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23 January 2026
New Hampshire Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire woman has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to attempting to obstruct and interfere in a grand jury investigation involving her brother, former State Senator Dean Tran.
Tuyet T. Martin, 55, of Pelham, N.H., pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, 2026 to one count of obstruction of justice. U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for May 13, 2026. In June 2024, Martin was charged along with her brother, Dean Tran.
In November 2023, Tran was arrested and charged in 28-count federal indictment for his fraudulent collection of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and his willful omission of consulting and rental income from his tax returns in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
As part of the investigation into Tran’s unemployment benefits and tax fraud schemes, an investigation began into a job offer and job offer letter from Martin to Tran at the New Hampshire-based business where Martin was the owner and the CEO. During a July 2023 grand jury session, Martin provided false testimony regarding the employment offer letter.
The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Tran pleaded guilty in December 2025 and it scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30, 2026.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Labor Racketeering and Fraud, Northeast Region; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Lauren Maynard of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.New Braunfels Woman to Serve Prison Sentence, Pay over $1.25 Million for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A New Braunfels woman was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $1.25 million in restitution for wire fraud.
According to court documents, Telise Marie Armke, 56, befriended an elderly couple in 2019 and falsely claimed that she was going to receive funds from FEMA due to her home being in a flood zone. As part of her fraud scheme, Armke convinced the couple to “lend” her money to pay property taxes, pay off liens on her home, and pay insurance premiums for her home, as well as various filing fees, attorney’s fees and non-descript contract fees. Armke falsely told the couple that once the payments were made, FEMA would release the funds to her, and she would then pay back any money she received from the victims. In reality, Armke spent the majority of the funds at gas station casinos in and around New Braunfels.
Armke was arrested on March 24, 2023, and charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She pleaded guilty on July 17, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Orlando Garcia sentenced Armke to 30 months in federal prison and ordered her to pay the victims’ total loss of $1,251,206 in restitution.
“Telise Armke is a predator, plain and simple,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “She pestered and harangued her way into the lives of her victims and conned them into giving her money they spent a lifetime earning. In the Western District, we’re committed to holding predators like Telise Armke accountable for their actions and to doing what we can to give their victims some sense of justice.”
“The defendant exploited a relationship of trust to obtain money from an elderly couple by falsely presenting the theft as a disaster-related loan, abusing their kindness and good faith for personal gain,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran of the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI will continue to pursue fraudsters who exploit trust. We encourage the reporting of elder fraud to help identify patterns, stop offenders, and protect others, even when losses occur through personal relationships or informal loans.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Porier prosecuted the case.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, file a complaint at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
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Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Drew Alexander Ragsdale, a/k/a Drew Alexander Ragsdale-Smith, a/k/a Drew Down, a/k/a Skat, age 28, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, each punishable by 5 to 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine, and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by a minimum of 10 years in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on February 4, 2025, and again on February 26, 2025, Ragsdale knowingly and intentionally distributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and that on March 4, 2025, Ragsdale knowingly and intentionally possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Muskogee Police Department.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Ragsdale will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Mount Carmel Man Charged with Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Zachary Comerford, age 33, of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, was charged by a federal grand jury for illegal possession of a firearm.
According to United States Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on November 20, 2025, in Northumberland County, Comerford was found in possession of an H&R .32 caliber revolver after having been convicted of a felony offense.
The United States Marshals Service, Coal Township Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 15 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.
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Montgomery County Man Sentenced to 84 Months’ Imprisonment for Robbery and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mohammed Zeidan, age 36, of East Greenville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on January 22, 2026, to 84 months’ imprisonment and a term of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, and Firearms Conspiracy.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Zeidan was friends with members of the Schuylkill County chapter of the Infamous Ryders Motorcycle Club, of which co-defendant Steven Wong was the president. Wong used his position to recruit members of the motorcycle club and other associates to participate in a series of brutal home-invasion armed robberies in Schuylkill and Berks County in the summer and fall of 2020. Zeidan agreed to participate in an August 29, 2020, home-invasion robbery with three other co-conspirators in which Zeidan and two others entered the home of a street-level drug dealer while wearing masks and armed with firearms and knives and rob the victims of drugs and drug proceeds. One of the firearms used was a fully automatic homemade AR-15 style assault rifle. Zeidan did not personally carry a firearm during the robbery but tried to break down the backdoor of the residence and impersonated a police officer to convince the potential victims to come downstairs. Instead, the victims jumped out of the second-floor window, injuring themselves. Zeidan and his fellow co-conspirators then ran from the home without stealing anything of value.
Zeidan was later blamed by the other conspirators for the failure of the August 29, 2020, attempted robbery. Members of the conspiracy later committed additional armed home-invasion robberies in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, and Shillington, Pennsylvania. Zeidan’s fellow co-conspirators, including Wong, have all been convicted and have been sentenced or are currently awaiting sentencing.
The charges stem from an investigation involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Pennsylvania State Police, the Mahanoy City Police Department, the Schuylkill Haven Police Department, the Pottsville Police Department, the Shillington Police Department, the Reading Police Department, and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James Buchanan and Sarah Lloyd prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Middle District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO-MDFL) 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.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborates with numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to vigorously pursue and prosecute human traffickers throughout the Middle District of Florida and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “In addition, we have partnered with non-governmental organizations, advocates, and concerned citizens throughout our district’s 35 counties to raise awareness within communities and facilitate critical resources to victims.”
“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.
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 Florida has charged six defendants, including Delon Smith, Demontrae Fagan, Jazzmen Gaskins, Jordan Woods, Fredi Agustin-Vasquez y Guardado, and Marlon Ronaldo Canas Trochez with human trafficking-related offenses. Several other active investigations are currently underway.
The MDFL has also successfully pursued the extradition of an alleged fugitive trafficker.
Throughout 2025, the USAO-MDFL collaborated with law enforcement and community partners to host forums about human trafficking and online safety for children. On August 14, 2025, in partnership with the Space Coast Human Trafficking Task Force, U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe delivered opening remarks and served as a panelist during the 2025 Human Trafficking Symposium – Fight for Child Online Safety. More than 200 attendees, comprised of law enforcement, government entities and NGOs, educators, victim advocates, social service providers, and others participated. Interactive sessions included information about federal prosecutions, online safety, public safety partnerships, and prevention strategies to combat human trafficking and child exploitation.
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
Miami Executive Sentenced in Brooklyn Federal Court to 20 Years in Prison for Massive Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Pushpesh Kumar Baid, also known as “PK Jain,” was sentenced by United States Second Circuit Judge Denny Chin, sitting by designation, to 20 years’ imprisonment for his role in schemes to defraud investors in Tradepay Capital LLC (“Tradepay”), a purported factoring company, and in Luxestreet, Inc. (Luxestreet), a purported luxury goods pawn shop. Baid pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in April 2025, approximately one week before trial was scheduled to commence. As part of the sentence, Baid was preliminarily ordered to pay $35,056,852.83 in restitution to the victims of both the Tradepay and Luxestreet schemes. Additionally, the Court ordered Baid to forfeit $2,607,689.00 in ill-gotten gains.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Terence G. Reilly, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, (FBI), announced the sentence.
“Baid and his co-conspirators orchestrated an elaborate fraud, creating sham companies and using straw bank accounts and fraudulent documents to deceive their victims for years into investing millions of dollars into businesses that simply did not exist,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The significant sentence imposed today should send a message to anyone who chooses to enrich themself through fraud that false statements to investors will lead to a prison term.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for its work on the case.
“Pushpesh Baid repeatedly spun webs of lies to manipulate his investors into pooling tens of millions of dollars in fabricated companies directly utilized for Baid’s personal expenditures” stated Acting FBI Assistant Director in Charge Reilly. “Baid abused his position to create fraudulent investment opportunities at the expense of his clients. The FBI remains dedicated to exposing those who implement deceitful practices designed to betray investors’ trust for selfish financial gain.”
Baid pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the Tradepay scheme. As part of his plea, Baid also admitted to his participation in the Luxestreet scheme. Details of the schemes, as reflected in court filings, are set forth below.
Tradepay Scheme
Baid was the Business Head of Tradepay, which purported to be an international factoring business run by an executive team experienced in factoring invoices in particular industries and geographic regions. Factoring involves the sale of an invoice to a third party at a discount. In a factoring transaction, the seller of an invoice obtains immediate funding from the buyer of the invoice, and the buyer of the invoice makes a profit when the invoice is paid in full.
Between approximately April 2017 and October 2019, Baid and his co-conspirators implemented a scheme to defraud investors in Tradepay, making it appear that Tradepay was a legitimate and successful business when it was, in fact, an elaborate scam. For example, hundreds of invoices from various businesses that Tradepay purported to be factoring were fraudulent and included fake signatures on both sides of the supposed transactions. Baid and his co-conspirators also funneled millions of dollars of investors’ funds—which they represented would be sent to Tradepay’s business partners—through a sprawling network of bank accounts that Baid controlled through shell entities and straw signatories. From those accounts, Baid and his co-conspirators spent millions of dollars on personal expenses, including on luxury cars and watches. Baid even lied about his identity, concealing his real name from investors to obscure the fact that he was wanted for criminal offenses abroad.
Investors in Tradepay initially received payments on the invoices, which led them to continue contributing large sums of capital. By approximately July 2019, however, the payments on the invoices stopped, resulting in approximately $35 million in losses.
Luxestreet Scheme
In 2018, Baid founded a separate company called Asset Capital Partners, which began doing business as Luxestreet. Baid and his co-conspirators claimed that Luxestreet operated like a pawn shop for high end goods, including luxury watches, and solicited investment in the business. In reality, Luxestreet contracts were forged and the physical watches held by the company were knockoffs. To further this fraud and continue to deceive their investors, the defendant and his co-conspirators agreed to create fake websites, use fake phone numbers, and generate fake contracts and valuation reports for the knockoff watches.
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The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Dylan A. Stern, Benjamin Weintraub and Molly N. Delaney are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Claire Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters.
The Defendant:
PUSHPESH KUMAR BAID (also known as “PK Jain”)
Age: 44
Miami, FloridaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-367 (DC)
Mexican National Residing in Sacramento Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday against Roberto Hernandez, 35, a Mexican national unlawfully in the United States and residing in Sacramento, charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Sept. 2, 2025, Hernandez was found to be in possession of at least 400 grams of fentanyl and two loaded Glock handguns. Hernandez is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in California including reckless evasion of a peace officer causing injury, driving under the influence causing injury, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a controlled substance.
Additionally, in May 2021, Hernandez was deported from the United States, and on Nov. 6, 2025, was charged in a separate indictment for being a deported alien found in the United States.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Ng is prosecuting the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nchekube Onyima is prosecuting the illegal reentry case.
If convicted in the drug trafficking and firearms case, Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; in each case, the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
This case is also part of the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney program, a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local District Attorney’s Offices. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys remain employed by local District Attorney’s Offices, but they work on federal investigations and can prosecute cases in both state and federal court. This partnership allows the U.S. States Attorney’s Office and local District Attorney’s Offices to partner to fight transnational organized crime and violent crime that impacts the region. The U.S. Attorney’s Office currently has Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the District Attorney’s Offices of Yolo, Placer, Fresno, and Sacramento Counties.
Mexican Citizen Sentenced for Distribution of Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACAUSE, NEW YORK – Edwin Morones, age 23, a Mexican citizen who formerly resided in Watertown, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 25 years (300 months) in federal prison for three charges of distribution of 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 Morones admitted that during November and December 2024, Morones used a social media platform to participate in groups dedicated to trading child pornography and sent numerous child pornography files to other users, including one child pornography file Morones had personally created. Morones also distributed non-pornographic but still sexually explicit images of children that Morones had personally created. An analysis of Morones’ social media account revealed over a dozen images and videos constituting child pornography. Morones has no current legal status in the United States.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “The defendant, who was illegally present in the U.S., used what he thought was a secure social media platform to distribute child pornography and indulge his sick sexual fantasies. But our law enforcement partners, including the dedicated agents at HSI, have methods to monitor and identify child predators, no matter how they communicate. We thank those who work with law enforcement and honor their oaths to protect and defend the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic by apprehending dangerous criminals like this. We cannot play politics in ensuring the safety and security of the citizens we serve.”
Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated: “Edwin Morones, a Mexican national illegally in our country, shamelessly abused his unlawful presence to prey on children and distribute vile content online. Together with our law enforcement partners, HSI Syracuse will bring predators in our communities to justice, no matter their background or status, as reflected with today's sentence. HSI Syracuse will continue to defend our neighborhoods and safeguard our children from those who exploit our most vulnerable and flout U.S. rule of law."
United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi also sentenced Morones to serve a 15-year term of supervised release to begin after Morones is released from prison. Morones will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.
HSI investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case.
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.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Malden, Massachusetts man was sentenced on January 20, 2026, to eight years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
According to public court documents, Michael Thomas D’Orlando, 47, sent packages with a powder containing fentanyl to a person in the Southern District of Iowa. On November 27, 2023, the Norwalk Police Department located a deceased victim. Further investigation showed that the victim ingested the powder D’Orlando sent to Iowa and the fentanyl caused the victim’s death.
After completing his term of imprisonment, D’Orlando will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains committed in its collaboration with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who distribute lethal doses of fentanyl are held accountable,” said Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This sentencing emphasizes the impact of fentanyl distribution in our communities and our commitment in relentlessly pursuing those responsible for distributing the deadly drug.”
Greg Staples, Chief of Police for the City of Norwalk, said “The distribution of narcotics presents a severe risk to the community and resulted in the death of a community member in the City of Norwalk in November 2023. Thank you to our partners, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa for assisting with this investigation. These partnerships are crucial to maintain public safety, quality prosecutions, and justice for the citizens of Norwalk.”
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Postal Inspection Service, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and City of Norwalk Police Department investigated the case.
Managing Director of Maywood, New Jersey Elderly and Disabled Housing Facility Admits to Embezzling over $544,000Read the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County woman admitted to embezzling more than $544,000 from a residential facility located in Maywood, New Jersey where she was employed, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Elaine Benanti, 69, of Garfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo, on January 20, 2026, to embezzling, stealing, and obtaining by fraud more than $544,000 of funds belonging to and under the care, custody and control of the Maywood Senior Citizens Housing Corporation (MSCHC) which operated Lydecker Manor, in Maywood, New Jersey, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A).
According to the documents filed in this case and statements by the defendant in open court:
From in or about January 2017 through in or about December 2021, Benanti served as the Managing Director of Lydecker Manor, a residential facility with approximately 136 units that provided housing for individuals over 62 or with disabilities. Benanti’s responsibilities included supervising Lydecker employees, providing information to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provided significant funding for Lydecker Manor, and paying Lydecker Manor’s bills. Benanti also issued salary and bonus checks to herself and at least four other Lydecker employees in amounts set by Lydecker Manor’s Board of Trustees.
Benanti admitted that she issued salary checks that significantly exceeded the amounts the Board approved on an annual basis, including checks to herself and four other employees. For example, Benanti admitted that, in 2021, she issued salary payments to herself exceeding her approved annual salary of $132,613.00 by more than $40,000.00, and that she inflated her approved bonus for the prior year by more than $2,500.00. She also admitted that she issued salary, bonus, and retirement account checks that exceeded the Board’s approved amounts for four other employees from 2017 through 2021. She further admitted to issuing a supplemental insurance payment to a relative who was not employed by Lydecker Manor.
In total, Benanti admitted to embezzling approximately $544,289.95 from Lydecker Manor via these various means. As part of her plea agreement with the Government, Benanti agreed to forfeit this amount.
The embezzlement charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 23, 2026.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of special agent in charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark as well as special agents with the Office of Inspector General with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Northeast Region, under the direction of special agent in charge Shawn Rice.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the Office’s Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Anthony J. Iacullo, Esq., Roseland
benanti.information.pdfMan sentenced for eight-year tax fraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A local man has been sentenced for filing fraudulent and false statements on his federal tax returns causing a quarter of a million in losses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Joseph Patrick Butler pleaded guilty April 23, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Butler to serve 21 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Butler provided false wage and withholding information in his tax returns over a span of eight years to induce the IRS to pay him refunds. The fraudulent refunds were Butler’s primary source of income during this timeframe, and he affirmatively sought to claim these refunds even after the IRS caught on to his scheme and placed a hold on payments.
In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Butler’s conduct was particularly willful and involved year after year of false submissions. The court also stated that “eight years of continuous fraud cries out” for an appropriately significant sentence.
Butler admitted that, for the 2013 to 2020 tax years, he filed false joint Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns and received inflated tax refunds to which he was not entitled. As part of the plea, Butler acknowledged creating shell companies that issued W-2 forms to himself, falsely reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages and significant tax withholdings each year.
In reality, he earned no such wages, and no taxes had been withheld. Butler’s scheme resulted in a total tax loss of over $260,000 in fraudulent refunds.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Shirin Hakimzadeh prosecuted the case.
Luzerne County Woman Sentenced to 30 Months’ Imprisonment for Firearms Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Krysty Horter, age 39, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 30 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for one count of firearms trafficking conspiracy.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Horter previously pled guilty to conspiring with her other co-defendants to traffic firearms from April of 2022 to on or about July 9, 2024, in Luzerne County, and elsewhere. Horter further admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, she straw-purchased at least five firearms for her co-defendants, including Justis Shea, and transferred those firearms to Shea while knowing that he was a person not to possess a firearm as he was both a felon and an unlawful user of controlled substances.
Co-defendants Justis Shea and Jeremy Shea, Justis’s brother, have previously been sentenced to 130 months and 48 months’ imprisonment, respectively. A fourth co-defendant, Cindy Shea, is awaiting sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, the Pittston Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals thefull resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Lincoln Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Julius Phillips, 40, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 22, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine actual. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Phillips to a total of 146 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Phillips’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On November 21, 2024, following a series of controlled buys, Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF) served a search warrant for Phillips’s residence. Prior to serving the warrant, law enforcement contacted Phillips outside the residence. A search of his person resulted in $7,201 in U.S. currency, a used syringe in his pants pocket, keys to the residence, and two cell phones.
Investigators proceeded with the search of the residence. In the kitchen freezer, they found a Ziploc baggie of marijuana. Under the marijuana, they found a second baggie containing methamphetamine. The Nebraska State Crime Lab confirmed the substances as 151 grams of marijuana and at least 280 grams methamphetamine actual. On the kitchen table, investigators found a digital scale and about 3 grams of marijuana.
In Phillips’s bedroom, investigators found a methamphetamine pipe, a sticky note with suspected methamphetamine residue, some marijuana shake, a CashApp debit card in Phillips’s name, and a pistol grip. They also found a Marlin Model 60 .22 Long Rifle, a BB gun designed to look like an assault rifle, .22 LR ammunition, and Winchester .38 special bullets.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.
Lincoln Man Charged with Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Thursday against Carlos Andrew Dominguez, 25, of Lincoln, charging him with distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between March 6, 2025, and Jan. 9, 2026, Dominguez used peer-to-peer messaging apps to distribute hundreds of depictions of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Malinski is prosecuting the case.
Dominguez is currently in federal custody following his arrest on a criminal complaint. If convicted, Dominguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming Laser Beam at Police HelicopterRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty Wednesday to pointing a green laser beam at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter as it was responding to a call.
According to court documents and admissions made in court by Sergio Octavio Sanchez, on January 2, 2025, he aimed the beam of a laser pointer at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter several times as the helicopter was providing aerial support for officers on the ground. Due to the laser beam striking the helicopter, the helicopter was forced to divert from its assignment and flight path.
Aiming a laser beam at an aircraft in the sky poses a serious safety risk. Laser beams can cause disorientation, temporary blindness - potentially causing a midair collision or other incident - and in some cases permanent vision problems or blindness. According to the FAA, in 2025, pilots reported 10,993 laser strikes.
Sanchez faces the maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2026. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings is prosecuting the case.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division made the announcement.
If you spot someone aiming a laser at the sky in a suspicious manner, you can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov. You can also report laser strikes to the FAA.
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Laplace Woman Guilty of Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that TANYANEEKA POWELL (“POWELL”), age 38, of Laplace, LA, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey to a two-count bill of information that charged her with making, and assisting in the making, of false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
According to court records, Count One charged POWELL with making false statements to the Small Business Administration (SBA) on or about April 17, 2021, in order to fraudulently obtain a $19,997.00 federally funded pandemic-related relief Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for herself. Count Two alleged that, on or about June 2, 2022, POWELL aided and abetted in the making of false statements to the SBA by helping prepare a false PPP loan application for another person, that resulted in a loan of $19,999.00.
Sentencing in this matter will occur on April 28, 2026. For each individual charged count, POWELL faces up to five years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
For more information on the Department of Justice’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.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (a member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee) and the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera is in charge of the prosecution.
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Knoxville Contractors Charged with Conspiracy to Harbor Illegal Aliens for Financial Gain and to Forcibly Impede ICE Law Enforcement Actions at Hardin Valley Construction SiteRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A multi-count indictment was unsealed today charging that from January 5 through January 13, 2026, Tyler Shane Wells, 33, of Morristown, TN, and Alexander Bonilla-Servin, 18, of Smyrna, TN, conspired:
- to conceal and harbor illegal aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain, in violation of 8 U.S.C § 1324;
- to forcibly impede federal agents while engaged in the performance of official duties, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 111; and
- to prevent, by force, intimidation, or threat, federal agents from discharging their official duties, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 372.
Bonilla-Servin is separately charged with forcibly impeding federal agents engaged in the performance of their official duties by utilizing a 2019 GMC Sierra motor vehicle to strike into the motor vehicle occupied by those agents in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(b).
Wells appeared in court today, January 23, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Jill E. McCook and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. A detention hearing is set for Monday, January 26, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge McCook. A trial date has been set for March 31, 2026, before United States District Judge Katherine A. Crytzer.
According to filed court documents, Wells and Bonilla-Servin agreed that Bonilla-Servin would drive his GMC Sierra quad cab pickup truck to a nearby location to conduct counter-surveillance against federal agents who were surveilling the construction site. After conducting this counter-surveillance, Bonilla-Servin drove his pickup truck back to the construction site’s entrance and positioned the truck in an offensive posture in order to maintain an active blockade and a display of physical aggression at the construction site’s entrance. Wells and Bonilla-Servin agreed, anticipated, and intended that federal agents would be forcibly impeded by the truck, which was continuously and actively operated by Bonilla-Servin at the construction site’s entrance. Filed court documents further allege that on January 13, 2026, Bonilla-Servin forcibly impeded two federal agents engaged in the performance of their official duties, by utilizing his GMC Sierra truck to strike into the agents’ vehicle as it attempted to enter the construction site.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson, Homeland Security Investigations, made the announcement.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. will represent the United States.
Members of the public are remined that an indictment contains only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Kanawha County Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kelli Rucker, also known as “Kelli Engler,” 48, of Nitro, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to wire fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Rucker was hired by the West Virginia Division of Labor as an Administrative Services Manager I in 2020 and assigned three state purchasing credit cards. From 2022 through February 2023, Rucker fraudulently made unauthorized purchases with the three cards that resulted in losses totaling $18,472.75 to the State of West Virginia. As part of her guilty plea, Rucker admitted that she knew she was not permitted to make personal purchases with the state issued card and that she electronically paid personal expenses including gas and electric bills, hospital expenses and cable television bills as part of her fraudulent scheme. Rucker further admitted that her fraudulent use of the cards included a $2,200 charge transmitted electronically on January 28, 2023.
Rucker is scheduled to be sentenced on May 19, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Rucker also owes $18,472.75 in restitution.
Rucker has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for access device fraud on October 13, 2010, and failure to appear on October 11, 2016, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the West Virginia Commission in Special Investigations and the assistance provided by the West Virginia Division of Labor.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-176.
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Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women Hosts 20th Annual Tribal Consultation and Announces Awards of more than $75M in Grants to Support Public Safety in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
On Jan. 21, 2026, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) convened the 20th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation on the lands of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. provided opening remarks in which he reaffirmed the Department of Justice’s commitment to Indian Country and its dedication to protecting Tribal communities — particularly women and children — from violent crime, exploitation, and drug trafficking.
The Justice Department announced today that it awarded over $75 million through six grant programs that support American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and communities in combatting domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, and stalking. The Tribal Affairs Division (TAD) of the OVW administers these funds.
The OVW fiscal year 2025 awards announced today are:
- The Tribal Governments Program
- Nearly $47.5 million through 64 awards in support of efforts to combat domestic and sexual violence, trafficking, and stalking in Tribal communities.
- The Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative
- More than$3.3 million through three awards to cross-designate Tribal prosecutors as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, to prevent violent offenders from causing more harm.
- The Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program
- More than $8 million through 17 awards to establish, maintain, and expand assistance programs for sexual assault victims.
- The Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Program
- More than $7 million through eight awards to protect victims of assault or abuse by non-Indian offenders and to bring criminals to justice.
- The Tribal Coalitions Program
- More than $8 million awarded to 21 Tribal nonprofit coalitions to support organizations that serve victims in Tribal communities.
- The National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault
- One award of $980,100 to provide resources on effective responses to sexual assault of American Indian and Alaska Native women.
OVW administers grant programs designed to combat sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking. Tribal organizations and governments interested in applying for these and other grants can visit the OVW website for more details and application guidelines.
- The Tribal Governments Program
- Jamaican Nationals Convicted of Maritime Drug Trafficking Offenses Following Federal Jury Trial
Israeli man pleads guilty to, sentenced on immigration chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Elazar Wigdorowitz, 33, a citizen of Israel, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to improper entry by an alien. He was then sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald, who handled the case, stated that in the early morning hours of January 08, 2026, during the secondary inspection of a vehicle at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry, officers noticed multiple pieces of luggage in the back of the vehicle. As an officer began removing the luggage, she noticed what appeared to be a person’s back. The remaining luggage was removed and officers discovered defendant Wigdorowitz. Subsequent investigation discovered that Wigdorowitz had obtained a visa in 2010, which was revoked in 2017 due to his criminal history in Israel. Wigdorowitz’s visa was then refused in 2023 because of his criminal history in Israel, which includes convictions for conspiracy to commit a felony, assault, extortion, threats, false imprisonment, and malicious damage to a vehicle. In addition, pending charges include receipt of an item by deceit, conspiracy to defraud, forgery with intent, use of a forged document, fabricating evidence, and obstruction of justice. On January 5, 2026, Wigdorowitz attempted to apply for Electronic System for Travel Authorization but was denied. Wigdorowitz stated to officers that he was in the back of the vehicle because he wanted to visit his rabbi’s grave in the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
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Illegal Immigrant Sentenced to Time Served in PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mexican national was sentenced today to time served in prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, on October 18, 2025, Gulf Shores Police Department (GSPD) responded to a “shots fired” call and determined that Hernandez-Modesto, 38, had discharged a firearm multiple times. Following his arrest, GSPD contacted Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement who determined that Hernandez-Modesto had previously been removed from the United States in 2020.
At sentencing, Judge Dubose imposed the time served sentence of incarceration and a one-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Upon his release from prison, Hernandez-Modesto is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Hernandez-Modesto was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the Gulf Shores Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Hutchins III prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Hunterdon County Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering in Connection with Multimillion Dollar Liquor License Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hunterdon County, New Jersey man made his initial appearance on January 23, 2026 following his arrest on charges of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme involving liquor licenses, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Sameh Aboelata, 50, of Raritan Township, New Jersey, was charged in a four-count criminal complaint with one count of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. Aboelata had his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge James B. Clark, III in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in Court:
As alleged, between 2016 and 2023, Aboelata obtained more than $17 million from a victim investor by claiming he would use the victim’s money to acquire and maintain liquor licenses. In reality, Aboelata used the money to line his own pockets, including for casino-related transactions, transfers or checks to family members or associates, rental payments for Aboelata’s restaurant, and transfers to other related bank accounts. Financial records show that only several thousand dollars of the $17 million was actually used to acquire and maintain liquor licenses.
The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain that anyone derived from the offense or of any pecuniary loss sustained by any victims of the offense, whichever is greatest. Each charge of money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of criminally derived property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited agents of the IRS Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanks the USPIS Newark Division, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, and Raritan Township Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
The Government is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachelle M. Navarro and Mark Pesce of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Rahul Sharma, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
Houston man convicted of distributing fentanyl that resulted in deaths in two statesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 25-year local resident has entered a guilty plea to distribution of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl that lead to the deaths of two people, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Antonio Curo admitted he distributed the drug through the U.S. mail to individuals across the country.
Specifically, Curo distributed fentanyl to a 16-year-old female in Houston who died after consuming pills that contained fentanyl. He had directly provided the counterfeit pills to the minor victim. The victim’s father found her in her room deceased with an imprinted “M-30” pill in a small, orange plastic bag next to her body. Laboratory testing confirmed the pill contained fentanyl.
Curo also acknowledged he was responsible for the death of a 24-year-old man in Connecticut. The victim ordered pills via social media and instant messaging service, and Curo sent them through the mail. The victim’s girlfriend saw him receive the package and ingest the pills before he died.
Curo admitted he was aware of the deaths and knew he was selling fentanyl.
“Curo knowingly distributed counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, showing a complete disregard for the law and human life,” said Ganjei. “The facts are incredibly clear: one pill can kill. Now, two more young lives have been lost to this scourge, and two families will endure a lifetime of grief all because a criminal placed money before morality. My office will always protect the families within the Southern District of Texas by aggressively prosecuting those who seek to poison our community.”
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the plea and set sentencing for April 30, at which time Curo faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of partner agencies in Vermont and Iowa, USPIS – Office of Inspector General, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sherriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anibal J. Alaniz and Casey N. MacDonald are prosecuting the case.
Honduran National Guilty of Illegal Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MIGUEL ANGEL LOPEZ-MEJIA (“LOPEZ-MEJIA”), age 34, pled guilty on January 15, 2026, to illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the charging document, LOPEZ-MEJIA was found in the United States on October 16, 2025, having reentered the United States, without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on August 18, 2008.
LOPEZ-MEJIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick Veters, Jr., of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Honduran Man Charged with Re-Entry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CARLOS ALBERTO ESCOBAR-LOZA (“ESCOBAR-LOZA”), age 47, a native of Honduras, was charged on January 21, 2026, by bill of information with re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the charging document, the defendant was found in the United States on December 26, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on July 2, 2012.
ESCOBAR-LOZA faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Hammond Man Guilty of Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – KENYARIE GUZMAN (“GUZMAN”), age 30, of Hammond, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo on January 14, 2026, to distribution of a quantity of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) (Count 1). GUZMAN also pled guilty to distribution of forty grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) (Count 2), as well as possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) (Count 3), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, in 2024, the Hammond Police Department learned that GUZMAN was distributing narcotics in Hammond and Pontchatoula, Louisiana. On February 27, 2025, under the direction of the Hammond Police Department (HPD), a person GUZMAN believed to be a legitimate buyer, purchased 8.39 grams of heroin and fentanyl from GUZMAN at a residence in Pontchatoula. On March 11, 2025, under the direction of the HPD, the confidential source purchased 43.01 grams of fentanyl and heroin from GUZMAN. After the two purchases, law enforcement executed a search warrant at GUZMAN’S residence and seized 15.61 grams of heroin and fentanyl.
For Counts 1 and 3, GUZMAN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years. For Count 2, GUZMAN faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and term of supervised release of at least 4 years. GUZMAN also faces a mandatory special assessment fee of $300.00.
This case is being investigated by the Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Hammond Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
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Georgia Chiropractor Convicted of Healthcare FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS,LOUISIANA –United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that STEVEN D. PEYROUX (“PEYROUX”), age 56, of Canton, Georgia, pled guilty on January 15, 2026 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1347 and 1349, in connection with a scheme to bill Medicare millions of dollars for over-the-counter (“OTC”) COVID-19 tests that were neither requested nor eligible for reimbursement.
According to court documents, PEYROUX, a chiropractor, conspired with others to pay and receive kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary information nationwide, including names, Medicare identification numbers, and fabricated recordings of individuals posing as beneficiaries and requesting OTC COVID-19 tests, which they used to bill Medicare for OTC COVID-19 tests that were not requested. In an attempt to avoid Medicare scrutiny, PEYROUX and co-conspirators solicited multiple providers to join the scheme, who they directed to enter into sham agreements and make false statements in response to Medicare audits, to conceal the misconduct. Under the terms of PEYROUX’s plea agreement, PEYROUX agreed to over $6.5 million in restitution owed to Medicare.
United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter set sentencing for May 14, 2026.
At sentencing, the maximum penalty PEYROUX may receive is ten years of imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under 18 U.S.C. § 3571, or both. PEYROUX also faces a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, of the Financial Crimes Unit and Health Care Fraud Coordinator, and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, are in charge of the prosecution.
Gainesville Man Sentenced to over 22 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes Committed While on Federal SupervisionRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Dovico Raynard Miles, a/k/a “Vico,” 47, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to a total of 270 months in prison after pleading guilty to narcotics and firearm offenses as well as violating the terms of his federal supervised release. The defendant pleaded guilty to three federal charges: possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, 500 Grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base, N,N-Dimethlpentylone, and marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This is yet another successful prosecution under Operation Take Back America, through which President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have unleashed the full might of the Department of Justice to eliminate the threats to the safety of our communities by drug traffickers and violent felons, like this defendant. We will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute anyone who peddles this poison on our streets.”
Court documents reflect that in 2022 two armed robbers kicked in the front door of the defendant’s residence intending to steal drugs and cash. During the home invasion, one of the robbers shot and killed the defendant’s niece. After the defendant returned gun fire and both robbers fled, the defendant proceeded to hide large quantities of drugs and firearms in the backyard. Law enforcement ultimately recovered over 1,000 grams of cocaine, over 70 grams of cocaine base, over 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, over 70 grams of marijuana, multiple firearms, and over $10,000 in cash.
At the time of the investigation, the defendant was on federal supervised release for a 2008 conviction involving trafficking cocaine and cocaine base. The defendant was also prohibited from possessing firearms after having been convicted of eight different felonies.
“We have zero tolerance for violent crime and will work with all our partners to seek justice,” said Chief Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department. “Keeping our community safe from guns and drugs will always be a priority.”
“Floridians are much safer with this violent drug dealer behind bars,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Harrell. “This joint investigation is yet another reminder that serious crimes come with serious penalties.”
“Bringing this poly-drug distributor to justice will make North Florida communities safer,” said DEA Miami Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Bobbitt. “Methamphetamine can tear apart families and its impact on communities is immeasurable.”
The defendant was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment for his gun and drug crimes. He received an additional 30 months’ for violating the terms of his supervised release. Following his term of incarceration, the defendant will be on federal supervised release again for an additional ten years.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner and Former Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Elsey.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
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.
Former local resident convicted for possessing over 500 images of child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 26-year-old Virginia man who previously resided in Corpus Christi has been found guilty despite claiming he was unaware it was illegal to possess child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei
The jury deliberated for approximately nine hours before convicting Anthony Porche following a three-day trial.
The investigation began in October 2023 when authorities discovered Porche had been engaging in activity involving images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material.
At trial, the jury heard how law enforcement executed a search warrant at Porche’s residence and seized his electronic devices. A physical search of his cellphone resulted in the discovery of several pornographic images.
Porche admitted he downloaded child pornography on his phone over a few months and that there were at least five images of child pornography on his device.
Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of approximately 500 images and videos depicting CSAM. Evidence further revealed that some of images depicted prepubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct and in lewd or lascivious poses.
The defense attempted to convince the jury Porche was insane due to his autism diagnosis, therefore not fully aware of his conduct and unable to understand his viewing and possessing CSAM was illegal. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 23. At that time, Porche faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Porche was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman and Izaak Bruce are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Former Treasurer of New Mexico Abbey Indicted for $2 Million Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $2 million in funds from the Norbertine Community of New Mexico and Santa María de la Vid Abbey and filing a false federal tax return.
According to court records, from May 2022 to March 2023, James Joseph Owens, 68, a former member of the Norbertine Community of New Mexico (NCNM) and the treasurer for NCNM and Santa María de la Vid Abbey, allegedly abused his position of trust by transferring more than $2 million in abbey funds to accounts he controlled, including accounts associated with a nonprofit law practice he established, and used the funds for personal benefit, including deposits into investment accounts and the purchase of a residence in Placitas, New Mexico.
Prosecutors further allege Owens conducted domestic and international wire transfers, brokerage and cryptocurrency transactions, and other monetary transactions to conceal the origin of the funds and increase his profits from his crimes. Owens also allegedly failed to report the income derived from these transactions on his 2022 federal tax return and filed a false amended return that substantially understated his taxable income, thereby concealing the misappropriation from the Internal Revenue Service.
Owens is federally charged with eight counts of wire fraud, 23 counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity and one count of attempt to evade and defeat tax. If convicted, Owens faces up to 20 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory of IRS Criminal Investigation's Phoenix Field Office, made the announcement today.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictmnent (Owens).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.
Former St. Louis Alderman Convicted of Fraud, Lying to the FBIRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A federal jury on Friday convicted former St. Louis Alderman Brandon Bosley of charges related to insurance fraud and lying to the FBI.
Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis found Bosley, 38, guilty of three felony wire fraud charges and one count of making a false statement to the FBI.
Bosley’s 2010 Toyota Prius was hit by another vehicle in September of 2021. The Prius was parked at the time and there was initially confusion over whether the driver was insured. The drivers’ insurance company contacted Bosley in February of 2022 and told him that they would pay for the damage. By the next day, Bosley had hatched a scheme to defraud the insurance company by falsely inflating the cost of needed repairs, evidence and trial testimony showed. He first contacted the auto repair shop owner who had sold him the used Prius in March of 2021 for the steeply discounted price of $500. Bosley then asked the business owner to prepare and submit an inflated repair estimate to the insurance company, hoping that the car would be totaled and the insurance company would pay Bosley its current value, evidence and testimony showed. “Mark that (expletive) all the way up,” Bosley told the business owner during the conversation, which was captured on audio and video. In return, Bosley said that he would pay a bribe to the business owner. Bosley also discussed buying the car back if it was totaled, and then paying for the actual estimated repair costs of $2,000 to $2,200, thus retaining the car while fraudulently netting thousands of dollars.
After the insurance company balked at the initial repair estimate of about $6,800, Bosley caused a second estimate of $4,333 to be submitted. The insurance company did agree to total the car and paid Bosley $7,978.90.
In March of 2023, Bosley was interviewed by FBI agents with his lawyer present. Jurors on Friday found that that he repeatedly lied. He falsely stated to agents that he never saw the two false repair bills that were prepared after the accident. He falsely claimed the repair estimates were not inflated. He also denied asking the repair estimates to be inflated.
The trial began with jury selection Tuesday.
Bosley is scheduled to be sentenced April 28. Each wire fraud charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The making false statement charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hal Goldsmith and Matthew Martin are prosecuting the case.
Former Quincy Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Nearly 10 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Quincy man, currently residing in Las Vegas, Nev., was sentenced on Jan. 21, 2026 in federal court in Boston for distribution of methamphetamine.
Samuel Jean-Baptiste, a/k/a “Jett Black,” 39, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In September 2025, Jean-Baptiste pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Jean-Baptiste was arrested in May 2024 and was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024.
In early July 2023, Jean-Baptiste was identified as a significant distributor of controlled substances in the Boston area. A confidential source made three controlled purchases totaling over 680 grams of fentanyl from Jean-Baptiste. In the subsequent months, Jean-Baptiste communicated with a second confidential source to set up a sale of approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. On May 29, 2024, Jean-Baptiste arrived at an agreed-upon location for the sale of methamphetamine and was subsequently arrested. At the time of his arrest Jean-Baptiste was carrying a backpack that contained approximately 10 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.Former Miami Heat Security Employee Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay Nearly $1.9 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A former Miami Heat security officer has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,889,931.91 in restitution for stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other valuable sports memorabilia from the team and selling the stolen items across state lines for personal profit.
U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez imposed the sentence on Marcos Tomas Perez, 62, of Miami, who previously pleaded guilty to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.
“This defendant was a former police officer who betrayed the public trust and exploited his access to our beloved hometown team for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The Miami Heat represent excellence built through hard work and discipline in South Florida — and this conduct was the opposite. This sentence and restitution order make clear that no badge, no past service, and no proximity to prestige shields anyone from accountability under the law.”
According to court documents, Perez, a 25-year retired veteran of the City of Miami Police Department, was employed as a security officer with the Miami Heat from 2016 to 2021 and later worked as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025. During his tenure, Perez worked on the game-day security detail at the Kaseya Center, where he had access to a secured equipment room that stored hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia set aside for a future Miami Heat Museum.
While employed in these positions, Perez stole more than 400 jerseys and other items from the secured equipment room. Over a three-and-a-half-year period, Perez sold more than 100 stolen items on various online marketplaces, often at prices well below their market value. For example, Perez sold a game-worn LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey for approximately $100,000. That same jersey was later sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $3.7 million.
On April 3, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence and recovered nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia, which the Miami Heat confirmed had been stolen from their facility.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case. U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, and the Miami Police Department provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moore and Jon Juenger prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raemy Charest-Turken handled asset forfeiture.
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-20346.
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Former Commissioner of Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation Sentenced for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
A former Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation (SP&R), Calvert White, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for soliciting and accepting a bribe from a government contractor in exchange for assistance in attempting to obtain a $1.43 million dollar government contract. His co-conspirator, Benjamin Hendricks, was also sentenced yesterday to 68 months in prison for his role in the same scheme.
“Calvert White rigged a public bid process in exchange for a bribe,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He abused the trust of those who live in the community he was supposed to serve. The Criminal Division will continue to prosecute government corruption. Such conduct undermines the integrity of our institutions at every level of government.”
“The defendants’ convictions send a message: public corruption is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by our community,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the District of the Virgin Islands.
Public officials take an oath based on trust and assume a responsibility of service to the people,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Claudia Dubravetz of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “When that trust is violated through acts of corruption, it undermines confidence in government and harms the communities it is meant to serve. This is unacceptable, and the FBI will continue to work with our partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who abuse their positions for personal gain.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, White solicited and accepted a bribe from a government contractor, David Whitaker, through Hendricks, who acted as an intermediary to facilitate payment of the bribe. The scheme lasted about seven months, beginning in at least December 2023 and continuing until the FBI approached the defendants in June 2024. As part of the scheme, in December 2023, White demanded the bribe from Whitaker to be later paid through Hendricks. In exchange for the bribe, White agreed to assist Whitaker in obtaining a valuable contract for the installation of security cameras at SP&R properties in the Virgin Islands. As part of the scheme, White provided confidential bid information to Whitaker and took official action to encourage the awarding of the contract to Whitaker. During the bid selection process, Whitaker sent the bribe payment to a bank account controlled by Hendricks, who later delivered the funds to White.
The jury convicted both White and Hendricks of one count of honest services wire fraud, and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
The FBI San Juan Field Office, St. Thomas Resident Agency investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case. Former PIN Trial Attorney Lina Peng also provided significant assistance in the investigation and prosecution.
Former Commissioner of Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation Sentenced for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI –United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that on January 23, 2026, former Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation (SP&R), Calvert White, was sentenced to five years in prison for soliciting and accepting a bribe from a government contractor in exchange for assistance in attempting to obtain a $1.43 million dollar government contract. His co-conspirator, Benjamin Hendricks, was also sentenced yesterday to 68 months in prison for his role in the same scheme.
“Calvert White rigged a public bid process in exchange for a bribe,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He abused the trust of those who live in the community he was supposed to serve. The Criminal Division will continue to prosecute government corruption. Such conduct undermines the integrity of our institutions at every level of government.”
“The defendants’ convictions send a message: public corruption is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by our community,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the District of the Virgin Islands.
“This case sends a clear message that public corruption will not be tolerated at any level. The resources meant to benefit the people of the Virgin Islands, must be respected,” said Claudia Dubravetz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to working alongside our partners to safeguard public funds, and ensure integrity in government contracting by pursuing and imposing consequences on those who would exploit the system.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, White solicited and accepted a bribe from a government contractor, David Whitaker, through Hendricks, who acted as an intermediary to facilitate payment of the bribe. The scheme lasted about seven months, beginning in at least December 2023 and continuing until the FBI approached the defendants in June 2024. As part of the scheme, in December 2023, White demanded the bribe from Whitaker to be later paid through Hendricks. In exchange for the bribe, White agreed to assist Whitaker in obtaining a valuable contract for the installation of security cameras at SP&R properties in the Virgin Islands. As part of the scheme, White provided confidential bid information to Whitaker and took official action to encourage the awarding of the contract to Whitaker. During the bid selection process, Whitaker sent the bribe payment to a bank account controlled by Hendricks, who later delivered the funds to White.
The jury convicted both White and Hendricks of one count of honest services wire fraud, and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
The FBI San Juan Field Office, St. Thomas Resident Agency investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case. Former PIN Trial Attorney Lina Peng and former AUSA Michael Conley also provided significant assistance in the investigation and prosecution.Former Baltimore City Council Candidate Sentenced for Bank Fraud and False Statements in Connection with $1.7 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Nichelle Henson, 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, to four years in federal prison for bank fraud and making false statements in connection with filing fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans applications. Henson filed the applications in the names of multiple purported businesses that she previously incorporated in the state of Maryland.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Henson incorporated several businesses with the State of Maryland, including Crowns Construction, LLC; Nichelle Henson Campaign, LLC; One Stop for Services, LLC; Your Friendly Tax Preparation Services, LLC; Women Entrepreneurs Can Succeed, LLC; and Peace of Mind Services, Inc. Henson opened bank accounts in the names of some of her businesses and obtained Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the businesses.
In 2020 and 2021, she submitted six fraudulent EIDL applications to the SBA for her various businesses that contained false information concerning each business’s gross receipts, costs of goods sold, and number of employees. At the time of the submissions, none of the businesses were operating, and none of the businesses had employees. As a result of the applications, Henson received $18,000 in United States Treasury funds from the SBA.
Additionally, between April 30, 2020, and June 29, 2020, Henson submitted six PPP applications for her various businesses. One of these businesses, Nichelle Henson Campaign, served as an entity designed to fund Henson’s run for Baltimore City Council. However, on May 10, 2020, Henson submitted the application for the campaign, but she withdrew her candidacy back on November 19, 2019. Henson ultimately obtained $998,590 as a result of these six fraudulent applications.
Then on January 19, 2021, Henson submitted six more fraudulent PPP loan applications, this time to M&T Bank, for each of her six purported businesses. Each of these applications contained lies about the existence of each business, the number of their employees, and payroll paid.
In total, Henson obtained $1,692,840 in connection with her scheme to defraud. Henson used the PPP funds she received in multiple impermissible ways under the PPP, including for cosmetic surgery, extensive renovations to her home and a family member’s home, a year’s rent payment for her personal home, a year’s rent payment for a new business venture, and to fund other new business ventures. The business endeavors included a used-car dealership, which never opened, and creating a cryptocurrency called Subina Coin, to relatedly, fund an entity called the “Adageyhdi Indian Nation.”
This case is part of the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force, a Strike Force that is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information about 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.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Wenner, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Julie Jarman for her valuable assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Five Arrested for Conspiring to Launder Tens of Millions of Dollars in Illicit Cash ProceedsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Four Brazilian nationals made their initial appearances in federal court Wednesday after a grand jury returned an indictment charging multiple defendants for their roles in a conspiracy to launder tens of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds, including drug money.
According to court documents, Ygor Fokin Saviolli, 35; Gabriel Cezar Menezes, 29; Joao Andrade De Mello, 29; and Leandro De Avila Goncalves, 42 — all Brazilian nationals — and Omar Aliperti De Mello Correa, 34, were part of a sophisticated money laundering organization that operated throughout the U.S. and across multiple countries.
As alleged, the defendants served as facilitators and couriers who deposited large amounts of illicit cash, including drug proceeds, into financial institutions across the U.S. to conceal the source of the funds and return profits to, among others, the sources of drug supply. During the course of the conspiracy, the organization concealed more than $30 million in cash.
Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted, Saviolli, Menezes, Andrade De Mello, and De Avila Goncalves would also be subject to removal proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rochester Office, Homeland Security Investigation’s Miami and Brasilia Offices, and FBI Orlando.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys James Hepburn and Jessee Alexander-Hoeppner of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Gonzalez for the Western District of New York.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Miami Office, Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rochester Office, Homeland Security Investigation’s Miami and Brasilia Offices, and FBI Orlando with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Miami.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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-20545.
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Felon Who Had Been Found Unconscious on Sidewalk Sentenced for Possession of Semiautomatic PistolRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Andre Foster, 49, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 15 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a Glock 19 pistol that had been modified for fully automatic fire, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Foster pleaded guilty Oct. 24, 2025, before Judge Amy Berman Jackson to one of count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In addition to the 15- month prison sentence, Judge Berman Jackson ordered Forster to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Metropolitan Police officers and emergency workers were called April 15, 2025, to the 2500 block of Sheridan Road, SE, for a report of an unconcious man on the sidewalk.
As EMT personnel rendered aid. Foster regained consciousness and MPD officers observed a firearm protruding from Foster’s right-side jacket pocket. The firearm was a Glock19 9mm handgun loaded with a 17-round extended magazine containing 14 rounds of ammunition and one round in the chamber. The Glock also was modified with a “giggle switch” that allowed the firearm to function as a machine gun.
Foster previously had been convicted of attempted distribution of cocaine and sentenced in Superior Court to three-to-nine years in prison. Because of his conviction, he was prohibited from carrying any firearm.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Roman.
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Federal Government Seeks Further Review After Release of Convicted Murderer from Immigration CustodyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS — The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada will seek further legal action after a court ordered the release of a man convicted of murder and identified by the Department of Homeland Security as a member of the MS-13 gang. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II ordered the release over the government’s objection.
“Our office remains committed to protecting public safety and enforcing the law remain top priorities,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “In this matter, however, the outcome results in the release of a convicted murderer and known MS-13 gang member into the community, raising serious public-safety concerns. We are deeply troubled by the risks posed to the public and will continue to pursue all lawful avenues to address those concerns and safeguard the community.”
The individual has a final order of removal from the United States. Under federal law, people with final removal orders are required to remain in immigration custody for a set period of time so that removal can be carried out and to help protect public safety. The government maintains that releasing this individual conflicts with that law.
While the individual’s immigration case was ongoing, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declined to stop his removal and ordered that removal should proceed. That decision triggered the mandatory detention period required by federal immigration law.
In accordance with the Court’s Order, the individual was released on January 21, 2026. If the individual was not released from detention the federal government faced sanction by the Court, including being held in contempt for failing to follow the Court's Order.
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Former Physician Sentenced to over Seven Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Jesse Roger Armstrong, 35, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to ninety months in prison after previously pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “Our state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to identifying, investigating, and rooting out the scourge of exploitation and sexual abuse of children online, and my office will continue to back up those efforts with aggressive prosecutions of anyone found to be peddling in child sexual abuse material. Keeping our kids safe is the highest priority for my office, and it begins with sending predators like this defendant to prison.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant knowingly uploaded images of child pornography to the Internet while searching for additional child pornography. Detectives with the Gainesville Police Department also located additional files of child pornography and images of sexual bestiality on the defendant’s electronic devices at his residence. At the time of these offenses, Armstrong was completing his residency in the psychiatric division of a local hospital.
“Keeping our children safe online is a priority,” said Chief Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department. “We will continue to pursue anyone who chooses to prey on our children via the internet.”
“HSI is committed to protecting children from exploitation, especially when offenders are in trusted roles like physicians,” said Nick Ingegno, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for HSI in Tallahassee. “Abusing that trust is unacceptable, and we will continue working with our partners to hold these individuals accountable and safeguard our communities.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
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.
Florida Attorney’s Racketeering Conviction for Defrauding Nfl Players & Other Clients Affirmed by the Eleventh CircuitRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Phillip Timothy Howard, 64, of Tallahassee, Florida. Howard is serving a 14-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to racketeering (RICO) in 2023. The affirmance was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
United States Attorney Heekin said, “This defendant repeatedly violated the trust placed in him by his clients, enriching himself by defrauding them of millions of dollars, and continued to try to evade accountability for his crimes even after he was found guilty. As this appellate victory makes clear, my office not only zealously advocates for criminal fraud victims at trial, but also ensures our successful prosecutions stick and criminals are held fully accountable.”
Court documents reflect between December 2015 and January 2018, Howard, a Florida attorney, used his Tallahassee law firm Howard & Associates, P.A., to commit wire fraud and money laundering through a racketeering enterprise. Howard defrauded several of his clients, including National Football League players, third-party litigation lenders, and a university professor. In all, Howard fraudulently obtained more than $12 million from his victims.
Howard’s appellate attacks on the validity of his prior guilty plea, the total loss attributable to his fraud scheme, and the severity of his sentence were well-rebutted in briefs filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office defending the conviction and sentence. Judges on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals fully agreed with the positions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and affirmed the conviction and sentence in an unpublished opinion without requiring oral argument.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigations, with assistance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Assistant United States Attorney Jordane New handled the appeal before the Eleventh Circuit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen and former Assistant United States Attorney David P. Byron.
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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Executive Director of South L.A.-Based Charity Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging $23 Million Swindle of Homelessness FundsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Westwood man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with fraudulently obtaining $23 million in public money intended to combat homelessness and pocketing at least $10 million of it, including using it for a $7 million house in Westwood, $125,000 Range Rover, private school tuition for his children, private jet travel, and stays at luxury resorts.
Alexander Soofer, 42, is charged with wire fraud. He was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
“California is the poster child of rampant fraud, waste, and abuse of tax dollars,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The state has facilitated the spending of billions of dollars to combat homelessness, with little to show for it and almost no oversight. Thankfully, the federal government has begun auditing California’s spending and today’s is just one example of how fraudsters have swindled millions of dollars from taxpayers. This money should have gone to those in need, instead in lines the pockets of individuals subsidizing their lavish lifestyle.”
“Soofer allegedly prioritized his own greed over decency and respect for the laws of our country,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to investigating and holding accountable those, like Soofer, who we contend flagrantly disregarded our laws by seeking to enrich himself at the public’s expense.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Soofer is the executive director of Abundant Blessings, a Hyde Park-based charity. Through this charity, Soofer contracted with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to provide housing for people who were homeless or were at risk of becoming homeless. By July 2023, Soofer had multiple contracts with LAHSA to provide housing and supportive services to more than 600 homeless program participants at multiple sites across South Los Angeles.
In total, between 2018 and 2025, Soofer received more than $23 million in homeless housing funding. Of that, more than $5 million came directly from LAHSA and more than $17 million came through a downtown Los Angeles-based non-profit called Special Service for Groups Inc.
In some contracts, Soofer agreed to house participants at sites he managed. In other contracts, he committed to pay third parties, including hotels or motels, to provide this housing. And regardless of where participants were housed, Soofer committed to provide participants with three meals a day, which the contracts defined as meals that were healthy, balanced, and met participants’ nutritional needs.
But Soofer lied to LAHSA about how he was using the taxpayer money his charity received, falsely stating he used it exclusively to combat the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, when he was misappropriating millions of dollars for himself. He also lied about payments supposedly being made to third party vendors for homeless housing services and took steps to conceal that he was diverting the money to his personal bank accounts.
He also made it falsely appear he was leasing properties for homeless housing from third-party landlords at a market rate, when he was instead paying himself above market rate and again misappropriating money that could have been used to help alleviate the homeless housing crisis.
To cover up the fraud, Soofer fabricated fake and misleading invoices – at times stealing the names, addresses, and logos of real companies – to make it appear that the vendor and rent payments were legitimate.
When a LAHSA investigator asked Soofer if his charity’s board knew how he was spending money, he said they did, but the investigator later learned that the board was fake – some of the people did not exist, and others had never heard of Abundant Blessings or Soofer.
Soofer further failed to appropriately shelter and feed the homeless housing participants at his sites. After receiving hotline complaints and noticing discrepancies in Soofer’s billing and services, city and county investigators conducted site visits and found the only food items being served at these sites were things such as Ramen noodles, canned beans, and breakfast bars – which was in contrast to the three-meal-a-day commitment Soofer had made and for which the City of Los Angeles had paid.
Rather than providing the services for which he billed these public entities, Soofer pocketed at least $10 million. He used that public money for a down payment on his $7 million Westwood home, millions of dollars of upgrades to that home, private schooling for his children, lavish spending in Las Vegas, private jet travel, and stays at luxury resorts across the United States – from Hawaii to Florida. Soofer also appeared to use $475,000 to purchase a vacation property in Greece, sending this money to a Greek property developer.
“Alexander Soofer is alleged to have stolen millions of dollars designated to combat homelessness in Los Angeles,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “These funds were intended to support the city’s most vulnerable residents. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to pursuing those who exploit public programs for personal gain. Today’s action demonstrates our determination to hold accountable individuals who misuse taxpayer dollars for self-enrichment.”
“Soofer is charged with embezzling funds designated to provide services for homeless individuals – some of the most vulnerable, struggling members of our community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron McCullough with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG). “HUD-OIG remains committed to working alongside our partners on the Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Joint Task Force to aggressively pursue individuals who compromise the integrity of HUD programs and exploit communities in need.”
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
If convicted, Soofer would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kerry L. Quinn and Kevin B. Reidy of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.
Eastern District of Texas recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – Today the Eastern District of Texas 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.
“The premise of Operation Take Back America is protecting our Homeland, which is particularly fitting today as we recognize Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “There is no greater fight than this, but regardless of the month, from January 1st to December 31st every year, we will continue to seek justice for all victims of Human Trafficking.”
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 Eastern District of Texas has handled multiple cases involving Human Trafficking, including:
- Obtained convictions against sex traffickers who forced women to engage in commercial sex by means of force, including beatings, tasers, shock collars, frigid showers, unwanted tattoos, and acts of humiliation.
- Secured Seven Life sentences for a man who trafficked teenage girls, some as young as 13, for commercial sex
- Successfully prosecuted an individual for trafficking women across the country for prostitution and severely beating them when they attempted to leave
- Charged an individual with sex trafficking violations
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
Dominican National Living in Waterbury under False Identity Charged with Passport Fraud, Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian Wood, Special Agent in Charge, Diplomatic Security Service, New York Field Office, today announced that JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 46, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Waterbury, has been charged by indictment with passport fraud and identity theft offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, an individual who had been recently released from prison (the “victim”) applied for a Connecticut identification card at the Waterbury branch of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”). When processing the victim’s application, the DMV determined that there was already an active driver’s license for the victim that had been issued in 2001 and renewed multiple times. An investigation determined that Rodriguez was the unlawful holder of the driver’s license and had assumed the victim’s identity.
It is further alleged that on March 5, 2020, Rodriguez used the name, date of birth, and place of birth of the victim to apply for a U.S. passport in Waterbury. He received the passport and used it for travel and identification purposes.
Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on December 30, 2025, after he submitted the false passport to the U.S. Department of State and falsely represented himself as a U.S. citizen.
On January 13, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Rodriguez with one count of making a false statement in a passport application and one count of using a passport secured by a false statement, charges that carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count, and one count of aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years.
Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and the Waterbury Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
District Man Receives Sentence of 32 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing a 12-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Darran Joyner, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 32 years in prison for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl on multiple occasions, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Joyner was convicted by a Superior Court jury on July 8, 2025, on seven felony charges, including multiple counts of first- and second-degree child sexual abuse. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Todd Edelman ordered Joyner to serve 10 years of supervision. He also will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 27, 2023, the twelve-year-old victim was spending Memorial Day weekend with Joyner and Joyner’s girlfriend and slept in the bed with them. In the early morning of May 28, 2023, Joyner’s girlfriend pulled back the covers and saw that the Joyner’s hand was inside of the front of the victim’s pants. Later that night Joyner texted the victim, first asking her to lie about the sexual abuse, then asking the victim if she wanted him to touch her. Joyner raped the victim after sending the text messages. On May 29, the victim disclosed the abuse to her mother. Joyner’s DNA was on swabs collected during the victim’s sexual assault examination. The victim told the jury that the May incident was not the first time that Joyner had abused her, and that he had also raped her at his house, also located in Washington, D.C.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Victim Advocates Maria Sanchez-Garcia and Johnny Da Silva; Paralegals Nancy Murillo and Veronica Yale; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Folse and Richard Kelley, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
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District Man Charged with Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A complaint was unsealed today charging Angel Anthony Rios, 29, of the District of Columbia, with distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Those who exploit children will find no refuge,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will pursue swift and decisive prosecution of anyone involved in the creation, possession, or distribution of child sexual abuse material.”
According to court documents, starting on Dec. 18, 2025, Rios exchanged messages with another user on X regarding a variety of topics including politics. Rios ultimately stated that he has a sexual interest in children. He further stated that he communicated with the father of a three-year-old boy who sent Rios videos depicting his sexual abuse of his son. Rios distributed five videos depicting the abuse of the three-year-old son. During the course of his communications, Rios stated, “Kids are here to be used.”
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
This case is being investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Janani Iyengar.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Charges in a complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security Recognize National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) today observe National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and reaffirm 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.”
In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Section 6 of this order directed the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly establish HSTFs in every state nationwide. The HSTF objective is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) throughout the United States; dismantle cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks; end the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking, with a particular focus on such offenses involving children; and ensure the use of all available law enforcement tools to faithfully execute the immigration laws of the United States.
In January 2026, DHS and DOJ are surging resources to fight and raise awareness about human trafficking, including:
- Identifying ongoing investigations and prioritizing featured operations across 45 federal locations and 10 state locations with an emphasis on border states.
- Coordinating with FBI Human Trafficking Squads and multi-agency Human Trafficking Task Forces to conduct victim recovery.
- Partnering with AMTRAK and FAMS to increase law enforcement resources and distribute posters with QR codes for reporting human trafficking in all station bathrooms and trains.
- Running advertisements related to $250 million recovery from Backpage to distribute to victims and additional victim restitution efforts by DOL-OIG.
- Organizing Human Trafficking seminars and outreach events with DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking at high schools and colleges to highlight the role of HSTFs in addressing human trafficking.
On August 25, 2025, HSTF officially launched its effort to protect the Homeland with a September Surge encompassing 400 operations nationwide. In just 43 days, HSTF nationwide operations resulted in 3,266 arrests and seizures including:
- 1,041 Sinaloa members,
- 856 Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (“CJNG”) members,
- 641 MS-13 members,
- 456 Tren de Aragua members,
- 1,067 weapons
- More than $3,250,000 in currency
- Approximately 91 metric tons of narcotics
Since January 20, 2025, the Department of Justice has:
- Secured substantial sentences and landmark convictions against sex traffickers and labor traffickers who used violence, addictive drugs, and psychological coercion to exploit victims in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and beyond.
- Seized $15 billion from a wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy originating from a Cambodian forced labor scam center.
- Secured high-impact sex trafficking indictments in New York against an enterprise associated with the notorious Tren de Aragua Transnational Criminal Organization and in California against traffickers affiliated with local street gangs.
- Pursued extraditions of fugitive traffickers to permanently disrupt and dismantle transnational labor trafficking and sex trafficking enterprises
- Secured sizable restitution orders, including several over a million dollars, to aid victims in their recovery from the unspeakable losses they endured.
- Launched a Remission Portal for survivors of sex trafficking that was facilitated through Backpage or CityXGuide to seek compensation.
- Conducted nationwide crackdowns this month and during Operation Justice for All in August 2025.
- Streamlined and strengthened Joint Task Force Alpha efforts to combat combined human trafficking, human smuggling, and transnational organized crime threats by integrating the Department’s National Human Trafficking Coordinator and human trafficking prosecution experts into the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section; and
- Announced new grant funding opportunities to support victim services for the year ahead.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced January 20, 2026, to three years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Areion Marshaun Watson, 29, possessed a loaded pistol, which was recovered during a traffic stop. Watson fled on foot from the passenger’s seat during the stop. He was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was convicted of a felony, including a 2020 conviction for felon in possession of a firearm in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Watson will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.