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Tuesday 16 December 2025
Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 15, 2025, Joshua Hartness, 45, of Colebrook, New Hampshire, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 25 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. Hartness previously pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM, also known as child pornography). Hartness has been detained since March 28, 2025, when his conditions of release were revoked after he attempted to take possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on September 11, 2022, Hartness was subjected to an inspection upon his return to the United States from abroad. A review of Hartness’s cellphone revealed suspected CSAM. A forensic review confirmed Hartness possessed a video of a child being sexually assaulted by an adult, and photos of a naked female child in sexual poses. Investigating agents also located on the cellphone multiple online communications between Hartness and minor girls consistent with “grooming,” including complimenting the girls on their beauty and sending the girls nude photographs of himself. The forensic review and subsequent investigation confirmed that Hartness possessed the CSAM on his phone while in the District of Vermont, and that Hartness did so while working as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent.
First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General - Northeast Region, and Homeland Security Investigations.
“Hartness was found to possess images of child exploitation, a heinous crime that was further compounded when he was shown to be in possession of these images while serving in a position of public trust. The conviction of Joshua Hartness reinforces the message that no one is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Hartness was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defenders Carmen Brooks and Emily Kenyon.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Former Adair County Resident Arrested for 1999 Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Jacob Hollan, age 73, of Miller, Missouri, was arrested in Kansas City, Kansas, yesterday on a federal arrest warrant. The warrant arose from a grand jury indictment charging Hollan with one Count of Murder in Indian Country and one count of Causing the Death of Another Person in the Course of a Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Both charges are punishable by death or a term of up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleges that on a date uncertain to the grand jury, in or about September 1999, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian country, Hollan, a non-Indian, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation and malice aforethought, unlawfully killed the victim, an Indian.
The Indictment further alleges that on that date, Hollan did knowingly use, carry, brandish, and discharge a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that is Murder in Indian Country, and in the course of this violation caused the death of the victim through the use of a firearm.
The crimes allegedly occurred in Adair County within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, the Adair County Sheriff’s Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In November 2023, deputies recovered the victim’s body from an abandoned well in rural Adair County. DNA analysis confirmed the victim’s identity earlier this year.
“The Missing and Murdered Unit was established by President Trump during his first term to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons, ensuring that unresolved cases receive renewed attention and investigative resources,” said Billy Kirkland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. “This joint investigation exemplifies the BIA Missing and Murdered Unit's efforts to bring justice, accountability, and closure to families impacted by violence in Indian Country. By working closely with tribal communities, federal law enforcement, and local partners, we are honoring victims and strengthening public safety.”
A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Foreign Fighter Sentenced to Consecutive Life Prison Sentences for 2018 Double Homicide and Armed Robbery of Florida CoupleRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Craig Austin Lang (35, Kyiv, Ukraine) to consecutive life sentences in federal prison as a result of his convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering with commerce, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which resulted in death, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country, and a violation of the Neutrality Act. Lang was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,886 to the family members of the victims of the offenses.
Lang was indicted on December 4, 2019, and extradited from Ukraine to the United States in 2024. Lang was found guilty by a jury on September 15, 2025.
According to testimony presented at trial, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville, Florida to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist. As a result of the investigation, Lang was identified as one of two individuals who was believed to have murdered the couple during an armed robbery of the $3,000 that the couple had intended to use to purchase the firearms.
Lang, who had previously fought in the Ukraine, pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund his travel to Venezuela. Lang’s co-defendant, Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer, was previously convicted at trial in 2024 and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Lang’s arrest and extradition from Ukraine. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Benjamin S. Winter.
Florida man sentenced to 13 years for leading a Fairbanks drug trafficking organizationRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Florida man was sentenced last week to 13 years in prison for leading a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in Fairbanks.
According to court documents, Willie Lewis Wilson Jr., 41, of Madison, Florida, conspired with others to operate a drug trafficking organization in Fairbanks. Wilson was the leader of the organization and set up several residences for his co-conspirators to sell cocaine and methamphetamine.
In April 2025, multiple search warrants were authorized for various locations associated with the organization. Law enforcement discovered a safe maintained by Wilson filled with over 3,000 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine. Wilson used his stockpile to supply other members of the organization.
“Mr. Wilson moved from Florida to Alaska intending to operate a drug trafficking organization and profit at the expense of our communities. That was a mistake. He will now spend over a dozen years behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and exhaust all available resources to stop the flow of dangerous drugs into Alaska.”
“Drug traffickers like Mr. Wilson prey on our communities for money and without regard for the lives they ruin,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle. “This time, the ruined life was his own as he spends the next 13 years paying his debt to society.”
Wilson’s co-defendants in this case are as follows:
Tremain Wilson, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Oct. 30, 2025, and is scheduled to be sentenced for their role in the conspiracy on Jan. 30, 2026.
Jarkese Pridgeon, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Oct. 30, 2025, and is scheduled to be sentenced for their role in the conspiracy on January 30, 2026.
The DEA Anchorage District Office investigated the case, with assistance from the North Pole Police Department, Fairbanks Police Department, High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Fairbanks Areawide Narcotics Team (FANT) and Anchorage Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case.
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Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Florida man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, Richard Harris, 23, and a coconspirator, Paul Logugune, broke into unattended vehicles to steal purses and wallets to obtain driver’s licenses and checkbooks. Harris and Logugune forged checks using the stolen checkbooks and made the checks payable to the names on the stolen licenses. They then recruited others to cash the forged checks at credit unions throughout Cumberland County using the stolen IDs to impersonate the ID theft victims.
Logugune pleaded guilty to his role in the offense and has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
Harris faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of five years. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. 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.
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Federal Jury Convicts Fugitive in 2018 Kidnapping and Carjacking After Seven Years on the RunRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury convicted Jose Ramirez for his role in the brutal 2018 kidnapping and carjacking of his former employer in Placitas, New Mexico, following a five-day trial and approximately three hours of deliberation. The conviction comes after Ramirez evaded capture for seven years before being apprehended by law enforcement in California.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jose Ramirez, 37, orchestrated the violent attack on July 26, 2018. A day before the incident, Ramirez met with his co-defendants in Albuquerque to recruit them for what he described as a job to “get back at his boss for firing him” and “take his boss for all he had.” At the time of the crime, Ramirez was under court supervision and wearing a GPS ankle monitoring bracelet. Hours before the kidnapping, Ramirez cut off his ankle monitor.
In the early morning hours of July 26, 2018, Ramirez and his co-defendant ambushed the victim as he left his Placitas residence. Ramirez placed the victim in a headlock with a knife to his throat while his co-defendant pistol-whipped him multiple times in the face. The victim was bound, placed in the bed of his own Ford Ranger truck, and driven to a remote compound on Pajarito Mesa. There, Ramirez held the victim captive in a shed for approximately 15 hours while attempting to extort ransom money from the victim’s family and force wire transfers to Mexico.
Late that evening, the victim was dropped off in southwest Albuquerque. He walked to a nearby gas station and asked the clerk to call 911. Following the crime, Ramirez fled and evaded capture for seven years before being arrested by law enforcement in California for drug possession.
Ramirez was convicted of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, conspiracy to carjack, carjacking, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and extortion. Following the verdict, the Court ordered that Ramirez remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Ramirez faces no less than five years and up to life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico Corrections Department Probation and Parole. Assistant United States Attorneys Jack E. Burkhead and Sarah Mease are prosecuting the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Chicago Street Gang Leader of Participating in Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Multiple MurdersRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a leader of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang of participating in a criminal organization that terrorized the West Side of Chicago for two decades by committing murders, robberies, extortions, witness tampering, and drug dealing.
After a six-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Monday convicted LABAR SPANN on all four counts against him, including racketeering conspiracy, two murders in aid of racketeering, and extortion. The jury found that Spann committed a total of four murders in a premediated manner as part of the racketeering conspiracy, including the killings of Willie Woods on April 17, 2003; Rudy Rangel on June 4, 2003; George King on April 8, 2003; and Maximillion McDaniel on July 25, 2000.
Spann, 47, of Chicago, faces a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin set sentencing for April 20, 2026.
The verdicts were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois Secretary of State Police Department, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Morrissey, Michelle J. Parthum, and Emily C.R. Vermylen.
The Four Corner Hustlers operated primarily in the Chicago neighborhoods of West Garfield Park and North Lawndale on the city’s West Side, as well as in the former LeClaire Courts public housing development on the city’s Southwest Side. According to evidence presented at trial, the gang dealt drugs and robbed and extorted rival dealers, while using violence and intimidation to prevent victims and witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement. The gang engaged in numerous acts of violence, including multiple murders and armed robberies. During the trial, the jury heard testimony from other members of the Four Corner Hustlers, eyewitnesses to numerous crimes, law enforcement officers who responded to crime scenes, and expert witnesses who analyzed forensic and other evidence.
Spann was indicted in 2017 along with eight other members of the Four Corner Hustlers and two additional defendants. All the defendants have now been convicted.
Federal Judge Sentences Raleigh Drug Kingpin Who Convinced Former Youth Football Coach to Transport over 13 Pounds of Cocaine to 50 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Duplin County Sheriff's Office 8/22/2022RALEIGH, N.C. – On December 11, 2025, a federal judge sentenced a Raleigh man to 600 months, which is 50 years, in federal prison for leading a large-scale drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and other narcotics throughout the Raleigh area. Earlier this year a federal jury convicted Akeem Netron Holder Evans, age 36, of multiple counts of conspiracy, possession, and intent to distribute illegal drugs.
“This dealer ran a large-scale drug operation, exploited people he trusted, and pumped deadly drugs into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This sentence, spending the next 50 years in federal prison, makes it crystal clear: if you sell drugs here, we will find you, we will convict you, and you will spend decades behind bars. This Big Shark Bad Boy won’t hurt our families and children for a long time.”
“For years, Akeem Evans peddled poison to his own community without a second thought. He’ll have the next 50 years in federal prison to reflect on his actions. This case is a direct result of the FBI's relentless determination to partner with state and local departments to rid our neighborhoods of drug-fueled gang violence," said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
"The sentencing of Akeem Evans brings closure to a deeply disturbing case. We are pleased that justice has been served and that those who distribute deadly substances into our community are being held accountable. This outcome reflects the strong collaborative efforts between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Raleigh Police Department. We are sincerely grateful for this partnership, as well as for the continued support and dedication of our local, state, and federal partners whose work was instrumental in this case," said Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Evans operated a long-running drug trafficking organization out of multiple residences in Raleigh and the surrounding areas. Investigators determined that Evans’ organization distributed at least 11 kilograms of cocaine, more than 4.8 kilograms of crack cocaine (35 pounds combined), fentanyl, oxycodone, and marijuana, and that Evans orchestrated others in storing, transporting, cooking, and selling drugs.
As part of the operation, Evans exploited personal relationships to help sell drugs. He even convinced his former childhood football coach to transport kilogram quantities of cocaine into the Raleigh area for distribution, demonstrating the depths he would sink to insulate himself and expand the tentacles of his gang.
The investigation revealed that Evans and his co-conspirators used stash houses, encrypted communications, and counter measures in a vain attempt to evade law enforcement. Investigators also identified Evans as coordinating drug deals with multiple customers and directing them where to purchase drugs.
In March 2022, during the execution of a search warrant, officers recovered several kilograms of cocaine, hundreds of grams of crack cocaine, fentanyl pills, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and firearms from multiple locations connected to Evans and his dirty gang of drug peddlers.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley H. Foxx, Toby Lathan, and Robert Dodson prosecuted the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-140-D-1.
Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Paul Jeremiah Buckner, 37, of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 7, 2024, a law enforcement officer in Glade Creek conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Buckner was a passenger. The officer found that Buckner possessed a Taurus TPC .380-caliber pistol during the traffic stop.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. As part of his guilty plea, Buckner admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possession the firearm because of his prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Fayette County Circuit Court on January 14, 2014.
Buckner is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24,2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, at up three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the National Park Service.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-58.
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Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Paul Jeremiah Buckner, 37, of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 7, 2024, a law enforcement officer in Glade Creek conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Buckner was a passenger. The officer found that Buckner possessed a Taurus TPC .380-caliber pistol during the traffic stop.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. As part of his guilty plea, Buckner admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possession the firearm because of his prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Fayette County Circuit Court on January 14, 2014.
Buckner is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24,2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, at up three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the National Park Service.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-58.
FCI-Greenville inmate sentenced to additional prison time for possessing contrabandRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge added 24 additional months to an FCI-Greenville inmate’s sentence for possessing a makeshift weapon.
Raekwon M. Patton, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of contraband in prison.
“For the inmates who didn’t learn the first time, let us be clear—additional crime means additional time,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Inmates in possession of weapons put correctional officers, prison staff, other inmates and themselves at risk, and this criminal conduct will lead to additional prison time.”
On June 29, 2024, a correctional officer at FCI-Greenville conducted a pat search on Patton and discovered a makeshift weapon in his waistband. The weapon was a sharp, pointed piece of metal, approximately 7.5 inches in length and affixed to a wooden handle wrapped in a black cord.
"Contraband possession presents an unacceptable risk to everyone in a prison facility,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher J.S. Johnson. “We commend the hard work of the correctional officers whose diligence led to the discovery of the makeshift weapon. This outcome clearly demonstrates that further criminal activity will only result in further incarceration."
In June 2024, Patton was serving a 300-month sentence at FCI-Greenville in Greenville, Illinois.
FBI Springfield led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Dean prosecuted the case.
East Peoria Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A grand jury today returned an indictment charging Stephen H. Keith, 35, of East Peoria, Illinois, for allegedly perpetrating a wire fraud and identity theft scheme starting as early as August 2020 and continuing to August 2024.
The indictment alleges that Keith claimed to run a company called DeviceLyfe that was never registered with the State of Illinois. According to the indictment, Keith used that purported company to gain access to individuals’ homes and electronic devices, facilitating the theft of personal information. Keith also allegedly downloaded others’ personal and financial information via the internet, collecting and storing information for tens of millions of individuals.
Keith is alleged to have use this information to create and attempt to create false identification documents, to access his victims’ accounts, to steal funds, and to impersonate his victims.
The indictment charges Keith with wire fraud (Counts One through Four), obtaining information by computer from a financial institution (Count Five), possession of a means of identification (Counts Six through Eight), aggravated identity theft (Counts Nine through Ten), and making a false statement (Count Eleven).
Keith was initially charged by federal criminal complaint in December 2025. He was detained and remains in federal custody.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of wire fraud and up to five years’ imprisonment on each of the counts of obtaining information by computer from a financial institution, possession of a means of identification, and making a false statement. Keith also faces a mandatory sentence of two consecutive years’ imprisonment on each of the aggravated identity theft counts. Additional penalties, including fines and forfeiture of assets, may be imposed.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Denver Man Indicted on 21 Counts Including Robbery of United States Postal Service Worker, Bank FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Avian Mayo, 25, of Denver, was indicted by a federal grand on jury on 21 counts including postal robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, on March 4, 2024, Mayo—along with Brisa Sierra-Silva and Christopher Johnson, who are charged in a separate federal indictment—attempted to rob a postal carrier and then, later that same day, robbed a second postal carrier.
Sierra-Silva and Johnson were indicted and made court appearances in the spring of 2025.
The charges contained in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the FBI Denver Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman is handling the prosecution.
Case Numbers: 25-cr-00313-RMR (Mayo); 25-cr-00132-CNS (Sierra-Silva and Johnson)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Agrees to Pay $15M to Settle Fraud Allegations Related to Scientific Research GrantsRead the Press Release
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc. (Dana-Farber) has agreed to pay $15,000,000 to resolve allegations that, between 2014 and 2024, it violated the False Claims Act by making materially false statements and certifications related to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants.
Dana-Farber is a cancer treatment and research center headquartered in Boston, with locations across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Dana-Farber receives research grant funding from federal government agencies, including NIH.
“NIH has limited resources to support important research being conducted at institutions across the country,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue grantees that undermine the integrity of federal funding decisions by failing to use research funds appropriately or by failing to abide by grant awards’ terms and conditions.”
“There is no place in scientific research, particularly cancer research, for fraud, waste and abuse, and my office will continue to investigate institutions, no matter how prestigious, to ensure that research data is not tainted and that taxpayer funds are used appropriately,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “Patients, and the medical community, rely on the important research conducted by institutions like Dana-Farber. It is critical, to say the least, that all research findings are accurately reported,”
“The alleged falsification of research data and improper use of federal funds represents a serious breach of public trust and threatens the rigorous standards that uphold the credibility of the scientific process,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Individuals who violate federal grant-making rules not only risk legal consequences but also compromise the stewardship of taxpayer resources. HHS-OIG remains firmly committed to ensuring accountability and safeguarding the integrity of Department programs.”
As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber admitted that its researchers used funds from six NIH grants to conduct research that resulted in 14 publications in scientific journals containing misrepresented and/or duplicated images and data. The publications reused images to represent different experimental conditions; duplicated images to represent different testing conditions, mice, and/or timepoints; or rotated, magnified, or stretched images. Further, Dana-Farber admitted that a supervising researcher failed to exercise sufficient oversight over these researchers, and that Dana-Farber spent funds from those six NIH grants that were unallowable. As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber also admitted that another researcher received four NIH grants after submitting grant applications that discussed a journal article authored by the researcher but did not disclose that certain images and data in that article were misrepresented and/or duplicated. The United States contends that Dana-Farber caused the submission of false claims to NIH by falsely certifying compliance with grant terms and conditions, spending grant funds on unallowable expenses, and obtaining grants through false and misleading statements.
Dana-Farber cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases. Among other actions, Dana-Farber summarized voluminous materials relevant to the government’s investigation, voluntarily disclosed additional allegations of research misconduct relevant to the government’s investigation, voluntarily produced materials without a subpoena, sought to resolve this matter expeditiously, accepted responsibility for its conduct, and implemented remedial measures.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Sholto David. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. David will receive $2,625,000 under today’s settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Sholto David v. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-11059-WGY (D. Mass.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Megan Engel of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Benjamin and Brian LaMacchia for the District of Massachusetts.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Agrees to Pay $15 Million to Settle Fraud Allegations Related to Scientific Research GrantsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. (Dana-Farber) has agreed to pay $15 million to resolve allegations that, between 2014 and 2024, it made materially false statements and certifications related to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants. Specifically, Dana-Farber admitted that its researchers mispresented data and images that resulted in misinformation about research being published in 14 scientific journal articles.
As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber admitted that publications reused images to represent different experimental conditions; duplicated images to represent different testing conditions, mice, and/or timepoints; or rotated, magnified, or stretched images. Further, Dana-Farber admitted that a supervising researcher failed to exercise sufficient oversight over the researchers responsible for these publications, and that Dana-Farber spent funds from six NIH grants for these publications that were unallowable. As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber also admitted that another researcher received four NIH grants after submitting grant applications that discussed a journal article authored by the researcher, but did not disclose that certain images and data in that article were misrepresented and/or duplicated. The United States contends that Dana-Farber caused the submission of false claims to NIH by falsely certifying compliance with grant terms and conditions, spending grants funds on unallowable expenses, and obtaining grants through false and misleading statements.
“There is no place in scientific research, particularly cancer research, for fraud, waste and abuse, and my office will continue to investigate institutions, no matter how prestigious, to ensure that research data is not tainted and that taxpayer funds are used appropriately. Patients, and the medical community, rely on the important research conducted by institutions like Dana-Farber. It is critical, to say the least, that all research findings are accurately reported,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.
“NIH has limited resources to support important research being conducted at institutions across the country,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue grantees that undermine the integrity of federal funding decisions by failing to use research funds appropriately or by failing to abide by grant awards’ terms and conditions.”
“The alleged falsification of research data and improper use of federal funds represents a serious breach of public trust and threatens the rigorous standards that uphold the credibility of the scientific process,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Individuals who violate federal grant-making rules not only risk legal consequences but also compromise the stewardship of taxpayer resources. HHS-OIG remains firmly committed to ensuring accountability and safeguarding the integrity of Department programs.”
Dana-Farber is a cancer treatment and research center headquartered in Boston, with locations across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Dana-Farber receives research grant funding from federal government agencies, including NIH. Dana-Farber cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases.
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 can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The relator will receive $2,625,000 under today’s settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Sholto David v. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-11059-WGY (D. Mass.).
U.S. Attorney Foley; AAG Shumate; and AIG Globerman made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Benjamin and Brian LaMacchia, Chief of the Affirmative Litigation Unit, handled the matter, along with Trial Attorney Megan Engel of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section).
Dallas man sentenced to federal prison in ATM crime spreeRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to federal prison in connection with a crime spree in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Dominique Marquis Childress, 29, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 15, 2025.
According to court documents, Childress was involved in a crime spree aimed at forcibly removing ATMs from convenience stores in the DFW area. From May 16 to June 1, 2023, the defendants participated in a conspiracy that involved smashing the glass from a convenience storefront with a sledgehammer before using a stolen truck or SUV to drag an ATM from the store. Once the ATM was removed from the store, the defendants would load the machine into the vehicle and leave the scene. The ATM and vehicle would later be found abandoned after the money was removed and divided among the participants.
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 FBI’s Frisco Office, Plano Police Department, Irving Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Mesquite Police Department, Carrolton Police Department, and Grapevine Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Johnson.
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Coordinated Federal-Local Law Enforcement Efforts Lead Surge in Arrests, Drug Seizures, and Federal Drug Trafficking Charges in San FranciscoRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement partners announced today the results of a surge in federal drug enforcement measures in San Francisco over the past two months. Coordinated federal and local law enforcement efforts resulted in the seizure of over 1.04 kilograms of fentanyl—alone enough to kill nearly half a million people—over 623 grams of methamphetamine, over 140 grams of powder cocaine, over 277 grams of cocaine base, and over 250 grams of heroin and approximately 55 arrests from early October to early December 2025.
Over the same period, the U.S. Attorney’s Office brought federal criminal charges against 22 defendants for drug trafficking in San Francisco.
“San Francisco is fast becoming a model for what can be accomplished when federal law enforcement works together with our local partners to serve the public. The days of open-air drug markets on every corner and rampant overdose deaths are over. Anyone who thinks about coming to San Francisco to sell drugs must understand this: if you deal drugs, you will be arrested and prosecuted, and you will face serious consequences. We will continue to work tirelessly alongside our federal and local law enforcement partners to take fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly drugs off the street and to protect the residents of this great city,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Thanks to increased enforcement and intensified efforts, our strategic partnerships with local law enforcement plays a critical role in eradicating this poison from our communities. With continued urgency, we will disrupt the fentanyl supply chain, reducing its availability along with other drugs. We remain committed to protecting and saving American lives,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.
“Since early October, the FBI has coordinated with SFPD and our other local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to intensify our efforts targeting narcotics activity in and around San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. These collaborative efforts have resulted in a significant number of arrests and major seizures of illegal drugs,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “San Francisco residents deserve safe streets, free from deadly drugs. We are united, we are persistent, and we are committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
“The San Francisco Police Department is committed to working collaboratively to combat the drug crisis on our streets,” said Interim SFPD Chief Paul Yep. “Anyone dealing or using drugs in our city will be held accountable. I want to thank our hard-working officers as well as our local state and federal partners for their assistance in this effort.”
These efforts expand upon the U.S. Attorney’s Office-led “All Hands on Deck” law enforcement initiative to address endemic drug dealing in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, in particular of fentanyl. Since its inception, the initiative has resulted in approximately 191 federal drug prosecutions and 158 convictions.
Among the defendants prosecuted in connection with the All Hands on Deck initiative was Gustavo Erazo, who was sentenced on December 10, 2025, to 60 months of imprisonment for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)-(B). The case arose out of a larger investigation into individuals traveling from the East Bay into the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco to deal drugs. Law enforcement seized 15 pounds of fentanyl as a result, along with two firearms and over $50,000 in U.S. currency. Erazo was extradited in December 2024 from Honduras to face charges.
The recent increased operations involved coordination among the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, FBI, ATF, IRS Criminal Investigations, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the San Francisco Police Department, and California Highway Patrol. Additional operations are planned in the coming months.
Many of the recently charged federal cases involve large quantities of drugs and carry potential mandatory minimum sentences for the offenders under federal drug statutes. Examples include:
- Rodrigo Parra-Lara was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 12, 2025, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B). Law enforcement seized around 2.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, two firearms and ammunition, along with over $14,000 in U.S. currency. The case stemmed from a larger investigation, with arrests in San Francisco and Oakland, of a Bay Area drug-trafficking organization with connections to the Sinaloa Cartel.
- Javier Velasquez Antunes was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 12, 2025, on charges of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) and for being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Antunes, along with two other individuals, allegedly trafficked drugs out of a vehicle while in possession of firearms and ammunition in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco.
- Duc Pham was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 2, 2025, on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)-(C). The case involved multi-ounce purchases over a six-month period in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco.
A criminal complaint or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Colombian National Extradited to U.S. Following 9-Defendant Cocaine Trafficking IndictmentRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Colombian national made his initial appearance in a federal court in El Paso Monday after he was extradited to the United States on Friday.
According to court documents, Luis Guillermo Peralta Pacheco, is allegedly a member of a Colombian drug trafficking organization identified as a major supplier of cocaine to the Caribbean and the United States. Through a joint investigation beginning in March 2018, agents seized an alleged 24 kilograms of cocaine and identified nine alleged members of the network.
On March 16, 2022, Peralta Pacheco and eight alleged co-conspirators—Alvaro Luis Deluque Pallares, Angello Caicedo Atehortua, Juan Camilo Valderrama Taborda, Carlos Alfredo Becerra Castro, Lina Gisseth Barrera Sarmiento, Angel Julio Arroyo Calderon, Pedro Emilio Gallardo Hincapie, and Charle Salcedo Portilla—were indicted in the Western District of Texas on conspiracy charges to import and distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, with provisional arrest warrants approved in 2023. All nine defendants have now been successfully extradited to the U.S.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and extradition from Colombia of all nine defendants.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian Rosales 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 San Antonio comprises agents and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the Department of Treasury, the Department of State, the Department of War, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Department of Labor. with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. Participating agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Secret Service; along with state and local law enforcement.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Carter County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lacey Marie Robinson, age 33, of Autry, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on August 15, 2025, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and knowing of such conviction, Robinson knowingly possessed two rounds of .22 caliber ammunition and one .22 caliber lead bullet.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Carter County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Robinson will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
California man, who operated call centers that falsely claimed to help distressed homeowners, sentenced to ten years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – The operator of a web of boiler-room-type call centers was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison for defrauding nearly 1,000 distressed homeowners facing foreclosure, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Mohammed Zafaranchi, 43, aka ‘Mike’ was convicted following a week-long trial of all twelve federal charges he faced: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering, and obstruction of justice. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour ordered Zafaranchi to begin serving his sentence immediately, saying the sentence was based “on the evidence the court heard at trial and the substantial number of victims and the severe hardship the victims suffered.”
“This defendant lined his pockets with some $2.6 million while preying on vulnerable homeowners,” said U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Of more than 900 victims, many lost their homes to foreclosure, and all were in worse financial shape due to the ‘help’ his company never provided. This is a significant sentence for a fraud case, and one that is deserved by the trail of financial hardship this defendant left in his wake.”
“Like many fraudsters, Mr. Zafaranchi took advantage of a vulnerable population: in this case, homeowners facing foreclosure,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “He then tailored a scheme to prey on their financial difficulties by offering them false hope in return for a hefty fee to supposedly reduce their debt and interest rate. As consequence for his actions, Mr. Zafaranchi now has a decade in prison to consider the harm he’s done and, hopefully, resolve to change his ways.”
Zafaranchi’s fraud scheme involved purchasing data that identified homeowners who were behind on their mortgages and at risk of losing their homes. Each week, Zafaranchi sent thousands of solicitation mailers falsely telling the distressed homeowners they were eligible for government programs that would reduce their mortgage debt by 30% and reduce their interest rate to 2%. The mailers told homeowners to call a phone number before a made-up deadline to get the mortgage modification.
When homeowners called the call centers, operators followed a series of scripts telling homeowners that lawyers and underwriters had vetted their case and negotiated a modification with their lender. The scripts instructed operators to place callers on hold for a pre-determined amount of time to build suspense and make it appear a review was underway. The operator would then return to the line and tell each victim he or she was one of the very select few who qualified for the program—but only if the homeowner paid the call center a $3,000 legal fee to “finalize” the modification.
In fact, Zafaranchi’s businesses had no legal or underwriting staff. Instead, untrained workers simply scanned the homeowners’ financial records, completed a basic application form, and sent the documents to the banks. The homeowners did not receive the modifications promised in the mailers, and some lost their homes.
After taking the victims’ money, Zafaranchi laundered the funds through shell bank accounts and withdrew the proceeds in cash. He was convicted of money laundering for this conduct.
On March 29, 2018, the FBI served a search warrant on the call center in Everett Washington. After learning of this search, Zafaranchi told his California employees to remove the computers and other evidence from his California offices. That night, Zafaranchi destroyed all records associated with three email accounts he used to operate the businesses. For that conduct, Zafaranchi was convicted of obstruction of justice.
In asking for a 12-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “Although the theft of nearly $3 million is horrific no matter the circumstances, the money that Zafaranchi stole was taken from people who desperately needed it. Stealing $3,000 from families, retirees, or other vulnerable individuals who are desperately fighting to keep their homes is appalling. And Zafaranchi did that day, after day, after day, to more than 900 people until he was finally caught—an average of nearly a victim a day for three years. Indeed, given that Zafaranchi exploited more than 900 victims, a sentence of 144 months would amount to less than 1 week of incarceration for each of his victims.”
Today, Judge Coughenour ordered Zafaranchi to turn himself in to the U.S. Marshal Office at the federal courthouse to being serving his ten-year sentence immediately. Zafaranchi will be on three years of supervised release following prison. The amount of restitution Zafaranchi must pay to his victims will be determined at a future hearing.
Zafaranchi’s two coconspirators, Mark Lezama and Josh Herrera both pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in early 2026.
The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Wilkinson, Lauren Watts Staniar, and Dane A. Westermeyer. The Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General provided support in the case.
Brooklyn Church Pastor Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, Paul Mitchell, the lead pastor of a church and president of a daycare pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with one count of tax evasion.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York and Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) New York announced the guilty plea.
According to court filings, Mitchell was the founder of a church and an educational daycare, both located in Brooklyn, where he served as the lead pastor at the church and the president of the daycare. Between 2015 and 2022, Mitchell used the organizations’ credit cards to pay for his personal expenses, including men’s clothing, thousands of dollars in jewelry, luxury watches, and life insurance premiums. He also wrote checks from the church’s bank accounts to pay his own credit card bills and personal income taxes.
As part of the scheme, Mitchell frequently withdrew large amounts of cash from bank accounts for the church and the daycare and transferred funds from those accounts into his own bank accounts. He failed to report his use of the stolen funds as income on his personal income tax returns, which significantly reduced his tax burden and allowed him to evade the payment of personal income taxes. As a result of his conduct, Mitchell caused a tax loss of approximately $2,906,072 to the IRS and approximately $316,699 to New York State between 2015 and 2022.
Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, restitution, and fines of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The government’s case is being handled by the Public Integrity Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda Gonzalez for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Catriona M. Coppler of the Justice Department’s Tax Section of the Criminal Division are prosecuting this case.
Brooklyn Church Pastor Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Paul Mitchell, the lead pastor of a church and president of a daycare, pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with tax evasion. The proceeding was held before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. When sentenced, Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as restitution and monetary penalties.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew R. Galeotti, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), announced the guilty plea.
“The defendant treated his organizations’ accounts as his own personal piggy bank, stealing millions of dollars and betraying the trust of his congregation and those dependent on the services provided to the community,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will always be vigilant in protecting houses of worship from criminality that threatens the important work they do.”
“Paul Mitchell was trusted by his parishioners to use their donations for good, not to fatten his wallet. His deceit was at many levels, as he also evaded paying millions in tax revenue that benefits the good of all Americans. With today's plea, Mitchell decided to take a step forward to right his wrongs, and will face justice for his actions,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.
As alleged in court filings, Mitchell was the founder of a church (Organization‑1), and an educational daycare (Organization‑2), both located in Brooklyn, New York. Mitchell served as the lead pastor at Organization‑1 and the president of Organization‑2. Between 2015 and 2022, Mitchell using credit cards for Organization-1 and Organization-2 to pay for his personal expenses, including men’s clothing, jewelry, luxury accessories, and life insurance premiums. He also wrote checks from Organization‑1’s bank accounts to pay his own credit card bills; frequently withdrew large amounts of cash from bank accounts for Organization‑1 and Organization‑2; and transferred funds from those accounts into his own bank accounts. Mitchell failed to report his use of funds stolen from Organization‑1 and Organization‑2 as income on his personal income tax returns, thereby reducing his tax burden and evading the payment of personal income taxes. As a result of his conduct, Mitchell caused a tax loss of approximately $2,906,072 to the IRS and of approximately $316,699 to New York State between 2015 and 2022.
The government’s case is being handled by Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorney Miranda Gonzalez and Trial Attorney Catriona M. Coppler of the Justice Department’s Tax Section of the Criminal Division are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
PAUL MITCHELL
Age: 60
West Hempstead, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-374 (NRM)
Bronx Street Gang Leader and Rapper Kevin Perez, A/K/A “Kay Flock,” Sentenced to 30 Years for Gang-Related ShootingsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that KEVIN PEREZ, a/k/a “Kay Flock,” was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for committing violent crimes as the leader of a Bronx-based gang, known as “Sev Side/DOA.” In March 2025, a jury convicted PEREZ of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, and a firearm discharge offense following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who imposed today’s sentence.
“Kevin Perez used violence and fame to fuel fear and intimidation across the Bronx,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Perez and his gang members carried out a string of shootings that struck both rival gang members and innocent bystanders. Perez also used his platform as a prominent rapper to celebrate his violence: threatening his rivals, bragging about his shootings, and taunting his victims. His brazen actions unleashed a series of back-and-forth retaliatory shootings that killed and injured far too many people in the Bronx. Thanks to the hard work of the women and men of this Office and our law enforcement partners, today’s sentence brings New Yorkers what they want: violent, gun-toting gang leaders off our streets.”
According to the indictment, public court filings, and the evidence presented at PEREZ’s trial:
Since at least 2020, PEREZ was the leader of a gang based on East 187th Street in the Bronx, known as Sev Side/DOA, which is short for “Dumping on” (shooting) “Anything” or “Dead on Arrival.” Members of the gang committed violence against gang rivals to protect their territory, enhance the reputation and wealth of Sev Side/DOA, and increase their status within the gang. The gang primarily supported itself through bank and wire fraud, which in turn funded PEREZ’s music career.
Throughout 2020 and until his arrest in late 2021, PEREZ and his co-conspirators carried out a string of shootings. The violence included a June 20, 2020, shooting in which a gang rival was struck in the jaw and several other victims were hit. Days after the shooting, PEREZ and his co-conspirators put out a music video that bragged about the shooting. PEREZ was also held responsible for attempted murders on June 26, 2020; August 10, 2020; and November 10, 2021, which collectively resulted in multiple people being shot. The evidence also showed that, while committing this violence, PEREZ used his status as a recognized “drill rap” artist to celebrate his gang’s crimes. PEREZ put out songs—several of which received millions of views—that glorified his violence, threatened more of it, and taunted rival gang members who had been murdered.
In imposing today’s sentence, Judge Liman remarked that the defendant “taunted, celebrated, and created a culture of violence” and that the harm the defendant caused “was immense.”
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In addition to his prison term, PEREZ, 22, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, and also thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ni Qian, Michael R. Herman, Patrick R. Moroney, Elizabeth A. Espinosa, and Jim Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Ananya Sankar and David Naguib.
Bomber Who Targeted Banks, Store, and a Supermarket Sentenced to Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Cahlyl Rollins, 25, of the District of Columbia. was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison for his role in a spree of four bombings in which he detonated explosive devices during the early morning hours outside four separate businesses in Maryland and the District causing thousands of dollars in damage, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rollins and his co-defendant W Garrett Bragg, 36, pleaded guilty on Sept. 25, 2024, to four counts of malicious use of explosive materials. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya S. Chutkan ordered Rollins to serve three years of supervised release. Bragg was sentenced on May 20, 2025, to 84 months in federal prison.
Joining in the announcement were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives - Washington Division, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to court documents, at each of the four locations Rollins was the trigger man. He carried the explosive to the detonation site, lit the device, and then planted it. Bragg and Rollins appeared to be beta-testing a method for robbing ATMs and other stores. Surveillance video, license-plate readers, and cell site location data reflect that Bragg and Rollins traveled between the four locations in a metallic Acura sedan with Maryland license plates.
On July 2, 2023, Bragg and Rollins targeted an ATM at 3:53 a.m. at the Bank of America on the 5400 block of Silver Hill Road in District Heights, Maryland. The blast destroyed the vestibule and the structure surrounding the teller machine. About a half-hour later, the men struck again, and detonated an explosive device at the Truist Bank branch on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE. The blast destroyed the vestibule, the structure around multiple teller machines, and caused a total of $35,933 in damages.
The spree of bombings continued six minutes later when they exploded another device at the Nike Store on the 700 block of H Street, NE. The bomb destroyed the Nike Store’s front vestibule and caused more than $10,300 in damage. At 4:44 a.m., the conspirators set off a device at the Safeway supermarket on the 300 block of N. 40th St. NE, as employees inside the store cleaned and prepared for the store to open. The blast destroyed parts of the entry way and caused $9,900 in damage.
The Acura sedan used in the bombing bore Maryland license plate 17971CK. That license plate was provided by the state of Maryland to a private company that is authorized to sell titling papers and license plates but has never been registered to a vehicle. Despite concerted law enforcement efforts to locate the vehicle, it has not been seen since the morning of July 2, 2023. Since the offense, this license plate has been placed on other cars, including a gray Dodge Durango that was used to rob an ATM from a 7-Eleven in Crofton, Maryland.
On Sept. 29, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence on the 1600 block of U Street, SE. Officers recovered a firearm on the porch, an extended magazine in the home, a bag of key fobs, a device that can be used to copy fobs to steal vehicles, and a backpack of burglary tools including headlamps, handheld radios, and hand tools.
Officers found a vehicle outside registered to Rollins. The vehicle was fitted with a device that could extend a cover over the license plate to obscure it with the touch of a button. While Rollins waited outside during the search warrant, an officer offered to provide him with shoes. Rollins indicated that he had a bunch of shoes in the living room. Among the shoes in the living room was a pair of black Crocs consistent with those Rollins had been videotaped wearing during the bombings.
Officers searched a storage unit which Rollins had accessed before and after the bombings. Inside the unit, officers recovered 38 license plates, thousands of rounds of assorted ammunition (weighing more than 200 pounds), and additional burglary tools. Of the 38 license plates, many had been involved in other crimes in the area.
Robbins was arrested Oct. 30, 2023, in Washington D.C. U.S. Marshals arrested Bragg on Jan. 1, 2024, in Washington D.C.
This case was investigated by the ATF, the FBI, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron Tepfer and Alexander Schneider for the District of Columbia.
On July 2, 2023, Bragg and Rollins targeted an ATM at 3:53 a.m. at the Bank of America in District Heights. The blast destroyed the vestibule and the structure around the teller machine.
At the Truist Bank branch on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE, the blast destroyed the vestibule, the structure around multiple teller machines, and caused a total $35,933 in damages.
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Beaumont felon sentenced for federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Cydney James Dorsey, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 58 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale on December 16, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on September 8, 2024, at approximately 3:30 a.m., law enforcement officers responded to the parking lot of SNS grocery store on Concord Avenue in Beaumont as a large crowd had gathered and refused to leave. As police attempted to dispel the crowd, Dorsey ran from them, and in the process, discarded a firearm. Dorsey was apprehended carrying a bag that had a magazine with ammunition. Further investigation revealed Dorsey had a previous felony conviction which prohibited him from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
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Baltimore Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson sentenced Jermaine Porter, 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, today, to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. At the time of this conviction, Porter was on federal supervised release for a 2018 conviction for possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. On October 7, 2025, Chief U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, sentenced Porter to two years in federal prison for his violation of federal supervised release as a result of this conviction, which will be served consecutive to today’s sentence, for a total of eight years in prison.
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) – Baltimore Field Division, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to evidence presented at trial, on March 3, 2023, BPD’s Northeast District Action Team conducted a traffic stop in the 3900 block of Loch Raven Blvd. Prior to the traffic stop, officers observed Porter moving in his seat, which led them to believe he was hiding something. Officers stopped Porter and removed him from the vehicle. In the vehicle, they found a light blue SCCY CPX-1 9mm handgun loaded with eight rounds of 9mm ammunition on the seat directly underneath Porter’s legs. This is Porter’s second federal felony conviction. Due to prior felony convictions, Porter is prohibited from possessing a firearm and/or ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney LaRai Everett and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Keelan Diana who are prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Arkansas woman sentenced to federal prison for East Texas drug trafficking violationRead the Press Release
TEXARKANA, Texas –A Texarkana, Arkansas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Terri Lynn Cooley, 55, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III on December 16, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on October 11, 2023, Cooley was stopped in Texarkana, Texas for driving at night without headlights. During the stop, it was discovered she had an active warrant and was arrested. A search of the vehicle following Cooley’s arrest led to the discovery of 109.85 grams of methamphetamine.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Assault
Jimmy Joe Black, 58, from Clinton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served, which at the time of sentencing was three months and 24 days, for assault of a dating partner resulting in substantial bodily injury. The defendant also received two years of supervised release. According to court documents, in April 2023 the victim sought medical attention for an injury to her wrist; however, she did not report it as abuse until September of 2023. The victim indicated that the defendant was always with her, and she felt unsafe. She provided investigators photo evidence of the assault along with text messages of the defendant apologizing. She claimed the assault has led to years of pain in her hand and wrist. The FBI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Black was indicted on July 18, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2025. After the plea hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence. Case No. 24-CR-00125
Firearm Offenses
Eddie Lee Shells, 27 of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served with two years of supervised release to follow for possession of a firearm by a person convicted of domestic violence. At the time of his sentencing, Shells had served 142 days in prison. According to court documents, the defendant was responsible for an assault on his live-in girlfriend. After the assault, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department requested help from DCI to locate the defendant. On Oct. 23, 2024, the defendant was located in Campbell County. Wyoming Highway Patrol attempted to pull him over for speeding when he fled. After a brief pursuit, the defendant stopped his truck and attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended. Troopers conducted a search of his truck and located two firearms. The defendant was convicted of domestic assault in February 2021, prohibiting him from possessing a firearm. DCI, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and Wyoming Highway Patrol investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Shell was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 17. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 8 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00020
Drug Trafficking
Danel Akio Moriyama, 44, of Cheyenne, Wyoming was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. According to court documents, in July 2024, the Cheyenne Police Department investigated Danel Moriyama for selling methamphetamine and fentanyl from his home. Surveillance uncovered frequent visitors and vehicle activity consistent with drug sales occurring in the house. Subsequent coordination with the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force (NCDTF) revealed his connection to multiple drug distributors in both Wyoming and Colorado. On September 18, following the defendant’s trip to Colorado to acquire drugs, officers conducted a traffic stop and found 447 grams of methamphetamine and 194 fentanyl pills in his pickup truck. A subsequent search of his residence yielded handguns, additional methamphetamine, an AR-style rifle, and drug distribution materials. The Cheyenne Police Department and NCDTF investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Moriyama was indicted on Nov. 29, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Sept. 19, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 9 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00173
Micah Edwards Maas, 37, of Worland, Wyoming was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and aiding and abetting in the use of a communication facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. According to court documents, in July 2024, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received information that Micah Maas was a distributor of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Worland, Wyoming area. As the investigation continued, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) learned of a suspected methamphetamine source of supply in San Francisco who was shipping packages to Worland through the U.S. Postal Service. USPIS investigators began monitoring the packages and intercepted multiple packages containing methamphetamine and others containing thousands of fentanyl pills. DCI and USPIS investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Maas was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 16. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 11 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00094
Sarah Louise Hutchinson, 42, from Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, between September 2023 and December 2024, DCI agents were investigating drug trafficking in Campbell County. Sarah and her partner John Roberts were identified as distributors of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Throughout the investigation, agents made a controlled purchase from her codefendant. On Dec. 5, 2024, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Roberts and Hutchinson. Officers seized approximately 379 grams of methamphetamine. DCI and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie R. Morrison and Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Hutchinson was indicted on July 16 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 16. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence and ordered $500 in community restitution on Dec. 4 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00076
Pauline Michelle Lane, 37, of Lakewood, Colorado, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in January of 2024, the Sheridan Police Department along with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation began investigating a drug trafficking organization. Officers seized a phone from one of the distributors and identified Lane as the source of supply. The defendant acknowledged selling methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl to a friend, who was then redistributing the controlled substances in Wyoming. Lane admitted the drug transactions occurred between August 9, 2023, and May 5, 2024. She acknowledged the amount of methamphetamine was more than 500 grams. The Sheridan Police Department and DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie R. Morrison prosecuted the case. Lane was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 9. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence and ordered $500 in community restitution on Dec. 5 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00017
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Leobardo Rangel-Ventura, 33, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the U.S. According to court documents, on June 19, ICE located the defendant at the Sublette County Jail in Pinedale. The defendant was arrested by the Sublette County Sheriff’s Department for the offense of failure to appear on an underlying case for driving under the influence of alcohol. Based on the defendant’s fingerprints, ICE determined he had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in November 2018. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 5 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00153About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Operation Take Back America
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
Acoma Man Charged with Sexual Abusing MinorsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Acoma man has been indicted on federal charges for sexually abusing two minors.
According to court documents, in December 2024 and January 2025, Bryan Gachupin, 21, an enrolled member of the Acoma Pueblo, engaged in sexual acts with two different minors in separate incidents.
Gachupin is charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Gachupin faces up to fifteen years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Acoma Police Department and the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RCFL). Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Monday 15 December 2025
Woodbridge Man Sentenced to 32 Months in Federal Prison for $2.3 Million Pandemic Relief Program SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that YASIR G. HAMED, 60, of Woodbridge, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 32 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program of more than $2.3 million.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The PPP was overseen by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), and individual PPP loans were issued by private lenders, which received and processed PPP applications and supporting documentation, and then made loans using the lenders’ own funds, which were guaranteed by the SBA.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Hamed, an accountant, had an ownership interest or representative relationship with several New Haven-based businesses, including Access Consulting and Professional Services Inc.; Connecticut Medical Transportation Inc.; Arabic Language Learning Program Inc.; Institute for Global Educational Exchange Inc.; Access Medical Transport Inc.; Ikea Car & Limo Inc.; Center of the World Tours, North America LLC.; and Sudanese American Friendship Association Inc. Between June 2020 and September 2021, Hamed submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of these companies, overstating employee numbers and average monthly payroll, and making other fraudulent representations. As part of the applications, he submitted false tax filings that had never been filed with the IRS.
Hamed also submitted PPP loan applications on behalf of companies owned by his clients. In at least one instance, Hamed convinced the owner of a business, which he knew was not active and had no employees, to seek PPP funding. Hamed prepared the paperwork for the PPP application and then took a significant portion of the loan proceeds.
Through this scheme, Hamed obtained than $2.3 million in PPP loans for his businesses and for his clients, receiving more than $1 million in loan proceeds for himself and his family, and significant kickbacks from his clients. Hamed used the funds for personal expenses, including education expenses for a family member, and for a down payment on a $880,000 house in Woodbridge that he purchased in October 2020.
Judge Underhill ordered Hamed to pay $2,384,772 in restitution.
Hamed was arrested on November 13, 2024. On May 9, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions
Hamed, who is released on a $500,000 bond, is required to report to prison on January 28.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
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 Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Westmoor Country Club Agrees to Pay $1.25 Million to Resolve Claim It Wrongfully Obtained Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has announced a settlement agreement with Westmoor Country Club, whereby the club will pay $1,250,000.00 to settle claims that it improperly obtained a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) administered by the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”).
The PPP loan program, enacted in March 2020, provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allowed eligible small businesses and non-profits to receive loans guaranteed by the federal government and, if the borrower spent the funds on qualified expenses, the federal government would repay the loan on the borrower’s behalf.
Congress directed the SBA to guarantee PPP loans “under the same terms, conditions, and processes” as ordinary small business loans administered by the agency. 15 U.S.C. § 636(a)(36)(B). With respect to loan eligibility, Congress expressly endorsed the SBA’s regulation explaining what entities would be ineligible for loans. 15 U.S.C. § 636(a)(37)(A)(iv)(III)(aa). For decades, this regulation has explained that “[p]rivate clubs and businesses which limit the number of memberships for reasons other than capacity” are not eligible for loans through the SBA. 13 C.F.R. § 120.110(i).
Westmoor Country Club operates a private country club, which is open only to its members. According to the government, at the time Westmoor Country Club applied for a PPP loan and for loan forgiveness, the club limited its membership for reasons other than capacity and, therefore, was ineligible to participate in the PPP.
“The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other federal law enforcement agencies to recover the product of this fraud as well as penalties,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis.
Assistant United States Attorney Aaron R. Wegrzyn represented the government in connection with this matter, in coordination with Kandace Zelaya in the SBA’s Office of Litigation and Office of General Counsel. While the settlement resolves the government’s allegations against Westmoor Country Club with respect to its PPP loan, the club does not admit liability and no court has made any determination as to liability.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Washington Township Man Sentenced to 49 Months’ Imprisonment for Tax Fraud Scheme and Theft from Elderly VictimRead the Press Release
NEWARK N.J. – A Washington Township man was sentenced to 49 months’ imprisonment for fraudulently seeking more than $1.4 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns claiming COVID-19-related employment tax credits, for laundering the proceeds from that scheme, and for stealing more than $180,000 from an elderly customer at the car dealership where he worked, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
James J. Mastrogiovanni, 45, of Washington Township, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court on May 20, 2025, to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of mail fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of access device fraud. U.S. District Judge William J. Martini imposed the sentence on December 4, 2025, in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
During the pandemic, Mastrogiovanni engaged in a scheme with Leon Haynes, a tax preparer, to exploit COVID-19 relief programs to line his own pockets. From in or around March 2021 through in or around December 2022, Mastrogiovanni and Haynes prepared and filed with the IRS false and fraudulent Forms 941 on behalf of Mastrogiovanni, his family members, and others, claiming tax refunds intended to help struggling small businesses. All of the Forms 941 prepared in furtherance of the scheme were false and fraudulent because they listed employees and wages that, in fact, did not actually exist. Neither Mastrogiovanni nor any of his family members owned or operated a business, let alone had paid employees. Mastrogiovanni claimed at least $1,443,409 in tax credits, and as a result of the scheme, the U.S. Treasury disbursed at least $545,692 to Mastrogiovanni and his family members.
Haynes was found guilty by a jury on November 10, 2025 of 15 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns, one count of mail fraud, and two counts of tax evasion for his scheme seeking more than $170 million in fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS by causing more than 1,900 false tax returns to be filed on behalf of himself and his clients. Haynes’s sentencing is scheduled for March 12, 2026.
In addition to the tax fraud scheme, from on or about June 19, 2023 through on or about December 7, 2023, Mastrogiovanni engaged in a separate scheme to steal more than $180,000 from an 85-year old victim. The victim presented a check to Mastrogiovanni to purchase a vehicle at the car dealership where Mastrogiovanni worked. Mastrogiovanni later used the routing and checking account numbers on the check to make unauthorized personal transactions from the account until the account was empty.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martini sentenced Mastrogiovanni to three years of supervised release following Mastrogiovanni’s term of imprisonment and ordered restitution in the amount of $726,862.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents the IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly; postal inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; and officers of the Mahwah Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy O’Hara, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Stark and Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Defense Counsel for Mastrogiovanni: Frank Agostino, Esq.
U.S. Attorney’s Office announces results of “Operation Safe Christmas”Read the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced Monday the results of a fugitive roundup effort jointly handled by federal and state law enforcement agencies.
The operation resulted in 63 arrests of criminal offenders and seized 2.5 pounds of narcotics and $15,000 in U.S. currency. The coordinated effort was executed over seven days by law enforcement officials with the U.S. Marshals Service for the Southern District of Illinois, FBI Springfield, Illinois State Police, ATF Chicago and DEA St. Louis.
“The U.S. Marshals led this expansive operation in the field together with FBI and Illinois State Police leadership. Together, federal, state, and local partners arrested 63 fugitives—including the Marshal Service’s arrest of the suspect from the December 5, 2025, Granite City police shooting,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “These results reflect weeks of planning and coordination to remove criminal elements from our streets.”
Arrests spanned over Bond, Effingham, Fayette, Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia.
“The U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, Southern District of Illinois, proudly participated in “Operation Safe Christmas”, an initiative focused on enhancing public safety and apprehending dangerous fugitives. The operation’s success was made possible through the strong collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, whose commitment and cooperation remain essential to these efforts. USMS Regional Fugitive Task Forces play a critical role in locating and apprehending violent offenders and supporting high-profile investigations. During this operation, task force members, alongside the Illinois State Police, and members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Eastern District of Missouri, were instrumental in the investigation and apprehension of the alleged shooter of a Granite City Police Officer. Their determination, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to justice exemplify the mission of the U.S. Marshals Service” said U.S. Marshal David C. Davis.
“Operations like this reflect the strength that comes from close cooperation among law enforcement agencies. By working together, we are able to locate and apprehend individuals who drive violent crime into our communities,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. S. Johnson. “The successful arrests made during this sweep represent FBI Springfield’s continued commitment to crushing violent crime and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
“Interdepartmental operations are instrumental in keeping our communities safe,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP will continue to partner with local and federal agencies to get violent criminals off the street and to protect the communities we serve.”
“If members of our community are able to sleep a little easier tonight because of the joint effort of law enforcement agencies removing violent criminals from our streets, then I absolutely consider this operation a success,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “No one should be forced to live with the fear these individuals forced upon a community. Let this operation serve as a warning that the combined force of state, local and federal law enforcement agencies is not to be taken lightly.”
The roundup was a joint operation by the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI Springfield Field Office and Illinois State Police with assistance from DEA, Fairview Heights Police Department, Carlyle Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department, Bond County Sheriff’s Department, Vandalia Police Department, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, Danville Police Department, Johnson City Police Department, Saline County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI Atlanta Field Office.
The U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of Illinois Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force consists of participating agencies from the Illinois State Police, Belleville Police Department, Granite City Police Department, Alton Police Department, ATF Chicago, Homeland Security Investigations, Illinois Department of Corrections – Parole, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department.
FBI’s efforts in this operation were also part of larger initiative, Operation Coast to Coast, an operation dedicated to combatting violent crime and narcotic distribution.
Two Huntington Men Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Today, Anthony Jackson, also known as “Snake,” 59, of Huntington, was sentenced to three years of probation with six months of home confinement, for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl and Brian Lee Moore, also known as “Pooter,” 38, of Huntington, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 8, 2025, Jackson and Moore took part in the sale of approximately 3.28 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant located at a 10th Avenue apartment in Huntington. As part of their guilty pleas, Moore admitted that he provided the fentanyl to Jackson and Jackson admitted that he distributed it to the confidential informant.
As part of their guilty pleas, Jackson and Moore each admitted to additional criminal conduct. Jackson admitted that between January 11, 2024, and July 3, 2024, he distributed a total of 78.16 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant on eight different occasions. Moore admitted to providing a total of 67.09 grams of fentanyl for six of those transactions.
On August 6, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the 10th Avenue apartment and seized approximately 338.34 grams of a substance containing fentanyl, the fentanyl analogue fluorofentanyl, heroin, and xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer also known as “tranq.” Officers also seized approximately $1,130, a Taurus Model G2C 9mm pistol and a Springfield Model MDM pistol during the search. Jackson and Moore each admitted they were in the apartment during the search. Jackson admitted that he was at the apartment to receive fentanyl to distribute. Moore admitted that he was at the apartment to provide fentanyl for distribution and further admitted that he possessed the seized firearms and cash.
On August 9, 2025, officers executed a search warrant for a safe deposit box at a bank in Huntington and seized approximately $50,000. Moore admitted that he possessed the seized cash and that it was proceeds from drug distributions.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-156.
Three Sentenced for Distribution of Fentanyl That Led to the Death of a Juvenile FemaleRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Destiny Salazar, 36, and Gabriel Orozco, 36, both of Weld County, Colorado, were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl. Salazar was sentenced to 144 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Orozco was sentenced to 168 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.
The facts contained within the plea agreements establish that, from approximately July 2021, up through and including December of that same year, Destiny Salazar and Gabriel Orozco engaged in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl using Facebook, cell phones and various email accounts. Kaleb Hale was one of their customers, with whom they engaged in a series of transactions, one of which occurred on July 24, 2021. After Hale completed two purchases from Orozco and Salazar on that date, he and his 16-year-old girlfriend traveled to a residence in Greeley, Colorado. Hale and his girlfriend crushed one of the pills and both snorted a portion. Hale awoke the next day with severe abdominal distress; his girlfriend died during the night. Her death was the result of fentanyl intoxication.
In a prior proceeding on September 19, 2025, Kaleb Hale, 23, also of Weld County, Colorado, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, to be followed six years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl to a person under 25 years of age.
“Fentanyl has taken the life of another young Coloradan who had her whole life ahead of her,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “This case should be a warning to drug users and dealers alike. Using even the smallest amount of fentanyl can have deadly consequences. Dealing this dangerous drug can put you in federal prison for a very long time.”
“The staggering quantity of fentanyl we have seen flooding our borders has an impact that goes beyond the initial users, the dealers and the suppliers: This epidemic hurts families and communities,” said Marvin Massey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Denver. “The FBI will root out the supply and bring to justice those who traffic illegal drugs.”
Salazar and Orozco were sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John L. Kane.
Hale was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Philip A. Brimmer.The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Weld County Drug Task Force, the Greeley Police Department, the Weld County District Attorney’s Office, and the Brighton Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bradley Giles.
CASE NUMBERS: 24-cr-310-JLK; 24-cr-164-PAB
State College Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that William S. Welsh, age 30, of State College, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 11, 2025, to 360 months’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for production of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, throughout 2023, Welsh held himself out as a “babysitter” in order to gain access to several nonverbal and/or autistic toddlers. He later admitted to a friend that he possessed child pornography and that he had sexually exploited at least one of the toddlers he babysat.
Following an investigation by law enforcement, a series of search warrants executed on Welsh’s cell phones and computer revealed at least 40 videos of child pornography, including violent rape videos of children under the age of five. The search further revealed 11 sexually explicit photographs of a toddler, taken by Welsh when he was babysitting the toddler on January 15, 2023.
This case was investigated by the State College Police Department, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.
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 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 victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Silver Spring Man Convicted of Federal CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – After a two-week trial, a federal jury convicted Jason Michael Leidel, 45, of Silver Spring, Maryland, on one count of cyberstalking. Leidel is an active Lieutenant Commander in the Navy.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the conviction with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Greg Thompson, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) – Mid-Atlantic Region; Special Agent in Charge Hanna Porterfield, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief Paul Neudigate, Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD).
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on multiple occasions, Leidel sent emails with false allegations to get Victim 1, his ex-wife, fired from her job as a special education teacher at a public school.
Additionally, Leidel sent emails trying to get his ex-wife and their children evicted from their house. He also repeatedly filed false child protective services claims against Victim 1. When Victim 1 started dating someone new, Victim 2, Leidel filed false claims, stating that Victim 2 was abusing children. Then Leidel repeatedly emailed Victim 2’s supervisors with false claims to get him investigated and fired. Leidel harassed Victim 1 and Victim 2 for several years until law enforcement arrested him in connection with this case.
Leidel faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Honorable Lydia Kay Griggsby scheduled sentencing for Thursday, March 12, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, DOT OIG, NCIS, MCPD, and VBPD. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Sarma and Ken Clark, who are prosecuting the 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 and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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San Juan County Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Murder and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Perry Maryboy, 61, of Bluff, Utah, was sentenced today to 180 months’ imprisonment, and a term of two years’ supervised release after he admitted to second degree murder.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby, comes after Maryboy was originally convicted by a federal grand jury. Following an appeal reversing his guilty verdict, Maryboy pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree while within Indian Country, and use, carry, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents and statements made at Maryboy’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Maryboy unlawfully shot and killed another man while within the Navajo Nation on April 13, 2018. Maryboy admitted he was parked on the side of the road, in his truck and using his phone, south of Bluff, Utah, when he was confronted by the victim at his passenger window. An argument ensued and Maryboy exited his truck, retrieved a revolver from the backseat, loaded the revolver, and shot the victim in the back of the head as the victim was leaving. The victim died on scene in front of his common law wife and her 7-year-old child. Maryboy then fled the scene in his truck.
“Our sympathies in this case are with the victim’s family who suffered this horrific tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “Mr. Maryboy acted with utter disregard for human life when he shot the victim in front of his family. The impact of this violent crime cannot be undone, but it is our hope that the victim’s family can find some peace with this case now closed.”
“What began as a confrontation escalated into a senseless act of violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. “The consequences of that choice will be carried by the victim’s family and loved ones for years to come. Our community is safer with this offender in prison.”
The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Monticello Resident Agency, Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Y. Hirata, Angela M. Reddish-Day, and Stephen P. Dent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Richardson man sentenced to federal prison for mail theftRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Richardson man has been sentenced to prison for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Sir Darius Lamar Edmondson, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution of $3,391.31 by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 15, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on October 30, 2023, Edmondson was found in possession of stolen mail.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Morris.
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Recidivist Fraudster Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Federal Supervised Release ViolationsRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Daphne woman was sentenced to 93 months in prison for wire fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and violation of federal supervised release conditions.
According to court documents, Ramie Renee Freeman, 56, submitted fraudulent documents to a car dealership in Daphne to secure financing for the purchase of a vehicle in March 2025. The fraudulent documents included a forged receipt for nonexistent monthly social security benefits and an altered annulment order from the Circuit Court of Knox County, Tennessee, which claimed that Freeman received monthly alimony payments when she did not. Based on these fraudulent representations, which the dealership transmitted via an interstate wire communication, a financing company in Texas approved an automobile loan and Freeman took possession of the vehicle.
Separately, Freeman admitted that between January and May 2025, she falsely held herself out as an attorney and accepted payments from victims purportedly to assist them with an uncontested divorce. In April 2025, Freeman forged the victims’ signatures and mailed bogus divorce paperwork, along with a check drawn on Freeman’s bank account, to the Baldwin County Courthouse in Bay Minette. When the check bounced, a court employee called Freeman, who lied about being a lawyer. The package that Freeman fraudulently mailed contained the victims’ names, addresses, dates of birth, and social security numbers, which the victims had not authorized Freeman to send.
In May 2025, federal agents executed a search warrant at Freeman’s apartment in Daphne. There, agents located the vehicle that Freeman fraudulently purchased and documentation regarding Freeman’s frauds. Freeman told agents that she had resumed her fraud schemes because it is difficult for a person convicted of felony frauds to find legitimate work. At the time of her crimes, Freeman was on federal supervised release for prior fraud convictions in the Southern District of Alabama in 2022. Freeman also has prior federal fraud convictions from the District of New Hampshire in 2009 and 2011, as well as multiple fraud convictions in various New Hampshire state courts.
Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Freeman to a total of 93 months in prison, consisting of 57 months for the crimes she committed in 2025, followed by an additional 36 months for violating her supervised release conditions. Upon her release from prison, Freeman will serve a three-year term of supervised release, the first six months of which she must serve at a halfway house. While on supervised release, Freeman will be subject to drug testing and will receive mental health treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered Freeman to pay $300 in special assessments and $3,800 in victim restitution.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Daphne Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and George May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Repeat Offender Sentenced to Second Stint in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Luis Alberto Correa, 34, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced to a total of 42 months in federal prison after having pleaded guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and to supervised release violations. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping our communities safe means keeping firearms out of the hands of violent felons, like this defendant. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners, my office was able to deliver another successful prosecution of an offender who has amply demonstrated that he belongs behind bars rather than free on our streets to threaten our community.”
Court documents reflect that in 2016, the defendant was sentenced to 170 months in federal prison following convictions for drug conspiracy and causing the death of a person through use of a firearm. Following that prison sentence, and while on supervised release under the supervision of the United States Probation Office, in approximately December 2024, the defendant was caught with three firearms and matching bulk ammunition that he had illegally obtained and possessed. He admitted to law enforcement that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to his prior felony conviction. The defendant was also charged with, and later admitted to, violating the terms and conditions of his federal supervised release for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, as well as marijuana.
“The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the opportunity to assist in the investigation that led to the conviction and sentencing of Luis Alberto Correa as part of Operation Take Back America,” said Sheriff Bob Johnson. “This outcome reflects the strong cooperation among our local, state, and federal partners, all committed to removing felony offenders from our streets and keeping our community safe. We thank our agencies and citizens for their continued support as we work together to protect Santa Rosa County.”
Correa was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for the new possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon charge and an additional 18 months to run consecutively for the supervise release violations.
The sentence was the result of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Forbes.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Prince George’s County Man Indicted on Charges of Sexually Exploiting Minors to Produce Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted Christopher Alexander Watts, 27, of Mount Rainier, Maryland, charging him with four counts of producing child sexual abuse material.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the indictment, between January and May 2024, Watts persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced four minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Watts exploited the minors for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the sexually explicit conduct.
If convicted, Watts faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of the four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
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 the United States Attorney’s 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 victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation, and the Prince George's County Police Department for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brooke Oki and Megan S. McKoy who are prosecuting the 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 and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Previously Deported Jamaican National Living in Hartford Pleads Guilty to Passport FraudRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian Wood, Special Agent in Charge, Diplomatic Security Service, New York Field Office, announced that MARLON DAMIAN WHITE, also known as Damian Marlon White, 47, a citizen of Jamaica last residing in Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to making a false statement in a U.S. passport application.
According to court documents and statements made in court, White was admitted to the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident in 1995. In subsequent years, he was convicted of various offenses, including a state conviction in New York for assault in the second degree, and a federal conviction in the Southern District of New York for a narcotics distribution offense for which he was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment. After his federal conviction, White lost his status as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and, in February 2006, was deported to Jamaica.
White returned to the U.S. and, on May 6, 2024, used a false name, false birth date, and false place of birth to apply for a U.S. passport in Hartford. During the application process, White provided a counterfeit birth certificate and driver’s license falsely representing that he was born in and resided in California.
Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for March 10, at which time White faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. He has been detained since his arrest on October 9, 2025.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
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.
Port Charlotte Man Indicted for Enticing A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Transferring Obscene Matter to A MinorRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging James Gregory Ford (34, Port Charlotte) with coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and transferring obscene matter to a minor. If convicted on all counts, Ford faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the indictment and court records, in October 2025, Ford communicated with a 10-year-old child using a social media application and engaged in sexually explicit conversations. Ford asked the child for sexual images and videos. He also sent a nude image of himself to the child.
An indictment is merely a formal charge 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, along with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
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.
Pensacola Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Trafficking in Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and HeroinRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jermaine Z. Lewis, 32, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to federal prison for 10 years for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office will continue to use the full force of the law to aggressively prosecute anyone who floods our streets with deadly drugs, as this defendant has come to find out. The Homeland Security Task Force initiative launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi is committed to eliminating drug trafficking operations anywhere they are found in the U.S., and the tenacious prosecutors in my office will see to it that the residents of the Northern District of Florida will have the safe, drug-free communities they deserve where they can live, work, and raise a family.”
Court documents reveal that in January and February 2025, the defendant distributed fentanyl on the streets of Pensacola. Law enforcement intercepted a mailed parcel bound for the defendant that contained approximately four pounds of fentanyl pills. With this information, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s residence in March 2025. Two loaded firearms, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl were seized. Wire transfers receipts of money sent to Mexico were also recovered. The defendant is a previously convicted state court felon.
“This defendant wasn't just selling drugs—he was trafficking lethal fentanyl, stockpiling guns, and sending cartel money south. That ends today,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter. “When you threaten the safety of Florida families, DEA and our law enforcement partners will meet you at your doorstep and bring your operation to a hard stop."
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
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 comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Old Saybrook Man Convicted in 2018 of Tax Fraud Offenses Sentenced to Additional Prison Time for Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that DAVID ADAMS, 65, of Old Saybrook, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to nine months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 27, 2018, Adams was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for failing to pay more than $4.8 million in federal income taxes over the course of more than 20 years. He was released from prison in April 2024. While on supervised release, Adams failed to pay restitution as ordered, and failed to disclose to the U.S. Probation Office his access to a bank account that he used to spend more than $100,000 attending UConn basketball games and other live sporting events, eating at expensive restaurants, going on shopping sprees, and providing money to a friend.
After Adams admitted to the violations, Judge Bolden revoked his supervised release and sentenced him to nine months of imprisonment with no supervised release to follow. Adams is required to report to prison on January 12.
Adams’ criminal history includes two additional federal convictions. In 1986, he was convicted of credit card fraud for submitting more than $588,000 in fraudulent credit card sales drafts through his floral business over a three-month period in 1985. In 1992, he was convicted of failing to file tax returns for the 1984 through 1986 tax years.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan L. Wines.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Device-Making EquipmentRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – An Ohio man pleaded guilty last week to illegally possessing credit card encoding devices.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on the morning of April 28, 2024, Sean Matthew Langston, Jr., 33, of Columbus, Ohio, was arrested in Rankin County following a traffic stop wherein he and his co-defendant, John Carleton Johnson, Jr., were found to be in possession of approximately 322 gift cards, seventeen reencoded instruments containing stolen bank card data, and two magstripe encoding devices. Langston and Johnson could be seen on CCTV footage at various retail stores throughout the Jackson metropolitan area purchasing gift cads with known cloned instruments.
Langston pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession, production, or trafficking in device-making equipment with intent to defraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2026, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Langston and Johnson on February 20, 2025. Johnson pleaded guilty on June 30, 2025, and was sentenced to serve two years in federal prison and ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 on November 3, 2025.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Flowood Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Office Manager Abused Employer’s Trust and Stole over $1,800,000 over Ten YearsRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman employed as a manager by a pair of related Mobile-based companies for about 20 years was sentenced today to a total of 75 months in prison for defrauding her employer of over $1,800,000, from their bank accounts. To accomplish her scheme, she misused a company’s officer’s signature stamp to write herself checks and electronically transferred money to her bank accounts.
According to court documents, the company Controller discovered that Kelley James Williamson, 47, had written unauthorized checks to herself for about $222,000. That triggered an internal investigation which revealed Williamson’s scheme began in early 2014 and continued until November 2024. The internal investigation also revealed a much larger loss. The employer’s lawyer contacted the Secret Service to report her crimes after she confessed to him. The Secret Service, in addition to its protective details work, investigates financial crimes. Its investigation - in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office - uncovered the full expanse of her crimes and losses suffered by the businesses. Before the U.S. Attorney charged Williamson, it seized over $79,000 from Williamson’s bank accounts to preserve it as Williamson had spent lavishly leading up to Mardi Gras 2025 as the queen of a local carnival organization. It also seized her crown, estimated to be worth $2,000 or more, which will be forfeited and sold. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will apply for the funds to be restored to the businesses to offset their losses. The court ordered that Williamson must repay the businesses the remainder of the loss as restitution.
“Financial crimes can and do devastate businesses and the families which own them. Unfortunately, this defendant chose to betray the businesses’ trust they’d placed in her, which is a gut punch to the people who worked side-by-side with her and trusted her all those years,” U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello said. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone who victimizes businesses to line their own pockets.”
“Ms. Williamson took advantage of her employer’s trust, stealing more than $1 million from a business here in the Mobile community,” said Resident Agent in Charge Jennifer Nissen, U.S. Secret Service Mobile Resident Office. “The U.S. Secret Service does not tolerate those who exploit our financial systems, and we appreciate our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama as they worked tirelessly to bring the defendant to justice.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Mobile Resident Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex F. Lankford, IV, prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Ocean County Man Sentenced to 168 Months in Prison for Sexually Exploiting MinorsRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey man was sentenced on December 2, 2025, to 168 months in prison for receiving videos and images depicting child pornography, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Daniel Nilla, 37, of Brick, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with three counts of receipt of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between December 2021 and April 2023, Nilla communicated with at least five minor victims on a multimedia instant messaging application. He knew the victims were minors when he communicated with them. During the communications, Nilla directed the victims to send him images and videos of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which Nilla used for his sexual gratification.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Nilla to ten years of supervised release.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation. Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello also thanked special agents of the FBI Kansas City, Kansas Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus, and the City of Edwardsville, Kansas Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Rance Quinn.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Belgiovine of the Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Defense counsel: Steven Cappetta, Esq.
Newton, Alabama Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On December 11, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 41-year-old Shawn Patrick Douglas, who was residing in Newton, Alabama at the time of his arrest, to 300 months in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. There is no parole in the federal system.
Court records show that Douglas was previously convicted in 2013 for possession of child sexual abuse material and received a 78-month federal prison sentence. After completing that sentence, Douglas was placed on supervised release for the remainder of his life as well as being required to register as a sex offender.
Despite those conditions, Douglas admits in his plea agreement that, in June of 2023, he engaged in an online chat requesting access to a child sexual abuse material production group. Douglas also admitted that during the online conversation, he sent a link to an account that contained an image of child sexual abuse material and that the image depicted a child under the age of 12 years.
Law enforcement quickly located Douglas after the June 2023 activity, and he was arrested. The United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Alabama filed a petition to revoke his supervised release. A federal grand jury also returned an indictment charging him with distribution of child sexual abuse material. Douglas pleaded guilty to the new charge on September 3, 2025. The 25-year prison sentence includes 23 years for the new offense and an additional two years for the supervised release revocation.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark, New Jersey Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.