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Wednesday 5 August 2026
Columbia City Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison and 120 Months Supervised Release for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Derek Gaff, 45 years old, of Columbia City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Gaff was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Gaff was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,000.00, however further restitution will be determined at a later date.
“A recidivist Defendant possessed child pornography between September 2023 and April 2025. The Defendant had previously been convicted of Possession of Child Pornography in Whitley County. The Defendant has traded the next ten years in prison for his choice to possess these deplorable materials and will be supervised for an additional ten years when he gets out to protect the children in our community. Offenders who possess CSAM take their delight in the victimization and violation of children and that is nothing short of evil. They also contribute to the perpetual victimization of the innocent so long as it is in circulation, whether or not the Offenders participate in it themselves. Thanks to the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Indiana State Police and the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office led by D.J. Sigler, the case was able to be prosecuted by Lesley J. Miller Lowery as part of Project Safe Childhood. Our children are safer with him behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Collin County man sentenced to over 20 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine, firearms violation in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – An Anna man has been sentenced to over 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Pedro Rodriguez, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on August 5, 2026.
According to information presented in court, an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in the area led to Rodriguez. It was determined that from at least September 2024, Rodriguez was conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, and elsewhere. Rodriguez was also found to be in possession of a firearm during his drug trafficking activities.
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.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley D. Brooks.
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Casper man sentenced to over 12 years on meth distribution chargesRead the Press Release
CASPER, CASPER, Wyo. — A Casper man will serve more than 12 years in federal prison for his role as a primary distributor in a multicounty drug trafficking ring, federal officials said.
Bryan James Hackleman, 44, of Casper, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence July 28 in Casper.
According to federal court documents, the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and multiple state and local agencies, investigated a drug trafficking organization operating in Wyoming and Colorado. Investigators identified Hackleman as one of the conspirators selling large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Natrona County.
Law enforcement intercepted Hackleman Nov. 10, 2025, near Casper. A search of his vehicle found scales, syringes and nearly half a pound, or about 205 grams, of methamphetamine. Agents determined Hackleman distributed more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.
Hackleman was arrested Nov. 10, 2025, on related state charges that were later dismissed. A federal complaint was filed Jan. 23, and he was taken into federal custody Jan. 27. Hackleman pleaded guilty to an information May 4. The DCI, with assistance from the DEA, HSI and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies in Wyoming and Colorado, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith said, “Cases like this demonstrate our commitment to disrupting the flow of dangerous drugs into Wyoming communities and holding repeat offenders accountable. Methamphetamine trafficking fuels addiction, violence and instability, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of those harms. This outcome underscores the importance of strong partnerships between federal, state and local agencies working together to protect the safety and well-being of the public.”
Canadian pleads guilty to hacking U.S. cloud storage provider and extorting its customers for millionsRead the Press Release
Seattle – Connor Riley Moucka, 26, of Kitchener, Ontario, pleaded guilty today to a widespread computer hacking conspiracy that resulted in the compromise of over 165 victim organizations, the theft of billions of sensitive customer records and the extortion of numerous victims.
“Connor Moucka hacked over 150 companies and organizations, obtained extremely sensitive information, and extorted the victims for millions of dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Moucka was arrested just six months after these breaches began, demonstrating this Department’s firm commitment to investigating and prosecuting sophisticated cybercriminals who cause extensive harm to American businesses and consumers. Today’s guilty plea serves as a reminder to all cybercriminals, regardless of where they live, that they cannot hide behind a wall of anonymity. You will be found and brought to justice.”
“As this case demonstrates, the cybercrimes unit in the Western District of Washington acts quickly and with precision when these hacks and intrusions impact victims in our district and around the world,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd for the Western District of Washington. “I commend the work of the FBI and our counterparts in the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section in DC for the teamwork that resulted in Mr. Moucka taking responsibility today for his actions.”
“Hiding behind a screen is no shield from justice,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Connor Moucka learned that when he was arrested just months after he began targeting U.S. companies, stealing sensitive information, and extorting victims for millions of dollars. His guilty plea highlights the FBI’s commitment to protecting American businesses and consumers from cybercrime and reflects our strong partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other international law enforcement agencies. The FBI will continue to identify, locate, and hold cybercriminals accountable, wherever they operate.”
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message to cybercriminals: you cannot hide from justice, no matter how hard you may try to cover your tracks.,” said Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington of the FBI Seattle field office. “Connor Moucka’s threats and re-extortion tactics were calculated and predatory, and his actions did real harm to his victims, be they companies targeted for theft and extortion or the millions of everyday people who are their customers. Ultimately, though, Mr. Moucka’s schemes were no match for the tenacity of FBI Seattle and this international investigative team. I am incredibly proud of their work. Let this outcome serve as a reminder: actions have consequences, and the FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue those who target American businesses and individuals in cyberspace, wherever they may be.”
According to court documents, between February and October 2024, Moucka and his co-conspirators used stolen login credentials to compromise cloud-hosted data belonging to at least 165 customers of a U.S.-based software-as-a-service company. Moucka and others used their unauthorized access to these customers’ computer systems to steal billions of sensitive customer records and download terabytes of information, including individuals’ non-content call and text history records, banking and other financial information, payroll records, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration numbers, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, social security numbers and other personally identifiable information. They then extorted victims by threatening to publish data online.
The conspirators profited from the scheme, receiving over $2.5 million in ransom payments. In at least one instance, Moucka re-extorted a victim with threats of further disclosure of the victim’s stolen data. Moucka used the stolen data of a government officer and members of a then-former government officer’s immediate family in this re-extortion attempt.
In addition to extorting victims, Moucka and his co-conspirators advertised the victims’ data for sale online, including on the cybercrime forums BreachForums, Exploit.in and XSS.is, as well as on Telegram. Through these actions, Moucka personally obtained at least $495,000. The harm to the conspirators’ victims was much greater, with victim companies suffering over $9.5 million in actual losses — a number that does not include losses suffered by the companies’ customers, totaling at least 100 million individuals.
Moucka pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment, including computer fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and a related conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 27 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft count and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the remaining counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Louisa K. Becker and George S. Brown of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sok Tea Jiang for the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in obtaining the arrest and July 2025 extradition of Moucka from Canada.
Several foreign law enforcement agencies provided substantial assistance in the investigation and arrest of Moucka, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Australian Federal Police, Spain’s Guardia Civil, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Turkish National Police.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
This action is part of Operation Riptide, an FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and fraud against the American people. Last year, Americans reported over $20 billion in losses to cybercrime, a 26 percent single-year increase. Operation Riptide is the FBI’s sustained enforcement response to that threat.
Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Hacking U.S. Cloud Storage Provider and Extorting Its Customers for MillionsRead the Press Release
Connor Riley Moucka, 26, of Kitchener, Ontario, pleaded guilty today to a widespread computer hacking conspiracy that resulted in the compromise of over 165 victim organizations, the theft of billions of sensitive customer records and the extortion of numerous victims.
“Connor Moucka hacked over 150 companies and organizations, obtained extremely sensitive information, and extorted the victims for millions of dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Moucka was arrested just six months after these breaches began, demonstrating this Department’s firm commitment to investigating and prosecuting sophisticated cybercriminals who cause extensive harm to American businesses and consumers. Today’s guilty plea serves as a reminder to all cybercriminals, regardless of where they live, that they cannot hide behind a wall of anonymity. You will be found and brought to justice.”
“As this case demonstrates, the cybercrimes unit in the Western District of Washington acts quickly and with precision when these hacks and intrusions impact victims in our district and around the world,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd for the Western District of Washington. “I commend the work of the FBI and our counterparts in the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section in DC for the teamwork that resulted in Mr. Moucka taking responsibility today for his actions.”
“Hiding behind a screen is no shield from justice,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Connor Moucka learned that when he was arrested just months after he began targeting U.S. companies, stealing sensitive information, and extorting victims for millions of dollars. His guilty plea highlights the FBI’s commitment to protecting American businesses and consumers from cybercrime and reflects our strong partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other international law enforcement agencies. The FBI will continue to identify, locate, and hold cybercriminals accountable, wherever they operate.”
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message to cybercriminals: you cannot hide from justice, no matter how hard you may try to cover your tracks,” said Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington of the FBI Seattle field office. “Connor Moucka’s threats and re-extortion tactics were calculated and predatory, and his actions did real harm to his victims, be they companies targeted for theft and extortion or the millions of everyday people who are their customers. Ultimately, though, Mr. Moucka’s schemes were no match for the tenacity of FBI Seattle and this international investigative team. I am incredibly proud of their work. Let this outcome serve as a reminder: actions have consequences, and the FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue those who target American businesses and individuals in cyberspace, wherever they may be.”
According to court documents, between February and October 2024, Moucka and his co-conspirators used stolen login credentials to compromise cloud-hosted data belonging to at least 165 customers of a U.S.-based software-as-a-service company. Moucka and others used their unauthorized access to these customers’ computer systems to steal billions of sensitive customer records and download terabytes of information, including individuals’ non-content call and text history records, banking and other financial information, payroll records, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration numbers, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, social security numbers and other personally identifiable information. They then extorted victims by threatening to publish data online.
The conspirators profited from the scheme, receiving over $2.5 million in ransom payments. In at least one instance, Moucka re-extorted a victim with threats of further disclosure of the victim’s stolen data. Moucka used the stolen data of a government officer and members of a then-former government officer’s immediate family in this re-extortion attempt.
In addition to extorting victims, Moucka and his co-conspirators advertised the victims’ data for sale online, including on the cybercrime forums BreachForums, Exploit.in and XSS.is, as well as on Telegram. Through these actions, Moucka personally obtained at least $495,000. The harm to the conspirators’ victims was much greater, with victim companies suffering over $9.5 million in actual losses — a number that does not include losses suffered by the companies’ customers, totaling at least 100 million individuals.
Moucka pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment, including computer fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and a related conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 27 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft count and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the remaining counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Louisa K. Becker and George S. Brown of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sok Tea Jiang for the Western District of Washington prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in obtaining the arrest and July 2025 extradition of Moucka from Canada.
A number of foreign law enforcement agencies provided substantial assistance in the investigation and arrest of Moucka, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Australian Federal Police, Spain’s Guardia Civil, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Turkish National Police.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
This action is part of Operation Riptide, an FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and fraud against the American people. Last year, Americans reported over $20 billion in losses to cybercrime, a 26 percent single-year increase. Operation Riptide is the FBI’s sustained enforcement response to that threat.
Brooklyn Man Charged with Distribution of Cocaine Base and CocaineRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on June 25, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Tyquan Washington, a/k/a “Bones,” 36, of Brooklyn, New York, with distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack cocaine) and a quantity of cocaine.
Washington was arrested in New Jersey on June 11, 2026, pursuant to a warrant issued in connection with a criminal complaint filed in 2024 that charged Washington with the same distribution offense. Washington thereafter appeared before a United States Magistrate Judge in the District of New Jersey, where he was detained, and ordered transported to the District of Vermont. Upon arrival in Vermont, Washington was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on Monday, August 3, 2026.
According to court records, on February 22, 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations made a controlled purchase of more than 29 grams of cocaine base and a quantity of powder cocaine from Washington in Burlington, Vermont. Court records also indicate that the government has collected evidence that Washington is responsible for leading a drug trafficking organization that began operating in Vermont no later than 2023.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Washington is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Washington faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 40 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra. Washington is represented by Attorney William E. Kraham.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MOETIES BROWN, 32, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department learned that Brown was selling narcotics in the vicinity of his residence on Maple Street in Bridgeport. On November 20, 2024, investigators observed Brown and others engaging in suspected drug sales. Brown was arrested on state charges after a search of his person revealed a distribution quantity of marijuana, and a search of his vehicle and residence revealed more than 100 grams of fentanyl, two handguns, and ammunition.
Brown’s criminal history includes nine felony convictions, including convictions for committing five gunpoint robberies of delivery workers and cashiers.
Brown has been detained since his federal arrest on May 9, 2025. On May 19, 2026, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Stratford Police Department. The Task Force is composed of personnel from the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Fairfield, Norwalk, Trumbull, and Westport Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary G. Vitale and Daniel George.
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.
Bridgeport Man Guilty of Multiple Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in Hartford has found ONAI KEDAR WILBERT WRIGHT, 27, of Bridgeport, guilty of child exploitation offenses.
According to the evidence introduced during the trial, on March 14, 2025, an Online Covert Employee (OCE) with the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Cleveland, Ohio, monitored a live video stream on the internet application “Fambase” and observed Wright engaging in sexually explicit activity with a 15-year-old female (“minor victim”). Analysis of mobile communications and geo-location data, and information from AirBnB, led investigators to a residence located in Norwich, Connecticut, where they took Wright into custody. The minor victim and two adult females were also present in the residence.
An investigation revealed that Wright met the minor victim when she was 14, and that they sometimes recorded themselves engaging in sexual activity and shared the recordings with each other. Wright also created an OnlyFans account, uploaded sexually explicit videos of the minor victim to the account, and pressured the minor victim to create content for the account. In early March 2025, Wright and the minor victim traveled to Ohio with the intent on creating more sexually explicit online conduct. On March 6, 2025, police in Vermilion, Ohio, acting on a tip, conducted a welfare check on the minor victim. Vermilion Police subsequently contacted the FBI.
Today, the jury found Wright guilty of one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in prostitution or criminal sexual activity, one count of production of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of transportation of child pornography.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Wright faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Wright been detained since his arrest on related state charges on March 14, 2025.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI in New Haven and Cleveland, with the assistance of the Norwich Police Department, Bridgeport Police Department, Cromwell Police Department, Ansonia Police Department, the New London State’s Attorney’s Office, the Vermilion (Ohio) Police Department, and the Norwalk (Ohio) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel M. Krull and Katherine E. Boyles.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Bridgeport Man Charged with Dumping Used Oil at Abandoned Property in HartfordRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging HARRY BATCHELOR, JR., 29, of Bridgeport, with illegal transport and disposal of used oil.
The indictment alleges that on or about May 12, 2025, Batchelor and others violated federal and state environmental laws by transporting to, and disposing of, 11 55-gallon drums containing used oil, among other substances, at an abandoned property at 203-205 Homestead Avenue in Hartford. The location was not an approved recycling or disposal facility for used oil. The drums leaked used oil onto the neighboring property of a non-profit community organization at 255 Homestead Avenue, which necessitated an environmental cleanup by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The indictment was returned on July 22, 2026. Batchelor, who is currently detained in federal custody for alleged violations of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction, appeared today in Hartford federal court and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
If convicted of the offense, Batchelor faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division and the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, with assistance provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
Belarusian leader of international ransomware scheme known as “Ransom Cartel” sentenced to 16 years in prisonRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Belarusian national was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, Maksim Silnikau, 40, was the creator and administrator of the Ransom Cartel ransomware strain, created in 2021. Silnikau had been a member of Russian-speaking cybercrime forums since at least 2005 and was a member of the notorious cybercrime website Direct Connection from 2011 to 2016, when the site was shuttered after the arrest of its administrator.
Beginning in May 2021, Silnikau developed a ransomware operation and began recruiting participants from cybercrime forums. On various occasions, Silnikau distributed information and tools to Ransom Cartel participants, including information about compromised computers, such as stolen credentials, and tools such as those designed to encrypt or “lock” compromised computers. Silnikau also maintained a hidden website where he and his co-conspirators could monitor and control ransomware attacks; communicate with each other; communicate with victims, including sending and negotiating payment demands; and manage distribution of funds between co-conspirators.
From 2021 to 2023, Silnikau’s Ransom Cartel conspirators executed ransomware attacks on at least 18 companies around the world, including companies based in California, New York, Nebraska, and countries other than the United States. The hackers stole data and demanded monetary payments in exchange for the key to unlock the stolen data, or in exchange for a promise not to publish the victim’s data. Ransom Cartel’s growth was disrupted by the arrest of Silnikau in July 2023.
Silnikau was extradited from Poland to face prosecution in the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of New Jersey.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Forrest, US Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division; Chris Ormerod, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Kansas City Field Office; and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albany Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in the extradition of Silnikau and the collection of evidence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property section also provided assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Keim and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-108.
Baltimore Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man received a sentence of more than eight years in federal prison, today, for drug trafficking and firearm charges in connection with a local drug trafficking investigation.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Maddox sentenced Davon Taylor, 35, to 97 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Taylor also agreed that this offense violated the conditions of his federal supervised release.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to court documents, on April 9, 2025, law enforcement agents used a surveillance camera to monitor a large Northwest Baltimore parking lot, known as “the panyard.” Agents observed Taylor arrive at the panyard and engage in hand-to-hand drug transactions before removing an object from his waistband. He then placed the object inside of a pizza box on top of a recycling bin.
Law enforcement arrested Taylor and then agents recovered a handgun, loaded with a magazine containing 12 rounds of live ammunition, that was reported stolen in May 2022. Agents also searched the area and found a bag containing additional plastic bags with numerous vials and jugs of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, along with a digital scale with white residue on it. Additionally, law enforcement found $1,549 in cash.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Bahamian Drug Trafficker Faces Federal Cocaine Charges Following At-Sea Rescue from Plane CrashRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – An indictment unsealed today in the Northern District of Georgia charges Jonathan Eric Gardiner, a convicted felon and Bahamian national, with federal drug importation and conspiracy offenses. U.S. officials arrested Gardiner after rescuing him from the Atlantic Ocean following a plane crash on May 14, 2026.
“Operating from The Bahamas, Gardiner allegedly coordinated the delivery of massive quantities of cocaine into the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Because of the quick action and dedication of federal law enforcement in Atlanta’s Homeland Security Task Force, this recidivist felon, alleged high-level drug trafficker, and priority target will be held accountable for his crimes.”
“International cocaine trafficking fuels addiction, violence, and organized criminal activity that impacts communities across the United States,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA remains steadfast in working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those charged with bringing dangerous drugs into our country.”
“This indictment alleges Gardiner peddled cocaine into Atlanta and across the region for years,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham. “Our fight against international drug traffickers who spread poison into our communities requires all hands-on deck. Thanks to the collaboration of federal, state, and local agencies, Gardiner will face justice for his alleged crimes.”
“The arrest of this individual underscores the relentless pursuit of transnational criminal organizations by Homeland Security Investigations,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI remains committed to leveraging our interagency partnerships to dismantle drug networks that threaten the safety of our communities, regardless of where the perpetrators attempt to operate.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other publicly available information: From approximately December 2022 to May 2026, Gardiner, who resided in The Bahamas, allegedly supplied large quantities of cocaine to drug trafficking organizations in the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere. Gardiner could allegedly distribute more than 2,000 kilograms at a time. When the cocaine arrived in metro Atlanta, the organization then allegedly distributed the drugs to multiple states. More than twenty alleged members of the drug trafficking organization were previously charged, and thirteen have pleaded guilty.
In May 2026, Gardiner and ten other people were traveling on a private plane near the coast of Florida when the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued all of the passengers, including Gardiner, who was in possession of $30,000 in Bahamian currency.
Nearly 20 years ago, Gardiner was convicted in the Southern District of Florida of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to over 18 years in federal prison.
On June 9, 2026, a grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment charging Jonathan Eric Gardiner, a/k/a Player, 58, of Long Island, Bahamas, with conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. Gardiner is presently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service awaiting trial on additional drug charges in the Southern District of New York. He will appear in the Northern District of Georgia at a later date.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Coast Guard, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Assistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Dwayne A. Brown Jr. are prosecuting the case.
The indictment is a result of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
BCSO Investigator Receives Freedom 250 Hometown Hero Award from U.S. Attorney for the Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – In celebration of Freedom 250, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons presented Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Sergeant Che Lopez with the Freedom 250 Hometown Hero Award.
In honor of America’s 250 years of independence, the Hometown Hero award is being presented by U.S. Attorneys across the country. The award recognizes public officials who have demonstrated steadfast commitment to service in their communities and who embody the spirit upon which our Nation was founded.
“Here in the Western District of Texas, we pride ourselves on our partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Sergeant Lopez’s work exemplifies the same pride in partnership and has led to a safer community. This Freedom 250 Hometown Hero Award serves as a token of gratitude from the United States for Lopez’s selfless service and dedication as a law enforcement officer.”
Sgt. Che Lopez (left), Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, receives the Freedom 250 Hometown Hero Award from U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons (right) at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Antonio, Aug. 5, 2026.“Sergeant Lopez spearheads multi-agency investigations, collaborating closely with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners,” said Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. “His professionalism, effective communication, and commitment to teamwork embody the values of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.”
For more information on the award and the Freedom 250 initiative, visit the Department of Justice news page or White House Freedom 250 Page.
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Alexandria Man Indicted for Murder of Federal Agent, Attempted Murder of Another Federal Agent, and Related Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA/LAFAYETTE – On August 5, 2026, a press conference was held at the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office to discuss the return of the federal indictment against Clarence A. Frazier, 48, of Alexandria, who is charged with the murder of Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Hanson and the attempted murder of a U.S. Marshals Service task force officer, along with related firearm crimes. Frazier faces up to life imprisonment or death if convicted. This indictment returned by a federal grand jury follows the U.S. Attorney’s Office charging Frazier by criminal complaint with the murder of Deputy Marshal Hanson.
TPDuring the press conference, U.S. Marshal Brian H. Barber, Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp, and Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell also delivered remarks honoring the life, service, and sacrifice of Deputy Marshal Hanson. Also in attendance were representatives of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, and the Alexandria Police Department.
According to court documents, Deputy Marshal Hanson was murdered on July 14, 2026, while performing his official duties alongside federal and state law enforcement personnel attempting to apprehend Frazier following his failure to appear in state court on a sexual battery charge. Officers from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service approached Frazier’s residence to execute lawful warrants. Upon the officers’ entry, Frazier allegedly barricaded himself in a bedroom and opened fire, fatally striking Deputy Marshal Hanson and endangering additional officers on the scene. Hanson was a husband and father of two.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The United States Marshals Service, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Vermaelen, John W. Nickel, and Elliott Cassidy with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Joanne Henry‑Mills and Denise Duhon.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 6:26‑cr‑00293-01.
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CONTACT: Public Affairs
[email protected]
United States Attorney’s Office
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Western District of Louisiana
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Tuesday 4 August 2026
Yamhill County Photographer Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Carlton, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for 8 counts of production of child sexual abuse material announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford.
Robert Koester, 59, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and lifetime supervised release.
“Koester’s crimes against children are among the worst this district has seen. His violent abuse of these girls created scars they will carry their entire lives, and the images of that abuse will haunt them. I hope today’s sentence brings a measure of justice and healing for the victims. I am grateful for the work of the many investigative agencies that worked tirelessly to bring this terror against these teens to an end. The sentence of 40 years provides safety to Oregon and California and is emblematic of the violent crimes he committed.” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon
“Today’s sentence underscores how seriously the FBI and our partners take crimes against children,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “Koester used his role as a photographer to gain the trust of young people who were simply looking for a chance to pursue their dreams, and he exploited that trust. The courage these victims showed in coming forward made this outcome possible, and we stand with them as they continue to heal. We’re grateful for the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon in bringing this case to the finish line. What happened here caused real harm, and there is no place for this behavior in our community.”
According to court documents, Koester used his professional position as a photographer to meet and earn the trust of teenage girls who were pursuing careers in modeling. He exploited that trust by drugging, molesting, strangling, and raping the victims. He recorded much of this abuse and sold the child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to others.
Koester was a professional photographer who took photographs of aspiring models and did photography work for modeling agencies. Over the course of four years, from early 2015 through late 2018, Koester lured numerous teenage girls to his residence and other locations across California and Oregon. He enticed the girls with the promise of a career in the fashion industry through his modeling agency, Frank Model Management. He encouraged them to travel to his residence in Oregon, even paying for their flights. The children would stay in his residence for multiple days and participate in photo shoots.
During this time, Koester offered the victims alcohol and drugs, including marijuana and cocaine. He coerced them to do nude photo shoots by first showing them images of naked models, then convincing them to remove their clothes. He photographed the victims in revealing positions, sometimes using hidden cameras to capture more explicit angles without the victims’ knowledge. Koester further used GHB and other intoxicants to drug the girls, rendering them unconscious. He then abused the unconscious children sexually and physically and recorded the assaults. Koester often became violent in these assaults, strangling and slapping the girls. After the drugged assaults, he left the victims to wake up alone. Some of the victims were also coerced into engaging in sexual acts with him while awake. He recorded this abuse as well. Koester maintained a large collection of this self-produced CSAM, which included thousands of images. Koester was in his late forties and early fifties when these crimes occurred, and the girls were as young as fifteen.
Multiple children reported that Koester showed them the images of their own abuse and laugh while displaying the images of the abusive acts to them.
In addition to criminally prosecuting Koester, the U.S. Attorney’s Office forfeited his Oregon residence in a civil forfeiture case, netting $750,000 in the sale. The criminal case also forfeited a large amount of photographic and digital equipment.
On November 13, 2018, Koester was arrested by California authorities.
Koester has pleaded guilty to related conduct in San Diego, California, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Koester also pleaded guilty to related conduct in Yamhill County, Oregon, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He will serve those sentences concurrently with the federal sentence imposed today.
On July 16, 2019, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 6-count indictment charging Koester with production of child sexual abuse material.
On August 19, 2020, Oregon adopted, from the District of Southern California, a 2-count information charging Koester with production of child sexual abuse material.
On March 10, 2026, Koester pleaded guilty to all 8 counts of production of child sexual abuse material in the two federal cases.
This case was investigated by FBI San Diego, FBI Portland, Carlsbad Police Department, and Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Sussman, Kate Rochat, Mira Chernick, and Julia Jarett.
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
West Tennessee Couple Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A married couple, who previously resided in Gibson County, Tennessee, was sentenced to prison last week for sexually exploiting a minor in early 2022. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.
The investigation in this case revealed that Barry Keith Stephens, Jr., 40, and Melinda Rachelle Stephens, 36, transported a minor from Minnesota to Tennessee in January 2022 and committed various sexual acts against the minor in violation of Tennessee law after arriving here.
The investigation further revealed that the Stephens’s had committed similar sexually assaultive conduct against another minor in New Mexico in 2008, which resulted in federal convictions of both defendants for possession of child pornography.
In May 2023, the defendants were charged in federal court in Jackson with transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent that the minor engage in sexual activity. Following the defendants’ guilty pleas to this offense, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Barry Stephens to 264 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release, and Melinda Stephens to 180 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Both defendants will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration & Notification Act (SORNA).
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Cases involving repeat violations of child sexual exploitation are heartbreaking and demonstrate the need for significant punishment to incapacitate traveling predators. These despicable sex offenders will now be held fully accountable with decades in federal prison.”
“Protecting children from exploitation and abuse is a top priority for the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “I am proud of the hard work and diligence of the Jackson Resident Agency and our partners involved in bringing these offenders to justice. These sentences should serve as a warning to anyone who exploits children and a strong reminder that the FBI is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who victimize innocent children.”
“This case underscores the strength of collaboration and determination demonstrated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and our local, state, and federal partners in holding accountable those who prey on innocent children,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “We trust that this sentence sends a clear message that we will continue to dedicate every necessary resource to identify and apprehend individuals who victimize our most vulnerable citizens.”
This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), the Milan Police Department, and the Lea County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Josh Morrow and Lauren Delery prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
West Park Man Sentenced to More Than 26 Years in Federal Prison for Kidnapping and Carjacking Hired Driver at GunpointRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A West Park man was sentenced to 319 months in federal prison for kidnapping a hired driver at gunpoint and forcing the victim to drive him and his associates away from the scene of a shooting.
U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore imposed the sentence on Bakari Jahiem Dixson, 24, of West Park, following a jury trial conviction on one count of kidnapping, one count of carjacking, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
“After shooting a woman multiple times, Bakari Jahiem Dixson turned a hired driver into his getaway driver at gunpoint and threatened to kill him if he did not comply,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. “This was a terrifying act of violence that showed complete disregard for human life. The more than 26-year sentence imposed holds Dixson accountable and protects the public from a dangerous armed offender.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Aug. 2, 2025, Dixson hired a chauffeur service in Fort Lauderdale. While waiting for transportation, the driver witnessed an altercation involving Dixson which culminated in Dixson shooting a woman multiple times.
Immediately after the shooting, Dixson and several associates entered the victim’s vehicle. Brandishing a firearm, Dixson ordered the driver to “drive or be killed.” Fearing for his life, the driver complied and drove Dixson and the others from Fort Lauderdale to West Park before dropping them off at Dixson’s residence.
Eleven days later, Dixson was arrested in Omaha, Nebraska.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
The ATF Miami Field Office investigated the case with substantial assistance from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille Smith and Justin McCormack prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-60281.
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WMATA Train Operator Sentenced in Four-Year Scheme to Defraud AFLAC Insurance of More Than $360,000Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michelle Shropshire, 55, of Waldorf, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison in connection with a four-year scheme to defraud AFLAC insurance company of hundreds of thousands of dollars, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Michelle Shropshire turned her own coworkers into accomplices, forged the signatures of doctors who had nothing to do with her lies, and built a four-year fraud operation on the backs of injured workers,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Health care fraud steals from every honest policyholder who pays their premiums, and this office will keep prosecuting those who exploit that trust.”
Shropshire was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Contreras also ordered Shropshire to pay restitution of $362,035.14 to AFLAC and entered a forfeiture money judgment of $80,520.36. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 41 months.
According to court papers, Shropshire worked as a train operator for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). For about four years, Shropshire orchestrated a scheme in which she and numerous WMATA employees submitted fraudulent disability and health care claims to AFLAC, claiming injuries they never suffered.
Shropshire prepared and submitted the fraudulent claims on behalf of herself and her co-conspirators, fabricating medical records and forging the signatures of real doctors to support the false claims. She and her co-conspirators continued to work and collect their regular WMATA paychecks throughout the periods they claimed to be disabled.
In exchange, each co-conspirator paid Shropshire a kickback of about 20 percent of the fraudulent insurance payout. Shropshire was responsible for defrauding AFLAC of at least $362,035.14, and personally profited by about $80,520.36.
Codefendant Harlisha Jones pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge and is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 6, 2026. Six other WMATA employees have also pleaded guilty to related health care fraud offenses arising from the investigation.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in today’s announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox and Inspector General Michelle Zamarin of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the WMATA Office of Inspector General.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Kelly and Diane G. Lucas.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse.
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Venezuelan National Pleads Guilty to Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Yoandris Jose Ruiz Bello (32, Venezuela) has pleaded guilty to attempted production of child sexual abuse material and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Ruiz Bello faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison for the attempted production offense; and a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment for the attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor offense. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement, on August 21, 2024, Ruiz Bello engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with someone whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl. During the conversation, Ruiz Bello asked the minor to create a sexually explicit video of herself and send it to him. Ruiz Bello also sent an explicit photograph of male genitalia to the minor. In actuality, Ruiz Bello was communicating with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
United States Attorney’s Office Joining Law Enforcement, Community Leaders and Residents for National Night Out EventsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania will join their law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities for National Night Out Events in cities across the state.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions of people take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
Below is a list of National Night Out Events that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be attending, all hosted by local participating law enforcement agencies.
Scheduled Events:
- Swatara Township Police Department National Night Out
Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Vanatta Park
- Scranton Police Department National Night Out Against Crime
Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Scranton High School
- Plains Township Police Department National Night Out
Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Birchwood Park
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United States Attorney's Office Joining Law Enforcement, Community Partners, and Residents for National Night Out Events in Rhode IslandRead the Press Release
Providence – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island will join law enforcement partners, residents, and communities across the state on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in celebration of National Night Out.
“National Night Out provides an important opportunity to connect with the residents we serve and strengthen relationships that are essential to public safety,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “We are proud to join our law enforcement and community partners across Rhode Island and to continue working together to make our neighborhoods stronger.”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions of people take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Personnel from the U.S. Attorney’s Office will participate in National Night Out events hosted by Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) partner agencies in communities across Rhode Island. The events bring together law enforcement and an array of our community partners, consisting of school personnel, Substance Use Prevention Coalitions, Family Care Community Partnership, Family Services RI, PSN Strategic Committee members, and an array of social service agencies.
U.S. Attorney’s Office personnel plan to visit the following National Night Out events:
Pawtucket Police Department
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Payne Park
225 West Avenue, PawtucketCentral Falls Police Department
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Jenks Park/Veterans Memorial Park
416 Hunt Street, Central FallsProvidence Police Department
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Joslin Park
40 Florence Street, ProvidenceWoonsocket Police Department
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
World War II Memorial Park
Social Street, WoonsocketFor more information, visit https://natw.org/
United States Attorney's Office Joining Law Enforcement, Community Leaders and Residents for National Night Out Events in New JerseyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, NJ – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey will join their law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities for National Night Out events in Jersey City, Newark, Westfield, Scotch Plains, Verona, Cedar Grove, Fairview, Rahway, South Orange, Mansfield, Trenton, Haddon Township, Mount Olive, Salem and Wall across the District of New Jersey.
“National Night Out reminds us that the foundation of effective public safety strategies are the partnerships between neighbors, law enforcement, and the community coming together. Safe communities are built through relationships, respect, and neighbors looking out for one another. We honor law enforcement who courageously serve on the front lines of public safety and welcome the opportunity to work alongside our communities to prevent crime, support victims, and help neighborhoods thrive throughout New Jersey.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions of people take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
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Umatilla County Man Sentenced in Armed Casino RobberyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Umatilla County man was sentenced to federal prison today for interference with commerce by robbery, felon in possession of a firearm with an armed career criminal enhancement, and attempt to commit murder.
Javier Vigil, 55, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and 5 years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $2,040.71 in restitution to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
“Vigil gambled and lost when he chose to rob this casino with a gun. His violent actions endangered innocent employees, patrons, and a law enforcement officer. He deserved and received the full consequences under federal law. Our tribal communities are incredibly important to me, and I will use every available federal resource to protect them and pursue justice on their behalf. I am also extremely grateful to the law enforcement officer, who risked his life that day to stop this defendant from harming anyone else.” Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney
According to court documents, on August 17, 2022, Javier Vigil went to the Wildhorse Resort and Casino on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, in Pendleton, Oregon and passed a note demanding $1,000,000 from the cash cage teller. He then drew a pistol and pointed it at the teller. While the tellers gathered cash, he made threatening statements.
After he received over $69,000, he walked out of the casino.
Upon seeing a tribal police officer Vigil raised his firearm and shot at the officer.
Vigil and the officer exchanged gunfire, which resulted in Vigil being shot and falling to the ground. Vigil was then arrested on federal charges for this crime. A bystander outside the casino was also injured from a stray bullet.
Investigators learned that Vigil acquired the firearm around August 3, 2022, about two weeks prior to the robbery and shooting.
On December 19, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 6-count superseding indictment charging Vigil with interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm with an armed career criminal enhancement, attempt to commit murder, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
On April 7, 2026, on the second day of trial, Vigil pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery, felon in possession of a firearm with an armed career criminal enhancement, and attempt to commit murder.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Umatilla Tribal Police Department, with the assistance of ATF, the Hermiston Police Department, the Pendleton Police Department, Oregon State Police, Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, and Morrow County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassady Adams and Arin Heinz prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for Western District of Kentucky Joining Law Enforcement, Community Leaders and Neighbors for National Night OutRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky is joining law enforcement partners, community leaders and neighbors at the Louisville Metro Police Department’s National Night Out events across Louisville to promote stronger, safer communities. The office will also host an information booth featuring crime prevention tips and safety resources for families at LMPD’s Eighth Division event at Warren Walker Park in the Douglass Hills neighborhood.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Our prosecutors have devoted their careers to making our communities safer. National Night Out is an important event for members of our office to build camaraderie with people we serve and to have a lot of fun.”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions of people take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
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Two Men Plead Guilty to 2023 Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Deondre Rogers, 20, and Hanif Brown, 20, both of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday to armed carjacking, armed robbery, and related charges stemming from a 2023 crime spree, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Both Rogers and Brown pleaded guilty to one count each of carjacking, armed robbery, robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license. Sentencing is scheduled for September 25, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Jason Park. This plea agreement resolves an 87-count indictment filed against the defendants. Both Rogers and Brown were 17 years old at the time of the offenses. The government is requesting 17 years’ incarceration for each defendant for the carjacking, armed robbery and robbery charges.
According to the government’s evidence, on April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Rogers and Brown rear-ended a white Jeep inside the Third Street Tunnel while driving a stolen Mercedes sedan. The defendants exited the Mercedes sedan, and each pointed a firearm at the two occupants of the white Jeep, demanding that they exit the vehicle. The victims complied, and the defendants entered the Jeep and drove away.
On April 16, 2023, at approximately 12:45 a.m., Rogers and Brown robbed another victim at gunpoint in the 1600 block of 5th Street NW. The victim was walking with a friend when the defendants pulled alongside them in a white Chevrolet sedan. One of the defendants exited the vehicle, pointed a firearm at the victim, and demanded his keys and cell phone. Meanwhile, the second defendant remained seated in the Chevrolet sedan. While held at gunpoint, the victim handed over his vehicle keys and cell phone. The defendants drove away in the Chevrolet sedan and the victim’s vehicle.
Finally, on May 4, 2023, at approximately 12:09 a.m., the defendants robbed two victims at gun point in the 1400 block of U Street NW. Specifically, Rogers and Brown got out of a white sedan carrying handguns and demanded the victims’ property. The defendants took two necklaces, an iPhone, a Louis Vuitton belt, a rose/white gold Audemars watch valued at approximately $40,000, and a gold and silver Rolex valued at approximately $7,000.
The same night of the robbery, Rogers posted videos and photographs to Instagram that showed him wearing the stolen Audemars watch. In the days following the robbery, both defendants posted multiple videos and appeared in a music video wearing both the stolen Audemars and Rolex watches.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf, Valerie Tsesarenko, and Brian Hanley.
2025 CF3 003623; 2023 CF3 004265
Two Men Plead Guilty for Roles in Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Two individuals pleaded guilty in federal court today for their participation in a drug trafficking organization that brought cocaine and fentanyl into New Hampshire, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Jose Cordero Ortiz, 40, of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Drug. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9, 2026.
Jhonattan A. Jimemenz, 39, of Boston, Massachusetts pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Drug. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2026.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
According to documents and statements made in court, the leader of the organization, Juan Ramon Soto Baez, 55, was sentenced on July 1, 2025 to 100 months in prison with 3 years of supervised release for his role in the drug trafficking operation. The organization was run like a business, operating “dispatch” telephone lines where customers could call in to order narcotics. Soto Baez, or a trusted member of the conspiracy working for him, would take customer orders on the phone, and then Soto Baez would either deliver the order himself or send a runner to conduct the drug sale at an arranged meeting location. In addition to Soto Baez, Ortiz, and Jimenez, more than 10 others have been convicted as part of this operation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
Two MS-13 Gang Members Indicted for a 2016 Murder in Brentwood and 2023 Murder of Long Island Man in MarylandRead the Press Release
Today, Edwin Chavez-Garay, also known as “Spooky” and “Cruger,” and Jairo Diaz-Gamez, also known as “Cameleon” and “Antonimo,” who are both members of the Vegas Locos Salvatruchas (Vegas) subgroup or “clique” of the MS-13, a violent transnational organization, were arraigned in federal court in Central Islip on a second superseding indictment charging them with racketeering offenses in connection with two murders—the February 19, 2016 murder of Miguel Garcia-Moran in Brentwood, New York, and the August 19, 2023 murder of Carlos Lemus Interiano in Fort Washington, Maryland—and with other charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and narcotics trafficking conspiracy (the Superseding Indictment). The Superseding Indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on July 30, 2026, also contains allegations against six previously charged defendants, all members of the MS-13, related to two additional murders on Long Island and other crimes. United States Magistrate Judge Anne Y. Shields ordered both defendants detained pending trial.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the arrests and charges.
“The charges in the Superseding Indictment demonstrate the commitment by our Office and our law enforcement partners to hold vicious transnational organized crime groups like MS-13 accountable for their crimes, no matter how long it takes,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Too many families in our community have been permanently separated from their loved ones at a young age because of the ruthless and senseless violence of the MS-13, and we will not stop investigating until everyone is held accountable.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his grateful appreciation to the Washington and Baltimore Field Offices of the FBI, the New York City Police Department, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York, the Prince George’s Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, the Prince William County Police Department, and the United States Marshal Service, for their valuable assistance and partnership in this case.
“Two families spent years carrying the unbearable weight of unanswered questions while these accused MS-13 killers continued their lives as though they had not helped leave devastation in their wake. The charges announced today lay bare the brutality of these crimes: a 15-year-old boy allegedly lured into the woods in Brentwood and beaten to death with metal rods, and a Long Island man allegedly taken to Maryland and killed after falling out of favor with the gang. HSI New York, as a co-leader of the Homeland Security Task Force, remains steadfast in its mission to pursue violent transnational gangs, support our law enforcement partners, and help deliver long-overdue accountability for victims and their families,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas.
“The FBI condemns the brutal violence carried out by MS 13, including two murders that have deeply shaken our community,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Working closely with our partners, we remain unwavering in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families. Protecting the people of New York is our top priority, and we will continue to take decisive, coordinated action to disrupt, dismantle, and hold accountable any group that threatens public safety.
“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of law enforcement and our partners at EDNY, this pair is now being held accountable for a series of crimes dating back a decade, proving that we do not relent in our pursuit of justice," stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina. “The killings carried out by these gang members were barbaric and senseless. The victims’ families have endured unimaginable loss, and we will continue working with our partners to dismantle criminal networks and prevent others from suffering the same pain and fear.”
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez participated in the murder of Garcia-Moran, a 15-year-old boy, who the defendants wrongly believed was a member of a rival gang. On February 19, 2016, the defendants lured the victim to a wooded area in Brentwood, behind 80 Emjay Boulevard, where they beat him to death with metal rods. On September 21, 2016, members of the FBI and the SCPD, who were looking for evidence in connection with another MS-13 victim whose body was recovered in the same area, located skeletal remains which were later identified as those of Garcia-Moran. Years later, Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez, who continued to rise in rank in the Vegas clique, lured Lemus Interiano, a resident of Huntington, New York, to Maryland so that he could be killed. Lemus Interiano, a member of the Vegas clique, had fallen out of favor with the gang, and was targeted for death by not only the Vegas clique but also co-defendant Gervin Barrera-Perez, a member of the Huntington clique. On August 19, 2023, Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez drove Lemus Interiano to Maryland, where he was shot and killed in a wooded area. In February 2025, law enforcement in Maryland, while searching for another body, recovered Lemus Interiano’s arm bone at Piscataway Stream Valley Park in Fort Washington, Maryland. A subsequent search and excavation led to the discovery of additional evidence, including more human remains, clothing, and a bullet. Between the end of 2023 and March 2025, Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez participated in the conspiracy to murder Carlos Lopez-Lopez, who was eventually stabbed to death and drowned after being attacked on the beach in Blue Point, New York. Lopez-Lopez, a former member of the MS-13, was targeted because the gang members believed that he was cooperating with law enforcement. Three co-defendants in this case were previously charged with having committed that murder.
Finally, the Superseding Indictment charges Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez with conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana. These charges stem from the MS-13 cliques’ street-level sales of cocaine and marijuana on Long Island, the proceeds of which were used to help finance the MS-13’s criminal operations, including purchasing firearms, ammunition, and other weapons, and sending money to MS-13 leadership in the United States and Central America.
The Superseding Indictment is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent transnational criminal organization. The MS-13 is comprised primarily of immigrants from Central America, and it has leaders in El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and the United States, with thousands of members all over the world. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders, and assaults. Since 2010 alone, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 75 murders in the Eastern District of New York, and it has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of extensive collaboration with numerous law enforcement agencies, including HSI, FBI, and local and state partners.
The charges in the Superseding Indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each of the defendants faces up to life in prison, or the possibility of the death penalty.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eradicating transnational criminal organizations, combating violent crime, and restoring the rule of law.
This case is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigation, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan E. Farrell and Paul G. Scotti are in charge of the prosecution.
New Defendants:EDWIN CHAVEZ-GARAY (also known as “Spooky” and “Cruger”)
Age: 25
Brentwood, New YorkJAIRO DIAZ-GAMEZ (also known as “Cameleon” and “Anonimo”)
Age: 27
Bayshore, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-209 (S-2) (GRB)
25-cr-209_s-2_orellana-aleman_et_al.indictment.pdf 2026.08.03_s2_detention_letter_final.pdfTwo Houston Gang Leaders Convicted at Trial for Ordering Drive-by Murder of Innocent BystanderRead the Press Release
A federal jury has convicted the last of six members of the violent 103 street gang charged for ordering a retaliatory shooting that ended the life of an innocent bystander.
Shaquille Richards, 32, and Alexandra Nicks, 32, both of Houston, were convicted of using a firearm to kill during a racketeering murder and murder in aid of racketeering.
“The gang war that these defendants engaged in plagued Houston’s Third Ward community for years,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Based on yesterday’s convictions, these violent criminals are facing long prison sentences that will keep them off the streets of Houston and hold them accountable for the innocent life they took. The Department of Justice has zero tolerance for the scourge and societal ills caused by gang violence. We are aggressively prosecuting violent gang members and continuing to restore law and order to America’s cities.”
“These gangbangers turned a Houston neighborhood into a battlefield, ordering killers to hunt down and murder their rivals, and an innocent man paid for their violence with his life,” said U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz for the Southern District of Texas. “If you wage war on our streets, terrorize our communities, and put innocent Texans in the crosshairs, my office will come for you. We will dismantle violent gangs, prosecute the criminals who lead them, and put them behind bars where they belong. Houston’s neighborhoods belong to law-abiding citizens, not to violent gangs.”
“The convictions of these two local career gang members are exactly the kind of results we hoped for when the Department of Justice launched the Violent Crimes Initiative in Houston,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Too often, turf wars between violent neighborhood gangs claim innocent victims. When we leverage our federal resources and law enforcement partnerships, we not only double down on the war against violent crime happening on our streets and front yards, we also procure justice for entire communities terrorized by these criminals.”
Richards and Nicks were leaders of the violent 103 street gang that was involved in a gang war in the Third Ward with rival gang Young Scott Block, or YSB.
Defendant Nicks, left, displaying 103 gang sign with Defendant Richards making shooting motion.After numerous murders and shootings between the two gangs, Richards and Nicks ordered lower ranking members and associates of the 103 gang to retaliate by committing a drive by shooting in YSB territory. On Oct. 16, 2017, fellow 103 gang members Deandre Watson, Mertroy Harris, Marcus Christopher, and Marquis Erskin drove to opposing gang territory to find a rival gang member to kill. They were armed with firearms containing numerous rounds of ammunition, including some loaded into 50 and 100-bullet drum magazines.
Watson, Harris, Erskin and Christopher opened fire when they saw a rival gang member on a street corner. The intended target was shot but survived and ran away. A 53 year old non-gang member was standing in the front yard of a residence, was shot and died of his injuries.
The 103 members crashed their car into a ditch as they fled. Watson, Erski, and Christopher then carjacked a woman who had an infant in her vehicle and fled the scene. Harris ran into the neighboring stores and discarded his firearm and clothing but was arrested shortly thereafter.
Jail phone calls, social media postings, and testimony showed that Richards and Nicks ordered the shooting and threatened to oust anyone in the gang who did not go looking for rivals to shoot.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 4. A federal district judge will determine their sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Watson, Harris, Christopher and Erskin have each pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on Sept. 2. All defendants face up to life in prison.
The FBI, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Houston Police Department investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Trial Attorney Jodi Anton of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Zenon Matos and Anh-Khoa Tran for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Houston. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence in the Houston area.
Two Companies Agree to Pay over $2.3 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Mobile Programming LLC (“Mobile Programming”), a Wyoming corporation with its principal place of business in California, and A-1 Technology, Inc. (“A-1 Technology”), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in New York, have agreed to pay $2,353,391.06 to resolve allegations that they improperly obtained Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for which they were not eligible.
PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, and administered by the SBA. The program was created to support small businesses and to help them continue to pay employees and meet other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A second round of loans was authorized in early 2021. To be eligible for these Second Draw PPP loans, a business was required to certify that it had no more than 300 employees, including employees of all domestic and foreign affiliates.
Mobile Programming applied for and received a $1,326,949 Second Draw PPP loan. A-1 Technology applied for and received a $184,287 Second Draw PPP loan. On their respective Second Draw loan applications, Mobile Programming and A-1 Technology certified that they, together with their affiliates, had fewer than 300 employees. Mobile Programming and A-1 Technology subsequently applied for (and ultimately received) forgiveness of their Second Draw loans. However, Mobile Programming and A-1 Technology, together with their domestic and foreign affiliates, had more than 300 employees.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace announced the settlement. Assistant United States Attorney Claudia L. Pare handled the case.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party—known as a relator—can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. In this case, the relator will receive a share of the settlement.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. The settlement agreement is attached to this press release. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-cv-367-GBW.
The claims resolved by the settlement are merely allegations. There has been no determination of liability.
Torrington Man Pleads Guilty to Narcotics Trafficking Charge, Admits Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MICHAEL CABASSA, 48, of Torrington, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a narcotics trafficking offense and also admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2007, Cabassa was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 240 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for trafficking crack cocaine. He was released from prison after receiving an executive grant of clemency on January 17, 2025. Connecticut State Police arrested Cabassa on December 27, 2025, after he was involved in a one-car motor vehicle accident while driving under the influence, and a search of his vehicle revealed distribution quantities of cocaine and fentanyl.
Cabassa pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, which, based on his prior federal drug conviction, carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. He faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
Cabassa has been detained since his federal arrest on May 21, 2026. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.
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.
Three Missouri Men Charged in Cryptocurrency Robbery SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that three Missouri men have been charged by indictment for their alleged involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin in August 2024.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 25, 2024, Danbury Police arrested six Florida men who were involved in a violent carjacking and the beating and kidnapping of two occupants of the vehicle on that date. The investigation revealed that the kidnapping victims are the parents of an individual who participated in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin.
It is alleged that, in an attempt to steal some of that Bitcoin, the individuals who coordinated the attempted robbery and kidnapping first recruited SEDRIC LOUIS, 32, JOHN DAVIS, 34, and MARTEL WILLIAMS, 27, all of St. Louis, Missouri, to carry out the plan. Between approximately August 21 and August 24, 2024, Louis, Davis, Williams, and others traveled to Connecticut and obtained rental vehicles and supplies, including air rifles and walkie talkies. They then stalked the intended target and his parents over the course of two days, waiting for the opportunity to force their way into their home where they would threaten the target and demand that he transfer the stolen cryptocurrency into accounts controlled by the scheme’s coordinators. Fearing that they had been captured on home security cameras and frustrated by the plan and a lack of communication with their co-conspirators, Louis, Davis, and Williams left Connecticut. Shortly thereafter, another crew from Florida arrived to carry out the plan.
On May 22, 2026, a grand jury in New Haven returned a second superseding indictment charging Louis, Davis, and Williams with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (“Hobbs Act Robbery”), an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Louis and Davis have been detained since each was arrested on June 25, 2026. On July 30, 2026, they each appeared in Bridgeport federal court and enter a plea of not guilty. Williams appeared in Bridgeport federal court on July 17, 2026, entered a plea of not guilty, and was released on bond.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Los Angeles, FBI St. Louis, and the Danbury Police Department. The FBI Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police and several local police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Daniel George.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California, the Eastern District of Missouri, the District of Columbia, and the District of New Jersey, and the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury, for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.
Three Defendants Indicted for Alleged Multi-State Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Co-conspirators allegedly posed as federal agents to lure victims into converting retirement savings into gold
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that three defendants, two from New Jersey and one from India, were indicted on federal criminal charges related to alleged wire fraud. Christian Jalan Matthews, Taylor Nicole Mitchell-Meeks, and Sudeep Khurana are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for an alleged scheme to defraud victims out of their savings and retirement funds.
The indictment charges that the three defendants were part of a plan, along with other bad actors, to convince victims—most of whom are elderly—that their identities or financial accounts were at risk. After luring victims in with false promises of helping them “secure” these accounts, the co-conspirators convinced them to convert their money to gold or other currency. Posing as federal agents, the co-conspirators then set up meetings with the victims where they would hand over their money for apparent “safekeeping.” The indictment alleges that the conspiracy resulted in the fraudulent receipt or attempted receipt of more than $3 million from at least five victims.
If convicted, Matthews, Mitchell-Meeks, and Khurana face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “The allegations are that these defendants posed as federal agents to prey on our elders. Well, now they have had the chance to meet some real federal agents, and will get to see how the federal criminal justice system works. I look forward to proving to a jury the full extent of their criminal conduct so that we can get justice for the victims.”
“HSI is committed to protecting vulnerable members of our community especially seniors from scammers posing as federal agents,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “We take these schemes seriously and will ensure that our seniors who have worked and saved all their lives don’t have the rug pulled out from under them.”
Kent County Sheriff's Office Undersheriff Bryan Muir said, “These criminals deliberately targeted older adults by creating fear and impersonating trusted government officials. Law enforcement will never ask you to withdraw money, purchase gold, or turn over assets for ‘safekeeping', and we urge families to discuss these warning signs before a loved one is targeted. I am especially proud of our Sheriff’s Office team for turning a report into a proactive operation and working with Homeland Security Investigations to protect the victim and catch the suspects as the crime was unfolding.”
Homeland Security Investigations Grand Rapids and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office are investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clint Westbrook is prosecuting it.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Three Arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Yongbo Li, 36, Huashan Lu, 62, and Yuxiang Zhao, 60, pursuant to a criminal complaint for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.
According to the criminal complaint, Li, Lu, Zhao, and others engaged in an organized fraud scheme that targeted victims through telephone calls, emails, and Internet pop-up messages, falsely claiming the victims’ personal information and financial accounts were compromised and that immediate action was needed to resolve the fabricated issue. The immediate action was almost always the mailing of cashier’s checks, money orders, or cash to P.O. boxes in and around the Orlando area. According to the criminal complaint, twenty-eight victims, most of them elderly, have been identified.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal document supporting an arrest warrant that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Orlando Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Flanigan.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Fraud Division Announces Charges Against 19 Defendants for Medicaid Home Health Aid SchemesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division) announced a major investment in combatting Medicaid fraud through a significant expansion of the Division’s Northeast Health Care Fraud Strike Force to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Health Care Strike Force model has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the federal enforcement arsenal, responsible nationally for the prosecution of over 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion.
In connection with the announcement, the Fraud Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Pennsylvania Attorney General today announced criminal charges against 19 defendants, including owners and employees of home care companies, for their alleged participation in various fraud schemes involving over four million dollars in claims to Medicare and Medicaid. The Pennsylvania Attorney General also announced a plea agreement involving the final defendant in a previously-charged 21 defendant case involving over $1.7 million in claims.
The Fraud Division’s expansion into the Eastern District of Pennsylvania brings enhanced federal resources to a district with an established tradition of strong health care fraud enforcement. The partnership between the Fraud Division and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will uniquely enable law enforcement to combat criminals who hide behind corporations to commit fraud. Philadelphia and its surrounding areas have vibrant and cutting-edge health care technology and insurance industries, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has long been a prime venue for private lawsuits that bring unlawful corporate conduct in the health care industry to the attention of law enforcement. The Unit’s corporate enforcement efforts align closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and its history of successful criminal and civil actions against corporate bad actors operating in the health care industry. In particular, the Health Care Fraud Unit has significantly expanded its focus on corporate accountability, resolving cases against companies engaged in systemic illegal conduct, including recent corporate resolutions with AP of South Florida LLC, Atlantic Biologicals Corp., ExThera, and Troy Health Inc. Just last week, the Fraud Division announced the first declination of a health care company under the new Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy, which resulted from a voluntary self-disclosure by eye care group Campus Eye.
“Home care funding exists to assist America’s elderly and most vulnerable — not to fund schemes in which aides claim be providing care while incarcerated or vacationing in Miami and Saudi Arabia,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Today’s charges and the expansion of our Northeast Strike Force into the Eastern District of Pennsylvania send a clear message to fraudsters in the region: the Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue you and use all available tools to protect Medicaid and the programs everyday Americans rely on.”
“Medicaid fraud robs hardworking taxpayers, deprives vulnerable Americans of the care they need, and undermines the public trust that sustains our social safety net,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “CMS will continue partnering with law enforcement to shut down these scams while establishing new anti-fraud safeguards that flag criminal activity before the money ever leaves the building. This Administration is taking a whole-of-government approach to protecting Medicaid—ensuring the program serves the Americans who depend on it, not criminals seeking to exploit it.”
“Home care fraud is everywhere, and the victim is all of us taxpayers. Medicaid claims data and the experience of veteran prosecutors all point to the systematic exploitation of reimbursable home care programs,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “Today, we sound the alarm on the scale of this fraud by announcing some truly egregious cases, in which numerous people are charged with filing fraudulent claims for caregivers who were not actually providing home care services, but in fact were dead, in prison, or trafficking drugs. This racket ends today.”
“Health care fraud is not a victimless crime – it undermines public trust and diverts critical resources from patients who need them,” said Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office. “No single agency can tackle complex health care fraud schemes alone. Let today’s announcement be a warning to those engaging in similar activity: if you seek to exploit our health care systems for personal profit, you should expect the FBI and our partners to uncover your scheme and bring it to an end. Every dollar stolen through fraud is a dollar diverted from patient care, and the FBI will continue its work to safeguard the public's trust and hold accountable those who abuse these vital programs.”
Today’s announcement, which charges company owners, home health aides, and Medicaid recipients, including individuals with significant criminal records, shows the diversity of the Fraud Division’s work and its emphasis on full-spectrum accountability. The Strike Force’s expansion makes clear that the Fraud Division will use every available legal tool to identify, investigate, and prosecute offenses against the American people. The Fraud Division and its partners in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General will pursue anybody who seeks to profit at the expense of American taxpayers, regardless of whether the wrongdoing is in the boardroom or in the sickroom. With the newly expanded Northeast Strike Force, the District will have the resources to pursue these allegations and ensure that corporate criminal actors are brought to justice.
Home Care Fraud
Recently, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has become the target of fraudsters seeking to take advantage of Medicaid’s home care funds, which should be devoted to assisting elderly and ill Pennsylvanians to age in place with dignity. Today’s announcement is a result of coordinated and dedicated investigations and prosecutions at the federal and state levels.
Today’s cases demonstrate that even the boldest fraudsters will be caught and stopped. In one case announced today, four defendants, two purported aides and two Medicaid recipients, were charged in connection with a conspiracy to submit claims for home health services that never occurred. One purported aide claimed to be providing services while she was incarcerated; another purportedly provided services while hospitalized. These four defendants caused over $440,000 in claims to Medicaid. In another of today’s cases, two defendants, father and son, were charged after the son, a purported aide, claimed to be providing services while driving for a ride-share and food delivery service. On one occasion, the defendants claimed services while the son was in the midst of a traffic stop in which he was cited for possession of marijuana; on another, the defendants claimed services while the father was in court participating in a sentencing hearing for another individual. Medicaid paid over $200,000 for care purportedly provided to the father. In a third case being announced today, a purported aide and a Medicaid recipient were charged after the recipient claimed to be so debilitated that he needed dozens of hours of home health assistance, resulting in over $160,000 in claims to Medicaid. In reality, the recipient had a day job as a carpenter working in the construction industry.
Social media posts depicting defendant’s vacation to Miami, Florida, while he billed for providing home care services to a Medicaid recipient in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.The defendants’ conduct was characterized by extraordinary greed. In one case, the Pennsylvania Attorney General charged a purported home health aide who claimed to have provided services to up to seven Medicaid recipients at once. On over 1,100 occasions, the defendant allegedly claimed to have provided care for more than 24 hours in a single day, totaling over 64,000 hours that could not have been worked. As alleged, Medicaid paid over $1.2 million as a result of the scheme. Another defendant who was charged in today’s announcement, a purported aide, claimed to have worked over 8,700 overlapping hours. As alleged, there were nearly 400 days on which the defendant claimed to be working for more than 24 hours in a day. The defendant allegedly caused over $180,000 in loss to Medicaid. In another case, a defendant was charged who claimed to have provided over 1,300 hours of home care services for a Medicaid recipient who was himself incarcerated on state drug charges. A defendant in one case was captured on a recorded conversation stating that “this home health care is the best kept secret . . . I made a buck plus [each of] the last five years, that’s, that’s a half a million dollars . . . I ain’t checking on nobody.”
The defendants in today’s announcement were not deterred by the physical impossibility of their claims, as several defendants were charged with claiming to have provided services while they were out of the country. For example, one defendant pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Pennsylvania Attorney General for his claims to be providing home care services while he was, among other places, in Saudia Arabia. Nineteen other defendants previously pleaded guilty in connection with this case. Another defendant, charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, allegedly claimed to provide services while traveling overseas on multiple occasions. The defendant caused nearly $600,000 in claims to Medicaid, most of which were fraudulent.
Today’s announcement also includes a home care agency, which was charged alongside its two owners. As alleged, the agency and its owners billed Medicaid for hundreds of false and fraudulent clock-ins and clock-outs for home care shifts, falsely representing that two agency employees were providing home care services to clients. In total, the defendants caused Medicaid to pay approximately $224,000 for the affected employees’ purported work.
“Today’s announcement underscores the need to confront Medicaid and Medicare fraud head on,” said Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell. “The schemes alleged here involved fabricated services, impossible work hours, and claims made while defendants were incarcerated, overseas, or working other jobs. Together with our federal and state partners, we remain steadfast in protecting Medicaid and Medicare by pursuing anyone who seeks to exploit these programs and the people they are designed to serve.”
Expanding the Northeast Strike Force to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
As part of the expansion, the Northeast Strike Force, led by Acting Assistant Chiefs Miriam Glaser Dauermann and Patrick J. Campbell, will coordinate closely with the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s Health Care Fraud Section, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Scicchitano and Paul Shapiro, to establish the new office of the Strike Force. The Strike Force will work in partnership with the HHS Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other law enforcement partners, reflecting the Department’s determination that the need for coordinated, aggressive action in this region is urgent and undeniable.
“Health care fraud is not just a financial crime, it threatens public safety and victimizes the American people,” said DEA Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Timothy Flaherty. “Our message is clear: if you are a medical provider who chooses greed over your professional responsibility, DEA will hold you accountable.”
The expansion of the Northeast Strike Force to Philadelphia builds on the recent expansion of the Strike Force program to the West Coast, including the Northern District of California and the Districts of Arizona and Nevada; the District of Massachusetts; and the District of Minnesota, and comes after two record-setting National Health Care Fraud Takedowns in which the Division charged more than $15 billion in alleged loss in 2025 and more than $6 billion in alleged loss in 2026. A third-party consulting group analyzed return on investment and showed that the average return on investment (FY21-24) from funding the Health Care Fraud Section by year 10 is $106.76 per $1 spent, and over $4.5 billion in projected savings. Members of the public are encouraged to report wrongdoing in the health care industry, and the new Department-wide corporate enforcement policy for criminal matters creates incentives for companies to voluntarily disclose when misconduct occurs.
Acting Assistant Chief Miriam Glaser Dauermann, Health Care Fraud Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Carla Jordan-Detamore, and Eastern District of Pennsylvania Health Care Fraud Chief Anthony Scicchitano, Deputy Chief Paul Shapiro, and Counsel to the U.S. Attorney Sara Solow, led and coordinated the cases charged in today’s Takedown, together with the FBI, HHS, DEA, IRS, and state and local law enforcement partners. Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Carla Jordan-Detamore, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Solow, Paul Shapiro, Angella Middleton, Alisa Shver, Jessica Rice and Megan Curran, and Pennsylvania Deputy Attorneys General Benjamin McKenna, Susann Shore, Jonathan Clymer and Jacob Gordin are prosecuting the cases being announced today.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Note: This release has been updated from a previous version.
Tallahassee Postal Employee Indicted for Theft of MailRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Napeaches Shouetta Blair, 43, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for two counts of theft of mail by a postal employee. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Blair appeared in federal court for her arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 8, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
Blair faces a maximum of five years’ imprisonment on each count.
This case was jointly investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Emma Schwan is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Sumter County Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Obscene Animated Images of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Corey Wilkerson (30, Lake Panasoffkee) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to three years in federal prison for possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the court records, between October 20, 2023, and July 10, 2024, Wilkerson possessed thousands of obscene animated images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images also depicted the sexual abuse of prepubescent and infant females.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson and Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This 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 and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Statement from United States Attorney Moore Capito on the Passing of Former U.S. Attorney Chuck MillerRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito issued the following statement today regarding the passing of former U.S. Attorney Chuck Miller:
“Chuck Miller dedicated his life to public service and left a lasting mark on both this office and the people of Kanawha County. We are grateful for his service and the example he set for those who followed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
- United States Attorney Moore Capito
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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St. Louis Felon Admits Repeatedly Being Caught with FirearmsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from St. Louis on Tuesday admitted being caught three times with firearms after traffic stops.
Darrion Boyd-Barnes, 29, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Sept. 22, 2022, he was stopped by St. Louis police in a vehicle with an expired temporary tag. After officers discovered that he had given them a false name and had an active arrest warrant, they arrested him and found a loaded Glock 29 10mm pistol.
On April 16, 2025, Boyd-Barnes was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for having an improper license plate. St. Louis police officers again learned that Boyd-Barnes had an active arrest warrant and found a loaded Palmetto State Armory Dagger 9mm handgun.
On Nov. 12, 2025, St. Louis police pulled Boyd-Barnes over in a Jeep after he ran three stop signs. When officers asked him to get out of the vehicle, he sped off, eventually stopping at his girlfriend’s house in St. Louis County. Multiple police agencies responded to the scene. Boyd-Barnes refused multiple times to leave the house and then escaped. Police found 29 firearms in the home, including AR-style pistols and rifles, a shotgun, multiple stolen pistols and five pistols that had been illegally converted into fully automatic weapons with a machinegun conversion device.
Boyd-Barnes is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
South Florida Resident Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Firearms from Florida to Haiti as Part of Homeland Security Task Force InitiativeRead the Press Release
Jean Robert Casimir, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Lauderhill, Florida, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of U.S. export control law for his role in an extensive firearms trafficking operation through which he illegally exported at least 140 firearms to Haiti since 2020.
According to court documents, from at least August 2020 through December 2024, Casimir illegally exported no less than 140 firearms from the United States to Haiti without having first obtained the required license from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia.
Between at least August 2020 and December 2024, Casimir purchased at least 108 firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees and at least 30-35 firearms from a U.S. person in Florida, all of which he exported to Haiti without a license. These firearms included rifles, pistols, and shotguns of various makes and models. To smuggle the firearms to Haiti, Casimir and his co-conspirators used, among other techniques, industrial air compressors that they cut open and welded back together, packing disassembled rifles and handguns with foam insulation. Casimir and his co-conspirators then shipped these and other packages to Haiti via boats leaving from the Miami area. Casimir is a former Haitian National Police officer.
Jean Robert Casimir Photos of Air CompressorsCasimir was arrested on Dec. 16, 2024 in Lauderhill and later indicted on Jan. 23, 2025.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office, HSI Washington D.C. and HSI Miami with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Dean for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, with assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall for the District of Columbia made valuable contributions to this prosecution.
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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
South Florida Resident Pleads Guilty in D.C. to Smuggling Firearms from Florida to HaitiRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Jean Robert Casimir, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Lauderhill, Florida, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of U.S. export control law for his role in an extensive firearms trafficking operation through which he illegally exported at least 140 firearms to Haiti since 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Casimir exploited his access to firearms in our country to arm buyers in Haiti, disguising his shipments and evading the licensing laws that exist to keep weapons out of the hands of those who would use them to fuel violence abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This office will continue to hold accountable anyone who treats our export laws as an obstacle to work around rather than the law of the land.”
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami.
According to court documents, from at least August 2020 through December 2024, Casimir illegally exported no less than 140 firearms from the United States to Haiti without having first obtained the required license from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia.
Between at least August 2020 and December 2024, Casimir purchased at least 108 firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees and at least 30-35 firearms from a U.S. person in Florida, all of which he exported to Haiti without a license. These firearms included rifles, pistols, and shotguns of various makes and models. To smuggle the firearms to Haiti, Casimir and his co-conspirators used, among other techniques, industrial air compressors that they cut open and welded back together, packing disassembled rifles and handguns with foam insulation. Casimir and his co-conspirators then shipped these and other packages to Haiti via boats leaving from the Miami area. Casimir is a former Haitian National Police officer.
Casimir was arrested on Dec. 16, 2024, in Lauderhill, Florida, and later indicted on Jan. 23, 2025.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office, HSI Washington, D.C. and HSI Miami with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Dean for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, with assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Jean Robert Casimir
Casimir shipped the firearms inside air compressors.
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Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Kristie Williams, 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on August 4, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City. Williams pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distributing methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location.
At the plea hearing, Williams admitted her involvement in a conspiracy from January 2025 through November 2025 that distributed more than three pounds of methamphetamine. On at least three occasions Williams distributed and helped another distribute a total of over 184 grams of pure methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. In October 2025, officers executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence and seized over 12 grams of pure methamphetamine. Williams intended to distribute some or all of this methamphetamine to other persons. These distributions occurred within 1,000 feet of Fairmount City Park and Cecillia City Park in Sioux City.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Williams remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. She faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4063. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Rocky Mount Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty in $3.9M Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Rocky Mount woman, Angela Dickens, 54, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns resulting a tax loss of approximately $3,900,000. Dickens faces a maximum penalty of 36 months in prison when sentenced in November 2026. She has agreed to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“What a shocking abuse of trust for a tax return preparer to file hundreds of fraudulent federal income tax returns. No longer will we tolerate the petty misery of the destruction of society by vicious selfishness. Let this sentence serve as a warning to others considering the same dirty deeds: We will find you and prosecute you. Cheaters. Never. Win,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
Dickens operated Empire Tax Service, later renamed K&J Tax Service, in North Carolina. From 2017 to 2023, Dickens and at least one co‑conspirator fraudulently filed hundreds of tax returns by inflating “Other 1099 Withholding” amounts. Their scheme inflated taxpayer refunds and allowed them to take excessive fees from those refunds. A tax return preparation business gathers clients’ financial information, organizes it, and files their federal and state tax returns accurately. It aims to guide clients through the tax process efficiently, lawfully, and with as little stress as possible.
“Tax return preparers who try to defraud the tax system should be aware that IRS Criminal Investigation will expose these schemes and work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold those responsible accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office. “Today's plea is a reminder to those who might consider preparing false tax returns that IRS-CI will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who attempt to defraud the United States tax system.”
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations is investigating the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-CR-126-M-1.
Rhode Island Woman Pleads Guilty to Operating Unlicensed Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – On July 30, 2026, a Rhode Island woman pleaded guilty in federal court to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business that moved funds between individuals in the United States and foreign countries.
Bukky Olukoga, 52, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. She is scheduled to be sentenced on October 27, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, Olukoga owned and controlled Grace’s Property Investment LLC, a Rhode Island entity that used her prior and current residential addresses as business locations. Using bank accounts held in her name and in the name of Grace’s Property, Olukoga opened and maintained accounts at multiple financial institutions, including Santander Bank, Washington Trust, Citizens Bank, TD Bank, and Bank of America. She also created and used peer‑to‑peer mobile payment accounts, including Cash App and Zelle.
Between at least February 16, 2020, and April 17, 2022, Olukoga received funds from third parties through cash, money orders, deposits, and electronic transfers into accounts under her control. She then transferred those funds to bank accounts held by individuals and entities overseas, including recipients in Nigeria and China. Olukoga received a fee for transfers she made on behalf of third parties.
Olukoga did not possess the licenses required to operate a money transmitting business at the state or federal level.
As part of her plea agreement, Olukoga agreed to forfeit approximately $203,969 in assets involved in or derived from the offense, including U.S. currency and funds seized from bank and investment accounts.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).Recidivist Westchester County Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 292 Months in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl That Killed A Man, Conspiring to Distribute Crack Cocaine, and Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that PERRY FREEMAN was sentenced to 292 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a Westchester County resident, conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, and illegally possessing ammunition. On February 11, 2026, FREEMAN pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.
“Perry Freeman, a recidivist drug dealer, sold fentanyl to a victim who died shortly after taking the drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “This Office will not rest until the public is safe and that those who peddle this poison have been brought to justice, as Perry Freeman now has.”
According to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
On or about November 10, 2021, FREEMAN sold fentanyl to his victim, a 37-year-old man.
Shortly thereafter, the police responded to a report of a burning car in a parking lot in the Town of Mohegan Lake, New York, approximately a three-minute drive from FREEMAN’s apartment building. They found a Ford Focus on fire; the victim was in the driver’s seat with his foot on the accelerator pedal. After the fire department put the fire out, the victim—who was dead—was pulled out. Investigators determined that the car had caught fire after overheating while the accelerator pedal was depressed for an excessive period of time while the car was in park, i.e., while the victim was passed out in the driver’s seat with his foot on the pedal.
The Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office, which is part of the Westchester Department of Laboratories and Research, performed an autopsy on the victim. The victim had lethal levels of both fentanyl and norfentanyl (a metabolite of fentanyl) in his blood, and there was some darkening of the victim’s lungs, which indicated smoke inhalation before his death. The victim’s cause of death was certified as both acute fentanyl intoxication and accident.
In addition, FREEMAN conspired to distribute crack cocaine over a period of years and possessed five shotgun shells in his apartment despite being prohibited from doing so due to multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for narcotics offenses in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2022.
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In addition to the prison sentence, FREEMAN, 40, of Mohegan Lake, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Yorktown Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Maimin and Ben Arad are in charge of the prosecution.
Puerto Rican Man Sentenced for Damaging AircraftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Puerto Rican man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for an incident in which he opened an emergency exit door while aboard a JetBlue flight preparing for takeoff from Boston to Puerto Rico.
Angel Luis Morales Torres, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor to one year of probation. Morales Torres was also ordered to pay approximately $60,000 in restitution. In May 2026, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of damaging or disabling an aircraft. Morales was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025.
On Jan. 7, 2025, Morales was a passenger aboard a JetBlue flight scheduled to fly from Boston to Puerto Rico. While the aircraft was on the taxiway preparing for takeoff, Morales stood up from his seat, ran down the aisle and entered an empty emergency exit row, where he began attempting to open the emergency exit door. A flight attendant attempted to restrain Morales and he was eventually tackled by another passenger. Prior to being restrained, Morales managed to open the emergency door, causing the emergency inflatable slide to deploy, and rendering the aircraft inoperable.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Providence Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man who worked as a drug runner for a transnational narcotics trafficking organization pleaded guilty today in federal court in Rhode Island to methamphetamine and fentanyl charges.
Kyle Lemay, 20, pleaded guilty conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Lemay is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2026. The sentence imposed by a federal district judge will be based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, Lemay worked as a runner for a transnational narcotics trafficking organization operating out of the Dominican Republic. During the investigation, agents seized more than fourteen pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 275 grams of fentanyl from Lemay’s Providence residence.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie M. White.
The matter was investigated by the DEA Providence District Office with assistance from the Newport Police Department and Providence Police Department.
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 effort to dismantle criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad. The HSTF places particular emphasis on crimes involving children and employs all available tools to identify, investigate, prosecute, and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF Providence includes agents and officers from the DEA Providence District Office, the Newport Police Department, and the Providence Police Department, with prosecution led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island.
Polk County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Bradly Dwayne Wimberly (32, Bradley) has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber for attempted production of child sexual abuse material. Wimberly entered a guilty plea on May 4, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between February 15, 2024, and July 10, 2025, Wimberly communicated online with someone whom he believed was a 13-to-14-year-old girl. He repeatedly asked the minor to produce sexually explicit images and videos of herself and send them to him. In actuality, Wimberly was communicating with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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 and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Multiple Robberies Targeting Armored TrucksRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mujahid Davis, 24, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and $134,000 in restitution by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer for his role in multiple area robberies targeting armored trucks.
The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in January and pleaded guilty in March to two attempted Hobbs Act robberies, two Hobbs Act robberies, and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Davis, with others, participated in the following crimes:
- the July 2, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia
- the July 15, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia
- the August 12, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Elkins Park, Pa.
- the October 3, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia.
In total, the defendant admitted to stealing $122,225 from Brinks, Inc.
Davis’s co-defendant, Dante Shackleford, 27, also of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in April of this year to three attempted Hobbs Act robberies, one Hobbs Act robbery, and carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Shackleford is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Eckert and Kwambina Coker.
Philadelphia In-Home Care Services Provider Agrees to Pay $1 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Claims Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced today that Blessings 4 Ever Home Care Agency LLC and V&V Management Solutions LLC (“Blessings”) have agreed to a $1 million resolution of civil claims arising from improperly submitting claims for payment from the Medicaid Program for services provided by personal care attendants (“PCAs”) using falsified documentation, and for the improper billing of claims for in-home personal care services for beneficiaries that were hospital inpatients.
Blessings provides in-home health, personal care, and related services to Pennsylvania Medicaid beneficiaries, and bills the Medicaid Program for such services. V&V, a related entity, provides management services to Blessings. The United States contends that Blessings 4 Ever submitted or caused to be submitted claims for payment to the Medicaid Program for services provided by PCAs using falsified documentation, resulting in false claims in violation of the False Claims Act.
The United States alleges that from January 2015 to December 2018, Blessings 4 Ever fabricated or backdated 181 training certificates and personnel documents to falsely certify that PCAs satisfied state training requirements and Medicaid Program requirements to provide services inside beneficiaries’ homes. In falsifying their files and using records fabricated to meet program requirements, Blessings 4 Ever allegedly operated its home care agency using certain PCAs who lacked the proper documentation in place to perform the services that were being billed by Blessings 4 Ever, thereby providing substandard services to the detriment of consumers and the Medicaid waiver program.
The United States further alleges that from June 2020 through December 2023, Blessings 4 Ever improperly billed Medicaid for 1,141 claims for in-home personal care services on days when the claimed 209 beneficiaries were hospital inpatients for the entire day receiving medical care payable under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
“In-home care agencies have a responsibility to ensure that only qualified personnel care for Medicaid beneficiaries in their homes. They must not only properly document the training and qualifications of those providing services for Medicaid reimbursement, but must also ensure that qualified personnel are in fact providing the services billed,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf.
“HHS-OIG remains dedicated to combating Medicaid fraud by ensuring only qualified and trained individuals take care of the vulnerable populations it serves and that Medicaid is only billed appropriately for services that were actually provided,” said Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “HHS‑OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold those who put profits above patients accountable for their actions.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by a relator under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Fatima Precia v. Blessings 4 Ever Home Care Agency LLC and V&V Management Solutions LLC, Civil Action 18-cv-901. Relator will receive a 21% share of the federal recovery.
This investigation was conducted by Special Agents with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Viveca D. Parker, Lauren DeBruicker, and Deputy Chief Charlene Keller Fullmer handled the investigation and resolution, with former auditor George Niedzwicki and paralegal Brendan Novak.
Perry County man sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually exploiting 4 minorsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Shannon “Michael” McTighe, 46, formerly of Thornville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 480 months in prison for sexually exploiting at least four minor victims.
“McTighe committed horrific hands-on offenses against four young girls and amassed hundreds of thousands of videos and images of child sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Putting this defendant in federal prison for the next 40 years protects these victims from further abuse and online exploitation.”
According to court documents, McTighe possessed 300,000 images and videos of child pornography on his electronic devices. The content also included newly created material which depicted McTighe sexually abusing four minor victims to whom he had access. The abuse of one victim began when she was 7 years old.
McTighe was arrested by FBI agents in Canton, Ohio, on June 12, 2025. At the time of his arrest, agents recovered numerous digital media devices and three pairs of female juvenile underwear in a safe in McTighe’s residence. His cell phone history included terms like underage, jailbait girls and extremely young.
McTighe pleaded guilty in February 2026 to sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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