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Wednesday 17 December 2025
Springfield Business Owner Indicted for Covid Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield business owner was indicted by a federal grand jury for fraudulently obtaining $316,062 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and for laundering over $35,000 of PPP funds.
Jason L. Hemingway, 47, was charged with two counts each of bank fraud and making a false statement on a loan application, and three counts of money laundering.
According to the indictment, Hemingway applied for a PPP loan for his business, Principal Transfer Group, LLC on Feb. 9, 2021. The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments.
On his electronically submitted loan application Hemingway claimed that another individual was the owner of his business, Principal Transfer Group, LLC, and stated that the business had an average monthly payroll of $63,212 and employed 25 people, all of which were false statements. Hemingway signed the application in the name of the individual he claimed was the president and owner. Hemingway received $158,031 in PPP proceeds.
On April 8, 2021, Hemingway applied for a second PPP loan on behalf of Principal Transfer Group, LLC. On that application, again submitted under another individual’s name, Hemingway certified that he had received a previous PPP loan and that he had used the full loan amount for eligible expenses only, which was a false statement. He again claimed that another individual was the president and owner, that the business had an average monthly payroll of $63,212 and employed eight people, all of which were false statements. Hemingway signed the application in the name of the individual he claimed was the president and owner and received another $158,031 in PPP loan proceeds.
The indictment alleges that Hemingway used the PPP proceeds for non-approved purposes, including for his personal benefit. According to the indictment, Hemingway transferred $11,000 of the PPP funds into the bank account for another business he owned, 417 Print Shop, LLC, an additional $11,000 in PPP funds into his personal bank account, and $13,851.16 of PPP funds to his Robinhood account. Robinhood is a financial services company that allows users to invest and trade in stocks and cryptocurrencies.
The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Hemingway to forfeit to the government any property derived from the alleged fraud scheme, including a money judgment of at least $316,062, and an additional $35,851.16 money judgment for proceeds derived from the alleged money laundering scheme.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
South Dayton man pleads guilty to receipt of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Joseph A. Buelow, 31, of South Dayton, NY, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that in February 2024, the West Seneca Police Department seized Buelow’s phone, based on communications he was having online. A search of the phone recovered six images of child pornography that were saved on the phone and received by Buelow between August 2022, and November 2023. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors and violence against children. In addition, Buelow admits that he engaged in the sexual abuse, exploitation, or attempted sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor on two or more occasions.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Cosgrove and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 27, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
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South Carolina Man Indicted on Hate Crime and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Columbia, South Carolina returned an indictment charging Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, with violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M., and for using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, on July 17, Felkel, while driving into the gated community where both he and J.M. lived, fired a gun and shouted at J.M., “You better keep running, boy!” while J.M. was standing at the gate to the community.
If convicted, Felkel faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison on the housing charge, and an additional ten years in prison on the firearms charge.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina; and Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong and Special Legal Counsel Mark Blumberg of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 82 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Quervo Taylor, 26 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Taylor was sentenced to 82 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a car that Taylor was driving. Taylor did not stop and led police on a high-speed chase through St. Joseph County. The chase lasted over 30 minutes, and Taylor reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. During the pursuit, Taylor crashed into an officer’s patrol car. He was arrested after driving to the South Bend International Airport, where a barrier arm blocked him from driving any further. Police recovered two loaded firearms that were thrown out of the window of the car that Taylor was driving. One of the firearms was affixed with a machinegun conversion device, and both firearms were equipped with extended magazines. Taylor was a felon and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. His criminal history includes prior felonies for carrying a handgun without a license within 500 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine, and resisting law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Shiprock Man Charged with Second-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged after authorities say he beat a woman to death following a day of drinking.
According to court documents, on November 15, 2025, Harlan Joe, 21, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, beat Jane Doe to death at a residence in Shiprock, New Mexico after a day of drinking. When officers arrived at the residence, they found Jane Doe deceased outside the house with obvious signs of abuse and trauma and immediately detained Joe. During a subsequent interview, Joe stated that he had known what he was doing and that it was wrong.
Joe is charged with second degree murder and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. Joe faces life in prison if convicted of the current charges.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
San Jose Engineer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Bombings of PG&E Transformers, Causing Property Damage and Widespread Power OutagesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Peter Karasev, 39, of San Jose, California, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison for two counts of willful destruction of an energy facility related to two separate bombings of PG&E electrical transformers in late 2022 and early 2023. U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman handed down the sentence.
“Karasev’s attacks on critical infrastructure were direct threats to public safety and national security,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “He aimed to inflict widespread disruption and harm, but we remain steadfast in our commitment to holding accountable those who threaten the safety and well-being of the residents of San Jose. We and our law enforcement partners will leverage every available resource to ensure that violent extremists like the defendant face the full force of justice.”
“This defendant admitted to attacking critical infrastructure which could have harmed people in the San Jose, California community and he will now face the consequences of his actions,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “This individual conducted research and prepared homemade explosives which knocked out power to multiple homes and caused more than $200,000 in property damage to local businesses. The FBI will work with our partners to identify and hold accountable those who engage in such dangerous and illegal acts.”
“Peter Karasev’s actions were deliberate, dangerous, and designed to disrupt critical infrastructure relied upon by our residents. This 10-year federal prison sentence reflects the seriousness of using explosive devices to attack our power grid and the real-world consequences of those choices,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI is grateful for the outstanding collaboration with the San Jose Police Department in this case. Together, we remain committed to protecting our communities and holding those who threaten public safety fully accountable.”
Karasev pleaded guilty on April 29 to two counts of willful destruction of an energy facility. Karasev admitted that on Dec. 8, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, he willfully damaged energy facilities involved in the production, storage, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The Jan. 5, 2023, explosion was captured on nearby surveillance footage:
Explosion of transformer located near Plaza Del Ray shopping center on Snell Avenue captured by nearby surveillance footage.
In both attacks, Karasev used homemade explosive devices to cause significant destruction and widespread power outages in the San Jose area. According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, the bombings caused over $200,000 in damages to affected businesses and disrupted service to over 1,500 households in the San Jose area. Of those affected included 15 households enrolled in PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program that required continued electrical service for life-sustaining medical needs.Karasev admitted that the attacks were premeditated and deliberate, and that he had conducted extensive internet searches regarding explosive materials, infrastructure attacks, and geopolitical conflicts.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered $214,880.67 in restitution and $200 special assessment. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne C. Hsieh for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and San Jose Police Department.
Salvadoran national and MS-13 associate convicted for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Salvadoran national was sentenced today to a year in prison for possession of a firearm by an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States.
According to court documents, Oscar Misael Ventura Ventura, 23, unlawfully entered the United States from Mexico near McAllen, Texas. On Feb. 10, 2022, Fairfax County Police (FCPD) officers responded to a report that a group of men outside an apartment complex had guns. As officers arrived, the men fled. After a short pursuit, officers detained Ventura and recovered a stolen handgun from his waistband. The following year, FCPD found Ventura with another handgun in his waistband, along with 23 fentanyl pills in his pocket. By his own admission, Ventura is an MS-13 associate.
Ventura is subject to removal from the United States.
“Oscar Ventura did not enter the United States to pursue a lawful and productive life,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “He immediately associated himself with one of the most dangerous gangs in America and began illegally carrying a stolen firearm. We are committed to eradicating MS-13 and its associates from the Eastern District of Virginia and removing those who choose to ignore our laws and endanger our citizens.”
“Individuals who are in our country illegally and choose to associate with violent gangs and unlawfully carry firearms represent a serious and unacceptable threat to our communities,” said Christopher Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Washington, D.C. “Homeland Security Investigations remains committed to our unrelenting protection of the United States by investigating and dismantling violent transnational criminal organizations and holding criminal illegal aliens accountable through arrest and prosecution. HSI will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to safeguard the public and disrupt the criminal networks that fuel violence in our cities”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Coulter Goodman prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-94.
Roofing Contractor Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Tax Evasion SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY DELMARO, 49, of Woodbridge, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 15 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release for tax evasion. Delmaro is required to perform 200 hours of community service while on supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, since at least 2012, Delmaro has owned and operated a commercial roofing businesses in Connecticut, most frequently doing business as “Kings Roofing.” The business also provided paving services. Until Delmaro was notified of this investigation, Kings Roofing was not registered with the Connecticut Secretary of State and did not have a federal Taxpayer Identification Number. From 2012 to 2022, Kings Roofing earned approximately $20.9 million in customer receipts, but Delmaro paid his workers in cash, never filed income or payroll tax returns for himself or the business, and took several steps to conceal income and operating expenses from the IRS.
As part of his tax evasion scheme, Delmaro and others associated with his business cashed checks from customers at various check cashing businesses instead of depositing them into bank accounts. Delmaro provided the check cashers with addresses associated with UPS mailboxes rather than his home address. When the check cashers filed Currency Transaction Reports (“CTRs”), the IRS only had a UPS mailbox location to try to identify source of income. When not using a check casher, Delmaro made business-related deposits into his personal bank account.
Delmaro also had customers file false Forms 1099 made out to a family member, rather than his business, or made out to Delmaro himself, making income attribution more difficult. Delmaro sometimes provided customers with an alias, “Sonny Rubino,” which they used on the 1099. If a customer refused to pay unless Delmaro provided a Form W-9 identifying his taxpayer identification number and address, Delmaro often provided a W-9 completed with his father’s name and Social Security number and an address associated with a UPS mailbox. Delmaro’s father used an alias, which differed from the name and information Delmaro provided to the customer.
As an example, for the 2022 tax year, Delmaro cashed $3,710,628 in checks made payable to Kings Roofing at check cashing businesses, received $439,700 in business-related deposits into his personal bank account, and caused 24 Forms 1099-NEC totaling $1,908,095 to be filed with false information.
The investigation also revealed that from 2019 to April 2025, Delmaro received more than $500,000 in Husky Health Low Income Medical benefits. Husky Health is a Connecticut Medicaid program, jointly funded by the federal government and by the State of Connecticut and administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services.
Judge Nagala ordered Delmaro to pay restitution of $1,129,669 to the IRS, and $578,259 to the Connecticut Medicaid program.
Delmaro pleaded guilty to the offense on August 19, 2025.
Delmaro, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on March 17, 2026.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
Rochester woman going to prison for robbing a postal carrierRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Shyasia Kelis McCullough, 25, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of robbery of a postal worker, was sentenced to serve 12 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci. Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that in June 2023, McCullough, co-defendant Malik Shameer McCray and others, robbed a United States letter carrier to obtain a postal key on Lake Avenue in Rochester. McCray committed the robbery while McCullough and others waited nearby in a getaway car. McCullough sent McCray a text message encouraging him to do the robbery, “U gotta scare him and make sure he don't see u again bro jus get up on him when he least expected ... It 100,000 on the line take a deep breath and jus go for it ... He not stronger then you.” After the robbery, McCray fled to the getaway car and he and McCullough fled the area.
Malik Shameer McCray was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Boston Division Acting Inspector-in-Charge Nicholas J. Bucciarelli, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Long.
Richmond man sentenced to nine years in prison for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to nine years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on March 28, Richmond Police detained Brandale Trayvon Cooper, 36, on an active warrant for a felony probation violation. At that time, Cooper was carrying a satchel containing a firearm, which Cooper claimed to have stolen from a group of teenagers a month earlier while he was in the area to obtain narcotics. The firearm was loaded with a round in the chamber. In addition to the firearm, officers located methamphetamine in Cooper’s pocket.
At the time of his arrest, Cooper previously had been convicted for, among other crimes, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute near a school, distribution of a schedule I or II controlled substance as an accommodation, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a previously convicted felon, Cooper cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
“We will not allow recidivists such as Brandale Cooper to repeatedly return to a life of guns and drugs,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The law-abiding citizens of Richmond deserve safe neighborhoods and schools, and my office is committed to ensuring the city’s streets are free of gun violence and illegal narcotics.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Richmond Police Department.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-109.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Coercion and Enticement of MinorsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Jorel Fowler was sentenced by United States District Judge Nina R. Morrison to 24 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor and receipt of child pornography. Fowler, a registered sex offender, communicated with multiple victims over the internet and requested that they send him sexually explicit images and videos. Fowler was previously convicted of sex offenses in New York State court for similar conduct between 2013 and 2014. He committed the charged offenses after his release from state prison on the prior offenses and while on parole.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“Today’s lengthy sentence will protect the community, especially children, for decades from this repeat offender,” stated United States Attorney Joseph Nocella. “After he was paroled for similar depraved conduct, Fowler squandered that second chance to lead a law-abiding life and unfortunately, caused great harm to at least three minors. Our Office will never relent in protecting the most vulnerable members of our community from sexual predators.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia for its assistance during the investigation.
“Jorel Fowler, a recidivist sexual predator, prowled online platforms to target minor girls and groom them into sharing sexually explicit content,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “Despite being a registered sex offender, Fowler continued to exploit vulnerable victims, violating their trust and physical autonomy. May today’s sentencing highlight the FBI’s determination to hold accountable any depraved individual who relentlessly preys on children to satisfy their own twisted desires.”
As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum and other court filings, between at least December 2022 and April 2023, Fowler communicated over the internet and through social media with multiple children, ultimately soliciting them for sexually explicit videos and images. In some cases, Fowler posed as a child himself, earning his victims’ trust and grooming them to provide the graphic sexual material that he sought. Soon after beginning the conversation, Fowler would instruct his victims regarding what type of material they should send him, requesting that they record themselves posing in different positions and engaging in specific sex acts. Fowler was previously convicted of sex offenses in New York State Supreme Court and was a registered sex offender at the time of these offenses.
In December 2022, Fowler communicated through Snapchat with a 15-year-old girl (“Jane Doe 1”) requesting that she send him sexually explicit videos and images. Beginning in January 2023, Fowler communicated through Snapchat with a 12-year-old girl (“Jane Doe 2”) claiming that he was a 5-year-old boy. Fowler first met Jane Doe 2 through the game Roblox and soon requested that she begin speaking to him through Snapchat. In approximately April 2023, Fowler communicated with a 14-year-old girl (“Jane Doe 3”). He told Jane Doe 3 that he wanted to “do a pic session” with her and promised to send her digital currency in an online game afterward if she complied. Jane Doe 3 then sent Fowler images of herself posing in the positions he requested and engaging in his requested sex acts.
When Fowler was arrested in April 2023, law enforcement recovered multiple cellphones from the defendant’s residence containing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes and National Security and Cybercrime Sections. Assistant United States Attorney Gilbert Rein is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
JOREL FOWLER
Age: 35
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-215 (NRM)
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on December 16, 2025.
Darwin Carlow, 39, was sentenced to two years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Carlow was indicted for three counts of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty to one count on September 18, 2025.
Carlow was charged following repeated failures to maintain his sex offender registration as required by state and federal law following his earlier federal conviction for a sexual offense in the Pine Ridge Reservation.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Carlow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Raleigh County Man Sentenced for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – James E. Monroe Jr., 60, of Daniels, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation, including six months on home detention, for money laundering.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 25, 2022, Monroe filed a petition for personal bankruptcy. Monroe knew he was required to submit true and correct schedules listing his assets and a statement detailing his financial affairs as part of the bankruptcy process. Monroe admitted that he sold his collection of over 10,000 sports trading cards after filing for bankruptcy and without disclosing its existence or its post-petition sale in the bankruptcy filings as required. Monroe further admitted that he sold the collection to a friend online to convert the collection into cash and disguise the nature of the resulting proceeds.
Monroe admitted that his asset schedules and statement of financial affairs also did not disclose the December 2021 sale of his marital home in the Glade Springs residential development for $525,000, or the existence of a retirement account, two loans he obtained by using the equity associated with his whole-life insurance policy as collateral, and a storage unit he rented in the Shady Spring area that contained property belonging to the bankruptcy estate. Monroe further admitted that his schedules falsely stated that his then-minor daughter lived with him and was his dependent when neither was true.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The United States Trustee’s Charleston field office, which serves West Virginia, made the criminal referral of this case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States Trustee Program is a component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-121.
Predator Sentenced to 84 Years in Nationwide Child Exploitation Case; 84 Victims Across U.S. and Abroad IdentifiedRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS –Austin Ryan Lauless, 31, of Colorado, has been sentenced to 84 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In September 2025, Lauless pleaded guilty to 13 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, 5 counts of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, two counts of Advertising Child Sexual Abuse Material, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
As of December 17, 2025, 84 victims have been identified from nearly every state in the United States and at least five foreign countries. Investigators believe additional victims may still be unidentified. If you or someone you know has been a victim of Lauless, also known online as Cason Fredrickson or APOPHIS, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.
According to court documents, between late 2019 and May 19, 2023, Lauless used social media applications such as Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, Yubo, Purp, and others to coerce, exploit, and threaten at least 84 minor victims into producing thousands of sexually explicit images and videos. The victims ranged in age from 13 to 17 at the time of the offenses.
Using these social media platforms, Lauless misrepresented his identity, posing as “Cason Fredrickson,” a teenager from New York or other cities. In reality, Lauless was in his late 20s, unemployed, and living in hotels and motels in Texas and Colorado. To conceal his identity, he accessed the public Instagram page of Individual A and, without their knowledge or consent, saved images and videos to impersonate Individual A while posing as “Cason Fredrickson.”
Lauless’ criminal methods included misrepresenting his age, identity, background, and likeness to groom minors and create a false sense of safety in online communications. He also used voice modulators and third-party image and video applications to edit content, making it appear as though it was recorded live through social media platforms such as Snapchat.
He feigned romantic interest in victims, told them they were attractive, and pretended to be in online relationships. He purchased items for many victims through Amazon—including fishnet stockings, sexual devices, and customized t-shirts—which he instructed them to wear while producing sexually explicit material. These items were shipped either directly to victims or to designated Amazon lockers for pickup.
To prolong his exploitation and avoid detection, Lauless threatened victims with dissemination of their images and videos if they failed to comply with his demands or sought help from parents or law enforcement. At least one victim reported to Lauless that she was contemplating suicide.
Lauless also sex trafficked at least five minor victims by forcing them to engage in oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse with adult males, producing numerous videos of these commercial sex acts. Some victims were forced to endure sadomasochistic abuse at his direction.
Once he obtained images and videos, Lauless advertised and sold the sexually explicit material on platforms such as Discord, Instagram, Telegram, and MEGA. He engaged in at least 141 transactions, receiving payment through Venmo, PayPal, Bitcoin, and CashApp. He admitted that his collection of child sexual abuse material included thousands of images and videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, as well as children subjected to bestiality and sadomasochistic abuse.
“The sheer scale of this investigation and prosecution underscores the relentless commitment of federal law enforcement to dismantle networks of exploitation that prey on our children. Austin Lauless orchestrated a campaign of abuse that spanned nearly every state and multiple countries, leaving behind profound harm,” said John Childress, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “While no punishment can erase the trauma these young survivors endured, today’s sentence sends a clear message: we will pursue predators across every platform, every jurisdiction, and every border until justice is served.”
“This case represents one of the most egregious forms of exploitation the FBI investigates. This was not an isolated crime - it was a nationwide and international campaign of exploitation that victimized at least 84 people, including children, and involved the trafficking of human beings,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. The FBI is committed to identifying offenders who use technology to abuse, manipulate, and control others, and to ensuring they are held fully accountable. Today’s sentence delivers justice for the victims and reinforces that these crimes will not go unanswered.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Preston and Carolyn Haney prosecuted this case with invaluable assistance from Victim Witness Coordinators, Stephanie Lloyd and Johnna Preidt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, with additional support from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
Additionally, 13 U.S. Attorney’s Offices provided cooperation during the investigation. Without their assistance, bringing Lauless to justice and legally resolving the harm he imposed on the victims would have been delayed.
- Southern District of Iowa
- Eastern District of Missouri
- Northern District of Florida
- Northern District of Texas
- Western District of Kentucky
- Southern District of Ohio
- Northern District of New York
- District of South Carolina
- Southern District of Texas
- District of Colorado
- Central District of California
- District of Arizona
- Eastern District of Tennessee.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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.
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- Southern District of Iowa
Pittsburgh Resident Indicted for Violating Federal Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Kyreik Vanstory, 26, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about December 9, 2025, Vanstory, who had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed a 9mm Glock 19 pistol. Vanstory is prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his felony conviction.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 15 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney R. Chase Stelzer is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Duquesne Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pearl River Man Sentenced in Reservation MurderRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man was sentenced today to 380 months in prison for the use of a firearm during the murder of another tribal member, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert A. Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge, of the F.B.I. Mississippi Field Office.
According to court documents, Brian Keith Bell, 56, of the Pearl River Community used a handgun to shoot the victim at a tribal home in the Bogue Chitto Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation which resulted in the death of the victim.
In April of 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Bell on charges of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. On September 10, 2025, Bell was found guilty of second-degree murder, and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence at trial. During the trial, the jury heard testimony that, following a verbal altercation, Bell used a handgun to shoot the victim in the chest.
U.S. Attorney Kruger commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns.
Pensacola Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Unregistered MacHinegun Conversion DeviceRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Prashant M. Jenkins Jr., 24, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to four years in federal prison after having previously pled guilty to possession of an unregistered machinegun conversion device. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our outstanding state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines keeping our communities safe from violent criminals, like this defendant, and my office stands ready to back up their hard work with successful prosecutions to send those offenders to federal prison.”
Court documents reflect that on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers found and seized from Jenkins’ residence an AR-style machinegun conversion device, a Glock pistol with a loaded magazine, a loaded AR-15 magazine, approximately 500 grams of marijuana, and other suspected drug trafficking paraphernalia. The conversion device, which itself is considered a machinegun under federal law, was not marked with a serial number and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required.
The sentence was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Oregon Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—An Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison today for embezzling more than $250,000 from her employer and evading over $50,000 in federal taxes.
Notja Michelle Brower, 53, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $310,106 in restitution to her victims.
According to court documents, in July 2018, Victim Business 1 (VB1) hired Brower as a bookkeeper and office manager. Within one month of her hire, Ms. Brower began defrauding VB1 by issuing herself unauthorized company checks and pocketing thousands of dollars in cash payments. She then altered VB1’s business records to conceal her thefts as business expenses and payroll draws. Brower also fraudulently opened a credit card in the personal name of a VB1 owner and used that card to purchase over $20,000 in travel, casino, restaurant, and exotic car rental expenses. Brower then made payments to that credit card using VB1’s business checking account.
Also, for tax years 2018 and 2019, Brower willfully failed to report the embezzled funds as income, resulting in over $250,000 in unreported income and a total tax due and owing of $57,705.
On April 4, 2024, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a twelve-count indictment charging Brower with bank fraud, wire fraud, unauthorized use of an access device, aggravated identity theft, and tax evasion.
On March 10, 2025, Brower pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of tax evasion.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and Medford Police Department. It was prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm by FelonRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –JARRETT HALL (“HALL”), age 33, of New Orleans, was sentenced on December 17, 2025, by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to court documents, on December 8, 2023, following a traffic stop by the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office, HALL was found in possession of a .45 caliber Colt Commander handgun, after having previously been convicted of a felony.
Judge Milazzo sentenced HALL to 60 months imprisonment, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Possession of over 100 Glock and AR-15 Machine Gun Conversion Devices, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Attempted Obstruction of Justice, and Receiving ExplosivesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on December 11, 2025, KODY SEVERIN (“SEVERIN”), age 28, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty to all charges of the eight-count third superseding indictment pending against him. Sentencing is set for March 26, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe.
SEVERIN pled guilty to violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, the Federal Controlled Substances Act, as well as to Attempted Obstruction of Justice. Specifically, SEVERIN pled guilty to the following offenses:
Count 1-Possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D);
Count 2-Possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1);
Count 3-Felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8);
Count 4-Possession of machine guns, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2);
Count 5-Possession of an unregistered firearms, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5841, 5861(d) and 5871;
Count 6-Felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8);
Count 7-Attempt to obstruct justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(b)(1); and
Count 8-Receiving explosive materials, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 842(a)(3)(A) and 844(a).
According to court documents, on December 12, 2022, law enforcement received a consent to search an apartment in the 1400 block of Milan Street. Inside, law enforcement located and seized the following items: (1) Glock model 17L, nine-millimeter caliber pistol, (2) Glock model 24, .40 caliber pistol, (3) Ruger model Security-6, .357 magnum caliber pistol, (4) Glock model 21, .45 caliber pistol, equipped with a device to convert this pistol to a fully automatic machinegun (more commonly referred to as a “Glock switch”); (5) Masterpiece Arms model Mac 11, nine-millimeter caliber pistol, (6) Privately Made Firearm (“PMF”) semi-automatic handgun, .40/.357 caliber (more commonly referred to as a “Ghost Gun”); (7) upper receiver with bolt carrier group of a rifle; (8) Several PMF parts; (9) Approximately one hundred (100) machinegun conversion devices in various stages of completion, to include drop-in auto sears to convert AR-Type firearms to fully automatic machineguns and “Glock switches;” (10) One clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana with a total package weight of approximately 81.2 grams; (11) One clear plastic bag with the word “Politics” containing suspected marijuana with a total package weight of approximately 339.8 grams; (12) Multiple completed silencers; (13) Several silencers in various stages of completion; (14) One industrial milling machine covered in metal shavings; (15) Two explosive devices; (16) Quantities of various caliber ammunition; (17) Several extended magazines; (18) SEVERIN’s mail, clothing; and several cellphones.
On December 13, 2022, law enforcement encountered SEVERIN at the apartment. After establishing verbal and visual contact with SEVERIN, law enforcement observed SEVERIN throw a black Smith and Wesson model 36, .38 special caliber, revolver from the apartment’s second floor balcony. SEVERIN eventually opened the door to the apartment and was taken into custody without further incident. Law enforcement booked SEVERIN on active NOPD warrants and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Law enforcement verified that SEVERIN had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Specifically, on February 25, 2019, SEVERIN pled guilty to the felony charge of possession of methamphetamine in case number 18-2993 in the 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson.
SEVERIN faces the following maximum penalties:
Count 1: Five (5) years imprisonment, followed by at least two (2) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee;
Count 2: Minimum consecutive sentence of five (5) years up to life imprisonment, followed by up to five (5) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee;
Count 3: Fifteen (15) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee;
Count 4: Ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee;
Count 5: Ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $10,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee;
Count 6: Fifteen (15) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee;
Count 7: Twenty (20) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee; and
Count 8: Ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee;
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit and Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit are responsible for the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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New Orleans Man Guilty of Federal Firearm and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on December 4, 2025, DAVID SCOTT (SCOTT), age 22 from New Orleans, pled guilty to Counts One and Two of an indictment. Count One charged SCOTT with possession with the intent to distribute Tapentadol, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). As to Count One, SCOTT faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,00,000 fine, at least three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Count Two charged SCOTT with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §924(c)(1)(A)(i). As to Count Two, SCOTT faces a minimum of five years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to five years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. SCOTT’s sentencing is set for March 12, 2026.
According to court documents, on August 3, 2023, a New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) detective conducted surveillance on a convenience store/gas station in New Orleans and saw a black male exit a burgundy Kia sedan, dressed in a yellow hoodie. This raised suspicion as New Orleans was under an excessive heat advisory and the temperature was 95 degrees. The detective could see on the surveillance that the suspect had and noticed a bulge in the hoodie he wore that he was suspiciously clutching.
The suspect, later identified as DAVID SCOTT, re-entered the Kia sedan and as officers approached him, they noticed a handgun with a drum magazine on the driver’s seat. Officers secured the gun and placed SCOTT under arrest. A search incident to his arrest revealed 15 packs of Tapentadol, totaling 148 pills, and $1,315 in U.S. currency.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Nassau County Repeat Offender Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Samuel Walter Perkins, Jr. (46, Fernandina Beach) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and distribution of cocaine and cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine). Perkins faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in late 2024, Perkins twice sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant in Nassau County. After detectives from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office confronted Perkins about these two drug sales, Perkins agreed to work with them as a confidential informant himself. Before taking on that role, Perkins was specifically instructed that he could not engage in illegal activities, could not possess firearms, and would never be tasked “to create crime,” but instead should be “only working to interrupt ongoing criminal activity.”
Ostensibly, in his role as a confidential informant, on January 29, 2025, Perkins provided a tip to his law enforcement handler about two individuals traveling to Jacksonville to meet with an unknown subject to obtain drugs and guns. Later that day, without telling Perkins, the detectives followed up on that lead by surveilling the two targets named by Perkins. Following those individuals, the detectives saw them drive from Nassau County to Jacksonville where the pair met with only one person—Perkins—who gave the two men a black bag, which they put in the truck of their car. During a subsequent stop and search of that car, detectives located the bag, which contained a loaded 9mm pistol, cocaine, and cocaine base.
Detectives later interviewed Perkins about these events. After a detective explained what they had seen while conducting surveillance, Perkins asked, “So they got it from me?” – referring to the firearm and drugs in the black bag. The detective replied, “They got it from you.” Realizing that he was caught, Perkins then stated, “Well, I tried, man.” Asked where he obtained the gun, Perkins stated, “I just had a gun.”
Perkins is a multi-time convicted felon who previously has been prosecuted by both state and federal authorities for a variety of drug offenses. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Nash County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Selling over 22 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NCDOCRALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced a Nash County man to 20 years in federal prison for selling more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. On February 14, 2024, Kenneth Orlin Simmons, Jr., age 36, pleaded guilty to these crimes.
“Drug dealers flood our communities with deadly methamphetamine and arm themselves with guns to violently carry out their trade. Criminals like this Big Shark Bad Boy pose a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This sentence sends a clear message: if you poison our communities and endanger the lives of our children and families, you will sit in a federal prison for a long time. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to shut down these operations, clean these villains off our streets, and protect the citizens.”
“Drugs destroy lives and tears apart communities, and when traffickers arm themselves, the danger only grows. I’m proud of the work our team put into holding this individual accountable and ensuring he can no longer victimize our citizens. A sincere thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, and the ATF for their hard work with this case,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court, in July 2022, Simmons sold over a kilogram of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Nash County. The Nash County Sherriff’s Office along with the DEA later obtained a search warrant for Simmons residence. During that search, law enforcement seized 10 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 1,000 grams of marijuana, a stolen Glock .40 caliber handgun, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun, an AR-15 rifle, a 29-round magazine with 22 .40 caliber rounds, and a 96-round drum magazine.
Simmons was previously convicted of felonies including two counts of felony abduction of children, and also of two counts of sexual battery.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Aria Q. Merle prosecuted the case. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the DEA, and the ATF investigated the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00015.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm with Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Caleb Colton Beauvais, age 31, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, punishable by a term of up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The Indictment alleged that on May 9, 2025, Beauvais knowingly and unlawfully possessed a revolver from which the manufacturer’s serial number had been removed, obliterated, or altered, and Beauvais knew that the serial number had been removed, obliterated, or altered.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Beauvais will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Mountain Home Man Sentenced to 27 Months for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOISE – Javier D. Ruiz, 35, of Mountain Home, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for Wire Fraud, U.S. Attorney Bart Davis announced today.
According to court records, Ruiz stole $685,376 from his employer, a franchisee of national restaurant chains. As a district manager, Ruiz supervised a number of restaurants in Idaho, including overseeing payroll. From at least April 2021 through April 2024, Ruiz devised a scheme wherein he manipulated his employer’s payroll system, changing the names and other information associated with employee numbers of former employees. After manipulating the employee numbers, Ruiz entered hours using the numbers that were never worked, causing fraudulent payroll payments to issue. To access and take the fraudulent payroll money, Ruiz used at least three different methods – cashing checks, depositing earnings on fraudulent Rapid Paycards, and direct deposit.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Ruiz to serve two years of supervised release following his prison sentence and $685,376 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darci Crane prosecuted the case.
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Mount Laurel Man Admits to Aggravated Identity Theft and Conspiring to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Mount Laurel man admitted to engaging in a scheme to defraud banks using checks stolen from the U.S. mail and fraudulent debit cards, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Kharon Parson-Wright, 28, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Parson-Wright conspired with Yasmene Johnson, Dante Ford, and others to commit bank fraud with checks stolen from the U.S. mail. Parson-Wright, Ford, and others stole U.S. mail from blue U.S. mail collection boxes. Ford and other members of the conspiracy then created counterfeit versions of the stolen checks or altered the stolen checks by increasing the value of the checks and changing the name of the payee either to a member of the conspiracy or somebody else recruited by the conspiracy. Parson-Wright admitted that he and others negotiated the counterfeit or altered checks and then attempted to the withdraw the funds before the bank learned that the checks were illegitimate. The conspiracy involved the negotiation of checks at banks across southern New Jersey and elsewhere, with checks written for tens of thousands dollars.
As a separate part of their conspiracy, Parson-Wright connected Johnson with a bank employee who created fraudulent debit cards in the name of victims who held accounts at the bank. Parson-Wright and his co-conspirator used one of the fraudulently issued debit cards to make purchases and ATM withdrawals in New Jersey. Parson-Wright admitted that the bank fraud conspiracy resulted in actual losses exceeding $424,000 and intended losses exceeding $1,500,000.
The count of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The count of aggravated identity theft carries a statutory mandatory penalty of two years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2026.
Johnson previously pleaded guilty to the same two offenses for her role in the conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2026. Ford and three other defendants were previously sentenced in 2025 after pleading guilty to participating in the same bank fraud conspiracy: Ford was sentenced to 27 months’ incarceration, Donovan Bunch was sentenced to 33 months, Tracy Felder-Carter was sentenced to 18 months, and Quamell Keyes-Griffin was sentenced to 18 months.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, with the investigation leading to this plea. He also thanked the Mount Laurel Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Hudnall, for its valuable assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
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Defense counsel: Justin Capek, Esq., Mount Laurel, New Jersey
parson_wright.information.pdfMishawaka Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Jamaal Husband, 42 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Husband was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, police executed a search warrant at Husband’s house and found two firearms, about 146 grams of methamphetamine, and smaller amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Mishawaka Police Department and the Indiana State Police Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
Mexican national convicted of federal witness tamperingRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old man illegally residing in McAllen has been convicted of attempting to threaten or intimidate a government witness from testifying in a pending trial, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for more than six hours before convicting Carlos Gerardo Perez-Munoz following a two-day trial.
The investigation began in July when law enforcement learned that Perez-Munoz approached an individual and threatened them not to “snitch.” He told the individual he knew where they lived in Mexico and knew they had been speaking with authorities about an ongoing investigation.
At trial, the jury heard Perez-Munoz illegally worked at a used clothing warehouse while in the United States on a tourist visa. They also viewed photographs of the warehouse and heard a recording of Perez-Munoz’s interview with authorities.
The defense argued the government witness fabricated the threat and claimed the statements were intended to deter the witness from testifying against other workers who were in the country illegally, not the owner of the used clothing store. The jury rejected those claims and found Perez-Munoz guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane presided over the trial and set sentencing for Feb. 24, 2026. At that time, Perez-Munoz faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Perez-Munoz remains in custody pending sentencing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Lyles and Patricia Cook Profit are prosecuting the case.
Mexican National with Multiple Felony Convictions and Deportations Charged for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national made his initial court appearance yesterday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
Rito Lopez-Mundo, 54, is charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 30, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, Lopez-Mundo is a citizen and national of Mexico who was previously deported on six prior occasions and reentered the United States illegally.
On July 4, 2023, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police arrested Lopez-Mundo for robbery with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping 1st degree with a deadly weapon, and own possess gun by prohibited person. On November 26, 2025, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Lopez-Mundo to ICE Las Vegas, Nevada, custody after he served a 19-to-48-month sentence for conspiracy to commit robbery. Lopez-Mundo also has four prior felony convictions for the same offense he is currently charged with.
If convicted, Lopez-Mundo faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. After serving his sentence, Lopez-Mundo will be deported to Mexico for a seventh time.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Brian Henke made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Mexican National Illegally Present in the United States Indicted for Assault Causing Bodily Injury After Biting Federal AgentRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – A federal grand jury in Lafayette returned an indictment on December 17 charging Maximiliano Perez-Perez, a Mexican national illegally in the United States, with assaulting a federal officer and causing bodily injury. Perez-Perez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the charge.
“If you injure a federal agent doing his or her job, then you’re going to jail—simple as that,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Law enforcement officers place themselves in harm’s way every day to make our community safe, and our Office stands ready to take swift action to punish and deter those who put them in danger.”
According to court documents, Perez-Perez, 22, was encountered by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) officers on November 21, 2025, after the officers received a tip that a van would be transporting illegal immigrants in Louisiana. When the ICE/ERO officers attempted to detain Perez-Perez, he refused to exit the vehicle and grabbed onto the vehicle’s steering wheel. When the officers removed Perez-Perez, he then fled on foot. When the officers caught him, Perez-Perez resisted further by biting deeply into the hand of one of the ICE/ERO officers, drawing blood and leaving Perez-Perez with blood on his face from the officer’s injury.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon, II.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.
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Mesa Woman Convicted of Embezzling Money from a Mesa BankRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Brooke McDonough, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, was convicted by a jury on Thursday, December 11, 2025, after a two-week trial, of one count of embezzlement by bank employee, six counts of transactional money laundering, and five counts of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements. McDonough served as the branch manager for a bank in Mesa between 2020 and early 2022.
The evidence at trial revealed that, starting in June 2021, McDonough stole cash from the ATM machines and vault inside the branch she managed. She then deposited most of the cash she stole into her personal bank accounts, using different ATMs at multiple bank branches. In total, between June 2021 and February 2022, McDonough embezzled $655,000 from the branch she managed and deposited or spent approximately $645,000 in cash during the same time period. McDonough broke down her ATM cash deposits into smaller amounts to avoid having the banks file Currency Transaction Reports for deposits of over $10,000 in cash.
“Significant trust is placed in business leaders in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “When those individuals take advantage of their leadership position to embezzle large amounts of money from the business they were entrusted to lead, our Office will hold them accountable.”
"FDIC OIG is laser focused on working with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to protect the Nation’s financial system,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner. “The guilty verdict in this case should serve as a stern warning to others who are considering stealing from FDIC insured and/or regulated financial institutions to line their own pockets.”
“We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and all of those involved for their outstanding cooperation and dedication throughout this investigation. Their professionalism and commitment were instrumental in achieving this outcome,” said Spokesperson for Mesa Police Department, Detective J. Macias.
This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General and Mesa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aron Ketchel and Adriana Genco, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-376-ROS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-177_McDonough# # #
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.
Members of A Local Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Five members of an interstate drug distribution organization were sentenced in federal court during October and December of 2025. Richard Wells, III, 48; Ronald Darnell Phillips, 45; and Demetrius James Lutin, 45 were sentenced on October 9, 2025. John David Clarke, 49, was sentenced on December 4, 2025, and Desmon Demond James, 49, was sentenced on December 11, 2025. All five men are from Mobile. Court documents show that they were indicted as members of a cocaine and heroin trafficking conspiracy that operated from 2016 through April 2025. They entered guilty pleas to the conspiracy charge during the fall of 2024. Phillips, Clarke, and Lutin also pleaded guilty to substantive counts charging possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Clarke pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and wire fraud in a separately charged case. Clarke further pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of prison contraband. James also pled guilty to possession of prison contraband.
Court documents show that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated the investigation into the drug distribution of John David Clarke and eventually obtained a court-authorized wiretap on Clarke’s phone. During the monitoring of Clarke’s calls, agents identified Clarke’s drug supplier, who was charged as a co-defendant. Court documents further show that substantial incriminating evidence was obtained from Clarke’s phone communications with his drug supplier. Evidence obtained from several phones belonging to Clarke’s drug supplier identified other drug distributors including Wells, Phillips, James, and Lutin. They discussed drug amounts, prices and locations where the drugs were delivered for further distribution. During the conspiracy, hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and at least three kilograms of heroin, sourced from Mexico, traveled through Texas and were distributed in Mobile and elsewhere. During the conspiracy, hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds were delivered from Mobile to drug suppliers in Texas. Eight guns were also seized from locations in Mobile and Katy, Texas, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Court documents show that Clarke and James were found in possession of prison contraband, identified as cell phones, while awaiting sentencing on their other cases in the custody of the U.S. marshal’s service at a local jail. That investigation established that Clarke had used his contraband cell phone to smuggle fentanyl and other substances into the facility.
Court documents further detail Clarke’s involvement in a separate case charging him and other co-conspirators with fraud. During the monitoring of Clarke’s calls pursuant to the court-authorized wiretap, FBI and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigators discovered a stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme carried out by Clarke and others. The scheme involved the submission of hundreds of fraudulent tax returns falsely claiming COVID-related sick family leave credits the 2021 tax year. These fraudulent tax returns were filed on behalf of individuals without full knowledge or consent as to how their means of identification were being utilized and what had been submitted on their behalf. The fraudulent tax returns generated illegitimate tax refunds, which were ultimately split amongst the conspirators, including Clarke. Investigators also determined that Clarke had fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans based on the misrepresentation that he had been engaged in legitimate business activities in the year preceding the COVID pandemic.
United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the sentences. Clarke was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment in both the drug trafficking and fraud cases, with the sentences to run concurrently. Clarke was ordered to serve a ten-year term of supervised release upon release from prison. Wells was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. Lutin was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Phillips was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. James was sentenced to 58 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release. As conditions of their supervision, all five defendants will undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and each will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Phillips pay $100 in special assessments; Lutin, and Wells were ordered to pay $200 in special assessments; James was ordered to pay $125 in special assessments; and Clarke was ordered to pay $525 in special assessments and $83,931.70 in restitution to the IRS and Small Business Administration. Judge Moorer further ordered the forfeiture of the property that was seized during the investigation, including cash and numerous weapons.
United States Attorney Sean P. Costello made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mobile Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Kopf and Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Medina man going to prison for possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kyle Stack, 40, of Medina, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that in July 2020, Stack possessed a cellular phone, which contained more than 4,000 images and videos of child pornography. The child pornography included prepubescent minors less than 12-years-old and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Stack possessed a laptop, which contained more than 9,000 images and videos of child pornography.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
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Man Indicted and Ordered Detained for Possessing Ammunition Recovered in Connection with Fatal Shooting in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing ammunition that was recovered in connection with a fatal shooting in Chicago has been ordered detained pending trial.
FABIAS SHIPMAN possessed the ammunition on the afternoon of Sept. 29, 2025, in an alley in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, according to an indictment returned Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case. The ammunition had been discharged in a shooting in the alley that day where one victim was killed and another victim was wounded, the complaint states. As a previously convicted felon, Shipman was not legally allowed to possess a firearm or ammunition.
The federal indictment charges Shipman, 37, of Cook County, Ill., with one count of illegal possession of ammunition. The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
Shipman was arrested on Oct. 16, 2025, and has been ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth W. Jantz to remain detained in federal custody pending trial.
The indictment and detention order were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Valuable assistance has been provided by the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dunne.
The investigation is being conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every single gun case in Chicago is processed through ATF’s CGIC on a daily basis. As recently reported, federal firearm indictments under the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) program are up 292% in the Northern District of Illinois compared to last year (through Oct. 31, 2025).
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
shipman_indictment.pdfLeader of Transnational Terrorist Group Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Murder, and for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to TerroristsRead the Press Release
Dallas Humber, 35, of Elk Grove — leader of the transnational terror group called the Terrorgram Collective — was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 years in prison and a lifetime period of supervised release for soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“From the comfort of her suburban California home, Humber used online platforms to celebrate violence and solicit attacks that took the lives of innocent people and injured others around the world. Her incarceration makes the world a safer place,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department of Justice has shown that it can and will find these criminals even in the darkest corners of the Internet.”
“Today’s 30-year sentence sends an unmistakable message: if you plot acts of terror or use extremist networks to incite violence, you will be found, prosecuted, and incarcerated for decades,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This case demonstrates that our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will disrupt these threats and will pursue the maximum penalties the law provides.”
“Humber actively encouraged violence against, and the murder of, individuals based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity,” U.S. Attorney Grant stated. “Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners and with other Department of Justice components to stop these hate-fueled crimes and to ensure the safety of all people and public officials.”
“With today’s sentencing, Dallas Humber will pay the price for encouraging racially motivated violence, attacks on critical infrastructure, and the murder of federal officials,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Humber led the Terrorgram Collective which inspired and guided individuals to commit violent acts around the world. Keeping our communities safe is a top priority of the FBI. Let there be no doubt, we will remain steadfast in identifying and holding accountable those who commit or encourage terrorism and other heinous acts.”
“Dallas Humber led the Terrorgram Collective as they conspired to murder federal officials and solicited individuals to commit hate crimes across the globe,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “Through close collaboration with our domestic and international partners, we dismantled a dangerous network intent on inciting violence to advance its extremist ideology. Her 30-year sentence serves as a clear message that those who conspire to commit murder and solicit acts of terror in our communities will face justice.”
According to court documents, between July 2022 and September 2024, Humber served as a leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a white supremacist transnational terrorist group. To achieve their ends, she and other members of the Terrorgram Collective solicited individuals to commit hate crimes, terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, and assassinations. They provided technical, inspirational, and operational guidance to equip those individuals to plan, prepare for, and successfully carry out those attacks.
Inspired and guided by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective, individuals committed attacks or plotted to commit attacks in the United States and elsewhere, including plotting to attack an energy facility in New Jersey, plotting to bomb an energy facility in Tennessee, plotting to murder two people in Wisconsin in furtherance of plans to assassinate a federal official, and attempting to assassinate an Australian official. In addition, individuals led by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective have committed acts of violence internationally, including shooting three people, killing two, at an LGBT bar in Bratislava, Slovakia; shooting 11 people, killing four, at two schools in Aracruz, Brazil; and stabbing five people outside of a mosque in Eskişehir, Turkey.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from a variety of foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
Leader of Transnational Terrorist Group Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Murder, and Conspiring to Provide Material Support to TerroristsRead the Press Release
Dallas Humber, 35, of Elk Grove, California, — leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a transnational terrorist group — was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 360 months in prison for soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.
“From the comfort of her suburban California home, Humber used online platforms to celebrate violence and solicit attacks that took the lives of innocent people and injured others around the world. Her incarceration makes the world a safer place,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department of Justice has shown that it can and will find these criminals even in the darkest corners of the Internet.”
“Today’s 30-year sentence sends an unmistakable message: if you plot acts of terror or use extremist networks to incite violence, you will be found, prosecuted, and incarcerated for decades,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This case demonstrates that our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will disrupt these threats and will pursue the maximum penalties the law provides.”
“Humber actively encouraged violence against, and the murder of, individuals based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners and with other Department of Justice components to stop these hate-fueled crimes and to ensure the safety of all people and public officials.”
“With today’s sentencing, Dallas Humber will pay the price for encouraging racially motivated violence, attacks on critical infrastructure, and the murder of federal officials,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Humber led the Terrorgram Collective which inspired and guided individuals to commit violent acts around the world. Keeping our communities safe is a top priority of the FBI. Let there be no doubt, we will remain steadfast in identifying and holding accountable those who commit or encourage terrorism and other heinous acts.”
According to court documents, between July 2022 and September 2024, Humber served as a leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a white supremacist transnational terrorist group. To achieve their ends, she and other members of the Terrorgram Collective solicited individuals to commit hate crimes, terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, and assassinations. They provided technical, inspirational, and operational guidance to equip those individuals to plan, prepare for, and successfully carry out those attacks.
Inspired and guided by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective, individuals committed attacks or plotted to commit attacks in the United States and elsewhere, including plotting to attack an energy facility in New Jersey, plotting to bomb an energy facility in Tennessee, plotting to murder two people in Wisconsin in furtherance of plans to assassinate a federal official, and attempting to assassinate an Australian official. In addition, individuals led by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective have committed acts of violence internationally, including shooting three people, killing two, at an LGBT bar in Bratislava, Slovakia; shooting 11 people, killing four, at two schools in Aracruz, Brazil; and stabbing five people outside of a mosque in Eskişehir, Turkey.
The FBI Sacramento Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from a variety of foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies.
The Eastern District of California, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
Keene, New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 28 Months in Drug Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 16, 2025, William Bostwick, 43, of Keene, New Hampshire, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 28 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Bostwick previously pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute over 30 grams of cocaine in January 2025. Charges related to his possession of additional cocaine and fentanyl and a firearm in December 2024 were dismissed following his plea and sentencing. Bostwick’s sentence will run concurrently with sentences to be imposed in related cases in New Hampshire and Vermont, along with violations of release conditions from prior offenses in Massachusetts.
According to court records, Bostwick was encountered by law enforcement on December 27, 2024 while unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle in Brattleboro, Vermont. Bostwick was found to be in possession of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, $5,700 in cash, and a 9mm handgun. Approximately two weeks later, on January 9, 2025, law enforcement observed Bostwick at a hotel in Putney, where he was arrested and found to be in possession of over $1,000 cash, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 38.5 grams of cocaine.
First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the law enforcement efforts of the Brattleboro Police Department and the Vermont State Police and thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its assistance.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Cowles. Bostwick was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defenders Emily Kenyon and Cameron Brooks.
Kauai Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr., 52, of Kauai, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to a total of 210 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony. Abergas has been detained since his initial arrest in this case on April 10, 2024.
According to court records, Abergas was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine on Kauai. In total, Abergas was held responsible for over 23 pounds of methamphetamine.
Abergas is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, nine of whom have pled guilty with the remaining awaiting trial. The overall investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash.
Abergas is the second defendant in a nine-defendant indictment to be sentenced. On December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 30, 2025, in one of the related cases charged by separate indictment, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.
Jamestown man sentenced for selling heroin/fentanyl that led to overdose death and seriously bodily injuryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James Brandow, 37, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin and fentanyl, was sentenced to time served (approximately 39 months) by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between July 2020, and June 2021, Brandow conspired with others to sell heroin and fentanyl. Brandow utilized Facebook to conduct his drug trafficking activities including arranging deals with customers, associates, co-conspirators, and suppliers. On July 31, 2020, Brandow sold heroin and fentanyl which resulted in the death of an individual identified as K.T. and resulted in seriously bodily injury to an individual identified as B.F.
The sentencing is result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
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Jamestown man pleads guilty to possession of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andre Richards, 26, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Jacovetti and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that in the summer of 2022, law enforcement began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Richards in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties in NY, and in Warren, PA. During the investigation, Richards was charged with several New York State felonies involving the possession and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl as well as criminal possession of a loaded firearm. Despite these pending felony charges, Richards continued to operate a significant drug trafficking organization. Richards utilized a North Main Street residence in Russell, PA, as well as a residence on South Work Street in Falconer, NY.
In March 2023, after investigators conducted surveillance of Richards driving around Jamestown, NY, and observed him engaging in activity consistent with narcotics dealing, including a brief meeting with an individual that involved a hand-to-hand exchange, search warrants were executed on his vehicle and the residence in Falconer, NY. During the searches, law enforcement seized approximately 84 grams of crystal methamphetamine, approximately $6,600.00 of United States currency, a digital scale, a drug processing press, a 9mm magazine, and bullets. During a search of the Russell, PA, residence, law enforcement seized approximately 20 lbs. of crystal methamphetamine.
The plea is the result of a joint investigation by the Jamestown Police Department Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric butler, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Warren County, PA, Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Brian Zeybel.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2026, before Judge Vilardo.
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Jamaican Citizen Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Spearheading a Long-Running Fraudulent Sweepstakes SchemeRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Jamaican citizen, who was previously extradited to the United States from Jamaica. The sentencing took place on December 15, 2025.
Dwayne Anderson, age 36, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $181,075.60 and assessed $100 for the Federal Crime Victim’s Fund.
Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2023. In July 2024, Jamaican authorities arrested him and agreed to a United States request he be extradited to this country to face his federal charges. He pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud in September 2025.
The conviction stemmed from Anderson’s participation in a scheme to defraud an American woman from as early as 2010 until September 2017. Using phony names, Anderson contacted the victim by telephone, text message, and email and falsely informed her that she had won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes. He persuaded the victim, who believed his false representations, to send money to pay various purported fees and taxes associated with the sweepstakes. He instructed her on how, and to whom, to send these payments. Anderson repeatedly contacted the victim with additional requests to pay money and told her that her winnings would be forthcoming if she paid the requested money. The victim paid the purported fees, losing more than $181,000, but never received any of the purported winnings.
“This case underscores the devastating impact that sweepstakes scams have on older Americans who are targeted because of their trust and generosity,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons. “This conviction sends a clear message that we are committed to protecting our seniors and dismantling the criminal networks—here and overseas—who seek to exploit them.”
“If you target vulnerable Americans with schemes designed to steal their hard-earned money, you will become our target,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service knows no boundaries when it comes to protecting our communities. We will find you, we will stop you, and we will hold you accountable.”
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service. Former Assistant United States Attorney Ann Hoffman and Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case. They were joined Assistant Chief J. Matt Williams and Trial Attorneys Brandon J. Robers and Edward E. Emokpae of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Anderson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Iowa Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty December 16, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.
Cori Benson, 36, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Benson admitted that from August 2024 through October 2024, she and others conspired to distribute at least 150 grams of pure methamphetamine. In October 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle Benson was driving and found over ½ pound of pure methamphetamine in Benson’s purse, and two firearms in the vehicle. Benson admitted that she and another transported about one kilogram of methamphetamine from Des Moines, Iowa, to Pierre, South Dakota, for distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Benson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Benson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4080. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Incorrigible drug trafficker who repeatedly possessed firearms sentenced to 15 years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 42-year-old Everett, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 years in prison for eight federal felonies involving drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. David James Michael Jensen was convicted in September 2025, of five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, “You were bringing dangerous drugs into the state. Drugs that are causing thousands of deaths in our country…. Your actions contributed greatly to that suffering…. You kept getting drugs and guns despite being repeatedly detained by police.”
According to records filed in the case, over a three-year period Jensen was repeatedly identified and arrested by Everett Police involved with drug trafficking activities and firearms. On September 7, 2021, Jensen fled the scene of a two-car accident but left behind a backpack containing identity documents and a loaded 9mm handgun with extra ammunition. He was charged and convicted of illegally possessing the firearm.
On April 7, 2022, Jensen was detained for driving without a license. A court authorized search of his car revealed several loaded firearms as well as fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. For these crimes he was charged and convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime which is punishable by a mandatory five-year term to run consecutive to any other conviction.
On May 11, 2022, Jensen was arrested again unlawfully possessing a firearm. In this case he had heroin, methamphetamine, and a High Point 9mm pistol.
Jensen’s next run-in with Everett Police occurred on July 31, 2024. Jensen was followed by police as he drove to a storage unit. Again, he was driving without a license and at the time of arrest officers found narcotics on him. In the storage unit officers found several firearms, including two “ghost guns” those that are privately made without serial numbers. They found ammunition and 400 fentanyl pills as well as several motorbikes – one of which was stolen.
Finally on December 27, 2024, Everett Police observed Jensen in Seattle placing various bags in different vehicles. They got a search warrant for one of the vehicles and found a loaded Glock 19 handgun as well as fentanyl, heroin, and drug paraphernalia. Jensen was then transferred to federal custody and indicted on these federal charges.
In asking for the 15-year sentence Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs wrote to the court, “Jensen was caught on multiple occasions with firearms and distribution quantities of drugs. He was clearly redistributing drugs and was in possession of firearms while doing so. Jensen clearly had no regard for the law, returning to possessing drugs and guns despite being detained for doing so on multiple occasions… Jensen’s actions placed the community, law enforcement, and himself at risk.”
The case was investigated by the Everett Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 360 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Marco Sole, 52 years old, of Lynwood, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Sole was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on June 2, 2022, Sole delivered over 40 grams of fentanyl to another person. He also sold fentanyl on other occasions in Illinois and Indiana. During a search of a stash house Sole operated in Chicago, Illinois, law enforcement recovered additional fentanyl and firearms.
“From his home in Lynwood, Illinois, and a stash house in Chicago, Marco Sole mixed heroin with other even deadlier substances, including fentanyl, p-flourofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), and xylazine, before delivering those drugs to the Northern District of Indiana, often using an intermediary he directed,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “This hefty sentence should make one thing clear to any out-of-state drug dealer who might be planning to traffic his poisons in Indiana: the state line will not shield you, and you will be brought to justice. My thanks go out to the brave and talented public servants who brought and prosecuted this case.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI/GRIT Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, HIDTA, the Indiana State Police, and assistance from the Lynwood Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Toth and Kristian R. Mukoski.
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 Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
Houston woman sentenced for misappropriated mail schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old local resident has been ordered to federal prison for a stolen mail fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Britni Marie Johnson pleaded guilty July 29.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Johnson to serve 65 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Johnson as intelligent and capable but cited her involvement in fraud and drug offenses. In imposing the sentence, the court considered the impact of the crimes, noting that mail and identity theft often leave those affected feeling violated. The court also stated her conduct made the lives of innocent victims more difficult. Johnson is also required to pay approximately $1,448.65 in restitution.
At the time of her plea, Johnson admitted she stole checks from the mail to commit fraud and used counterfeit identification documents to cash those stolen checks.
Johnson will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.
Houston Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Smuggling Meth through Eagle PassRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Houston man was sentenced in a federal court to 168 months in prison for importing and trafficking methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Alfonso Avellaneda Chavarrieta, 25, drove into the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Nov. 17, 2021, and was referred to secondary inspection, where a canine alerted U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to 64 bundles of methamphetamine in the vehicle’s rear tires. The methamphetamine inside the bundles tested positive for 31.4 kilograms with a purity level of 97%.
Chavarrieta was indicted for four counts on Dec. 8, 2021. He pleaded guilty to all four charges on Aug. 22, 2022. He was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Fleming and Amy Greenbaum prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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Honolulu Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Tax and Mail Fraud and Ordered to Pay over $1.6 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Hannah Heart, 67, of Honolulu, was sentenced today in federal court by Senior United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to defraud the IRS by fraudulently obtaining a tax refund and then thwarting efforts to recoup it and for mail fraud against her mortgage lender. On May 22, 2025, Heart pled guilty to one count of attempting to defraud the IRS and one count of attempting to defraud her mortgage lender using the mails.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Heart conspired with others to file a false 2014 individual income tax return in her name. As part of the conspiracy, Heart’s co-conspirators created a fake tax form purportedly issued by a mortgage lender to Heart, which Heart attached to her return. The form falsely reported that Heart had received income from a financial institution of more than $2.4 million, from which over $1.2 million in taxes had been withheld. The inclusion of this false income and withholding information on Heart’s 2014 filed tax return resulted in the IRS issuing Heart a fraudulent refund of $471,949.23.
After filing the false tax return and submitting the fake tax form, Heart took steps to try and ensure that the IRS could not recover the fraudulently obtained refund. For example, Heart deposited the refund check into a bank account she had opened in the name of a trust and immediately transferred most of the balance to a separate bank account. She also sent numerous false, fraudulent, and frivolous letters to the IRS in response to IRS efforts to recover the fraudulently obtained tax refund. Following the receipt of her own refund, Heart assisted another co-conspirator, Sook Young Jung, in participating in the same scheme. Heart and Jung together deposited a second fraudulently obtained refund check from the IRS, payable to Jung, in the amount of $1,147,036.31. In total, Heart caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,618,985.54.
Court documents and statements made in court also reveal that Heart attempted to defraud her mortgage lender. Heart took out a mortgage for her home but stopped making payments toward her mortgage. Heart’s mortgage lender then initiated foreclosure proceedings against her. In response, a co-conspirator of Heart’s sent the lender a false and fictitious document purporting to be a check for the full outstanding amount of Heart’s mortgage. The lender initially accepted the check but later rejected it as fraudulent. Afterward, Heart sent mail to the lender demanding that it accept the fraudulent check as full payment of her remaining balance. In pleading guilty, Heart admitted that she intended to defraud the mortgage lender of $2,066,522.22.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Seabright ordered $1,618,985.54 in restitution. Judge Seabright noted that a term of incarceration was called for because deterrence is particularly important in tax cases.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates of the District of Hawaii and Trial Attorneys Sarah Kiewlicz and Megan Jones of the Criminal Division, Tax Section prosecuted the case.
Hammond Woman Sentenced for Laundering Drug Trafficking ProceedsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson announced that LARIJERIA MARTIN, (“MARTIN”), age 34, of Hammond, Louisiana, was sentenced by the U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry to five years of probation on December 9, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).
According to the court documents, beginning at a time unknown and continuing to on or about December 13, 2023, in both the Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana, MARTIN conspired with and assisted her boyfriend, Dequarius Hamler, by taking the cash proceeds of Hamler’s drug trafficking sales and depositing this cash in various banks around the Hammond area. MARTIN was fully aware this cash was drug money yet still deposited the money to disguise it as legitimate business profits. MARTIN helped Hamler launder at least $615,650.00 of drug trafficking proceeds.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
Gallup Man Sentenced for Beating and Choking His Dating PartnerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for strangling his dating partner and leaving her with life-threatening injuries.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of March 6, 2024, Victor Badonie, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted and strangled Jane Doe. During this attack, Badonie menaced Doe in various ways—he punched Doe in her face multiple times, he choked her by pinning her down using his forearm against her neck, he ripped her hair out, and he broke her phone as she tried to phone for help. Doe ultimately drove herself to a Zuni-area hospital, where she was then taken by helicopter to UNMH in Albuquerque due to the severity of her injuries, which included bleeding in Doe’s brain.
Badonie pleaded guilty to the felony crimes of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault by strangulation. Upon his release from prison, Badonie will be subject to three years of supervised release. Badonie must also pay $27,801 in criminal restitution, an amount attributable to Doe’s medical bills caused by Badonie’s criminality.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Pueblo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
Franklin County Woman Sentenced for Using Stolen Mail to Commit FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine on Wednesday sentenced a woman who used stolen mail in a bid to steal nearly $80,000 from an elderly woman to 39 months in prison, fined her $6,500 and ordered her to repay her victim.
Miranda Burgess, 30, was caught with stolen mail belonging to more than 70 individuals and entities in May of 2022. Investigators soon discovered that she’d used mail belonging to an 89-year-old woman to create counterfeit checks and establish multiple online financial accounts to steal $27,470 from her. Burgess tried to transfer another $50,000 to herself, but the money was later returned to the victim.
Burgess was aware that her victim was nearly 90, Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf wrote in a sentencing memo. Her crimes not only affected that victim, but also 73 others who did not receive their mail or had to resend mail that they sent to others, reducing public confidence in the U.S. Mail.
Burgess, of Franklin County, Missouri, pleaded guilty in August to 13 counts: one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of possession of stolen mail and nine counts of bank fraud.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Arnold Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf prosecuted the case.