Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
27 January 2026
Chinese National Sentenced to Prison for Role in Crypto Scam Targeting AmericansRead the Press Release
Chinese national Jingliang Su was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for his role in laundering more than $36.9 million from victims in a digital asset investment conspiracy that was carried out from scam centers in Cambodia. The court also ordered Su to pay $26,867,242.44 in restitution. Su pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal money transmitting business.
“This defendant and his co-conspirators scammed 174 Americans out of their hard-earned money,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In the digital age, criminals have found new ways to weaponize the internet for fraud. The Criminal Division and its law enforcement partners have continued to evolve and caught large-scale scammers, who target people through their phones, social media, and fake internet sites, steal from them, and then move their money through cryptocurrency and wire transfers outside of the United States.”
“New investment opportunities may sound intriguing, but they have a dark side: attracting criminals who, in this case, stole then laundered tens of millions of dollars from their victims,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “I thank our law enforcement partners for their efforts at bringing this defendant to justice and I encourage the investing public to be cautious. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
According to court documents, Su was part of an international criminal network that induced U.S. victims to transfer funds to accounts controlled by co-conspirators, who then laundered victim money through U.S. shell companies, international bank accounts, and digital asset wallets. The cycle of the scheme began when overseas co-conspirators contacted U.S. victims via unsolicited social media interactions, telephone calls, text messages, and online dating services to gain the victims’ trust. The co-conspirators promoted fraudulent digital asset investments to the victims. The co-conspirators created fake websites that resembled real cryptocurrency trading platforms and convinced victims to send funds through the fake websites for investments.
The scammers would then tell the victims that their investments were appreciating in value when, in fact, the scammers had stolen the victims’ money. More than $36.9 million in victim funds were transferred from U.S. bank accounts controlled by the co-conspirators to a single account at Deltec Bank in the Bahamas. Su and other co-conspirators directed Deltec Bank to convert victim funds to the stablecoin Tether (USDT) and to transfer the converted funds to a digital asset wallet controlled in Cambodia. From there, co-conspirators in Cambodia transferred the USDT to the leaders of scam centers throughout the region. Ultimately, the government was able to identify 174 U.S. victims.
Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far, including Jose Somarriba and ShengSheng He. He and Somarriba each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and were sentenced to 51 months and 36 months in prison, respectively.
U.S. Secret Service’s Global Investigative Operations Center is investigating the case. Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Dominican National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance.
Trial Attorney Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), Trial Attorney Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maxwell Coll, Alexander Gorin, and Nisha Chandran for the Central District of California prosecuted the case.
The sentencing is the latest outcome of the Criminal Division’s continuing work to investigate, disrupt, and bring to justice individuals facilitating scam center operations worldwide, in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. In combating scam centers, the Criminal Division draws on its expertise in countering cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, and transnational organized crime. By seizing and forfeiting crime-linked cryptocurrency, dismantling digital infrastructure used by the scammers to target U.S. citizens, and disrupting domestic and international money laundering networks, the Criminal Division and its partners will cut off access to victim proceeds and tools that enable the fraud. As international relationships are critical to address this growing threat, the Criminal Division will draw on its network of International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property prosecutors (ICHIPs) who are strategically posted throughout the world to coordinate with foreign law enforcement partners.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
If you or someone you know is a victim of a digital asset investment fraud, report it to IC3.gov.
Chinese National Sentenced to Nearly 4 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Cryptocurrency Scam Targeting U.S. VictimsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Chinese national was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for his role in laundering more than $36.9 million from victims in a digital asset investment conspiracy that was carried out from scam centers in Cambodia.
Jingliang Su, 45, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who also ordered him to pay $26,867,242 in restitution.
Su pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal money transmitting business.
“New investment opportunities may sound intriguing, but they have a dark side: attracting criminals who, in this case, stole then laundered tens of millions of dollars from their victims,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “I thank our law enforcement partners for their efforts at bringing this defendant to justice and I encourage the investing public to be cautious. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
“This defendant and his co-conspirators scammed 174 Americans out of their hard-earned money,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In the digital age, criminals have found new ways to weaponize the internet for fraud. The Criminal Division and its law enforcement partners have continued to evolve and caught large-scale scammers, who target people through their phones, social media, and fake internet sites, steal from them, and then move their money through cryptocurrency and wire transfers outside of the United States.”
According to court documents, Su was part of an international criminal network that induced U.S. victims to transfer funds to accounts controlled by co-conspirators, who then laundered victim money through U.S. shell companies, international bank accounts, and digital asset wallets.
The cycle of the scheme began when overseas co-conspirators contacted U.S. victims via unsolicited social media interactions, telephone calls, text messages, and online dating services to gain the victims’ trust. The co-conspirators promoted fraudulent digital asset investments to the victims. The co-conspirators created fake websites that resembled real cryptocurrency trading platforms and convinced victims to send funds through the fake websites for investments.
The scammers would then tell the victims that their investments were appreciating in value when, in fact, the scammers had stolen the victims’ money. More than $36.9 million in victim funds were transferred from U.S. bank accounts controlled by the co-conspirators to a single account at Deltec Bank in the Bahamas. Su and other co-conspirators directed Deltec Bank to convert victim funds to the stablecoin Tether (USDT) and to transfer the converted funds to a digital asset wallet controlled in Cambodia. From there, co-conspirators in Cambodia transferred the USDT to the leaders of scam centers throughout the region. Ultimately, the government was able to identify 174 U.S. victims.
Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far, including Jose Somarriba and ShengSheng He. He and Somarriba each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and were sentenced to 51 months and 36 months in prison, respectively. Su has been in federal custody since December 2024.
USSS’s Global Investigative Operations Center is investigating the case. The Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Dominican National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Nisha Chandran of the Major Frauds Section, and Alexander Gorin and Maxwell Coll of the National Security Division along with Justice Department Trial Attorney Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), and Trial Attorney Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, prosecuted this case.
The sentencing is the latest outcome of the Criminal Division’s continuing work to investigate, disrupt, and bring to justice individuals facilitating scam center operations worldwide, in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. In combating scam centers, the Criminal Division draws on its expertise in countering cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, and transnational organized crime.
By seizing and forfeiting crime-linked cryptocurrency, dismantling digital infrastructure used by the scammers to target U.S. citizens, and disrupting domestic and international money laundering networks, the Criminal Division and its partners will cut off access to victim proceeds and tools that enable the fraud. As international relationships are critical to address this growing threat, the Criminal Division will draw on its network of International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property prosecutors (ICHIPs) who are strategically posted throughout the world to coordinate with foreign law enforcement partners.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of more than 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of more than $350 million in victim funds.
If you or someone you know is a victim of a digital asset investment fraud, report it to IC3.gov.
Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Jing Guo, a Chinese national residing in California, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting she participated in an international fraud and money laundering scheme that tricked more than 40 elderly victims out of more than $1.2 million.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this case arises from an investigation into a call center scam that targeted elderly individuals in California and elsewhere in the United States in May 2025. According to charging documents, Guo and others used the following methods to defraud the victims:
- Technical support scam: Scammers pose as legitimate tech support representatives, claiming a victim’s computer or account has been compromised and tricking them into paying for unnecessary or fake repairs.
- Refund scam: Fraudsters contact victims with claims they are owed a refund, then manipulate them into providing banking information or transferring money under the guise of correcting a supposed overpayment.
- Bank impersonation scam: Criminals impersonate banks or financial institutions through calls, texts, or emails, creating a false sense of urgency to pressure victims into revealing sensitive information or moving funds to fraudulent accounts.
Guo admitted in her plea agreement that she met victims in-person to collect the funds. She kept a percentage of the fraud proceeds before passing the remainder on to other members of the conspiracy.
Guo is scheduled to be sentenced April 27 at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez.
If you or someone you know is 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
The FBI requests that victims report:
- The name of the person or company that contacted you.
- Methods of communication used, including websites, emails, and telephone numbers.
- Any bank account number(s) to which you wired funds and the recipient name(s).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Brooks.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr4149-LL-2
Jing Guo Age: 36 San Gabriel, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison and $1 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Charlotte Man Sentenced to 6 ½ Years for Possessing AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Images and Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to 78 months in prison today for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), some of which was AI-generated, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, U.S. District Judge Matthew E. Orso ordered Daniel Joseph Broadway, 54, to serve a lifetime of supervised release, to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison, and to pay $17,000 in special assessments and $15,000 in restitution.
“Child sexual abuse material is harmful in all of its forms, and my office has the experience, expertise, and resolve to keep up with the technology as criminals use new methods to exploit children,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Using AI to generate harmful imagery of children is illegal and we will aggressively prosecute those who do so.”
According to court documents and court proceedings, in April 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cybertip that an individual later identified as Broadway was uploading CSAM to an online account. In December 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Broadway’s residence, seizing nine electronic devices. A forensic review of the devices revealed that they contained more than 30,000 images and videos of AI-generated CSAM and over 8,600 images and videos of CSAM. The forensics further showed that Broadway used an AI platform to generate original images of CSAM, including images depicting prepubescent minors. He further used the AI platform to nudify existing images of real people.
In sentencing Broadway, Judge Orso said, “Congress has observed that child pornography is a permanent record of a child’s abuse,” and “those wounds get ripped back open” every time people view the content depicting their abuse.
On April 23, 2025, Broadway pleaded guilty to possession and access with intent to view child pornography involving a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age, and obscene visual representations of sexual abuse of children involving a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age. Broadway is in federal custody and will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prison upon designation of a federal facility.
The case was investigated by the FBI in Charlotte and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Career Offender Sentenced to over 16 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine During a Traffic AccidentRead the Press Release
A man who possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced January 27, 2026, to more than 16 years in federal prison.
Mark Allen Mendenhall, age 53, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 16, 2025, guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of pure methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, Mendenhall admitted that on September 19, 2024, in Dickinson County, Iowa, he knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute approximately 40 grams of pure methamphetamine. At that time, despite being a fugitive from the Iowa Department of Corrections, Mendenhall was working as a patient transport driver. While driving a patient to an appointment, he crossed the center lane and struck a semitruck. After being transported to a local hospital, he was found to have approximately 40 grams of pure methamphetamine concealed on his body. A search of the vehicle he was driving revealed syringes, fake identification cards, fake United States currency, and other indicia of drug use. Mendenhall has an extensive criminal history which includes 24 prior convictions, spanning over 25 years. Due to having at least two prior felony convictions that are crimes of violence or controlled substance offenses, Mendenhall was categorized for sentencing purposes as a career offender.
Mendenhall was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Mendenhall was sentenced to 199 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Spirit Lake Police Department and the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-04082. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Atlanta child molester sentenced for illegally possessing firearm while impersonating a police officerRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Fredrick Crawford, a convicted child molester, robber, and stalker, has been sentenced to prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm at an Atlanta gas station where he was impersonating a police officer and threatening customers.
"If a real officer had not caught this armed felon pretending to be a cop, someone could have been seriously injured,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to my office’s close partnership with the Atlanta Police Department, which referred this case for federal prosecution, the community is safer because Crawford is back in prison, where he belongs.”
“Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a serious crime that undermines public trust and safety. Fredrick Crawford’s actions not only endangered the lives of innocent citizens but also posed a significant risk to legitimate law enforcement efforts. The ATF is committed to working alongside our partners to ensure that individuals who engage in such reckless behavior are held accountable,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd.
“This case underscores the vigilance and professionalism of our officers, even when off duty,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “An armed felon impersonating a police officer poses a grave threat to public safety and to the integrity of law enforcement. Thanks to the quick actions of our sergeant and the coordinated response that followed, a dangerous individual was taken off the streets.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges and other information presented in court: On April 12, 2024, an off-duty Atlanta Police Department (APD) sergeant who was buying fuel at a gas station saw Fredrick Crawford, who was armed and wearing a uniform labeled “Fugitive Task Force.” Crawford was arguing with customers, claimed he was a police officer, and repeatedly threatened to issue tickets to people at the gas station.
Concerned by Crawford’s behavior, the sergeant approached him. As their conversation unfolded, the sergeant began to suspect that Crawford was not a real police officer. The sergeant flagged down two marked APD vehicles. When Crawford saw the other officers approaching, he fled and tossed his firearm.
When Crawford was apprehended, officers discovered he was a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. Along with a prior conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Crawford also had previous criminal convictions for child molestation, family violence battery, aggravated stalking, and robbery by force. Initially, Crawford was prosecuted in Fulton County, where the district attorney’s office recommended a sentence of just nine months of imprisonment. To achieve more appropriate punishment for this violent recidivist, the Atlanta Police Department requested successive prosecution of Crawford in federal court.
Fredrick Crawford, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen to four years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas L. Evert and Chloe Cobb Smith 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.
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.
Ankeny Man Sentenced to Probation for Violating the Migratory Bird Treaty ActRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – An Ankeny man was sentenced on January 26, 2026, to a six-month term of probation for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Joseph Thomas Lamb, 82, drove his vehicle into a flock of Canada Geese on State Street in Ankeny around 6:30 am on June 10, 2025. Lamb stopped to let a flock of nine Canada Geese cross in front of his vehicle. When the geese were in the middle of his lane, he accelerated into the geese, killing one of the geese. In addition to a six-month term of probation, Lamb was ordered to pay a $2000 fine.
The Canada Goose is a migratory bird protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service maintains a list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine of up to $15,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than one year.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Ankeny Police Department investigated the case.
If you believe you have information related to a wildlife crime that violates federal law, please reach out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
You may also submit a wildlife crime report to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) using the Turn in Poachers (TIP) online form or call the TIP Hotline at 1-800-532-2020.
Albuquerque Man Charged for Fatal Shooting of Pueblo of Isleta MemberRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man is in federal custody after the fatal shooting of a Pueblo of Isleta tribal member prompted a public search by the FBI.
According to court documents, on January 9, 2026, Pueblo of Isleta Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting at a residence in Bosque Farms, New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of the Pueblo of Isleta. Officers located the victim, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta, suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper left chest. Despite life-saving efforts by officers and emergency medical services, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to witnesses, Bonifacio Silva, 18, a non-Indian, allegedly fired the fatal shots during a confrontation following an earlier verbal and physical altercation at the residence. Silva then fled the scene with his pregnant girlfriend. During a subsequent traffic stop, the pair reportedly provided false information to officers claiming the girlfriend was in labor, allowing them to be released. Silva was later dropped off in the Albuquerque area.
On January 12, 2026, the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office issued a wanted poster seeking information from the public as to Silva’s whereabouts. Silva was arrested in Albuquerque later that day.
Silva is charged with second degree murder and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Silva faces a minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Pueblo of Isleta Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Albuquerque Man Charged After FBI Finds Modified Hand Grenade in His HomeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been federally charged with unlawfully possessing an improvised explosive device following the discovery of a modified hand grenade in his home.
According to court documents, on December 31, 2025, the Albuquerque Police Department responded to a residence in northwest Albuquerque after the resident, Jeff Bramlett, 46, requested medical assistance. While assisting at the residence, officers observed what appeared to be hand grenades and requested assistance from the FBI’s Albuquerque Special Agent Bomb Technicians. Agents located two devices, one resembling a pineapple-shaped MK 2 fragmentation grenade and another similar to an M26 fragmentation grenade, in the living room. Both were fitted with functional military training fuzes.
On January 7, 2026, FBI and APD bomb technicians safely disassembled the devices and determined that one device was a functional grenade, containing granulated black powder that reacted positively to a flame test, confirming it was explosive material.
Bramlett is charged with possessing a firearm, namely a destructive device (grenade) that was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Bramlett faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Bramlett).pdf View the Indictment (Bramlett).pdfAn indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
26 January 2026
Vermillion Man Convicted of Child Pornography Charges Following Federal Jury TrialRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Nicholas Keitges, age 33, of Vermillion, South Dakota, of Attempted Production of Child Pornography, two counts of Receipt and Transportation of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography, following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls. The verdict was returned on January 22, 2026.
The charge of Attempted Production of Child Pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a possible maximum of 30 years. Receipt and Transportation of Child Pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in federal prison and a possible maximum of 20 years in prison. Possession of Child Pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Each count is also subject to a fine of up to $250,000, and at least five years and up to life of supervised release, and $400 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Keitges was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023.
In April 2022, Keitges used several online platforms, Omegle and Snapchat, to befriend a 14-year-old girl in the Sioux Falls area. He sexually groomed her and attempted to coerce her into producing sexually explicit images of her genitalia. The minor got scared and law enforcement was called. Through a thorough investigation by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations, Keitges was identified as the online perpetrator. He was later arrested, charged, and now stands convicted.
Then in April 2023, the South Dakota ICAC Task Force received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Law enforcement’s investigation into that CyberTip discovered that Keitges had been using his Dropbox and Google Gmail accounts to transport multiple files of child pornography. Again, Keitges was identified as this online perpetrator.
“Thanks to the efforts of this incredible team of law enforcement officers, this defendant now stands convicted of federal charges associated with his reprehensible and illegal activities,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “We will do everything we can to ensure he stays in federal prison and away from your children for as long as possible under the law.”
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, South Dakota DCI, South Dakota ICAC Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb 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 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.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for April 13, 2026. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Venezuelan Man Posing as High School Teen Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 24-year-old Venezuelan man residing unlawfully in Perrysburg, Ohio, who was enrolled as a student at a local high school, has been sentenced for lying on immigration forms and on applications to purchase a firearm.
Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp after pleading guilty in September to the following charges in an indictment:
- Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully in the United States
- Making a False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm
- Making or Using False Writings or Documents.
He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. Labrador-Sierra is subject to a detainer from the United States Border Patrol and will be taken into administrative immigration custody following the completion of his sentence. Judge Knepp imposed the sentence Jan. 23.
According to the indictment, the defendant submitted a false date of birth to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on federal applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization documents in 2024 and 2025.
In the original criminal complaint and underlying affidavit filed in May 2025, investigators learned that Perrysburg Schools made a report to local police that they received information indicating that Labrador-Sierra was posing as a student attending Perrysburg High School. Upon further investigation, agents found that he was not a minor but was instead a 24-year-old man who had enrolled under false pretenses.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection−Sandusky Bay Station, FBI Toledo Resident Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the City of Perrysburg Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio.
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 communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
United States Obtains False Claims Act Judgment Against California Rehabilitation Center and Owner Relating to Improper Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
The United States District Court for the Central District of California granted summary judgment to the United States against JMG Investments Inc., a California corporation which runs a rehabilitation center, and its owner, Jeffrey Schwartz, on Jan. 15, finding that they violated the False Claims Act when they knowingly received and retained more than one Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan prior to Dec. 31, 2020, in violation of PPP rules. The District Court ordered Schwartz and his company to pay the United States a total of $1,565,294.38 in damages and penalties.
“PPP loans were intended to provide critical relief to small businesses,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to pursuing those who knowingly violated the requirements of the PPP and obtained relief funds to which they were not entitled.”
“Every pandemic relief dollar improperly used was money other businesses needed to stay afloat,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “My office will continue tracking down individuals and companies who unlawfully took advantage of COVID-19 government aid.”
“The favorable ruling in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the Department of Justice and other Federal law enforcement agencies to recover the product of this fraud as well as penalties,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis.
The PPP, an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), was intended to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A borrower applying for a PPP loan was required to make multiple certifications relating to its eligibility and compliance with program rules. Among other things, PPP loan applicants in 2020 were required to certify that they would not receive more than one PPP loan prior to Dec. 31, 2020.
In August 2024, the United States filed a complaint against JMG Investments and Schwartz alleging that they violated the False Claims Act when Schwartz, on behalf of JMG Investments Inc., improperly received two PPP loans in 2020 in violation of PPP rules, and thereafter knowingly and improperly retained the proceeds of the duplicate loan. According to the government’s complaint, Schwartz and JMG Investments Inc. failed to repay the duplicate loan as they were required, which resulted in a loss to the SBA when it purchased the loan guaranty on the duplicate loan. The District Court ruled that the United States had shown it was entitled to judgment on all claims asserted against the Defendants and, accordingly, awarded the United States summary judgment.
This judgment against JMG Investments Inc. and Jeffrey Schwartz resolves claims brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The United States may intervene in the action, as it did in this case. The amount of the whistleblower share in this case has not yet been determined. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Quesenberry v. JMG Investments, Inc., et al, No. 20-cv-8497-MWF (ASx) (C.D. Cal.).
The judgment obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorneys Jared S. Wiesner and Paden R. Gallagher of the Civil Division, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul La Scala of the Central District of California.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama Recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today the Middle District of Alabama 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 is a brutal crime that preys on the most vulnerable members of our communities, and this office is committed to using every available tool to hold traffickers accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson. “Through close coordination with our federal, state, and local partners, the Middle District of Alabama will continue to aggressively pursue traffickers, protect victims and survivors, and ensure that those who profit from exploitation are brought to justice.”
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.
Since January 20, 2025, the Middle District of Alabama has made protecting victims from the scourge of human and sex trafficking a top priority. In one recent example, in November 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, working with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, secured the convictions of two Montgomery men for operating a multi-year sex trafficking enterprise involving multiple victims, including minors. The defendants used physical and sexual violence, threats against victims and their children, firearms intimidation, and the manipulation of victims’ drug addictions to coerce victims into engaging in commercial sex acts for their financial benefit. Both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
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
If you believe you or someone else are the victim of human trafficking or have information about a potential trafficking situation, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline for confidential help by calling 1-888-373-7888, or texting “HELP” to 233733 (BEFREE), or start a live chat at humantraffickinghotline.org/chat.
Information on the Justice Department’s work to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Reaches Settlement with Portland Mental Health Clinic for Alleged Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Riverbird, LLC, a Portland-based mental health clinic, and its providers Matthew Stevens, DO and Selma Holden, MD, have agreed to pay $20,000 to resolve claims they violated the civil provisions of the Controlled Substances Act through reporting and recordkeeping violations.
The settlement announced resolves allegations that Riverbird and its providers improperly failed to report the diversion of controlled substances; failed to keep appropriate records of controlled substances stored, dispensed, or destroyed; and did not conduct regular inventories.
As alleged, following a November 2024 audit of Riverbird by diversion investigators employed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the following alleged violations were identified:
- Clinic practitioners were aware of drug diversion committed by Matthew Stevens, DO, yet failed to report the theft to DEA.
- Clinic practitioners failed to take an initial inventory of controlled substances after a change in ownership of the clinic.
- Clinic practitioners failed to maintain complete and accurate records related to controlled substances possessed by the clinic.
- Clinic practitioners admitted to investigators that a Schedule IV controlled substance (lorazepam) in the practice’s possession was disposed of, however, the only record of the disposal was a handwritten note on a slip of paper rather than a completed mandatory DEA form.
“DEA registrants are responsible for handling controlled substances responsibly and ensuring that complete and accurate records are being properly kept and accounted for in compliance with the Controlled Substance Act,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Failure to do so increases the potential for diversion and jeopardizes public health and public safety. We are committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that these rules and regulations are followed.”
“Maintaining complete and accurate records is a baseline obligation of all DEA registrants, required to prevent controlled substances from being diverted from the legitimate drug supply,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson. “Investigations such as this—where investigators discovered undisclosed instances of actual drug diversion—reinforce the need to timely record and report such instances to the DEA.”
DEA diversion investigators conducted the investigation. As part of the settlement, Riverbird and its providers have also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the DEA, to further ensure compliance with applicable Controlled Substances Act laws and regulations.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Riverbird and its providers cooperated with the DEA throughout the investigation.
###
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $9,726,475.43 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
Kansas City, Mo. – U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price announced today that the Western District of Missouri collected more than $9.7 million in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $9,042,015.71 was collected in criminal actions and $684,459.72 was collected in civil actions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Missouri, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $5,514,787 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.
“The attorneys and support staff in our Monetary Penalties Unit (MPU) are committed to collecting on behalf of victims of crime and taxpayers,” Price said. “Through the MPU’s diligent efforts, victims of crime have received restitution for what they lost at the hands of criminal defendants. In the Western District of Missouri, defendants do not – and will not – profit from their illegal activities.”
Additionally, the Western District of Missouri worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $8,624,051.35 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $52,264.86 was collected in criminal actions and $8,571,786.49 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.
Two Home Health Providers Agree to Pay $702,541 to Resolve Self-Referral AllegationsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Medical Services of America, Inc. and Traditional Home Care, Inc., doing business as Community Home Health Services, have agreed to pay $702,541.20 to resolve allegations that they violated the Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the Stark Law, by making bonus payments to an employee based on the number of patient referrals made by the employee’s spouse, a physician.
“The Stark Law exists to ensure that medical decisions are driven by patient need — not financial relationships,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “When providers violate that principle, they undermine trust in the Medicare system and unfairly profit at the expense of taxpayers. This resolution reinforces our commitment to protecting the integrity of federal healthcare programs.”
The Stark Law prohibits entities from submitting claims to Medicare for certain designated health services that result from referrals by a physician who has a financial interest with the entity, unless a specific exception applies. Here, the physician’s spouse was employed by Community Home Health Services, and the alleged conduct did not meet any Stark Law exception.
The alleged misconduct occurred from February 2017 through February 2025 and involved a physician referring Medicare beneficiaries to Community Home Health Services for designated health services. Community Home Health Services then allegedly furnished those services and submitted claims to Medicare for reimbursement.
Of the $702,541.20 settlement amount, $379,752 will be paid as restitution.
The allegations arose from a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower, Javier Figueroa, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private individuals to bring lawsuits on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. Figueroa will receive approximately $126,457 from the settlement announced today.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office, announced the settlement.
HHS-OIG Miami investigated the matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Ron Davidson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cheek handled the litigation.
Note: See the settlement agreement here.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cv-81328.
###
Tohono O'odham Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Child Abuse Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Stacie Marie Narcho, 47, of Sells, Arizona, was sentenced on Jan. 22, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Narcho previously pleaded guilty to Child Abuse.
According to court records, on or about Nov. 8–9, 2022, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, Stacie Narcho knowingly and intentionally provided a minor with methamphetamine and fentanyl. As a direct result of Narcho’s actions, the victim overdosed and later died.
“This case is a stark reminder of the irreversible harm caused when adults expose children to dangerous drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “A young life was lost, and a family was forever changed. The District of Arizona will continue to hold individuals accountable when their choices place vulnerable children at risk and undermine the safety of our communities.”
"People who provide highly addictive and deadly drugs, such as methamphetamine and fentanyl, to our youth will face the harshest extent of the law for their actions. This epidemic hurts families, communities, and in this case, took the life of a child," said FBI Phoenix Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Hooper. “We hope this sentence sends a message to anyone who harms our youth, that the FBI will pursue heartless criminals and ensure justice is served.”
The FBI, Tucson office, and the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona’s Tucson office, prosecuted the case.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00440-SHR-JR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-008_Narcho
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Third Defendant Involved in Amarillo Cockfighting Ring Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A third defendant involved in an Amarillo cockfighting ring was sentenced to nearly a year in federal prison last Friday, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Salvador Sanchez Chavez, 49, pled guilty in July 2025 to the federal offense of Attending an Animal Fighting Venture related to a February 10, 2024, cockfight at an Amarillo property. He was sentenced on January 23, 2026, to 11 months in federal prison.
In February 2025, Chavez and two others, Ivan Herrera Lopez, 45, and Jaime Gamez Resendiz, 34, were indicted for their roles in the animal fighting venture after committing or conspiring to commit acts forbidden by the federal Animal Welfare Act. Lopez pled guilty in July 2025 to Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture and was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and a $10,000 fine in late October 2025. Resendiz pled guilty in July 2025 to Unlawful Use of Interstate Instrumentality for Promoting or Furthering an Animal Fighting Venture and was also sentenced in late October to eight months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk sentenced each of the three defendants.
“Cockfighting is not a sport. It is flat out cruel,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This prosecution and the sentences reflect the seriousness of the defendants’ crimes against animals. Credit to our law enforcement partners for saving these animals before more harm could be done.”
“Savagely pitting defenseless animals against each other for sport, gambling or personal enjoyment is cruel and sadistic, and the illicit proceeds are often used to fuel other transnational criminal activity,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “Working alongside our state and local law enforcement partners and the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, we were able to dismantle the criminal organization responsible for operating this illegal gambling operation, hold the criminal illegal aliens who ran it accountable, and rescue the animals from certain death.”
According to court documents, deputies from the Potter County Sheriff’s Office responded to complaints of possible illegal activity taking place at a property in Amarillo on February 10, 2024. When they arrived, they observed cockfighting, multiple dead roosters, over 160 live fighting roosters, metal blades or talons used to affix to the roosters’ feet for fighting, syringes and medications used to boost the roosters’ adrenaline before a fight, a marker board for documenting bets, and other items indicative of a cockfighting operation.
Court records reflect that Lopez owned the Amarillo property on which he hosted the February 2024 cockfighting derby. He also bred, housed, fed, or sold roosters for the purpose of fighting. Plea documents show that Chavez brought two roosters to Lopez’s property that day to fight, along with blades to be used for cockfighting. Chavez also previously traveled to New Mexico for other cockfighting events and possessed and produced photographs of dead roosters, photos of steroids for animals, and videos of cockfighting on his phone. Additionally, court records show that Resendiz owned a vehicle outfitted to transport roosters, transported roosters to the February event on Lopez’s property, and attended the event. Messages on Lopez's phone included discussions between Lopez and Resendiz about cockfighting derby dates and locations dating back to 2022.
The roosters were all collected by Texas Game Wardens and members of the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Amarillo and taken for further care and evaluation.
All three defendants are Mexican nationals and entered the United States illegally. As a result of their convictions, each of the defendants is subject to removal from the United States.
Homeland Security Investigations, Dallas Field Office (Amarillo Resident Agency), the Potter County Sheriff’s Office, Texas State Game Wardens, the Amarillo Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation along with support from the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Callie Woolam, Anna Marie Bell, and Joshua Frausto (fmr.) prosecuted the case.
The Southern District of Texas Denaturalizes Child Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
On Jan. 22, the Southern District of Texas, McAllen Division, issued an order revoking the citizenship of Mr. Carlos Noe Gallegos, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a child prior to naturalizing and, later, withheld disclosing his illegal acts and accompanying conviction throughout his naturalization process. Prior to naturalizing, Mr. Gallegos sexually assaulted a child younger than 14 years. Years after he naturalized, Mr. Gallegos pleaded guilty to the sexual assault, and the court issued an order of community supervision. Mr. Gallegos’s acts and his concealment of these material facts warranted the revocation of his 2010 naturalization under 8 U.S.C. § 1451.
“American citizenship is a privilege that this child-abusing monster never should have been able to attain,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will continue ensuring that anyone who conceals such conduct while obtaining naturalization is found out and stripped of their citizenship.”
“Safekeeping the integrity of our society demands that this Administration be allowed to denaturalize monsters who sexually abuse our children,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division
The Southern District of Texas held that Mr. Gallego’s willful and knowing sexual contact with a child as described in sections 22.021(b)(1) and 22.011(c)(1) of the Texas Penal Code was a crime involving moral turpitude. Because Mr. Gallego’s criminal conduct reflected negatively upon his character, he illegally procured his citizenship when he was never eligible to naturalize and should not have been naturalized.
This case was handled by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, after investigation by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Stillwater Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kevin Landry age 28, of Stillwater, New York, pled guilty on January 23, 2026, to receiving child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Landry admitted that in September 2024, he used a messaging application to receive child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In 2020, Landry pled guilty in Tennessee state court to solicitation of a minor to commit aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor after obtaining a nude photo of a female child through Snapchat and then threatening to distribute that photo to others if the child would not send more nude photos. He was sentenced to an order of deferral and judicial diversion for that offense.
Acting United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “Landry caught a huge break from state authorities after sexually exploiting a child—and he squandered it. His guilty plea in federal court makes one thing unmistakably clear: repeat offenders who prey on children will face swift, aggressive prosecution and severe consequences. This office, alongside HSI and all our federal law enforcement partners, will use the full weight of federal law to protect children and impose the harshest consequences on those who prey on them.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Keegan said: “Kevin Landry’s actions represent a shocking disregard for the safety and dignity of children. His repeated exploitation underscores the grave threat posed by individuals who commit these offenses. HSI Albany remains relentless in our pursuit of those who prey on the most vulnerable, ensuring they are held fully accountable. The public can be assured that protecting children from such depravity is our highest priority.”
At his sentencing on May 27, 2026, Landry potentially faces a term of imprisonment of at least 15 years and up to 40 years in prison. Landry also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
San Fernando Valley-Based Rehab Center and Owner Ordered to Pay More Than $1.5 Million to U.S. for Improper COVID-19 Business LoanRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal court has granted summary judgment to the United States against JMG Investments Inc., a Woodland Hills-based corporation that runs a rehabilitation center, and its owner, Jeffrey Schwartz, finding that they violated the False Claims Act when they knowingly received and retained more than one Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan prior to December 31, 2020, in violation of PPP rules.
United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald on January 15 ordered Schwartz and his company to pay the United States a total of $1,565,294.38 in damages and penalties.
“Every pandemic relief dollar improperly used was money other businesses needed to stay afloat,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “My office will continue tracking down individuals and companies who unlawfully took advantage of COVID-19 government aid.”
“PPP loans were intended to provide critical relief to small businesses,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to pursuing those who knowingly violated the requirements of the PPP and obtained relief funds to which they were not entitled.”
“The favorable ruling in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the Department of Justice and other Federal law enforcement agencies to recover the product of this fraud as well as penalties,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis.
The PPP, an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), was intended to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A borrower applying for a PPP loan was required to make multiple certifications relating to its eligibility and compliance with program rules. Among other things, PPP loan applicants in 2020 were required to certify that they would not receive more than one PPP loan prior to December 31, 2020.
In August 2024, the United States filed a complaint against JMG Investments and Schwartz alleging that they violated the False Claims Act when Schwartz, on behalf of JMG Investments Inc., improperly received two PPP loans in 2020 in violation of PPP rules, and thereafter knowingly and improperly retained the proceeds of the duplicate loan. According to the government’s complaint, Schwartz and JMG Investments Inc. failed to repay the duplicate loan as they were required, which resulted in a loss to the SBA when it purchased the loan guaranty on the duplicate loan. The district court ruled that the United States had shown it was entitled to judgment on all claims asserted against the defendants and, accordingly, awarded the United States summary judgment.
This judgment against JMG Investments Inc. and Jeffrey Schwartz resolves claims brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The United States may intervene in the action, as it did in this case. The amount of the whistleblower share in this case has not yet been determined. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Quesenberry v. JMG Investments, Inc., et al., No. 20-cv-8497-MWF (ASx) (C.D. Cal.).
The judgment obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorneys Jared S. Wiesner and Paden R. Gallagher of the Civil Division, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Paul La Scala of the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Puerto Rico Woman Sentenced for Interfering with Flight Attendants by Assault and IntimidationRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Jennifer Rodriguez (37, Puerto Rico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Mizelle to five months in federal prison for interfering with flight attendants by assault and intimidation. Rodriguez pleaded guilty on July 17, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on April 21, 2024, Rodriguez was a passenger on a commercial flight departing Tampa International Airport headed for San Juan, Puerto Rico. After the plane had pushed back from the gate, a flight attendant repeatedly requested that Rodriguez end her cellphone call. Instead, Rodriguez began arguing with the flight attendants. Rodriguez began yelling at the flight attendants and threatened to hit, slap, “beat up,” pull their hair, and drag them down the plane’s aisle by their scarves. She also interfered with their ability to provide medical assistance to a nearby passenger and to prepare the cabin for takeoff. The pilot was forced to return to the gate, and the passengers were required to disembark so that Rodriguez could be escorted off the plane by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa International Airport Police. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.
Prolific fentanyl distributor sentenced to six years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 40-year-old Everett, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Lamin Saho, aka “Buck,” was a significant fentanyl dealer identified in a wiretap investigation that culminated with fourteen arrests in October 2024 and five additional arrests in late 2025. The drug trafficking ring operated from Kent to Everett and members of the ring frequented two distribution locations in the University District of Seattle. Many of the drug traffickers were armed when guarding their stash or distributing their drugs. The leader of the drug crew was gunned down in the summer of 2024, in front of one of the U District locations. At the sentencing hearing Judge John H. Chun said, “Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that has devastated far too many lives. One has only to walk out on the streets of Seattle to see how it has devastated our community.”
“Mr. Saho distributed thousands of fentanyl pills – the calls recorded on the wiretap indicated he had access to as many as 10,000 pills at a time,” said U.S. Attorney Floyd. “Each one of those pills had the potential of killing the user. Our community is safer when we are able to prosecute these drug trafficking rings and get the suppliers behind bars.”
“Homeland Security Investigations, working closely with our law enforcement partners, led the investigation that brought Saho to justice and indictments for 18 others,” said HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Together, we are combatting the lethal effects of fentanyl in our communities by identifying, disrupting, and dismantling dangerous networks. Garnering this sentence for one of the defendants in this case shows our commitment to protecting the public and fighting violent crime at every level.”
“Drug trafficking and gun violence go hand in hand, and this case highlights the unfortunate reality, peddling deadly fentanyl and weapons in Seattle’s University District posed a clear and present danger to the entire community,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The collaborative efforts of our federal prosecutors along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners resulted in the dismantlement of this drug trafficking organization and brought us one step closer towards making America Fentanyl Free. DEA is committed to protect the United States from synthetic opioids by disrupting the fentanyl supply chain, reducing its availability, and saving American lives.”
The month-long telephone intercepts of Saho’s phone revealed he was one of the most prolific distributors of fentanyl within the drug trafficking group. Even after law enforcement seized 5,000 pills from Saho in a traffic stop, wiretap intercepts show he was wholly undeterred and continued to traffic fentanyl through the end of the interception period.
In the yearlong investigation, law enforcement seized 200,000 fentanyl pills, four kilograms of cocaine, 60
firearms, several Glock “switches,” multiple suppressors, and $250,000 in cash drug trafficking proceeds.
Members of the drug ring have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from four years to ten years.
Cooper Sherman, aka “Coop,” 28, of Seattle, who was a leader in the organization, was sentenced in November 2025 to ten years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Khaliil Ahmed, aka “Bossup,” 28, of Kent was sentenced in August 2025 to six years in prison for two counts of illegally possessing firearms. He was identified as a member of a drug trafficking conspiracy. He was injured in a fatal hookah bar shooting in South Seattle on August 20, 2023.
Yohannes Wondimagegnehu, aka “Jon,” 36, of Seattle was sentenced in August 2025 to six years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He helped staff an apartment on the edge of Seattle’s University District that was a known drug distribution location.
Dominique Sanders, 35, of Everett, who served as a redistributor in the organization, was sentenced in September 2025 to six years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Jaquan Means, 46, of Bellevue, who brokered at least two fentanyl transactions, was sentenced in December 2025 to six years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Oche Poston, 32, of Everett, who served as a runner for several fentanyl transactions and conducted other drug trafficking related activities at the direction of leaders within the organization, was sentenced in September 2025 to five and a half years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Patrick Smith, 28, of Seattle, who served as a redistributor in the organization, was sentenced in August 2025 to four years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Anteneh Tesfaye, 41, of Edmonds was sentenced in December 2025 to four years in prison for one count of illegally possessing a firearm. He was a drug redistributor who was supplied by one of the leaders of the drug trafficking organization.
At today’s sentencing Lamin Saho was ordered to serve four years of supervised release following his six-year prison term. However, he is a citizen of The Gambia who does not have immigration status in the U.S. and will likely be removed following his prison term.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with significant participation by Seattle Police Department (SPD), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington State Patrol (WSP), FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Bellevue Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Everett Police Department, Renton Police Department, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Washington State National Guard, Washington State Gambling Commission, Yakima County Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D) Narcotics and Gang Task Force, and Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Jensen and Joseph Silvio.
Pinehurst Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Michael William Luma, 48, of Pinehurst, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, in November 2023, law enforcement was notified about gunshots coming from Luma’s Pinehurst residence on multiple nights. Luma is prohibited from possessing firearms based on a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault. After securing a search warrant, law enforcement searched Luma’s residence and found a large drill press, a 3-D printer, several “ghost gun” components, thousands of rounds of ammunition, large capacity magazines, and sixteen firearms, including multiple machine guns and silencers. When contacted at his home, Luma was in possession of a loaded handgun magazine as well as eleven fentanyl pills, half a gram of methamphetamine, and a methamphetamine pipe.
Chief District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered that Luma be placed on 3 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Luma will continue to be prohibited from possessing firearms following his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as 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.
###
Philipsburg Woman Charged with Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Misti Weld, age 51, of Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on January 22, 2026, by a federal grand jury for theft of government property, Social Security fraud, and making false statements to the Social Security Administration.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that from January 2016 through June 2023, in Centre County, Pennsylvania, Weld claimed Social Security benefits as a representative payee for the support of her children, while knowing that she was not entitled to claim such benefits because her children did not live in her household. Additionally, Weld made a false statement in an application to the Social Security Administration in which she falsely claimed that her children were members of her household.
The Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 35 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 are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
###
Paducah Woman Convicted at Trial on Nine Federal Charges for False Claims and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Paducah woman was found guilty of nine federal charges for false claims and wire fraud on Friday.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office made the announcement.
Natasha Harris-Johnson, 52, of Paducah, filed eight tax returns for the 2018 and 2019 tax years on behalf of trusts she created, altogether demanding nearly $30 million in tax refunds she was not entitled to. Harris-Johnson also filed a fraudulent application with the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in Harris-Johnson receiving approximately $160,000 in SBA funds she was not entitled to. Harris-Johnson used the EIDL funds for personal expenses and has not paid back any portion of the loan.
On Friday January 16, 2026, Harris-Johnson was found guilty of all nine counts she was charged with at the conclusion of a week-long jury trial in Paducah, Kentucky. She is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Our office along with our law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue fraud against the federal government. I am particularly proud of the strong advocacy on behalf of the United States by Assistant United States Attorneys Corinne Keel and Josh Judd.”
“The criminal who perpetrated this scheme systematically defrauded the government and the taxpaying public,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. “At the IRS, protecting taxpayer money is a matter we take very seriously and keep at the forefront of our mission every day. IRS-CI will continue to actively pursue those who steal from the hardworking taxpayers of the United States by preparing false claims for refunds to which they are not entitled.”
Harris-Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison for each of eight false claims counts and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the single wire fraud count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bowling Green Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, which is a branch of the Detroit Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne E. Keel and Joshua Judd prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Cristy Crockett.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
###
Pensacola Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation & Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Michael D. Whitacre, Jr., 31, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced in federal court for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography involving minors under 12 years of age. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “This case was the result of excellent investigative work by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI to identify and dismantle this heinous network of sexual predators peddling the most vile images and videos of child exploitation and sexual abuse imaginable. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting and seeking maximum punishment for anyone who engages in these disgusting crimes, and we will not stop until our kids are safe.”
Court documents reflect that Whitacre was part of an encrypted online group who shared significant amounts of graphic child pornography. There were over 70 members of the illicit group, which operated in early 2025. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, with the support of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was initially notified about Whitacre’s online actions via a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A forensic analysis conducted by an expert at Homeland Security Investigations revealed a wealth of child sexual abuse material on Whitacre’s cellular telephone along with his access to the online child exploitation enterprise.
After serving his term of 20 years’ imprisonment, Whitacre will have to register as a sexual offender. He was also ordered to pay $16,000 in restitution to the victims.
“Every image shared by Mr. Whitacre represents the real abuse of a child,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “By sharing and trading abusive images, he helped fuel a cycle of harm. This sentence reflects our commitment to holding offenders accountable and protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.”
“Protecting our children is our highest priority,” said Sheriff Chip Simmons, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. “When local and federal law enforcement work side by side with the U.S. Attorney's Office, we send a clear message: anyone who preys on children will be arrested, prosecuted, and held accountable.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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.
Oregon Mother and Daughter Facing New Charges Related to Forced Labor and Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— A grand jury in Oregon last Wednesday returned a superseding indictment charging a mother and daughter from Tigard, Oregon, with 12-counts of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and forced labor. The indictment alleges that Marie Gertrude Jean Valmont, 67, and Yolandita Marie Andre, 31, coerced the labor and services of three victims, including a minor victim, to work for little or no pay in an adult foster care home. Valmont has separately been charged with confiscating the documents of the victims to compel their labor and services, along with engaging in healthcare fraud by participating in a conspiracy with Andre to request Medicaid “exceptional payments” for additional paid hours for employees while paying the victim employees little to nothing for their labor, lying about the victims’ residence in the home, and falsifying a disability claim for herself that allowed Andre to be paid hourly for providing care to her as a Homecare Worker. Andre and Valmont have also been charged with making multiple false statements regarding healthcare fraud for the same behavior.
According to court documents, Valmont and Andre, the owners and operators of Velida’s Home Care in Tigard, allegedly recruited the three victims to travel from Haiti to the United States to work with promises of a nice place to live, and steady and reliable work. Upon their arrival in September 2023, all three were compelled to work long, difficult hours for little to no pay at Velida’s Home Care. Valmont took the victims’ immigration paperwork and controlled practically every aspect of their daily living, which compelled them to work as caregivers in the home. The victims continued working under threats of serious harm until the minor victim disclosed their situation to a medical professional in the summer of 2024. At that point, the Oregon Department of Justice authorities commenced an investigation.
In addition, the defendants allegedly requested and received payments from the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and Medicaid by falsely claiming they needed to pay additional and current employees for more hours for foster care residents with exceptional care needs. Instead of paying the three victims a proper hourly wage, the defendants instead kept the money they obtained from the ODHS and Medicare by paying them little or nothing. Finally, Andre also stated under penalty of perjury that she served as Valmont’s caregiver and submitted claims purporting to be Valmont’s caregiver during times when Andre was either not with Valmont or Valmont was working with others. Moreover, Valmont alleged she was disabled and required Andre’s care while also holding herself out to ODHS as a purported caregiver herself.
Committing forced labor and conspiracy to commit health care fraud are each punishable by a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison per count of conviction and force labor requires mandatory restitution. Making a false statement related to health care fraud is punishable by up to five years in federal prison per count of conviction.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from Tigard Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Oregon Mother and Daughter Facing New Charges Related to Forced Labor and Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
A grand jury in Oregon yesterday returned a superseding indictment charging a mother and daughter from Tigard, Oregon, with 12-counts of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and forced labor. The indictment alleges that Marie Gertrude Jean Valmont, 67, and Yolandita Marie Andre, 31, coerced the labor and services of three victims, including a minor victim, to work for little or no pay in an adult foster care home. Valmont has separately been charged with confiscating the documents of the victims to compel their labor and services, along with engaging in healthcare fraud by participating in a conspiracy with Andre to request Medicaid “exceptional payments” for additional paid hours for employees while paying the victim employees little to nothing for their labor, lying about the victims’ residence in the home, and falsifying a disability claim for herself that allowed Andre to be paid hourly for providing care to her as a Homecare Worker. Andre and Valmont have also been charged with making multiple false statements regarding healthcare fraud for the same behavior.
According to court documents, Valmont and Andre, the owners and operators of Velida’s Home Care in Tigard, allegedly recruited the three victims to travel from Haiti to the United States to work with promises of a nice place to live, and steady and reliable work. Upon their arrival in September 2023, all three were compelled to work long, difficult hours for little to no pay at Velida’s Home Care. Valmont took the victims’ immigration paperwork and controlled practically every aspect of their daily living, which compelled them to work as caregivers in the home. The victims continued working under threats of serious harm until the minor victim disclosed their situation to a medical professional in the summer of 2024. At that point, the Oregon Department of Justice authorities commenced an investigation.
In addition, the defendants allegedly requested and received payments from the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and Medicaid by falsely claiming they needed to pay additional and current employees for more hours for foster care residents with exceptional care needs. Instead of paying the three victims a proper hourly wage, the defendants instead kept the money they obtained from the ODHS and Medicare by paying them little or nothing. Finally, Andre also stated under penalty of perjury that she served as Valmont’s caregiver and submitted claims purporting to be Valmont’s caregiver during times when Andre was either not with Valmont or Valmont was working with others. Moreover, Valmont alleged she was disabled and required Andre’s care while also holding herself out to ODHS as a purported caregiver herself.
Committing forced labor and conspiracy to commit health care fraud are each punishable by a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison per count of conviction and force labor requires mandatory restitution. Making a false statement related to health care fraud is punishable by up to five years in federal prison per count of conviction.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from Tigard Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
North Miami Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Kidnapping and Firearm Offenses Following Violent Home InvasionRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A North Miami man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after committing a violent home invasion and kidnapping.
U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks imposed the sentence on Alphonso Gainer, 37, on Jan. 6, following his jury trial conviction on one count of kidnapping and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
“This defendant used a firearm to invade a home, terrorize a victim, and commit a kidnapping—conduct that strikes at the heart of community safety,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Under Operation Take Back America, violent offenders who bring guns into our neighborhoods will be identified, prosecuted, and removed from our streets. A 15-year federal sentence sends a clear message: there is no tolerance for violent gun crime in South Florida.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on July 11, 2023, at approximately 6 a.m., Gainer broke into the victim’s North Miami residence and opened fire inside the home, nearly killing the victim. A 911 call placed by the victim captured the sound of Gainer firing three additional rounds as the victim sought cover.
Responding officers arrived within minutes, but Gainer fled before law enforcement could locate him. Hours later, after officers had completed their initial investigation and left the scene, Gainer returned to the residence, kidnapped the victim at gunpoint, and forced the victim into his rental vehicle. The victim managed to escape unharmed but photographed the vehicle’s license plate, which law enforcement traced back to Gainer. Ballistics evidence introduced at trial linked a firearm recovered from Gainer’s residence to shell casings found at the scene of the shooting.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
ATF Miami Field Office is investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Mikulic and Altanese P. Phenelus are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20226.
###
Moscow Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Cameron James Kittell, 21, of Moscow, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, in early 2024, law enforcement received a CyberTip from a social media provider indicating that somebody was using their service to transmit or possess CSAM. Using legal process, including numerous search warrants, law enforcement ultimately identified Kittell as the subject of the CyberTip and discovered that Kittell had distributed CSAM on multiple social media platforms. In July 2024, law enforcement located Kittell in Moscow, Idaho and arrested him. On Kittell’s phone, law enforcement found over 500 images and 60 videos depicting apparent CSAM. Forensic evidence showed that the Defendant had paid money to online traffickers for CSAM. Later investigation revealed that the Defendant was seeking childcare jobs online and had been messaging an individual about a childcare job hours before his arrest.
Chief District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Kittell to serve 25 years of supervised release following his prison sentence and ordered him to pay $6,000 in restitution to the victims depicted in the materials he possessed. Kittell will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Moscow Police Department, the Lewiston Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this 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 Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Montgomery Man Sentenced to Prison for Gun Crime Committed While on Federal ProbationRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a Montgomery, Alabama, man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal gun charge.
On January 22, 2026, 36-year-old Jeremy Dionne Smiley received a sentence of 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Previously, in February 2025, a judge ordered a 24-month sentence for violating the terms of his federal supervised release. The sentences are related to the same incident and were ordered to run consecutively, for a total sentence of 84 months. At the January 2026 sentencing hearing, the court also ordered Smiley to serve an additional three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Smiley’s plea agreement and other court records, in late 2024, Smiley was residing in Montgomery while on federal supervised release after completing a 71-month prison sentence for a prior federal firearms conviction. On December 20, 2024, law enforcement officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at Smiley’s residence, which included a report that shots had been fired.
Following the incident, Smiley admitted to his federal probation officer that he possessed an AR-15-style rifle and had discharged the firearm into the air during the disturbance. Smiley’s possession of the firearm violated the conditions of his supervised release and resulted in a new federal charge. On October 20, 2025, Smiley pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Montgomery Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Probation Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle R. Turner and J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted this case.
Montana Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy, Tampering with A Witness by Killing, Stalking Resulting in Death, and Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
RENO – A Missoula, Montana, man was sentenced today to life in prison by United States District Judge Miranda Du following his conviction for killing two people, and firearm and marijuana trafficking charges.
“There were no bounds on the defendant’s cruel and violent actions,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “There is no parole in the federal system. The defendant will never walk outside of the prison walls. I want to thank our federal and local partners for relentlessly pursuing this case and ensuring justice for the families and community.”
“This was a horrific act of targeted violence. Spurlock's callous and blatant disregard for human life was unconscionable,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “The FBI will never stop pursuing those who threaten our communities' safety. Thanks to the tireless work of our FBI personnel in the Reno Resident Agency and our committed law enforcement partners, Spurlock was located, prosecuted, and will not harm another person in our community again.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at a four-week jury trial, Cory Spurlock, and others were involved in an illegal, large scale marijuana distribution business based in Mound House, Nevada. During a marijuana transaction in Mound House, Nevada, on June 19, 2020, Jered Stefansky went missing. Stefansky had traveled to Mound House from Redding to pick up a large amount of cash. The last call from Stefansky’s cell phone was to a number associated with Spurlock and Spurlock became a person of interest in the investigation into Stefansky’s disappearance. Stefansky’s mother never gave up on trying to find her son and appeared on a podcast in late September of 2020 where she discussed her son’s disappearance and the people her son was involved with in the marijuana conspiracy, including Will Larsen and Spurlock.
According to testimony, Spurlock listened to the podcast and believed Will Larsen, his partner in the marijuana business, was a rat and needed to die. Spurlock promised a co-conspirator payment for assistance in killing Larsen. In early November 2020, Spurlock traveled to Nevada and California with two co-conspirators. Spurlock and his co-conspirators stalked Larsen and his wife, Yesenia Arriaga Larsen, throughout the Reno and Carson City area and followed them to just outside Bridgeport, California. The Larsens were shot and stabbed to death on November 8, 2020, their bodies left on the side of US Highway 395. Spurlock was also convicted of robbery for stealing the money Will Larsen had in his wallet. Stefansky’s skeletal remains were found in March 2021, at the Rye Patch Recreation area in Pershing County, Nevada.
Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Nevada, said, “This case exposed the ruthless nature of a drug criminal, whose streak of violence could not be quelled. Cory Spurlock, while running an illegal, large-scale marijuana distribution business, stopped at nothing to trample rivals or perceived threats. Today’s sentencing stops him from further terrorizing our neighborhoods. DEA is in lockstep with local and federal partners, who remain committed to safeguarding our communities from the type of violence ushered in by drug criminals.”
“The violent actions conducted in this case are heinous,” said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). “Public safety is at the forefront of ATF’s mission. This sentencing marks a victory for justice and sends a clear warning to those who seek to orchestrate violence within our communities that their conduct will not be tolerated. Partnerships are the backbone of law enforcement. ATF will continue to work alongside our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to ensure crimes of this nature are investigated and brought to justice.”
Spurlock was convicted at trial in September 2025, of one-count each of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute over 1000 kilograms of marijuana; murder-for-hire conspiracy; tampering with a witness by killing; two-counts of stalking resulting in death, interference with commerce by robbery; and causing death through use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
First Assistant United States Attorney Chattah, FBI Special Agent in Charge Delzotto, DEA Special Agent in Charge Chrysanthis, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Wester made the announcement.
The FBI Las Vegas Division, Mono County Sheriff’s Office, DEA, ATF, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, and the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with significant assistance from the Salt Lake City FBI Office-Missoula Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow, Penelope Brady, and Andrew Keenan prosecuted the case.
###
Justice Department Files Case to Revoke the Naturalization of Former Peruvian Army CommanderRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Today, the U.S. Department of Justice and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida filed a civil denaturalization complaint in the United States District Court in Miami, Florida, against Luis Miguel Fernandez Gaviola, a native of Peru who was charged with eight extra-judicial killings in Peru.
Fernandez served as a Deputy in Charge of Infantry in the G-2 of the 31st Infantry Division of the Peruvian military. In this role, he commanded a unit that killed eight residents of the District of Pucará, Peru, in November 1989 based on the victims’ alleged membership in a certain political group, before coming to the United States in 1992 while hiding his horrific past actions.
“No one who commits atrocities like these is entitled to the precious gift of U.S. citizenship,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We owe it to the American people to protect them from human rights violators who abuse positions of power, wherever they engaged in their offensive acts.”
“United States citizenship is a profound privilege, reserved for those who obtain it honestly and in accordance with the law,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This civil action alleges that the defendant concealed material facts about his past, including involvement in grave human rights abuses, in order to obtain that privilege. While these are allegations only, our responsibility is clear: when credible evidence shows that citizenship may have been procured through fraud or concealment, the Department of Justice will act to protect the integrity of our immigration system and the rule of law.”
In 2003, when he applied for adjustment of status as a permanent resident of the United States, he falsely stated under penalty of perjury that he had no foreign military service and that he had never participated in the killing of anyone because of their political opinion. When he applied for naturalization as a U.S. citizen four years later, he falsely testified under oath that he was never involved in persecution based on political opinion and had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. government official while applying for any immigration benefit.
The case was investigated by the Human Rights Violator Law Division, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and will be litigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
###
Justice Department Files Case to Revoke the Naturalization of Former Peruvian Army CommanderRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida filed a civil denaturalization complaint in the United States District Court in Miami, Florida, against Luis Miguel Fernandez Gaviola, a native of Peru who was charged with eight extra-judicial killings in Peru.
Fernandez served as a Deputy in Charge of Infantry in the G-2 of the 31st Infantry Division of the Peruvian military. In this role, he commanded a unit that killed eight residents of the District of Pucará, Peru, in November 1989 based on the victims’ alleged membership in a certain political group, before coming to the United States in 1992 while hiding his horrific past actions.
“No one who commits atrocities like these is entitled to the precious gift of U.S. citizenship,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We owe it to the American people to protect them from human rights violators who abuse positions of power, wherever they engaged in their offensive acts.”
“United States citizenship is a profound privilege, reserved for those who obtain it honestly and in accordance with the law,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This civil action alleges that the defendant concealed material facts about his past, including involvement in grave human rights abuses, in order to obtain that privilege. While these are allegations only, our responsibility is clear: when credible evidence shows that citizenship may have been procured through fraud or concealment, the Department of Justice will act to protect the integrity of our immigration system and the rule of law.”
In 2003, when he applied for adjustment of status as a permanent resident of the United States, he falsely stated under penalty of perjury that he had no foreign military service and that he had never participated in the killing of anyone because of their political opinion. When he applied for naturalization as a U.S. citizen four years later, he falsely testified under oath that he was never involved in persecution based on political opinion and had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. government official while applying for any immigration benefit.
The case was investigated by the Human Rights Violator Law Division, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and will be litigated by the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Judge finds Billings man guilty of felon in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who possessed a firearm following a felony conviction was found guilty by a federal judge today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Following a 1-day trial, Cody Lloyd Smith, 42, was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The penalties for that crime are up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 28, 2026.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Smith and three others were traveling in Carbon County, Montana on December 8, 2023. Smith was driving. A Carbon County Sheriff’s deputy clocked Smith going 91 mph in a 65-mph zone and pulled him over. The deputy thought Smith might be under the influence and eventually ran his trained K-9 around the car. The dog hit on the car and the deputy seized it and conducted a search on December 9, 2023, the day after the traffic stop. He seized several items, including a Taurus, 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Smith is prohibited from possessing firearms based on his felony conviction in Nevada in 2016 for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF.
Investigation into International “ATM Jackpotting” Scheme and Tren de Aragua results in Additional Indictment and 87 Total Charged DefendantsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska returned an additional indictment charging 31 individuals for their roles in a large conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.” Fifty-six others have already been charged. Many of the defendants charged in this Homeland Security Task Force operation are Venezuelan and Colombian nationals including illegal alien Tren de Aragua (TdA) members. This indictment alleges 32 counts including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, bank fraud, bank burglary, and damage to computers.
“Tren de Aragua is a complex terrorist organization that commits serious financial crimes in addition to horrific rapes, murders, and drug trafficking,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice has already prosecuted more than 290 members of Tren de Aragua and will continue working tirelessly to put these vicious terrorists behind bars after the prior administration let them infiltrate our country.”
“A large ring of criminal aliens allegedly engaged in a nationwide conspiracy to enrich themselves and the TdA terrorist organization by ripping off American citizens," said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. "After committing bank robbery, fraud, and other serious crimes, they will be vigorously prosecuted and held accountable for their crimes. The Justice Department’s Joint Task Force Vulcan will not stop until it completely dismantles and destroys TdA and other foreign terrorists that import chaos to America.”
“This latest indictment demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to dismantling cartels, including when they attack our nation’s financial systems with sophisticated malware,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The announcement of charges against a total of 87 defendants underscores both the massive scale of these alleged conspiracies and the strength and skill of our investigators and prosecutors who dismantle them. As cartels level up their criminal game, so will we.”
“Tren de Aragua uses ATM jackpotting crimes committed all across America to fund its terrorist organization which is responsible for horrific crimes such as human trafficking (to include sex trafficking of children in Nebraska), kidnapping, murder and other unspeakably evil and violent acts,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska will fight TdA directly by taking every action at our disposal to shut down their financial pipeline and handicap their ability to terrorize American communities.”
“TdA grew from a prison gang to a transnational criminal organization to a foreign terrorist organization. Using sophisticated malware to empty ATMs and damage U.S. financial institutions that also fund TdA’s terrorist activity will not be tolerated,” said Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) Co-Director Chris Eason. “The charges against certain TdA members are directly in line with JTFV’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to destroy TdA. We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to investigate and bring these important charges.”
“A dedicated team of FBI Omaha agents and analysts are working shoulder to shoulder with our local, state, and federal partners to disrupt and dismantle an international criminal conspiracy ultimately funding a foreign terrorist organization,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “The wide variety of sophisticated criminal tactics employed by TdA poses a direct threat to communities across our country. This case highlights TdA's plot to deploy malware to steal vast funds from financial institutions across the United States. We will never stop following the money and surging resources to arrest and apprehend TdA members and leadership.”
The following photographs depict just a few of the alleged ATM jackpotting scheme in progress and equipment used:
The alleged conspiracy developed and deployed a variant of malware known as Ploutus, which was used to hack into ATMs and force ATMs to dispense cash. The conspiracy relied on the recruitment of a number of individuals to deploy Ploutus malware nationwide. Members of the conspiracy and TdA would travel in groups, using multiple vehicles, to the locations of targeted banks and credit unions. These groups would conduct initial reconnaissance and take note of external security features at the ATMs. Following this reconnaissance, the groups would open the hood or door of ATMs and then wait nearby to see whether they had triggered an alarm or a law enforcement response. The groups would then take steps to install malware on the ATMs, by removing the hard drive and installing the malware directly, by replacing the hard drive with one that had been pre-loaded with the Ploutus malware, or by connecting an external device such as a thumb drive that would deploy the malware. The Ploutus malware’s primary purpose was to issue unauthorized commands associated with the Cash Dispensing Module of the ATM in order to force withdrawals of currency. The Ploutus malware was also designed to delete evidence of malware in an effort to conceal, create a false impression, mislead, or otherwise deceive employees of the banks and credit unions from learning about the deployment of the malware on the ATM. Members of the conspiracy would then split the proceeds in predetermined portions.
The most recent indictment follows a previous one returned on Dec. 9, 2025, that alleged that TdA, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, conducted jackpotting attacks across America. The Dec. 9, 2025 indictment charged 22 individuals with offenses for their roles in the conspiracy: 13 individuals are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud and related activity in connection with computers, and 22 with conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also alleges that TdA used jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in the United States and then transferred the proceeds among its members and associates to conceal the illegally obtained cash. The indictment alleged a national conspiracy to commit these offenses with crimes committed all over the United States in furtherance of these conspiracies that generated millions in illegal proceeds for the combined defendants and the TdA organization.
A related indictment returned on Oct. 21, 2025 charged 32 individuals and alleged 56 counts including one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, 18 counts of bank fraud, 18 counts of bank burglary, and 18 counts of damage to computers.
If convicted, the defendants face maximum terms of imprisonment ranging between 20 and 335 years.
According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking, to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash.
In the past six months, the Justice Department has charged a total of 87 TdA members and leaders with a range of federal offenses that include material support to a designated foreign terror organization, bank burglary, money laundering, damage and unauthorized access to protected computers, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit the same offenses.
FBI’s Omaha Field Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Omaha is investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Denver, Houston, Miami, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Seattle, and Springfield Field Offices, and the U.S. Secret Service, United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Financial Deposit Insurance Corporation, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office, Bates County Sheriff’s Office, Sheridan Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg Police Department, Sterling Heights Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Warrant Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Colombus Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory, Bluff City Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Lincoln Police Department, Gothenburg Police Department, Loudon Police Department, Alcoa Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Milford Police Department, Grand Island Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Papillion Police Department, Central City Police Department, Holdrege Police Department, New York State Police, Berkeley Police Department, Cook County Electronic Monitoring Unit, Aurora Police Department, Austin Police Department, U.S. Capitol Police, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, City of Rome Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, McCook Police Department, Nebraska DMV Crime Analysts, Rantoul Police Department, Olathe Police Department, North Platte Police Department, Walla Walla Police Department, Milton-Freewater Police Department, Missoula Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Police Department, Denver Police, Howard County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Glendale Police Department, Columbia Police Department, Brookfield Police Department, Wauwatosa Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Grafton Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Dubuque Police Department, Fargo Police Department, and Paducah Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, and Joint Task Force Vulcan. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Washington, Eastern District of California, Southern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Eastern District of Oklahoma, District of New Mexico, Southern District of Florida, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the District of Colorado, as well as the Larimer County Attorney’s Office, Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 9th District Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 5th District Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General provided significant assistance.
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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from the FBI and HSI.
Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target TdA is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
An indictment or a complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Investigation into International “ATM Jackpotting” Scheme and Tren de Aragua results in Additional Indictment and 87 Total Charged DefendantsRead the Press Release
[UPDATED] OMAHA – A federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska has returned an additional indictment last week charging 31 individuals for their roles in a large conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.” Fifty-six others have already been charged. Many of the defendants charged in this Homeland Security Task Force operation are Venezuelan and Colombian nationals including illegal alien Tren de Aragua (TdA) members. This indictment alleges 32 counts including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, bank fraud, bank burglary, and damage to computers.
“Tren de Aragua is a complex terrorist organization that commits serious financial crimes in addition to horrific rapes, murders, and drug trafficking,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice has already prosecuted more than 290 members of Tren de Aragua and will continue working tirelessly to put these vicious terrorists behind bars after the prior administration let them infiltrate our country.”
“A large ring of criminal aliens allegedly engaged in a nationwide conspiracy to enrich themselves and the TdA terrorist organization by ripping off American citizens. After committing bank robbery, fraud, and other serious crimes, they will be vigorously prosecuted and held accountable for their crimes,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Justice Department’s Joint Task Force Vulcan will not stop until it completely dismantles and destroys TdA and other foreign terrorists that import chaos to America.”
“This latest indictment demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to dismantling cartels, including when they attack our nation’s financial systems with sophisticated malware,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The announcement of charges against a total of 87 defendants underscores both the massive scale of these alleged conspiracies and the strength and skill of our investigators and prosecutors who dismantle them. As cartels level up their criminal game, so will we.”
“Tren de Aragua uses ATM jackpotting crimes committed all across America to fund its terrorist organization which is responsible for horrific crimes such as human trafficking (to include sex trafficking of children in Nebraska), kidnapping, murder and other unspeakably evil and violent acts, said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska will fight TdA directly by taking every action at our disposal to shut down their financial pipeline and handicap their ability to terrorize American communities.”
“TdA grew from a prison gang to a transnational criminal organization to a foreign terrorist organization. Using sophisticated malware to empty ATMs and damage U.S. financial institutions that also fund TdA’s terrorist activity will not be tolerated,” said Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) Co-Director Chris Eason. “The charges against certain TdA members are directly in line with JTFV’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to destroy TdA. We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to investigate and bring these important charges.”
The following photographs depict just a few of the alleged ATM jackpotting scheme in progress and equipment used:
“A dedicated team of FBI Omaha agents and analysts are working shoulder to shoulder with our local, state, and federal partners to disrupt and dismantle an international criminal conspiracy ultimately funding a foreign terrorist organization,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “The wide variety of sophisticated criminal tactics employed by Tren de Aragua (TdA) poses a direct threat to communities across our country. This case highlights TdA's plot to deploy malware to steal vast funds from financial institutions across the United States. We will never stop following the money and surging resources to arrest and apprehend TdA members and leadership.”
The alleged conspiracy developed and deployed a variant of malware known as Ploutus, which was used to hack into ATMs and force ATMs to dispense cash. The conspiracy relied on the recruitment of a number of individuals to deploy Ploutus malware nationwide. Members of the conspiracy and TdA would travel in groups, using multiple vehicles, to the locations of targeted banks and credit unions. These groups would conduct initial reconnaissance and take note of external security features at the ATMs. Following this reconnaissance, the groups would open the hood or door of ATMs and then wait nearby to see whether they had triggered an alarm or a law enforcement response. The groups would then take steps to install malware on the ATMs, by removing the hard drive and installing the malware directly, by replacing the hard drive with one that had been pre-loaded with the Ploutus malware, or by connecting an external device such as a thumb drive that would deploy the malware. The Ploutus malware’s primary purpose was to issue unauthorized commands associated with the Cash Dispensing Module of the ATM in order to force withdrawals of currency. The Ploutus malware was also designed to delete evidence of malware in an effort to conceal, create a false impression, mislead, or otherwise deceive employees of the banks and credit unions from learning about the deployment of the malware on the ATM. Members of the conspiracy would then split the proceeds in predetermined portions.
The most recent indictment follows a previous one returned on December 9, 2025, that alleged that TdA, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, conducted jackpotting attacks across America. The December 9, 2025 indictment charged 22 individuals with offenses for their roles in the conspiracy: 13 individuals are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud and related activity in connection with computers, and 22 with conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also alleges that TdA used jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in the United States and then transferred the proceeds among its members and associates to conceal the illegally obtained cash. The indictment alleged a national conspiracy to commit these offenses with crimes committed all over the United States in furtherance of these conspiracies that generated millions in illegal proceeds for the combined defendants and the TdA organization.
A related indictment returned on October 21, 2025 charged 32 individuals and alleged 56 counts including one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, 18 counts of bank fraud, 18 counts of bank burglary, and 18 counts of damage to computers.
If convicted, the defendants face maximum terms of imprisonment ranging between 20 and 335 years.
According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking, to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash.
In the past six months, the Justice Department has charged a total of 87 TdA members and leaders with a range of federal offenses that include material support to a designated foreign terror organization, bank burglary, money laundering, damage and unauthorized access to protected computers, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit the same offenses.
FBI’s Omaha Field Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Omaha is investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Denver, Houston, Miami, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Seattle, and Springfield Field Offices, and the United States Secret Service, United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Financial Deposit Insurance Corporation, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office, Bates County Sheriff’s Office, Sheridan Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg Police Department, Sterling Heights Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Warrant Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Colombus Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory, Bluff City Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Lincoln Police Department, Gothenburg Police Department, Loudon Police Department, Alcoa Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Milford Police Department, Grand Island Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Papillion Police Department, Central City Police Department, Holdrege Police Department, New York State Police, Berkeley Police Department, Cook County Electronic Monitoring Unit, Aurora Police Department, Austin Police Department, United States Capitol Police, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, City of Rome Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, McCook Police Department, Nebraska DMV Crime Analysts, Rantoul Police Department, Olathe Police Department, North Platte Police Department, Walla Walla Police Department, Milton-Freewater Police Department, Missoula Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Police Department, Denver Police, Howard County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Glendale Police Department, Columbia Police Department, Brookfield Police Department, Wauwatosa Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Grafton Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Dubuque Police Department, Fargo Police Department, and Paducah Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, and Joint Task Force Vulcan. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Washington, Eastern District of California, Southern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Eastern District of Oklahoma, District of New Mexico, Southern District of Florida, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the District of Colorado, as well as the Larimer County Attorney’s Office, Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 9th District Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 5th District Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General provided significant assistance.
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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from the FBI and HSI.
Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target TdA is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
An indictment or a complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 11 years in Prison for Discharging a Firearm During a Business RobberyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Roberto Juan Morales, 49, of Mexico, to 132 months in federal prison for discharging a firearm during a business robbery. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in March 2025, Morales robbed the Supermercado Guatemala store located on Winchester Road in Memphis, Tennessee. He threatened the store clerk with an AR-style rifle and fired a round into the floor next to the clerk when she hesitated to open the cash drawer. The incident was recorded on store surveillance video. Investigators located the suspect vehicle on license plate readers in the area and found an address associated with the vehicle where Morales resided. Investigators also located items the suspect was wearing in the video in his vehicle. Call detail records from his cell phone placed him at the scene. The investigation revealed that Morales had entered the United States illegally and been returned to Mexico on at least four prior occasions.
In September 2025, Morales pled guilty to robbery of a business, discharging a firearm during in and relation to the robbery, and being an illegal alien in possession of ammunition. On January 22, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Morales to 132 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal aliens not only threaten the sovereignty of our nation, but also threaten the safety of our communities. This case demonstrates our commitment to immigration enforcement and our focus on those violent and dangerous criminal aliens who continue to violate our laws after illegal entry.”
"This sentence should send a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners make it a priority to bring to justice those who resort to robbery for ill-gotten gain," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "We are stronger when we work together to combat violent crime and will continue to combat these issues through strong partnerships."
The FBI and the Memphis Police Department’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case. This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Methamphetamine Through the U.S. Mail and at Trolley Creek Park in FresnoRead the Press Release
Isaac James Ocejo, 22, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between July 2023 and October 2024, Ocejo mailed several packages containing controlled substances, including methamphetamine and fentanyl, from post offices in Fresno to addresses in other states. In total, Ocejo and others shipped more than 10 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Ocejo and others also sold large amounts of methamphetamine in Fresno. In September 2024, they brought 15 pounds of methamphetamine packaged in 1-pound bags to sell in Trolley Creek Park in Fresno and sold 10 pounds of methamphetamine in broad daylight.
Ocejo and co-defendant Isaac Joseph Estrada were indicted and charged with 18 drug-trafficking related counts. Estrada pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 46 months in prison on Nov. 7, 2025.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
Ocejo is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on April 20, 2026. Ocejo faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Fresno Baker Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for SNAP FraudRead the Press Release
Jorge Luis Rivera, 56, of Fresno, was sentenced today to three years in prison and ordered to pay $3,499,999 in restitution for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud offenses, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, beginning in 2011 and continuing through August 2018, Rivera, the then-owner of El Ranchito Bakery in Fresno, exchanged Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for cash and also accepted SNAP benefits for unauthorized items at the request of customers. Rivera, in exchanging SNAP benefits for cash, did so at significant discount and thereby pocketed millions in ill-gotten profits.
Rivera’s sentence was enhanced as he directed the participation of two lower-level employees of the bakery who engaged in the fraud. The two employees pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and were sentenced last year. Rivera pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2025.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chan Hee Chu and Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
Former Rapid City Gymnastics Coach Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Hayden Sengua, age 25, of Rapid City, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on January 21, 2026, and pleaded guilty to receiving child sexual abuse material.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum term of five years up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Beginning in 2018 and continuing into January 2025, Sengua knowingly downloaded image and video files containing sexually explicit visual depictions of young children. Sengua saved the files on his cell phone, in his Google account, and on an external hard drive.
When he was arrested last year, Sengua was in possession of approximately 15,000 total media files depicting child sexual abuse. Some of the imagery Sengua collected depicts the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, as well as the bondage and torture of minors. Sengua also used a virtual machine to attempt to hide his collection of child pornography. At times, he used the IP address associated with a local Rapid City gymnastics center, to search for and download child pornography.
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 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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 investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for May 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Former NATO Official and Turkish Defense Contractor Indicted for Bribery Scheme Related to Military ContractsRead the Press Release
An indictment filed in the District of Columbia was unsealed on Saturday charging a Turkish national and a German national for an alleged bribery scheme involving contracts with the U.S. military and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO is a military alliance of which the United States is a member nation.
“These defendants allegedly engaged in a years-long bribery scheme that tainted construction contracts with the U.S. military and our allies,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Integrity in federal contracting is vital to ensuring a fair competitive process and protecting the public fisc. These charges demonstrate the department’s mission to eliminate corruption that skews procurement contracts away from the best bidder and toward those who can bribe insiders for preferential treatment.”
"With a global reach and formidable enforcement tools, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and its partner agencies are committed to pursuing those who exploit the American taxpayer," said Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DOD-OIG-DCIS) Transnational Operations Field Office. "As the criminal investigative arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, DCIS is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the U.S. military procurement system. Our investigators and analysts work diligently to bring to justice anyone attempting to corrupt this vital process."
“This indictment is a significant step forward in our relentless pursuit of integrity within the procurement processes that support our military and NATO operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Ausfeldt of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Europe Field Office. “Our collaboration with DOD-OIG-DCIS, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the FBI, and our international partners underscores our shared commitment to combat corruption in all its forms.”
“These charges demonstrate that the FBI is committed to investigating activity that manipulates U.S. contracts and ultimately imposes additional, unnecessary costs on American taxpayers," said Acting Assistant Director Mark Remily of the FBI's Criminal Division. "The FBI will work tirelessly to hold the individuals who engage in this type of corruption accountable, no matter where they are.”
According to the indictment, Bahadir Hatipoglu, 50, who resides near Klaipėda, Lithuania, is the owner of companies that received construction contracts with NATO and the U.S. military. Ralf Grywnow, 70, who resides in Zagnańsk, Poland, is a former NATO procurement official. The two men allegedly engaged in a scheme in which Hatipoglu bribed Grywnow in various ways, including by providing Grywnow with cash, a romantic encounter with a woman in Dubai and assistance in constructing and furnishing a house for Grywnow in Poland. In exchange, Grywnow allegedly helped Hatipoglu get contracts with the U.S. military by providing him with falsified reviews that favorably appraised Hatipoglu’s companies’ work with NATO. Grywnow also provided Hatipoglu with preferential treatment in overseeing contracts that Hatipoglu had or sought to obtain with NATO and gave Hatipoglu confidential information related to bids for NATO construction contracts.
Hatipoglu and Grywnow were arrested in Lithuania and Poland, respectively, pursuant to provisional arrest warrants. The U.S. Department of Justice is working with Lithuanian and Polish authorities to extradite both defendants to the United States, where they are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. If convicted of any of the charges, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
DOD-OIG-DCIS, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI are investigating the case. Polish and Lithuanian authorities provided significant assistance pursuant to legal assistance treaties with the United States.
Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch, Shy Jackson and Patrick Brown of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Substantial assistance was provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
Former Brundidge Police Chief Ordered to Forfeit Three Properties Connected to Federal Rental Assistance FraudRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala, – A former Brundidge Police Chief has been ordered to forfeit three residential properties connected to a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal pandemic assistance funds.
On January 21, 2026, a federal judge entered a final order of forfeiture against Samuel Cornelius Green, 51, requiring him to forfeit his interest in three rental properties located in Troy, Alabama. The forfeiture follows Green’s guilty plea to illegally receiving funds through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
The federal government implemented ERAP in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide financial assistance to households unable to pay rent or utilities, as well as to landlords seeking reimbursement for tenants’ unpaid rent during the pandemic.
According to Green’s plea agreement and other court records, beginning in March 2021, Green submitted multiple ERAP applications containing false and misleading information regarding tenants, rental arrangements, and payment histories in order to obtain funds to which he was not entitled. In some of the fraudulent applications, Green submitted counterfeit and altered utility bills. The scheme continued through November 2021.
In October 2025, Green pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His co-conspirator, Schemillia Levera Fenn, of Troy, Alabama, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her role in the scheme.
At sentencing hearings held on January 14, 2026, the court ordered Green and Fenn to pay $118,175 in restitution to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The court also imposed a $1,000 fine against Green.
The Department of the Treasury's Office of Inspector General investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle R. Turner, Russell T. Duraski, and J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.
Florida Laboratory Owner Pleads Guilty to $52M Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Genetic TestsRead the Press Release
A Florida man pleaded guilty on Jan. 15 for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting over $52 million in false and fraudulent claims for genetic testing that Medicare beneficiaries did not need and that were based on prescriptions purchased through illegal kickbacks and bribes.
According to court documents, Sean Alterman, 38, of Lake Worth, Florida, owned and operated two laboratories, Live Beyond Medical MGMT, LLC and Dynix Diagnostics LLC, through which he purchased doctors’ orders for expensive genetic testing from patient recruiters. The patient recruiters ran deceptive telemarketing campaigns that targeted Medicare beneficiaries and persuaded them to agree to take the tests to justify the fraudulent billing.
As part of the scheme, the patient recruiters used a tactic known as “doctor chasing” – faxing physicians false and misleading requests for prescriptions designed to trick them into signing off on tests their patients did not need. The faxes and accompanying materials falsely stated, among other things, that the prescription requests were made on behalf a mutual patient. But they were generated by call centers that deceived the Medicare beneficiaries to agree to the tests without being examined or treated by physicians for the diseases underlying the tests.
Alterman’s laboratories billed approximately $52 million to Medicare for the false and fraudulent claims, of which Medicare paid approximately $36 million. Alterman made roughly $5.5 million from the scheme, much of which he received through shell companies he owned called Shivv LLC and Shank LLC. As part of his plea agreement, Alterman agreed to forfeit his Lake Worth estate and a 2022 Rolls Royce Ghost purchased with money traceable to the scheme:
Alterman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to offer and pay kickbacks. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16 and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris Caldwell of the FBI; and Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Aisha Schafer Hylton of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadya Cheatham for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
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 nine 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.
Five Defendants Plead Guilty to Participating in Federal Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that five defendants in a drug conspiracy investigation entered guilty pleas in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
- On December 15, 2025, JORDAN RACHELLE HERBERT, a/k/a Jordon Rachelle Herbert, age 35, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by a minimum of 10 years to life in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine.
- On January 20, 2026, WALLACE LORENZO KEMP, age 42, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by punishable by a minimum of 10 years to life in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine.
- On January 20, 2026, ASHLEY BROOKE ENYART, age 35, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by punishable by a minimum of 10 years to life in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine.
- On January 22, 2026, WHITNEY JANELLE JONES, age 35, of Carter County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by punishable by a minimum of 10 years to life in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine.
- On January 22, 2026, TAYVAUGHN LASHAWN CRUMP, a/k/a Bleu Strreet, age 26, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to a one count Felony Information of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by a minimum of 5 years and up to a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $5,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that beginning in or about August 2023, and continuing until May 14, 2025, Kemp, Herbert, Enyart, and Jones knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and that, as further alleged in a Felony Information, Crump participated in the conspiracy to knowingly and intentionally distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
To achieve the object of their conspiracy, the defendants:
- acquired and arranged for the transport of fentanyl into the Eastern District of Oklahoma;
- maintained locations and premises in Carter County, Oklahoma, where they divided the fentanyl for distribution;
- used electronic communications for purchase and distribution of fentanyl;
- used automobiles to facilitate the acquisition and distribution of fentanyl;
- sent and received proceeds derived from the sale of fentanyl via peer-to-peer money transfer applications;
- collected, stored, and transported sums of Untied States currency derived from the sale of fentanyl;
- and cultivated customer bases for the common overall goal of buying, selling, and otherwise possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentences to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kemp, Herbert, Jones, and Crump will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Enyart will remain on bond with pretrial conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Federal Law Enforcement Executing Search Warrants at Phoenix Locations as Part of a Long-Term InvestigationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – As part of a months-long criminal investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona, in coordination with other federal partners, is in the process of serving federal search warrants at 15 locations throughout the Phoenix area, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. The search warrants were authorized based on information presented to a federal judge and are being executed as part of a criminal investigation into felony violations of federal law.
Additional information will be forthcoming over the next few days as evidence is gathered, reviewed and evaluated for charging as appropriate.
This is an ongoing investigation, and information is limited at this time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Homeland Security Investigations and other federal law enforcement entities in Arizona remain committed to protecting the public and the homeland, upholding the rule of law, and defending the interests of the American people.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-009_Federal Search Warrants
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Federal Jury finds Armed Career Criminal Guilty of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a three-day trial, a federal jury found Derrick Wilson, 48, of Memphis, guilty of one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and made a special finding that Wilson had previously been convicted of three violent felonies on different occasions. As a result, Wilson faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and being an Armed Career Criminal (ACC). United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on November 3, 2023, officers with the Memphis Police Department arrested Wilson after Wilson tossed a Ruger .380 caliber pistol to the ground in plain view.
Sentencing is set for April 30, 2026, before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "We continue to provide targeted prosecution of the worst of the worst violent offenders in order to improve public safety in Memphis. This jury verdict demonstrates that the community is fed up with repeat offenders who live a lifestyle of lawlessness and embrace a culture of criminality."
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.
Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. F. Moore and Special Assistant United States Attorney Yosef Hochheiser of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Fraudster Sentenced to Eighteen Years in Prison After Taking and Laundering Millions from Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Atharva Shailesh Sathawane, 23, of India, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after a jury previously found him guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Elder fraud schemes like this one are taking place every day in every state, but especially in Florida due to our large population of retirees, so it is of critical importance that we educate the public of these threats to prevent these fraudsters from continuing to victimize our seniors. I applaud the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to uncover and dismantle this complex, international fraud scheme, which was made possible by the brave victims who came forward to report the fraud in the first place. Our hope is that these elder fraud schemes never occur, but the talented prosecutors in my office will aggressively pursue the heinous fraudsters, like this defendant, and seek maximum punishments when we catch them.”
Trial evidence and court documents showed that the defendant, an illegal alien who had overstayed his student visa, was a courier in an international fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims. As part of the scheme, multiple elderly victims were convinced to liquidate their retirement accounts to obtain cash, gold, or both. The defendant would travel to each victim to take possession of large quantities of their cash and gold, and he would then deliver those fraudulently obtained proceeds to his co-conspirators, some of whom were orchestrating the fraud scheme from India.
After an elderly victim suspected he was being defrauded, he notified law enforcement who coordinated an undercover operation. The defendant was arrested upon his arrival at the elderly victim’s residence to pick up more gold. A subsequent search of the defendant’s cellular phone confirmed his involvement in the extensive elder fraud scheme. Over a 4-month period, the defendant made at least 33 trips to retrieve gold and cash from the elderly victims. Forensic analysis of the defendant’s phone revealed that he primarily operated in Florida, but he also traveled to Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York to retrieve cash and gold from elderly victims of this fraud scheme and deliver those proceeds to other co-conspirators. As a result of the fraud scheme, numerous elderly American citizens lost their entire life savings or experienced substantial financial hardship.
The defendant personally took, and then laundered, $6,615,484.66 in cash and gold from the elderly victims. The defendant attempted to pick up an additional $1,363,395.98 in gold from two elderly victims, but was foiled by the intervention of a concerned friend of a victim in one instance, and by his arrest by law enforcement on the second attempt.
“I commend our detectives for their tireless work in stopping scammers,” said Chief Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department. “We will not tolerate criminals who prey on our vulnerable citizens.”
“If anyone tells you to buy gold and hand it over to a stranger, it is not an investment, it is a scam,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Mr. Sathawane preyed on his victims’ trust and fear, convincing them to turn over their life savings in gold. Unfortunately, this is a growing trend. In Florida alone, victims lost more than 33 million dollars last year just to gold bar scams. This sentencing is just one step toward justice for the victims in this scheme and the FBI’s efforts to stop this from happening over and over again.”
“This case underscores the devastating impact of international fraud schemes targeting our elderly citizens,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “The defendant’s actions robbed victims of their life savings and financial security. This case highlights the benefits to everyday Americans when local and federal law enforcement work hand in hand to bring criminals to justice and disrupt a network that preyed on the most vulnerable.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at www.ovc.gov.
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.
Eastern District of Wisconsin Recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that the Eastern District of Wisconsin joins the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in observing National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and reaffirming the administration’s commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking and protecting survivors.
“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. In the Eastern District of Wisconsin, those partners include fellow members of a law enforcement human trafficking task force headed by the FBI, as well as the multidisciplinary Wisconsin Human Trafficking Task Force, led by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.
The investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases is both a national and a local district priority. Since the inception of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000, dozens of traffickers have been prosecuted in the Eastern District of Wisconsin for sex trafficking and forced labor. District court judges in the Eastern District of Wisconsin have often observed at sentencing hearings that trafficking cases are among the most serious of offenses charged in federal court, and the sentences imposed reflect this.
One of the district’s more recent and significant sex trafficking trials was that of Samuel Spencer, a 52-year-old Milwaukee man convicted of trafficking numerous Milwaukee area women over a 15-year period by manipulating their cocaine and heroin dependencies, controlling them financially, and physically abusing them. Spencer was convicted at trial of all counts and sentenced to 45 years in federal prison. At sentencing, Chief Judge Pamela Pepper emphasized that Spencer had used some of the worst violence and coercive tactics that she had ever seen to deprive his victims of “their human agency.”
The United States Attorney’s Office continues to prosecute human traffickers, including as recently as earlier this month when a grand jury indicted a 35-year-old Union Grove man, Hector Duarte, with sex trafficking and interstate transportation for prostitution. Duarte is alleged to have used force, threats of force, and fraud to cause an adult victim to engage in commercial sex acts between approximately May 31, 2025, and June 25, 2025, in Wisconsin and Illinois. Duarte is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but upon conviction, he would face a mandatory minimum 15 years and up to life in prison. Duarte was ordered detained pending his trial.
U.S. Attorney Schimel observed, “human trafficking is the most insidious and difficult to uncover among the crimes we see. Coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement and social service providers is critical. Traffickers rob survivors of their very dignity by exploiting vulnerabilities like addiction, poverty, and the basic need for human connection. They often commit their crimes in plain sight right before our eyes, because survivors are terrified of seeking help based upon the extreme violence and psychological manipulation to which they are subjected. Each of us has a responsibility to educate ourselves about the threat, to protect those at risk of victimization, and to report known or suspected trafficking for investigation and intervention.” The National Human Trafficking Hotline number for tips and requests for assistance is 888-373-7888.
This month, DOJ has designated heightened resources to fight and raise awareness about human trafficking. One of DOJ’s current nationwide initiatives, designed to assist in the financial recovery of sex trafficking survivors, is the Backpage Remission Program. This program allows victims who were advertised on commercial sex advertisement sites Backpage.com and CityXGuide.com, which were seized and shuttered by DOJ in 2018 and 2020 respectively, to make claims for compensation. More information can be found here. Petition forms are due by March 31.
The DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs is also soliciting grant applications to help communities combat human trafficking and to serve adults and children who have been victimized. Funding opportunities currently available are focused on housing assistance, integrated services for minor victims, prevention of the trafficking of girls, supporting survivor engagement in anti-trafficking programming, enhanced collaborative model task forces, improving outcomes for child and youth victims, and general trafficking victim services. More information can be found at here.
# # #
For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on X