocate, and Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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For more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Vermont Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Failing to Follow Sex Offender Registration RequirementsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Vermont resident David Courtemarche, 45, was sentenced today in federal court for violating his sex offender registration requirements, specifically knowingly failing to report his employment in New Hampshire as mandated by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Courtemarche was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 21 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. On November 14, 2025, Courtemarche pleaded guilty to failing to register his New Hampshire employment since 2021 in violation of federal law.
“Sex offenders are legally required to register their employment so law enforcement can monitor and prevent predatory behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “The defendant ignored that requirement, undermining a critical safeguard designed to protect children. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: law enforcement in the Granite State will hold sex offenders accountable when they attempt to evade oversight and will continue to prioritize the safety of our children.”
SORNA requires individuals convicted of certain sex offenses to report where they live, work, and go to school. Courtemarche is required to register as a sex offender for life due to his 2003 conviction for raping a 14-year-old child in Vermont. Despite knowing his registration requirements, by at least December 2021, he worked in New Hampshire without reporting it. Thereafter, he started dating a co-worker and, to avoid arrest warrants in Vermont, began living with her in New Hampshire. Despite living and working in New Hampshire, the defendant never registered as a sex offender in this state.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police, the Littleton Police Department, and the Lancaster Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Anderson 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 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.
U.S. Attorney Pirro Announces Major Public Safety Gains from Summer Crackdown Targeting Violent Crime and Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced significant outcomes from her multi-agency summer crackdowns aimed at reducing violent crime and dismantling narcotics trafficking networks throughout the District. Over the summer months, federal prosecutors partnered closely with the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, and additional agencies to focus resources on individuals driving violence and drug distribution in D.C. neighborhoods.
“The results of this summer’s enforcement operations demonstrate the impact of sustained, coordinated, neighborhood‑focused federal action,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will continue prioritizing individuals driving violence, dismantling organized narcotics networks, and delivering meaningful accountability for those who endanger our communities.”
The achievements outlined below represent federal prosecutions and enforcement actions led by the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking and Federal Major Crimes Sections; they do not encompass local prosecutions pursued in D.C. Superior Court.
During the summer investigative push, law enforcement seized 533 illegal firearms and recovered substantial quantities of narcotics, including 64.1 kilograms of methamphetamine, 46.7 kilograms of cocaine, 3.4 kilograms of crack cocaine, and 3.0 kilograms of fentanyl. These efforts were supported by an aggressive prosecution strategy that resulted in more than 60 defendants being federally indicted. Of the individuals charged, 30 were involved in serious narcotics offenses and 30 were charged in felon‑in‑possession cases. In addition, authorities arrested 28 known gang members whose activities contributed to persistent violence in affected communities.
The summer enforcement push also produced several major takedowns. One investigation led to the dismantling of an 11‑defendant methamphetamine and GBL trafficking conspiracy with international ties to South Korea. Another operation targeted a 14‑defendant crack cocaine distribution ring operating within 1,000 feet of Hendley Elementary School; investigators seized 28 firearms, kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and additional narcotics during the course of the investigation. A third large‑scale case involved the operator of Forest Floor LLC, who was trafficking MDMA within 1,000 feet of Catholic University. In that case, law enforcement seized more than $250,000 in cash, $200,000 in jewelry, 74 pounds of psychedelic mushrooms, and 18 pounds of marijuana.
The Office also reported significant progress from its International Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) operations. This included indictments of 19 defendants—among them, three Mexican nationals—along with 26 arrests and 15 convictions. Agents seized more than 2,300 kilograms of cocaine and recovered over $1.6 million in drug proceeds stemming from transnational trafficking routes.
Federal prosecutors secured convictions for 11 defendants across multiple federal jury trials during the summer period. These included four defendants convicted in a crew‑related murder conspiracy, who face mandatory minimum sentences of 40 years (lead defendant) and 30 years; three defendants convicted in a felony‑robbery murder case carrying a mandatory minimum of 30 years; and one defendant found guilty of carrying out a spree of armed robberies targeting convenience stores, who faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 31 years. Additional convictions included an Armed Career Criminal charged with felon‑in‑possession, a defendant convicted of felon‑in‑possession connected to a crime of violence, and a convicted sex offender found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia remains committed to strengthening public safety through rigorous federal prosecution, intelligence‑driven investigations, and strong partnerships across federal, local, and community organizations.
Terrytown, Louisiana Man Indicted for Possession of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that WILHELM MOLINA FLORES (“FLORES”), age 20, of Terrytown, was charged on September 17, 2026, in a one-count indictment for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). If convicted, FLORES faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life, $250,000.00 fine, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, beginning at an unknown time and continuing until April 22, 2026, FLORES was found in possession of images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography.
Through a partnership between state and federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopted the state charges and is now prosecuting FLORES in federal court.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, and Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
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Six Individuals Charged with Drug Conspiracy that Involved Interstate KidnappingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A federal Grand Jury returned a superseding indictment charging six individuals in an interstate drug conspiracy that spanned nearly two years and culminated in a drug-motivated kidnapping, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
The superseding indictment charged Tyron Harris, Damarcus Bonner, Nicole Palardy, Jessenialyz Jones, Sheldon Stocker, and Jesse Emerson for their role in the drug conspiracy, which involved conduct in multiple states. Harris and Bonner were charged separately with the kidnapping, and Harris, Bonner, Palardy and Jones were charged with kidnapping conspiracy. According to a prior complaint in the matter and allegations in the indictment, defendants kidnapped an adult victim in Claremont, New Hampshire, and brought her to a residence in Springfield, Vermont. The victim was held there against her will, tortured and beaten, while defendants demanded money from her and others on her behalf. Springfield Police ultimately learned of kidnapping and went to the residence in the early morning hours of January 25, 2026. They rescued the victim from the residence and arrested the defendants. A search of the residence revealed a firearm, drugs packaged for distribution, duct tape that was used to bind the victim, and items used for torture.
The indictment indicates that the kidnapping was part of a pre-existing drug operation that involved drug activity at multiple locations in several states.
Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Vermont State Police, the Springfield, Vermont Police Department, and the Claremont, New Hampshire Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Vicinanzo and Charles DeJoie are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Roseville man pleads guilty to defrauding employer of more than $2.3 millionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between February 2023 and July 2025, working as an executive manager at a Placer County business, Abplanalp stole more than $2.3 million, most of which he then spent gambling. In executing this scheme, he diverted money from the business’s account with an online payment processing system to his own personal account, or to various other friends or acquaintances. Abplanalp also repeatedly charged a client’s credit card for items the client had not ordered and for invoices that did not exist, and then transferred the proceeds to himself. He also instructed clients to tender payments directly to him, and told vendors to issue rebates and refunds to his personal account, rather than the business. To conceal his theft, Abplanalp altered, deleted or made false entries to the business’s accounting software.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
Abplanalp is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Feb. 8, 2027. Abplanalp faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Portage Township Man Indicted for Shooting and Damaging a Firefighting Aircraft that was Actively Fighting a Forest FireRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Daniel Christian Pettit, 48, of Portage Township, Minnesota, was indicted by a grand jury for one count of damaging an aircraft and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
His initial appearance was before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois on September 21, 2026.
According to the indictment, on or about May 15, 2026, Pettit knowingly and willfully damaged and disabled a firefighting aircraft using a firearm while the aircraft was in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. According to state court documents, on the evening of May 15, 2026, a pilot flew a mission actively fighting a forest fire in northern Minnesota. After the pilot landed, he discovered damage to the firefighting aircraft that appeared consistent with damage caused by bullets. In an interview after his arrest on related state charges, Pettit said he fired rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun and a .308-caliber rifle as the firefighting aircraft flew nearby, but Pettit claimed he was only crow hunting.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney David B. Green is prosecuting the case.
Nigerian Man Sentenced to 48 Months’ Imprisonment for Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Brad Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 18, 2026, Joseph James Nantomah (aka “The Black Mentor”) (age 49), was sentenced to 48 months’ incarceration for committing an investment fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of more than $2,700,000 to investors across the country and abroad.
According to court records, Joseph Nantomah entered the United States on a visitor’s visa from Nigeria in 2016. Within a few years, he had cultivated a false online persona alleging that he had built a multi-million-dollar real estate enterprise. Nantomah gave himself the moniker, “The Black Mentor,” and hosted conferences and classes in which he purported to share his knowledge of building success in the United States with people he duped into paying for his classes. Nantomah then used these classes to convince his “students” to “invest” in Nantomah’s real estate business.
Nantomah’s online presence, his “Wealth Flow” conferences, and his claims of growing a successful real estate business were all part of his scheme to defraud. Between May 2020 and December 2024, Nantomah stole $2,762,798.37 from at least 39 victims. Nantomah targeted mostly Nigerian immigrants and people who were members of his church. Drawing on their shared cultural heritage and their belief in the American Dream, Nantomah convinced them to send him millions of dollars that he claimed he would invest in real estate. He promised significant returns on investment. In reality, Nantomah had no legitimate business or knowledge in real estate. He spent the majority of his victims’ funds on a lavish lifestyle that included private jets, luxury cars, expensive jewelry, and a yacht. Nantomah also spent significant sums of his victims’ money cultivating his false online persona, including purchasing an honorary doctorate degree for himself and his wife and paying celebrities to attend his conferences.
At his sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Lynn Adelman focused on the extensive harm Nantomah caused his many victims and the fact that the people Nantomah chose to victimize were themselves working class immigrants. Judge Adelman noted that Nantomah’s scheme warranted a significant period of incarceration because it “went on for a long time, caused substantial loss, and dramatically impacted the lives of numerous victims.” Many victims spoke at the sentencing hearing and recounted the tremendous harm that Nantomah caused to them and their families.
In addition to the 48-month period of incarceration, Nantomah was ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $2,762,798.37. He will serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence.
“As Judge Adelman noted, the victims were not wealthy people. They were working class immigrants who were devastated by this betrayal by someone they trusted,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “I am so proud to work alongside the amazing investigation and prosecution team that worked tirelessly to put this con man in prison where he belongs.”
“Joseph Nantomah defrauded more than 30 victims in Wisconsin and across the United States. Nantomah misrepresented himself as a real estate investor who solicited others to invest with him by promising profits on purchasing, fixing, and flipping real estate. Instead of purchasing real estate with investor money, he utilized more than $2 million for his personal use,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “The FBI will continue to work side-by-side with our partners to protect the American people and their hard-earned money from schemes like these.”
“Fraud like this runs on trust. Nantomah sold his victims the promise of opportunity, then used their hard-earned money to fund his own expenses and keep his scheme afloat,” said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “For some victims, that meant losing retirement, education, and other savings they spent years building. IRS Criminal Investigation follows the money because numbers don’t care about the sales pitch, and in this case, the money told the real story.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Investigations also investigated Nantomah. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie F. Stewart.
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Monmouth County Man Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison for Defrauding Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Monmouth County man was sentenced to a year and a day in prison after being convicted of defrauding the Social Security Administration, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Steven D. Stankovits, 57, of Matawan, New Jersey, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison by U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court on July 21, 2026. Stankovits was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine, restitution of $585,629.80, and to forfeit $480,968 in ill-gotten proceeds. This followed Stankovits’s conviction on March 5, 2026, after a jury trial of four counts of wire fraud and one count of false statements to the Social Security Administration, all related to his receipt of Disability Insurance Benefits.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In May 2010, Stankovits was found eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits, and received benefits retroactive to 2007. This finding of eligibility was based on lies to the Social Security Administration, including that Stankovits was unable to work, could not comfortably sit for more than 15 minutes, could not bend down to put on his clothes, struggled to lift a carton of milk, and had been forced to give up skiing. Stankovits failed to correct and reiterated these lies through statements and written submissions to the Social Security Administration over the next ten years. As a result, the Social Security Administration paid more than $585,000 in disability benefits.
In fact, Stankovits was a licensed funeral director working at two different funeral homes. Stankovits’s work included gardening, shoveling snow, carrying 160-pound caskets down a flight of stairs, and climbing a ladder onto the roof to install a sign. In addition, Stankovits took long flights to go skiing in Cortina, Italy, Lake Tahoe, and Park City, Utah, and purchased a skiing season pass in Killington, Vermont. All of this conduct was incompatible with Stankovits’s repeated lies to the Social Security Administration for nearly 15 years.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited agents of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Conor Washington, and the Social Security Administration’s New Jersey-based Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, Gilberto Camilo.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli Jacobs and Alison Thompson of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Defense counsel: Charles Alvarez, Esq.
Mexican National Sentenced in Scheme to Bribe Ecuadorian and Mexican Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
Javier Aguilar, 52, a Mexican national living in Houston, Texas, and a former oil trader, was sentenced in Brooklyn, New York, to four years in prison for his role in two separate schemes to bribe foreign officials in Ecuador and Mexico. He was also ordered to pay $7.13 million in forfeiture and a $100,000 fine.
“This sentence makes clear that corrupt actors, like Javier Aguilar, who facilitated and led two major international bribery and money laundering schemes will be brought to justice and punished accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Andrew A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We will root out those who brazenly undermine the rule of law and use our financial system to launder their corrupt funds, and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This sentence sends a powerful message of deterrence to those who might be tempted to engage in similar bribery schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “This sentencing is further demonstration of our office’s long-standing commitment to rooting out corruption in the commodities markets. We will be indefatigable in protecting American interests from corruption that unfairly tilts the playing field and threatens American businesses.”
“Aguilar bribed, falsified, manipulated the system, and engaged in several corrupt financial practices, all while using U.S. financial institutions to carry out his criminal actions,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI Criminal Division. “This case demonstrates the broad reach of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the FBI’s ability to investigate and bring criminals to justice who seek to engage in this type of crime.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Aguilar paid more than $1 million in bribes to officials of Ecuador’s state-owned oil company Petroecuador, and of PEMEX Procurement International (PPI), a subsidiary of Mexico’s state-owned oil company PEMEX, in order to obtain and retain business for his then-employer, Vitol Inc. The trial evidence showed that between 2015 and 2020, Aguilar was a trader at Vitol Inc. (Vitol), the U.S. affiliate of one of the largest energy trading companies in the world. As part of the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators agreed to bribe senior Ecuadorian officials to obtain a $300 million contract to purchase fuel oil for Vitol. Aguilar and his co-conspirators used another Middle Eastern state-owned entity to circumvent Petroecuador’s restrictions on contracts with private companies. In return for the promise and payments of bribes, the Ecuadorian officials then ensured that the Middle Eastern state-owned entity and Vitol were awarded the contract.
To conceal the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators used a series of fake contracts, sham invoices, and shell entities incorporated in Curaçao, Panama, and the Cayman Islands. Aguilar also used alias email accounts to communicate with his co-conspirators.
The evidence at trial also demonstrated that Aguilar used the same system of shell entities and sham invoices to launder bribe payments to two officials at PPI. In total, Aguilar paid approximately $600,000 in bribes to PPI officials to obtain contracts for Vitol to supply hundreds of millions of dollars of ethane gas to PEMEX.
The jury convicted Aguilar of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and violating the FCPA in connection with the Ecuador bribery scheme, and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the Ecuador and Mexico bribery schemes. He separately pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the FCPA and to violate the Travel Act in connection with the Mexico bribery scheme.
Seven of Aguilar’s co-conspirators, including three foreign government officials, have pleaded guilty for their roles in the schemes. These individuals have collectively agreed to forfeit more than $63 million in proceeds from the schemes.
In December 2020, Vitol admitted to bribing officials in Ecuador, Mexico, and Brazil in violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Vitol entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Division’s White Collar and Corporate Enforcement Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. As a part of the resolution, Vitol agreed to pay a combined $135 million in penalties as part of a coordinated resolution with the Justice Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and authorities in Brazil.
FBI Miami’s International Corruption Squad investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Derek J. Ettinger of the White Collar and Corporate Enforcement Section, Trial Attorney D. Hunter Smith of the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick M. Axelrod for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Deputy Chief Suzanne Elmilady and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel for the Southern District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Lax for the Eastern District of New York was also responsible for the case. The MNF Special Financial Investigations Unit and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance.
The Criminal Division’s White Collar and Corporate Enforcement Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
MNF’s 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 International Unit investigates and prosecutes cross-border money laundering schemes involving transnational criminal organizations, cartels, foreign official corruption and related money laundering affecting the U.S. financial system and prosecutes criminal cases and civil forfeiture matters to recover the proceeds of those crimes.
Metairie Man Indicted for Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material and Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that ENIN GOMEZ RAMOS (“RAMOS”), age 19, of Metairie, was charged on September 17, 2026, in a two-count Indictment for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2) and was also charged as an Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
If convicted, RAMOS faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life as to the possession of child pornography charge. The firearm charge carries a maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years and a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years. Both counts carry a fine up to $250,000 and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, beginning at an unknown time and continuing until June 26, 2026, RAMOS was found in possession of images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography. RAMOS is not a U.S. Citizen and was living in the U.S. illegally. Additionally, on or about June 26, 2026, RAMOS was found in possession of a firearm, a Springfield Armory, Model XDM, and a .45 ACP caliber pistol.
Through a partnership between state and federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopted the state charges and is now prosecuting RAMOS in federal court.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, and Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Water Piks Stolen from Interstate Shipment and Ordered to Pay $420,000 in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Gregory Luss, 44, has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to being in possession of goods stolen from an interstate shipment. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, a semi-tractor trailer filled with Water Piks that were intended for shipment to Amazon was stolen from its Bledsoe Cove location in Memphis on October 20, 2023. On the same day, Luss posted a large inventory of Water Pik products to sell on an eBay account registered to him.
Luss delivered many of the stolen Water Piks to an unsuspecting buyer in Texas and later attempted to steal them back from the buyer. When the buyer caught Luss trying to steal them, Luss attempted to escape in his delivery truck, hitting a warehouse manager with his truck before fleeing from law enforcement on the interstate, where Luss hit six cars carrying a total of 18 passengers.
Luss pled guilty on March 3, 2026 and was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker on September 16, 2026 to 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Luss was also ordered to pay more than $420,000 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Luss not only committed large scale cargo theft that harmed crucial interstate commerce here in Memphis, but also endangered and victimized multiple people in Texas while attempting to avoid capture and consequences. Instead of a luxury Water Pik, inmate Luss will now have a standard prison-issued toothbrush in the Bureau of Prisons.”
"Stealing from an interstate shipment is more than taking property - it is a deliberate violation of the trust and security that keep our commerce moving," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "This sentence sends a strong message: these crimes will be aggressively investigated, offenders will be held accountable, and stealing from interstate commerce will carry serious consequences. I commend the FBI Nashville Cargo Theft Task Force for their work on this case and its continued efforts to protect our nation's supply chain."
The case was investigated by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cargo Theft Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Delery prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Maryland Man Charged with Stealing More Than $1 Million from Dozens of SeniorsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, today, that authorities arrested a Hyattsville man in connection with a fraud scheme that targeted senior citizens.
Roy Dave Davis, 34, of Hyattsville, is charged by criminal complaint with bank fraud.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the arrest and criminal complaint with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division.
According to court documents, beginning in May 2023, Davis obtained personally identifiable information for numerous customers of a financial institution. Davis changed the mailing addresses connected to the victims’ accounts to addresses he controlled in Maryland. He then ordered debit cards in the victims’ names and used them to make ATM withdrawals and direct purchases.
Throughout the scheme, Davis made more than 1,500 fraudulent ATM withdrawals that netted more than $1 million. He also used victims’ debit cards to purchase more than $100,000 in luxury fashion items.
Davis defrauded more than 40 victims, targeting senior citizens who averaged 81 years old. Additionally, Davis obtained and used debit cards that belonged to small businesses, deceased individuals, and a charter school.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by criminal complaint are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Davis faces a maximum of up to 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Jaskiw, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy, who are prosecuting this federal case.
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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Lynn Man Indicted for Transporting Minor to Engage in ProstitutionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man has been arrested and charged for allegedly transporting a minor to engage in prostitution.
Emmanuel Devallon, 32, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of transporting a minor to engage in prostitution. The defendant was arrested on Sept. 17, 2026 and appeared in federal court in Worcester on Sept. 18, 2026. He remains detained in federal custody.
According to the indictment, in June 2026, Devallon knowingly transported a minor in interstate commerce with the intent that she engage in prostitution or any criminal sexual activity.
The charge of transporting a minor to engage in prostitution provides for a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years and up to life in prison, five years and up to life on supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Peabody Police Department, Lynn Police Department and Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig E. Estes, of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Lexington Man Sentenced to 27.5 Years for Several Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Kevin Sanders, 48, was sentenced on Friday to 330 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for several drug trafficking and firearms charges.
Sanders was convicted in May 2026 of four counts of distributing fentanyl, three counts of distributing methamphetamine, three counts of possessing with intent to distribute 600 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual). He was also convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
According to testimony at trial, beginning in February 2025, law enforcement officers with the HIDTA Task Force, began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Kevin D. Sanders. During the investigation, law enforcement officers purchased 49 grams of fentanyl and 83 grams of methamphetamine from Sanders. In April 2025, a search warrant was obtained for his residence, and law enforcement seized 3,705 grams of pure methamphetamine, 608 grams of fentanyl, and 500 grams of cocaine. Additionally, officers located and seized five firearms. Sanders has a prior conviction for Attempt First Degree Murder from Cook County, Illinois.
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Rodney Richardson, Richmond Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF, KSP, and Richmond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Massive Collections of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 97 months in prison to be followed by 35 years of supervised release for maintaining two large collections of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and distributing CSAM utilizing a peer-to-peer network. The government requested a sentence of 97 months in prison.
“This defendant deliberately engaged in the sick, destructive trade of child exploitation, capitalizing on the unimaginable suffering of innocent children,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Today’s lengthy sentence ensures that a dangerous, unrepentant predator is stripped of his freedom and permanently cut off from fueling this vile digital marketplace. We will never stop hunting down and aggressively prosecuting those who profit from the abuse of the most vulnerable among us.”
“Randall William Rushton’s sentence underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our most vulnerable citizens - our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Furthermore, it serves as a definitive reminder of our relentless pursuit of perpetrators who exploit youth. Our communities are undeniably safer with this individual incarcerated. Expelling those who prey on others, especially children, is paramount to public safety and reinforces our steadfast dedication to shielding the innocent from these insidious crimes.”
According to court documents, Randall William Rushton made available on two separate occasions over 600 total images and videos of CSAM for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network. He also possessed over 11,000 images and videos depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct, including infants and toddlers and children under the age of 12.
Rushton pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to his sentence of imprisonment, Rushton will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin prosecuted the case.
These cases are a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty in federal court today to coercion and enticement of a minor.
“Our office remains unyielding in its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community from digital predators,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Through the collaborative efforts of local and federal law enforcement, we will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute individuals who leverage technology to exploit and harm children.”
“Investigating child exploitation is one of the FBI’s highest priorities, and we remain fully committed to hunting down those who target children,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Even though the defendant tried to conceal his crimes online, the relentless dedication and skill of our Crimes Against Children Task Force uncovered the truth and brought him to justice.”
According to court documents, between June 16, 2025, and June 25, 2025, Cameron Miles Scruggs engaged in a sexually explicit conversation online with a child who he knew to be under the age of 18 years old. He admitted that he engaged in conversation with the victim to coerce the victim to engage in sexual activity. He further admitted that he engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim and transported the victim across state lines to engage in sexual activity.
Scruggs pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2027, before United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting the case.
These cases are a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
The public is urged to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
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Knoxville Man Indicted for Making Threats to Injure and Kill ICE AgentsRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a two-count indictment on September 16, 2026, against David Kerr, 68, of Knoxville, for posting public threats on Bluesky to maim and murder ICE agents, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) (interstate threats). Kerr appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin in the Eastern District of Tennessee on September 21, 2026, and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He was detained pending trial, which has been set for November 24, 2026, before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in United States District Court at Knoxville.
The indictment alleges that on June 4, 2025, Kerr, while using the social media platform Bluesky, posted publicly “Time to bear spray ICE!” And later, on October 7, 2025, Kerr, while using the social media platform Bluesky, posted publicly “Kill the ice military police!”
If convicted, Kerr faces a total term of 10 years in prison. The maximum prison sentence for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) is five years. Each violation also includes a maximum fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge, Dennis M. Fetting, of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Irvine Woman Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Not Reporting $2.6 Million in Income She Obtained via Crypto CriminalRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Orange County woman who is the former girlfriend of a cryptocurrency fraudster who called himself “The Godfather” was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for failing to report more than $2.6 million in ill-gotten gains she obtained via her then-boyfriend’s criminal activities.
Iris Rabaya Au, 37, of Irvine, was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who also ordered her to pay $1,484,343 in restitution and to forfeit a fleet of luxury and high-performance cars, designer handbags, and three “Godfather” sculptures, among other assets.
Au pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of subscribing to a false tax return.
According to Au’s plea agreement, from 2020 to 2024, once dated Adam Iza, 26, who resided in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, and was a self-styled cryptocurrency businessman who has been in federal custody since September 2024.
Iza committed a series of crimes, including fraudulently obtaining access to advertising accounts and lines of credit provided by Facebook Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. and selling access to those accounts. Iza obtained millions of dollars of unreported income because of these schemes.
Separately, Iza engaged active Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputies to provide private security for him and caused the deputies, among other things, to obtain court-authorized search warrants and confidential law enforcement information targeting people with whom Iza had financial and personal disputes.
At Iza’s direction, Au created shell corporations and opened bank accounts in the names of those entities. She then used the illicit funds placed into those accounts to pay approximately $1 million to the deputies, mostly in cash, purchase or lease luxury real estate, cars, jewelry, and clothing, pay for recreational activity for Iza and herself valued at nearly $10 million, and acquire approximately $16 million in cryptocurrency for Iza.
Au transferred more than $2.6 million from these various accounts to her personal bank accounts during the period 2020 through 2023, income that she willfully failed to report to the IRS on her federal tax returns.
“[Au] set up the financial infrastructure that enabled Adam Iza to move, spend, and conceal millions of dollars in fraud proceeds while she personally benefited from the wealth,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Au concealed entities and income from her tax preparer and filed returns reporting only a small fraction of what she had actually received. Those were affirmative acts designed to prevent the IRS from learning the true extent of her income.”
Iza pleaded guilty in January 2025 in Los Angeles federal court to one count of conspiracy against rights, one count of wire fraud, and one count of tax evasion. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 5 before Judge Anderson.
Iza is serving a 15-year federal prison sentence for his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping in Connecticut in August 2024.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the National Security Division prosecuted this case.
Illegal alien who fired AR style rifle from crowded Dallas bridge on New Year’s Eve sentenced to 35 months in prisonRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a man who fired multiple rounds from an AR‑style rifle off the Margaret McDermott Bridge amid New Year’s Eve celebrations was sentenced to 35 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as an illegal alien.
Jose Raul Alarcon Sanchez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey. In imposing the 35‑month sentence, Judge Godbey noted that although Alarcon Sanchez is young, his conduct was “incredibly dangerous” and warranted a significant term of imprisonment.
“Spraying rifle fire off a downtown bridge is a lawless act that puts our Dallas residents at risk. This sentence makes clear that anyone who turns a celebration into a crime scene will face swift and serious federal consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We will not tolerate violent, brazen conduct that endangers the public, and we will continue to use every federal tool available to protect North Texans.”
“This case is a clear example of why we never stop working the evidence,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner. “What happened on that bridge could have ended in tragedy, but our agents and our law enforcement partners methodically followed the evidence—from the shell casings recovered at the scene to the firearm and ultimately to the individual who pulled the trigger. When someone recklessly uses a firearm in a way that puts innocent people in danger, ATF will use every investigative resource available to identify that firearm, identify the shooter, and build the case necessary to hold them accountable.”
According to court records, just after midnight on Jan. 1, Alarcon Sanchez and another man stood among stopped vehicles and crowds gathered to watch celebratory fireworks from the Margaret McDermott Bridge. The two men took turns filming each other firing black rifles over the side of the bridge.
On Jan. 5, Dallas Police Department officers recovered significant ballistic evidence at the scene, including seventy‑nine 5.56/.223 caliber fired cartridge casings and multiple 9mm and .40 caliber casings both on and beneath the bridge. Additional matching cartridge casings and ammunition were recovered from Alarcon Sanchez’s pockets and his van when he was arrested by Grand Prairie Police later that night in response to a separate “shots fired” call.
A subsequent search warrant executed at Alarcon Sanchez’s residence on Jan. 28, resulted in the recovery of multiple firearms, including an AR‑15‑style pistol later linked to the fired cartridge casings found on the bridge. Agents also recovered his Mexican passport and confirmed that he had overstayed a temporary visitor visa issued in May 2025.
Investigators additionally located social media photographs and videos posted by Alarcon Sanchez days before and immediately after the New Year’s Eve shooting, depicting him holding and firing the same AR‑style rifles believed to have been used on the bridge.
Photos from Alarcon Sanchez’s social media posts, showing a man holding AR-style rifles.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Dallas Field Division and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Grand Prairie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Aulbaugh from the Violent Crimes section prosecuted the case.
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Grand jury indicts 4 in sweeping $7.3 million mortgage fraud scheme targeting FHA and VA programsRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced charges against four defendants for allegedly orchestrating a multi‑year mortgage fraud scheme that resulted in the funding of more than 20 fraudulent home loans totaling approximately $7,339,699.
On Sept. 16, a federal grand jury indicted Shawna Randall (aka Shawna Porter), Cleophus Turner, Julie Shoumbert and Maurice Gardner. All four are charged with conspiracy to provide false statements to a mortgage lending business, while Randall and Turner are additionally charged with three counts of fraud and false statements.
“These defendants allegedly conspired to corrupt the mortgage process by flooding lenders with fabricated finance and employment information to push through unqualified borrowers,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We will pursue anyone who deceives federal loan programs, threatens the integrity of our housing system and harms American taxpayers who ultimately bear the cost of fraudulent schemes such as this.”
“The defendants allegedly engaged in a sophisticated loan origination scheme, using their knowledge and experience in banking and real estate to circumvent federal lending requirements,” said Special Agent in Charge Grant Permenter, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. “At every stage, any one of them could have stopped these fraudulent transactions, but instead, they allegedly chose to participate. Their actions undermined the integrity of the FHA program and resulted in more than $7.3 million in fraudulently obtained loans. HUD OIG will continue working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement and oversight partners to hold accountable those who seek to profit by abusing HUD funded programs.”
“Stopping fraud in the VA Home Loan Program is not just about protecting resources—it’s about safeguarding the benefits that our veterans have earned,” said Inspector General Cheryl L. Mason, Department of Veterans Affairs. “Through our strong law enforcement partnerships and vigilant oversight, we will continue to halt these schemes and hold fraudsters accountable.”
FHFA-OIG is committed to working with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who engage in mortgage-related fraud, particularly when officers of financial institutions and lenders, who have a duty to conduct honest business, participate in that fraud” said Christopher Lane, Special Agent in Charge of FHFA-OIG’s Central Region. “We are grateful to HUD-OIG and VA-OIG for their partnership in the investigation of this case.
According to the indictment, from June 2020 through November 2022, Randall, Turner, Shoumbert and Gardner conspired to falsify income, employment, bank records and other financial documents in order to qualify unqualified borrowers for Federal Housing Administration, Veteran’s Affairs and conventional mortgage loans originated through Eustis Mortgage Corporation d/b/a Verity Mortgage.
Randall, who worked for a real estate broker, allegedly recruited unqualified borrowers and prepared or directed the preparation of fraudulent W‑2s, pay stubs, employment verifications and falsified bank statements. Her real‑estate license was inactive during the conspiracy.
Turner, a mortgage loan officer at Verity Mortgage, allegedly submitted the falsified documents as part of official loan applications, despite knowing the information was fabricated or altered.
Shoumbert and Gardner allegedly produced falsified bank statements for borrowers at Randall’s request, which were then submitted to Eustis/Verity Mortgage as part of loan qualification files.
The indictment outlines numerous overt acts showing the defendants created and transmitted fake employment documents and bank statements to support loan applications in Texas and Oklahoma.
As a result of the alleged fraud, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has already paid partial FHA‑insurance claims exceeding $493,499.
If convicted, Randall and Turner each face up to five years in federal prison for conspiracy and up to thirty years on each of the three false‑statement counts, fines and mandatory forfeiture. Shoumbert and Gardner, who are each charged with conspiracy, face up to five years in prison, fines, and forfeiture.
HUD, VA and Federal Housing Finance Agency Offices of the Inspectors General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham from the Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Gainesville Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Eddie Jerome Scott, 39, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This substantial prison sentence appropriately reflects the severity of the threat posed to our communities by this serial felon’s rampant criminality. Thanks to the successful prosecution by my office his reign of terror is now at an end. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche have committed the Department of Justice toward the necessary mission of aggressively enforcing our laws to keep our communities safe, and that is exactly what my office will continue doing until the citizens of my district get the safe, drug-free streets that they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant sold methamphetamine at his home on two occasions in August and September 2025. A search warrant was executed at the home. Law enforcement seized over 1,232 grams of methamphetamine, 18.5 grams of cocaine, .29 grams of fentanyl, buprenophrine, gabapentin, marijuana, cash, drug paraphernalia, a money counter, and a loaded .22-caliber pistol. The defendant has multiple prior felony convictions including possession of cocaine and sale of a controlled substance, and was legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
“This polydrug distributor operated in a college town, preying on young students, among others,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. “This armed trafficker dealt in sizeable quantities of methamphetamine, which can destroy communities. Gainesville residents will be safer with this criminal off the streets.”
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who distribute dangerous drugs and possess firearms while committing crimes will be held accountable,” said Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya.
The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Gainesville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christie Utt and Tyler Fleming.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Gainesville Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun & Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Quardarell Henry Robinson, 38, of Gainesville, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our federal law enforcement partners, and this successful prosecution by my office, this armed drug trafficker has been taken off our streets. Anyone peddling drugs and violence in my district will face the full might of the Department of Justice.”
Court documents reflect that in February 2026, the defendant threw a handbag and a loaded pistol outside of his vehicle while attempting to evade law enforcement. The handbag was recovered and found to contain over 140 grams of cocaine, cocaine base, individually packaged marijuana bags, other baggies, and an electronic scale. Law enforcement also recovered a handgun in the area where defendant’s vehicle had stopped, which had been captured by nearby commercial business surveillance cameras. Later, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence, where law enforcement recovered a loaded handgun and cookware that contained cocaine base.
Robinson faces a minimum of five years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment.
Sentencing is scheduled before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor, in Gainesville, Florida, on November 23, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
The plea was the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Fort Walton Beach Physician Pays $300,000 to Resolve Controlled Substances Act Violation AllegationsRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Dr. Twan Phanijphand, M.D., a gastroenterologist located in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve allegations that he unlawfully prescribed opioids and other controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). As part of the settlement, Dr. Phanijphand also agreed to not reapply for a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration for Schedule II and IIN controlled substances and agreed to additional monitoring by the DEA. The settlement was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Federal law strictly governs the administration and dispensation of controlled substances by medical professionals, and ensuring physicians in Florida are complying with those requirements is of principal importance to keeping our communities safe and healthy. Florida, in particular, has dealt with the devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic for years, and my office is committed to ensuring we hold physicians accountable to prevent future harms to our communities.”
The government alleged that Dr. Phanijphand committed certain CSA violations, including that from June 15, 2023, through March 7, 2025, Dr. Phanijphand unlawfully prescribed at least one hundred twenty-seven (127) controlled substance prescriptions within the State of Florida (including prescriptions for oxycodone-acetaminophen, hydrocodone-acetaminophen, lorazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, and tramadol) and did not maintain any patient records. Dr. Phanijphand voluntarily surrendered his DEA registration on April 22, 2026. In addition to the $300,000 monetary fine, Dr. Phanijphand agreed to (1) not reapply for a DEA registration for Schedule II or IIN controlled substances, and (2) document completion of continuing medical education in prescribing and recordkeeping of controlled substances.
“The Controlled Substance Act requires DEA registrants to maintain accurate inventorying, tracking, and record keeping to prevent the diversion of controlled substances,” said DEA Tampa Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “We remain committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to protect the safety and health of our Florida communities.”
This civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by Dr. Phanijphand, nor a concession by the United States that its claims were not well-founded.
Assistant United States Attorney Mary Ann Couch represented the United States in this matter, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (Diversion Control Program).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former Snohomish County Registered Sex Offender pleads guilty to the sex abuse of two teens he met onlineRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 29-year-old registered sex offender who had been living in Snohomish County, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two counts of enticement of a minor for his sexual abuse of two 14-year-old teens. Aqeel Ibn-Khalid Shareef was charged by criminal complaint in October 2025, with production of child sexual abuse material. The criminal complaint was filed after a review of his electronic devices revealed images of his sexual abuse of the young victims. U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson is scheduled for December 14, 2026.
According to records filed in the case, in January 2024, Shareef was convicted of state sex crimes including rape of a child. He was ordered to register as a sex offender. Following his prison term he was being monitored by the Washington State Department of Corrections. In October 2025, Shareef’s DOC Community Corrections Officer became concerned that Shareef had unauthorized electronic devices and began investigating his compliance with supervision.
When Shareef was arrested by the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, officers seized two unauthorized electronic devices. The investigation revealed that the electronic devices contained communications with two minor victims and sexual abuse images of those victims. Shareef was indicted on November 12, 2025.
In his guilty plea, Shareef admits meeting the victims online and communicating with them via Discord, Signal, Instagram, and Tik Tok. One victim was contacted and assaulted in July and August 2025 and the second was contacted and assaulted in September and October 2025.
Enticement of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years to life in prison. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend 20 years in prison while the defense can recommend no less than 15 years in prison. Judge Evanson is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence allowed by law. The King County Superior Court case charging these sex crimes will be dismissed in connection with this federal guilty plea.
This case was investigated by the FBI in coordination with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) with officers from the Seattle Police Department and the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States 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 .
Former Police Officer Convicted of Depriving Woman of Civil Rights and Obstructing Federal InvestigationRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a former police officer has been convicted for using his position to violate a woman’s constitutional right to bodily integrity while responding to a shoplifting call.
On September 18, 2026, a federal jury found Markelle Jaquan Cox, 32, guilty on four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and three counts of obstruction of justice.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on October 20, 2023, Cox, then a Montgomery Police Department (MPD) officer, responded to a shoplifting report at a department store on the Eastern Boulevard. During the investigation, he handcuffed the victim and escorted her to his patrol vehicle. While she was restrained, Cox engaged in unlawful and abusive sexual contact, including touching intimate areas of her body, with some of the touching occurring under her clothing. Cox later removed the handcuffs and forced the victim to touch him.
Because the victim did not speak English, Cox used a translation app to solicit sex. He then directed her to unlock her phone so he could add his phone number before letting her leave the scene. The victim then contacted 911 and went to MPD headquarters to file a complaint.
MPD immediately opened an investigation and interviewed Cox, who denied the allegations. Body‑camera footage, however, corroborated the victim’s account. Even after being told of the evidence, Cox continued to deny wrongdoing. A search of both phones confirmed the added phone number and use of the translation app.
In rendering its guilty verdict, the jury determined that Cox used his authority as a law enforcement officer to facilitate the abuse and later provided false information to MPD investigators to obstruct the investigation.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, Cox faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Montgomery Police Department and FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Counts, Christine Levi, and Faith Mote of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.
Former Placerville postal employee sentenced to a year in prison for stealing and tampering with the narcotic prescriptions of United States military veteransRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Carrie Wallace, 48, of Fort Bragg, California, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to one year in prison for tampering with a consumer product and mail theft by a postal employee, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Wallace used her position as a U.S. Postal Service employee to access and steal mail parcels containing prescription medication and vape products. She intentionally targeted packages sent by the Department of Veterans Affairs to its patients because those packages generally contained narcotic medications. Wallace cut into the packages, opened the prescription narcotics medication bottles, stole the medication and replaced it with over-the-counter medication, retaped the packages and placed them back in the mail stream to be delivered to the intended recipients. Multiple veteran victims consumed the tampered medication, putting them at risk of injury for taking incorrectly dispensed drugs. Due to Wallace’s medication theft and tampering, veteran victims experienced extreme pain, increased agitation, anger, and other mental health symptoms.
Wallace pleaded guilty on April 4, 2026.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the VA Police Department conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Moody prosecuted the case.
Former Connecticut Resident Guilty of Operating Websites to Illegally Sell Misbranded and Unapproved DrugsRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that on September 18, 2026, a federal jury in New Haven found RYAN FIELDS, 52, of Port Neches, Texas, guilty of federal offenses related to illegally selling misbranded and unapproved prescription drugs.
According to the evidence introduced during the trial and other court proceedings, from September 2021 to June 2023, Fields and Lisa Mahan, who formerly resided in Glastonbury, Connecticut, operated two websites, pinnedaminos.com and projectaminos.com, as well as a private Facebook group called Pinned Aminos, through which they illegally sold and distributed to customers throughout the U.S. misbranded prescription drugs. They did not require customers to provide a valid prescription, and some of the drugs they sold and distributed were unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human consumption. The drugs they sold also included drugs they illegally imported from foreign manufacturers.
To avoid detection and mislead the FDA, the pinnedaminos.com website had a disclaimer that falsely stated that the products for sale were “intended for laboratory and research use only,” and “not intended for human ingestion.” In addition, the labeling on the drugs sold and delivered to customers falsely stated that the drugs were “research compounds” and/or “not for human consumption.” Contrary to these representations, Fields and Mahan knew and intended that the drugs they sold were for human use, and through emails and posts on the Pinned Aminos Facebook group, they provided customers with information on the health benefits of the drugs they sold and directions on dosage.
Fields unlawfully shipped over 10,000 parcels to customers throughout the country and collected more than $1.4 million from customers. Fields and Mahan used the proceeds to pay themselves, purchase cars, and purchase a residence in Texas.
Fields and Mahan were arrested on August 23, 2023.
The jury found Fields guilty of one count of conspiracy to introduce misbranded or unapproved drugs into interstate commerce and to smuggle goods into the United States, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The jury also ordered the forfeiture of Fields’ Texas residence and a vehicle he purchased with proceeds from the conspiracy.
Fields is released on bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
On April 6, 2026, Mahan, 56, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. On August 13, 2026, she was sentenced to three years of probation.
This matter has been investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neeraj N. Patel and Justyn P. Stokely.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas for their assistance in this matter.
Former Bank CEO Sentenced to over 9 Years in Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Venezuela Sanctions Evasion SchemeRead the Press Release
Tomás Niembro Concha, 64, a Spanish and Venezuelan national, the former chief executive officer of Nodus International Bank (Nodus Bank), a Puerto Rican international bank, was sentenced to 112 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Niembro led a scheme to fraudulently obtain at least $24.9 million from Nodus Bank and conspired to evade U.S. sanctions against Venezuela. Niembro was ordered to forfeit over $16.9 million, which represents the value of the proceeds he derived from the wire fraud conspiracy.
“The defendant abused his position with Nodus Bank to commit fraud for his own enrichment and to willfully evade sanctions on a designated individual,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “When individuals who are supposed to serve as gatekeepers to our financial system choose to abuse that trust and instead use their access to facilitate crimes, the Criminal Division will hold them accountable. Our national security and the integrity of our financial system demand nothing less.”
“The defendant’s scheme didn’t stop at fraud; it extended into conspiring to evade U.S. sanctions designed to protect our national security,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Florida Field Office. “This case demonstrates how collaboration between the IRS-CI, the Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture (TEOAF), and the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico (OCIF) ensures that complex financial crimes and sanctions-evasion schemes are uncovered and prosecuted.”
On March 19, Niembro pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
According to court filings, Niembro conspired with others to siphon money from Nodus Bank, ultimately leading to the bank’s failure in 2023. Niembro and his co-conspirators concealed from other Nodus Bank board members, executives and the bank’s regulator, OCIF, that certain investments and loans were for the benefit of Niembro and Board Chairman Juan Ramirez, in violation of Puerto Rican law. From 2017 to 2023, Niembro, Ramirez, and others caused Nodus Bank to invest $11 million in a Miami-based lender so those funds could be loaned to Niembro and Ramirez for their own benefit. Niembro and his co-conspirators knew that these transactions were illegal and concealed their conduct through the sham investments.
Between January 2018 and September 2021, Niembro and Ramirez also fraudulently induced Nodus Bank’s board and comptroller to agree to buy at least 47 promissory notes totaling approximately $25.3 million from Nodus Finance, a Miami-based company that Niembro and Ramirez jointly owned, so they could use the proceeds of the transactions for themselves.
In early March 2023, OCIF notified the bank it would be placed into liquidation. Niembro and Ramirez fraudulently caused Nodus Bank to accept a loan portfolio from Nodus Finance to pay down the debt from the 47 promissory notes.
Between 2021 and 2023, Niembro conspired with others to conduct prohibited financial transactions with an individual designated as a Specially Designated National (SDN) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for providing material support to Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA). To satisfy an outstanding loan of approximately $2.5 million that the SDN’s company had with Nodus Bank prior to the imposition of sanctions, Niembro and the SDN devised a scheme to cause Nodus Bank to foreclose on the SDN’s home in Southampton, New York — for which they obtained OFAC authorization — but separately reached a “private” agreement to induce Nodus Bank to sell the property back to the SDN for $4 million through a front company — a transaction that was strictly prohibited by U.S. sanctions and not otherwise licensed by OFAC.
IRS-CI investigated the case with support from OCIF and TEOAF.
Trial Attorneys Javier Urbina and Samir Paul of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Felipe Plechac-Diaz for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from IRS Criminal Investigation with the prosecution being led by Bank Integrity Unit of MNF and by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
MNF’s 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 Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
Five Fresno residents plead guilty to a bank fraud scheme organized on FacebookRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Five Fresno residents have pleaded guilty to participating in a year-long bank fraud scheme that sought to defraud banks out of $1 million, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Zorian Temple, 25, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud. On Aug. 17, 2026, Davonntae Barfield, 31; Zion Brewer, 40; and Nyric Hinton, 28, also pleaded guilty. On Aug. 31, 2026, Harry Cooper Neal, 30, pleaded guilty.
According to court records, from 2022 to 2023, Brewer, a U.S. Postal Service employee, stole checks from the mail and gave them to the other defendants. The others then recruited bank account holders, or used their own bank accounts, to deposit the stolen checks and withdraw the proceeds. The defendants met each other and coordinated the scheme primarily through Facebook and Facebook Messenger.
In total, the stolen checks had a face value of more than $1 million. The actual loss to the banks, however, was a few hundred thousand dollars because the banks detected most of the stolen checks and stopped payment before the defendants could withdraw the funds.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Fresno Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston is scheduled to sentence Neal on Nov. 30, 2026, Barfield, Brewer, and Hinton on Dec. 7, 2026, and Temple on Jan. 11, 2027. The defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Federal Jury Convicts Dominican National for Involvement in Multistate Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Following a 4-day trial, a federal jury found Dominican national Andri Pimental Arias, 23, guilty last Friday for conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Arias was convicted for his role in a multistate fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. United States District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty has set sentencing for January 7, 2027.
According to the testimony and evidence presented at trial, beginning in the fall of 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated a Lawrence, Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl across New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The organization used social media, messaging applications, and a dedicated phone line to take drug orders and send runners to make deliveries. The evidence showed that Pimentel Arias acted as one such runner, personally distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl on three separate occasions between September and October 2022, in response to orders placed through the organization’s dispatch phone line.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the Nashua Police Department and New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cesar A. Vega and Mike Shannon are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
Federal Grand Jury returns Two Indictments in Interstate Cargo Theft Cases Totaling Nearly $600,000 in LossesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in Memphis has returned indictments in two separate interstate cargo theft investigations resulting in nearly $600,000 in losses to commercial freight carriers and companies operating in West Tennessee. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictments today.
In the first matter, the grand jury indicted Aubrey Brown, 53, and Kemptrell Daniels, 24, for conduct occurring from July 2024 through August 2024. According to the indictment, Brown and Daniels knowingly received or possessed Arista computer networking switches and other commercial freight valued at more than $5,000 following their theft from an interstate shipment.
Brown is further charged with transporting stolen Arista switches from Tennessee to other states, including California, Georgia, and Texas, knowing the goods had been stolen. Brown faces three federal charges, while Daniels faces two federal charges. If convicted, each charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison, along with fines and supervised release.
In a separate indictment, the grand jury charged Pierre Smith, 32, with four counts involving possession of stolen televisions and tires taken from interstate CSX rail shipments. According to the indictment, the conduct occurred from March 2024 through August 2024 and involved four separate thefts. The indictment alleges that Smith knowingly possessed stolen Insignia televisions from a shipment traveling from California to Georgia; stolen Toyo tires from a shipment traveling from Georgia to California; stolen Samsung televisions from a shipment traveling from California to Tennessee; and stolen Sumitomo tires from a shipment traveling from Georgia to Tennessee.
In each count, Smith is alleged to have knowingly possessed stolen goods valued at more than $1,000 that had been taken from interstate freight. If convicted, each charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison, along with fines and supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Memphis sits at the crossroads of American commerce and has earned its reputation as America’s Distribution Center - home to a world-class transportation infrastructure, including one of the busiest cargo airports in the world, a major rail system, interstate highways, and the mighty Mississippi River. Cargo theft that disrupts and harms that crucial interstate commerce will not be tolerated and will be met with aggressive federal prosecution and significant consequences.”
"Interstate cargo theft is not a victimless crime, it strikes businesses and communities creating millions of dollars in losses," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "These indictments demonstrate that those who allegedly profit from stealing and trafficking stolen cargo will face serious consequences. The FBI Nashville Cargo Theft Task Force and our partners are committed to holding accountable anyone who targets our transportation networks for personal gain."
Both cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Memphis Cargo Theft Task Force with assistance from the Memphis Police Department, CSX Police, FedEx Security, and law enforcement partners nationwide.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Delery is prosecuting both matters on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Eugene Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Property OwnersRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Eugene, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud.
David Paul Williams, 46, pleaded guilty to defrauding several Newport, Oregon, property owners, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, Williams defrauded the owners of vacant lots in Newport through his companies TreeNada Co and Treenada Construction. In November 2020, Williams entered into agreements with owners of vacant lots in Newport to build townhomes on their lots. Between 2020 and 2022, Williams was paid over $850,000 by the owners to build the townhomes, which were never built. Williams sent email updates to owners with progress on the project that were false and misled the victims to elicit additional money. Williams instead used the fraudulently obtained funds to pay for other projects, to pay a church he had previously defrauded, and for other pre-existing debt. The total loss to investors caused by Williams exceeded $850,000.
On June 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a 10-count indictment charging Williams with wire fraud.
Williams faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 22, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
As part of the plea agreement, Williams has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victims.
FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Rykken is prosecuting the case.
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Elite FBI and HSI Team Transports 18 Defendants from Haiti to South Florida to Face Federal Charges in Assassination of Haitian President in HSTF TakedownRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida today announced the successful transport of 18 defendants from Haiti to Miami to face newly unsealed federal charges related to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021.
The special operation involved members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) elite Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), FBI Miami case agents and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents aboard a military aircraft equipped to handle possible armed gang attacks from around the Port-au-Prince airport in the Haitian capital.
These 18 individuals are among a group of 30 defendants that a Southern District of Florida grand jury indicted for their various roles in the plot to kill the President of Haiti. The charges include an intertwined fraud and money laundering scheme that relied on funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) COVID-19 relief program to finance the assassination plot.
“Today marks the next major phase in our pursuit of accountability for the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Our work did not end with the men who planned and carried out this assassination. We will follow the evidence wherever it leads, to those who financed it, facilitated it, supported it, or committed crimes to make it possible. Five years later, we are still bringing defendants before American courts, and we are not finished.”
“In July 2021, President Jovenel Moise was assassinated by individuals seeking to profit from illicit financial opportunities and business contracts,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “Today's multi-location and international arrests underscore the FBI’s continued commitment to bringing all participants in this plot to justice. FBI Miami, along with our domestic and international partners, remains steadfast in ensuring that all individuals who allegedly sought to profit from the assassination of a head of state are held fully accountable.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is uniquely positioned to investigate complex crimes that cross borders, exploit financial systems, and threaten the security of the United States and the international community,” said Jose R. Figueroa, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami. “The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse was a horrific attack, and we remain fully committed to working shoulder to shoulder with our partners to further expose the criminal network behind it, identify every individual who played a role, and ensure that the last person responsible is brought to justice.”
According to recently unsealed court documents, at least 22 newly named defendants directly participated in a coordinated multinational conspiracy involving financing, recruitment, and logistical support to carry out the attack on July 7, 2021.
The following defendants are charged with offenses arising from the alleged conspiracy to kill or kidnap President Moïse:
Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a/k/a “Kumbe,” a/k/a “Pumba,” a/k/a “Bubba,” a/k/a “Mr. President,” a/k/a “P”
Byron Sherrod Rainer, a/k/a “B. Ellis Rains,” a/k/a “Byron Rain,” a/k/a “Byron Ellis”
Joseph Felix Badio, a/k/a “Cousin”
Vitel’Homme Innocent
Carlos Giovanni Guerrero Torres, a/k/a “Don Francisco”
Victor Albeiro Pineda Cardona, a/k/a “Pipe”
Juan Carlos Yepes Clavijo, a/k/a “Woker”
Naiser Franco Castaneda, a/k/a “Esneider”
Angel Mario Yarce Sierra
Jheyner Alberto Carmona Flores, a/k/a “Joseph”
Edwin Enrique Blanquicet Rodriguez, a/k/a “Daniel”
Manuel Antonio Grosso Guarin, a/k/a “Mauricio”
Jhon Jairo Ramirez Gomez, a/k/a “Danny”
Francisco Eladio Uribe Ochoa, a/k/a “Cristian”
Alejandro Giraldo Zapata, a/k/a “Alexander”
Neil Caceres Duran, a/k/a “Anderson”
Jhon Jader Andela
Enalber Vargas Gomez, a/k/a “Victor”
John Jairo Suarez Alegria, a/k/a “Angel”
Gersain Mendivelso Jaimes
Alex Miyer Peña, a/k/a “Holman”
Samir Handal
Ashkard Pierre
The following defendants are charged with offenses arising from the alleged PPP-EIDL fraud and money laundering scheme:
Byron Sherrod Rainer, a/k/a “B. Ellis Rains,” a/k/a “Byron Rain,” a/k/a “Byron Ellis,”
Jameela Ammara Simmons
Marcel Williamson
Travis Barrett Nave
If convicted, certain defendants face a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Any sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to the indictment, members of the conspiracy coordinated funding for weapons, traveled to and from Haiti during planning phases, and used encrypted communications to organize the operation. Several defendants allegedly provided material support knowing the conspiracy would result in a violent attack that led to the president’s death.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of HSI Miami made the announcement.
FBI Miami and HSI Miami are investigating the case, with assistance from Haitian law enforcement and international partners.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean T. McLaughlin, Jason Wu, and Altanese Phenelus are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from FBI Miami and HSI Miami.
A copy of the indictment can be found here.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-20104.
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Crown Medical Solutions and Its Owners to Pay $825,000 for Fraudulent Billing SchemeRead the Press Release
Crown Medical Solutions LLC (Crown) and its owners, Michelle and Philanzo King, have agreed to pay $825,000 to resolve allegations that Crown and its owners violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment to Medicare.
Crown was a supplier of durable medical equipment (DME), such as knee braces, heel stabilizers, and back braces. The United States alleged that, from Nov. 1, 2017 through April 30, 2019, Crown and its owners billed Medicare for DME provided to Medicare beneficiaries that was not medically necessary and/or not properly prescribed by a physician. The settlement is based on defendants’ ability to pay.
“The Department of Justice is committed to fighting healthcare fraud and holding accountable those who exploit federal healthcare programs for personal profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Karen Martinelli. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Martinelli v. Crown Medical Solutions, LLC, et al., No. 1:19-cv-01660 (N.D. Ga.). As part of this resolution, Martinelli will receive approximately $123,750 of the settlement amount.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The matter was handled by Commercial Litigation Branch Trial Attorney Anna Jugo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeli Ben-David for the Northern District of Georgia.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Convicted Tucson Gang Member Sentenced to 335 Months in Prison for RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – David Kapone Williams, 36, of Tucson, was sentenced on Sep. 16, by United States District Judge James A. Soto to 335 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Williams previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Participate in a Pattern of Racketeering Activity.
Williams admitted to being a member of the Western Hills Bloods (WHB) criminal street gang that operated in Tucson, Arizona. The WHB was an organized group of individuals involved in a pattern of racketeering activity, including narcotics trafficking, possessing firearms, witness intimidation, and committing violent crimes, including murder, on behalf of the gang.
According to court documents, on May 15, 2015, along with other WHB members, David Williams murdered a rival gang member in the parking lot of the La Quinta Hotel near the Tucson International Airport. WHB members also participated in the October 2014 homicide of an individual near Fremont Street in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to the violence, Williams engaged in trafficking narcotics in Tucson, and throughout the United States, on behalf of the WHB.
Several of Williams’ Western Hills Bloods co-defendants were previously sentenced in this case, including:
Marcell Demetrius Gray pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Participate in a Pattern of Racketeering Activity. Gray was sentenced on May 27, 2026, to 335 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Shawmaine Eustace Ardell Moore pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Participate in a Pattern of Racketeering Activity. He was sentenced on Dec. 3, 2025, to 240 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Samuel Lee Berrelle Rakestraw III pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Participate in a Pattern of Racketeering Activity. Rakestraw was sentenced on May 28, 2025, to 240 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Michael Anthony Williams pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Participate in a Pattern of Racketeering Activity. He was sentenced on Mar. 26, 2025, to 262 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Jermaine Lamar Maxwell pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Participate in a Pattern of Racketeering Activity. He was sentenced to 240 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Cliffton Martinez pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. Martinez was sentenced on Dec. 7, 2022, to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Labarr Martinez pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. He was sentenced on July 19, 2023, to 50 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
“With Williams’ sentence, this long-fought battle to bring members of the violent Western Hills Bloods to justice finally comes to an end,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “But that doesn’t mean we are anywhere close to ending our mission to bring safety to Tucson’s streets. The persistence of law enforcement and prosecutors in this case should stand as a warning to other gangs and violent offenders out there – we won’t tire in seeking justice.”
“This significant sentence is part of an over ten-year effort to hold members of the Western Hills Bloods, a violent criminal street gang, accountable for their acts of violence and intimidation which they inflicted on the citizens of Tucson,” said A.J. Gibes, Special Agent in Charge for the ATF Phoenix Field Division. “This years-long effort by ATF and our partners with the Tucson Police Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety is indicative of our unwavering commitment to protecting the public from violent armed offenders and armed drug traffickers.”
This investigation is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Sottosanti, Michelle Chamblee, and Brian Hopkins, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 18-CR-01695-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-162_Williams, et al.# # #
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.Contractor Agrees to Pay One of the Largest AbilityOne Program Related False Claims Act Settlements of All TimeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced today that Lifeview Group, Inc., together with its corporate predecessors and affiliates (Lifeview), agreed to a settlement of $5,059,808.00 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by AbilityOne Commission Chairperson Christina Brandt, Special Agent in Charge Jorge Richardson of the U.S. General Services Office of Inspector General Midwest Investigations Division and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jessica Herrington of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG), Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Northeast Field Office
Lifeview was involved in the Department of War’s Defense Manpower Data Center Enterprise Information Technology Services contract (EITS). The contract was awarded through the AbilityOne Program, a federal program enacted to create employment opportunities for blind or significantly disabled individuals. The program is administered by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, operating as the U.S. AbilityOne Commission. To participate in the AbilityOne Program, contractors must perform 75% of the labor related to “the[ir overall] production of products and… provision of services” with labor by individuals who are the blind or significantly disabled. This is known as the direct labor hour ratio requirement. Contractors must also meet contract-specific direct labor hour ratios, and the AbilityOne Commission can approve lower direct labor hour ratios on a project-by-project basis. The United States investigated allegations that Lifeview did not meet the direct labor hour ratio requirement for the EITS contract, and this settlement resolves allegations that Lifeview made false statements to the AbilityOne Commission about Lifeview’s performance of the EITS contract in the period leading up to the renewal of the EITS contract on June 17, 2019.
“The False Claims Act is an important tool for combatting procurement fraud. Our office will vigorously investigate entities that make false statements about their qualifications to obtain or keep government contracts,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“The AbilityOne Commission maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any action, omission, or misrepresentation that undermines the integrity of the AbilityOne Program,” said Commission Chairperson Christina Brandt. “The Commission will promptly and thoroughly address allegations of wrongdoing to ensure that isolated incidents are appropriately resolved. Working with the Department of Justice and our partners, the Commission and its Office of Inspector General remain committed to accountability, transparency, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
“False or misleading statements about work related to a program intended to expand employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities should not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Jorge Richardson of the U.S. General Services Office of Inspector General Midwest Investigations Division. "We will continue working with federal partners to uncover misconduct, protect public resources, and hold accountable those who secure government contracts by providing false information."
“The AbilityOne program is designed to expand meaningful employment opportunities for blind and disabled workers, and they depend on the honesty and accountability of participating contractors,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jessica Herrington of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG), Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Northeast Field Office. “As the law enforcement arm of the DoD OIG, DCIS remains committed to ensuring that contractors fulfill their obligations and provide accurate information to federal oversight bodies. This settlement underscores our dedication to protecting taxpayer funds and the importance of programs that broaden access to employment.”
The settlement resolves a civil lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of Michigan and is captioned United States ex rel. Hruska v. Global Connections to Employment, Inc., Case No. 17-13804 (E.D. Mich.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, the U.S. Department of War - Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. General Services Administration - Office of the Inspector General. The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney John Postulka from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the FraudNet hotline at 1-800-424-5454.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Carlisle Man Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter for Death of Letterkenny Army Depot U.S. Army ReservistRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sean Stark, age 38, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was charged by criminal information with involuntary manslaughter.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the information alleges that on March 12, 2026, Stark killed Private First Class Krystofer Lopez at Letterkenny Army Depot while conducting firearms training in a grossly negligent manner.
Along with the information, the U.S. Attorney’s Office also filed a plea agreement in which Stark agreed to waive indictment and plead guilty to the information. Stark will enter a plea of guilty in accordance with the plea agreement at a hearing to be scheduled by the court.
“The circumstances surrounding Mr. Lopez’s death are heartbreaking for his family and loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Miller. “I hope this prosecution brings some relief for the family while ensuring that justice is delivered.”
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Ford and Alisan Martin are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Stark faces a maximum penalty for this offense of eight years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Criminal informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Career Offender Sentenced to Nearly 13 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 30-year-old man with a history of drug trafficking offenses has been sentenced to prison after he was once again found in violation of federal drug and firearms laws.
Jermaine S. Cottrell, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 155 months (12.91 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty in June to:
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions include Drug Trafficking in 2018, 2020, and 2021
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (3 counts).
Judge Nugent also ordered Cottrell to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit a pistol, magazine, and ammunition.
According to court documents and evidence presented before the court, in September 2025, Cottrell was located in the parking lot of a CVS pharmacy. As officers attempted to box in the car to prevent flight, Cottrell, used his vehicle to ram into police cars and then fled on foot.
While officers attempted to secure him in handcuffs, Cottrell shoved several small plastic bags of narcotics into his mouth which he later spit out while EMS transported him to a hospital. A forensic analysis of the drugs in Cottrell’s possession were determined to include cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fluorofentanyl, and fentanyl. A firearm with an extended magazine was in the driver’s side door of the vehicle Cottrell was operating.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lakewood Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King led the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
Bank Imposter Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Victims of Hundreds of Thousands of DollarsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Franco Fuentes was sentenced in federal court today to 57 months in prison for defrauding elderly victims of hundreds of thousands of dollars by posing as a bank employee and tricking them into surrendering their bank cards, which he then used to make lavish purchases and large cash withdrawals.
Fuentes, a Peruvian national and green card holder, was also ordered to pay victims more than $270,000 and forfeit property seized from his residence, including over $37,000 in cash and a bill-counting machine.
“Fuentes saw elderly victims as easy targets and their bank accounts as his personal ATM—and today he is paying the price for stealing money, dignity and peace of mind,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.
“The actions of the defendant in this case showed a clear disregard for the harm he was causing innocent people,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said. “We have dedicated teams that are working day after day to help victims of scams just like this, because unfortunately, they happen far too often. Today’s sentencing sends a message to others that we will find and hold you accountable.”
“The defendant shamelessly preyed on older victims, then showered himself with extravagant items at their expense without regard to consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “FBI San Diego and the San Diego Police Department, along with all of our San Diego Elder Justice Task Force partners, will relentlessly seek justice for this vulnerable population, protecting them from scammers like Fuentes, and helping to safeguard their livelihood.”
In the government’s sentencing memo, a victim who lost $56,000 wrote to the court: “This experience has caused me significant emotional and financial stress. As a 72-year-old woman, I never expected to have to deal with something of this magnitude. I experienced ongoing worry, fear, frustration, and anxiety while trying to understand what had happened, protect my accounts, and work with the bank to resolve the unauthorized activity. The situation disrupted my sense of financial security and left me constantly concerned about whether my personal information and finances were safe. The financial impact and the amount of time and effort required to address this identity theft have been extremely stressful.
Another victim wrote to the court, noting that the defendant “fraudulently obtained my banking information by calling me from a phone line that appeared to have my U.S. Bank caller ID.”
“The financial loss was devastating, but the impact of this crime goes far beyond the money that was taken. I have experienced an unbelievable amount of stress because of what happened. As an elderly person in poor health, this experience has caused me significant worry and emotional distress…I hope the Court understands the lasting impact this crime has had on my life. I believe the defendant is a danger to society because his actions prey upon people's trust and can cause serious harm, especially to vulnerable people.”
In his plea agreement, Fuentes admitted he and his criminal associates called victims and falsely claimed to be bank employees investigating fraud on the victims’ accounts. Fuentes tricked the victims into surrendering their bank cards, which he used to make cash withdrawals and pay for lavish purchases.
Fuentes targeted one 80-year-old victim, sending a rideshare service driver to her house and then using her cards for withdrawals and purchases totaling over $43,000, including $22,000 in purchases at Apple stores. The daughter of that victim addressed the Court at sentencing, describing the significant emotional and psychological impacts on her mother.
In his messages about the fraud with one co-conspirator, the defendant referred to his victims as “vics” and boasted that the “targets are endless.” In imposing the sentence, U.S. District Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks called Fuentes’s conduct an “awful crime” that took advantage of “some of the most vulnerable people in society—people that worked hard in their life.” Judge Cheeks also highlighted Fuentes’s extravagant spending of his victims’ money, including a social media post in which Fuentes bragged about purchasing a $6,000 outfit in New York. The judge further noted that Fuentes had previously received a generous resolution in state court for similar fraud, yet “you did it again and again, and you hurt people.”
This case is being investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric R. Olah.
If you or someone you know is 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
DEFENDANT Case Number 26cr404-BJC
Franco Fuentes Age: 30 Woodland Hills, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bank Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1344(2)
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $1 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department
6 men convicted of federal firearms crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Six central Ohio men are now convicted in a case involving the trafficking of at least 17 firearms.
Khalid Dorsey, 21, pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing and transferring a machinegun. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
According to court documents, Dorsey was one of six defendants trafficking in guns and/or drugs that the ATF investigated between May and November 2025.
Dorsey admitted to trafficking a pistol with an attached Glock switch on Sept. 16, 2025, near the Dirty Franks on North Fourth Street in Columbus. Co-defendant Rashied Houston, 23, was with Dorsey during the sale. Houston also pleaded guilty earlier this month to possessing and transferring a machinegun. Additionally, Houston sold two other firearms with attached conversion devices making them fully automatic weapons.
Lead defendant William Turner, 57, pleaded guilty in June to dealing cocaine and trafficking in at least six firearms. Turner either facilitated the sale of the guns or directly sold firearms himself. He coordinated firearms sales through co-defendants Robert Phillips, 45, and Jeffrey Perry, 62.
Kevin Fowler, 55, pleaded guilty in March to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon after selling at least two firearms.
Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Vipal J. Patel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); announced the guilty plea entered before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Heidy Carr are representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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19 September 2026
Elite FBI and HSI Team Transports 18 Defendants from Haiti to South Florida to Face Federal Charges in Assassination of Haitian President in HSTF takedownRead the Press Release
“Today marks the next major phase in our pursuit of accountability for the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Our work did not end with the men who planned and carried out this assassination. We will follow the evidence wherever it leads, to those who financed it, facilitated it, supported it, or committed crimes to make it possible. Five years later, we are still bringing defendants before American courts, and we are not finished.”
"In July 2021, President Jovenel Moise was assassinated by individuals seeking to profit from illicit financial opportunities and business contracts," said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles. "Today's multi-location and international arrests underscore the FBl's continued commitment to bringing all participants in this plot to justice. FBI Miami, along with our domestic and international partners, remain steadfast in ensuring that all individuals who allegedly sought to profit from the assassination of a head of state are held fully accountable."
“Homeland Security Investigations is uniquely positioned to investigate complex crimes that cross borders, exploit financial systems, and threaten the security of the United States and the international community,” said Jose R. Figueroa, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami. “The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse was a horrific attack, and we remain fully committed to working shoulder to shoulder with our partners to further expose the criminal network behind it, identify every individual who played a role, and ensure that the last person responsible is brought to justice.”
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from the DEA’s Miami Office, FBI’s Miami Office, and HSI Miami Office.
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