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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
10 February 2026
Honduran national sentenced to six years in prison for repeated arrests for possession and distribution of fentanylRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 37-year-old man who was living in a Des Moines, Washington, hotel, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six years in prison and three years of supervised release for drug and gun crimes, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Dennis Aguilar Huisa was arrested three times over 15 months for possession of fentanyl pills and/or powder, methamphetamine, cocaine, and a firearm. After the third arrest Huisa was federally indicted and has been in custody since November 1, 2024.
At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Chun said fentanyl “is so dangerous and has destroyed so many lives…. He must have known that he was putting himself and his family at risk.”
According to records filed in the case, Puyallup Police first contacted Huisa on the side of the road in the early hours of August 15, 2023. Huisa said his car had overheated and he and a passenger were waiting for the engine to cool down. The police officer noticed that the license plate on the car did not match the type of vehicle listed in the registration. Huisa was removed from the car while law enforcement determined whether the car or the license plates were stolen. A second officer noticed blue pills in the car. Ultimately the car was impounded. A search revealed that there were about 1,000 fentanyl pills as well as some suspected fentanyl powder. There was also a scale with drug residue in the car.
On September 7, 2024, Puyallup Police responded to a report of a nine-month-old infant who had stopped breathing. Huisa and a woman met the officers outside a box truck the infant in their arms. Law enforcement worked to get the child to respond and breathe, Central Pierce Fire and Rescue responded and continued to work on providing aid to the child.
The law enforcement investigation found evidence that Huisa had given the infant two doses of Narcan suspecting that the child had been exposed to fentanyl or other drugs. Huisa gave permission to search the box truck. Law enforcement located approximately 115 blue fentanyl pills. On Huisa they found fentanyl powder and over $16,000 in cash.
The infant was taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. The child was given additional doses of Narcan, and the child’s blood tested positive for fentanyl, amphetamine, and oxycodone. The child survived.
Finally, on November 1, 2024, Auburn Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit served a search warrant on the Des Moines motel where Huisa had been living. In the hotel room they found small packages of fentanyl powder packaged for sale. Huisa had been attempting to flush it down the toilet when he heard law enforcement arrive. Officers found additional fentanyl powder, methamphetamine, and cocaine in other places around the room. Officers once again searched the box truck Huisa had been driving and found two kilograms of fentanyl powder and a Polymer 80 ‘ghost gun’ – a gun made without a serial number.
Huisa was charged by criminal complaint on March 12, 2025. He was indicted by the grand jury on March 26, 2025. On November 12, 2025, Huisa pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and money laundering. The financial investigation revealed that between July 2022 and September 2024, Huisa had made about $370,000 in cash deposits to his bank account – the proceeds of drug dealing.
Today, Huisa told the court he was “very ashamed and cannot forgive myself for what I have done to my daughter… I did not come here to deal drugs.”
In asking for an eight-and-a-half-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “Huisa was contacted by law enforcement on three different occasions and continued to engage in his drug trafficking activities, to the detriment of his infant daughter. Huisa appeared to be undeterred following the overdose of his child and continued to engage in the distribution of controlled substances.”
Huisa will likely be deported to Honduras following his prison sentence.
The case was investigated by the Puyallup Police Department, the Auburn Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation (CI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey Conzatti.
High-Speed Chase, Collisions with Two U.S. Marshal’s Vehicles, Yield an 8-Month SentenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joshua Rosser, 28, residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to eight months in prison in connection with purposely ramming a U.S. Marshal’s vehicle and then leading officers on a 10-minute high-speed chase, crashing into a second law enforcement vehicle, as he attempted to evade arrest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rosser pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2025, before Judge Loren L. AliKhan to federal misdemeanor assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers and to D.C. Code felony fleeing from law enforcement. In addition to the eight-month sentence, Judge AliKhan ordered Rosser to serve 12 months of supervised release on the federal count and three years of supervised release on the D.C. count as well as to pay $4,528.92 in restitution for damage to the law enforcement vehicles.
According to court documents, on Sept. 2, 2025, law enforcement officers were in unmarked police cruisers when they spotted an SUV with heavily tinted windows and a counterfeit Texas Buyer’s Tag. After officers confirmed that the tag was counterfeit, they attempted to conduct a traffic stop. An unmarked U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) vehicle occupied by four Deputy U.S. Marshals (DUSMs) activated its emergency lights and pulled in front of the SUV. Simultaneously, an unmarked U.S. Park Police (USPP) vehicle occupied by two USPP officers located behind the SUV activated its emergency equipment. As a USPP officer got out of his vehicle, Rosser rapidly accelerated forward and fled from law enforcement, striking a USMS vehicle in the process.
After colliding with the USMS vehicle, Rosser sped away in his SUV. Officers pursued Rosser in their vehicle with both their lights and sirens on. During the pursuit, Rosser reached speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour and drove the wrong way up one-way streets. During the chase, Rosser’s SUV collided with a second USMS vehicle occupied by three DUSMs. The impact caused injuries to one of the DUSMs. Rosser pulled away after the collision and continued to flee. After about 10 minutes of trying to evade law enforcement Rosser’s SUV came to a stop and he was arrested.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshal’s Service, U.S. Park Police, FBI Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English.
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Rosser collided with this USMS vehicle in which three Deputy U.S. Marshals were riding.
Green Cove Springs Man Sentenced to Nearly 17 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting a Child from North Carolina to Florida to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Christopher Allen Hawkins (40, Green Cove Springs) was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison for transporting a 15-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. He pleaded guilty on August 18, 2025. Hawkins was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. Hawkins was arrested on May 30, 2025.
According to court documents, during the early morning hours of May 30, 2025, GCSPD officers encountered a 15-year-old child skateboarding alone down a street in Green Cove Springs after the town curfew. Concerned for her safety, the officers approached the child and spoke with her. The child stated that she was visiting from North Carolina and had been staying with “Chris,” who was subsequently identified as Hawkins, in a tent behind a house in Green Cove Springs.
The GCSPD officers made contact with Hawkins a short time later. During an interview, Hawkins advised that he had met the child on the Snapchat app and had been in a relationship with her for several months. He also knew that the child was 15 years old. Hawkins said that he had originally traveled to North Carolina to do handyman work for the child’s parent. While staying at the child’s home in North Carolina, Hawkins engaged in sexual activity with her on several occasions. Approximately two weeks later, Hawkins returned to Florida.
In May 2025, Hawkins purchased bus tickets from North Carolina to Jacksonville for him and the child, with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the child after they arrived in Florida. Hawkins and the child boarded a bus and travelled to Jacksonville together on May 25, 2025. From Jacksonville, Hawkins and the child traveled to Green Cove Springs to stay together in Hawkins’s tent. Thereafter, Hawkins engaged in sexual activity with the child until he was arrested on May 30, 2025.
“This investigation started because of the great proactive work conducted by our Patrol Officers. This enabled our Detectives to conduct a rigorous investigation and quickly make an arrest,” stated Chief Shawn Hines of the Green Cove Springs Police Department. “Due to the unwavering dedication from our Officers and Detectives, the Green Cove Springs Police Department was able to arrest Christopher Hawkins for the crimes he had committed within our City. We were able to rescue a child from ongoing sexual exploitation. The safety of our children and our community remains our highest priority. As Chief of Police for the City of Green Cove Springs, I want our residents to know that we take our responsibility to protect this community seriously. We will continue to work diligently and collaboratively to investigate crimes thoroughly, hold offenders accountable, and ensure that victims and their families receive justice and support.”
This case was investigated by the Green Cove Springs Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Jacksonville. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Galax Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A convicted felon from Galax, Va., who was prohibited from possessing firearms, was sentenced Friday to 36 months in federal prison following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office.
Michael Shane Mathis, 30, pled guilty in November 2025 to one count of being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm while also being a user and addict of any controlled substance.
According to court documents, on February 18, 2025, deputies with the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for a welfare check involving the vehicle Mathis was occupying. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and located a Hi Point 995 9mm rifle, a Hi Point CF380 .380 caliber pistol, and more than 100 rounds of ammunition.
Deputies also found a plastic baggie containing over nine grams of methamphetamine, a glass smoking device with residue, scales, a loaded hypodermic needle, a large knife, and body armor. Mathis admitted to law enforcement he was a violent offender for a previous conviction of unlawful wounding and the substance found was methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement
Assistant United States Attorney Corey Hall prosecuted the case for the United States.
Fugitive Sex Offender Arrested in Mexico Sentenced for Failing to RegisterRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man, who spent two years on the run as a fugitive in Mexico before being arrested in March, was sentenced recently to 18 months in prison for failing to register as a convicted sex offender.
Corey Richard Parton, 36, pled guilty in September 2025 to failing to register and update a registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) and failing to provide information required by SORNA relating to intended travel in foreign commerce.
According to court documents, in December 2018 Parton was convicted in Russell County, Virginia for proposing a sex act by a communications system and soliciting child pornography, both felonies. Based on these convictions, Parton was a sex offender who was required to register under SORNA. Records indicate that Parton completed his initial registration as a sex offender with the Commonwealth of Virginia on April 16, 2019. Parton was required to re-register every 90 days.
On August 8, 2023, the Virginia State Police (“VSP”) began an investigation into Parton’s SORNA registration information. The VSP investigation determined that Parton had failed to update his home address, vehicle registration information, place of employment, and use of social media - which he was prohibited from using - and place of employment. As a result, re-registration forms were sent to Parton with instructions for Parton to update this information.
However, these forms were never returned.
As a result, Parton was charged with three SORNA violations in Bristol, Virginia General District Cour, arrested on August 16, 2023, and given a bond. Further investigation revealed that following his release, Parton had traveled to Galveston, Texas where he boarded a cruise ship that stopped in Cancun, Mexico. Parton got off the cruise ship in Cancun and never boarded the ship when it left port.
Authorities located Parton living at the Ocean Dream Hotel in Coco Bongo Beach, Cancun, Mexico living under the name Dominque Garcia. He was arrested on May 25, 2025.
“This office will vigorously prosecute those who fail to register as sex offenders in the Western District of Virginia. I commend the U.S. Marshal’s Service and Virginia State Police for their outstanding work on this case,” said Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.
The United States Marshals Service and the Virginia State Police are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case.
Fresno Man Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison for Assault on a Veterans Affairs EmployeeRead the Press Release
On Feb. 9, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston sentenced Joseph Luis Alamo, 43, of Madera, to one year and a day in prison for assaulting a Veterans Affairs employee, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Nov. 10, 2025, Alamo encountered the victim, a Veterans Affairs (VA) employee, on the sidewalk outside the VA Hospital in Fresno. He then punched the employee, causing injury, and then swung a knife at the employee but missed. On Dec. 15, 2025, Alamo pleaded guilty to the charge.
The VA Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Madera County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes prosecuted the case.
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a Loaded Firearm While Fighting with PoliceRead the Press Release
On Feb. 9, 2026, Joseph Rocha, 27, of Fresno, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on March 21, 2024, law enforcement officers performed a traffic stop on Rocha’s vehicle. When he told them his license was in the trunk, officers asked him to step out of the vehicle, at which point Rocha turned the vehicle on and placed it in drive. Officers struggled with him to regain control of the vehicle through a half-open door. Rocha continued to fight as officers removed him from the vehicle, at one point trying to spring away from officers and grab an officer’s taser. Eventually, officers subdued Rocha, at which point they found him in possession of a loaded firearm. Rocha is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of multiple prior felony convictions in Fresno County including evading a peace officer, firearms offenses, assault, car theft, and drug trafficking.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fresno Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
Rocha is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff on May 26, 2026. Rocha faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Fraud Tourists Plead Guilty to Minneapolis Medicaid FraudRead the Press Release
Two Pennsylvania men pleaded guilty yesterday to repeatedly traveling from Philadelphia to Minneapolis to defraud Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program of approximately $3.5 million and concealing the scheme by using artificial intelligence to create fake records when questioned by insurance companies.
This case is part of a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section to combat prolific fraud on government programs in Minnesota. It also represents the first charges involving the use of artificial intelligence to further a fraud scheme targeting health care programs in Minnesota.
“Criminal fraud not only robs taxpayers — it shatters trust in our institutions. Under President Trump’s leadership, yesterday’s convictions are just the beginning,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our prosecutors will work tirelessly to unravel criminal fraud schemes and charge their perpetrators in Minnesota and across the country.”
“Minnesota will no longer be a haven for fraud under our watch,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Justice Department has been investigating billions in taxpayer fraud across the country and has already successfully convicted 66 individuals and counting in Minnesota. The collaboration between the Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is a prime example of how we restore justice and public trust, while holding criminal fraudsters accountable.”
“Defrauding those who rely on government programs takes away critical resources, and the use of artificial intelligence to carry out these crimes is dangerous and will not be tolerated,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Yesterday’s convictions demonstrate the FBI’s dedication to investigating and holding accountable criminals that target and take advantage of vulnerable members of our communities.”
“These defendants had no connection to Minnesota or its communities. They traveled across the country for one purpose: to prey upon and steal millions in taxpayer dollars meant for people struggling with homelessness, addiction and disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Although programs like HSS are run by the states, they are funded with federal tax dollars. The Criminal Division will not stand by while fraudsters put all Americans’ tax dollars at risk.”
“The defendants brazenly siphoned millions from a program created to provide vulnerable individuals with stable housing — a deliberate betrayal of public trust that will not be tolerated,” said Inspector General T. March Bell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This scheme diverted critical resources from those who need them most and eroded confidence in programs intended to support people with disabilities and mental health challenges. HHS-OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to protect taxpayer-funded programs and will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold perpetrators fully accountable.”
“Anthony Jefferson and Lester Brown tried to hide fraud behind artificial intelligence, but technology doesn’t replace math — or accountability;” said IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Guy Ficco. “Our special agents followed the money, broke down the data, and exposed a scheme that siphoned public assistance dollars from a program meant to support vulnerable Minnesotans. When people steal from safety net programs, they don’t just take money — they weaken public trust. IRS-CI will continue to identify, unravel, and stop fraud, no matter how sophisticated the tools behind it.”
“Criminals who target the most vulnerable members of our communities will become the target of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “We pursue them without pause, making sure they are held accountable and feel the full weight of justice. Yesterday’s sentencing emphasizes our unwavering commitment to those we serve and protect.”
According to court documents, Anthony Waddell Jefferson, 37, and Lester Brown, 53, both of Philadelphia, set up businesses in Minneapolis and enrolled as HSS program providers, purportedly to help people with disabilities – including seniors and people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders – find and maintain housing.
Rather than provide those services, Jefferson and Brown – who marketed themselves as “The Housing Guys” – repeatedly traveled from Philadelphia to Minneapolis to recruit Medicaid beneficiaries at homeless shelters and Section 8 housing facilities. The defendants signed those individuals up for HSS and then billed the program for services that were not provided. When asked to provide supporting documentation for their claims, Jefferson and Brown fabricated e-mails discussing their purported “clients” and used ChatGPT to create fake client notes. In total, from February 2022 through June 2025, Jefferson and Brown stole approximately $3.5 million from HSS for services they fraudulently claimed to have provided to approximately 230 Medicaid beneficiaries.
Jefferson and Brown each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, IRS-CI, HHS-OIG, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Shankar Ramamurthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Minnesota Rebecca Kline and Matthew Murphy are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Fort Mill Man Indicted for Straw Purchase of a FirearmRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury has indicted Gregory L. Tischuk, 65, of Fort Mill, for the straw purchase of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that in April 2024, when Tischuk purchased a firearm from a large retailer, he lied about who the firearm was for, in violation the Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473. The Form requires buyers to affirm they are purchasing the firearm for themselves.
Tischuk faces a maximum penalty of 10 years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of no more than three years in addition to any term of imprisonment, plus a special assessment of $100. Tischuk has been released on bond.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former President and Vice President of Jacksonville Teachers Union Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling Millions in Union FundsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Teresa Brady (70, Jacksonville) to 27 months in federal prison, and Ruby George (82, Jacksonville) to one year and one day in federal prison followed by six months of home confinement, both in connection with their guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, aiding and abetting wire fraud, and aiding and abetting mail fraud. Brady also pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. As part of their sentences, the court ordered the forfeiture of the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct, which cumulatively totaled $2,600,235.99. Further, the court ordered Brady and George to pay the same amount in restitution to the victim of their offenses, Duval Teachers United (DTU). United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Brady and George were the President and Executive Vice President of DTU, a labor union that represents Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) teachers, paraprofessionals, and office personnel. DTU has approximately 6,500 members and represents approximately 80% of eligible DCPS employees. DTU’s annual revenue is approximately $5 million, which is comprised of funds paid by dues-paying members.
From 2013 to 2022, Brady and George engaged in a conspiracy to steal more than $1.2 million apiece from DTU by selling back to DTU leave time that they had not accrued or earned, and by paying themselves unauthorized bonuses and fake reimbursements. They concealed their scheme by providing false information to DTU’s auditor, and by signing each other’s checks when distributing the unaccrued and unearned payments, hiding those distributions from the DTU Secretary/Treasurer and its board of directors. Brady and George also hid their embezzlement from the State of Florida’s Public Employee Relations Commission (PERC), in legally required annual financial statement filings, some of which were mailed to PERC.
“This sentencing demonstrates that individuals who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Brady and George engaged in a prolonged scheme that harmed the members and integrity of the organization she was entrusted to lead. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to detect and disrupt complex financial fraud crimes.”
“Individuals who exploit their authority for personal gain and betray the trust placed in them will face justice,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “This case sends a clear message: IRS Criminal Investigation stands firm with our federal partners in relentlessly pursuing those who engage in fraud and corruption, no matter how long the scheme lasts. Our mission is to protect the integrity of our institutions and ensure justice for the victims.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Coolican and Kelly S. Milliron, and former Assistant United States Attorney A. Tysen Duva. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Harrington and Julie Simonsen handled the forfeiture and restitution matters.
Former New York State correctional officer going to prison for 30 years for production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael Regan, 43, of Amherst, NY, who was convicted of two counts of production of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison, lifetime supervised release, and was ordered to register as a sex offender by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Regan was a New York State Correctional Officer from 2007 until his arrest by the FBI in 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who handled the case, stated that in August 2020, Regan took multiple sexually explicit photos of Minor Victim 1, an infant, using his cellular telephone. Also in August 2020, during communications over the social media application TextNow, Regan solicited, enticed, and directed a 13-year-old girl to produce sexually explicit images for him. Regan then met Minor Victim 2 to engage in sexual contact. After the sexual contact, Regan instructed Minor Victim 2 not to tell anyone, or he would come to her house. Minor Victim 2 felt threatened by Regan’s statement.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Craig Macy, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
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Former Federal Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Justice in Assault InvestigationRead the Press Release
Sandra Munagay, 44, of Atwater, a former Senior Correctional Officer at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, pleaded guilty today to obstructing justice during the investigation of her alleged assault of an inmate, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in 2023, while working as a correctional officer, Munagay had a verbal dispute with an inmate housed at the prison. The inmate turned and tried to walk away from Munagay, but she pursued him. When the inmate stopped and turned back towards Munagay, she punched him in the face.
The same day, Munagay falsified a report about the incident. In the report, Munagay stated that the inmate had walked towards her in an aggressive manner and that she had panicked due to his size and aggressive behavior. Munagay further stated that she tried to place her hand on the inmate’s shoulder to gain distance from him and that her hand inadvertently landed on his cheek.
The video surveillance of the incident showed that the statements Munagay made in the report were false and that she was the aggressor. As part of Munagay’s plea agreement, she admitted to making the statements with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence an official investigation of the incident by the Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
Munagay is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. Munagay faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Former DOJ Contractor Pleads to Mail Fraud in Theft of Cell Phones Valued at More Than $1.3 MillionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Javan King, 42, of Laurel, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in connection with stealing thousands of government cell phones when he worked for the Department of Justice, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
King pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. Judge Jia M. Cobb accepted King’s plea and scheduled sentencing for May 26, 2026.
According to court documents, between approximately 2021 and 2025 King worked as an information technology contractor for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ). During that period, he defrauded DOJ out of more than $1.3 million by successfully requesting that DOJ order thousands of mobile devices that the Department did not need.
After the phones were shipped to King at DOJ, he sent them to phone reselling businesses. In total, the businesses paid him more than $1.3 million for the phones. King acknowledged that his scheme caused the Department of Justice to suffer an actual loss of more than $1.3 million because of fees that it paid AT&T for the unnecessary phone lines and phones.
This case was investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman.
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Former Bank Employee Found Guilty of Targeting Elderly Victims in Identity Theft and Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal jury has convicted a Chinese national of using his role as a bank employee to access confidential client information to target elderly customers and create a scheme to steal their money and then use it for his personal benefit.
After a five-day trial in front of U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese, Yue Cao, 36, was found guilty on 10 counts of Bank Fraud, four counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, and one count of Money Laundering.
According to court documents and evidence presented before the jury, Cao was a quant analytics manager at an Ohio-based bank who was hired to help protect customers from fraud. Instead, from approximately 2022 to 2023, he used his access to steal the identities and money of elderly customers who had not enrolled in the bank’s online services. He did this by first utilizing an offshore service to create email addresses in the names of more than 100 victims. Then, he used these emails to enroll the victims in online banking—all without their knowledge or authorization. Additionally, Cao directed the victims’ bank statements and other notifications to the email addresses he created. Because he controlled their online banking, he transferred the victims’ money directly to his personal bank and credit card accounts.
He also used the victims’ identities to open accounts in their names without their knowledge and transferred their money into them. Some of these were brokerage accounts, where he then engaged in options trading using their money. He even arranged trades between the unauthorized accounts he set up and his own brokerage account.
Victims resided in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Washington, and Ohio (Canton) and ranged in age from 90-103 years old at the time that Cao secretly enrolled them in online banking. In total, he conducted approximately $2 million in unauthorized transfers using his control of the victims’ accounts.
Sentencing is yet to be scheduled. The defendant faces a minimum, mandatory term of two years, and maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and Michael L. Collyer for the Northern District of Ohio.
Five Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Fraud Offenses and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an Indictment on February 4, 2026, charging five Louisville residents with fraud and money laundering offenses.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
According to the Indictment, Donnita Wilson, 32; Aariel Matthews, 27; Raul Tellez Ojeda, 32; Lazaro Alejandro Castello Rojas, 37; and Robert Danger Correa, 41; were charged with Mail Fraud (14 counts), Mail Fraud Conspiracy (one count), Honest Services Mail Fraud (14 counts), Honest Services Mail Fraud Conspiracy (one count), Unlawful Production of Identification Documents (14 Counts), and Money Laundering Conspiracy (one count).
The indictment alleges the defendants devised and executed a scheme that solicited illegal fees between $200 and $1,500 from legally present, non-U.S. citizens who were applying for driver’s licenses on the promise that they would be expedited through the process without undergoing testing requirements. In furtherance of the scheme, the indictment alleges that certain conspirators altered information in government databases to bypass important steps in the application process and, thereby, issue invalid licenses to the non-U.S. citizens. The indictment alleges the defendants perpetrated this scheme for their own financial gain, and betrayed the trust placed in them by Kentucky’s Transportation Cabinet.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “This indictment represents the culmination of an investigation into a scheme by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet employees and others to illegally circumvent Kentucky’s process for issuing driver’s licenses, thereby issuing invalid licenses to lawfully present, non-U.S. citizens who had not first demonstrated their qualifications to drive on our roads. Proper vetting of individuals seeking a driver’s license is a prerequisite to ensuring the safety of Kentucky’s roadways and ensuring the legitimacy of state-issued identification. As alleged in the indictment, this fraudulent scheme involved kickbacks and bribes leading to numerous legally present, non-U.S. citizens obtaining unlawfully issued drivers licenses.”
Several defendants were arraigned on February 9, 2026, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count of mail fraud, mail fraud conspiracy, honest services mail fraud, and money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, the Kentucky State Police, the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Owensboro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin McKenzie is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Indictment
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Federal Charges Filed in Two Separate Cases Involving Non-Emergent Medical Transportation FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office announce that Ashley Marie Stevens, 40, of Mesa County, and Wesam Yassin, 42, of Douglas County, have been separately charged with defrauding Medicaid’s non-emergent medical transportation program. Stevens faces six counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of health care fraud, and six counts of money laundering. Yassin faces six counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of health care fraud, and eight counts of money laundering.
Colorado Medicaid is a federal health care program that is funded through taxpayer dollars that are distributed by the state. Colorado Medicaid provides Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) to qualified Medicaid beneficiaries who do not have access to transportation when transportation is required to obtain medically necessary non-emergency services.
According to the indictment filed against Stevens, from approximately July 2022 to February 2023, Stevens billed Colorado Medicaid under the business name Armistead Twin Rides, LLC., for over one million dollars of non-emergent medical transportation rides for Medicaid beneficiaries. Of those one million dollars, Stevens billed Colorado Medicaid for more than $400,000 for rides for herself and family members, most of which did not have corresponding medical appointments. The indictment alleges that Stevens also billed Colorado Medicaid for over $150,000 for rides for four beneficiaries for whom the rides either did not occur at all or involved a destination unrelated to any medical provider or service. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Stevens billed Colorado Medicaid for more than $450,000 for rides that were 400 or more miles long per patient, per day. Only a handful of those rides corresponded to medical appointments or services, and those destinations were less than 400 miles away. Proceeds from the scheme were allegedly used for personal gain including travel and the purchase of a luxury vehicle.
According to the indictment filed against Yassin, from approximately March 2022 to October 2023, Yassin billed Colorado Medicaid under the business name Sama Limo for approximately $3.3 million in non-emergent medical transportation rides. Alleged in the scheme is one instance where Yassin billed Colorado Medicaid for approximately $283,000 for 64 rides for a beneficiary of which approximately $165,000 represented billing for rides after the date of the beneficiary’s death. Additionally, the balance of those rides do not correspond to any medical appointments in Colorado. In other instances, Yassin billed Colorado Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of dollars for rides that beneficiaries say never occurred. Proceeds from this scheme were allegedly used for personal gain including the purchase of a home, furnishings, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and cosmetic surgery.
The charges contained in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Colorado First Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Medicaid Fraud, Abuse & Neglect Unit Rebecca Weber serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Colorado.
The Colorado Medicaid Fraud Abuse and Neglect Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $4,026,641.50 for federal fiscal year 2026. The remaining 25%, totaling $1,342,213.83, is funded by the state of Colorado for the federal fiscal year.”
Case Numbers: Stevens – 25-CR-0344-PAB; Yassin – 26-CR-34-PAB
Executive Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Bid-Rigging ConspiracyRead the Press Release
The president of a metal fabrication and manufacturing company pleaded guilty on Feb. 5, to a conspiracy to rig bids for maintenance, repair, and operations contracts affecting United States military installations, earning his company more than $8.5 million dollars in rigged procurements.
According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Thomas C. Rollins, of Wilmington, North Carolina, was the president of a company that provided goods and services to military bases through procurements administered by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Between at least 2015 and 2022, Rollins conspired with other individuals and companies to suppress and eliminate competition by rigging bids for the procurements administered by the DLA, which were awarded to subcontractors through a competitive bidding process. Rollins and his co-conspirators coordinated their submission of rigged bids by agreeing in advance which co-conspirator would submit the lowest pricing and instructing each other how to price “comp” or “cover” bids. In the plea agreement, Rollins admitted that the volume of commerce attributable to him and related to the conspiracy was approximately $8.47 million.
“For seven years, this defendant deliberately chose to cheat instead of compete, harming the Department of War and the American people in the process,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its partners in the Procurement Collusion Strike Force are laser focused on detecting and prosecuting those who seek to tilt the scales in their favor at the expense of American taxpayers and warfighters.”
“As the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the Department’s acquisition process,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of DCIS’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “When individuals conspire to rig bids and eliminate fair competition, they erode taxpayer trust and jeopardize the readiness of our armed forces. Today’s outcome makes clear that this conduct will not be tolerated. DoD contracts must be awarded based on merit, consistent with the best interests of national defense.”
Rollins pleaded guilty to one felony count of restraining trade by conspiring to rig bids, in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The maximum penalty for individuals is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine.
A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled in this case. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DoD-OIG) is investigating this case. The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section is prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Eleven Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Linked to Gulf Cartel Indicted for Drug Trafficking in Central LouisianaRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – On January 21, 2025, a federal grand jury in Lafayette, Louisiana returned a 12-count indictment charging eleven alleged members of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in the Western District of Louisiana. On January 29, 2026, all eleven defendants were taken into custody by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
“Drug traffickers working with transnational criminal organizations like the Gulf Cartel endanger urban and rural communities alike, and this case shows that rural communities like Vernon Parish will not tolerate these groups peddling the poisons of fentanyl, meth, and other hard drugs in their community,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “This case shows our Office’s commitment alongside our federal and state partners to disrupt these groups attempting to gain a foothold in our District’s many rural communities, and we will remain vigilant in identifying and prosecuting the criminals who would push these drugs into the lives of our District’s citizens.”
The investigation began when FBI New Orleans, Alexandria RA, opened an investigation into a neighborhood-based gang in early 2025. The local gang is alleged to import large amounts of illegal drugs from Gulf Cartel sources of supply in Mexico. During the first week of November, FBI seized approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine, 2,000 fentanyl pills, one pill press, $125,000 in U.S. currency, $28,000 in gold bars, and other contraband.
According to the indictment, beginning at a time unknown but from at least on or about July 11, 2024, to November 2, 2025, the defendants intentionally conspired with each other to unlawfully possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The indictment also alleges seven of the defendants conspired with each other to unlawfully possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Six alleged DTO members face separated possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances charges including one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. The indictment also charges two individuals with the Illegal Use of a Communication Facility to further a Drug Transaction in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b).
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Louisiana State Police (LSP); Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office (SPSO); and Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office (VPSO). Assistant United States Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy and Legal Assistant Christy Angelle are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
This operation 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, 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 drug trafficking. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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, under Case Number 24-CR-00249.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
East Weymouth Woman Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An East Weymouth woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining Social Security benefits.
Debora A. Siler, 68, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (approximately one day in prison) and three years of supervised release. Siler was also ordered to pay $62,885 in restitution. In September 2025, Siler pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. Siler was charged in August 2025.
From June 2015 through September 2020, Siler fraudulently obtained approximately $61,685 in Social Security benefits and a $1,200 COVID economic impact payment. Siler had access to the checkbook and debit card of a Social Security beneficiary who died in May 2015. Instead of reporting the beneficiary’s death to the Social Security Administration or the bank where the benefits were deposited, Siler accessed the improperly paid benefits by forging the deceased beneficiary’s name on several checks and regularly depleting the account funds through debit card transactions.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Drug Trafficking Organization Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl in Natchitoches ParishRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT– On December 3, 2025, a federal grand jury in Shreveport returned an indictment charging the following five individuals for their roles in trafficking fentanyl and in around Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana:
Kedrick Donell Moses, a 49-year-old resident of Alexandria;
Edward Paige, a.k.a. “Pooh,” a 43-year-old resident of Natchitoches;
Donovan Solitaire, a.k.a. “NuFive,” “Five,” and “Nuda,” a 26-year-old resident of Natchez;
Quenderrick Williams, a.k.a. “Bing,” a 27-year-old resident of Pineville; and
Raven Gray, a 23-year-old resident of Natchez.
“Fentanyl and the criminals who peddle it present an extreme danger to our communities, city and rural alike,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Our Office will continue to work with our federal and state partners to eliminate the transnational criminal organizations that are spreading this poison across our communities and to ensure that the criminals working for these groups are off the street and facing justice.”
According to court documents, beginning on or about January 1, 2025, and continuing through June 30, 2025, Solitaire obtained fentanyl from Moses, Williams, and Paige. Once Solitaire obtained the supply of fentanyl, he stored and distributed the drug from his and Gray’s home in Natchez.
Moses, Paige, Solitaire, and Williams are charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. Solitaire is also charged along with Gray with Maintaining a Drug Premises. If convicted, Moses, Solitaire, and Williams face a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in federal prison. Paige, who has a prior serious felony drug conviction, faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Gray faces up to 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaDonte Murphy and Jessica Cassidy with assistance from Legal Assistants Emily Favrot and Christy Angelle and Legal Administrative Specialist Laura Bourque.
This operation 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, 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 drug trafficking. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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, under Case Number 1:25-cr-00346.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Dallas man sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin and methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas –A Dallas man has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison sentences for drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Adan Mendoza, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute heroin and methamphetamine and was sentenced to 324 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on February 9, 2026.
According to information presented in court, from at least 2019, Mendoza conspired with others to distribute heroin and methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.
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.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Rattan.
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Contractor Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Half-Million-Dollar Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a construction company doing business in Berkshire County pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to a multi-year income tax fraud scheme.
Dennis Condron, 76, of Cheshire, pleaded guilty to four counts of tax fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for May 19, 2026.
According to the charging document, over a three-year period, in addition to depositing customer payments to his company, D Condron Construction, Condron hid over half a million dollars in customer checks by cashing them and diverting them to his personal accounts. When Condron had his taxes prepared, he did not tell his preparer about the checks he was cashing and diverting customer checks – resulting in his tax returns underreporting the gross receipts of the business by hundreds of thousands of dollars. As a result, Condron kept hundreds of thousands of dollars that he should have paid in federal and state income taxes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Office is prosecuting the case.
Connecticut Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Connecticut man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Cyrus Griffin, 42, to 60 months in prison. Griffin pleaded guilty on April 1, 2025.
According to court records, Maine State Police stopped Griffin on I-95 on October 25, 2024. Griffin was on parole for a homicide and was not supposed to leave Connecticut. A search of Griffin’s person recovered over two thousand dollars in cash and a quantity of suspected drugs. Inside the vehicle, Maine State Police found a handgun under the driver’s seat, drug processing paraphernalia, suspected cocaine, and suspected fentanyl. Subsequent testing confirmed almost a pound of cocaine from the seizure and approximately 135 grams of fentanyl, as well as a suspected cutting agent and processing paraphernalia.
The DEA investigated the case, with the assistance of Maine State Police and the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Columbus man arrested in connection with Indiana teen’s death now faces federal exploitation chargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Tyler Thomas, the 39-year-old Columbus man arrested in January on local charges related to the disappearance and death of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, now faces federal exploitation charges.
“The filing of these federal charges does not signal the end of the investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Our prosecutors continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to collect and comb through evidence in pursuit of justice for Hailey and her family. We appreciate the public’s patience as the investigation proceeds.”
“The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively pursue all evidence in this case as we seek the facts about Hailey’s disappearance and death,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “While we are deeply saddened that we cannot bring Hailey home, we are committed to holding accountable anyone involved in the crimes against her.”
In a federal criminal complaint that was unsealed today, Thomas is charged with sexually exploiting a minor and traveling interstate with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. If convicted as currently charged, he would face up to 30 years in prison on each count.
The defendant appeared in federal court at 1:30pm today and his case was unsealed at that time.
Thomas allegedly met the victim online playing video games including Roblox and League of Legends.
According to charging documents, Thomas traveled from Columbus to Fortville, Indiana, during the overnight hours of Jan. 5 to Jan. 6 to pick up the victim and drive her back to Ohio with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity, specifically the production of child pornography.
Cell phone analysis reveals Thomas then allegedly traveled to an Airbnb residence in Logan, Ohio, on the afternoon of Jan. 6. At approximately 9:25am the next morning, Jan. 7, Thomas’s phone data shows he traveled near the North Country Trail Trailhead in Wayne National Forest, where the victim’s remains were later located. The phone remained in that location until approximately 2:15pm, when it began to travel back towards Columbus.
During a forensic review of Thomas’s cell phone, agents identified deleted communications and interactions between Thomas and the victim, including messages on SnapChat and sexually explicit images of the victim in Thomas’s Columbus residence and the Airbnb residence.
Columbus police officers searched Thomas’s residence on Hunter Avenue in Columbus and collected cell phones, computers and numerous other items of potential evidentiary value.
FBI agents also executed search warrants at the Airbnb residence in Logan and located potential traces of blood throughout the residence and seized numerous items that potentially contained traces of blood. Those items are awaiting further analysis.
Additionally, Thomas’s cell phone allegedly contained child sexual abuse material of a girl approximately seven to 10 years old and a sexual Discord conversation with another teenager. Specifically, in that Discord conversation, Thomas allegedly messaged: “Does baby carve parts of her own body?” and “…you’d look so good covered in red.”
The local charges against Thomas for pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor will be dismissed and the case will proceed in federal court.
The Fishers, Indiana Police Department, Columbus Division of Police, Hocking County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Indianapolis, U.S. Forest Service, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) are also investigating the case. The Perry, Hocking and Franklin County Prosecutor’s Offices are coordinating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill and Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Colonie Man Sentenced to 87 Months for Murder-for-Hire PlotRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jeal Sutherland, age 58, of Colonie, New York, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for using an interstate commerce facility in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a Capital Region man. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As detailed in Sutherland’s plea agreement and an earlier-filed criminal complaint, between November 2024 and January 2025, Sutherland used his cell phone to arrange the murder of a man who is the father of a child with Sutherland’s then-partner. As part of this plot, Sutherland agreed to forgive a debt of the person he hired to kill the victim. Sutherland also agreed to pay an undercover FBI agent – whom Sutherland believed to be a hog farmer – for use of a Pennsylvania farm to dispose of the victim by having pigs consume the body. Sutherland admitted that in late January 2025, he had another man put the carcass of a Canada goose on the doorstep of the victim’s mother. When the dead bird was discovered, it had a threatening note stuffed in its beak that had been written at Sutherland’s direction.
The intended victim was not harmed, and the FBI arrested Sutherland on January 27, 2025. Sutherland has been in custody since his arrest.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a $15,000 fine and ordered a 3-year term of supervised release to follow Sutherland’s release from prison.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “Jeal Sutherland thought he could order up the murder of his romantic rival right from his cell phone. Thanks to the hard work of FBI Albany and members of my office, Sutherland will now be dialing out from a federal prison for the foreseeable future.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: “The details of Mr. Sutherland’s callous plans are deeply disturbing and prove he had every intention of ending a life. Instead, his vicious and intricate plot has landed him in federal prison. This case clearly illustrates the FBI will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to swiftly investigate and interrupt any individual looking to carry out such egregious acts of violence in our communities.”
The FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force investigated this case, with assistance from the Colonie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian prosecuted this case.
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Coal County Resident Sentenced for Possession of Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Treyvian Jamal Mason, a/k/a Tray Mason, age 22, of Coalgate, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for one count of Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Coalgate Police Department, the Coal County Sheriff’s Office, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On June 11, 2025, Mason pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on February 13, 2025, Mason knowingly possessed, concealed, and disposed of a stolen semi-automatic pistol which he knew or had reasonable cause to believe was stolen.
The Honorable Timothy M. Reif, U.S. Judge in the United States Court of International Trade, sitting by assignment in the District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Mason will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Co-Defendants Sentenced on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that announced that two defendants have been sentenced for their roles in a federal drug conspiracy.
Dylan Thomas Emmick, age 32, of Purcell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of Drug Conspiracy.
On January 8, 2026, Kody James Lile, age 45, of Lindsay, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Emmick and Lile each pleaded guilty to the charges on July 7, 2025, in federal district court.
According to investigators, on November 9, 2024, Lile and Emmick traveled together from Oklahoma City into the Eastern District of Oklahoma to distribute methamphetamine. Following a traffic stop in Latimer County, law enforcement searched Emmick’s car and found plastic baggies, a digital pocket scale with white crystalline residue, and over 46 grams of pure methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Lile and Emmick will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.
Clovis Mother Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Arming Her Son, a Felon and Gang MemberRead the Press Release
Jawana Washington, 45, of Clovis, was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd for aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a firearm as well as disposing of a firearm to a felon, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
On Sept. 3, 2025, Jawana Washington was convicted following a one-day trial. According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, Jawana Washington knowingly provided her son, Taylor Washington—a documented gang member and convicted felon—her firearm. On March 25, 2022, she agreed to lend him her firearm, cautioning him not to do anything “crazy,” to use his own ammunition, and not to get her sent to jail. Minutes later, agents observed Taylor Washington arrive at his mother’s apartment complex, meet with her, and leave in a vehicle. During a subsequent traffic stop, officers recovered a Springfield Armory XD-9 handgun, registered to Jawana Washington, from the car’s center console. After the stop, Jawana Washington exchanged messages with others in which she acknowledged that Taylor Washington had her firearm and urged deletion of incriminating text messages.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fresno Police Department; the Fresno-area Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC); the California Department of Justice Special Operations Unit; the California Department of Justice Human Trafficking / Sexual Predator Apprehension Team; the California Highway Patrol; the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office; the Kings County Sheriff’s Office; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Antonio J. Pataca 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Civil Rights Division Secures $68M Settlement in Predatory Land Sales and Lending LawsuitRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Colony Ridge Land LLC and its affiliates (Colony Ridge), a land developer and lender near Houston, TX, have agreed to pay $68,000,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that Colony Ridge targeted Hispanic borrowers with a predatory land sales and lending scheme that led to a cycle of foreclosures and financial hardship in violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
“Intentionally targeting vulnerable borrowers with the American dream of homeownership and then trapping them in a predatory scheme is not only wrong, it also violates our civil rights laws. This DOJ will go after all lenders, financiers, and land developers who participate in schemes which ultimately encourage illegal immigration,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The changes required by this settlement will promote public safety, and affordable and sustainable homeownership in America, key priorities of this Administration.”
The Civil Rights Division’s investigation found that Colony Ridge intentionally targeted Hispanic consumers with a deceptive bait-and-switch, predatory scheme that used misleading advertisements and sales tactics, including misrepresentations about flooding risks. Colony Ridge also used seller-financed loans without verifying a borrower’s ability to repay, significantly increasing the possibility of default and resulting in high foreclosure rates.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the State of Texas’s Office of the Attorney General. The settlement resolves a December 2023 lawsuit filed by the Civil Rights Division and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and a March 2024 lawsuit filed by the State of Texas Office of the Attorney General.
Under the settlement, defendants have agreed to:
- Invest $48 million in infrastructure improvements, with $18 million specifically invested in drainage infrastructure to address severe and costly flooding damage to homes, and $30 million towards other general infrastructure improvements;
- Increase housing affordability by adopting underwriting standards that assess borrowers’ ability to repay their Colony Ridge lot loans through consideration of borrowers’ income, assets, and debt;
- Preserve homeownership by developing a policy to meaningfully reduce the number and frequency of foreclosures and deeds in lieu of foreclosures;
- Protect homeowners by developing a default avoidance plan to help borrowers avoid defaulting on their Colony Ridge lot loans and to meaningfully reduce the overall default rate;
- Protect borrowers by developing a plan to address harms to borrowers’ credit because of reports made by Colony Ridge for all borrowers who have defaulted on a Colony Ridge lot loan;
- Address misrepresentations to consumers by ensuring honest and accurate advertisements that truthfully and accurately describe the properties for sale and applicable loan terms;
- Represent accurately the state of properties by providing pre-sale disclosures that accurately state whether a property is “move in ready” or currently has “all city services” such as immediate access to all utility services;
- Invest $20 million in increased law enforcement presence to ensure the safety of residents by coming into compliance with local, state, and federal agreements and to increase law enforcement presence and effectiveness in the Colony Ridge developments;
- Utilize ILSA’s intrastate land sales exemption and require purchasers to present an unexpired Texas-issued driver’s license, a Texas-issued identification card, a limited-term Texas-issued driver’s license issued after January 1, 2025 or an unexpired passport and valid visa issued or renewed after January 1, 2025; and
- Halt development of new residential plats for direct-to-consumer sales for three years.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
Chilean ATM Robbery Crew Member Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery and Conspiring to Commit Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
A member of an ATM robbery crew, Maite Celis Silva, 27, of Chile, pleaded guilty on Monday to bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery arising from a string of robberies of banks and ATMs throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Celis and her co-defendants were part of a South American theft group that conspired to break into and steal money from financial institutions between May and October of 2024. To assist her co-conspirators, Celis rented short-term vacation properties near the banks and ATMs that the crew intended to target. Those vacation rental properties served as staging locations for the robberies. The conspirators rented cars on the black market to transport themselves to and from the robbery locations. Once they identified ATMs in vulnerable locations, they then used construction-crew disguises, blowtorches, and cellphone jammers, among other sophisticated tactics, to break into the banks and ATMs and steal cash. The total loss amount caused by the conspiracy while Celis was a participant was more than $5.5 million.
Nine others are currently charged for their roles in the conspiracy. The charges against those defendants are only allegations; they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Celis is set for sentencing on June 1, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff. Celis faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for bank robbery and five years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the police departments of the cities of Fresno, Citrus Heights, Clovis, Elk Grove, Fresno, Modesto, Rocklin, Roseville, and Sacramento, as well as the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the investigation with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seattle Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Veneman-Hughes and Justin J. Gilio are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
CEO of Digital Asset Company SafeMoon Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Crypto-Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Braden John Karony, the Chief Executive Officer of SafeMoon US LLC, a digital asset company registered in Utah (SafeMoon) was sentenced by United States District Judge Eric Komitee to 100 months in prison for conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in a decentralized finance digital asset called “SafeMoon.” As part of the sentence, Karony was ordered to forfeit approximately $7.5 million. The amount of restitution to the victims will be determined at a later date. Karony was convicted by a federal jury following a three-week trial in May 2025. The jury also issued a verdict to forfeit two residential properties.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI New York); and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York) announced the sentence.
“Karony lied to investors from all walks of life—including military veterans and hard working-Americans—and defrauded thousands of victims in order to buy mansions, sports cars, and custom trucks,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that there are significant consequences for financial crimes. Our Office will continue to vigorously prosecute economic crimes that harm investors and weaken societal trust in the stability and security of digital asset markets.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its work on the case.
“Not only did Braden John Karony abuse his position as CEO, but he also betrayed his investors’ trust by stealing more than nine million dollars in digital assets from his company to fund his lavish lifestyle,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “The FBI is committed to addressing fraud in the digital asset marketplace to level the playing field for Americans.”
“Braden Karony exploited his access to SafeMoon’s liquidity pool to divert and misappropriate millions in cryptocurrency. He deceived investors, using their funds to lavishly expand his portfolio with million-dollar homes and luxury cars. By employing complex transactions to obscure the movement of these illicit proceeds, Karony acquired over $9 million in crypto assets. However, the expertise of IRS-CI special agents in tracing financial transactions outmatched Karony’s intricate schemes. His game of hide-and-seek failed, and now he must face justice and serve time in prison for his crimes,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.
“Braden John Karony’s sentencing exposes the deep betrayal at the heart of a scheme that preyed on the hopes and trust of SafeMoon investors. He and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme fueled by greed, and exploited the faith of over a million victims,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “HSI New York, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to ensure those who exploit the trust of investors—whether through fiat or cryptocurrency—will face justice.”
Background on SafeMoon
SafeMoon tokens were digital assets first issued in March 2021 by SafeMoon LLC on a public blockchain. Through the operation of SafeMoon’s smart contract, every transaction in SafeMoon was automatically subject to a 10% tax, meaning that if a holder of SafeMoon transferred 10 SafeMoon to another user, 1 SafeMoon would automatically be retained from the transfer as a tax and the remaining 9 SafeMoon would be received by the other party. As marketed to SafeMoon investors, the proceeds of SafeMoon’s 10% tax were split into two 5% tranches, the proceeds of which were supposed to benefit holders of SafeMoon in specific ways. The first 5% tranche of the tax proceeds was supposed to be “reflected” back to, and distributed among, all SafeMoon holders in proportion to their current SafeMoon holdings and thereby increase the total quantity of SafeMoon held by every SafeMoon investor automatically. The remaining 5% tranche of SafeMoon tax proceeds was supposed to be deposited into designated SafeMoon “liquidity pools.” The larger the SafeMoon liquidity pool, the greater the liquidity in the market for SafeMoon. In the months after its launch in March 2021, SafeMoon grew to have millions of holders and a market capitalization of more than $8 billion.
The Defendants’ Fraudulent Scheme
Karony and his co-conspirators misrepresented various material aspects of the SafeMoon offering to investors. Such misrepresentations included that SafeMoon relied on “locked” liquidity pools that would automatically increase in size due to the 10% tax imposed on every SafeMoon transaction; that the “locked” SafeMoon liquidity pool prevented the defendants and other insiders at SafeMoon from being able to “rug pull” (a type of crypto fraud) SafeMoon investors by removing liquidity from the SafeMoon liquidity pool; that tokens in the liquidity pool would only be used for limited pre-defined business purposes, not personal enrichment; that the defendants would manually add token pairs to the SafeMoon liquidity pool when transactions of SafeMoon occurred on specific centralized exchanges; and that the developers were not and had not been holding and trading SafeMoon for their benefit.
In reality, Karony and his co-conspirators retained access to the SafeMoon liquidity pools and used that access to intentionally divert and misappropriate millions of dollars’ worth of tokens for their personal benefit. In addition, although they publicly denied that they personally held or traded SafeMoon, they repeatedly bought and sold SafeMoon, sometimes at the height of the SafeMoon market price, which generated millions of dollars in profits. Karony and his co-conspirators masked their movement of the fraudulent proceeds via numerous private un-hosted crypto wallet addresses, complex transaction routing, and pseudonymous centralized exchange accounts. Karony acquired over $9 million in crypto assets from the scheme and used some of the proceeds to purchase luxury vehicles and real estate, including a $2.2 million home in Utah, additional homes in Utah and Kansas, a $277,000 Audi R8 sports car, another Audi R8, a Tesla, and custom Ford F-550 and Jeep Gladiator pickup trucks.
Co-conspirator Thomas Smith pleaded guilty in February 2025 to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud and is awaiting sentencing. Co-conspirator Kyle Nagy remains at large.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Dana Rehnquist, Sara K. Winik, and Jessica K. Weigel are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Melina Piatti-Chayan. Assistant United States Attorney Laura Mantell of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters and Assistant United States Attorneys Madeline O’Connor and Daniel Saavedra are handing restitution matters.
The Defendant:
BRADEN JOHN KARONY
Age: 29
Provo, UtahE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-433 (EK)
Businessman Who Repeatedly Transferred Assets to Elude Creditors Waives Discharge After USTP InvestigationRead the Press Release
A business owner who devised a corporate shell game to hide assets from creditors both before and after bankruptcy agreed to waive his bankruptcy discharge of more than $8.4 million in debts after an investigation by the Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP).
On January 29, the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri approved a voluntary waiver of discharge by debtor Bradley James Carlson. As a result, Carlson remains liable for his debts, and creditors are free to pursue payment from him after the case is closed.
Carlson was the owner and chief executive of a holding company and multiple subsidiaries operating several businesses, including real estate ventures and entities that manufactured and sold commercial food trucks. In November 2023, a state court appointed a receiver over the corporate assets after the businesses defaulted on payments to their primary lender — which also alleged that Carlson and other senior company executives had diverted business funds to buy luxury items, including sports cars and watches, and pay for personal projects such as the remodeling of Carlson’s multimillion-dollar residence. On the eve of the receiver’s appointment, Carlson transferred the business assets to new entities created by his girlfriend and another executive. Carlson continued to manage the businesses while he and his staff told customers and other employees that the old companies were being rebranded.
In February 2024, Carlson filed an individual chapter 7 bankruptcy case to attempt to avoid liability on several personal financial guarantees related to his enterprises. As part of its investigation, the USTP’s Kansas City office subpoenaed bank and business records, which prompted Carlson to create more new entities and transfer business assets again. Ultimately, Carlson agreed to waive his discharge.
“The USTP is committed to combating fraudulent and abusive conduct that threatens to undermine the integrity of the bankruptcy system,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Jerry Jensen of Region 13, which includes the Western District of Missouri. “The USTP will enforce the law against those who try to use the system to gain an unfair advantage.”
The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 82 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust.
Bloomfield Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHAWN TYSON, 55, of Bloomfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, and three years of supervised release, for health care fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Tyson was a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADC) with an office located at 330 Main Street in Hartford. From November 2019 to April 2023, Tyson and Thelma “Wendy” Epps, who had been suspended as a provider by the Connecticut Medicaid program (“Medicaid”) in 2018, defrauded Medicaid by submitting fraudulent claims for psychotherapy counseling sessions that were not provided by Tyson or Epps. In addition, Tyson and Epps agreed to submit claims to Medicaid under Tyson’s unique Medicaid provider number for services purportedly provided by Epps that falsely represented that Tyson had personally provided the services to Medicaid patients.
In order to conceal the fraud scheme, in October and November 2022, Tyson provided fraudulent patient records in response to an audit of his claims performed by the Medicaid program.
Judge Dooley ordered Tyson to pay restitution of $670,960.72, portions of which are owed jointly and severally by Epps and another licensed counselor involved in the scheme, Dennis Tomczak.
Tyson pleaded guilty on June 21, 2024. Released on a $15,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on April 10.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Social Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Sheldon.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, and Connecticut Attorney General’s Office meet regularly as part of The Medicaid Fraud Working Group. The Working Group also includes representatives from the Connecticut Department of Social Services; the Connecticut Department of Public Health; the Drug Control Division of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection; the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the FBI. The Working Group reviews pending issues and cases, identifies trends that might indicate fraudulent activity, and coordinates efforts for maximum results.
People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Billings man appears on drug chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man accused of possessing 45 pounds of methamphetamine for distribution appeared today in federal court, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Lane Demarais, 45, is charged by complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan presided and Demarais was detained pending further proceedings.
The affidavit in support of the complaint alleges that on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Eastern Montana HIDTA drug task force (EMHIDTA) served several search warrants in Billings and Laurel. The coordinated effort resulted in the seizure of several firearms, over $31,000 in cash, and approximately 45 pounds of methamphetamine in individually wrapped one-pound packages.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich is prosecuting the case. The investigation is being conducted by the EMHIDTA, which includes agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and Montana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole. Service of the search warrants included assistance from the Billings Police Department Street Crimes Unit, SWAT Team, and Drone Team, the Laurel Police Department, and the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office TRT.
The charging document is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
PACER case reference. 26-19.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
Armed Robberies of Six Mobile Phone Stores Nets District Man 67 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Shawn Marshall Owens, 44, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 67 months in federal prison for committing at least six armed robberies of Metro by T-Mobile stores in 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Owens pleaded guilty July 1, 2024, to six counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). In addition to the 67-month prison term, U.S. District Court Timothy J. Kelly ordered Owens to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on July 14, 2023, about 6:25 p.m., Owens robbed the Metro by T-Mobile store on the 4500 block East Capitol Street, NE. Owens pointed a black handgun in the direction of an employee and directed him to hand over cash from the cash register and cell phones. Owens fled with three phones and about $500 in cash.
On July 29, 2023, at noon, Owens struck at the same T-Mobile store on the 4500 block of East Capitol Street, NE. “Don’t play games…you know what to do,” Owens said to the same T-Mobile employee he had robbed two weeks earlier. Owens handed the employee a backpack and ordered him to empty the register into the bag. The employee complied. Owens grabbed six or seven cell phones, put them into the pack, and left the store.
On Sept. 2, 2023, about 5 p.m., Owens entered the Metro by T-Mobile store on the 1400 block North Capitol Street, NW. He produced a silver and black handgun, pointed it at an employee, and demanded all the Apple iPhones. Because of the threatened use of force, the employee complied, but told Owens they did not have Apple iPhones in stock. Owens demanded the keys to the cash register, opened it, and grabbed $446 in cash. He also took four phones from the counter. Owens asked the employee where the store’s big safe was located. The employee told Owens the safe was empty. Owens ordered the employee to walk to the backroom and told her to give him time to leave the store before she called the police.
On Sept. 13, 2023, about 4:51 p.m., Owens returned to the Metro by T-Mobile store on North Capitol Street. He produced a black and silver handgun and pointed it at a store employee. Owens asked for the keys to the safe, the employee’s personal phone, and wallet. The employee told Owens that since the establishment had been robbed before, keys to the safe were no longer kept on the premises. Owens opened the register, took $250, and grabbed at least five new phones from behind the counter.
On Oct.1, 2023, about 4:05 p.m., Owens struck the Metro by T-Mobile store on 3100 block of Mount Pleasant Street, NW Owens approached an employee, pulled a handgun, and demanded: “Where is the money? Where are the iPhones?” After ordering the employee to face the wall, Owens took $1,000 from the cash register, a laptop, a speaker, and a cell phone.
On Dec. 10, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., Owens robbed a Metro by T-Mobile store on the 5400 block of Georgia Ave NW. Two employees were working together inside as Owens walked in, pointed a handgun at them and demanded cash and phones. Owens carried out a box of phones out worth $3,169 as well as cash. When police arrested Owens shortly thereafter, he was in possession of the cash and the box of phones.
Each of the six stores that Owens robbed bought and sold goods in interstate commerce. As a result of Owen’s actions in each of these robberies, interstate commerce was actually or potentially delayed, obstructed, or affected. In each of the six robberies, Owens was armed with a replica “Airsoft” handgun, which appeared to be a real firearm.
Joining in the announcement were Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
This case was investigated by the MPD and the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Haley M. Pennington and Alexander Schneider provided valuable assistance.
24cr243
Air Force Airman Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Airman with the United States Air Force pled guilty to receiving child pornography on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced today.
Christian Keilberg, 34, of Ocean County, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Georgette Castner today, in Trenton federal court, to an information charging him with receipt of child pornography. Sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2026.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From November 2020 through November 2022, while Keilberg was an enlisted active-duty Airman with the United States Department of the Air Force living and working on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Keilberg used online chat applications and social media to communicate with minor victims located within and outside of New Jersey. Keilberg exchanged sexually explicit messages with the minor victims and asked them to send him images and videos of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which they did. A search of Keilberg’s electronic devices found in his on-base housing revealed additional videos and images of child pornography. Keilberg received more than 600 images of child pornography, including depictions of minors between twelve and fifteen years old.
The charge of receipt of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the United States Department of the Air Force, Office of Special Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Rebecca B. Bates, with the investigation. He also credited the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Defense counsel: Andrea Aldana, Esq., Trenton, New Jersey
keilberg.information.pdfActivity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Assault
Ralph Thomas Jones, Jr., 58, of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, was sentenced to four months in federal prison and one year of supervised release for assault by striking, wounding, or beating. According to court documents, on June 28, 2025, the defendant and the victim had a physical altercation at the Washburn Lodge, located in Canyon Village in Yellowstone National Park. The defendant reportedly hit the victim multiple times and choked her, causing injuries that needed medical attention. National Park Service Law Enforcement investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Feb. 5 in Cheyenne.
Firearm Offenses
Ricardo Ballard, 52 of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Oct. 27, 2024, in Yellowstone National Park, a Park Ranger stopped the defendant for speeding, traveling 75 mph in a 45-mph zone. During the stop, the ranger smelled burnt marijuana. The defendant initially denied having marijuana or weapons but later admitted there were rolled marijuana joints in the car. A search of the vehicle revealed an unsealed bag of marijuana, three boxes of fireworks, and a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol found in the back pocket of the passenger seat. The defendant has a prior federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and was previously sentenced to 60 months in prison and prohibited from possessing firearms. National Park Service Law Enforcement investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Feb. 3 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00108
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Luis Lopez-Romero, 39, of Guanajuato, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the U.S. According to court documents, on Oct. 2, 2022, the defendant was arrested by the Jackson Hole Police Department for three charges of duty upon colliding with an unattended vehicle or property. On Feb. 6, 2024, ICE determined he had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in August 2013. The defendant was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond with pretrial supervision.The defendant willfully and purposefully failed to appear for his scheduled sentencing hearing on February 21, 2025. The defendant made no effort to appear, and he did not maintain contact with his attorney. He was subsequently arrested eight months later in the Middle District of Florida. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Feb. 6 in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00143
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Operation Take Back America
Operation Take Back America is 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
9 February 2026
West Palm Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of MacHinegunRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Justin Lombard, 22, of West Palm Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a machine gun. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea.
United States Attorney Heekin said: “This is yet another successful prosecution under Operation Take Back America, which was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime and drug trafficking. This defendant and other would-be traffickers will find that running drugs and illegal firearms through the Northern District of Florida is a one-way ticket to federal prison.”
Court documents reflect that on the night of February 11, 2025, the defendant was stopped by a Tallahassee Police Department officer for driving with his headlights turned off. During the traffic stop, law enforcement detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and confirmed that the defendant did not have a medical marijuana card. During the search of the defendant’s vehicle, law enforcement located a backpack containing three mason jars of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia consistent with the distribution of marijuana. They also located a bag containing a privately made firearm (PMF), specifically a 9-millimeter pistol that had been modified to fire as a machinegun.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Tallahassee, Florida before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Violent Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 262 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brad D. Schimel announced today that United States District Court Judge J.P. Stadtmueller sentenced Morrell D. Johnson (35), a.k.a. “Money,” a notorious human trafficker on Milwaukee’s south side, to 262 months in prison. The sentence followed Johnson’s guilty pleas on November 5, 2025, to Sex Trafficking involving six adult survivors, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
According to court records, Johnson was a drug trafficker who sold heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. Johnson recruited addicted women to perform commercial sex acts, promising them housing, protection, and reliable access to the drugs upon which they were dependent. Johnson then used the women’s addictions as leverage over them, taking all of the proceeds from the commercial sex acts while adding the cost of the drugs to an ever-mounting debt he claimed they had to repay. If a victim refused to work, tried to leave, or broke Johnson’s rules, he used physical violence and the forcible administration of Narcan as punishments.
Prosecutors argued at sentencing that Johnson used every weapon available to manipulate and terrorize these women, from lies and false promises, to hands, fists, feet, threats, needles, and guns. He even killed a dog to intimidate them. Most infamously, Johnson punished one woman by stripping her naked, beating her, having her sexually assaulted by multiple men, and imprisoning her in a dog cage. At the time of these crimes, Johnson was on community supervision after serving a prison sentence for a prior Kenosha County heroin distribution conviction.
U.S. Attorney Schimel observed that, “Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and is among the most damaging and dehumanizing of any crime. It is also the most difficult for which to hold offenders accountable due to the intense manipulation, fear, and violence inflicted on the survivors. Several survivors came forward in this case, and some even were present for sentencing. Our community is free from a truly evil predator thanks to the courage and strength of these survivors and the remarkable work of the FBI Human Trafficking Task Force agents and the incredible prosecutors and crime victim advocates who made such a successful conclusion possible.”
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Stadtmueller repeatedly underscored the “despicable and wild” nature of Johnson’s conduct. He described the “unspeakable manner in which the victims were treated and preyed upon,” finding that Johnson “treat[ed] them like dirt—literally dirt.” Judge Stadtmueller declared that he intended Johnson’s sentence to “ring like a clarion bell across this community and every other,” informing the public that those who engage in this conduct will face “a day of reckoning and it will fall hard.”"Today's sentencing comes on the heels of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This case is an example of the exploitation and abuse that occurs in trafficking situations. Mr. Johnson's crimes were egregious and the substantial sentence he received holds him to account for preying upon vulnerable people for his own profit," said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. "The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to seek justice for victims of human trafficking by joining forces with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to protect our Wisconsin communities.”
“Human trafficking is something that impacts our communities more than we realize. This case was particularly heinous, and no one should be subjected to such violence. We worked together with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure Johnson answered for his crimes” said Chief David Stecker, Oak Creek Police Department. “We are grateful for the survivors’ strength to help secure a lengthy sentencing, and hope this will help the survivors heal and move on from this. We will continue to combat these crimes and ensure our communities remain safe.”“Human trafficking is a serious problem across the country, including here in our community. We value our partnership with federal agencies, which is essential to holding those responsible for these crimes accountable. These investigations can be complex, and collaboration is essential to successfully bringing these cases forward," said Chief Chris Davis, Green Bay Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oak Creek Police Department with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Green Bay Police Department.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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United States Attorney’s Office Collects $8,601,498 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
HARRISBURG – United States Attorney Brian D. Miller announced today that the Middle District of Pennsylvania collected $8,601,498 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $7,245,806 was collected in criminal actions and $1,355,692 was collected in civil actions.
The Middle District of Pennsylvania also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $599,066 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $13,065 was collected in criminal actions and $586,001 was collected in civil actions.
The United States Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Examples of the civil and criminal debts collected for the Middle District are:
- General Dynamics Ordnance Tactical Systems, Inc. (GD-OTS) (both as successor in interest to Medico Industries, and as the owner of GD-OTS-WB) submitted vouchers/invoices, and related documents and statements for payment for production of 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm shell bodies that did not receive phosphate tests with the frequency required by the contracts. After it discovered the problems, GD-OTS took prompt corrective action and disclosed the matter to United States government contracting personnel. A settlement agreement was entered in which GD-OTS paid $838,125.
- Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, PC paid $790,000.00 to resolve False Claims Act allegations of civil liability for submitting claims to Medicare for Evaluation & Management (E&M) services that violated Medicare rules and regulations.
- Defendants Adam Rashwan and former spouse Mervat Gharib owned and operated a small food market and convenience store, Capital City Family Market, in Harrisburg, PA. The store was approved to participate in SNAP. The defendants traded SNAP benefits in exchange for cash. The defendants diverted approximately $1,091,922.05. The Defendants were ordered to pay that amount in restitution to the USDA SNAP program. Rashwan paid a total of $680,523.57 thus far. This includes Gharib’s payment of $100.
- Florentina Mayko conspired to defraud Medicare by submitting payment for medically unnecessary urine drug tests for chronic opioid patients at medical clinics where she was the chief executive officer. Mayko was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,409,076.48 and to forfeit to the United States several properties. Mayko paid a total of $859,139.79 thus far.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1,488,197 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
In the two-week period ending February 6, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 124 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 13 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 122 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 58 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for domestic violence, drug trafficking, aggravated assault, and prior immigration offenses.
These cases are 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.
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.
Two Queens Men Charged with $120M Adult Day Care and Pharmacy Fraud on Medicare and MedicaidRead the Press Release
On Friday, a complaint was unsealed in Brooklyn charging two Queens men with defrauding Medicare and Medicaid by paying illegal kickbacks and bribes and submitting claims for services that were never provided.
“The defendants allegedly turned a pharmacy and social adult day care centers meant to help senior citizens into a $120 million dollar Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s complaint targets those who prey upon the vulnerable so they can steal from American taxpayers and defraud government programs meant to help the public.”
“The defendants charged today allegedly stole $120 million from federal health care programs by luring the elderly to their businesses with illegal cash payments,” stated U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “These charges are part of this Office’s commitment to protecting federal programs and prosecuting those who steal from them.”
“Pharmacies and social adult day care centers exist to serve and support seniors — not to siphon off taxpayer resources and operate as engines for fraud,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Schemes like this, which allegedly drained more than $120 million from Medicare and Medicaid, erode trust in our health care system. HHS-OIG will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploit federal health care programs to ensure they are held fully accountable.”
“Today’s complaint demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to pursue those who defraud taxpayer funded health care programs,” said Acting Assistant Director Gregory Heeb of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “Scheming against programs like Medicare impacts those who need it most. Together with our partners, the FBI will continue to hold accountable criminals who threaten access to critical care.”
“Using the backdrop of an adult day care center, it’s alleged the two charged today had devised an elaborate scheme filled with bribery, kickbacks and good old-fashioned deception,” said Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) New York. “In this decade-long scam, Inwoo Kim and Daniel Lee are alleged to have stolen $120 million from the Medicare and Medicaid system through fraudulent prescription drug and adult day care service claims. IRS-CI special agents worked closely with our federal partners in this investigation, following the money trail and charting out the multi-million dollar fraud that led to today’s arrests. Both Kim and Lee must now answer for their alleged crime.”
“Medicaid fraud threatens the health and safety of beneficiaries, wastes taxpayer dollars, and drains essential resources from the health care delivery system,” said Acting Medicaid Inspector Frank T. Walsh Jr. “This joint effort sends a clear message that the Empire State is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the Medicaid program, hold wrong doers fully accountable, and preserve precious health care resources.”
According to the complaint, Inwoo Kim, also known as “Tony Kim” and “Long Jin,” 42, of Flushing, owned a pharmacy and two social adult day care centers — Z & W Empire Enterprise Inc. doing business as Royal Adult Daycare (Royal) and Happy Life Inc. (Happy Life). Daniel Lee, also known as “Daniel Yang” and “Donghee Yang,” 56, of Flushing, served as the program director at Happy Life. Between 2016 and 2026, Kim and Yang paid illegal bribes in the form of cash and supermarket gift certificates to Medicaid recipients and Medicare beneficiaries to induce them to fill prescriptions at Kim’s pharmacy.
The defendants also allegedly paid illegal cash kickbacks to Medicaid recipients to induce them to enroll with Kim’s social adult day cares. According to the complaint, Kim discussed the illegal payments by text message, writing to a co-conspirator, “Please give the $10,000 to the Korean members first.” Yang similarly texted about the payments, writing to a co-conspirator, “I gave the payment,” and “I left the envelope [for a patient] with Tony [Kim].” At times, Kim and Yang allegedly submitted claims for day care services that exceeded Royal and Happy Life’s permitted capacity. To generate the cash needed to pay kickbacks and bribes, Kim and Yang withdrew significant cash from bank accounts they controlled. In total, Medicare and Medicaid paid approximately $120 million for prescription drugs and social adult day care services that were medically unnecessary, not provided, or induced by kickbacks and bribes. Law enforcement executed numerous search warrants and seized several bank accounts in connection with the arrests.
Kim and Yang are both charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
HHS-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI, and OSC are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Patrick J. Campbell of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Lenior County Men Arrested for Conspiring, Selling Crystal MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Law enforcement officers arrested two Lenoir County men on federal charges of conspiring to sell crystal methamphetamine, or “Ice,” and possession with intent to sell.
According to court documents, Kenji Chiba Jerkins, 31, and Tyquil Jermal Yates, 31, entered into an agreement dating back as early as August 2024 to sell, and possess with intent to sell, fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, and possessed fifty grams or more of methamphetamine on August 11, 2025. Jerkins and Yates face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison if convicted.
W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Khari L. Cyrus is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-cr-00003-FL-RN.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Two Houston-area women indicted for kidnapping, abuse, and forced labor of minorRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two Conroe residents have been charged for their roles in the kidnapping and forced labor of a minor child, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Tania Evette Garcia, 37, is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m. Brenda Mariana Garcia, 39, previously made her appearance and remains in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Jan. 14. The charges allege that between March and September 2025, both women kidnapped and abused the minor victim.
According to the indictment, the sisters physically abused and restrained the victim with zip ties. They repeatedly beat and forced the child to provide labor and services through force, threats of force, physical restraint and physical abuse, the indictment alleges.
If convicted, each faces up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Two German-owned companies pay $2.1 million to resolve allegations of fraudulent PPP loansRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kemper Systems America, Inc. and Thermacut, Inc. agreed to pay $2.1 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations of improperly obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration for which they were not eligible to receive.
In March 2020, Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program to provide emergency financial assistance to American small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the program, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA provided they met various eligibility requirements. One such requirement limited the total number of employees an applicant company could employ, which included employees associated with the applicant company’s foreign affiliates.
The United States contends that in 2021, Kemper and Thermacut obtained forgiven PPP loans that they were not eligible for because they exceeded the PPP size requirement. When Kemper and Thermacut obtained the loans, they were wholly owned subsidiaries of Industrie-Beteilugungs-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. (IBG), a German-based conglomerate that owned numerous subsidiaries worldwide. IBG and its affiliates, including Kemper and Thermacut, had over 300 employees at the time the applications were submitted, thereby exceeding the total number of employees the companies could have.
“The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to support small business during the COVID-19 Pandemic, but too often large businesses took advantage of the program by having their subsidiaries obtain loans,” said U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “This settlement, and others like it, demonstrate that this office is committed to holding those who improperly took government aid accountable.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party—known as a relator—can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Kemper System America, Inc.; Thermacut, Inc., 25-cv-405 (W.D.N.Y.). The relator will receive a share of the settlement.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Coriell and USAO Investigator Margaret McFarland, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
Individuals with information about allegations involving fraud, waste and abuse associated with COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
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Toledo Man to Spend 20 Years in Prison After Being Found Guilty of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 53-year-old Lucas County man who was convicted of child sexual abuse and exploitation charges has been sentenced to federal prison.
Derran Reebel, of Toledo, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick, after federal juries convicted him of the following charges at two separate trials:
November 2024 trial:
- Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography
- Possession of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
March 2025 trial:
- Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Production)
- Coercion and Enticement
He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents, from Oct. 10-15, 2020, Reebel communicated with a minor, namely, an undercover agent purporting to be a 14-year-old girl, through a social media application. Evidence presented at the March 2025 trial included the sexually explicit communications that Reebel sent through the application's messaging function in repeated attempts by him to persuade the minor to send him sexually explicit photos and commit sexual acts.
At an earlier trial held in November 2024, Reebel was convicted of receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) for nearly eight years, from about Jan. 1, 2014, through Aug. 17, 2022. During the execution of a federal search warrant at his residence, investigators found CSAM that included visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in his possession. Law enforcement officials also discovered that for years, Reebel was contacting minors and sending them sexually explicit messages and photos of himself through social media platforms.
This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency’s Violent Crimes Against Children Taskforce.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Tallahassee Man Sentenced for Making False Statements to Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Norman John Horner, II, 43, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to serve one year in prison followed by three years of supervised release for making a false statement to a federal agency. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentencing.
United States Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant tried to evade accountability by lying to a federal officer. Lying to federal law enforcement isn’t just wrong, it’s a crime. I appreciate the excellent investigative work by our law enforcement partners to ensure this defendant is held accountable for his criminal activity.”
On July 13, 2024, a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Officer attempted to issue the defendant a citation. The defendant falsely identified himself to the officer using the name and date of birth of someone else, therefore a citation and summons were issued in the wrong name. On September 6, 2024, the person who received the citation appeared at the Tallahassee Federal Courthouse to contest the citation. A law enforcement investigation revealed that the defendant had falsely provided the incorrect name and date of birth to avoid the citation.
The case involved an investigation by the USDA Forest Service. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Start spreading the news: New York-licensed attorney and accomplice sentenced in large-scale interstate email scam schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A man and woman have been ordered to federal prison for their respective roles in an identity theft and business email compromise (BEC) scam, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Bolaji Okunnu, 32, pleaded guilty Sept. 26, 2025, while Amber Bush, 30, admitted her guilt Sept. 25.
U.S. District Judge George Hanks sentenced Okunnu to 39 months and Bush to 24 months in federal prison. Okunnu was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, while Bush received one year, following their terms of imprisonment.
At the hearing, the court heard that from 2021 to 2022, Okunnu operated an unlicensed money transmitting business that received and transmitted funds from the BEC scheme. As part of his scheme, Okunnu, a New York-licensed attorney, recruited two others into the enterprise, collected proceeds, and acted as an intermediary for higher-level conspirators. The court also heard that Okunnu directed co-defendants to destroy evidence on their cell phones and fabricate explanations for large sums deposited into co-conspirators’ bank accounts.
Okunnu and Bush were also ordered to pay restitution totaling $255,399.47 and $1,189,247.02, respectively, to victims nationwide.
As part of his plea, Okunnu admitted moving money through bank accounts he and others controlled. The funds originated from fraudsters involved in a BEC wire fraud scheme involving at least four victims. Okunnu acknowledged receiving the funds and, for a fee, transmitting the fraud proceeds to others.
The scheme also involved the theft of stolen checks from various companies. Bush created bank accounts to funnel money from stolen checks to Destini Godfrey, who is also charged in the BEC wire fraud scheme.
As part of her plea, Bush admitted to using the name and personal identifying information of a real person, without that person’s knowledge or consent, to open a bank account. After receiving deposits into that account, which originated from a stolen check, Bush issued four checks totaling $165,000 to Godfrey.
More than 45 people in multiple states, including Okunnu and eight others in the Southern District of Texas, have been charged in separate BEC schemes affecting numerous victims.
Godfrey, 31, Houston, is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000. He is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
The FBI-Bryan Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with valuable assistance from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Edison Police Department in New Jersey and other law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek prosecuted the case.
Political Operative Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Acting as Covert Agent of People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Bernardino County man was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison for acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including while serving as the campaign advisor for a political candidate who was elected to the city council of a Southern California city.
Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner. Sun pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
“Federal law enforcement will not allow hostile foreign nations to infiltrate the governance of our nation’s political bodies,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The relentlessness of PRC intelligence operations in our country must be met by equal relentlessness on our part to secure, protect, and defend the United States.”
“When Americans vote for elected officials, they expect them to represent the interests of their constituents – not those of a foreign adversary like the Chinese government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “By exploiting his position as a campaign advisor, Yaoning Sun attempted to undermine our political processes and democratic institutions for the benefit of the Chinese Communist Party. Today’s sentencing underscores the unwavering commitment of the FBI and our partners to defending the homeland and holding accountable anyone who tries to subvert the will of American voters at the behest of our adversaries.”
According to court documents, from at least 2022 to January 2024, Sun knowingly acted within the United States as an agent of the PRC and officials of its government – without notifying the Attorney General, as required by U.S. law.
At the direction and control of PRC government officials, Sun coordinated with U.S.-based individuals to promote the PRC’s interests by, among other things, “orchestrat[ing]” a team to help elect a politician identified in court documents as “Individual 1” to political office and promoting pro-PRC propaganda in the United States.
Sun also closely surveilled the then-President of Taiwan during her April 2023 visit to Southern California, reporting directly to PRC officials on her movements.
At the direction of PRC officials, from 2020 through 2023, Sun and Individual 1 worked together to operate a purported news website for the local Chinese American community. Sun and Individual 1 received and executed directives from PRC government officials to post pro-PRC content.
Throughout 2022, Sun also worked as the campaign advisor for Individual 1 who was running for a city council seat in a Southern California city. Individual 1 was elected to that city council in November 2022.
In December 2022, Sun attended a meeting in Southern California with a group of other people, including Individual 1, whom PRC officials were told was a “team dedicated” to PRC interests, according to Sun’s plea agreement.
In February 2023, Sun drafted a report for PRC officials to solicit additional money and taskings from the PRC government. Sun’s report summarized his personal experience, including his past service in the People’s Liberation Army, China’s military. In the report, Sun stated that he had worked in the United States to lead “delegations of U.S. dignitaries and cultural workers to China,” “persist in resisting any hostile forces that undermine the friendship of U.S.-China relations, and Chinese secessionist forces,” and, “most of all, during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, I orchestrated and organized my team to win the election for city council” for Individual 1, whom Sun called a “new political star,” Sun’s plea agreement states.
Sun’s report described various issues concerning “anti-China forces” overseas, including opposition to independence for Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang as well as issues involving Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned in China. The report further proposed “using part of our Los Angeles organization’s professional core team,” to seek to counteract those forces, according to court documents. To that end, Sun’s report requested $80,000 from the PRC government to fund a pro-PRC demonstration at a Fourth of July parade in Washington, D.C.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Sun communicated with an official at the consulate general of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles regarding activities in Southern California related to Taiwan.
In April 2023, President Tsai Ing-Wen of Taiwan visited Southern California. Sun sent real-time updates on President Tsai’s movements to a Los Angeles-based PRC consular official and sought approval from this official to publish an article about President Tsai’s visit on the website he operated with Individual 1. Sun also took photographs of individuals protesting in support of and opposition to President Tsai and sent those photographs to the consular official.
“As an agent for the PRC, [Sun] worked covertly in the United States with his primary co-conspirator John Chen, a/k/a ‘Chen Jun,’” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Chen was a high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus, who regularly attended elite [Chinese Communist Party] functions, including military parades…[and] met personally with PRC President Xi Jinping… Per his own report, and other communications between Chen and PRC officials, [Sun] served as Chen’s right-hand man in the United States for decades.”
Chen was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York to acting as an illegal agent of the PRC and conspiracy to bribe a public official.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Amanda B. Elbogen of the National Security Division prosecuted this case with assistance from Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Stephen Kline, 40, of Pennsylvania, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 90 months in federal prison in connection with sending child sexual abuse materials to an undercover FBI task force officer, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Kline pleaded guilty Aug. 5, 2025, before Judge Royce C. Lamberth to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, Judge Lamberth ordered Kline to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, on June 26, 2025, an FBI detective was monitoring a fetish website when a user using the screen name, “sk87p” initiated a private message chat. Later identified as Stephen Kline, the user moved the conversation to another messaging platform. Kline stated he had a sexual interest in children and indicated that he had access to a 15-year-old minor child. When asked what ages he preferred, Kline stated, “7-15, 9-10 being my fav.”
During the course of the conversation Kline sent the undercover detective materials that depicted adults sexually abusing young prepubescent children, including images of adults engaged in sadistic acts by tying children up to abuse them. Kline also detailed his access to and abuse of a real minor child.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
This case was investigated by the MPD-FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, Allentown Resident Agency. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Janani Iyengar.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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