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29 January 2026
Clinch County Ex-Spouses Guilty for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Clinch County, Georgia, man involved in a methamphetamine trafficking network linked to a Mexican source of supply in Atlanta was sentenced to serve more than 24 years in prison, after he and his former spouse admitted to their roles in the crime.
Crage Bernard Harris, 47, of Homerville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 295 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Jan. 28, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 1, 2025.
Co-defendant, Bridget Denise Harris, 53, of Homerville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 1, 2025. Bridget Harris faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 19.
Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Trafficking methamphetamine and other addictive illegal drugs in the Middle District of Georgia will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Law enforcement agencies at every level are working together to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our communities and hold all those profiting from these deadly substances accountable for their crimes.”
“Methamphetamine trafficking fuels addiction, violence and instability in our communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This significant sentence removes a dangerous trafficker from our streets and helps make our communities safer.”
“This case highlights the reach and danger of methamphetamine trafficking networks and the damage they cause in our communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Through strong partnerships with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners, we will continue to target those who profit from these drugs and hold them accountable.”
“I want to express my sincere thanks to the DEA and the GBI for their unwavering dedication and hard work in helping to keep drugs off the streets,” said Clinch County Sheriff Raymond Peterson.
According to court documents and statements in court, Crage Harris was under investigation for methamphetamine distribution from a Mexican source in 2022, after federal agents discovered packages containing illegal drugs delivered to a residence on Travis Lane in Clinch County, Georgia, associated with him. Based on the suspicion of drug trafficking, additional multi-agency surveillance continued at the Travis Lane location. A search warrant was executed at Travis Lane in April 2022 following the delivery of several packages, under surveillance by the GBI and the Clinch County Sheriff’s Office. Harris’s former wife, co-defendant Bridget Harris, was seen placing the packages in the trunk of a car. Inside the packages, agents found bottles containing liquid methamphetamine and seized approximately 731 grams of methamphetamine.
The DEA, the GBI, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Clinch County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Clay County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Loaded Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –David Neil Haas (38, Clay County) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to 46 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Haas to forfeit a Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol and ammunition, which was used in the commission of the offense. Law enforcement arrested Hass on September 22, 2025, and he was subsequently detained. Haas pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on August 11, 2025, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) pulled over a motorcycle driven by Haas for driving without a tag. The CCSO also determined that Haas was driving on a suspended license. When speaking with Haas, a deputy observed a large bulge in the vest being worn by Haas. A subsequent search of the vest by the deputy revealed a black Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol, loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Haas had multiple prior felony convictions, which prohibit him from possessing firearms under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
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.
Charlotte Businessman and Founder of Charitable Organization Indicted for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office unsealed an indictment today, charging a Charlotte man with tax fraud for filing fraudulent income tax returns and failure to file income tax returns on money he transferred from a charitable organization he founded and controlled, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Michael Kahn, 65, is charged with two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and two counts of failure to file a tax return. He appeared in court this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Alboulhosn.
Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
According to the indictment, the defendant established The Michael A. Kahn Family Foundation (The Foundation) in 2010 as a tax-exempt organization purportedly dedicated to advancing charitable, religious, and educational purposes. Kahn held all leadership roles within The Foundation, including Director, President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Chairman of the Board of Directors, and The Foundation had no other officers, board members, or employees. The indictment alleges that, between 2020 and 2023, Kahn transferred over $4.5 million from The Foundation to himself and failed to report those funds as income on his 2020 and 2021 tax returns filed with the IRS. The indictment also alleges that Kahn failed to file tax returns for calendar years 2022 and 2023, despite receiving income in excess of $25,900 and $27,700, respectively.
Following the court hearing, Kahn was released on bond. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and up to one year in prison for each count of failure to file a tax return. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The IRS-CI handled the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges against the defendant are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
California Woman Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a San Jacinto, California woman convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on January 26, 2026.
Nicole Dorrough, 52, was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Dorrough was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in May 2024. She pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025.
Dorrough was a member of a large drug trafficking organization that was responsible for sending hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from California to Sioux Falls. The group also trafficked cocaine and marijuana. Dorrough specifically received drug proceeds from co-conspirators in South Dakota through electronic payments like Cash-App or Zelle. Significant amounts of cash were deposited into her bank account during her involvement in the conspiracy. Once she had received the drug proceeds from South Dakota, she would then provide them to a co-conspirator in California. The scheme allowed funds to quickly be transferred from state to state while keeping the name of the main co-conspirator off the transactions. Investigators identified approximately $700,000 of money laundering activity by the group, of which Dorrough was personally involved in transactions totaling approximately $200,000.
“People who launder and move around the dirty money obtained from drug deals are just as culpable as the dealers directly funneling that poison into our neighborhoods and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Dorrough was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
California Man Sentenced for Half Million Dollar Charles Loloma Jewelry Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – After posing for years as a source of rare Native American art, a California man was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay $134,443.60 in restitution for running a counterfeit jewelry operation that exploited the reputation of famed Hopi artist Charles Loloma and siphoned roughly five hundred thousand dollars from collectors nationwide.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Robert Haack, 59, carried out a years long scheme to defraud collectors by selling counterfeit jewelry falsely represented as authentic works by renowned Hopi artist Charles Loloma.
The evidence established that between approximately 2008 and 2015, Haack manufactured dozens of fake Loloma jewelry pieces in his California home and sold them through eBay and direct sales. Haack marketed the items as genuine pieces made in Loloma’s workshop in Hotevilla, Arizona. Those representations were false. An investigation by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service later confirmed that the jewelry was not made by Loloma. In total, Haack sold the forged pieces to more than ten victims across the country for approximately five hundred thousand dollars.
In 2018, federal authorities began criminal proceedings after undercover United States Fish and Wildlife Service agents purchased two forged pieces from Haack. In 2019, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Haack with multiple fraud related offenses arising from his counterfeit jewelry scheme.
In 2021, Haack entered guilty pleas to three fraud counts pursuant to a plea agreement that contemplated a sentence of home confinement. As sentencing approached, Haack refused to provide required financial information to the United States Probation Office. As a result, the court rejected the plea agreement, and Haack later withdrew his guilty pleas.
After the case was set for trial, Haack delayed the proceedings by feigning a cognitive medical condition, which raised competency concerns and resulted in a significant continuance. Following a thirty-day inpatient forensic evaluation, the court determined that Haack had been malingering and was competent to proceed.
In June 2024, after a four-day trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a federal jury found Haack guilty of two counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud and two counts of violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
“When individuals falsely claim jewelry as authentic Native American art for personal gain, they distort the marketplace and exploit both artists and consumers,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “I commend the professionals whose diligence brought this case to verdict and justice for those harmed. Upholding the integrity of our markets and holding accountable those who undermine public trust remains a priority for this office.”
"Robert Haack’s counterfeit operation victimized customers and directly harmed the economic and cultural livelihood of Native American artists," said Assistant Director Doug Ault, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Protecting American Indian and Alaska Native culture and traditions is a critical part of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. Our dedicated team of special agents, working in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, diligently safeguards both American Indian and Alaska Native artists, as well as the consumers who seek genuine Native American art and crafts. This sentencing underscores the importance of these protections, and we thank our partners at the Department of Justice and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board for their invaluable assistance in this investigation."
“The Indian Arts and Crafts Board of the U.S. Department of the Interior (IACB) administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA), a truth-in-marketing law,” said the Board’s Director Meridith Stanton. “The IACA is intended to rid the Indian arts and crafts marketplace of fakes to protect the economic livelihoods and cultural heritage of Indian artists, craftspeople, and their Tribes, as well as the buying public. Authentic Indian art and craftwork is an important tool for passing down cultural traditions, traditional knowledge, and artistic skills from one generation to the next. The IACB commends the U.S. Attorney - District of New Mexico and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s IACA Investigative Unit for their outstanding work that led to today’s sentencing of Robert Haack for his manufacture and sale of counterfeit Charles Loloma (Hopi) jewelry. As the father of contemporary Indian jewelry, Charles Loloma not only broke many Indian art industry barriers with his masterful work, he also inspired his Indian artist contemporaries and generations that followed to excel, push boundaries, and elevate Indian jewelry to new levels as never before. Mr. Haack’s sales of counterfeit Indian art demean and rob authentic Indian artists who rely on the creation and sale of their artwork to put food on the table, make ends meet, and pass along these important cultural traditions and skills from one generation to the next. His actions undermine consumers’ confidence in the Indian art market in the Southwest and nationwide. Now Mr. Haack has been brought to justice, and his sentencing should send a strong message to IACA violators that we will diligently work to find you and prosecute you under the IACA.”
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Doug Ault, Southwest Region Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, made the announcement today.
The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Law Enforcement investigated this case with assistance from the Indians Arts and Crafts Board. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
Buffalo woman pleads guilty to meth chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Stephanie Kroh, 40, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, which carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that in April 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Kroh’s residence on Edson Street, recovering 232 grams of methamphetamine and 91 grams of fentanyl. In November 2023, Kroh traveled to the Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, NY, with two packages, which she concealed with the intent of distributing them to an inmate in the correctional facility. The first package contained approximately 24 grams of marijuana, and the second contained approximately 10 grams of an unknown crystal white substance.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Enforcement Division and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Craig Macy.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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Buckner Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Buckner, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine and for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug distribution.
Charles J. Dunne, 62, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to more than 15 years in federal prison without parole. Dunne will serve 125 months for drug distribution and 60 months, consecutive, for possessing 29 firearms in connection with his drug distribution.
In early 2023, law enforcement received information that Dunne was distributing large quantities of narcotics from his home. Between March 2023 and Sept. 2023, law enforcement intercepted numerous individuals who purchased narcotics from Dunne. After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement searched Dunne’s home and discovered large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana. They also discovered dozens of weapons, including six functional hand grenades. When law enforcement arrived, Dunne ingested a lethal dose of fentanyl. Law enforcement, assisted by emergency medical services, administered lifesaving care to Dunne.
On March 27, 2025, Dunne pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense.
Dunne has many prior narcotics-related convictions, including a federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in 1998.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jackson County Drug Task Force.
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Coercion and Enticement of MinorsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Steven LaBianca was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to 12 years’ imprisonment for coercion and enticement of minors and possession of child pornography. LaBianca communicated with multiple minor victims over the internet and coerced them into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. LaBianca pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2024.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“Today, the defendant received a significant and deserved jail term for using manipulation and deception to exploit vulnerable victims, wrongly believing he could act without consequence,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This prosecution makes clear that coercion and enticement and possession of child pornography—particularly when directed at minors—will be met with the full force of federal law. Our Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and hold sexual predators accountable.”
“For years, Steven LaBianca prowled online platforms to exploit minor victims by forcing them to engage in sexually explicit conversations and create pornographic material. Not only did his coercion abuse the innocence of young girls, it also revictimized those whose recordings were shared in other threads for LaBianca’s twisted desires. The FBI will continue its mission to protect children from online sexual predators and investigate anyone who attempts to exploit them,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As set forth in court filings, in 2017, LaBianca communicated online with a 15-year-old girl who resided in Cyprus (Jane Doe 2). LaBianca induced Jane Doe 2 to send him photographs and videos of herself nude and engaging in sexual activities, and instructed her to watch pornographic videos involving other young girls. LaBianca threatened to leave Jane Doe 2 for a younger girl once she grew up and advised Jane Doe 2 to delete incriminating evidence from her devices if she was ever approached by law enforcement authorities. Over the course of their communications, Jane Doe 2 sent LaBianca hundreds of photographs and videos of her engaged in sexual activities.
Additionally, from September 2017 through May 2020, LaBianca communicated with multiple young girls—some as young as 13-years-old—and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit photographs and videos through social media platforms such as Omegle, Skype, and Instagram.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andy Palacio is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
STEVEN LABIANCA
Age: 53
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-206 (AMD)
Brockton man pleads guilty to assault and sexual assault charges on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Brockton man accused of assaulting a man and sexually assaulting a minor on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Eithan Toby McKay, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. McKay faces a maximum imprisonment of 15 years, a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set for a later date. McKay was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in September 2024, law enforcement received information about a juvenile female, Jane Doe, being pregnant. Doe was subsequently interviewed and identified Eithan Toby McKay as the father. Doe and McKay met on social media and started hanging out. The two engaged in a sexual relationship and conceived a child. Based on the due date, it was determined that Doe was 13 years old at the time of conception. McKay was 19 at the time. DNA testing later determined that Doe and McKay are 5.7 billion times more likely to be the parents than if Doe and an unrelated randomly selected person are the parents.
Additionally, shortly after 2:00 am on March 4, 2025, a person called 911 to report an assault at an address in Brockton. The person said an individual was struck over the head with a machete and was bleeding. When asked by the 911 operator if the perpetrator was still there the caller said, “He just walked in the living room - he’s drunk - it’s Eithan McKay.”
Law enforcement arrived and found the victim, John Doe, with serious injuries to his head, arm, and shoulder. Doe was bleeding heavily. The responding officer could see Doe’s bones in multiple places and applied a tourniquet. Doe said Eithan McKay slashed him with a machete because Doe wanted to leave and McKay didn’t want him to leave. As they loaded Doe into an ambulance, McKay walked over with his hands in the air and said he did it. He continued by saying he stabbed Doe and then Doe took the machete from him.
Doe was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital with severe lacerations to the shoulder, arm, head, and back. He was provided fentanyl for pain management. He was air flighted to Billings for treatment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
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British National Convicted on International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Charges Linked to the 2017 Deaths of Two Navy SubmarinersRead the Press Release
Faces a Sentence of 20 Years to Life Imprisonment
BRUNSWICK, GA: British national facing a possible life sentence following his jury trial conviction in the Southern District of Georgia for conspiring to distribute and import fentanyl analogues and other novel controlled substances on a dark web platform called “Dream Market.” The importation and distribution of these substances led to the death of two members of the United States Navy.
Paul Anthony Nicholls, 47, of Great Britain, was convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances Resulting in Death and one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Resulting in Death following a 4-day jury trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. When a sentence is imposed by the Honorable Lisa Godbey Wood, United States District Judge, Defendant Nicholls faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years imprisonment, with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, as well as significant monetary penalties. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This conviction was achieved through the hard work and cooperation of our law enforcement officers and Canadian law enforcement. Two of our navy sailors died because of Nicholl’s distribution of lethal drugs. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who harm people in our communities.” said U.S. Attorney Meg Heap.
As described in court documents and testimony, Defendant Nicholls conspired with at least one other person to run a drug trafficking organization titled “Canada1” on the now-defunct dark web marketplace “Dream Market.” “Canada1” advertised various controlled substances for sale on “Dream Market” including the synthetic opioid U-47700 and the fentanyl analogue Methoxy acetyl fentanyl. “Canada1” advertised that they would ship these substances anywhere in the world from their basis of operation in Vancouver, British Columbia. Investigators, utilizing surveillance and other investigative methods, identified Defendant Nicholls as routinely interacting with his conspirator and taking numerous packages bearing the logo for a shell company named “East Van ECO Tours” to be sent out via Canada Post, the Canadian mail system. Following weeks of surveillance, investigators intercepted over 40 packages bearing the “East Van ECO Tours” markings and found them all to contain dangerous fentanyl analogues in both nasal spray and powder form.
After confirming the “East Van ECO Tours” packages contained controlled substances, investigators executed search warrants at Defendant Nicholls’ home, Defendant Nicholls’ car, and the car and home of Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator. Expert witness testimony at trial valued the fentanyl analogues recovered from Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator’s home at $24,000,000 and indicated that there were enough substances present to kill 375,000 people.
Also located in the home were receipts bearing tracking numbers for thousands of packages sent out by the conspirators to addresses all over the world. Among those receipts, were tracking numbers for two packages that traveled to Kingsland, Georgia in October 2017. Following delivery of those packages, United States Navy submariners B.T.J. and T.L.B. consumed the contents of the packages and each died of opioid overdoses at T.L.B.’s home approximately 4 days apart in October 2017.
"This conviction reflects the FDA’s commitment to holding accountable those who peddle illicit narcotics, including fentanyl and its analogues, to Americans,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berrios, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. "No matter where in the world these individuals operate, the FDA will work with our law enforcement partners to find them and bring them to justice.”
“The overdose deaths associated with this investigation are a tragic reminder of the dangers of illegal narcotics being shipped by transnational criminal organizations,” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge, Miami Division. “The United States Postal Inspection Service remains committed to work with our state, local and international partners in the pursuit of those who traffic in poison.”
“Those who disregard the highly toxic nature of fentanyl by heartlessly distributing it for personal gain must be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Norman Dominesey of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. “NCIS and our partners are committed to aggressively investigating any individual or entity complicit in illicit distribution of substances that would threaten national security, undermine warfighter readiness, and endanger Department of the Navy communities.”
“Drug traffickers who operate on the dark web often believe their crimes are detached from real-world consequences. This conviction proves that couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendant’s role in this international conspiracy contributed to the deaths of two Navy submariners, an outcome that underscores the deadly reach of these criminal networks. DEA will continue working with our state and local partners in pursuing those who endanger lives for profit.”
“This conviction sends a clear message that those who use the dark web to traffic deadly drugs will be held accountable, no matter where they operate,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The deaths of these two U.S. Navy submariners in this case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of synthetic opioids and fentanyl. Through coordinated international and federal partnerships, we will continue to pursue those who profit from poisoning our communities and bring them to justice.
“Our department remains committed to strong partnerships with our community and our local, state, and federal agency partners,” said Chief of Police Rick M. Evans. “By working together, we are better equipped to target those who distribute and possess illegal drugs, reduce crime, and enhance the safety and quality of life for our residents. Collaboration is key to protecting our community and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator, not named herein, has not been tried on his indictment. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Post, the Canadian Border Services Agency, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Kingsland (GA) Police Department, and the Surrey (Canada) Police Department. Additionally, Health Canada and the Pasco County (FL) Sheriff’s Office provided logistical and trial support. The case was prosecuted for the United States of America by Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Timothy P. Dean and former Assistant United States Attorneys Frank M. Pennington, II and E. Greg Gilluly, Junior.
Brazilian National Living in Bridgeport Charged with Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter today announced that JOAO VICTOR BORGES DE QUEIROZ, 33, a citizen of Brazil last residing in Bridgeport, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on December 23, 2025, a victim of domestic violence reported to Bridgeport Police that she had just been attacked by Borges de Queiroz while she was driving her car, and that Borges de Queiroz had fired a gun during the attack. The victim was able to take the gun away from Borges de Queiroz during the struggle and throw it out the car window. The victim jumped out of the moving car in the area of Orange Street and Central Avenue. Borges de Queiroz held onto her, fell on top of her and continue the assault, but assisted by intervening bystanders, she was able to escape. Responding officers located the handgun, a black Taurus 9mm Model G2C, on Orange Street. Investigators obtained videos from surveillance cameras, which confirmed details of the incident. As a result of the investigation, state authorities issued an arrest warrant charging Borges de Queiroz with criminal attempt to commit murder, kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm, and stalking in the second degree.
It is further alleged that on December 24, 2025, Borges de Queiroz was detained at the Highgate Springs, Vermont Port of Entry at the U.S. and Canadian border after he attempted to enter Canada, was denied entry, and attempted to reenter the U.S. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered an active armed and dangerous alert for Borges de Queiroz and detained him.
It is alleged that Borges de Queiroz was first encountered by CBP in Arizona in May 2023 and the agency determined that he did not have lawful status in the U.S. Immigration records indicate that Borges de Queiroz missed a court date in April 2025 and has a final court hearing scheduled for November 30, 2026.
Borges de Queiroz, who has been detained since his arrest, appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford. The charge of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the U.S. carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bridgeport Police Department, with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
The State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Fairfield is prosecuting the state case against Borges de Queiroz.
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.
Boone County Man Indicted for Cyberstalking and Sending Threatening Communications to United States Congressman and United States SenatorRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, KY- A Florence, Ky., man, Benjamin Aaron Keebler, 55, was indicted on January 15 for cyberstalking and sending threatening communications to a United States Congressman and a United States Senator.
The indictment alleges that from February 2023 to May 2025, Keebler used a cell phone to engage in a course of conduct with the intent of harassing and intimidating a United States Congressman. Specifically, the indictment alleges that on separate occasions Keebler called a phone system affiliated with the Congressman and threatened to injure the Congressman, including a threat to shoot him in the head at a town hall, and a threat to lynch the Congressman. In addition to those threats, the indictment alleges that Keebler used a cell phone to call a phone system affiliated with a United States Senator and threaten injury against that person as well, stating, among other things, “somebody needs to come to [the Senator’s] house and do a . . . hammer visit.”
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Chief Michael G. Sullivan, U.S. Capitol Police, announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Capitol Police. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Boone.
Keebler’s initial appearance in court occurred on January 29, 2026. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Arthritis & Rheumatology Center, P.C. and Jatin Patel settle False Claims Act case for $2.18 MillionRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Arthritis & Rheumatology Center, P.C. (“ARC”) and its owner, Jatin Patel, M.D., will pay $2.18 million to settle allegations that ARC used medical assistants to perform infusion services in violation of Georgia law and submitted claims for those services to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act.
“Physicians who disregard state and federal law by allowing unqualified individuals to perform unauthorized medical services place patients in needless danger,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will hold accountable those who participate in federal healthcare programs but seek to enrich themselves by not following the rules.”
An investigation into Dr. Patel and his practice began when an ARC employee filed a whistleblower complaint alleging ARC improperly used unlicensed medical assistants to infuse powerful chemotherapy medications into ARC’s patients, even though Georgia regulations prohibit such conduct. The Medicare program does not pay for services rendered in violation of state law. Accordingly, the whistleblower alleged that ARC’s conduct resulted in the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729, et seq.
This civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by former ARC employee Phillips Allender (the Relator) under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, U.S. ex rel. Allender v. Arthritis & Rheumatology Center, P.C. and Jatin Patel, M.D., No. 1:21-cv-4530-MLB. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may bring suit for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. The Relator will receive $414,200 from the settlement.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. Nugent.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in Conspiracies to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine and to Launder the ProceedsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Tucson, Ariz., man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with his role in distributing, and laundering the proceeds of, truckloads of fentanyl and cocaine.
Reginel Cazares, a/k/a “Junior,” 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine) and money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for May 6, 2026. Cazares was indicted on June 13, 2024.
According to court filings, in August 2023, a cooperating witness told law enforcement about an individual he knew as “Junior” – later identified as Cazares – based in Tucson, Ariz., who organized multi-kilogram deliveries of fentanyl and cocaine from California to Massachusetts. The kilograms were driven by tractor trailer from the area of Ontario, Calif., to Massachusetts. In November 2023, and again in December 2023, Cazares directed the cooperating witness to pick up drug proceeds in Massachusetts from two co-defendants, with approximately $600,000 in drug proceeds picked up in Tewksbury, Mass., at Cazares’ direction. On Feb. 16, 2024, Cazares directed the cooperating witness to pick up four kilograms of fentanyl and nine kilograms of cocaine in Ontario, Calif., which were to be driven to Massachusetts and the Carolinas. The narcotics were intercepted by law enforcement.
In 2012, Cazares was convicted of cocaine conspiracy in the District of New Jersey and sentenced to 57 months in prison.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine) provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release 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, up to three years of supervised release and 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 Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Riverside (Calif.), Bakersfield (Calif.) and Tucson (Ariz.) DEA Offices; San Bernadino County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Department; Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team; the Methuen Police Department; and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case 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 Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Antitrust Division and U.S. Postal Service Make First-Ever Whistleblower Payment: $1M Awarded for Reporting Antitrust CrimeRead the Press Release
The Antitrust Division today announced its first-ever whistleblower reward: a $1 million reward to a whistleblower who provided information that led to EBLOCK Corporation resolving criminal antitrust and fraud charges through a deferred prosecution agreement, under which it has agreed to pay a $3.28 million criminal fine.
EBLOCK Corporation offers an online auction platform for used vehicles. In November 2020, EBLOCK acquired Company A, another online auction platform for used vehicles. According to the Criminal Information and Deferred Prosecution Agreement filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, EBLOCK did not take immediate action after the acquisition to end the bid-rigging conspiracy and fraud at Company A. From November 2020 to February 2022, individuals at Company A conspired with individuals at Company B to suppress and eliminate competition for used vehicles sold on Company A’s online auction platform, in violation of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1. EBLOCK also did not take immediate action to end “shill bidding” on Company A’s platform, resulting in the placement of fake bids intended to artificially increase the sales prices for used vehicles, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343.
“Whistleblowers serve as the Justice System’s greatest disinfectant against criminal antitrust conspiracies,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “A car is the second largest purchase most Americans will make in their lifetimes. This whistleblower helped expose a brazen $16 million scheme that made it more expensive for hardworking Americans to afford second-hand cars across the country. This $1 million reward not only recognizes a whistleblower for bravely stepping forward to report crimes to the Antitrust Division, but also underscores the indispensable role whistleblowers will continue to play in the Division’s criminal enforcement program. Remember, the first company in an antitrust cartel that reports its collusion to the Antitrust Division might receive Leniency — but the race is faster now, because employees and their attorneys are incentivized to blow the whistle and beat their companies to the Division’s doorstep.”
“Today’s reward shows that the Antitrust Division leverages whistleblower reports to drive forward our investigations,” said Acting Director of Criminal Enforcement Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “If a whistleblower provides new information that ultimately assists the Antitrust Division in bringing charges, the whistleblower might receive a significant award — even if the criminal activity has already ended.”
“Whistleblowers play a critical role in helping law enforcement to identify and investigate a wide variety of criminal activities,” said Acting Assistant Director Mark Remily of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “In this case, information from a whistleblower led to the identification and dismantlement of a criminal antitrust conspiracy, that if unreported, would have continued to harm American consumers who were unknowingly overpaying for automobiles.”
“In this case, the defendant used the U.S. Mail to send documentation related to the scheme; a scheme that valued illegal profits over protecting unsuspecting car buyers. The Postal Inspection Service does not tolerate this abuse of the U.S. Mail or its customers and will pursue these types of criminals wherever they are,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. “This $1 million dollar award comes only six months after the Whistleblower Rewards Program first started. This award shows the commitment the U.S. Postal Service and the Antitrust Division to support those who provide accurate, actionable intelligence about antitrust and related competition crimes with a connection to the U.S. Mail.”
As described in the court documents, legacy employees at Company A conspired with employees at Company B to share bidding information and agree on the maximum amount Company A or Company B would bid on certain vehicles. Company A employees provided special access and user permissions to Company B that enabled it to view the confidential bidding information of other buyers and sellers on its auction site. The co-conspirators maintained a shared inventory of vehicles purchased pursuant to the bid rigging scheme, and they coordinated to relist those vehicles and place shill bids with the intention of artificially increasing the prices paid by legitimate buyers. They also misrepresented the numbers and identities of these fake bidders during the online auctions by commissioning the development of software that would automatically place shill bids under the names of actual auto dealerships without those dealerships’ consent. The co-conspirators pooled and split the profits from the scheme. During the course of these actions, various documents in support of the scheme were sent via U.S. Mail.
In addition to the $3.28 million fine, the deferred prosecution agreement requires EBLOCK to undertake remedial measures, including implementing an appropriate compliance program and cooperating with the Justice Department’s ongoing criminal investigation and any resulting prosecutions.
Federal law protects employees who report criminal antitrust violations from retaliation by their employers. At all times, the Antitrust Division will take reasonable steps to protect whistleblowers and minimize risks that use of the information will lead to public identification. More information on confidentiality and anti-retaliation protections is on the Confidentiality page.
The Antitrust Division works with its law enforcement partners the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General to pay rewards to whistleblowers. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Melanie Krebs-Pilotti and Patrick Hallagan, and Assistant Chief Kristina Srica for the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section, are prosecuting the case.
28 January 2026
“Free Palestine” radical who urged overthrowing the government charged with stalking President Biden in 2024Read the Press Release
ATLANTA – Adam Benjamin Hall was arrested and appeared in federal court today on a federal charge of traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to kill then-President of the United States Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
“Threats against the President are gravely serious and must be treated as such,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Hall’s alleged actions went beyond mere words and included traveling to Georgia with a firearm to murder President Biden. Political violence is never acceptable and must be countered by swift intervention and meaningful consequences.”
“Our highest priority is protecting the President of the United States, and every potential threat is treated with the utmost seriousness,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Donovan of the U.S. Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office. “Our agents, working in close coordination with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, worked tirelessly to advance this investigation. Hall’s arrest is representative of the effectiveness of our combined efforts to safeguard our nation’s leadership.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: on June 27, 2024, Adam Benjamin Hall allegedly drove from Alabama to Atlanta planning to sneak into the presidential debate hosted by CNN that evening so he could kill then-President Biden. A screenshot of a map allegedly found on Hall’s phone contained a location marker indicating that the phone was three blocks from the debate site approximately 28 minutes before the debate’s scheduled start time (when adjusted to local time).
Hall’s phone also allegedly contained a note that Hall termed his “exposé” or “manifesto.” The note was addressed “[t]o all the Palestinian journalists . . . and in remembrance of the ones who lost their lives along the way.” It further stated in part:
- “Hopefully my actions snap you all awake long enough to thoroughly understand the point I will make in this exposé.”
- “Our enemies are not in any other country but our own and Israel’s.”
- “It’s time we overthrow these bastards and threaten to pull a f--king D-Day on Tel Aviv . . . .”
- “On the week of July 4th, forget your f--king barbecues and pool parties. Instead do the patriotic thing by marching on Capitol Hill, the White House, and the Supreme Court armed with whatever you have . . . . Unless the feds shoot first, you must not engage. If they are unwilling to comply after a few hours, then I permit you to march into those buildings and do what is necessary to regain control of our country from the deep state.”
Hall’s manifesto concluded “Free Palestine” next to an emoji of the flag of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority.
Adam Benjamin Hall, 23, of Crane Hill, Alabama, was charged by a criminal complaint on January 26, 2026, with interstate stalking. He was arrested today and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Staci G. Cornelius in federal court. Notwithstanding Hall’s arrest, the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed later.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Pearce is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
West Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C.— Phillip O’Neal McCoy, 45, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented in court revealed that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives identified McCoy as a felon involved in the unlawful sale of firearms and narcotics in the West Columbia area. On Jan. 5, 2024, McCoy distributed a quantity of crack cocaine while also in possession of additional controlled substances. Five days later, on Jan. 10, 2024, McCoy sold a loaded semiautomatic pistol while in possession of additional controlled substances.
Federal law prohibits McCoy from possessing firearms and ammunition based on prior convictions for pointing and presenting a firearm, first-degree assault and battery, domestic violence, and multiple convictions for distributing various controlled substances. McCoy was also on probation at the time of this federal offense.
U.S. District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Phillip O’Neal McCoy to 77 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.
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Wanblee Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler sentenced a Wanblee, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on January 26, 2026.
Bradlee Doyle, age 22, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Doyle was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 24, 2025.
Doyle was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in November 2023 in United States District Court, District of South Dakota. Based on his conviction, he is required to register or update his registration every time he moves or changes his address. Doyle registered his address in Rapid City, SD, in July 2025. Doyle subsequently left his address and did not update his address within three days. Doyle was aware of his obligations to register and knowingly failed to do so. Doyle was later located and arrested in August 2025, on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen handled the prosecution.
Doyle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia hits quarter billion-dollar milestone in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WV - In Fiscal Year 2025, the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit (ACE Unit) of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia (USAO NDWV) reached a major milestone by recovering over a quarter of a billion dollars in False Claims Act (FCA) and Controlled Substances Act (CSA) damages and civil penalties since the unit formed and actively began tracking this data in 2003.
The ACE Unit is responsible for civilly recovering damages resulting from government fraud, such as health care fraud, COVID-19 fraud, and contractor fraud. The ACE Unit also seeks civil penalties and administrative remedies against health care professionals engaged in the illegal diversion of controlled substances.
“Combatting fraud, waste, and abuse of government funds and preventing the illegal diversion of controlled substances, such as opioids, are among our top priorities,” said United States Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Congratulations to the ACE Unit on reaching this milestone and be aware we intend to increase our efforts in the new year to continue to maximize these types of recoveries.”
The ACE Unit was able to reach the $250,000,000 threshold by collecting $5,324,902 in recoveries in Fiscal Year 2025. In the largest civil settlement, four labor organizations agreed to pay a total of approximately $5.1 million dollars to settle allegations they violated the FCA by applying for and obtaining loans under the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for which they knew or should have known they were ineligible.
Additionally in Fiscal Year 2025, the USAO NDWV recovered close to $1.5 million in restitution for crime victims and asset forfeiture actions. The office also obtained the forfeiture of firearms and other items of property involved in criminal offenses.
USP Cannan Inmate Charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carey Lynn Pappan, age 31, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, was indicted by a federal grand jury on assault charges.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on October 22, 2025, Pappan, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary Canaan, assaulted another person resulting in serious bodily injury.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee Recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Today the Eastern District of Tennessee observes National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and joins the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) in reaffirming the administration’s commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking and protecting victims and survivors. Human Trafficking Prevention Month presents an opportunity for DHS and DOJ, through Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) to intensify operational efforts, raise public awareness, and strengthen partnerships across federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt trafficking networks, protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure traffickers are brought to justice.
“This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”
“Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us,” the United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. “The Homeland Security Task Force is the largest coordinated campaign against transnational criminal organizations in U.S. history, and I’m proud to co-lead it with Attorney General Bondi.”
“During Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the FBI reiterates our work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect our communities across the country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The horrifying reach of human trafficking spreads far and wide. Homeland Security Task Forces are fighting back to disrupt these perilous networks and put a stop to that reach. The FBI will continue our investigations and bring justice to those exploited by human traffickers.
“Human trafficking violates the fundamental rights and dignity due to all people, while simultaneously fueling crime and violence in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “In collaboration with our Homeland Security Task Force and all our law enforcement partners, the United States Attorney’s Office is committed to stamping out human trafficking in the Eastern District of Tennessee and vindicating the rights of its victims by prosecuting traffickers to the fullest extent of the law.”
In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Section 6 of this order directed the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly establish HSTFs in every state nationwide. The HSTF objective is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) throughout the United States; dismantle cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks; end the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking, with a particular focus on such offenses involving children; and ensure the use of all available law enforcement tools to faithfully execute the immigration laws of the United States.
In January 2026, DHS and DOJ are surging resources to fight and raise awareness about human trafficking, including:
- Identifying ongoing investigations and prioritizing featured operations across 45 federal locations and 10 state locations with an emphasis on border states.
- Coordinating with FBI Human Trafficking Squads and multi-agency Human Trafficking Task Forces to conduct victim recovery.
- Partnering with AMTRAK and FAMS to increase law enforcement resources and distribute posters with QR codes for reporting human trafficking in all station bathrooms and trains.
- Running advertisements related to $250 million recovery from Backpage to distribute to victims and additional victim restitution efforts by DOL-OIG.
- Organizing Human Trafficking seminars and outreach events with DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking at high schools and colleges to highlight the role of HSTFs in addressing human trafficking.
On August 25, 2025, HSTF officially launched its effort to protect the Homeland with a September Surge encompassing 400 operations nationwide. In just 43 days, HSTF nationwide operations resulted in 3,266 arrests and seizures including:
- 1,041 Sinaloa members,
- 856 Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (“CJNG”) members,
- 641 MS-13 members,
- 456 Tren de Aragua members,
- 1,067 weapons
- More than $3,250,000 in currency
- Approximately 91 metric tons of narcotics
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U.S. Attorney's Office Collects $21,776,549 in Criminal and Civil Actions, and $8,278,063 in Asset Forfeiture Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee collected $21,776,549 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $7,570,426 was collected in criminal actions and $14,206,123 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee worked with other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $8,579,057 in matters pursued jointly with these offices. Of this amount, $15,563 was collected in criminal actions and $8,563,494 was collected in civil actions.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $8,278,063 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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Two Davenport Co-Conspirators Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cocaine ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Davenport residents were sentenced to federal prison on January 28, 2026, for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Lloyd Demico Franklin, 44, and Michelle Collins, 40, sold cocaine base (“crack cocaine”) in the Quad Cities area for several years. From June 2022 to December 2024, law enforcement conducted 20 controlled purchases from Franklin and Collins and purchased a total of more than 500 grams of crack cocaine.
Franklin was sentenced to a 25-year prison term for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Collins was sentenced to a three-year prison term for one count of distribution of a controlled substance, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The FBI Quad Cities Resident Agency of the Omaha Field Office, Moline Police Department, and Scott County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Tulsan Sentenced for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Scott James Berkshire, 64, to 168 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Berkshire will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In July 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip that included sexually explicit images of two minor children. Agents obtained a search warrant for the account associated with the tip and found that Berkshire was the account holder. Court records show that Berkshire was involved in several chat rooms discussing the sexual abuse of children. In one chat, Berkshire chatted with an undercover agent about meeting to engage in sexual intercourse with a child under 12-years-old.
When agents searched Berkshire’s devices, they found photos and videos of children under 12 years old being sexually abused. Berkshire will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa Police Department, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury prosecuted the case.
This investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations Tulsa-led Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task force. This operation is a proactive investigation by local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement within the Northern District and is focused on predators seeking to exploit children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Three North Idaho Child Exploitation Defendants Sentenced to over Forty Years in Federal Prison CombinedRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the results of three separate child exploitation cases in North Idaho today.
- Registered Sex Offender in Lewiston Sentenced to 300 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child
Jesse Eugene Burnett, 42, of Lewiston, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court records, in April 2024, FBI agents were contacted by a mother who discovered her 10-year-old daughter had been exchanging sexually explicit images with an adult male on a messaging application. Although the child told the male that she was thirty, the male commented that she looked young. Using legal process, law enforcement identified Burnett, a registered sex offender living in Lewiston. Law enforcement posed as the child using the child’s phone. When Burnett was told by “the child” she was actually only thirteen-years-old, Burnett replied, “so no more pics then.” However, within days, he again requested explicit images. Burnett was arrested in June 2024 and admitted that he believed he was speaking with a child and continued to solicit sexually explicit images.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Burnett be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Burnett will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the joint efforts of the Lewiston Police Department, the Des Moines Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
- Moscow Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM)
Nathanael Dewayne Jensen, 26, of Moscow, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.
Court records show that in August 2024, law enforcement received CyberTips from multiple online platforms reporting the presence of CSAM in certain accounts on their platforms. Using numerous search warrants and other investigative tools, law enforcement determined the accounts belonged to Jensen, who lived in Moscow. A search of Jensen’s cell phone pursuant to a search warrant revealed CSAM videos and images on the phone, along with evidence showing that Jensen had exchanged CSAM files with another user.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Jensen be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Jensen will be required to register as a sex offender because of this conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis thanked the Moscow Police Department, the Latah Regional SWAT team, and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office for their collaboration in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Madison Allen Gourley prosecuted this case.
- Culdesac Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of CSAM
Riley Neal O’Brien, 36, of Culdesac, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.
According to court records, in June 2022, law enforcement received a CyberTip from a social media company reporting that a user of their platform was possessing child pornography. After a thorough investigation, law enforcement identified the user as O’Brien. Law enforcement determined that O’Brien possessed CSAM images and videos on his online account and distributed CSAM to others more than 70 times between March and April of 2022.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that O’Brien be placed on supervised release for 5 years following his prison sentence. O’Brien will also be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Nez Perce County Sherrif’s Office, the Lewiston Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
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Three North Idaho Child Exploitation Defendants Sentenced to over Forty Years in Federal Prison CombinedRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the results of three separate child exploitation cases in North Idaho today.
- Registered Sex Offender in Lewiston Sentenced to 300 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child
Jesse Eugene Burnett, 42, of Lewiston, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court records, in April 2024, FBI agents were contacted by a mother who discovered her 10-year-old daughter had been exchanging sexually explicit images with an adult male on a messaging application. Although the child told the male that she was thirty, the male commented that she looked young. Using legal process, law enforcement identified Burnett, a registered sex offender living in Lewiston. Law enforcement posed as the child using the child’s phone. When Burnett was told by “the child” she was actually only thirteen-years-old, Burnett replied, “so no more pics then.” However, within days, he again requested explicit images. Burnett was arrested in June 2024 and admitted that he believed he was speaking with a child and continued to solicit sexually explicit images.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Burnett be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Burnett will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the joint efforts of the Lewiston Police Department, the Des Moines Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
- Moscow Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM)
Nathanael Dewayne Jensen, 26, of Moscow, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.
Court records show that in August 2024, law enforcement received CyberTips from multiple online platforms reporting the presence of CSAM in certain accounts on their platforms. Using numerous search warrants and other investigative tools, law enforcement determined the accounts belonged to Jensen, who lived in Moscow. A search of Jensen’s cell phone pursuant to a search warrant revealed CSAM videos and images on the phone, along with evidence showing that Jensen had exchanged CSAM files with another user.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Jensen be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Jensen will be required to register as a sex offender because of this conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis thanked the Moscow Police Department, the Latah Regional SWAT team, and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office for their collaboration in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Madison Allen Gourley prosecuted this case.
- Culdesac Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of CSAM
Riley Neal O’Brien, 36, of Culdesac, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.
According to court records, in June 2022, law enforcement received a CyberTip from a social media company reporting that a user of their platform was possessing child pornography. After a thorough investigation, law enforcement identified the user as O’Brien. Law enforcement determined that O’Brien possessed CSAM images and videos on his online account and distributed CSAM to others more than 70 times between March and April of 2022.
District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that O’Brien be placed on supervised release for 5 years following his prison sentence. O’Brien will also be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Nez Perce County Sherrif’s Office, the Lewiston Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
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Third Defendant Charged in September 2025 School Zone ShootingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A third defendant has been federally charged in connection with a September 2025 school zone shooting investigation in Las Cruces.
According to court records, on September 6, 2025, Las Cruces Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire at Young Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico. No injuries were reported, but officers recovered multiple spent shell casings from the parking lot. Shortly after the incident, officers encountered two individuals, John Anthony Orta and Steven Mendoza, walking near Hermosa Heights Elementary School while carrying firearms. Both were arrested for negligent use of a deadly weapon and later charged federally with possession of a firearm in a school zone.
Handgun located on John Anthony Orta on September 6th, 2025 AR-15 style pistol located on Steven Mendoza on September 6th, 2025During the investigation, law enforcement obtained search warrants for Orta and Mendoza’s cell phones and reviewed social media messages discussing the Young Park shooting. Those messages identified Luis Angel Ruiz, 22, as the person who fired the shots and claimed ownership of the firearm involved. Investigators linked Ruiz to the firearm through social media posts showing him in possession of the weapon, eyewitness statements, and ballistic evidence.
Instagram photo of Ruiz with what appears to be the same AR-15 style piston recovered from Mendoza on September 6, 2025
On September 24, 2025, Ruiz was stopped by Las Cruces police for traffic violations and arrested for driving under the influence. During that stop, officers recovered four firearms from the vehicle, including a handgun with an obliterated serial number. Ruiz admitted the firearms belonged to him. Investigators later identified social media messages in which Ruiz attempted to sell the firearm with the removed serial number.
Ruiz is charged with discharging a firearm in a school zone and possession of a firearm with a removed, obliterated or altered serial number. He will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Ruiz faces 10 years in prison.
On December 29, 2025, Orta pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm in a school zone. At sentencing he faces up to five years in prison.
Mendoza remains on conditions of release pending trial, which is not currently scheduled.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office's Southern New Mexico Safe Streets Gang Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department's Street Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Ruiz).pdfA complaint or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Texas Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Enticing Minors to Engage in Illegal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Joshua Allen (34, Houston, TX) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for two counts of enticing or coercing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. The court also ordered Allen to forfeit a cellular phone, which was used in the commission of the offense, and to register as a sex offender. Allen pleaded guilty in August 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between October 2022 and April 2024, Allen used a social media application to persuade, induce, and entice minors to send him images and videos of child exploitation material in exchange for monetary payments.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Springfield Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for drug trafficking.
Marcus Hicks, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2025 was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Hicks was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.
On Nov. 21, 2022, Hicks possessed 97 grams of cocaine, 15 grams of crack cocaine and two and one-half pounds of marijuana intended for distribution.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan; and Superintendent Lawrence Akers of the Springfield Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Slidell Chiropractor Sentenced for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – JOHN DENNIS MICHAEL PEYROUX (“PEYROUX”), age 58, of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced on January 26, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1347 and 1349, in connection with a scheme to bill Medicare for over-the-counter (“OTC”) COVID-19 test kits that were not requested or otherwise ineligible for reimbursement, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, starting in November 2022, PEYROUX conspired with others to purchase Medicare beneficiary information, including names, Medicare identification numbers, and clearly fabricated recordings of individuals posing as beneficiaries and “requesting” OTC COVID-19 test kits. PEYROUX used that information to bill Medicare through his chiropractic clinic for test kits. On several occasions, PEYROUX billed for beneficiaries who were already deceased, or were in hospice or inpatient care and therefore ineligible to receive OTC COVID-19 tests paid for by Medicare. PEYROUX then misappropriated the credentials of a former nurse practitioner that worked for him and falsely listed the nurse practitioner as the referring provider on fraudulent claims, even though the employee did not treat the beneficiaries or order the tests. In total, in around six months, PEYROUX allegedly billed Medicare approximately $3.3 million in false and fraudulent claims for OTC COVID-19 test kits through his clinic, for which Medicare reimbursed approximately $3.2 million. Under the terms of the plea agreement, PEYROUX agreed to pay over $3.2 million in restitution to Medicare. The government also forfeited over $1 million seized from PEYROUX’s bank accounts.
Judge Africk sentenced PEYROUX to one year and one day in prison, $3,212,761.44 in restitution, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment. PEYROUX’s brother, Steven D. Peyroux, recently pled guilty to his own role in the scheme and is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter on May 14, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, United States Secret Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, of the Financial Crimes Unit and Health Care Fraud Coordinator, and Assistant Chief Justin Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, are in charge of the prosecution.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 8 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Sinaloa, Mexico Man Sentenced to 20 years for Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Sinaloa, Mexico man was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 27, 2026, for his involvement in a fentanyl drug conspiracy.
Raymundo Guadalupe Felix-Perez, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 20 years’ imprisonment without parole, 5 years supervised release, and a money judgment of $80,000. Felix-Perez previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, between Oct. 27, 2020, and Jan. 24, 2023, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in the Western District of Missouri.
Beginning the fall of 2020, Felix-Perez sold M30 fentanyl pills to a co-conspirator in the Western District of Missouri. The initial indictment in this matter included two defendants that were charged, Troy Lee Palmer and Dallas W. Hughs, in a six-count indictment including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During the initial investigation, other members of the conspiracy were identified, including Craig Troester, Dakota Morris, Cassidie Bumgarner, Lucas Coltrain, and Jessica Moody. The final superseding indictment charged Felix-Perez, Joshua Stramel, and Kaden Bernard with the conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. All members of the conspiracy have been previously sentenced with Felix-Perez being the last.
Prior to his indictment, Felix-Perez returned to Sinaloa, Mexico, where he continued to distribute fentanyl to co-conspirators in Missouri, Iowa, Arizona, and Idaho. On June 30, 2024, Felix-Perez was arrested after attempting to enter the United States in the Southern District of California.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Grundy County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office; Trenton, Missouri, Police Department; Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Buchanan County, Missouri Drug Strike Force; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Mercer County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office; Kansas City, Missouri Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; and the Internal Revenue Service.
Homeland Security Task Force
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 Kansas City comprises agents and officers from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Shiprock Man Charged with AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man is facing federal charges after allegedly assaulting a man during a dispute.
According to court records, on September 18, 2025, Brian Adam Archuleta, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly engaged in an argument with the victim that escalated into a physical assault. Archuleta struck the victim multiple times in the face, causing a right orbital wall fracture and requiring ten stitches.
Archuleta is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Archuleta faces 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case.
view the Criminal Complaint (Archuleta).pdfA complaint or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Settlement for $1.7 Million with Former Physician Don J. Wagoner and His Business Entity for Fraudulently Billing the Indiana Medicaid ProgramRead the Press Release
HAMMOND - United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred announced today a settlement for nearly $1.7 million to resolve civil claims of the United States of America and the State of Indiana against former physician Don J. Wagoner, age 89, of Burlington, Indiana, and his business entity, Wagoner Medical Center, L.L.C.
According to documents in this case, during 2011-2013, former physician Don J. Wagoner practiced medicine at Wagoner Medical Center, L.L.C., which Mr. Wagoner solely owned. The Wagoner defendants had a routine practice of requiring patients seeking a prescription for opioid pills or other pain medicine to submit a urine sample for qualitative testing for the presence or absence of nine or more drugs or drug classes. Using a multiplexed screening kit costing defendants no more than approximately ten dollars, defendants tested each single urine sample for the same patient on the same day using the simple kit. Defendants then billed Indiana Medicaid and received $171.27 or more per patient, even though Indiana Medicaid billing rules only allowed them to bill $20.83 per patient. Defendants concealed this fraud by falsely certifying to Indiana Medicaid that they had collected and separately analyzed nine or more urine samples from each patient, when in fact they only had collected and analyzed one urine sample. Defendants perpetrated this fraudulent scheme for over 5,000 claims, and received a total overpayment from Indiana Medicaid of nearly $1 million, which they refused to repay. On December 29, 2017, the United States and the State of Indiana filed a Complaint under the False Claims Act to recover the overpayment resulting from the fraudulent scheme, and also civil penalties. The settlement announced today resolves that case.
The Indiana Medicaid program provides healthcare for low income, often uninsured, Indiana residents who cannot otherwise afford needed medical care. Indiana Medicaid is jointly funded by the United States and the State of Indiana. The federal False Claims Act, and the Indiana Medicaid False Claims Act, allows the federal government and the State of Indiana to recover the amount of the false claims plus civil penalties. A small portion of recoveries under the federal False Claims Act, three percent, is used to fund the cost of future health care fraud investigations and cases.
In 2013, defendant Don J. Wagoner permanently surrendered his licenses to prescribe drugs and practice medicine in connection with a state criminal investigation of his opioid‑prescribing practices, which resulted in felony drug dealing convictions of Mr. Wagoner.
“Although they no longer are endangering vulnerable Medicaid patients by practicing medicine, former physician Don Wagoner cannot be allowed to retain the fruits of his fraudulent Medicaid claims,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to make it a priority to pursue investigations and cases to recover funds that were fraudulently received from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
The settlement was reached in a case against Don J. Wagoner and Wagoner Medical Center, L.L.C. filed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. Lead counsel for plaintiff United States in this litigation and negotiation was Assistant United States Attorney Wayne T. Ault.
Scranton Heart Institute Agrees to Pay $48,709.20 to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Scranton Heart Institute (SHI) has agreed to pay $48,709.20 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment to Medicare for CPT codes associated with PET scan services in violation of the applicable Medicare rules and regulations.
According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, between December 10, 2020 and May 31, 2023, SHI knowingly and willfully received renumeration offered or paid by a mobile PET scan company to induce SHI to refer its Medicare patients to that company for PET scans, in the form of (1) significant hourly payments designated as payments for professional supervision of the mobile imaging services, and (2) allowing SHI to bill for and retain the Medicare professional component reimbursement for the mobile imaging services. Therefore, the United States contends that SHI submitted false claims to Medicare associated with imaging services using certain CPT codes that resulted from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Additionally, the United States contends that the renumeration SHI received from the mobile PET scan company created a financial relationship between SHI’s physician and the mobile PET scan company that did not satisfy any exception to the physician self-referral law.
“Kickback schemes can jeopardize medical decision making, which may significantly impact patient care and program costs,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is committed to working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other partners to investigate alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute in the Medicare program.”
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Haken and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania with assistance from the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Sopchoppy Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Trafficking of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Howard Neil Martin, 46, of Sopchoppy, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts: possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “When President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward eliminating the threats to our community posed by violent felons and drug traffickers, this was precisely the kind of criminal they had in mind. I am extremely proud of this successful prosecution that will keep a dangerous, drug-peddling felon off our streets, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute offenders like this defendant until our communities are drug-free and safe.”
Court documents reflect that deputies with the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report about a burglary in progress at a residence. When they arrived, the defendant was parked in the driveway and was engaged in a verbal dispute with someone watching the residence for the homeowner. Officers could see a firearm in plain view inside the defendant’s truck and, upon running his criminal history, learned that he was a convicted felon. Officers ultimately searched the truck and located approximately half a pound of crystal methamphetamine.
Martin faces up to life imprisonment, as well as a sentencing enhancement because he had previously been convicted of a serious violent felony, specifically, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 3, 2026, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Richmond felon sentenced to over four years in prison for federal firearm convictionRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to four years and four months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2024, Henrico County Police officers found Rashon Lamar Lofton, 40, passed out in the driver seat of a vehicle with the engine running at a fuel pump of a convenient store in Richmond. A passenger was also passed out in the vehicle. After observing indicia of drug use in the vehicle, the officer was removing Lofton from the car when he observed a firearm in Lofton’s pants pocket. The officer placed Lofton in handcuffs and recovered the firearm, which was loaded with nine rounds of ammunition, including a round in the chamber.
At the time of his arrest, Lofton previously had been convicted of, among other crimes, possession with intent to distribute marijuana (twice) and assault. As a previously convicted felon, Lofton cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, 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 protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-12.
Rheumatologist Agrees to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to Unapproved DrugsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Steven L. Mendelsohn, a medical doctor specializing in rheumatology, has agreed to pay $549,554.26 to resolve False Claims Act allegations arising from the submission of reimbursement claims to Medicare for prescription arthritis drugs that were not approved by the Food & Drug Administration for marketing and distribution in the United States, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today.
This settlement resolves allegations that, in 2019, Dr. Mendelsohn sought reimbursement from Medicare for immunosuppressive drugs that were administered intravenously to his patients to treat rheumatoid arthritis that were not purchased from a licensed or authorized drug distributor. The United States alleged that the drugs were intended for foreign markets. Those drugs were thus not approved by the FDA for marketing and distribution in the United States.
“When patients receive intravenous drugs, they have no insight into what is being put inside their bodies. The FDA plays an important role in ensuring only safe and proper pharmaceuticals are used,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Dr. Mendelsohn sidestepped that oversight to buy cheaper drugs abroad yet receive full reimbursement from Medicare at the expense of the American taxpayer. This settlement holds him accountable and ensures that Medicare funds are only used for FDA-approved drugs.”
“Health care professionals are legally obligated to uphold the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Protecting the safety of Medicare patients is essential, and HHS-OIG is committed to ensuring taxpayer dollars are not spent on unapproved or unauthorized treatments that put patients at risk.”
“The FDA’s comprehensive regulatory framework is designed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs distributed to American consumers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berrios, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “We commend the efforts of the Department of Justice to protect public health and hold accountable those who place profits over patient safety.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly H. Snow handled this affirmative civil enforcement matter with assistance from the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Repeat offender felon sentenced to five years for illegal reentry into U.S.Read the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 31-year-old Mexican national with multiple felonies who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the country again without authorization, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Javier Andres Rivera pleaded guilty Nov. 12, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now ordered Rivera to serve 60 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court considered Rivera’s criminal history and noted that, despite a prior lengthy prison sentence, he has continued to reoffend and has not demonstrated a positive rehabilitative trajectory.
Rivera has felony convictions for aggravated robbery with a firearm, possession of more than 50 pounds of marijuana, terroristic threats and illegal reentry. He was first removed from the United States in November 2011 and illegally returned three times.
Authorities discovered him again in July 2025 after arresting him for unlawful possession of a firearm.
Rivera will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Repeat Health Care Fraud Offender Sentenced for Defrauding New Hampshire MedicaidRead the Press Release
Repeat Health Care Fraud Offender Sentenced for Defrauding New Hampshire Medicaid
CONCORD – A Florida man was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for causing psychotherapy sessions to be fraudulently billed to New Hampshire Medicaid.
According to court documents, Erik X. Alonso, 55, of Miami, Florida, was convicted in 2015 of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and related offenses in the Southern District of Florida. The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) maintains an Exclusion List that identifies individuals who cannot receive payment from federal health care programs, including Medicaid. As a result of his conviction, Alonso, a psychotherapist, was placed on the Exclusion List.
According to court documents, in March 2022, Alonso began working for a telehealth mental health provider based in New Hampshire, through which he provided services billed to New Hampshire Medicaid patients despite knowing he was on the Exclusion List. Alonso also caused the telehealth provider to submit claims to New Hampshire Medicaid for counseling services that were not provided as represented, including in instances in which Alonso requested – and later received – a patient’s assistance with personal tasks. As a result of the scheme, Alonso admitted that he caused New Hampshire Medicaid to pay approximately $173,998 based on false and fraudulent claims.
Alonso pleaded guilty on October 23, 2025, to one count of health care fraud. At sentencing, Alonso was ordered to pay $173, 998.83 in restitution.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office previously entered into a resolution with the telehealth mental health provider, LifeWorks Counseling Associates, PLLC and its owner, Dr. David Ferruolo, to resolve a parallel civil matter under which they paid $300,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing Medicaid for services provided by an individual (Alonso) excluded from the Medicaid program.
U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan for the District of New Hampshire, Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of HHS-OIG, and Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks of the FBI Boston Field Office made the announcement.
HHS-OIG and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the District of New Hampshire and Trial Attorneys Thomas D. Campbell, John W. Howard, and Danielle H. Sakowski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Pottsville Man Indicted for Production and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON -- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bryce Robert Elliott, age 21, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for the production and distribution of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Elliott, sometime between December of 2024 and January of 2026, engaged in the production of videos depicting sexual activity with a toddler, which he then distributed over the internet.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for each count is 50 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Philadelphia Business Owner Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Wire Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that John Frances “Jack” Griffin, 62, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Chad F. Kenney for wire fraud and tax evasion. Judge Kenney also ordered Griffin to pay $899,948 in restitution — $776,205 of that going to the victims of the fraud and the remaining $123,743 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).
As detailed in court filings and statements, Griffin was the principal and founder of Second Story Farming Inc., which did business as Metropolis Farms. Second Story Farming had several lines of business, including growing crops in vertical farms to sell to customers, developing sustainable vertical farming technologies, and selling vertical farming systems to customers. Vertical farming refers to a practice of growing crops indoors vertically in horizontally stacked layers to reduce the amount of space needed.
In 2017, Griffin, through Second Story Farming, sold vertical farming systems along with the equipment, supplies, materials, and operational instructions necessary to operate them, to two companies. Before doing so, Griffin provided financial projections to them that grossly overstated the anticipated revenues that could be generated by the vertical farms and grossly understated the anticipated expenses necessary to operate them. The purchasers relied on those projections when they bought the vertical farms from Griffin.
Rather than use those funds to provide them with vertical farms he promised, Griffin used most of the money to pay, among other things, his own personal expenses, such as his mortgage and clothes from Nieman Marcus.
From 2015 through 2018, Griffin received more than $650,000 in income from his work at Second Story Farming. Despite earning this income, Griffin did not file tax returns for any of those years. Instead, Griffin tried to conceal that he received income, by, among other things, withdrawing cash from his personal and business bank accounts, paying personal expense from his business’s bank accounts, and transferring funds from his business to his wife.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Francis Weber and Trial Attorney Catriona M. Coppler of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Tax Section.
Peruvian National Involved in Credit Card Theft, Identity Theft Scheme Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERICK CHRISTIAN LUNA DE LA CRUZ, 34, a citizen of Peru residing in Edison, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to an offense related to his participation in a credit card theft and identity theft scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the FBI and local law enforcement agencies in Connecticut and elsewhere began investigating a series of distraction thefts of wallets from victims, typically elderly women, at Trader Joe’s grocery stores, TJ Maxx stores, and other retail stores in Connecticut and elsewhere. The investigation revealed that Luna de la Cruz and others traveled throughout the U.S. in order to steal wallets from unwary victims, and then use the victims’ credit and debit cards to purchase electronic devices and other items at other stores. Luna de la Cruz and his associates stopped at shipping providers along their route to ship the goods they purchased to a co-conspirator’s address in New Jersey.
Luna de la Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Luna de la Cruz was arrested on June 28, 2024. He is released on a $100,000 bond under electronic monitoring pending sentencing, which is scheduled for April 22.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manchester (Conn.) Police Department, with the assistance of the Orange (Conn.) Police Department, the Fairfax County (Va.) Police Department, the Spartanburg County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Office, the Spartanburg Police Department, the Warwick (R.I.) Police Department, the Cary (N.C.) Police Department, and the Metropolitan Nashville (Tenn.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and Michael S. McGarry.
Overland Park, Kansas Man Sentenced to 189 Months for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Overland Park, Ks. man was sentenced on Jan. 27, 2026, by the Honorable Roseann A. Ketchmark to 189 months imprisonment in the Bureau of Prisons to be followed by 15 years of supervised release.
Jason M. Shellenbergar, 50, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography; one count of receipt of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography involving a victim under the age of 12. At the time of these offenses, Shellenbergar was living in Independence, Missouri.
Shellenbergar will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Child Exploitation Task Force and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
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."
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marquize Kuame Damon Scott, also known as “Q,” 27, of South Point, Ohio, was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 14, 2024, Scott sold 83.9 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $700 in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Scott admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.
Scott also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On June 10, 2024, Scott sold approximately 55 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 2.3 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant in exchange for $500 on Hal Greer Boulevard in Huntington.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-48.
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New York Man Admits Fencing Jewelry Stolen from Mall Stores and Kiosks Across the U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that SALIM SAKAL, 55, of Brooklyn, New York, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to an offense related to his buying and selling jewelry stolen from mall-based stores and kiosks across the country.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between May 2023 and April 2024, an organized jewelry theft ring of Colombian nationals burglarized jewelry stores and kiosks in malls in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia. The total losses from the burglaries exceed $4.4 million. Members of the conspiracy also cased additional jewelry stores and kiosks in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Delaware.
Sakal was the co-owner of Ramoun Jewelry, located in Corona, New York, which sold jewelry and gold to retail customers. The business also purchased jewelry and gold from third parties. Sakal conspired with members of the organized jewelry theft ring to receive, store, and sell jewelry stolen from seven burglaries between August 2023 and April 2024. Sakal paid his co-conspirators cash for the stolen merchandise for a fraction of the actual retail amount, and then sold it to others, including those he knew would melt down the gold. Ramoun did not have a valid second-hand dealer license required under the laws and regulations of New York City, and he did not maintain required records, including the identifying information of the sellers, a description of the items purchased, and the date and time of the purchase.
To date, none of the stolen jewelry has been recovered by law enforcement.
Sakal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell and receive stolen goods, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Sakal has agreed to pay restitution of $2,471,457, jointly and severally with others convicted in this case.
Sakal is released on a $1,000,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for April 17.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI New Haven’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with the assistance of the Milford (Conn.) Police Department, the Hamilton Township (N.J.) Police Division, the Delaware State Police, the Henrico County (Va.) Police Division, the New York State Police, the New York Police Department, the Pensacola (Fla.) Police Department, the Paterson (N.J.) Police Department, the Mentor (Ohio) Police Department, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department, the Greece (N.Y.) Police Department, and the Lombard (Ill.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Conor M. Reardon.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Eastern District of New York, and Southern District of New York, and FBI Field Offices in New York, Dallas, Miami, and Tampa for their assistance.
New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Multiple High-Powered FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Nashua, N.H. man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to trafficking nine firearms, including two semiautomatic rifles, into Massachusetts in over a one-month period.
Dennis T. Michaud, Jr., 23, pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in firearms. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for April 28, 2026. Michaud was arrested and charged in March 2025.
Beginning in or around February 2025, Michaud was identified as an illegal firearms dealer. From Feb. 7 through Feb. 11, 2025, undercover law enforcement contacted Michaud through Snapchat to arrange for the purchase of a semiautomatic rifle. During those communications, Michaud stated that he was located in New Hampshire and that he could bring the firearm to Massachusetts. On Feb. 11, 2025, in Pepperell, Mass., Michaud met with a confidential source operating at the direction of law enforcement to conduct the transaction. There, Michaud provided the confidential source with a Good Time Outdoors CXV Core 15 .223/5.56 caliber semiautomatic rifle and a 30-round .223/5.56 caliber magazine in exchange for $900.
On Feb. 18, 2025, Michaud agreed to sell three additional firearms. Later that day, Michaud met the source at an agreed upon location in Pepperell, Mass. where he provided the following three firearms as well as accompanying ammunition and accessories in exchange for $2,100: a Taurus Raging Hunter .454 Casull Revolver and approximately five rounds of .454 Casull ammunition; a Rossi Interarms M68 .38 Special Revolver and approximately five rounds of .38 Special ammunition; and a Walther PPS 9mm Pistol with approximately six Walther PPS 9mm magazines and various firearm parts and/or accessories.
In addition, on Feb. 27, 2025, Michaud agreed to sell two more firearms: a Radical Firearms RF-15 .223/5.56 caliber semiautomatic short-barreled rifle along with a 30-round .223/5.56 caliber magazine and a Sig Sauer P227 Equinox .45 caliber pistol along with a 10-round Sig Sauer P227 .45 caliber magazine. During the transaction Michaud provided the confidential source the two agreed-upon firearms and ammunition. Michaud also stated that possessing the semiautomatic short-barreled rifle would constitute “three felonies” due to the stock and 30-round magazine affixed to the firearm.
On March 20, 2025 Michaud sold three more firearms, two magazines and ammunition to the confidential source in exchange for $2,250: a Century Arms 7.62x39mm YSKA AK Rifle; a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm Pistol; and a Taurus PT-22 .22 caliber Pistol. The defendant was immediately taken into custody following the transaction.
Michaud does not possess a federal firearms license.
The charge of trafficking in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to 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 Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; and the Nashua (N.H.), Worcester and Pepperell Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.Nevada Child Predator Sentenced in the District of Utah to 25 Years’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – A Nevada woman was sentenced today to 300 months’ imprisonment after she sexually exploited a child, recorded the sexually explicit conduct and then distributed it to a co-offender, with whom she had a relationship.
Alexandria Marie Wright, 32, of Moapa, Nevada, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to production of child pornography.
In addition to Wright’s term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, sentenced Wright to a lifetime of supervised release.
According to court documents and admissions made at Wright’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, beginning on an unknown date and continuing through October 31, 2021, in the District of Utah, Wright began exchanging sexual messages and media with her co-conspirator. In the fall of 2021, Wright and her co-conspirator met to have consensual sex and discussed sexually abusing a child, to whom Wright had access to. On Halloween, Wright brought a four-year-old victim that she knew to her co-conspirator, and they sexually abused the child for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the abuse. The co-conspirator was arrested on August 7, 2024 in Kansas, which led to the recovery of sexually explicit images of the child, and the instant prosecution.
“These unthinkable acts will not go unanswered,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “Child predators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It is our hope that the victim and the victim’s family can move forward knowing justice is served against Wright and that she is removed from society and away from preying on other children.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Lola Police Department in Lola, Kansas.
Assistant United States Christopher Burton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Montgomery County Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Defrauding FEMA of over $1.7 Million in Hurricane Ida Disaster BenefitsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jasmine Williams, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to five years in prison by United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge for a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) in the wake of Hurricane Ida.
Williams was charged by indictment in April 2024 with one count of fraud related to a major disaster declaration, 24 counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of mail fraud. She pleaded guilty to all 32 charges in September of last year.
As presented in court filings, in September 2021, President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration for much of the eastern part of Pennsylvania, after the remnants of Hurricane Ida struck the Commonwealth. This declaration authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to residents whose homes and properties were damaged by the hurricane.
As further detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Williams recruited others over social media, advertising that she could assist them in applying for FEMA benefits. Court filings show that Williams solicited participants in her scheme, whether they were renters, owners, or homeless. Williams then submitted fraudulent documents to FEMA on behalf of almost 200 others, including fraudulent leases, letters from landlords, utility bills, earning statements, and home repair estimates.
In exchange, Williams requested half of the payout for herself, amassing hundreds of thousands of dollars. When one participant did not pay, Williams took to social media, posting the participant’s personally identifiable information and an extended video criticizing her for not paying the 50% Williams charged. Williams also used social media to solicit images of damaged homes to submit in support of the fraudulent applications.
In total, the Court determined that FEMA paid $1,744,982.64 in assistance based on false representations made by Williams from October 2021 through March 2023.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, with assistance from FEMA Fraud Prevention and Investigations, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and S. Chandler Harris.
Missouri Kindergarten Teacher Admits Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A former Farmington, Missouri kindergarten teacher on Wednesday admitted possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material.
Erika L. Morton, 37, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of possession of child pornography. She admitted sending child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via the Kik Messenger app.
In February 2025, the Missouri State Highway Patrol received a cybertip reporting that a Kik user had uploaded several video files containing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Investigators traced the account to Morton and interviewed her on June 17, 2025. Morton admitted that she was the Kik user responsible for sending the CSAM and admitted that she used her cell phone to obtain the material while at her home in Ste. Genevieve County, her plea agreement says.
Morton is scheduled to be sentenced in April. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both prison and a fine.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice 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 via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Milwaukee Woman Pleads Guilty to Aiding in the Preparation of False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 28, 2026, Jasmeika Simon, (age 33) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pled guilty to one count of Aiding in the Preparation of False Tax returns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2).
According to the plea agreement, Simon worked as a tax preparer who prepared and filed federal tax returns for clients for a fee. For the 2021, 2022, and 2023 tax years, Simon electronically filed approximately 361 federal tax returns with the IRS. Of those, approximately 331 contained indicators and evidence of fraud. Most of the 1040 tax returns filed by Simon on behalf of her clients reported materially false income related to business income and losses, household employee wages, and/or ordinary dividends. They also reported a variety of materially false refundable credits and other payments including sick and family leave credits, child and dependent care credits, fuel tax credits, IRC Section 1341 credits, and/or false income tax withholdings. As a result of Simon’s material misrepresentations, her clients received larger refunds to which they were not entitled, which increased Simon’s commissions. Throughout the course of her scheme, Simon intended a loss to the IRS of approximately $3,337,051, and caused an actual tax loss, based on fraudulent refunds paid, of $1,832,477. As a result of her fraudulent conduct, Simon also obtained approximately $234,508 in fees and commissions to which she was not entitled.
Simon faces up to 3 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. She will be sentenced by United States District Court Judge Brett H. Ludwig on June 8, 2026.
This case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter J. Smyczek.
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