Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
17 September 2026
Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Stephen Burks, 49, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 11, 2026, law enforcement officers responded to reports of a disturbance on North Kanawha Street in Beckley and encountered Burks. As part of his guilty plea, Burks admitted that he was intoxicated when officers encountered him and that he possessed a Smith & Wesson model Shield 9mm pistol that the officers found on his person during a search.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Burks knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for attempted first-degree murder, malicious wounding, wanton endangerment, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in Raleigh County Circuit Court on December 7, 2009.
Burks is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley Police Department.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-110.
###
Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Drug-Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man pled guilty in federal court to charges stemming from his role as a high-volume drug trafficker.
Rodrigo Lacayo, 48, is charged with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The charges are in connection with a multi-state, federal drug investigation.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Frank Saldana, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS); and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
According to court documents, in June 2025, the DEA ran an undercover drug operation to investigate Lacayo. During the undercover operation, Lacayo attempted to deliver money to an undercover officer (UC) for drugs previously provided to him. But then the UC informed Lacayo that they needed to meet for the delivery another time. In the meantime, the DEA obtained court authorization to track Lacayo’s cellular location. Through cellular tracking data, investigators identified Lacayo’s Northwest Baltimore residence and his vehicle.
On July 8, Lacayo’s cellular tracking revealed that he traveled to Houston, Texas, before traveling back to Maryland on July 10. Then on July 11, the DEA coordinated with the MCPD to conduct a traffic stop of Lacayo’s vehicle. MCPD officers later found Lacayo driving his vehicle in Bethesda, Maryland. Officers then initiated a traffic stop for suspended tags.
Law enforcement removed Lacayo from the vehicle before a K-9 officer scanned it for the presence of narcotics. The K-9 alerted officers of drugs in the vehicle which led to a search. Officers then discovered 12 kilograms of cocaine concealed in three car batteries inside the trunk and three cellular phones.
After the traffic stop, investigators obtained a search warrant for Lacayo’s residence. During the search of the residence, investigators recovered a hydraulic press, approximately 285 grams of Psilocin mushrooms, and a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with six rounds of ammunition in Lacayo’s bedroom closet. Lacayo is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions.
Investigators also successfully downloaded one of Lacayo’s phones and found additional evidence of drug trafficking. Law enforcement found photos of packaged kilogram quantities of drugs, large amounts of cash, screenshots of six-figure wire transfers, and voice memos along with WhatsApp messages discussing drug trafficking on the cellphone.
Lacayo faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances along with a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson set sentencing for Thursday, January 28, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, BCPD, BPD, DPSCS, and MCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Miner who is prosecuting this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
# # #
Avionics company owner sentenced to prison for thwarting U.S. Customs lawsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – A Kansas businessman was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violating United States customs laws by selling advanced aviation technology to Russian end users.
According to court documents, Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 63, of Lawrence, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering.
Buyanovsky is the former president and owner of KanRus Trading Company, a Kansas-based avionics enterprise. As part of his plea agreement, Buyanovsky consented to the forfeiture of over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and accessories and a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment.After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government tightened export controls concerning Russia. Buyanovsky and KanRus vice president Douglas Edward Robertson, 59, of Olathe conspired to continue to purchase, sell, and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Robertson pleaded guilty to export control and money laundering violations and was sentenced to 32 months in prison.
“Congress put trade restrictions in place to discourage Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. The defendants ignored those laws and saw the war not as a humanitarian crisis, but as a business opportunity to boost their profits,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
“The sentencing of Mr. Buyanovsky marks the final chapter of an investigation that exposed a deliberate conspiracy to circumvent U.S. export-control laws and facilitate the unlawful transfer of advanced aviation technology to Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. This case underscores the FBI’s steadfast commitment to protecting the integrity of our nation’s export-control system and holding accountable those who seek to undermine it. Our message is clear: The FBI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement and government partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt any efforts to exploit our laws,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.
A third defendant, Oleg Chistyakov, a/k/a Olegs Čitsjakovs, 57, of the Republic of Latvia, acted as a broker for KanRus. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to his part in the conspiracy.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement investigated the case. The Latvian authorities assisted in the investigation while U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas as well as Adam Barry, a former trial attorney of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.
###
Armed Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Matthew Olando Allen, 35, of Gastonia, N.C., was sentenced today to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for selling fentanyl and firearms, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to court records and proceedings, law enforcement initiated an investigation into Allen for distributing fentanyl in and around Cleveland County. Between February and April 2024, Allen sold fentanyl-laced pills to a confidential informant working with law enforcement. During one drug transaction, Allen sold the confidential informant 14 fentanyl pills and a Bryco Arms Jennings firearm. In April 2024, Shelby Police Department officers stopped Allen’s vehicle for a traffic violation. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered from Allen a Canik 9mm pistol. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement found a Ruger SR22 firearm and more fentanyl pills.
In February 2026, Allen pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. e i
This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Shelby Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Arizona woman, Dallas man receive lengthy federal prison sentences as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation into deadly fentanyl overdose in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – An Arizona woman and a Dallas man have been sentenced to federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation into a deadly fentanyl overdose in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Pamela Esquivias, also known as Azalea, 25, of Maricopa, Arizona, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on September 17, 2026.
Aaron Jay Perez, 29, of Dallas, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by Judge Mazzant on September 17, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in August 2023, a 16-year-old girl overdosed and died in Flower Mound after ingesting counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl. A law enforcement investigation into the death identified Esquivias as a fentanyl source of supply, distributing hundreds of thousands of blue M-30 fentanyl tablets from Arizona to multiple states, including Texas. The investigation also revealed Perez as a local distributor in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, responsible for trafficking not only fentanyl, but large quantities of marijuana and cocaine.
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 Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
###
Arizona Addiction Treatment Clinic Owner Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Leadership Role in $69M Medicaid Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Phoenix woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison in connection with her role in fraudulently billing Arizona’s Medicaid agency more than $69 million in less than one year for addiction treatment therapy. Many of the patients the defendant used to fuel her scheme were Native Americans covered by Arizona Medicaid under a specific program that reimbursed at higher rates than other Medicaid programs. In addition to the prison sentence, the defendant was ordered to pay almost $55 million in restitution, and to forfeit almost $9.5 million in fraud proceeds seized from seven bank accounts she controlled and almost $7 million in real estate properties.
“The Fraud Division is determined to hold accountable individuals who exploit the Medicaid system and Native American health care programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This sentence sends a clear message — if you take advantage of vulnerable populations to steal from the American taxpayer, you will pay the price.”
“Ms. Anagho’s scheme manipulated a program that was intended to help Native Americans in Arizona,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “The fourteen-year sentence that she received is a sign of how serious and damaging health care fraud is to our society, and how important it is that we stop individuals who undermine the value of these programs.”
“The FBI will investigate and hold those who target, defraud, and exploit our healthcare programs accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Phoenix Field Office “We will continue to work with our partners to stop imposters like Ms. Anagho in their tracks and bring them to justice.”
“Medicaid funds exist to support some of our nation’s most vulnerable individuals. Exploiting this program for personal gain steals taxpayer dollars and undermines a critical safety net relied on by millions,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who defraud Medicaid and ensure they are held fully accountable.”
According to court documents, Rita Ntusa Anagho, 54, of San Tan Valley, Arizona, owned and operated Tusa Integrated Clinic, LLC (Tusa), an addiction treatment center that fraudulently billed the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) over $69 million from approximately May 2022 through March 2023. AHCCCS paid Tusa approximately $54.9 million based on these false and fraudulent claims.
Anagho, a licensed nurse practitioner, coordinated and carried out this massive health care fraud scheme by exploiting vulnerable substance abuse treatment patients. Anagho enrolled patients whose health care coverage was provided by the AHCCCS in her fraudulent clinic, Tusa. Indeed, Anagho and her co-conspirators deliberately targeted AHCCCS patients who were covered under the American Indian Health Care Program (AIHP) fee-for-service plan available to Native Americans. Anagho and her co-conspirators often deliberately sought such patients because the AIHP provided higher reimbursement rates than other AHCCCS health care plans. Anagho orchestrated this scheme to defraud AHCCCS by submitting false claims for purported addiction treatment services that were either not provided at all or not provided as billed. In addition, Anagho and her co-conspirators paid illegal kickbacks to owners of numerous area sober homes for patients who were referred to her clinic. Anagho and others falsified the treatment notes and records related to the purported addiction treatment services to conceal the scheme. Anagho then laundered the proceeds of her fraud and obstructed the investigation of her crimes by instructing her former employees to create fake medical records when Tusa received a subpoena for documents.
In May 2025, Anagho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.
FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant Deputy Chief James V. Hayes and Trial Attorney Sarah Edwards of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph F. Bozdech for the District of Arizona assisted with forfeiture matters.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Alien Charged with Illegally Voting in Federal Election and Making False Statements While Applying for U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County woman was charged in a criminal complaint with illegally voting in a federal election and making false statements while applying for United States citizenship, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
According to the criminal complaint, Sanata Coulibaly, 64, of Hudson County was a non-citizen when she registered to vote via a paper application at the Office of the Hudson County Superintendent of Elections. On her voter registration form she falsely certified and attested that she was a United States citizen. In order to register, and to vote in federal elections, a person must be a United States citizen.
According to the criminal complaint, Coulibaly cast ballots in the November 2018 mid-term election, the July 2020 primary election, the November 2020 general election, and the 2024 general election. Each of those elections included candidates who were vying for election to federal offices. At the time she cast her ballots, Coulibaly, who entered the United States from Senegal on a B-1 nonimmigration visa, was not a United States citizen and was therefore not authorized to vote in federal elections.
The criminal complaint also alleges that after illegally voting in federal elections in 2018 and 2020, the defendant applied in October 2024 to become a United States citizen by submitting an application for naturalization (an “N-400”). An N-400 requires the applicant to swear under penalty of perjury that the information provided in the application is complete, true, and correct. In her N-400 application, the defendant falsely claimed that she had never registered to vote or voted in any federal elections.
Coulibaly was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 611, and making false statements while applying for United States citizenship, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1425(a). She had her initial appearance on September 17, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court. If convicted of making false statements while applying for United States citizenship, Coulibaly faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. If convicted of voting by an illegal alien, Coulibaly faces a maximum sentence of 1 year’s imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy; and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the investigation.
The case was brought under the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force, a coalition of federal law enforcement partners focused on preserving and protecting the integrity of elections conducted in the District of New Jersey.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael K. O’Leary of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
coulibaly.complaint.pdfAlabama Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Sex Trafficking and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — An Alabama man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rockford to sex trafficking and child pornography charges.
JAMES PRICE, 39, of Bay Minette, Ala., admitted in plea declaration on Wednesday that he traveled to Illinois to meet a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct. Price also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, causing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, and producing, transporting, and receiving child pornography.
Price pleaded guilty in the middle of his trial in federal court in Rockford. A jury was selected on Monday, and testimony began on Tuesday. Price pleaded guilty after multiple government witnesses had testified, including the minor victim, who courageously described her ordeals for the jury.
The convictions are punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of life. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston set sentencing for Jan. 25, 2027.
The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office. The South Beloit, Ill. Police Department, Roscoe, Ill. Police Department, and Rockton, Ill. Police Department provided valuable assistance during the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ladd and Taylor N. Burnett.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Addiction Treatment Clinic Owner Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for $69 Million Medicaid Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Rita Ntusa Anagho, 54, of San Tan Valley, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday to 14 years in prison for her role in fraudulently billing Arizona’s Medicaid agency more than $69 million in less than one year for addiction treatment therapy. Many of the patients that Anagho used to fuel her scheme were Native Americans covered by Arizona Medicaid under a specific program that reimbursed at higher rates than other Medicaid programs.
In addition to the prison sentence, Anagho was ordered to pay almost $55 million in restitution, and to forfeit almost $9.5 million in fraud proceeds seized from seven bank accounts she controlled and almost $7 million in real estate properties.
“Ms. Anagho’s scheme manipulated a program that was intended to help Native Americans in Arizona,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The fourteen-year sentence that she received is a sign of how serious and damaging health care fraud is to our society, and how important it is that we stop individuals who undermine the value of these programs.”
“The Fraud Division is determined to hold accountable individuals who exploit the Medicaid system and Native American health care programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This sentence sends a clear message—if you take advantage of vulnerable populations to steal from the American taxpayer, you will pay the price.”
According to court documents, Anagho owned and operated Tusa Integrated Clinic, LLC (Tusa), an addiction treatment center that fraudulently billed the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) over $69 million from approximately May 2022 through March 2023. AHCCCS paid Tusa approximately $54.9 million based on these false and fraudulent claims.
Anagho, a licensed nurse practitioner, coordinated and carried out this massive health care fraud scheme by exploiting vulnerable substance abuse treatment patients. Anagho enrolled patients whose health care coverage was provided by the AHCCCS in her clinic, specifically targeting those who were covered under the American Indian Health Care Program (AIHP) fee-for-service plan available to Native Americans. Anagho and her co-conspirators often deliberately sought such patients because the AIHP provided higher reimbursement rates than other AHCCCS health care plans. Anagho orchestrated this scheme to defraud AHCCCS by submitting false claims for purported addiction treatment services that were either not provided at all or not provided as billed.
Anagho and her co-conspirators also paid illegal kickbacks to owners of local sober homes for patients who were referred to her clinic. Anagho and others falsified the treatment notes and records related to the purported addiction treatment services to conceal the scheme. Anagho then laundered the proceeds of her fraud and obstructed the investigation of her crimes by instructing her former employees to create fake medical records when Tusa received a subpoena for documents.
In May 2025, Anagho pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.
FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case and received substantial assistance from the AHCCCS Office of Inspector General.
Assistant Deputy Chief James V. Hayes and Trial Attorney Sarah Edwards of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph F. Bozdech for the District of Arizona assisted with forfeiture matters.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-01044-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-160_Anagho# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Adair County Residents Plead Guilty to Child Neglect in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gary Logan Pruitt, age 24, and Jade Larae Duncan, a/k/a Jade Larae Nakedhead, age 29, of Rocky Mountain, Oklahoma, each entered guilty pleas to one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country, punishable by a term of up to life imprisonment.
The Indictment alleged that between on or about April 8, 2025, and on or about April 22, 2025, Pruitt and Duncan willfully and maliciously failed and omitted to provide supervision to protect from harm or threatened harm to a child under the age of eighteen by failing to seek medical care for the victim while the defendants were responsible for the victim’s health, safety, and welfare.
The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, 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.
Defendants will remain out on bond with conditions pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
17 Individuals Charged with Drug Trafficking as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) InitiativeRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 1, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 17 individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, announced Héctor Ramírez Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the collaboration of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
“Drugs destroy lives, fracture families, fuel violence and are a scourge in our communities, said Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez-Carbó. “This drug trafficking organization was using the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to smuggle cocaine from Puerto Rico to several destinations throughout the continental United States. Today, 17 organizers, recruiters and mules who made their distribution network possible will face the consequences for their criminal actions.”
“To those who believe they can use our airports and postal systems to traffic illegal substances: let these arrests be a warning. We are watching, and we are working tirelessly to identify, disrupt, and dismantle your operations,” said Yariel Ramos, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI.
The indictment alleges that from November 2022, the defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distributed 5 kilograms or more of cocaine for significant financial gain and profit. These individuals were transporting the narcotics via the airport and by mail to the continental United States using the U.S. Postal Service.
The defendants charged in the indictment are:
[1] Francisco J. Sánchez-Roque, a.k.a. “Chuleta”
[2] John O. Espinal-Zorrilla, a.k.a. “Taker”
[3] Humberto Mercedes-Ruiz, a.k.a. “Brujo”
[4] Michael J. Camacho-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Tiza/Chuky”
[5] Emanuel Miranda-Calvo, a.k.a. “Shelby”
[6] Kidanny J. Maysonet-Morales, a.k.a. “KJ/Kid/Kajoota”
[7] Luis D. Ramos-Ortiz, a.k.a. “PO/Podri”
[8] Thalia González-Van Tull
[9] Wilfredo Maldonado-De Jesús, a.k.a. “Marzan”
[10] Héctor I. López-Franceschi, a.k.a. “Ivancito/Ricitos”
[11] Johhy J. Figueroa-Mangual, a.k.a. “Jotta-Jotta”
[12] Erika M. Fernández-Miranda
[13] Christian J. Rivera-Caraballo
[14] Victor Pérez-Medina
[15] Bryan A. Serrano-Pérez
[16] Héctor R. Ortiz-Torres
[17] Jeremy Torres-Charbonier
If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI was in charge of the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime Unit María L. Montañez-Concepción is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
16 September 2026
Wilmington Man Arrested for Possession of More Than 400 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Wilmington man was arrested yesterday, September 15, 2026, on charges of possessing with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine.
On May 1, 2026, the New Castle County Police Department (NCCPD) and the FBI executed a search warrant at the apartment of Burtran Marshall, 49. When NCCPD officers entered the residence, Marshall jumped from a third-floor window, after which he was taken into custody. Inside the apartment, law enforcement located approximately 840 grams of fentanyl, around 450 grams of cocaine, marijuana, cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
The indictment charges Marshall with knowingly possessing with the intent to distribute more than 400 grams of a mixture and substance of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A), and knowingly possessing with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). The indictment further alleges that Marshall has two prior federal convictions for “serious drug felonies” as defined by 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A). Due to that alleged criminal history, if convicted of the instant offense, Marshall faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace for the District of Delaware and FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul made the announcement. The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force and New Castle County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Corey J. Hauser are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 26-cr-133-UNA.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Venezuelan National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced for Damaging Government VehicleRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Luis Nino-Moncada, 33, a Venezuelan national unlawfully residing in the United States, was sentenced today to the time he has served in custody since January 2026, approximately nine months, and one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $24,413 in restitution for damage to a government vehicle. Nino-Moncada will be deported.
According to court documents, Nino-Moncada entered the United States illegally around October 2022. He was ordered to appear at a removal hearing in Denver, Colorado, on November 21, 2024. Nino-Moncada failed to appear at the hearing and an immigration judge ordered his removal from the United States.
On January 8, 2026, Nino-Moncada drove a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck with a female passenger into the parking lot of Adventist Health Portland. After Nino-Moncada parked, a Border Patrol agent parked his government vehicle behind the truck. Border Patrol agents exited their vehicles and surrounded the truck to arrest Nino-Moncada and the passenger because they were unlawfully in the country and eligible for removal. The female passenger was the primary target due to ties to a trans-national gang Tren de Aragua’s prostitution ring. Nino-Moncada, believing the agents were “ICE” agents, refused to comply with their lawful commands to exit the vehicle. Nino-Moncada instead forcefully drove the truck backwards, crashing into the government car. He then lurched his truck forward into the path of an officer and reversed again, severely damaging the law enforcement vehicle, before fleeing the scene.
As part of his plea agreement, Nino-Moncada admitted that his conduct placed others at risk of serious bodily injury and that he was conscious of or recklessly disregarded that risk. It was only after defendant struck the government car twice, within just a few feet of the officers’ positions, and with one officer in the path of the truck, that a government officer fired two shots at defendant. The car was declared a total loss, and defendant, as part of his plea agreement, agreed to pay restitution of over $24,000.
On July 28, 2026, Nino-Moncada pleaded guilty to the felony charge of depredation of federal property. As part of his plea agreement Nino-Moncada admitted he is subject to an Order of Removal and agrees not to contest his removal or file a habeas petition for release from immigration custody.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations. The United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon Appreciates Law Enforcement Partners in LEAP AwardsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Today, United States Attorney Scott E. Bradford presented awards to the Law Enforcement members who have supported cases and the Oregon community in 2025.
Today’s Law Enforcement and Agency Partner (LEAP) Awards recognize our partners in this work. It is due to the hard work of our law enforcement agencies in Oregon that we are able to bring charges, hold criminals accountable, and protect our communities. The officers and agents highlighted at the event are being honored for cases that include human trafficking, crimes against children, financial crimes, drug distribution resulting in death, and gang violence. These are crimes that harm not only the direct victims but our community as a whole.
“For those we honor today, this is a calling, not a profession or a job. They have devoted their lives and have sacrificed time with family and friends to protect our communities. The pursuit of justice is not confined to ordinary hours, and our work would be impossible without their steadfast commitment. The strength and success of our cases rests on the rigor and integrity of their investigations, and we extend our profound gratitude to our law enforcement partners whose unwavering service allows us to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect the rights of all citizens,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA-OIG in Surge Takedown Exceeding $245M in COVID-era Loan FraudRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has announced three cases that were part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
From June 12 to Sept. 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants and reaching approximately $245 million intended loss to American taxpayers.
“Unfortunately, many individuals saw the economic lifelines meant to help our small businesses as their chance for a cash grab,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Those who lie, deceive, and con their way into obtaining stimulus funds for their personal benefit will be held accountable, and we owe it to every taxpayer to aggressively prosecute these shameless fraudsters.”
“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”
“This announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”
In the Northern District of Ohio in July, Travius Holloway, 36, of Richmond Heights, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He obtained a fraudulent PPP loan for his production company in the amount of $121,865, along with $370,982 worth of fraudulent pandemic-era unemployment benefits, for a total intended loss of approximately $494,847. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 20 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A previously announced case in July charged a Lorain County mother and her two sons with conspiracy to defraud the IRS and pandemic-era programs of more than $5 million, including approximately $337,645 in fraudulent PPP loans. In August, Ralph Faulkner, 46, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was charged with obtaining multiple fraudulent PPP and Economic Injury Disaster loans for a purported vodka business. He has since pleaded guilty to causing a loss of approximately $485,541. He faces up to 20 years in prison. A sentencing date is yet to be set.
These cases are being investigated by:
- U.S. Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General
- Small Business Administration-Office of the Inspector General
- IRS-Criminal Investigations
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service
- FBI Cleveland Division
Assistant United States Attorneys Brenna Fasko, Stephanie Wojtasik, and Erica Barnhill are leading the prosecutions for the Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment, information, or a complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Two Defendants Employed at L.A.-Area Homeless Nonprofits Arrested on Federal Charges Alleging Misuse of Millions of Taxpayer DollarsRead the Press Release
Law enforcement today arrested two defendants, out of three total, who have been charged in separate federal homelessness corruption and fraud cases, including a founder of a Culver City, California,-based nonprofit who allegedly misappropriated more than $7.5 million in taxpayer funds, and used this money for commercial real estate and to finance the construction of a nightclub and adjacent bingo hall.
Today’s enforcement action is the latest effort by the Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force to investigate, combat, and prosecute fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption involving funds allocated toward the eradication of homelessness within the seven-county jurisdiction of the Central District of California: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
“Today the Department of Justice, with the full force of the federal government, is announcing charges in a major fraud takedown targeting schemes that stole millions from programs meant to house California’s homeless,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “As alleged, Michael Young, through Home at Last, received more than $100 million in taxpayer funds and misappropriated more than $12 million, diverting that money into shell companies, real estate, and even a nightclub and bingo hall. That scheme is now halted in its tracks. My message to every fraudster who steals from the vulnerable is clear: We will track you down, bring charges where the evidence leads, and work relentlessly to reclaim every taxpayer dollar you stole.”
“These defendants are accused of systematically diverting over $12 million in taxpayer funds for personal gain – robbing hardworking American citizens and directly hurting the people those funds are intended to support,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and our interagency partners, fraud no longer has a safe haven in America. This FBI will act to hold those responsible accountable for their fraud – and today’s arrests demonstrate our continued commitment to protecting every dollar of taxpayer resources and ensuring that public funds are used exactly as intended.”
“Today’s arrests mark a major success for our Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force and this Administration’s commitment to protecting taxpayers,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “The scale and brazenness of these fraudsters expose a profound failure by the State of California and Los Angeles County to safeguard public funds. Millions intended to house the homeless allegedly financed private real estate, a nightclub, a bingo hall, and personal expenses. Taxpayers deserve accountability. We will follow the money, expose the corruption, and prosecute those who exploit the American people for personal gain.”
“Today’s actions reflect our commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring accountability of public funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The evidence uncovered by IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners reveals a deliberate scheme to defraud government programs designed to support vulnerable community members who are experiencing homelessness. We will continue to pursue those who steal from the public and hold them accountable.”
“Stealing from programs meant to feed, shelter, and support people experiencing homelessness isn’t just a financial crime – it’s an attack on the most vulnerable communities provided for by HUD programs,” said Acting Inspector General Brian D. Harrison of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG). “HUD-OIG is steadfast in pursuing those who exploit federal housing programs, and this case underscores the strength of our partnerships with law enforcement and prosecutors. Together, we protect taxpayer dollars and deliver justice for victims.”
The two defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
The three new criminal cases being announced today are described below, as well as a guilty plea in a previously charged case:
United States v. Young
Michael Young, 46, of Baldwin Hills, a founder of the Culver City-based nonprofit Home At Last (HAL), was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging he engaged in a years-long, complex scheme to defraud taxpayers and public entities providing funding for homeless housing. Some of the affected programs were administered by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the lead agency that coordinates housing and social services for the homeless in Los Angeles County.
Young is charged with wire fraud, a felony that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, Young used a web of shell corporations and fraudulent billing practices to misappropriate millions of dollars in taxpayer funds earmarked for homeless housing, including through programs administered by LAHSA.
Among other gross misuses of taxpayer money, Young spent more than $1 million to open and operate a high-end restaurant and nightclub in Inglewood called Six Seven Five Lounge.
Through numerous contracts with LAHSA and other public entities, Young received more than $118 million in public funds from LAHSA, the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. LAHSA alone paid HAL over $75 million for homeless housing services. Young allegedly used a sham vendor fraud to misappropriate more than $7.5 million of these funds.
Young lied repeatedly during the fraud, according to allegations in the complaint, claiming funds would be used for homeless housing or for vendors providing services for homeless housing, when he diverted large amounts of taxpayer money for personal use and unrelated businesses. He created sham vendors to hide self-dealing transactions, submitting fake bids, forged signatures, and fraudulent invoices to make it appear the sham vendors were legitimate, third-party companies, offering fair market services, when in reality, the vendors had no employees, no locations, no legitimate operations, and existed only to funnel public money back to Young.
Young allegedly controlled the sham vendors’ bank accounts and used millions in taxpayer funds for his personal enrichment, including spending millions for his lounge, luxury vacations, vintage car restorations, and commercial properties unrelated to homeless housing.
In June 2026, LAHSA cancelled its contracts with HAL.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kerry L. Quinn, Sarah E. Spielberger, and James C. Hughes (Major Frauds Section), and Tara Vavere (Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section) for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.
United States v. Mitchell
Donye Mitchell, 55, also known as “Danya Mitchell,” of Orange, the CEO of a Los Angeles-based homelessness nonprofit, is charged in a federal criminal complaint alleging he was fraudulently awarded more than $1.2 million in grant money from a Los Angeles County-funded nonprofit.
Mitchell is charged with wire fraud, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He is considered a fugitive.
According to the complaint, Mitchell is the CEO and executive director of The Big Blue Umbrella (BBU), a Los Angeles-based nonprofit. In January 2024, Mitchell allegedly applied for over $9 million in grant money – and several months later was awarded over $1.2 million – from a separate nonprofit funded by the County of Los Angeles called Epidaurus, which does business as Amity Foundation, to provide housing and mental health services to vulnerable people.
The complaint alleges that Mitchell falsely claimed to Amity that BBU was a major homeless housing provider and misrepresented its work with Special Service for Groups (SSG), through its HOPICS division, a nonprofit administering large amounts of LAHSA funds, despite having no contract and previously displacing SSG clients by failing to pay rent.
After receiving grant funds from Amity Foundation, Mitchell allegedly lied about staffing and spending, instead using the money for personal expenses including inflated salary payments, paying his own bail bond costs, credit card debt, family transfers, rent, and PlayStation charges.
In May 2025, after Amity had disbursed approximately $315,000, it terminated BBU’s contract over concerns that Mitchell was misrepresenting his spending and failing to meet agreed-upon milestones.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Spielberger and Kerry L. Quinn (Major Frauds Section) and Juan M. Rodriguez (Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section) for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.
United States v. Malone
Lakiya Malone, 48, of South Los Angeles and an employee of SSG, was arrested on a 21-count federal indictment accusing her of taking more than $180,000 in bribes and kickbacks from Alexander Soofer, the executive director of the nonprofit Abundant Blessings, who is separately charged and has agreed to plead guilty.
In exchange for the bribes and kickbacks, Malone allegedly provided priority referrals of homeless housing participants, including “ghost” participants who never lived at the sites.
Malone’s role at SSG involved referring homeless individuals to housing sites funded by HUD, LAHSA, and the City and County of Los Angeles. According to the indictment, Soofer paid her through checks made out to her and an entity she controlled, Grateful Hearts Realty & Consulting, disguising the payments as consulting fees. In reality, the payments were tied to the number of referrals Malone sent and to “ghost clients” whose files she helped fabricate with fake welcome letters, forged sign in sheets, and falsified eligibility forms.
Soofer allegedly received more than $17 million from SSG during the scheme, inflated substantially by these fraudulent referrals. Malone faces up to 20 years in prison per wire fraud count, 10 years per bribery count, and five years on the conspiracy charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kerry L. Quinn (Major Frauds Section) and Juan M. Rodriguez (Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section) for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.
United States v. Soofer – Guilty Plea
Relatedly, Soofer has agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Soofer admitted in a plea agreement filed today to his role in the bribery scheme with Malone.
He further admitted that he obtained $23 million in public money intended to combat homelessness, at least some of which he admits he obtained through fraud, pocketing at least $2 million in taxpayer money for his own personal enrichment and for businesses unrelated to homeless housing.
Soofer has agreed to forfeit his ill-gotten gains to the U.S. government and is expected to plead guilty to the felony charges in the coming weeks.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kerry L. Quinn (Major Frauds Section), Juan M. Rodriguez (Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section), and Mariam Kaloustian and Thi Ho (Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section) for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and HUD-OIG are investigating these cases.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tucson Man Charged with Theft of Deceased Mother's Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Earlier this month, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an indictment against Ruffin Alford III, 48, of Tucson, Arizona, for Theft of Government Money. Alford is scheduled to appear in federal court on Sep. 25.
The indictment alleges that between October 2020 and August 2025, Alford III retained $104,013 in Social Security benefits issued to his deceased mother’s bank account.
A conviction for Theft of Government Money carries a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corey Marasco and Mary Sue Feldmeier, District of Arizona, Tucson, are handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-04592-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-159_Alford# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
To’Hajiilee Man Charged for Fatal 2021 BeatingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A To’Hajiilee man has been charged in a federal indictment alleging he beat a woman to death.
According to court documents, on September 17, 2021, Richard Tom, Jr., 37, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly beat Jane Doe to death.
Tom is charged with second degree murder and will remain in third party custody pending trial which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Tom faces up to life in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the To’Hajiilee Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tallahassee Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft of MailRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Napeaches Shouetta Blair, 43, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of theft of mail by postal employee. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens should be able to trust that the mail they deposit with the U.S. Postal Service will be delivered quickly, securely, and efficiently, but this defendant’s reprehensible conduct violated that public trust and victimized numerous people as she enriched herself. Thanks to the outstanding investigative work by the USPS Inspector General and FDLE, and this successful prosecution by my office, we will ensure she is held fully accountable for her crimes.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant has been a United States Postal Service employee for approximately eight years. An investigation revealed that the defendant had stolen numerous gift cards from outgoing mail in her capacity as a Postal employee.
In December 2025, the defendant intercepted two envelopes containing gift cards while at work. The defendant removed the gift cards from the outgoing mail and then proceeded to use them at a store in Tallahassee and at a gas station in Quincy, Florida. Later, in July 2026, law enforcement observed the defendant open a letter, put $1,000 in her pocket, and placed the empty envelope in an outgoing mail tub. The defendant was placed under arrest, and law enforcement found the stolen $1,000 in the defendant’s pocket. Following the defendant’s arrest, law enforcement conducted a search of her vehicle. Numerous gift cards were recovered. According to court records, law enforcement successfully identified several victims who had sent the gift cards before their mail was intercepted by the defendant. The defendant was also captured on security footage at various locations using the stolen gift cards while still dressed in her Postal employee uniform.
Blair faces up to five years in prison for each count of theft of mail by a postal employee.
The case was jointly investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Emma Schwan is prosecuting the case.
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 available 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.
Takedown Dismantles Methamphetamine Conversion Lab; Three ArrestedRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Three individuals were charged today following a multi‑agency investigation that dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine conversion laboratory in Terra Bella in Tulare County, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Jose Diarte-Perez, 46, and Carlos Beltran-Ochoa, 27, both from Mexico and illegally residing in Terra Bella, are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and traffic methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Lamberto Elorza-Chavez, 39, of Mexico, illegally residing in Terra Bella, is charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Sept. 11, 2026, agents executed a search warrant at a residence in Terra Bella. The investigative team encountered the three defendants and arrested them. During the search, the investigative team located cannisters of acetone, boxes of muriatic acid, propane tanks, blue 50-gallon drums, multiple coolers, and two large freezers. All of these items were being used to form a methamphetamine conversion laboratory. In all, they seized approximately 100 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, hundreds of gallons of methamphetamine in solution, approximately $600,000, and six firearms.
The Stanislaus County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the Kern County HIDTA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlyn Tobin is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine, the defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years and up to life in prison, and a fine up to $10 million. If convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, the defendants face minimum sentences of five years, consecutively, and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine up to $250,000. If convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, Elorza Chavez faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Photograph of igloos with liquid methamphetamine
Photograph of large tubs lined with trash bags containing methamphetamine residue
Photograph of stock pot containing methamphetamine residue
Photograph of IBC container containing methamphetamine in liquid form
Photograph of some U.S. currency found in home
Photographs of 50 gallon drums, propane tanks, stock pots, coolers, and acetone barrels, all of which are used to convert methamphetamine
Photograph of buckets, acetone buckets and coolers, all of which are used to convert methamphetamineStamford Man Receives Effective Sentence of More Than 18 Years in Prison for Role in Southwestern Connecticut Drug RingRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAMION BAKER, also known as “Ray Ray,” 46, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 162 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics in southwestern Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Rodney Canada as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and PCP in Stamford and elsewhere in southwestern Connecticut. An investigation in 2024, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Canada and others orchestrated the street level distribution of narcotics through other members of the conspiracy. Investigators intercepted more than 5000 text messages and calls in which Canada coordinated his drug trafficking activities.
Baker and Canada were close associates who conspired to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine, and PCP. Baker stored and packaged drugs at his Stamford residence on Hoyt Street, and also paid another individual to store drugs at their residence.
Baker, Canada, and other members of the conspiracy were arrested on May 14, 2024. On that date, investigators conducted court-authorized searches at locations in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Darien, and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine, nearly 400 grams of raw fentanyl, more than 500 bags of fentanyl, five firearms, a bulletproof vest, and seven vehicles.
A search of Baker’s residence revealed more than 300 grams of cocaine, a distribution quantity of fentanyl, a .38 caliber revolver, and $4,543 in cash.
At the time of Baker’s federal arrest he had been released on bond and awaiting sentencing in three state robbery cases. In August 2024, Baker was sentenced in state court to an effective sentence of 10 years of imprisonment for the three robberies.
Baker’s criminal history also includes state convictions for robbery and assault, and a federal crack cocaine trafficking conviction in 2010.
On December 17, 2025, Baker pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Judge Shea ordered a portion of Baker’s federal sentence to be served consecutively to his state sentences, giving Baker a total effective federal sentence of approximately 222 months of imprisonment.
Canada pleaded guilty and, on December 15, 2025, was sentenced to 110 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Danbury, and Darien Police Departments. The DEA HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Stolfi Collins and Geoffrey M. Stone.
St. Louis County Felon Admits Being Caught with Guns in Stolen Car After Shootout, ChaseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from Berkeley, Missouri on Tuesday admitted being caught with two guns in a stolen car after a shootout and police chase last year.
Ja’Lon Pittman, 22, of Berkeley, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted being caught with a stolen AK-style pistol and a Glock pistol on July 28, 2025. Earlier that day, a man told the Columbia, Missouri police that Pittman had taken his Chrysler 300 without his permission, and possibly his watch and gun. The victim told officers that he located Pittman and during a confrontation, the two exchanged gunfire. Police notified the Missouri State Highway Patrol that Pittman may be heading to the St. Louis area, and troopers spotted him and tried to stop him on Interstate 70. Pittman sped away, driving in excess of 120 m.p.h. and weaving in and out of traffic before crashing near the Blanchette Bridge. Pittman ran away but was found hiding under a van in a nearby parking lot. Investigators found the victim’s Romarm Cugir Micro Draco pistol in the car and a Glock in a bag that Pittman discarded. Pittman was wearing the stolen watch.
The Columbia Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Spokane Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on September 15, 2026, United States District Court Judge Rebecca L. Pennell sentenced Shawn P. Sather to a total of 18 years in custody—15 years imposed after a plea of guilty to Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, and an additional 3 years imposed based on admissions to violations of the conditions of federal supervised release. Sather will also serve a lifetime of supervised release and will be required to pay $15,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act of 2018.
According to court documents and public proceedings, Sather has a long history of crimes related to child sexual abuse material. In 2001, Sather was discharged from the military after a conviction for receipt and possession of child pornography. Following a prison sentence in that case, Sather was again investigated for similar behavior. In 2011, a search warrant was executed twice at his residence in search of child sexual abuse material, ultimately resulting in federal charges and a federal conviction for Receipt of Child Pornography. He received a sentence of 120 months in federal prison and was released in 2019.
Following his release from that sentence, Sather was placed on federal supervised release. He violated those conditions on multiple occasions, resulting in short prison sentences. The investigation into the instant case arose when a probation officer received notification of suspicious internet activity on Sather’s phone, resulting in a search of Sather’s phone and other online accounts. Sather ultimately admitted to seeking out images of sexual abuse material during his entire time on federal supervision, including images of infants and young children.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Pennell rejected Sather’s argument that he had recently deleted images of child sexual abuse material because he had decided to change. Rather, Judge Pennell noted that Sather was likely attempting to hide the material, based on his decades-long pattern of accessing such images. Judge Pennell acknowledged the severity of Sather’s offenses, noting the significant impact these crimes have on vulnerable victims.
“Crimes against children are among the worst offenses in society,” stated Serrano. “Sather chose to victimize children for decades and persistently sought of images of sexual abuse. My office will aggressively protect our community by continually prosecuting individuals, like Sather, who seek to harm children. The sentence today reflects the extreme harm which individuals like Sather can cause.”
"Shawn Sather has demonstrated a pattern of criminal conduct across at least 25 years by repeatedly seeking out child exploitation material online,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “These thousands of images represent real children, and re-victimize them every time they are shared or copied. Tragically, Sather's actions have made it clear that the only way to stop his harmful behavior is yet another prison sentence. The FBI and our partners remain vigilant and determined to hold child predators accountable.”
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice 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, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Spokane Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Perez.
2:25-CR-146-RLP; 2:11-CR-3-RLP.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the InternetRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief United States District Court Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on September 14, 2026.
Ryan Nigro, age 34, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Upon release from federal prison, Nigro must register as a sex offender for 25 years.
Nigro was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He was found guilty at a jury trial on June 4, 2026.
The conviction stemmed from an undercover chat operation in which several law enforcement agencies worked together to identify individuals using the Internet to attempt to have sex with children. In this case, Nigro used the application Reddit to start a conversation with a person he believed was a 12-year-old girl. Nigro introduced the topic of sex into the conversation and asked the child to meet with him at a local hotel for sex. Nigro arrived at the hotel where he was arrested by law enforcement. The 12-year-old female persona was operated by a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Watertown Police Department, Tea Police Department, Rapid City Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth E. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Nigro was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Seven-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than 13 Years in Prison for Gas Station RobberyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for Hobbs Act Robbery of a gas station in Atalla, Alabama, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Joseph Lee Rainey, 35, of Munford, Alabama, to a total of 157 months in prison. Rainey pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“This sentence sends a clear message that violent offenders – particularly convicted felons who knowingly choose to disregard the law and commit violent crimes – will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “I commend our law enforcement partners for their hard work and dedication to keeping the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama safe.”
“In this case, a multi-convicted felon committed a premeditated, terrifying act of violence and showed blatant disregard for human life,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James VanVliet. “ATF, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, remains committed to protecting our communities and confronting offenders such as these, swiftly bringing them to justice before they can commit other senseless, violent crimes.”
According to court documents, on August 20, 2025, Rainey entered the Marathon gas station in Attala, Alabama, took a drink from the cooler, and approached the cashier as if he were going to pay for it. When Rainey got to the register, he drew a gun and demanded the money in the register. The cashier complied and gave him nearly $500. On August 25, 2025, members of the 7th Judicial Major Crimes Unit found Rainey in Ohatchee, Alabama, during a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Rainey was a passenger. The driver of that vehicle stopped abruptly when officers tried to pull him over, and he jumped from the car. When he did, Rainey moved into the driver’s seat and sped away. The officers pursued Rainey in a high-speed chase across Calhoun County that ended when Rainey jumped out of the vehicle and ran. A short time later, officers found Rainey hiding in a wooded area. During their search of the vehicle, officers found a Taurus 9mm pistol, matching the gun used during the Marathon gas station robbery, and a cell phone. Rainey later admitted that firearm was the same one used during his Attalla robbery.
Rainey is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his six prior felony convictions that span from 2016 to 2024, in the Circuit Court of Calhoun County, Circuit Court of Talladega County, and Circuit Court of St. Clair County.
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 ATF investigated the case along with the 7th Judicial Major Crimes Unit and the Attalla Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney L. Plyler and Scott Woodard prosecuted the case.
Russian National Sentenced for Synthetic Identity Theft Fraud Scheme and Conspiring to Submit Fraudulent Voter RegistrationsRead the Press Release
Dmitry Shushlebin, 45, a Russian citizen living in Miami Beach, Florida, was sentenced to six years in prison and three years of supervised release for organizing an identity theft fraud scheme that included efforts by the conspirators to submit fraudulent voter registrations.He was also ordered to pay $458,839.69 in restitution.
“Those who engage in fraud and deception in our election processes will be investigated and prosecuted,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “After arriving in the United States, Dmitry Shushlebin created sham companies to facilitate a multi-year financial fraud scheme. He used these companies to commit identity theft, which allowed him to create synthetic or fake identities that appeared real after they were used to submit over 100 false voter registrations.”
“Voting is one of the most significant rights and responsibilities Americans have,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to investigate threats to the integrity of our electoral process and prosecute those who engage in fraud or other means to violate our nation’s voting laws.”
“The FBI is committed to supporting our election security partners ensuring fraudulent schemes, like the defendant’s identity-theft scheme using fraudulent voter registration applications, never have a chance to succeed,” said Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Division. “We have the investigative tools and the strong partnerships to detect and disrupt these crimes.”
“Combatting fraud and identity theft are critical missions of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division. “We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate those individuals who use the mail to enrich themselves at the expense of others.”
On July 24, 2025, the United States filed a four-count superseding information charging Shushlebin with conspiracy to give false information in registering to vote and submit fraudulent voter registrations, wire fraud, making false statements, and aggravated identity theft. Shushlebin pleaded guilty to all four counts on July 25, 2025.
According to court documents, Shushlebin hired Sanjar Jamilov, an Uzbekistani national, and others to submit more than 100 fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections in February and March 2023. One purpose of registering these fake voters was to create synthetic or fake identities that Shushlebin could use to commit financial fraud. Shushlebin used the fake identities to obtain fraudulent credit cards and loans. He perpetrated this scheme against the victim financial institutions hundreds of times using hundreds of different synthetic identities.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Schmidt for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Marcet for the Middle District of Florida and Public Integrity Section Trial Attorney Leo Wise provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution.
Romanian Nationals Arraigned in Federal Court for Alleged Card-Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two Romanian nationals have been charged in a card-skimming scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
A four-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Cosmin Vaduva, 37, and Elena Andree Caldarareasa, 33, with conspiracy to commit access device fraud (i.e., card fraud) and possession of device making equipment (commonly referred to as a “skimmer”).
“Skimmer fraud is rampant with losses in the United States alone reaching over $1 billion each year,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “It is a silent insidious theft that occurs by merely swiping a credit card at a point of sale without realizing that thieves have placed a data skimming device on the card machine. Nationwide the Department of Justice is pursuing the apprehension and ultimate conviction of skimmer thieves. I’m glad to see this indictment and look forward to the prosecution of Vaduva and Caldarareasa.”
“The Birmingham area is a target-rich environment for illegal skimmers. The high concentration of small, locally owned businesses in and around the city makes it easier for criminals to install these devices,” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick Glaze of the Birmingham Field Office. “Illegal credit card skimming can have devastating financial ramifications on innocent, law-abiding citizens who are victimized by this insidious fraud. That is why the U.S. Secret Service has devoted significant resources toward combatting this criminal effort. I want to commend all of our Federal, state and local partners who helped us with this operation.”
According to the indictment, the defendants installed skimmers at three businesses located in Jefferson County. The alleged incidents occurred on February 24 and 25, 2026. On March 12, 2026, the defendants were arrested in Grenada County, Mississippi. Mississippi law enforcement officers seized skimmers, approximately 15 counterfeit cards, and more than $10,000 in cash.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case along with the Birmingham Cyber Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan S. Cross and John B. Ward are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Richmond men sentenced to prison for “card cracking” and stolen mailRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Two Richmond men were sentenced for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and possession of stolen mail.
According to court documents, from May 2023 through April 2024, Tremont Hancock, 25, and Olden Ellerbe III, 27, conspired with other individuals to steal U.S. mail, sometimes using stolen USPS “arrow” keys, which unlock all Postal Service collection boxes in a given geographic area. Ellerbe and Hancock obtained the personal and financial information of numerous victims through these mail thefts and utilized it to fraudulently withdraw funds from those victims’ accounts at local banking institutions.
Hancock and Ellerbe targeted victims’ financial accounts through a variety of means, including the creation of fictitious checks drafted on the victims’ bank accounts; using stolen debit and/or credit cards to withdraw funds from the victims’ bank accounts; and applying for loans in the names of victims, then withdrawing the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds with the victims’ stolen debit cards.
On Nov. 15, 2023, during a spree of five withdrawal transactions totaling $84,000 from victims’ accounts, law enforcement officers confronted Hancock and Ellerbe following the final transaction. Officers arrested Ellerbe after a brief pursuit and found him in possession of stolen mail, $59,940 in cash, 83 stolen checks with a total face value of $153,630.83, nine stolen credit or debit cards, six stolen U.S. Saving Bonds with a total value of $5,000, and a handgun. In Ellerbe’s rental car, officers found another stolen debit card, a counterfeit driver’s license, and more stolen mail.
Ellerbe pled guilty on Feb. 16, 2024, and was sentenced on Aug. 19, 2024, to three years in prison. Hancock pled guilty on Dec. 4, 2025, and was sentenced today to five years and six months years in prison.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Day prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25cr-153.
Reno Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
RENO – A Reno man pleaded guilty Tuesday to receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material involving prepubescent minors.
“The exploitation and abuse of children captured in these images represents an unimaginable harm to the most vulnerable among us,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The acquisition and possession of child sexual abuse material fuels a destructive cycle of re-victimization. Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to working with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who traffic in these horrific materials.”
“Crimes involving the receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material are among the FBI’s most disturbing investigations,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Those who receive, possess, or distribute such material perpetuate the ongoing exploitation of children, fueling cycles of abuse and re-victimization that can last a lifetime. FBI Las Vegas, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to protect innocent children, identify child predators, and bring offenders to justice.”
According to court documents, from November 16, 2021, to June 20, 2023, Luis Caceres received and possessed child sexual abuse material including prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Caceres faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 15, 2026, before United States District Judge Anne R. Traum. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force which includes the FBI, Washoe County Sherrif’s Office, Sparks Police Department, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Previously Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Isaiah Pushia-Keith, 26, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Pushia-Keith pleaded guilty before Judge Reggie B. Walton to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. Judge Walton scheduled sentencing for March 17, 2027.
According to court documents, Metropolitan Police officers responded to a report of an assault in the vicinity of 214 Jefferson Street NW on May 10, 2025. A woman met officers and reported Pushia-Keith assaulted her and that she had left her phone at the location of the assault. The woman was able to track the location of her phone, which led police to a Safeway at 3830 Georgia Avenue NW. There, Pushia-Keith was located and detained by law enforcement. The defendant informed officers that he had the woman’s phone. The defendant was wearing a black cross-body satchel, and he confirmed to police that he was carrying a ghost gun with no serial number. Officers retrieved the firearm and removed the loaded 12-round, high-capacity magazine containing six live rounds.
Photograph of the satchel bag containing the firearm and magazine. The magazine was detached from the magazine well and protruding from the bag in this photograph.
Photographs of the firearm with the parts of a machine gun conversion device removed from inside the satchel.
Pushia-Keith has a previous 2024 felony conviction in Alexandria, VA, making it unlawful for him to possess any firearm.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf and Charles Klug.
25-cr-0196
President of Environmental Company Sentenced to More Than Six and a Half Years in Prison for Leaving Asbestos at Suburban Chicago Demolition SiteRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced the president of an environmental services company to more than six and a half years in federal prison for knowingly leaving asbestos at a suburban Chicago demolition site after accepting full payment for the purported remediation.
CARL FIORAVANTI is the president of Alliance Environmental Control, Inc., a Lansing, Ill.-based company that performs asbestos removal services. In 2023, Alliance was hired to remove asbestos-containing materials ahead of a planned demolition of a largely abandoned medical campus in Waukegan, Ill. The owner of the site agreed to pay Alliance nearly $1.8 million to remove the asbestos-containing materials in accordance with laws designed to prevent people from breathing or ingesting airborne asbestos fibers, which have been shown to cause lung cancer and other serious illnesses. During the purported remediation, Fioravanti fabricated air-sampling clearance reports that fraudulently stated that the site had been scientifically tested and was clear of asbestos. Two months after Fioravanti certified the project as fully remediated, the property owner learned that Alliance had left enormous amounts of asbestos-containing materials throughout portions of the site.
Substantial amounts of the toxic materials had become commingled with ordinary demolition debris, releasing asbestos into the air and substantially increasing the remediation costs. To date, the owner has spent more than $26 million on large-scale remediation of the property.
In addition to the asbestos-related fraud, Fioravanti also defrauded the IRS and the State of Illinois of more than $2.7 million in combined tax revenues by causing a tax preparer to file false individual and corporate income tax returns that greatly understated the amount of income Alliance and Fioravanti had earned from 2013 to 2022.
Fioravanti, 58, of Lansing, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal wire fraud and tax charges. On Sept. 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama sentenced Fioravanti to six years and eight months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Allison Landsman, Acting Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA CID); Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago; Machelle L. Jindra, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG) in Chicago; and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Chapman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Cardick.
“Environmental fraud causes substantial damage to the health, safety, and economic security of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “When individuals falsify emissions reports or fabricate safety data, they are trading public welfare for illicit profit. As this case demonstrates, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will work hard with its law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who commit environmental frauds.”
“By falsely certifying that asbestos at an old hospital site had been properly abated, the defendant ensured that piles of friable asbestos wrongly remaining were cast about during demolition, contaminating the entire site and endangering workers and the community members,” said EPA CID Acting Director Landsman. “Fraud under environmental programs does more than financial harm—it places real humans in danger and poisons communities. This sentencing underscores that there are criminal consequences for those who deliberately cut corners that endangers human health and the environment.”
“Workers trusted that a hidden danger had been removed before they entered that building,” said IRS-CI Acting SAC Kuszynski. “The paperwork said the site was safe, but the physical and financial evidence told another story. Our agents followed the payments and tax records to help show what was concealed, who profited, and the human cost of putting money ahead of people.”
“Carl Fioravanti placed workers, families, and the environment at risk of exposure to asbestos by falsely claiming that enormous amounts of asbestos-containing material had been removed and disposed of when he knew that it had not,” said HUD OIG SAC Jindra. “This was not an oversight or a mistake; it was a deliberate scheme that placed personal financial gain above the safety of others. HUD OIG remains committed to working with the U.S Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners to hold bad actors accountable and bring to justice those who exploit federal programs and endanger the public for personal gain.”
“This environmental fraud scheme was a purposeful attack on public safety, putting innocent Americans and their health at risk,” said FBI SAC Whalen. “This sentencing confirms that the FBI, along with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, are committed to defending our homeland, which includes the very environment that surrounds the communities we serve. Anyone who endangers the health and safety of Chicago’s residents for unlawful profit will be fully held accountable and be brought swiftly to justice.”
One Woman Sentenced and Another Pleads Guilty in COVID-19 Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, McCayla Myers, 27, of Charleston, was sentenced to one year of federal probation and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined for aiding and abetting theft of government money and Elizabeth Wells, 36, formerly of Cabin Creek, pleaded guilty to theft of public money, property, or records. Each woman admitted to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about April 22, 2021, through on or about May 22, 2021, Myers provided her personal information to another individual to apply for and obtain four PPP loans, each for $20,833.00, through fraud. Two of the loan applications falsely claimed those loans were for an automotive repair business, and the other two falsely claimed those were for a delivery service business.
The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other eligible essential expenses. As part of her guilty plea, Myers admitted that she knowingly defrauded the PPP program, that she did not own or operate the businesses listed on the loan applications, and that she did not have payroll or other qualifying business expenses at that time. Myers further admitted that she spent the PPP loan proceeds on clothing, firearms, vacations, and other personal expenses while knowing that none of these purchases were eligible expenses.
Myers also admitted that she sought to have one of the $20,833 loans forgiven on or about December 16, 2022, by falsely claiming that she had spent $19,000 of the proceeds on payroll.
Wells admitted that a PPP loan application was submitted on her behalf on March 20, 2021, alleging that she operated a business under her name and earned a gross annual income of $106,600. The application was approved and $20,833.00 in loan proceeds was deposited into Wells’ personal bank account. As part of her guilty plea, Wells admitted that she did not own any business and had not earned the income alleged on the application. Wells further admitted that she had no legitimate reason to receive the PPP loan, and that she spent the proceeds on personal expenses not allowed by the loan program.
Wells, who now lives in Sumter, South Carolina, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Wells also owes $23,637.22 in restitution.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General (NASA OIG).
NASA OIG is an active member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney John J. Frail and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman prosecuted the cases.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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 Nos. 2:26-cr-53 (Myers) and 2:26-cr-54 (Wells) .
###
Ohio man sentenced to eight years in prison for $1.9M fraudulent construction schemeRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – An Ohio man was sentenced today to eight years in prison for wire fraud relating to a scheme to bid for construction projects for which he was not licensed and divert payments for his own gain.
According to court documents, Matthew Paul Taylor, aka Matt Wolfe, 49, of Fairborn, incorporated and formed business entities in dozens of states and used these entities primarily in the construction industry, where he held himself out as a licensed general contractor for construction projects across the United States.
Between January 2020 and February 2023, Taylor successfully bid for contracts for business construction projects in several states. Taylor concealed his lack of status as a licensed contractor by fraudulently using the licensing credentials of other businesses. Taylor forged notary stamps, presented fabricated certificates and lien waivers, and made false representations to receive payments for projects. He made lulling payments, if any, to subcontractors or offered false explanations for lack of payment, such as that he had not received payment. In truth, Taylor diverted payments he received for contract work and instead used the funds for his personal benefit. Taylor also knowingly made misrepresentations to regulators to conceal his fraud.
Taylor was ordered to pay $1,936,882.22 in restitution.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mack Coleman and Brian J. Samuels prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-35.
Ohio Man Sentenced to More than 6 Years in Prison for Cyberstalking Three WomenRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for making extremely violent and graphic threats that terrorized three women on social media platforms.
Logan Stanford, of Shelby, Ohio, was sentenced to 78 months (6.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty in June to three counts each of :
- Cyberstalking
- Threatening Interstate Communications
Stanford was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence which includes a provision that prohibits him from internet usage.
According to the indictment, throughout about a three-year period, Stanford harassed, stalked, intimidated, and threatened three separate female victims online. Some of the victims had never even met Stanford. He would reach out to the women via various social media platforms, using mostly fake names. Although the women blocked the unwanted communications, Stanford would respond by opening new accounts under different, fictitious names to continue to harass and threaten them. His communications included multiple threats to violently kill the women.
This case was investigated by the FBI Mansfield Resident Agency.
First Assistant United States Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
To report cyberstalking, visit stalkingawareness.org/what-to-do-if-you-are-being-stalked/.
Oglala Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Shooting on the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Oglala, South Dakota, man convicted of Second Degree Murder. The sentencing took place on September 14, 2026.
Teldon Kills Small, 19, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Kills Small was indicted for Second Degree Murder, Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury in December 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 9, 2026.
On the evening of November 29, 2025, Kills Small and others were consuming alcohol to excess. The male victim told Kills Small and others with Kills Small that they needed to leave. Kills Small discharged nine rounds from his firearm, striking the male victim seven times in the chest and torso, as well as a juvenile female victim who was nearby. This all occurred on the male victim’s mother’s exterior porch. The victim died on scene and the female sustained bodily injury to her arm. The defendant fled the residence and was later apprehended in Rapid City.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Kills Small was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Norris Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Norris, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on September 14, 2026.
Chauncy Crow Dog, age 32, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Crow Dog was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 9, 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in an area of Mellete County, South Dakota, that is part of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On the evening of October 16, 2024, Crow Dog was at a residence in the Corn Creek Community when he observed two men fighting outside. Crow Dog exited the residence, picked up a shovel, and struck one of the men in the face with it, causing a broken jaw.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be
prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Crow Dog was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Norridgewock Woman Sentenced for Maintaining a Drug-Involved PremisesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Norridgewock woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for maintaining a drug-involved premises.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Jiamin Liao, 32, to six months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. Liao pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.
According to court records, between December 2022 and March 2024, Liao operated a marijuana grow at a residence in Madison. Starting in November 2023, Liao owned a second property in Norridgewock that she used to store the marijuana grown at the Madison location. On March 25, 2024, investigators executed state search warrants at both locations. At the Madison location, agents seized 551 marijuana plants. At the Norridgewock location, agents seized approximately 30 pounds of processed marijuana and $39,625 in U.S. currency. Liao was not licensed to grow marijuana by the Office of Cannabis Policy.
The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case.
###
Nigerian National Arrested for Unlawfully Voting in 2022 Midterm ElectionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Nigerian national residing in Lynn, Mass. has been arrested and charged with illegally voting in the 2022 midterm elections. Defendant also allegedly voted in the 2024 Presidential primary election.
Gladys Adaeze Okafor, 56, is charged with unlawfully voting as an alien. The defendant was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.
According to the charging documents, Okafor is a citizen of Nigeria who was born in Aba, Nigeria. Okafor obtained lawful permanent resident status in December 2022 but is not a U.S. citizen and has not applied for U.S. citizenship.
In July 2022, Okafor allegedly submitted a voter registration card, signing her name under a certification which provided “I AM A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES … Signed under penalty of perjury.” The City of Lynn subsequently registered her to vote, and Okafor allegedly voted in the midterm elections that fall.
It is further alleged that Okafor submitted a second voter registration form in October of 2023, checking the “U.S. Citizen” box and signing under the U.S. citizen certification. Okafor allegedly voted in the 2024 presidential primary election.
The charge of unlawful voting as an alien provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. The defendant may be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Murdo Man Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Murdo, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on September 14, 2026.
Dane Menard, age 20, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Menard was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 15, 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in an area of Mellette County, South Dakota, that is part of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On March 15, 2025, Menard struck the victim, an adult male, with his vehicle in the driveway of a residence near White River, South Dakota. The victim was hospitalized with injuries that included a broken arm and broken ankle.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Menard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Monroe Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession; Two Others Also SentencedRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – On September 8, 2026, Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced three defendants to federal prison in separate federal firearm cases.
Judge Doughty sentenced Jason C. Turner, 46, of Monroe, to 78 months in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, followed by three years of supervised release.
Judge Doughty also sentenced Colten McClain, 31, of Pioneer, to 57 months in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon followed by three years of supervised release.
Finally, Judge Doughty sentenced Zavion J. Hundley, 33, of Monroe, to 37 months in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon followed by three years of supervised release.
All three men had previously pled guilty to their respective charges.
“These sentences reflect our Office’s commitment through the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program to reducing violent crime in Northeast Louisiana by getting dangerous felons illegally possessing guns off our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “We will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute offenders who illegally possess firearms to make our communities safer in the Western District.”
TURNER
According to court documents, on November 4, 2024, Monroe Police Department (MPD) officers observed a verbal argument in the parking lot of a gas station on MLK Drive. When officers arrived, the defendant had already left in a white Ford Explorer. A witness informed officers that the vehicle was often seen at a nearby apartment complex. Officers located the Explorer and detained Turner. During the encounter, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana from the vehicle and conducted a search. They located a small amount of marijuana and a loaded SCCY CPX‑2 9mm pistol in the rear seat. The firearm matched witness descriptions from the gas station. Turner admitted possessing the firearm. ATF later confirmed the pistol was a functional weapon. Turner had a prior felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
MCCLAIN
According to court documents, on August 25, 2025, a Louisiana State Police Trooper conducted a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 65 in Tallulah. McClain was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. The trooper observed a Diamondback AR‑15 rifle and .223 ammunition on the rear floorboard of the vehicle. Law enforcement later test‑fired the rifle and confirmed it was a functional weapon. McClain had prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
HUNDLEY
According to court documents, on October 21, 2025, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) observed Hundley riding a bicycle in the dark and against the flow of traffic. When deputies attempted a traffic stop, Hundley fled into a ditch and then into a tree‑line area before running behind a nearby residence. Deputies detained Hundley and conducted a lawful search. Deputies found a 9mm hollow‑point round in Hundley’s pocket. Nearby in the tree line, in the same location where Hundley had slowed during the pursuit, deputies located a tan Taurus G3 9mm pistol wrapped in a black face mask. Hundley is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
MPD, Louisiana State Police, OPSO, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated these cases.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement
These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Frank Moody, Earl M. Campbell, and Allison Colomb Foster, with assistance from Legal Assistant Stephanie Stewart and Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under the relevant case numbers: 3:26‑cr‑00187‑01 (Turner); 3:26‑cr‑00090 (McClain); 26‑00140 (Hundley).
###
CONTACT: Public Affairs: [email protected]
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
X: @USAO_WDLA
Facebook: USAO_WDLA
Cara Alexander: (337) 262-6704
Missouri Man Who Possessed AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material Sentenced to 18 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man who possessed child sexual abuse material, including images generated by AI, was sentenced Wednesday to 18 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark also ordered Michael A. Huseman, 32, to pay $23,000 in restitution to five identified victims. Huseman possessed over 22,000 files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on two cell phones and two laptops. Investigators also found 6,000 anime files depicting children being sexually abused and well as over 400 files of AI-generated CSAM. Included among the CSAM are about 201 files depicting child abuse victims who have been identified by law enforcement.
Huseman also told someone to delete almost 5,000 social media communications that Judge Clark said were likely not favorable to his case.
Huseman, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receiving child pornography.
The Manchester Police Department, the Regional Computer Crimes Education and Enforcement Group of Greater St. Louis and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland Man Sentenced for Leading Multi-Million Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy in Connection with HSTF CaseRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man received a federal-prison term, today, in connection with his role in a multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme.
Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Adanegbe “Gift” Osemwenkhae, 41, of Upper Marlboro, to eight years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for money laundering. Judge Maddox also ordered Osemwenkhae to pay $20,851,940.80 in restitution. In April 2025, Osemwenkhae pled guilty to serving as a manager and supervisor of the large, multi-member, money laundering conspiracy.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG). This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud along with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF).
According to court documents, beginning in 2020, and continuing until February 2024, Osemwenkhae conspired with multiple individuals to launder proceeds of a large-scale wire fraud. The co-conspirators engaged in various financial transactions to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the wire-fraud proceeds, while carrying out the conspiracy.
Osemwenkhae supervised and exercised significant managerial control over the money laundering conspiracy and facilitated the laundering of more than $20 million in stolen proceeds from at least 15 different victims. The victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, including an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation and logistics company, school district, college, and county government, among others.
As supervisor, Osemwenkhae used and controlled several different encrypted electronic communication accounts to supervise and manage the money laundering conspiracy. Osemwenkhae directed and worked with members of the conspiracy to create limited liability companies to serve as shell entities; open bank accounts and/or cause bank accounts to be opened in the name of their shell entity; and receive and launder fraud proceeds. He also helped coordinate the flow of fraudulent proceeds through various bank accounts and determine how to split funds between each member of the conspiracy as payment for their role in the conspiracy.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland charged 14 defendants in two different cases in connection with the money laundering conspiracy with 13 pleading guilty and receiving federal-prison sentences. Faizou Gnora, 29, previously of Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive from justice. The Office also charged other co-conspirators in additional cases.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Baltimore comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, and thanked IRS-CI and EPA-OIG for their work in the investigation, and praised the Anne Arundel County, Queen Anne’s County Sherriff’s Office, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Bijon A. Mostoufi, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber, for her assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
# # #
Maryland Fugitive Sentenced to 115 Months on Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A wanted fugitive out of Maryland, who led police on a 115-mph high-speed car chase through a work zone on Interstate 81 before crashing into the median, was sentenced yesterday to 115 months in federal prison on federal drug and gun charges.
Corey Frances Potter, 30, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pled guilty in June 2026 to one count of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“This sentence should send a clear message to any fugitive from justice who seeks refuge in the Western District of Virginia,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I commend the Roanoke City Police, the Virginia State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their outstanding work on this case.”
“Every arrest like this is a win for public safety. Our determination ensures that those who try to evade justice are brought back to face it — protecting the peace our community deserves,” said Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division.
According to court documents, in February 2026, Potter was a known fugitive traveling north on Interstate 81 from Roanoke, Virginia, towards Winchester, Virginia. When Potter entered Rockingham County, Virginia, law enforcement pulled behind the defendant’s vehicle and turned on their lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop.
Rather than pull over, Potter sped up to evade law enforcement, eventually hitting a tractor trailer’s front tire, spinning out, striking a pick-up truck, and rolling over into the median.
Law enforcement retrieved various items from the crash scene, including a backpack that belonged to Potter, which contained two firearms, various magazines, and significant amounts of ammunition. Law enforcement also found inside the vehicle approximately 13.7 ounces of cocaine, bags of white pills, another firearm, $14,755, and a fraudulent Drug Enforcement Administration credential.
Potter’s criminal history shows that he was convicted in 2015 of two felony charges in Pennsylvania, both involving fleeing from, or attempting to elude, law enforcement.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia State Police investigated the case with assistance from the City of Roanoke Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cagle Juhan is prosecuting the case.
Martin Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor on the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Martin, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on September 14, 2026.
Austin Starr, 33, was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Starr will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Starr was indicted for two counts Sexual Abuse of a Minor by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 9, 2026.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Starr was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Man Found Guilty of Carjacking and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Kan. man was found guilty by a federal judge of carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence on Sep. 14, 2026.
According to court records, Van Calvin Callahan, Jr., 46, assaulted an individual at a bus stop near East 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard in Kansas City, Mo. During the assault, Callahan stole a firearm from the victim. As an off-duty police officer from the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department drove by, he observed the assault and attempted to intervene. Callahan then pointed the stolen firearm at the off-duty officer and moved towards the officer and his vehicle. The off-duty officer ran to safety as Callahan stole the vehicle.
Using a tracking device, the stolen vehicle was located in Kansas City, Kan., shortly after it was taken. When officers with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle, Callahan fled. Ultimately, the stolen vehicle wrecked into a house, and Callahan was taken into custody after a foot chase.
Callahan was later charged in a five-count indictment. On Sept. 1, 2026, he pleaded guilty to stealing a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. Callahan proceeded to a bench trial on the two remaining counts, carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was found guilty of those offenses at the conclusion of the trial.
Callahan faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison for stealing a firearm and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle and a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison for carjacking and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Callahan also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a maximum possible sentence of life in federal prison for brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The sentence for that crime must also run consecutive to any other sentence Callahan receives. These statutory penalties are provided for informational purposes only. The court will determine the final sentence based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 25, 2027.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh Ragner and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Guy for the Western District of Missouri. The investigation was conducted by the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
MTV Star and Former Childhood Actor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who previously appeared on hit sit-coms such as MTV’s Wild ‘N Out, 30 Rock, That’s So Raven, and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, as well as playing “Ronnie Shields” in the movie Role Models, was sentenced today to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Bobbe Thompson, age 30, from Kansas City, Missouri, received the prison term after an April 28, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence in the case revealed that on September 22, 2025, law enforcement observed a vehicle, being driven by Thompson, driving 104 mph, in a 70-mph zone in Cerro Gordo County. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and as the officer was exiting his vehicle, he observed Thompson and the passenger switching seats. The odor of marijuana was also emitting from the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a backpack belonging to Thompson that contained multiple bags of dispensary-bought marijuana, and a .40 caliber handgun that was fully loaded with a 15-round magazine, and a round in the chamber. The firearm had been reported stolen from a vehicle in Kansas City, Missouri.
Thompson’s criminal history includes acts of violence, including a 2020 conviction for battery with serious bodily injury and a 2020 conviction assault with force (possibly resulting in great bodily injury). His criminal history also includes a 2022 conviction for prohibited possession of a firearm.
Thompson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Thompson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Iowa State Patrol, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 26-3001.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Liability for Unregistered Foreign AgentsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice would like to remind the public of federal laws that require individuals to register as foreign agents when they act in the United States at the direction or control of a foreign government or foreign principal, and that they will face civil and criminal liability if they fail to do so.
The Department recognizes and protects the First Amendment rights of those who seek to express their opinions publicly. The Department will not take action to inhibit anyone’s constitutionally protected right to free speech and free expression. Nor will any decisions be illegitimately influenced by anyone’s political associations, activities, or beliefs.
At the same time, the Department is committed to upholding the rule of law and keeping our country safe against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. It does so by holding to account those who violate federal law. Two such federal laws — the Foreign Agents Registration Act, known as FARA, and 18 U.S.C. § 951 — impose disclosure or notification obligations when a person acts in the United States as an agent of a foreign principal or foreign government. These obligations aid in stopping foreign governments or their representatives from using undisclosed agents, intermediaries, false affiliations, covert funding, or other deceptive activities to illegally influence public debate, suborn sedition, or interfere with official proceedings.
Both citizens and noncitizens are reminded that anyone who violates FARA or § 951 may face federal civil or criminal liability. If a person acts as an agent of any foreign power to carry out any public activity, including (but not limited to) public demonstrations designed to further the propaganda or other goals of the foreign power, he or she must register with or notify the appropriate federal authorities. Failure to do so may result in significant civil or criminal sanctions, up to and including a maximum of five years in prison.
More information about FARA is available from the Department’s FARA Unit. Individuals with questions about potential obligations under FARA or 18 U.S.C. § 951 should consult legal counsel or seek an Advisory Opinion from the Department’s FARA Unit under 28 C.F.R. § 5.2. Members of the public who believe they have information about undisclosed foreign government direction or control may contact the FBI or their local U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Lehigh County Woman Pleads Guilty to Illegal VotingRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Evelyn Miller, 37, of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, a Philippine citizen lawfully residing in the U.S., pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott M. Reid to illegally voting in the 2024 general election. Under both federal and state law, only U.S. citizens may vote in Pennsylvania.
Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16 and faces a maximum possible sentence of one year in prison, one year of supervised release, a $100,000 fine, and a $25 special assessment.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.
Justice Department Sues San Jose for Unconstitutional $1600 Firearm Permit FeeRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department filed suit against the City of San Jose, California, and the San Jose Police Department for charging private individuals unreasonable fees to exercise their Second Amendment right to lawfully carry a firearm. At nearly $1,600 per license, the City’s application fee to carry a firearm is the highest in the nation. Indeed, San Jose’s fee towers over those imposed by the country’s biggest cities. New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Chicago all charge a small fraction of San Jose’s fee. The Supreme Court has held that “exorbitant fees” such as San Jose’s violate the Second Amendment because they deny ordinary citizens their right to carry firearms for self-defense.
"All law-abiding Americans have a constitutional right to bear arms for self‑defense. This right is not a luxury reserved for a privileged few, but a fundamental element of our republic,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “You don’t need a law degree to recognize that charging a fee several times higher than the cost of the firearm itself is illogical, and an unconstitutional attempt to impede Americans’ Second Amendment rights."
The Civil Rights Division’s Second Amendment Section enforces the Second Amendment, the Police Pattern or Practice Act (34 U.S.C. § 12601), and Executive Order 14206. If you are a current or prospective gun owner and believe that a state or local government has infringed your right to keep or bear arms, please submit a complaint through https://www.justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section.
Jury Convicts Mexican Citizen for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An illegal alien was found guilty by a federal jury for illegally reentering the United States after having been previously removed from the United States.
Amador Salinas-Rodriguez, 47, was found guilty of one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.
On April 7, 2026, the federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Salinas-Rodriguez with illegal reentry after removal. On April 24, 2026, officers with the Columbia Police Department arrested Salinas-Rodriguez on a federal arrest warrant issued with the indictment.
The evidence at trial established that on Aug. 1, 1999, Salinas-Rodriguez entered the United States at a border crossing at Nogales, Ariz., using another person’s border crossing card. Federal agents discovered Salinas-Rodriguez’s deception and removed him back to Mexico. After that removal, Salinas-Rodriguez was found in Columbia, Mo., in February 2025 and again in February 2026, without having obtained the consent of the Attorney General or Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., returned a guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026.
Under federal statutes, Salinas-Rodriguez is facing up to two years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Komoroski and Ashley Turner. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Operation Take Back America
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.