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4 February 2026
MultiCare Health System to Pay Millions to Settle Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
Court Records Establish That MultiCare Endangered Patients and Fraudulently Billed Taxpayers for Medically Unnecessary Spinal Surgeries. MultiCare’s Settlement Follows Federal and State Settlements with Providence Health & Services and Dr. Jason A. Dreyer in Related Actions
Spokane, WA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington today announced that MultiCare Health System (MultiCare), a Tacoma-based hospital and healthcare system that owns and operates MultiCare Deaconess Hospital (Deaconess) and MultiCare Rockwood Clinic in Spokane, will pay $3,728,000 to resolve federal and state allegations that it knowingly endangered patient safety and falsely and fraudulently billed Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs for spinal surgery procedures performed at Deaconess between 2019 and 2021, by Dr. Jason Dreyer, formerly a licensed physician and MultiCare neurosurgeon.
This settlement with MultiCare comes after two years of successful federal litigation by the United States and the State of Washington,[1] and is part of six years of federal and state investigations, which resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement with Providence Health & Services (Dr. Dreyer’s previous employer) in 2022,[2] and a more than $1.1 million individual settlement with Dr. Dreyer in 2023, which resolved the allegations of the fraud committed while at MultiCare and a nine year exclusion of Dr. Dreyer from Medicare.[3]
In this settlement, MultiCare made factual admissions regarding its conduct, agreeing to pay a total of $3.728 million, $1.6 million of which is restitution, due to the egregious nature of MultiCare’s violations of federal and state law as shown by its own admissions and detailed court records. .[4] Based on MultiCare’s factual admissions and court records, the investigation and resulting litigation has shown that MultiCare hired, credentialed, and supervised Dr. Dreyer while MultiCare ignored and failed to take appropriate action on numerous red flags, warnings, and specific evidence of Dr. Dreyer’s fraud and endangerment of the public, all while increasing its own revenue with fraudulently obtained tax payer money.
Significantly, the court records reveal that, within months of Dr. Dreyer starting to operate on patients at MultiCare, two different physician assistants assigned at MultiCare to assist Dr. Dreyer in the operating room raised patient safety concerns directly to MultiCare management. The first physically walked out of the operating room while Dr. Dreyer was performing surgery, out of fear of patient harm, and immediately complained to MultiCare management. The second physician assistant also raised patient safety concerns to MultiCare management and resigned from MultiCare rather than continuing to work with Dr. Dreyer for fear of further patient endangerment. Court records show that MultiCare did not stop or curtail Dr. Dreyer’s surgeries based on the serious patient safety concerns of its own medical staff, or multiple other red flags. MultiCare instead allowed Dr. Dreyer to perform a high volume of medically unnecessary complex spinal surgeries. Despite knowledge of these concerns about Dr. Dreyer, MultiCare not only permitted Dr. Dreyer to continue performing surgeries, but further incentivized Dr. Dreyer to perform medically unnecessary surgeries quickly by tying his compensation directly to the number of surgeries he performed and their complexity. MultiCare continued to fraudulently bill various federal health care benefit programs for those surgeries.
Several months after two physician assistants reported concerns about Dr. Dreyer, the United States Attorney’s Office directly informed MultiCare that it was investigating concerns that Dr. Dreyer had harmed patients, falsified diagnoses, and performed medically unnecessary surgeries, while working at Providence. The United States Attorney’s Office even supplied documents and evidence to support its concerns. Dr. Dreyer was still permitted to perform surgeries at MultiCare, including the surgery that initiated the present case. Dr. Dreyer was permitted to perform surgeries as a neurosurgeon at MultiCare with little restriction until, over MultiCare’s objection, the Washington State Department of Health summarily restricted Dr. Dreyer from conducting spinal surgeries.
“As the voluminous court records of this case demonstrate, MultiCare had direct knowledge of the danger Dr. Dreyer posed to patients, including through reports made by its own medical staff, and later from explicit warnings from federal investigators,” said Pete Serrano, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “MultiCare nonetheless allowed Dr. Dreyer to operate on unsuspecting patients for nearly two years, generating thousands in additional revenue and putting profits before patient safety. Today, thanks to years of comprehensive investigation and litigation, MultiCare has been held accountable for its role in defrauding the taxpayers and endangering some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Court records show that MultiCare signed a prior settlement agreement in August of 2023 resolving these allegations, then backed out of the agreement, and then litigated the case for two years before resolving it with the settlement announced today. “Today’s settlement shows that no matter who you are, from an individual to a large corporation, if you commit fraud and choose to litigate with the United States rather than accept responsibility, you will be held accountable for your violations and you will pay more in the end,” said Serrano.
“The alleged violations by MultiCare show a wanton disregard for ethics and the medical principle to do no harm,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said. “This settlement is a win for patient safety and protecting public dollars to get people necessary healthcare.”
“Patients trust that the care that they receive from their health providers is medically necessary and in their best interest,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “When providers perform medically unnecessary surgeries and bill federal health care programs including Medicare and Medicaid for them, they not only violate that trust but also exploit programs designed to protect vulnerable populations. HHS-OIG will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who put their own profits over patient safety.”
“Healthcare providers have a fundamental duty to protect the well-being of their patients, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service will work tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of our service members and their families,” said John Helsing, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “This settlement concludes an intensive multi-year investigation and underscores our commitment to holding providers accountable for putting financial gain over patient safety.”
“We will continue to hold accountable those who prioritize profits at the expense of the health and safety of vulnerable patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek M. Holt of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General. “We applaud our law enforcement partners and colleagues at the Department of Justice for their dedicated work to protect the welfare of the millions of Americans who rely on our federal health care programs, including the FEHBP.”
“This settlement highlights our steadfast commitment to ensuring high-quality healthcare for veterans,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG is grateful for the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners in this case.”
“This is the culmination of a multi-year, multi-agency, collaborative effort to fight egregious health care fraud directly impacting patient safety in Eastern Washington. For years Dr. Dreyer, and both MultiCare and Providence, the hospitals that employed him and unleashed him on an unsuspecting public, endangered and harmed our friends and neighbors while lining their own pockets with taxpayer money,” said First Assistant Serrano. “We could not have held this individual accountable, nor the hospitals that knowingly profited from the fraud, without a dedicated multi-agency team. It is that team that has forced those responsible to pay tens of millions of dollars, stopped Dr. Dreyer from being able to continue harming patients, and that brought the truth of what happened out from the corporate shadows and into the light of day. I’m grateful for the close collaboration we have had with our partners at the Washington Medicaid Fraud Control Division, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General,” continued First Assistant Serrano.
This court case began in April 2022, when a former patient of Dr. Dreyer’s at MultiCare, Dr. Deannette Palmer, filed a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.[5] The joint investigation and litigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Seattle Field Office; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Spokane Resident Office; the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General, Seattle Field Office; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Seattle Field Office; and the State of Washington Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Derek Taylor and health care fraud contractor Echo Fatsis of the Eastern District of Washington handled this matter for the United States. Assistant Attorney Generals Rachel Sterett and Adam McGerty of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office handled this matter for Washington.
Settlement Agreement
2:22-cv-00068-SAB
[1] On January 26, 2024, the United States and the State of Washington filed their Complaint-in-Intervention. United States and State of Washington File False Claims Act Complaint Against MultiCare for Knowingly Endangering Patients and Fraudulently Billing for Spinal Surgery Procedures, U.S. Dept. Just. (Jan. 26, 2024), https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/united-states-and-state-washington-file-false-claims-act-complaint-against-multicare
[2] Providence Health & Services Agrees to Pay $22.7 Million to Resolve Liability From Medically Unnecessary Neurosurgery Procedures at Providence St. Mary’s Medical Center, U.S. Dept. Just. (Apr. 12, 2022), https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/providence-health-services-agrees-pay-227-million-resolve-liability-medically
[3] Former Physician to Pay More than $1.1 Million to Resolve Allegations He Performed Medically Unnecessary Procedures, U.S. Dept. Just. (Apr. 24, 2023), https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/former-physician-pay-more-11-million-resolve-allegations-he-performed-medically
[4] Due to the voluminous nature of the referenced court records below, this press release includes hyperlinks to the specific court records relied upon. The primary court records referred to are found at ECF No. 16, ECF No. 64, and ECF No. 71.
[5]When a whistleblower, or “relator,” files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act generally allows the relator to share in any recovery. In the settlement agreement announced today, the relator, Dr. Palmer, will receive 17% of the settlement amount, $633,760. Dr. Palmer was represented by the Gilbert Law Firm of Spokane. In addition to receiving a share of the settlement amount, relators are also entitled to have all of their attorney fees and costs in the action paid by the defendant in successful False Claims Act qui tam case like this one.
Mineral County Man Admits to Selling Fentanyl, MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Keyser, West Virginia man has admitted to working with others in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Mineral County, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Lucas Earl Shoemaker, 34, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine hydrochloride. Shoemaker used his residence on Knobley Road in Keyser to operate the drug trafficking organization. Investigators received information that led them to obtain and execute a search warrant at the Knobley Road residence, where substantial quantities of fentanyl, high-purity methamphetamine, cocaine, firearms, ammunition, cash, and drug distribution materials were seized.
On September 24, 2024, law enforcement officers encountered Shoemaker following a 911 call reporting suspicious and dangerous behavior at a Mineral County business. Officers located Shoemaker and who was in possession of a loaded Springfield XD .45-caliber handgun concealed on his person, and a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 rifle located inside his vehicle. Shoemaker was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Officers also recovered fentanyl from the vehicle, along with syringes indicative of ongoing drug use and drug trafficking activity.
Shoemaker’s guilty plea reflects accountability for his role in distributing fentanyl and unlawfully possessing firearms—conduct that endangered the community and contributed to the ongoing fentanyl crisis impacting West Virginia and communities nationwide. Fentanyl—a substance President Donald J. Trump has publicly described as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality—poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts.
Shoemaker faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Mexican National Sentenced to Prison Time for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Miguel Bermudez-Herrera, 48 years old, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to felony reentry of a removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Bermudez-Herrera was sentenced to 6 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release. The supervised release term would go into effect should the Defendant unlawfully remain in, or return to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings.
According to documents in the case, Bermudez-Herrera was previously removed from the United States in 1997 and 2008. He has been detained since his arrest on October 10, 2025.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Valparaiso Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.
Mexican National Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Role in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Sebastian Martinez-Romero, 22, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 20, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Angela Martinez to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Martinez-Romero previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.
On April 30, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona, Martinez-Romero and others possessed approximately 40 kilograms of powder and pills containing fentanyl and more than 55 pounds of methamphetamine, which they intended to deliver to others later that day.
This investigation 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. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This HSTF Tucson led investigation comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with the prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-2710-AMM-3
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-019_Martinez-RomeroMexican National Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Role in Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Aaron Leopoldo Aguirre-Gutierrez, 50, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 20, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Aguirre-Gutierrez previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine.
Between Feb. 24, 2024 to August 2024, in Tucson, Arizona, Aguirre-Gutierrez and others distributed approximately 19 kilograms of powder cocaine.
This investigation 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. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This HSTF Tucson led investigation comprises agents and officers from the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department with the prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-5214
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-020_Aguirre-Gutierrez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Mexican National Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Alien Smuggling and Assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol AgentRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Efrain Pacheco-Ovalles, 30, of Culiacan, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 29, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Pacheco-Ovalles pleaded guilty to assault of a federal officer and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate assaults on federal agents nor the criminal networks that exploit our southern border,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “In Tucson and across Arizona, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to stop these networks from smuggling people and drugs into our country. We will protect our agents, secure the border, and hold accountable those who profit from lawlessness.”
In January and February of 2025, the defendant was working as a scout for a transnational criminal organization (TCO). Scouts are trusted TCO members who are integral to successfully moving aliens and controlled substances without being interdicted by law enforcement. TCOs have long used remote areas of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation to smuggle narcotics and aliens from Mexico into the United States. Scouts act as the “eyes and ears” of TCOs. Scouts position themselves on mountain tops in smuggling corridors so that they have views of roads and smuggling routes. They use binoculars to look for law enforcement, and radios and cellphones to communicate with other members of the conspiracy to ensure coconspirators and illegal aliens escape apprehension by law enforcement. The defendant in this case admitted he was expected to scout for three months and was going to be paid $40 per alien that successfully arrived in the Phoenix area.
On Feb. 4, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents conducted an operation to disrupt the scout site on Nine Mile Mountain in a remote area of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation. When agents located the defendant trying to hide under a tree, he fled down the mountain. An agent pursued the defendant. The agent repeatedly identified himself as a USBP agent in English and Spanish. The air unit also maintained visual. The agent chased the defendant downhill for about 1.5 miles. The defendant was taking pictures and videos of the agents while he ran. Agents also saw the defendant throw his binoculars and backpack. When one agent got close enough to try to apprehend him, the defendant intentionally elbowed the agent in the face, resulting in a black eye.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The U.S. Border Patrol, Tucson Sector, investigated the case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 4:25-CR-01353-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-017_ Pacheco-Ovalles
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Mexican National Sentenced in Federal Cocaine Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
A citizen of Mexico who was living in Arvada, Colorado, was sentenced on Feb. 3 for the distribution of cocaine.
Francisco Javier Miranda-Rodriguez, 39, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. U.S District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence. The defendant will be deported upon completion of his sentence.
According to court documents, in March 2025, DEA agents received information that the defendant was looking for cocaine customers. Undercover agents conducted a controlled buy in Cheyenne on March 13, 2025, for two ounces and again on April 3, 2025, for approximately three ounces. A third buy for nine ounces was coordinated in Timnath, Colorado on May 6, 2025. At that time, agents asked about purchasing a kilo. The defendant said he could get it and would charge $1,000 per ounce. When attempting to coordinate the delivery of the kilo, communication between the undercover agent and the defendant ceased. Miranda-Rodriguez was arrested on June 18, 2025, after a traffic stop. The same day, agents conducted a search of his apartment and located 92 grams of cocaine. The defendant admitted he would make trips to Douglas and Casper to deliver drugs at least once a month and did so for five months.
“This sentence sends a clear message: drug trafficking will not be tolerated in our communities. This defendant came to the United States, distributed dangerous drugs across state lines, and fueled addiction and crime. Thanks to strong law enforcement work, he will serve time in federal prison and be removed from the country. We will continue to prioritize border security, aggressive drug enforcement, and the removal of criminal aliens who threaten public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith.”
DEA investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted the case.
Case No. CR-25-00128
Methuen Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Drugs to Federal Prison in ConnecticutRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Methuen, Mass. man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to sending a package containing drugs to a federal prison.
Tuere Barnes, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of providing contraband in prison. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for May 11, 2026. Barnes was charged on Jan. 12, 2026.
On or about Jan. 23, 2023, Barnes caused a package containing 460 sublingual strips laced with narcotics to be shipped to an inmate at FCI Danbury – a federal correctional facility in Danbury, Conn. Lab testing showed a sample strip contained buprenorphine, a Schedule III substance. Under federal regulations, possession of narcotics is prohibited in federal correctional facilities. The defendant’s fingerprints were found on papers in the package.
The charge of providing contraband in prison provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Lauren Maynard of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
Mescalero man charged with assaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man appeared in federal court after allegedly assaulting and strangling a victim.
According to court documents, on October 23, 2025, Lance Marion Cojo, 39, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, assaulted and strangled Jane Doe.
Cojo is charged with assault by strangling and/or suffocating and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for February 9, 2026. If convicted of the current charges, Cojo faces ten years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Dickens is prosecuting the case.
An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Menasha Man Sentenced to 90 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 29, 2026, Todd E. Grimm (age: 57) of Menasha, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.
In April of 2025, in response to a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”), law enforcement sought and received a warrant to search Grimm’s residence and electronic devices. That search uncovered a flash drive containing over 12,500 images and videos of child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”) downloaded off the internet. The flash drive was in an envelope hidden behind a desk drawer. The flash drive also contained “stories” authored by Grimm depicting the drugging and sexual assault of young children.
At sentencing, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge, the effect these crimes have on their victims, and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, Grimm will spend 15 years on supervised release. Grimm will also be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law.
“Child pornography monetizes children being sexually abused and robbed of their innocence,” said U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel. “The worldwide multi-billion-dollar child pornography industry is directly supported by people like this defendant who perpetuate sexual violence against children every time they seek out, view or share these materials. Justice for those children demands that we lock up these predators.”This case was investigated by the City of Menasha Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Memphis Woman Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Department of Veterans Affairs of over $2.9 MillionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Quannah Fields Harris, 53, of Memphis, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of over $2,900,000. Harris was convicted after a jury trial in October 2025. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
On February 2, 2026, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Harris to 96 months in prison and ordered her to pay $2,905,853.09 in restitution to the VA for conspiring to defraud the United States and committing wire fraud.
According to the facts presented at trial and sentencing, Harris was the owner of Last Minute Cuts School of Barbering and Cosmetology, a barbering and cosmetology school located at 2195 South Third Street in Memphis, from 2014 to 2019. During this period, Harris engaged in a scheme that defrauded the GI Bill, a federal program administered by the VA designed to help veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces learn vocational skills.
Harris billed the VA for dozens of veterans she enrolled as students at Last Minute Cuts who attended few classes, if any, received no instruction, took no tests or exams, and never obtained a state barbering or cosmetology license. Her school was, in reality, a sham. Many of the veterans Harris enrolled at Last Minute Cuts never set foot in the school again after the day Harris enrolled them; yet, Harris billed the VA for years thereafter for their purported attendance.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces deserve our honor and respect, and this office will always protect them. Victimizing the VA harms veterans and deserves significant punishment. Harris will now spend every “last minute” of her lengthy sentence in federal prison for her crimes against our nation’s best.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
"This sentence demonstrates that the VA OIG and our law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who defraud VA," said Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkammer of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General's Mid-Atlantic Field Office. "We remain steadfast in safeguarding the integrity of VA's Post-9/11 GI Bill. The VA OIG’s mission includes vigorously investigating fraud and ensuring that individuals who abuse these crucial benefit programs are brought to justice."
“The defendant schemed to defraud the government, got caught, and is now being held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Our special agents will continue collaborative investigative efforts alongside our law enforcement partners to follow the money and find those attempting to defraud the federal government.”
This case was investigated by the VA-Office of Inspector General (OIG) and IRS-Criminal Investigations with assistance from the Veterans Benefits Administration-Education Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Arvin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
McLean executive convicted at trial for $1.5M precious metals Ponzi schemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted the owner and operator of an Alexandria-based precious metals investment firm yesterday on charges of wire fraud and violating the Travel Act relating to a precious metals Ponzi scheme.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, beginning in November 2021, Warith Deen Muhammad, 39, of McLean, falsely told more than a dozen investors that if they invested with him and his business, Niagara Gold and Silver LLC, he would use their money to buy, trade, and sell precious metals. Muhammad guaranteed profits of five to ten percent and told investors that they would receive their principal plus interest back, typically within 30 days.
To mask the fraud, Muhammad used new investors funds to pay prior investors, leading investors to believe that their investment had been “successful,” inducing them to invest more money and to recruit others to invest. In total, from November 2021 through June 2023, Muhammad used fraudulent representations to induce more than 12 investors to send him over $1.5 million.
In addition to spending investor money to pay prior investors, Muhammad also used investor funds to finance his lavish lifestyle. He leased high-end sports cars, including a Ferrari FF, Bentley, and Dodge Challenger Demon. He paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent luxury properties, and he spent tens of thousands of dollars at retailers, including Neiman Marcus, Tiffany’s, and Chanel, among others.
Muhammad faces up to 20 years in prison for count of wire fraud and up to 10 years in prison for Travel Act violation when sentenced on May 6. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Morgan and Zoe Bedell are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-284.
Maximum Sentence for Neo-Nazi Guilty of Hate CrimeRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A North Carolina man was sentenced to the statutory maximum of five years in prison for sending antisemitic threats to Georgia's only Jewish State House Representative and the Rabbi of Temple Beth Israel in Macon after both women publicly backed the passage of Georgia House Bill 30, the state's first legislation defining antisemitism.
Ariel E. Collazo Ramos, 32, of High Point, North Carolina, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Feb. 4, after he was found guilty of one count of mailing threatening communications with the addition of a hate crime enhancement on Nov. 4, 2025, following a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Let me be clear: individuals like this defendant will face federal prosecution for criminal acts driven by hatred,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This case underscores that crimes rooted in antisemitism and any hate crime against race, religion, or protected groups, will be prioritized. Law enforcement stands with the Macon community to unite against hatred, and we will use the justice system to hold offenders accountable."
"Hate has no place in our society," said FBI Atlanta Supervisory Senior Resident Agent (SSRA) Robert Gibbs of the Macon Resident Agency. "Today's sentencing of neo-Nazi Ariel Ramos reinforces the FBI's unwavering commitment to protecting civil rights and sends a clear message that threats based on faith or identity will not be tolerated. "
According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, a neo-Nazi group gathered outside of Temple Beth Israel in Macon in 2023 as the congregation was inside observing the start of Sabbath. In January 2024, Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel testified before the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Georgia House Bill 30, a bill defining antisemitism. The bill was co-sponsored by State Representative Esther Panitch, the only Jewish member of the Georgia House of Representatives. The bill was signed into law on Jan. 31, 2024. Rep. Panitch received an antisemitic postcard from Ramos at her home the morning of the bill signing; Rabbi Bahar received an antisemitic postcard from Ramos at her home the following day, on Feb. 1, 2024.
At the time, Ramos sold candles, postcards and other products depicting racial, antisemitic and white nationalist themes out of his home. Ramos mailed a threatening postcard to Rabbi Bahar’s home address from North Carolina. The postcard contained the handwritten statement, "Is there a child rape, torture, and murder tunnel under your house? We have the Zyklon B. Use Code ‘GASTHEJEWS’ for 10% off!" The reverse side of the postcard displayed a hand-drawn image depicting a purported Jewish male wearing a rat costume and the words “JEWS ARE RATS.” Rep. Panitch received an identical postcard to her home address. Both Rabbi Bahar and Rep. Panitch testified at trial the steps they took for their own safety in response to receiving the threatening postcards. Rabbi Bahar and Rep. Panitch had family members murdered by Nazis using Zyklon B during the Holocaust.
The case was investigated by FBI.
U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government with assistance from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
Maui Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Making a False Statement for Using a False Merchant Marine CredentialRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Jeffrey Worthen, 61, of Lahaina, Maui, pled guilty today in federal court to wire fraud and making a false statement to the U.S. Coast Guard. Sentencing is set for June 15, 2026.
According to court records, beginning as early as 2012, Worthen began to falsely represent to employers that he held a valid Merchant Mariner Credential (“MMC”), issued by the United States Coast Guard, in order to work on commercial vessels. In 2021, Worthen provided the false MMC to his employer, for whom he worked operating a small passenger vessel to transport individuals to snorkeling excursions near Lanai, Hawaii.
On June 14, 2022, while on a snorkeling expedition, Worthen operated a passenger vessel that struck a rock, ejecting five passengers overboard and injuring multiple passengers. When later questioned by the Coast Guard about the incident, Worthen falsely stated that he had a valid MMC.
Worthen faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years for wire fraud, and a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years for making a false statement.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese is prosecuting the case.
Massachusetts Resident Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in the New Hampshire SeacoastRead the Press Release
Massachusetts Resident Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in the New Hampshire Seacoast
CONCORD – A man with ties to a Dominican drug trafficking organization, who previously lived in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today in federal court for drug trafficking in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Jose Luis Guerrero Nunez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents and statements made in court, Guerrero Nunez served as a leader in a Methuen-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the New Hampshire seacoast area. In late 2023 and early 2024, he organized controlled purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine with undercover law enforcement officers. He also was recorded by undercover officers arranging for larger distributions in the future. Charges are still pending against one of Guerrero Nunez’s co-conspirators, Juan Carlos De Los Santos Romero. Three co-conspirators, Carlos Alejandro Chevalier Santos, Eddy Mendez Carmona, and Luis Guerrero Cabral, have previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced by the Court.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The Seabrook Police Department, Hampton Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Methuen Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo 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.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges
CONCORD – Craig Pearson, 42, of Manchester, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
According to the plea agreement, in late June and early July 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized a total of more than 600 grams of methamphetamine during two separate controlled purchase operations involving Pearson. As a result, on July 7, 2022, DEA arrested Pearson, searched a hotel room he rented, and seized an additional 400 grams of methamphetamine, 200 grams of fentanyl, and a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle.
The charging statute for the drug trafficking offense provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. The charging statute for the firearm violation provides for a sentence of not less than 5 years and up to life in federal prison, consecutive to any prison term imposed on the drug trafficking offense, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Samanta D. Elliott scheduled sentencing for May 12, 2026.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Man Who Fired Shots on Columbia Street Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Brandon Chanell Joyner, 29, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm during a 2023 shooting on Greystone Boulevard in Columbia.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on July 18, 2023, law enforcement responded to the corner of Greystone Boulevard and Stoneridge Drive regarding witnesses seeing a man shooting a gun into the air. Joyner saw a police car nearby and fired three shots, which hit the vehicle. Additional units responded and pursued Joyner. He then abruptly turned and fired several shots at the group of police cars. Joyner retreated to his hotel room where he reloaded his firearm and began shooting again. Law enforcement eventually returned fire and struck the defendant in the back. The defendant again retreated to his hotel room, changed clothes, and then exited the room. He made contact with police and told them he was an innocent bystander. Officers determined he was the shooter and immediately placed him under arrest. Law enforcement recovered a 9mm pistol from the parking lot of the hotel where Joyner was staying. Joyner’s DNA was found on the gun. Testing showed the casings recovered at the scene matched casings from the firearm recovered from the hotel.
Joyner has previous felony convictions that prevent him from lawfully possessing a firearm.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr sentenced Joyner to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Joyner was sentenced to 25 years in state prison after pleading guilty to 10 counts of attempted murder. These sentences will run concurrently.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case.
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Level 2 Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Unregistered Email AccountRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kyle Caton, 38, a registered sex offender of Albany, New York, was sentenced yesterday to a total of 18 to 24 months in prison following his plea of guilty for failure to register an email address he used to access pornography with the New York State Sex Offender Registry and admission to violating his federal supervised release in doing so. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Acting U.S. Marshal Christopher Amoia made the announcement.
According to Caton’s admissions and statements made in court, Caton was convicted of receipt of child pornography in 2019 and sentenced to 88 months of incarceration, followed by 15 years of post-release supervision. Caton has been registered as a Level 2 sex offender with New York State ever since. Caton violated his supervised release conditions almost immediately following his release from prison by possessing an unauthorized internet-capable device he used to view and possess pornography and was sentenced to 9 months of incarceration. Just three months after his release from that sentence, Caton created an email account, which he used to access pornography, and failed to register the email account with the New York State Sex Offender Registry.
In this case, Caton previously pled guilty to failure to register the email address with the New York State Sex Offender Registry and admitted to violating the terms of his second term of supervised release in doing so. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentenced Caton to a term of imprisonment of 12 to 18 months on his guilty plea, followed by a term of imprisonment of 6 months on the violation of supervised release, for a total sentence of 18 to 24 months in prison. Caton was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release and remains obligated to register as a sex offender.
Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “Here in the Northern District of New York, we prosecute every sex offender who fails to comply with their registration requirements to the fullest extent of the law. The Marshals’ excellent work combined with my Office’s dedication to holding this sex offender accountable ensured Kyle Caton is right back where he belongs: in prison.”
“The successful prosecution of habitual offender Kyle Caton reinforces the United States Marshals Service’s unwavering commitment to locating and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders. Failure to register is not a technical violation, but a serious crime that places communities at risk,” stated Acting U.S. Marshal Christopher Amoia. “SORNA requires convicted sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction where they reside. Failure to comply with these requirements is a federal offense and undermines efforts to protect the public and monitor known offenders.”
The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More Than 33 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Omar Pitter (45, San Diego) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to 33 years and 4 months in federal prison for his role in shipping over 65 kilograms of methamphetamine to the Middle District of Florida and conspiring to launder the proceeds of his methamphetamine distribution. A federal jury found Pitter guilty after a four-day trial in September 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in February 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Colin Zirpoli for suspected methamphetamine distribution. The investigation into Zirpoli led to Zirpoli’s supplier, Elizabeth Poff, and later to her supplier, Tony Marsh. Investigation into Tony Marsh led to the identification of his source of supply, Hopeton Goslin. Search warrants executed at Goslin’s home and storage unit led to the recovery of more than 45 kilograms of methamphetamine. Goslin, Marsh, Poff, and Zirpoli have all pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and have all been sentenced.
Further investigation led to the identification of Goslin’s source of supply in San Diego. Agents identified Omar Pitter as Goslin’s source of supply, and the investigation revealed that Pitter had been commercially shipping Goslin cocaine and methamphetamine since 2023. Investigators testified at trial that the estimated combined weights of the shipments were 34 kilograms of cocaine and 697 pounds of methamphetamine.
DEA agents traveled to California to arrest Pitter and search two addresses he was associated with. At that time, they also learned of an additional co-conspirator, Pitter’s friend Ciara Guss. Text messages in Pitter’s and Guss’s phones showed that Pitter and Guss had been shipping packages, similar in size and weight to ones sent to Goslin, all over the country since 2021. Guss brokered the deals and received payments for the shipments. Guss was also found guilty at trial of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.
During a search of Pitter’s residence, agents located numerous money orders that were either blank or made out to a fictitious person. Agents also seized over $400,000 in appraised jewelry.
The photos below depict several items of jewelry located in Pitter and Fulton’s apartment.
DEA then began investigating Pitter’s girlfriend, Keona Fulton, as well as Pitter, for money laundering. DEA’s financial investigation revealed that Fulton had four bank accounts, including a business bank account, which she used to layer and co-mingle Pitter’s narcotics proceeds. The investigation showed that Fulton and Pitter used some of the money to obtain high-end vehicles, clothing, and jewelry. Fulton was also convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit money laundering and is pending sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
Large-scale Bessemer Drug Trafficking Ring IndictedRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two related indictments charging 19 defendants in a drug trafficking conspiracy based in Jefferson County have been unsealed, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
The following individuals were charged in the first indictment: Hakim Rashad James, also known as “Hop,” 48, of Birmingham, Ranisha Alliya Tolbert, also known as “Nisha,” 26, of Bessemer, Kelvin Dean Lewis, 48, of Bessemer, Walter Jamal Tate, 47, of Birmingham, James Edward Williams, Jr., also known as “Junior,” 42, of Bessemer, Dornita Corine Roberson, 33, of Brighton, Carveyon Tiean Jargee Glover, also known as “Black,” 27, of Bessemer, Sammy Anthony Bryant, Jr., also known as “Pooh,” 43, of Bessemer, Leniqua Tamarshay Wood, 31, of Midfield, Patra Shaneal Floyd, 29, of Birmingham, and Stayci Aieyanna Long, 22, of Brighton.
These individuals were charged in the second indictment: Antonious Somuntez Sanders, also known as “Ant,” 45, of Bessemer, Zestra Cartasha Williams, also known as “Star,” 46, of Bessemer, Anthony Martez Harris, 39, of Birmingham, Luis Antonio Spano, 48, of Warrior, Geoffrey Lawson, 59, of Bessemer, Annenah Majeed, 48, of Bessemer, Tom Devonte Woods, 31, of Columbiana, and an unnamed defendant also known as “Roy,” 70, of Bessemer.
All 19 defendants were charged with conspiracy with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl between February 2025 and December 2025. The indictments also charge 15 of the defendants with at least one count of using a telephone to facilitate a drug-trafficking crime.
The FBI and DEA, along with local law enforcement agencies, have seized over 30 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl as part of this joint investigation. The indictments include special grand jury findings regarding the amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl attributable to various defendants as part of the drug-trafficking conspiracies:
- Sanders, Williams, and Majeed are charged with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
- Sanders is also charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
- James is charged with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
- Harris, Spano, Lawson, and “Roy” are charged with conspiracy to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
- Woods is charged with conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Tolbert, Tate, Williams, Jr., Roberson, Lewis, and Long are charged with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Glover, Wood, and Floyd are charged with conspiracy to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
- Bryant, Jr. is charged with conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
The DEA and FBI investigated the cases along with the Bessemer Police Department, West Alabama Narcotics Task Force, Fairfield Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Vestavia Police Department, Hoover Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Irondale Police Department and the Homewood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and Carson R. Gilbert are prosecuting the cases.
This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Alabama HSTF comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Internal Revenue Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Lakeland Tax Preparer Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay the Internal Revenue Service Nearly $13 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Jeffrey Dixon to four years and nine months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aiding and assisting in the filing of false and fraudulent tax returns. Dixon pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $1,093,552.50, the proceeds of the criminal conduct, and to pay restitution in the amount of $12,964,382.00 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through July 2023, Dixon engaged in a scheme to defraud the IRS. Dixon prepared or assisted in the preparation of 458 false and fraudulent tax returns for 319 taxpayers, including himself, for tax years 2018 through 2022. The tax returns contained falsified Schedules A and 1, as well as fraudulent Forms W-2G. The returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, and federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive.
“Tax fraud isn’t a shortcut—it’s a fast track to prison,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “IRS Special Agents work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the tax system and ensure that those who steal from the American public face justice. IRS Special Agents will continue to pursue anyone who thinks they can game the system.”
The total intended tax loss from the tax returns Dixon prepared was $42,359,399. The actual loss totaled $12,964,382, which the IRS paid out to taxpayers, including Dixon, either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts. Dixon personally profited $1,093,552.50 in the form of payments from his taxpayer-clients or refunds he received directly from the IRS.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ross Roberts and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
Lake Oswego Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison and Forfeits over $500,000 for Cocaine Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Lake Oswego, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for trafficking cocaine and laundering the proceeds through a business bank account to buy cryptocurrency.
Michael Wayne Frost, 47, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit over half a million dollars’ worth of assets involved in his money laundering offense, including cryptocurrency and cash.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers engaged in multiple controlled purchases of cocaine from Frost. On July 2, 2024, a federal search warrant was served on Frost’s residence in Lake Oswego. Agents seized a kilogram of cocaine and about $20,000 in cash from the residence. Agents later applied for additional warrants and seized more than $509,000 in cash and cryptocurrency tied to the cocaine sales. Frost deposited some of the cash into a business bank account he controlled and then transferred funds to Robinhood, a platform he used to invest in cryptocurrency, in an effort to launder the drug proceeds.
On August 21, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging Frost with distributing cocaine and money laundering.
On September 24, 2025, Frost pleaded guilty to count one of the Indictment charging possession with intent to distribute cocaine and counts two and three of the Indictment charging money laundering.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Gresham Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office. It was prosecuted by Kemp Strickland and Christopher Cardani, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
KC Man Sentenced to 32 Years for Murder-for-Hire ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to commit murder for hire, felon in possession of a firearm, and violation of a previous term of federal supervised release.
Thomas D. Clegg, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 30 years in federal prison without parole for participating in a conspiracy to commit murder for hire and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Clegg was also sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for a violation of his supervised release on a felon in possession of a firearm case from 2012. He committed the conspiracy and weapons offenses while on that term of supervision. All sentences imposed were ordered to run consecutively for a total of 32 years.
Clegg and others conspired from Aug. 19, 2021, to June 13, 2022, to murder a victim identified as “J.C.” and his family members for payment in cash and marijuana.
The conspiracy included two occasions when Clegg shot J.C. On Aug. 19, 2021, Clegg shot J.C. in the leg and back in the parking lot of Ugly Joe’s bar in Kansas City, Mo. On May 25, 2022, Clegg shot J.C. multiple times in the parking lot of a strip mall located at 4010 Sterling Ave., Kansas City, Mo. The businesses in and near the strip mall included an accounting firm, daycare, and fitness center. One witness had two children in her vehicle and was picking up her third child from the daycare when her vehicle was struck by gunfire. Her driver’s side window was shot out, but no one in her vehicle was injured.
Investigators seized Clegg’s cellphones when he was arrested. Investigators obtained search warrants for Clegg’s cellphones and discovered several text messages between Clegg and co-conspirators demonstrating that Clegg was hired to murder J.C. The messages also showed a persistent pattern of Clegg and others tracking members of J.C.’s family in attempts to locate and murder them.
In May 2025, Clegg pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Clegg was found guilty of the conspiracy to commit murder for hire at the conclusion of a five-day jury trial.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashleigh A. Ragner and Heather Siegele. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, the Independence, Mo. Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Justice Department Opens Investigation into Baltimore City Health Department for Racially Segregated TrainingRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched an investigation into the Baltimore City, Maryland, Health Department (BCHD) to determine whether it engages in employment practices that discriminate against, or limit, segregate, or classify, employees because of their race, color, and national origin in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
“Separating employees into training groups based on their race is discriminatory, illegal, and un-American. Such practices are divisive and foster a racially hostile work environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Racial segregation of employees is deeply offensive to the American guarantee of equal rights under the law, and it will not be tolerated.”
Public reporting indicates that BCHD segregates its employees into groups based on race, color, and national origin for “racial equity training.” These groups include the “white caucus” and the “people of color caucus.” BCHD describes the “white caucus” as a “group of white people who meet for the purpose of building analysis, awareness, stamina, and strategy to challenge systemic racism and internalized white supremacy.” BCHD further states that “[w]hite affinity groups allow us to examine our racial conditioning without relying on people of color for answers or subjecting them to our process.”
The Civil Rights Division has not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation. You can read the notice letter here.
Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Pipeline Case in WisconsinRead the Press Release
Note: View statement of interest here.
The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and Civil Division yesterday filed a statement of interest in a case in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin involving the potential shut down of the Line 5 pipeline operated by Enbridge.
The statement of interest supports staying the district court’s injunction that requires Enbridge to cease operating its Line 5 pipeline in the Bad River Reservation by June 16, 2026. The case has been pending appeal since December 2023 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
“If the Line 5 pipeline is shut down in June, America’s energy supply chain would be disrupted and Americans would see increased costs,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “The Seventh Circuit is considering the case, and the district court should not impose drastic actions in this matter while the case is on appeal.”
President Donald J. Trump declared a national energy emergency which underscores the need for an affordable and reliable supply of energy for America’s prosperity and security. A shutdown of Line 5 would damage the United States’ interest because there are no ready alternatives to transport energy products currently flowing through Line 5, as the Justice Department further explained in a statement of interest filed last year in a case between Enbridge and Michigan.
Chief of Staff and Senior General Counsel John Adams of ENRD filed the statement alongside attorneys within ENRD’s Law and Policy Section and the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch.
SOI Enbridge Line 5 WI.pdfJury finds Crow Agency man guilty of sexual abuse on the Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Crow Agency man who sexually abused a minor on the Crow Indian Reservation was found guilty by a federal jury today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Following a three-day trial, Jared Cordell Stewart, 54, was found guilty of one count of abusive sexual contact of a child. Stewart faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and not less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 4, 2026. Stewart was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that in July of 2020 Jane Doe disclosed Stewart had been sexually abusing her. However, during a visit from law enforcement Doe denied the abuse.
About one year later, in October 2021, the police spoke with Jane Doe again. This time she said Stewart had sexually abused her many times, beginning when she was seven or eight years old. Law enforcement interviewed everyone who lived in the home, and many reported seeing Stewart go into Jane Doe’s room at night and after she showered. Some of the other people who lived in the home reported seeing Stewart treat Jane Doe differently and saw inappropriate photos of her on his cell phone. One child reported that while he was visiting the home he witnessed Stewart touch Jane Doe’s legs while she was in bed. Another minor, Jane Doe 2, reported Stewart made inappropriate comments about her and approached her while she was alone and asleep in her room on one occasion. Jane Doe 2 said she refused Stewart’s advances, and she believes he thereafter targeted Jane Doe.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey Hendricks and Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI.
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Jamaican National Sentenced to Prison for Engaging in Fraud Scheme Targeting the ElderlyRead the Press Release
Tucson, Ariz. – Deeno Roberto Jackson, 27, of Jamaica, was sentenced on Jan. 28, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Jackson previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
“American seniors should be respected, not taken advantage of,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Scammers use fake sweepstakes, health care, tech support, and government imposter schemes to steal seniors’ hard-earned savings. In this case, an Arizona victim lost more than $480,000. My office, alongside our local, state, and federal partners, will continue to pursue justice for victims of fraud.”
“Most people work hard for their well-earned money; Mr. Jackson did not. He preyed on the trust and good faith of our elderly population for personal gain,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “Any and all reporting of elder fraud is significant, and we are grateful to the victims in this case who came forward. Consistent reporting helps us identify patterns, stop offenders, and protect others who are being scammed. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please report it.”
Jackson took part in a conspiracy to defraud elderly victims in what is commonly referred to as a lottery or sweepstakes fraud scheme. Through materially false representations, the co-conspirators created the false impression that the victims won a prize. The co-conspirators communicated that to obtain these winnings, the victims were required to pay fees or taxes. However, in real lotteries, fees and taxes are paid by the winner after receiving the proceeds. In furtherance of the fraud scheme, the co-schemers falsely represented that they were acting as representatives of the federal government. Victims were directed to purchase gift cards, and to deposit funds into bank accounts controlled by Jackson and others. One Arizona victim lost over $480,000 from the scheme. Jackson was also ordered to pay restitution to various victims totaling $74,530.
The FBI, Tucson office, conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 4:25-cr-02403-RM-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-016_Jackson
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Jamaican National Sentenced to 22 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DWAYNE CLAUD SINGH, 39, a citizen of Jamaica last residing in New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 22 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2014, Singh was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of drug, weapon, and forgery offenses and was sentenced to five years of imprisonment. He was deported to Jamaica in January 2018. Singh illegally reentered the U.S. and obtained a California driver’s license in the name of “Kevin Anthony Smith.” He began using that false identity and the fake license to obtain employment and to register and obtain insurance on two vehicles in Connecticut.
Singh has been detained since his arrest on a federal criminal complaint on July 23, 2025. At the time of his arrest, he also had an active state arrest warrant for breach of peace and threatening offenses, which was issued in March 2023. On October 4, 2025, Singh pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawful reentry.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
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.
Insect Shield LLC and Co-Founder’s Estate Agree to Pay $1.4M to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Insect Shield LLC, located in North Carolina, and the Estate of Richard Lane, a co-founder and co-owner of Insect Shield, have agreed to pay a combined $1.4 million to resolve allegations that Insect Shield and Lane caused the submission of false claims to the Department of Defense (DoD) under contracts to provide Army Combat Uniforms. Lane served as the president and chief operating officer of Insect Shield until his death in December 2022.
The United States filed its complaint-in-intervention in December 2023 alleging that Insect Shield, a subcontractor to multiple defense contractors who manufacture Army uniforms, violated the False Claims Act by falsifying test results regarding the application of permethrin, an insect repellant, to Army uniforms. The United States alleged that between 2015 and 2021 Insect Shield and Lane failed to follow the permethrin testing requirements by inappropriately combining results from different rounds of testing, re-labeling test samples to hide the true origin of the samples, performing re-tests of uniforms in excess of what the contract permitted, and concealing failing test results.
“Government contractors and subcontractors must comply with contractual commitments and share truthful information with the government,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will aggressively pursue those who defraud the American taxpayers by failing to properly perform required testing on goods supplied to our soldiers.”
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), is fully committed to safeguarding the integrity of the DoD procurement process,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Manipulating and failing to perform contractually required testing is not only fraudulent, but compromises military readiness. DCIS will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate and hold accountable those who submit false claims.”
“Our Soldiers rely on government contractors to provide equipment that they can depend on while serving their country,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith Kelly, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Fraud Field Office. “The result of this investigation shows that our Army CID and our partner law enforcement agencies are relentless in their pursuit of anyone who may attempt to defraud the U.S. Government by falsely reporting compliance with contractually obligated requirements for equipment used by our Soldiers
The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the United States when a defendant has submitted or caused to be submitted false claims for government funds and receive a portion of any recovery. Ms. Downs will receive $315,000 as her share of the settlement. The qui tam case, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, is captioned U.S. ex rel. Downs v. Insect Shield, LLC et al., No. 1:19-cv-1026 (M.D.N.C.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina with assistance from the DoD Office of Inspector General, Army Criminal Investigation Division, Defense Contract Management Agency, and Defense Contract Audit Agency.
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Jonathan Hoerner, Jikky Thankachan, and Jeffrey McSorley and Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Middle District of North Carolina.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Note: Read the Insect Shield Agreement here; and the Estate of Richard Lane Agreement here.
Insect Shield LLC and Co-Founder’s Estate Agree to Pay $1.4M to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Insect Shield LLC, located in North Carolina, and the Estate of Richard Lane, a co-founder and co-owner of Insect Shield, have agreed to pay a combined $1.4 million to resolve allegations that Insect Shield and Lane caused the submission of false claims to the Department of Defense (DoD) under contracts to provide Army Combat Uniforms. Lane served as the president and chief operating officer of Insect Shield until his death in December 2022.
The United States filed its complaint-in-intervention in December 2023 alleging that Insect Shield, a subcontractor to multiple defense contractors who manufacture Army uniforms, violated the False Claims Act by falsifying test results regarding the application of permethrin, an insect repellant, to Army uniforms. The United States alleged that between 2015 and 2021 Insect Shield and Lane failed to follow the permethrin testing requirements by inappropriately combining results from different rounds of testing, re-labeling test samples to hide the true origin of the samples, performing re-tests of uniforms in excess of what the contract permitted, and concealing failing test results.
“Government contractors and subcontractors must comply with contractual commitments and share truthful information with the government,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will aggressively pursue those who defraud the American taxpayers by failing to properly perform required testing on goods supplied to our soldiers.”
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), is fully committed to safeguarding the integrity of the DoD procurement process,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Manipulating and failing to perform contractually required testing is not only fraudulent, but compromises military readiness. DCIS will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate and hold accountable those who submit false claims.”
“Our Soldiers rely on government contractors to provide equipment that they can depend on while serving their country,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith Kelly, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Fraud Field Office. “The result of this investigation shows that our Army CID and our partner law enforcement agencies are relentless in their pursuit of anyone who may attempt to defraud the U.S. Government by falsely reporting compliance with contractually obligated requirements for equipment used by our Soldiers
The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the United States when a defendant has submitted or caused to be submitted false claims for government funds and receive a portion of any recovery. Ms. Downs will receive $315,000 as her share of the settlement. The qui tam case, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, is captioned U.S. ex rel. Downs v. Insect Shield LLC et al., No. 1:19-cv-1026 (M.D.N.C.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina with assistance from the DoD Office of Inspector General, Army Criminal Investigation Division, Defense Contract Management Agency, and Defense Contract Audit Agency.
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Jonathan Hoerner, Jikky Thankachan, and Jeffrey McSorley and Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Middle District of North Carolina.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Note: Read the Insect Shield Agreement here; and the Estate of Richard Lane Agreement here.
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Independence Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who distributed child pornography was sentenced on February 3, 3026, to more than 12 years in federal prison.
Curtis Lellig, age 42, of Independence, Iowa, received the sentence after an August 25, 2025, guilty plea to one count of distribution of child pornography. At the plea hearing, Lellig admitted that, between December 2022 and January 2024, he knowingly distributed child pornography.
Lellig was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Lellig was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $66,000 in restitution to 20 victims depicted in the child pornography he possessed. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Independence Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol.
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. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 25-2020.
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Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Oscar Armando Banegas Mendoza, a/k/a Oscar Armando Banegas-Bendoza, Oscar Armando Banegas Mendoza, Oscar Armando Banegas-Mendoza, Oscar Banegas-Bendoza, Oscar Banegas Mendoza, Oscar Armando Banegas, Oscar Armando, Oscar Banegas-Mendoza, Oscar Banegas, Oscar Mendoza, Oscar Armando Banegas Bendoza, originally complained as Oscar Armando Banegas Bendoza, age 41, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Indictment alleged that on December 16, 2025, Banegas Mendoza, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on November 27, 2010.
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 Honorable D. Edward Snow, 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.
Banegas Mendoza will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Charged with Assaulting Immigration OfficerRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jose Emilio Ba-Ruiz was arrested and appeared in federal court today after he was charged with assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officer, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A complaint filed in U.S. District Court alleges that Jose Emilio Ba-Ruiz, 51, a citizen of Mexico, committed the assault on February 2, 2026, while ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Customs Border Protection (CBP) conducted surveillance on a residence in Alabaster, Alabama. After officers saw a vehicle leave the residence that was registered to a foreign national without lawful status in the United States, CBP initiated a traffic stop. A Deportation Officer with ICE/ERO assisted with the traffic stop and approached the vehicle’s front passenger window. The passenger identified himself as Ba-Ruiz and was asked to exit the vehicle. After he exited, the Officer removed a knife from his pants pocket and told Ba-Ruiz that he was under arrest. When the Officer attempted to place Ba-Ruiz in handcuffs, he resisted and began to struggle with the Officer. He then pushed the Officer’s hands away, causing the Officer to fall to the ground and hit her head. Ba-Ruiz fled the scene on foot into the woods and used a stranger’s phone to call someone to pick him up. A short time later, United States Marshals Service deputies observed a male get into a Honda Accord near where the traffic stop had occurred. Officers stopped the Honda and discovered Ba-Ruiz lying in the back seat of the vehicle. Ba-Ruiz was taken into ICE custody and transported to the ICE Birmingham Office.
The Deportation Officer was transferred to the hospital to receive treatment for injuries the Officer suffered during the struggle with Ba-Ruiz.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney John G. Camp is prosecuting the case.
An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Independence Man Sentenced to 235 Months in Federal Prison for Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kurt Wall announced the sentencing of Michael D. Nelson, age 56 of Independence, Louisiana, in connection with an extensive federal, state, and local investigation aimed at a large-scale cocaine and heroin trafficking network based in East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes.
U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles sentenced Nelson to 235 months in federal prison following his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Nelson to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. In imposing Nelson’s prison term, the Court found that from approximately July 2017 through February 2018, Nelson ran a drug trafficking business and, pending trial, obstructed justice, made false statements to law enforcement, and threatened a witness. In total, the Court found Nelson responsible for ten kilograms of cocaine and over 280 grams of methamphetamine.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Nelson was associated with Travis James, who led a group of co-conspirators, namely Troy James, Joshua Mansion, Kim Murphy, Yascia LaFrance, Belinda Carter, Cornelius Carter, and others in a venture to obtain kilograms of cocaine from various sources in Houston, Texas, and transport said cocaine to stash houses located in Baton Rouge and Prairieville. Some amounts of cocaine were broken down for distribution to others, including Nelson, while other amounts were converted by James into crack cocaine for sale to others.
In many instances, the amounts transported by this group into the Middle District involved five or more kilograms of cocaine per trip. During this investigation, authorities seized and forfeited over $500,000 in drug trafficking proceeds from James as well as approximately eight firearms, two kilo presses, and heroin and cocaine testing kits. The investigation also revealed that James was making plans to branch out into heroin trafficking using the money he had accumulated from the sale of crack and powder cocaine. He was planning to commence that enterprise by purchasing a kilogram of heroin.
Chief Judge Dick previously sentenced seven other individuals in connection with this scheme. Travis R. James, age 42, of Port Allen, Louisiana, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and one or more kilograms of heroin. The Court further sentenced James to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Troy James, age 39, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and heroin. The Court further sentenced James to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Joshua Mansion, age 38, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. The Court further sentenced Mansion to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Kim Murphy, age 61, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. The Court further sentenced Murphy to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Yascia LaFrance, age 45, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison following her conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. The Court further sentenced LaFrance to serve four years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment.
Cornelius Carter, age 36, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to obtain, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and one or more kilograms of heroin and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. The Court further sentenced Carter to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Belinda Carter, age 41, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison following her conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The Court further sentenced Carter to serve two years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment.
This Operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, 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 Baton Rouge comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge City Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Other agencies also assisted in apprehending the defendants, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Sheriffs’ Offices in Ascension, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert W. Piedrahita and Lyman E. Thornton III.
Houston Semitruck Driver Sentenced to Federal Prison for Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Houston man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 41 months in prison for conspiring to transport illegal aliens in his commercial semitruck, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, Francisco Javier Diaz, 35, was arrested at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Eagle Pass on May 3, 2024. While Diaz waited in his semitruck in the inspection lane, a USBP canine conducted a free air sniff and alerted agents to the sleeper compartment of the vehicle. Further inspection revealed five people under the mattress in the compartment and an additional man hidden in a compartment on the side of the bed. All six passengers were determined to be illegal aliens, whom Diaz was transporting from Eagle Pass to Houston.
Diaz was indicted for one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, to which he pleaded guilty on Aug. 19, 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses presided over the case.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the USBP investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Homeland Security Task Force Arrests 2 and Seizes over 550 Kilos of Meth in San AntonioRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Two San Antonio men were arrested Tuesday on criminal charges related to their alleged conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, Gerardo Pineda-Gallegos and Jose Lopez-Ruiz were identified as distributors of methamphetamine, participating in the transportation, packaging and distribution of narcotics. A criminal complaint alleges that Pineda-Gallegos and Lopez-Ruiz were at a wholesale produce distribution warehouse on Dec. 15, 2025, where they received large shipments of methamphetamine concealed within fresh produce. The complaint alleges Pineda-Gallegos and Lopez-Ruiz walked in and out of the warehouse multiple times before entering a cargo van and driving to an office space where they stored the methamphetamine that was concealed in the produce shipments. From there, the drugs were prepared for distribution.
On Feb. 3, federal agents from the DEA and FBI, along with the officers from San Antonio Police Department’s High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) unit, executed a court-authorized search warrant on the office space. During the search, agents located approximately 100 boxes containing fresh heads of lettuce. A criminal complaint alleges that the agents searched the lettuce and discovered 998 ball-shaped packages of methamphetamine, with a total weight of approximately 555 kilograms.
Pineda-Gallegos and Lopez-Ruiz were arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted, they face 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
As part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), the DEA and FBI are investigating the case with assistance from SAPD, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski is prosecuting the case.
This case is being investigated and prosecuted by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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 criminal complaint 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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Guilty Pleas Obtained in Federal Firearms CasesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Five people have entered guilty pleas to firearms charges in the Northern District of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Ricardo Xavier Jones, 46, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, pled guilty to the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Jones was on parole when, during a probation home check, officers seized a shotgun and ammunition. The firearm was concealed in the defendant’s mattress. Jones is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior grand larceny and drug convictions.
Gary Owen Jones, 54, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, pled guilty to the unlawful possession of a firearm. A West Virginia state probation officer seized a rifle from Jones’s home during a routine parole visit. Jones is prohibited from possessing firearms due a conviction for making terroristic threats in Berkeley County, as well as another firearms conviction.
Raymond Earl Bowers, III, 42, of Morgantown, West Virginia, pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm. Bowers’ former domestic partner advised the WVU Police Department that Bowers was a convicted felon with firearms and ammunition. Monongalia County Sheriff’s Deputies then secured a search warrant and searched Bowers’ van and home, which led to the seizure of three rifles, three pistols, a shotgun, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Bowers is prohibited because of prior domestic violence convictions.
Tyler Earl Mercer, 32, of Westover, West Virginia, pled guilty to the unlawful possession of a firearm. Officers responded to a call about suspicious activity in which people looking into vehicles with a flashlight in Monongalia County. After encountering Mercer, officers confirmed that he had an active warrant related to charges for grand larceny and an attempt to disarm a law enforcement officer. During his arrest, officers located a revolver in Mercer’s waistband. Mercer is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior counterfeiting conviction.
Caitlin Ashley Fox, 28, of Moorefield, West Virginia, pled guilty to making a false statement to a federal officer. Fox’s boyfriend was under investigation for firearms violations. Fox lied to federal agents on several occasions attempting to protect her boyfriend.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Kane, Andrew Cogar, Zelda Wesley, and Stephen Warner are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia University Police Department; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; and the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation Parole Services.
These cases are a part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Gambino Crime Family Soldier Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, James Laforte, also known as “Jimmy,” an inducted member of the Gambino organized crime family, pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo to racketeering conspiracy, Hobbs Act extortion and Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy, witness retaliation, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
LaForte is the last of 10 defendants charged in a 2023 indictment in connection with various offenses committed by members and associates of the Gambino crime family— including extortion, money laundering conspiracy and witness retaliation—to plead guilty or be convicted at trial. On October 17, 2025, seven members and associates of the Gambino crime family pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in proceedings held before United States District Judge Frederic Block. Those defendants are Gambino crime family captain Joseph Lanni, also known as “Joe Brooklyn” and “Mommino;” Gambino soldiers Diego “Danny” Tantillo and Angelo Gradilone, also known as “Fifi;” U.S.-based Sicilian Mafia member and Gambino associate Vito Rappa, also known as “Vi;” U.S.-based Sicilian Mafia associate and Gambino associate Francesco Vicari, also known as “Frank” and “Uncle Ciccio;” and Gambino associates Kyle Johnson, also known as “Twin,” and Vincent Minsquero, also known as “Vinny Slick.” In August 2025, Salvatore DiLorenzo pleaded guilty to theft from employee benefits plans. In December 2025, a federal jury convicted defendant Robert Brooke of one count of Hobbs Act extortion.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General of the United States Department of Labor (DOL-OIG), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the guilty pleas and trial conviction.
“The prosecution of these members and associates of the Gambino organized crime family has dealt a significant blow to that violent criminal enterprise,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Their efforts to take over and infiltrate legitimate businesses by means of intimidation threatened hardworking New Yorkers and terrorized their victims. Our Office will continue to hold accountable those who seek to use violence and fear to enrich themselves.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Business Integrity Commission, the New York Waterfront Commission, and the Office’s law enforcement partners in Italy, including the Prosecutor of Palermo, the Polizia di Stato, the Servizio Centrale Operativo, and the Squadra Mobile of Palermo.
“These ten Gambino members and associates orchestrated a campaign of violent assaults and property destruction to collect debts and intimidate those employed by competing companies,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Their collective actions terrorized New York residents and businesses to generate an illegal revenue stream. The FBI maintains its commitment to coordinating with our local and international law enforcement partners in the fight against organized crime.”
“These defendants used fraud, intimidation, and violence in an attempt to seize control of New York City’s demolition industry, including schemes targeting labor unions and their employee benefit plans,” stated DOL Inspector General D’Esposito. “DOL-OIG will continue working shoulder to shoulder with our law-enforcement partners to root out labor racketeering and eliminate the influence of organized crime from the labor industry. Accountability is non-negotiable.”
As set forth in court filings, members and associates of the Gambino crime family used violent extortion, fraud, theft and embezzlement schemes to infiltrate the carting and demolition industries to enrich themselves and the Gambino crime family, including by laundering criminal proceeds. For example, during a financial dispute between Tantillo and the owners of a demolition company (Demolition Company 1), Tantillo and Johnson coordinated a violent hammer assault on an employee of Demolition Company 1, which left the employee bleeding and seriously injured.
Extortions Related to the Carting and Demolition Industries
Tantillo, Rappa, Vicari and Johnson engaged in a violent extortion conspiracy relating to the demand and receipt of money from an individual (John Doe 1) who operated a carting business in the New York City area. The extortion scheme involved threatening John Doe 1 with a bat, setting fire to the steps to John Doe 1’s residence, attempting to damage John Doe 1’s carting trucks, and violently assaulting an associate of John Doe 1. After John Doe 1 ultimately made a payment of $4,000 to Vicari, Vicari and Rappa met and sent Tantillo a photo of Vicari raising a small champagne bottle, as in a toast.
As proven at Brooke’s trial, in the fall of 2019, Brooke engaged in a violent extortion scheme against the owners of a demolition company (John Does 2 through 4) over purported debts owed to Tantillo and a company that was co-operated by Tantillo and Brooke. On December 18, 2019, one of the victims was walking to work when he was ambushed and attacked by Brooke at 50th Street and Eighth Avenue in midtown Manhattan. The victim suffered a fractured cheek bone, black eye and contusions to his face. In the weeks after the beating, Tantillo reached out to the victims who are brothers and told them to pay Brooke and to drop the criminal charges against Brooke. Fearing for the safety of themselves and their employees, the owners of the demolition company paid $50,000 to Tantillo and $40,000 to the company co-operated by Tantillo and Brooke.
Extortion and Assault of a Borrower
In 2020 and 2021, LaForte extorted a person who owed money to an associate of LaForte (John Doe 5). After failing to pay LaForte’s associate on time, John Doe 5 was introduced to LaForte, who asked John Doe 5 to run an illegal poker game and a craps game for LaForte. When John Doe 5 asked LaForte after the craps game for John Doe 5’s share of the earnings from running the game, LaForte hit John Doe 5 in the face, knocking John Doe 5 backward and giving him a black eye. LaForte later contacted John Doe 5’s father to force John Doe 5 to pay what LaForte said was John Doe 5’s debt. In text messages exchanged in November 2020, shortly after John Doe 5’s loan, the person who had lent John Doe 5 the money wrote that “[t]his other punk [John Doe 5] is playing games,” and “Might ride up to his house Saturday with one of my guys from down here.” Another party to the conversation responded, “I took him up to c jimmy made it clear” and later added, “We’ll get it. He’s scared to death of jimmy.”
Witness Retaliation and Assault
On February 17, 2021, LaForte and Minsquero assaulted a person who they believed had previously provided information to law enforcement about members and associates of organized crime (John Doe 6), while Lanni sat nearby. That evening LaForte and Minsquero approached John Doe 6 inside a restaurant. LaForte called John Doe 6 a “rat” and hit John Doe 6 in the face with a bottle. LaForte and Minsquero also flipped John Doe 6’s table, sending drinks and shattered glass everywhere.
Frauds and Union-Related Crimes in the Carting and Demolition Industries
Various defendants also committed a series of crimes to steal and embezzle from unions and employee benefit plans and rigged bids in the demolition and carting industries. As part of one such scheme, DiLorenzo provided Rappa with a “no-show” job at DiLorenzo’s demolition company so that Rappa could receive paychecks and union health benefits, among other benefits. Similarly, Tantillo arranged for Gradilone to receive a “no-show” job at a construction company with which Tantillo was associated, which enabled Gradilone to receive paychecks and union health benefits to which he was not entitled. Tantillo and Johnson also conspired to secure a “no-show” job for Johnson, so that Johnson could similarly receive union health benefits.
* * * * *
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Anna L. Karamigios, Andrew M. Roddin, Elias Laris, and Brooke E. Theodora are in charge of the prosecution.
Defendant Who Pleaded Guilty Today:
JAMES LAFORTE (also known as “Jimmy”)
Age: 49
New York, New York
Defendants Who Previously Pleaded Guilty:
JOSEPH LANNI (also known as “Joe Brooklyn” and “Mommino”)
Age: 54
Staten Island, New YorkDIEGO TANTILLO (also known as “Danny” and “Daniel”)
Age: 50
Freehold, New JerseyROBERT BROOKE
Age: 58
New York, New YorkSALVATORE DILORENZO
Age: 69
Oceanside, New YorkANGELO GRADILONE (also known as “Fifi”)
Age: 59
Staten Island, New YorkKYLE JOHNSON (also known as “Twin”)
Age: 48
Bronx, New YorkVINCENT MINSQUERO (also known as “Vinny Slick” )
Age: 39
Staten Island, New YorkVITO RAPPA (also known as “Vi”)
Age: 58
East Brunswick, New JerseyFRANCESCO VICARI (also known as “Frank” and “Uncle Ciccio”)
Age: 65
Elmont, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-443 (FB)
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 190 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Michael O. Beers, 39 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Beers was sentenced to 190 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in October 2024, officers found Beers unconscious behind the steering wheel of a running vehicle parked in a gas station parking lot. When officers went to check on Beers, they found a loaded handgun holstered on his hip. A search of his car revealed large amounts of heroin and fentanyl, a digital scale, and other drug items. Fentanyl is extremely dangerous and potentially lethal, and Beers intended to sell hundreds of thousands of lethal doses of fentanyl in the community. In addition to his armed drug trafficking, Beers has a significant criminal history with prior weapons and drug convictions, making his possession of the firearm unlawful.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin C. Sheridan.
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.
Fordyce Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine and CocaineRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Eric Matlock, who has a previous state conviction for conspiracy to deliver cocaine, will spend the next 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
On October 9, 2024, Matlock, 42, of Fordyce, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a two-count indictment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. On August 8, 2025, Matlock pleaded guilty to the counts in the indictment. Judge Moody also sentenced Matlock to five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
In February of 2024, the Dallas County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division opened an investigation in Fordyce due to an influx of narcotic activity. During the investigation, Matlock was identified as a potential narcotics dealer. Using confidential sources and surveillance technology, law enforcement conducted controlled buys of narcotics from Matlock. During these controlled buys, deputies utilized aerial surveillance technology to monitor Matlock’s movements.
As a result of the investigation, a search warrant was executed at Matlock’s residence on June 30, 2024. During the search of the residence, officers located a buried footlocker near the carport. Located in the footlocker were multiple plastic bags containing large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, $3,841 in cash, and digital scales. The controlled substances were confirmed to be 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.2 pounds of cocaine.
In addition to Matlock’s previous state conviction for conspiracy to deliver cocaine, his criminal history also includes two convictions for possession of crack cocaine, a conviction for possession of firearms by certain persons, and a conviction for possession of paraphernalia to manufacture methamphetamine/cocaine, and maintaining a drug premises.
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 Little Rock comprises agents and officers from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and FBI with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
The investigation was conducted by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Reese Lancaster.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
First defendant in drug trafficking organization dealing in the International District and homeless encampments sentenced to 30 months in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – The first of some 20 defendants charged with trafficking narcotics in Seattle’s homeless encampments and International District was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Theodore Nation, 36, has been in custody since January 2025. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, Nation had been dealing “to particularly vulnerable and marginalized members of the community.”
“This drug trafficking organization sold addictive substances to some of the most marginalized members of our community – those living in homeless encampments such as “The Jungle” under Interstate 5,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This defendant made his living feeding the addiction of others making it ever more difficult for them to get out of the danger of homeless encampments.”
“As a redistributor, Mr. Nation had a significant role in the Jungle Drug Trafficking Organization which sold dangerous drugs in the homeless encampments near the International District and I-5," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “This organization and others like it fuel the fentanyl crisis in the United States with drugs that all too often prove fatal. FBI Seattle remains committed to working with our partners to combat drug trafficking and violent crime in Seattle and across the state of Washington.”
“In Seattle, our fight for a Fentanyl Free America is not abstract — it’s on the streets,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The fentanyl powder alone seized from this group contained more than 1.7 million potentially lethal doses. Mr. Nation trafficked fentanyl and other deadly drugs in and around our homeless encampments and preyed on the most vulnerable in our community. The DEA, alongside our federal and local partners, is committed to using every enforcement tool at our disposal to shut down fentanyl supply chains, protect public safety, and save lives in Seattle and across the nation.”
According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in November 2023, with the Seattle Police, FBI, and DEA focusing on a drug trafficking organization dealing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the homeless encampments of Seattle and in drug trafficking areas of the International District at locations such as 12th and Jackson. In the first round of arrests and indictments in January 2025, some of the defendants were arrested with firearms. Using a court authorized wiretap, investigators gathered evidence of the drug trafficking and made arrests and seizures over the course of the investigation. Law enforcement heard intimations of violence on the calls and worked to intervene without tipping off the targets of the investigation.
During the January arrest operation, law enforcement seized 17 firearms and 23 kilos of suspected fentanyl powder.
A second round of indictments and arrests occurred in late May 2025. In this part of the investigation, in March 2025 alone, law enforcement seized 100 pounds of methamphetamine, 111 kilos of cocaine, 19 kilos of fentanyl powder, 250,000 fentanyl pills, and four kilos of heroin. The street value of the narcotics was nearly $3 million.
In their sentencing memo asking for a 57-month sentence for Nation prosecutors noted the deadly toll of fentanyl. “According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, 167 people died of fentanyl-involved overdoses in King County in 2020. By 2023, the number of fentanyl-involved overdoses in King County rose to 1,086.2 Although the number of fentanyl-involved overdoses peaked in 2023 in King County, in 2024 there were still 788 fentanyl-involved overdoses and in 2025 there were still 696 fentanyl-involved overdoses.”
The investigation was led by the FBI, Seattle Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with significant assistance from the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Investigators also worked with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Tukwila Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Brian Wynne.
This investigation 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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
Fentanyl and Cocaine Distributor Sentenced for Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced an Arundel County, Maryland, man to federal prison in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy involving fentanyl, cocaine, and other drugs.
Kelly Bowers, 36, received a seven-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD), and Chief Edward Jackson, Annapolis Police Department (APD).
According to the guilty plea, in August 2022, FBI investigators identified Bowers as a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) known as Newtowne (collectively, “the Newtowne 20 DTO”) that supplied drugs to individuals in the Annapolis area.
During the period of the conspiracy, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland authorized wiretaps on DTO members’ electronic devices. Law enforcement intercepted numerous conversations which allowed investigators to identify individuals, including Bowers, involved in drug trafficking with Newtowne 20 DTO members. Others charged include Leonard Simms, sentenced to 57 months on July 1, 2025; Amber Naylor, sentenced to time-served on June 3, 2025; Isiah Naylor, who pled guilty on May 23, 2025; Raheem Allsup, sentenced to 48 months on May 9, 2025; and Keith Williams, sentenced to 68 months on November 19, 2024.
Bowers served as one of the Newtowne 20 DTO’s main distributors. Law enforcement intercepted and recorded several calls between Bowers and his customers and conversations between him and his co-conspirators.
During the investigation, law enforcement conducted surveillance and observed Bowers engaging in a drug transaction. On November 27, 2023, AACOPD investigators saw Bowers driving in Annapolis. After AACOPD officers watched Bowers conduct a hand-to-hand transaction with a known user of controlled substances, they initiated a traffic stop. Officers stopped the buyer and recovered drugs from her which later tested positive for cocaine. Law enforcement also recovered cocaine from Bowers’ vehicle. Additionally, during the traffic stop, law enforcement found Bowers in possession of fentanyl.
The federal wiretap led to an eventual takedown on January 25, 2024. During the investigation, law enforcement identified multiple vehicles and locations in and around Annapolis used by the Newtowne 20 DTO as stash houses and residences for drug trafficking. On January 25, agents executed search warrants on eight locations and four vehicles and issued arrest warrants for several individuals. Law enforcement also recovered drugs of various types and quantities from three of the targeted locations and one firearm from the residence of a co-conspirator.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, AACOPD, and APD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Jon Tsuei who prosecuted this federal 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 Baltimore comprises agents and officers from various federal, state, and local agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
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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Federal Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Receipt of a Bribe by a Public OfficialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Karen Torres (50, St. Cloud) has pleaded guilty to receiving a bribe as a public official. She faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. As part of her plea, Torres has agreed to forfeit $43,550, which represents the proceeds of her criminal offense. Her sentencing date has not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, Torres was a public official employed by the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, as a correctional officer. She worked at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Coleman) in Sumter County. Between May 2022 and March 3, 2025, Torres introduced contraband (marijuana, cigarettes, and K2) into FCC Coleman in exchange for $43,550 in bribes from inmates.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Harrington is handling the forfeiture.
February Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the February Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Andres Avila Pineda; Anthony Avila; Andres Avila, Jr.; Ranferi Manriquez. Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms (superseding). Andres, 48, a Mexican national, Anthony, 22, Andres Jr., 24, and Ranferi, 31, of Houston, Texas, are charged with conspiring with others to transport firearms knowing that possession would constitute a felony. Andres is further charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-460
Robin Christopher Black. Conspiracy; Benefits Fraud. Black, 63, of Tulsa, is charged with conspiring with others to obtain money from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) by selling stolen benefits for cash. He is further charged with acquiring and possessing SNAP funds contrary to the Department of Agriculture regulations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General, the Oklahoma Department of Health Services – Office of the Inspector General, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-035
Bryan Abisai Costeira-Hernandez. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Costeria-Hernandez, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. He is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Further, Costeria-Hernandez is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2022 Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-036
Willis James Gray. Felon in Possession of Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Gray, 41, of Bartlesville and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. He is additionally charged with assaulting the victim with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-037
Crawford Don Harper, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Harper, 38, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Heign is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-038
Romiro Leonardo Hernandez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Leonardo Hernandez, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Further, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in May 2017, January 2018, and August 2018. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-039
James Robert Hurley, aka James Gomes. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Hurley, also known as James Gomes, 25, of Rose, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from July to on or about November 2025. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-040
Jose Brian Jimenez Contreras. Possession of a False Immigration Document. Jimenez Contreras, 20, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing a fake Legal Permanent Resident card. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Briolara is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-044
Arturo Rodriguez Aguero. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez Aguero, 49, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in June 2017, February 2018, and August 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-045
John Edgar Williams, IV; Jeremy Mindez Ruff; Savannah D’naisha May Gage; Nevaeh Charise Cox; Trinity Rinique Goudeau; Shavari Shantell Melton; Vanessa Lashay Bell; Ashley Elaine Charles. Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking (Count 1); Transporting an Individual for Prostitution (Counts 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, and 13); Interstate Travel to Aid Racketeering (Count 4); Distribution of Child Pornography (Count 5); Sex Trafficking (Counts 6, 12, and 15); Sex Trafficking a Minor (Counts 8, 11, 14, and 17); Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Count 16); Commission of Felony Sex Offense Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender (Counts 18 & 19); Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity (Count 20); Child Exploitation Enterprise (Count 21) (third superseding). Williams, 38, Gage, 25, Cox, 39, Goudeau, 24, Melton, 20, Bell, 20, Charles, 37, of Tulsa, and Ruff, 39, of Dallas, Texas, are charged with conspiring with each other to recruit, entice, and harbor a person by threats of force to engage in a commercial sex act for payment. Williams, Gage, Ruff, and Goudeau are charged separately for transporting people to engage in prostitution and other sexual activities. Williams, Ruff, Gage, Cox, Goudeau, Melton, and Charles are further charged with using interstate and foreign commerce to promote and manage a business enterprise involving prostitution. Ruff, Cox, Gage, Goudeau, and Melton are charged with recruiting and enticing minor children, between 14 and 18 years old, to engage in sexually explicit acts. Williams is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Ruff is charged with committing a felony offense involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender. Additionally, Williams, Gage, and Goudeau are charged with benefiting financially from recruiting, harboring, and providing transportation to an individual to engage in commercial sex acts. Cox is further charged with knowingly distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Gage transported a minor child across state lines to engage in sexual activity. Lastly, Gage is charged with engaging in a child exploitation enterprise by working with others, in three or more incidents, to sex traffic more than three victims. The Tulsa Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore, John Brasher, and John W. Dowdell are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-197
Fairfield County man pleads guilty to receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lancaster man pleaded guilty in federal court today to receiving child pornography.
Carson A. Bigham, 24, was originally arrested on federal charges in May 2025. In a bill of information filed in January 2026, Bigham is charged with receipt of child pornography.
According to court documents, law enforcement received two separate Cybertips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to a Columbus man who was subsequently charged with federal child pornography crimes in March 2025, including exploitation of a minor. One report was from Kik messenger regarding the distribution of 13 child pornography files. The second report was from Sniffies LLC, a map-based hookup application for gay, bisexual and bicurious men.
As part of their investigation, devices were seized from the Columbus man. Law enforcement’s forensic review of the devices revealed conversations between the Columbus man and Bigham. The conversations between the two men were sexual in nature and included discussions about engaging in sex with minors. Between August 2024 and May 2025, Bigham received child pornography, including files that depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sex acts with adults.
Law enforcement officers learned that Bigham was at the time employed as a Columbus firefighter and photographs of Bigham match those sent to the Columbus man during their conversations.
Receiving child pornography is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force; and officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Columbus Airport Group and Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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FBI Arrests Smyth County Doctor on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A 68-year-old doctor, who worked at Smyth County Community Hospital and allegedly had a sexual relationship with an underage female coworker that included exchanging explicit imagines with the victim, was arrested yesterday by the FBI.
Michael Kevin Patrick, of Sugar Grove, Va., was arrested yesterday and charged via federal criminal complaint with receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He made his initial court appearance today in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.
According to court documents, Juvenile Victim 1 (JV1) began working at Smyth County Community Hospital in December 2023, when she was 16 years old. Shortly after starting her job, JV1 met Patrick in an elevator. JV1 told Patrick she was 17 years old, in high school, and interested in the medical field. The two began talking regularly at work.
In late 2024, JV1 and Patrick started eating lunch together and communicating regularly via text messages and phone calls. Eventually, Patrick and JV1 engaged in sexual conversations with one another and exchanged nude pictures of themselves via text message.
In addition, Patrick started having a physical relationship with JV1 at his home and at work. During that span of time, JV1 was 16 years old. Patrick told JV1 that he was “looking forward to” her birthday, that the relationship had to be “secret,” and that he “needed” her. After JV1 turned 17, and after Patrick believed JV1 had turned 18, Patrick had sexual intercourse with JV1.
Patrick and JV1 exchanged more than 19,000 text messages with one another. After Patrick’s activities were discovered, he deleted his text messages with JV1.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marion Police Department.
Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Pierce is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Eleven Individuals Indicted in a Marriage Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of a three-count indictment charging 11 individuals for their alleged roles in federal conspiracies related to marriage fraud and bribery. The indictment alleges the following charges against each defendant:
Charge
Offense Dates
Name
Maximum Penalties
Marriage Fraud ConspiracyMarch 2024 – February 2025Anny Chen (54, New York)
Sha Xie (38, China)
Linlin Wang (38, Chine)
Jiawei Chen (29, China)
Yafeng Deng (23, New York)
Hailing Feng (27, New York)
Kiah Holly (29, Maryland)
Xionghu Fang (41, China)
Tao Fan (26, China)
Jaden Bullion (24, Florida)
Kin Man Cheok (32, China)
5 yearsMarriage FraudAugust 31, 2024Anny Chen
Linlin Wang
5 yearsBribery ConspiracyNovember 2024 – February 14, 2025Anny Chen
Hailing Feng
Kin Man Cheok
5 yearsAccording to the indictment, the above named individuals allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to recruit United States citizens, preferably members of the armed forces, to enter into sham marriages to Chinese nationals for the purpose of evading immigration laws and illicitly obtaining lawful permanent resident status for the Chinese nationals. The sham marriages took place around the country, including in Jacksonville, as well as in New York, Connecticut, and Nevada. To create the illusion of a real marriage, the conspirators took photographs of the couples to create evidence that could be presented to immigration authorities to suggest that the marriages were legitimate, and the couples were in loving, committed relationships. In reality, the conspirators had agreed to a payment plan whereby the United States citizen spouse would receive a cash payment up front for marrying the Chinese national, a second payment when legal immigration status was obtained, and a final payment after the divorce.
Anny Chen and Wang are charged additionally for a sham marriage that occurred in Jacksonville in August 2024.
In related cases, Raymond Zumba, Brinio Urena, Morgan Chambers, and Jacinth Bailey, former servicemembers in the United States Navy, have all pleaded guilty to charges related to the same scheme. Their sentencing hearings are pending.
The indictment also alleges that Anny Chen, Hailing Feng, and Kin Man Cheok conspired to bribe a public official. Specifically, in January 2025, a confidential source reported to law enforcement that Navy reservist Raymond Zumba (who has also already pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official) had offered to bribe the source and the source’s spouse who worked at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in the personnel office that issues Department of Defense identification cards. The source reported that Zumba asked whether the spouse would be willing to issue real, but unauthorized ID cards for an under-the-table payment. Acting at the direction of federal agents, the source proceeded to engage in a series of communications with Zumba during which they discussed Zumba’s plan to obtain unauthorized ID cards in exchange for cash. After driving from New York, Zumba arrived in Jacksonville on February 13, 2025, with Anny Chen, Feng, and Cheok.
Zumba brought these individuals to NAS Jacksonville where the source’s spouse let them into the personnel office after business hours and initiated the process for Anny Chen and Cheok to receive ID cards. The following day, Zumba met with the source, who gave him two cards in exchange for $3,500. Zumba was promptly arrested, and the cards were recovered.
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 Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Mesrobian and Michael J. Coolican.
Duxbury Man Indicted for Distributing Fentanyl and Cocaine in Greater Plymouth Area and Conspiring to Launder the ProceedsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Duxbury man has been charged in a six-count indictment for allegedly distributing, and conspiring to distribute, fentanyl and cocaine in Duxbury, Kingston, Middleborough and Plymouth.
Justin Tatum, a/k/a “JD,” 40, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine). Tatum was also indicted on two counts of distributing fentanyl (including fentanyl analogue) and on two counts of possessing narcotics with the intent to distribute. Tatum was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in July 2025. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 12, 2026 in federal court in Boston.
Tatum and a second individual, Trinity Norman, a/k/a “Trin,” 41, of Plymouth, were also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy. Norman was arrested on Feb. 2, 2026 and released on conditions following an initial appearance.
According to court records, in December 2024, several cooperating sources told investigators that Tatum sold fentanyl and cocaine in the greater Plymouth area. In response, a cooperating witness allegedly made controlled purchases of fentanyl and other drugs from Tatum. Between April 2025 and July 2025, Tatum was intercepted over court-authorized wiretaps allegedly discussing distribution of fentanyl and cocaine. On July 14, 2025, a search was executed at Tatum’s house and at a location in Middleborough where large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine were seized.
In 2009, Tatum was convicted in Plymouth Superior Court of trafficking cocaine and sentenced to 15 years in state prison.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue) provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release of up to three years, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jared A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and the Kingston, Plymouth, Duxbury and Rochester Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel R. Feldman and Brian J. Sullivan of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Homicide in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tyree Irving, 29, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty for the shooting death of Davane Williams on January 15, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Irving pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, to one count of second-degree murder while armed, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled sentencing for June 12, 2026.
On January 15, 2019, at 2:59 p.m., Irving walked from behind the Sibley Plaza parking lot, crossed M Street NW, and then walked toward the Tyler House, located in the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW. Mr. Williams and several other men were standing on the sidewalk outside the M Street entrance pathway to the Tyler House. Irving, who had a .40 caliber pistol concealed in his hoodie, approached the group and immediately started yelling at Mr. Williams. After yelling at Mr. Williams for less than 10 seconds, Irving pulled the .40 caliber pistol out of his hoodie and fired it five times at Mr. Williams, striking him with all five shots. Mr. Williams immediately fell to the ground, while the other bystanders ran away eastbound toward North Capitol Street. Irving put the pistol back into his hoodie and then ran away southbound across M Street, back through the parking lot of the Sibley Plaza.
Irving was eventually arrested on February 27, 2019, and has been held pending trial.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Hall and Wes Faulkner.
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Deering, Alaska, man sentenced to prison for sexual assault of teen seated next to him on flight from Anchorage to SeattleRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 29-year-old Deering, Alaska man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 18 months in prison for abusive sexual contact on board an aircraft, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Trayton C. Ballot was arrested on January 15, 2025, when the Alaska Airlines flight he was on arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International airport. Ballot was convicted by a jury on September 10, 2025, following a two-day trial. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John H. Chun said, “This is a serious and scary crime with lasting consequences for the victim.”
“The Western District of Washington has received a significant number of reported sexual assaults on aircraft in the last several years,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This sentence should serve as a warning to others who think they can take advantage of a plane’s environment to abuse vulnerable victims. We will take these cases, and take them to trial if necessary, to get justice for victims.”
According to records filed in the case, the 17-year-old victim was flying with her mother and a friend on an overnight flight from Anchorage to Seattle. Ballot was seated in the middle seat in a row near the back of the plane. The victim was in the window seat. Ballot appeared to be asleep but then moved his hand onto the victim’s inner thigh and began rubbing her thigh. The victim, who was asleep, woke up to the touching and removed Ballot’s hand. Two more times Ballot moved his hand onto the 17-year-old’s inner thigh, and she removed his hand. After the third time, the victim lowered her tray table and wedged a stuffed animal under it to protect her lap. Despite those barriers, Ballot moved his hand under the armrest and attempted to place it over the victim’s thigh. The victim pressed down on the stuffed animal to stop the assault and Ballot took his hand away.
The victim typed into her phone that the man seated next to her had touched her and showed the message to her mother who was seated in the row behind her. At her mother’s instruction, the victim notified the flight attendants who moved her to a different seat.
Ballot was arrested when the plane arrived in Seattle.
Speaking in court today, the victim said she was “trapped in a small place where I could not defend myself…. It was predatory – attacking me while I was asleep.”
In asking for a two-year prison sentence prosecutors noted that the unique qualities of air travel require additional vigilance, and a deterrence message. “Sexual assaults on airplanes are a distressingly prevalent risk of modern airline travel…. In several ways, a plane is a uniquely vulnerable environment: passengers are often seated in close proximity to strangers, with little room and few options for removing themselves from unwanted situations; passengers regularly attempt to sleep on planes while sitting next to unknown persons; and outside of a passenger’s immediate neighbors, there is limited visibility and a low likelihood of witnesses, particularly when cabin lights are dimmed.”
Judge Chun ordered Ballot to complete 10 years of supervised release following prison.
“I commend the bravery displayed by this underage victim, and her mother, in speaking up for her safety by reporting this crime to the flight crew," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "Sexual misconduct aboard aircraft is a federal crime, one the FBI investigates and takes seriously. We encourage victims and witnesses to report such crimes to the flight crew; Port of Seattle Police or your local airport police; and the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.”
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Port of Seattle Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn Forstein and Cindy Chang.