Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
21 January 2026
U.S. Attorney Dunavant files Amicus Brief in Support of State of Tennessee Appeal in National Guard CaseRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant is pleased to announce that on January 16, 2026, he joined a legal action with Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division to file a brief on behalf of the United States as Amicus Curiae in support of the State of Tennessee’s appeal in the case challenging Governor Lee’s deployment of the Tennessee National Guard in support of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
The case, Lee Harris, et al. v. William B. Lee, et al., was originally filed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and several lawmakers in the Chancery Court of Davidson County, suing the Governor, Attorney General, and the Adjutant General of the Tennessee National Guard and raising both constitutional and statutory objections to the Guard’s mobilization. The Chancellor granted a temporary injunction, but temporarily stayed the injunction pending an application for permission to appeal. The State of Tennessee filed an appeal, and 0n January 12, 2026, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed an opening appellate brief on the merits in the Tennessee Court of Appeals, seeking reversal of the Chancery Court ruling.
By enjoining Governor Lee’s deployment of the Guard in support of the Memphis Safe Task Force, the trial court has effectively blocked President Trump’s request that the Governor make available National Guard units of Tennessee to support public safety and law enforcement operations in Memphis. As a result, the United States has a substantial interest in this litigation, and its participation as amicus curiae will assist the Court in resolving this appeal. The Court of Appeals has expedited and set oral arguments for March 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in the Tennessee Supreme Court building in Nashville.
In response to the public safety emergency in Memphis, Governor Lee, in consultation with President Trump, deployed members of the Tennessee National Guard to support the mission of the Memphis Safe Task Force. With the Guard’s support, the Task Force has begun restoring law and order to the city. Thousands of arrests have been made, hundreds of unlawfully possessed firearms have been seized, and crime rates have fallen precipitously year-over-year. All in just a few months. The trial court’s injunction risks undoing that progress, and without the Guard’s support, the Task Force’s operational capacity will be eviscerated.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “One of President Trump’s top priorities is restoring law and order in cities plagued by violent crime, and the Tennessee National Guard has played a critical role in the unprecedented success of the Memphis Safe Task Force. As the chief federal law enforcement officer in West Tennessee, I am proud to stand with General Skrmetti in defending the constitutionality of Governor Lee’s exercise of executive authority and continuing to work with the Tennessee National Guard in protecting Memphians.”
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric D. McArthur, and DOJ Counsel John Bailey of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division, and Assistant United States Attorney Jason Martin of the Western District of Tennessee are also representing the United States in the appellate litigation.
Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae Supporting Appellants
United States' Motion for Leave to File Brief as Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellants
Opening Brief National Guard
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
U.s. Attorney’s Office Collects Nearly $1.4 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced that the Middle District of Louisiana collected $1,392,488.86 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $1,240,255.48 was collected in criminal actions, and $152,233.38 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Middle District of Louisiana worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect a further $2,065,487.31 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $11,350.00 was collected in criminal actions, and $2,054,137.31 was collected in civil actions.
U.S. Attorney Wall stated, “Our mission in representing the United States is to hold everyone accountable who violates our laws, whether it is criminal or civil. We will use every tool available to obtain justice. Sometimes that might result in prison, or the enforcement of monetary judgments, or even the execution of asset forfeitures. Criminals and fraudsters can be certain that we will aggressively pursue all available options.”
In August 2025, the Middle District of Louisiana recovered $189,490 as part of a forfeiture in United States v. $189,490.00 in U.S. Currency, Case No. 23-CV-665-BAJ-SDJ. During a traffic stop on Interstate 12 near the Millerville Road exit in Baton Rouge, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration seized $189,490 in cash hidden in the vehicle that were the proceeds of drug trafficking activity. This cash was rubber-banded in seven bundles and hidden in the liners of two suitcases in the vehicle. The United States initiated a civil forfeiture action against these funds, and on August 25, 2025, U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson ordered them forfeited to the United States.
In May 2024, Adolphus Obioha pled guilty in the Middle District of Louisiana to theft of government funds for a scheme involving Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) proceeds. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to pay $472,191.60 in restitution to the Small Business Administration. During Fiscal Year 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collected $249,909.09 on this debt, including $136,000 seized through asset forfeiture and an additional $107,234.09 lump-sum payment. United States v. Adolphus A. Obioha, Case No. 23-CR-00025-BAJ-SDJ.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Louisiana, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1,916,630 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Two Mexican Nationals Transferred from Mexico to the United States to Face Charges of Manufacturing and Distributing Fentanyl and Fentanyl Precursor ChemicalsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Carlos Alberto Guerrero Mercado and Guillermo Isaias Perez Parra, who are Mexican citizens, were arraigned on a superseding indictment charging them with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to manufacture and distribute listed chemicals, and money laundering conspiracy. Both defendants were ordered detained pending trial. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. The defendants were transferred to the United States from Mexico on January 20, 2026.
The defendants are among 37 Mexican nationals who were transferred to the United States from Mexico yesterday to face a range of federal criminal charges around the country.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), announced the arraignment.
“As alleged, these defendants played a key role in manufacturing the fentanyl poisoning our nation,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendants and their co-conspirators obtained the chemicals necessary to manufacture vast quantities of fentanyl—also known as precursor chemicals—from companies in China. Now they will face American justice for their callous crimes. Our Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals responsible for the fentanyl scourge at all levels of the production and distribution of this lethal drug.”
Mr. Nocella thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their assistance.
“As alleged, these two individuals are among the worst kind of predators: traffickers who poison our communities with staggering quantities of deadly fentanyl, manufactured with chemicals funneled from overseas and unleashed on American streets. HSI has relentlessly targeted every link in this lethal supply chain — from the chemical brokers in China to the cartel chemists in Mexico and the global traffickers — and will continue to do so with unflinching focus on our mission to protect our homeland. HSI and the HSTF New York will stop at nothing to investigate, identify and arrest those who profit from this epidemic of death, wherever in the world they may hide,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Alfonso.
As alleged in the indictment and court filings, the defendants obtained the chemical building blocks of fentanyl from suppliers in China, often transporting the chemicals to Mexico through border towns in the United States. Once in Mexico, the defendants converted these precursor chemicals into massive quantities of fentanyl, which were later distributed and sold in the United States. When law enforcement interrupted the flow of precursor chemicals from China, the defendants conspired to manufacture their own precursor chemicals.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison.
This prosecution is also 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys William P. Campos, Chand Edwards-Balfour and Adam Amir are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
CARLOS ALBERTO GUERRERO MERCADO
Age: 47
MexicoGUILLERMO ISAIAS PEREZ PARRA
Age: 41
MexicoE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-287 (S-1) (EK)
Two Massachusetts Residents Charged for Alleged Roles in Bank Fraud RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Massachusetts man and woman have been charged and arrested in connection with a scheme to defraud banks in Massachusetts.
William Shaw, 67, of Boston, was indicted on four counts of bank fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
Rosemary Parks, 59, of Hopkinton, was indicted on three counts of bank fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to the charging documents, from at least December 2022 through at least March 2025, Shaw allegedly impersonated at least 11 bank customers, and between at least August 2024 through at least October 2024, Parks allegedly impersonated at least eight bank customers. Shaw and Parks allegedly used fake driver’s licenses with the customers’ information but their own photos and presented bank tellers with withdrawal slips that listed the customers’ names and account numbers. While posing as real bank customers, Shaw allegedly withdrew more than $674,000, and Parks allegedly withdrew more than $536,000, from the customers’ accounts in the form of cashier’s checks and cash withdrawals.
In July 2025, six men were charged as part of related investigation into a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud banks in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two year prison sentence consecutive to any sentence received on the other charges. 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Connecticut State Police, the Glocester (RI) Police Department, the Sutton Police Department, the Concord (MA) Police Department, the Dracut Police Department, the Westwood Police Department and the Abington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Twelve Guilty in Macon’s “Operation Mobile Order” Targeting Drugs, GunsRead the Press Release
Twelve Guilty in Macon’s “Operation Mobile Order” Targeting Drugs, Guns
Trap House Operated in Shifts Distributing Cocaine; 26 Firearms, Including Machinegun, SeizedMACON, Ga. – Twelve defendants have admitted guilt for their roles in an armed drug trafficking organization exposed by Operation Mobile Order, a two-year FBI-led investigation centered in Macon that dismantled a major criminal network responsible for distributing kilograms of cocaine and led to the seizure of 26 firearms, including a machinegun.
“Operation Mobile Order broke up an active armed drug ring operating in Macon and Central Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Through strategic coordination and joint action, we are shutting down criminal enterprises threatening the safety of our communities.”
“Operation Mobile Order dismantled a violent drug trafficking organization that treated a Macon neighborhood like a retail storefront for cocaine, backed by an arsenal of firearms,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This investigation shows the FBI’s commitment to targeting criminal networks that fuel addiction, violence and fear in our communities. We will continue to work should-to-shoulder with our partners to make Central Georgia a safer place to live.”
The following defendants have pleaded guilty:
Eddie Reese, 53, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on June 18, 2025, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine; Roddreckious Williams, 33, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base and one count of distribution of cocaine on Jan. 21, and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $1 million fine per count;
Antonyo Daniels, aka “Tony,” 30, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Alton Oliver, aka “Alo,” aka “Lo,” 43, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Jan. 8, and faces a maximum of life in prison;
Devonta Jackson, 31, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Trayvon Simmons, aka “Abo,” 28, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Marvin Huff, aka “Black,” 50, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Roosevelt Cole, aka “Froball,” 52, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Ladarrious King, 31, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Laderion Jacobs, aka “Johnny,” aka “Johnny Cain,” 30, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Leroy Mintz, aka “Booman,” 29, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Nov. 20, 2025, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine; and
Tanya Card, 51, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on Dec. 2, 2025, and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Sentencing dates will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements in court, in 2022 and 2023, the FBI conducted Operation Mobile Order, a Macon-centered investigation targeting an armed drug trafficking organization led by Reese. During the investigation, the FBI ran nine controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine, and intercepted phone calls and text messages, detailing transactions involving kilograms of cocaine from an Atlanta supplier.
The primary “trap house,” or drug distribution site, was on Richard Street in Macon, a busy location that operated like a restaurant, with members of Reese’s drug organization working shifts to distribute drugs. In a series of recorded calls, Reese discussed drug overdoses in the community and said that if the drugs came from his Richard Street trap house, “everyone in Macon would be dead.”
Reese worked with an Atlanta supplier and was recorded ordering kilograms of cocaine from the supplier and making plans to meet with the supplier to purchase the drugs in October and November of 2023, referring to cocaine as “Tylenol,” “charcoal,” or acres of land. He began working with a new supplier in November 2023 and was recorded discussing the purchase of five kilograms of cocaine with the new supplier.
Reese’s leadership over the drug organization was evident, with many recorded interactions of him directing co-conspirators, for example, ordering one co-conspirator to “do your job” or reminding one co-conspirator, “That's what I pay you for, man. Make you get my money, make you handle the business, man. Get the money, handle the business.”
The FBI executed 11 federal search warrants in Macon, Warner Robins and Atlanta on Nov. 20, 2023, including at the Richards Street trap house, seizing cocaine, 26 firearms and $93,247. The machinegun was seized at co-conspirator Oliver’s home on Williamson Road in Macon.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Troutdale Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Clean Water Act for Discharging 500,000 Gallons of Pollutants in HillsboroRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Troutdale, Oregon, woman pleaded guilty today in federal court for conspiring to violate the Clean Water Act by receiving and discharging industrial wastewater from a facility in Hillsboro, Oregon, to a sanitary sewer system.
Kayla Hartley, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act.
According to court documents, from February through September 2020, Hartley, as the Director of Operations at the Northwest Slurry Solutions and Hydro Excavation, LLC (“Northwest Slurry”) facility in Hillsboro, marketed the company as able to accept and dispose of industrial wastewater, despite having no permit or authorization to discharge that type of waste. Under Hartley’s leadership, Northwest Slurry accepted approximately 500,000 gallons of industrial wastewater containing chemical pollutants including hydrofluoric acid, titanium, molybdenum, vanadium, arsenic, and other heavy metals. Northwest Slurry discharged those half-a-million gallons of pollution to the Hillsboro sanitary sewer.
When staff from Clean Water Services, which operates the sanitary sewer system in Hillsboro, visited Northwest Slurry’s facility, Hartley attempted to conceal the fact that her company was discharging industrial wastewater.
On July 15, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Hartley with conspiracy to violate and violating the Clean Water Act.
Hartley faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced on May 12, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.
This case was investigated by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from Clean Water Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew T. Ho and William M. McLaren are prosecuting the case.
This case was an Environmental Crimes Task Force (ECTF) investigation. ECTF is an initiative in the District of Oregon that identifies, investigates, and prosecutes significant environmental, public lands, and wildlife crimes. ECTF leverages the resources and effort of federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and law enforcement to protect human health, safeguard natural resources and wildlife, and hold violators accountable. If you witness an event that may lead to an immediate threat to human health or the environment, please call 9-1-1. After alerting local emergency authorities, please also report incidents to the EPA’s Report a Violation website (https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations) or by calling the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
Three Pinehill Men Charged in Fatal AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Three men are charged by federal authorities in connection with an incident in which one person was killed and another was seriously injured.
According to court records, on January 5, 2026, brothers Sullivan Jake Jr., 25, Braxton Jake, 18, and Juanillo Lee Jake, 23, all enrolled members of the Ramah-Navajo Indian Tribe, allegedly assaulted John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 at a residence in Pinehill, New Mexico. John Doe 1 was pronounced deceased at the scene. John Doe 2 was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.
The defendants allegedly arrived together in a blue truck and assaulted John Doe 1 using wooden sticks, metal poles, rocks, and other blunt objects. When John Doe 2 attempted to intervene, the defendants allegedly assaulted him as well. John Doe 2 sustained a broken arm, severe head and facial injuries, partial loss of an ear, and bleeding in the brain.
The defendants are charged with second degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. They will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, all three defendants face up to life in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Jake).pdfAn indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
TD Bank Insider Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Colombian ATM Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
A former New Jersey-based employee of TD Bank, N.A., Oscar Marcel Nunez-Flores (Nunez), pleaded guilty today to accepting bribes in return for facilitating a money laundering network’s movement of over $26 million to Colombia through TD Bank accounts.
“The defendant afforded his co-conspirators unfettered access to TD Bank, while lining his own pockets in the process,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Our financial professionals are vital gatekeepers against money laundering and other crimes in the financial services industry. The Criminal Division will hold banking professionals who abuse their positions to account to ensure the protection of our financial system.”
“This case shows how complex money laundering schemes often depend on insiders who are willing to bend — or break — basic safeguards,” said Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello. “Our office will continue to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who turn financial institutions into vehicles for large-scale criminal activity.”
“Transnational criminal organizations exploit borders, geography, and communities but they cannot exploit our resolve,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Miranda of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Caribbean Field Division. “In the DEA Caribbean Field Division, we intercept threats before they reach American streets. This is not regional work. This is national security. Our agents, analysts, and partners stand on that front line every day with discipline, courage, and purpose.”
“By exploiting his position at TD Bank for his own gain, Mr. Nunez enabled the movement of millions of illicit dollars overseas,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Newark Field Office. “This case underscores the critical role IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners play in dismantling complex financial schemes that threaten the integrity of our banking system.”
“The defendant in this case abused his position as an employee at TD Bank by accepting bribes in return for enabling a money laundering network’s movement of millions of dollars from the United States to Columbia,” said Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), New York Region. “The FDIC OIG, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and hold accountable bank insiders who violate their positions of trust and commit financial crimes that threaten the safety and soundness of our Nation’s banks.”
According to court filings, beginning in March 2021 and until his arrest in October 2023, Nunez, 34, of Plainfield, New Jersey, then a TD Bank employee in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, accepted bribes and leveraged his position to facilitate a money laundering network’s expatriation of over $26 million from the United States to Colombia. Nunez opened dozens of accounts in the names of shell companies and often opened the accounts without any purported customer present. The accounts Nunez opened for laundering received over 600 debit cards, which Nunez largely issued himself. These debit cards were used to make over 120,000 withdrawals at ATMs throughout Colombia. Nunez also shipped debit cards directly to a co-conspirator in Colombia. He also registered shell companies in New Jersey and then opened accounts in their names at TD Bank in exchange for a fee ranging from approximately $500 to $2,500, which was typically paid either in cash or through a peer-to-peer digital payment network.
Nunez pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and for receipt of bribes by a bank employee. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of receipt of bribes by a bank employee carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 or three times the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater.
The DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and FDIC-OIG investigated the case. The department also thanks the Morristown Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington for their assistance with the investigation.
Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 262 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On January 21, 2026, Santiago Ortiz-Ruvalcaba, 30 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to five counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Ortiz-Ruvalcaba was sentenced to 262 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Ortiz-Ruvalcaba sold methamphetamine to buyers on five occasions from November 2023 to January 2025. During one of the sales, Ortiz-Ruvalcaba also sold fentanyl and two firearms. During a search of Ortiz-Ruvalcaba’s house, police found a scale for weighing drugs, baggies, ammunition, and a handgun. Ortiz-Ruvalcaba has associations with the Latin Kings gang and multiple prior felony convictions.
“Ortiz-Ruvalcaba trafficked both drugs and guns—an extremely dangerous mix,” said United States Attorney Mildred. “The sentence imposed today sends a clear message: The scourges of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and violence are not welcome in our community, and criminals like Ortiz-Ruvalcaba will be brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Indiana State Police, the St. Joseph County Police Department, the Mishawaka Police Department, and the Pokagon Tribal Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander and Acting Criminal Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey.
Sinaloa cartel driver convicted for role in drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
VICTORIA, Texas – A 51-year-old Harlingen resident has been convicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for less than an hour before convicting Jimenez James Love guilty following a two-day trial.
“For too long, the Sinaloa Cartel and other foreign terrorist organizations relied on drug couriers to finance their campaigns of violence and terror. That ends now,” said Ganjei. “By transporting the hidden narcotics, Love engaged in the calculated deception cartels have used to flood our streets with these poisons. His conviction demonstrates my office’s resolve to dismantle the financial networks that sustain these terrorists.”
The investigation began June 30, 2021, when law enforcement discovered Love was transporting methamphetamine and fentanyl concealed in the gas tank of his girlfriend’s vehicle.
At trial, the jury heard how authorities had conducted a traffic stop and discovered approximately 11 kilograms of methamphetamine and 5.32 kilograms of fentanyl.
Love was hired as a driver to transport drugs for the Sinaloa Cartel. Love’s load was one of many shipments this arm of the organization had made. Testimony revealed that the number of shipments was so vast that an accurate number of shipments could not be determined. However, evidence revealed the single load of fentanyl that Love was carrying contained over two million potential lethal doses.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that Love was not involved in an ongoing drug trafficking operation. The jury did not believe the claims and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 17. At that time, Love faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine on both conspiracy counts.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth prosecuted the case.
Seattle man arrested with twenty “ghost guns” and more than 100 Glock switches sentenced to 27 months in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 26-year-old Seattle man was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 27 months in prison for possession of a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Andre Justice Atwater was taken into custody in June 2024, following the BB-gun shooting of two men in the parking lot of his International District apartment. Atwater was identified as the shooter, and when Seattle Police searched his apartment, they found more than 25 guns – 20 of them privately manufactured ‘ghost guns,’ and 103 ‘Glock switches’ devices that turn a semi-automatic Glock handgun into an automatic fire machine gun.
“This is a very serious offense,” said U.S. District Judge James L. Robart. “(The most common illegal use for) 3D printers is for coming up with illegal firearms.”
According to records filed in the case, when law enforcement searched Atwater’s apartment, they found one of the bedrooms had been turned
into a workshop for the production of firearms. Atwater had a 3D printer and gunsmith tools. In a gun safe they found 25 firearms, 20 of them unregistered homemade ‘ghost guns.’ Three of the Glock switch devices had been filed down for installation into a firearm. Atwater also possessed two silencers. Unregistered silencers and unregistered machine guns are illegal to possess under federal law. The 103 Glock switches seized in the apartment is the largest seizure of Glock switches in the Western District of Washington.
In asking for a three-year prison term Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg wrote to the court, “…(T)he sheer volume of firearms Atwater possessed (and likely manufactured himself), and the large quantity of 103 machinegun conversion devices, is consistent with his present and/or future intent to sell the firearms and Glock switches. But for the fortuitous law enforcement intervention, Atwater had the potential to supply the streets of Seattle with dangerous firearms and machinegun devices – all or most of which would have inevitably ended up in the hands of dangerous individuals.”
Judge Robart ordered that Atwater be on supervised release for three years following prison. Atwater was sentenced in King County Superior Court to nine months in prison for the BB-gun assaults.
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Russian-U.S. National Sentenced for Attempting to Illegally Export Aircraft to RussiaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — On Jan. 15, 2026, Sergey Nechaev, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was sentenced in federal court to 41 months in prison with three years of supervised release for his role in attempting to illegally export aircraft to Russia. Nechaev, 49, was arrested in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in September 2025 to attempting to export controlled goods without a license in violation of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), smuggling goods contrary to U.S. law, and causing the submission of false and misleading information in Electronic Export Information paperwork submitted through the Automated Export System.
“Export control laws exist to protect our national security and prevent sensitive items from falling into the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap for the Southern District of Georgia. “When individuals evade these laws, they undermine the safety of our country and its allies. The Southern District of Georgia will continue to aggressively prosecute those who do so.”
According to court documents, between September 2022 and March 2023, Nechaev engaged in a scheme to violate and evade U.S. export control laws and regulations by attempting to smuggle two Cessna aircraft from the United States to Russia by transshipping them through Armenia. Specifically, after the U.S. government imposed stricter controls on Russia in February 2022, Nechaev attempted to export a 1968 Cessna 172K and a 1973 Cessna, valued together at approximately $170,000, to a purported Russian flight school, without the required license or authorization from the Department of Commerce. Nechaev wrote to a Russian co-conspirator (Russian Co-Conspirator 1): “I continue the dialogue (fight) with brokers. I have an idea to send it on our own to Turkey, but I’m afraid it can get stuck.” Nechaev’s co-conspirator told him: “Maybe don’t risk it?”
To conceal the true end user and destination of the aircraft, Nechaev falsely represented that the end user and destination were in Armenia. Specifically, Nechaev first told a U.S. based freight forwarder that the end user of the planes would be a company in Türkiye. When questioned, Nechaev changed the end user to another company in Türkiye, and then to a company located in Armenia. The U.S.-based freight forwarder noted that “the only company with this name is in Moscow,” and Nechaev replied “I am on the phone with them now . . . [C]ompany is registered in Armenia, definitely I agree with you 100% with that Moscow reference. is not good at all.”
Nechaev then sent the finalized falsified export paperwork to co-conspirators at a Russia-based shipping company and communicated with the Russian shipping company employees about trans-shipping the aircraft to Russia from Türkiye or Armenia. In that correspondence, Nechaev provided the Russian shipping company with Co-Conspirator 1’s contact information and wrote “Please include [Co-Conspirator 1] in the correspondence” and “He will conclude the contract.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner for the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
03-26
Russellville Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Jackson Whitt will spend 210 months in federal prison for attempted production of child pornography. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
On May 7, 2024, Whitt, 29, of Russellville, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 17 counts of attempted production of child pornography, five counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. On February 6, 2025, Whitt pleaded guilty to attempted production of child pornography. Judge Moody also sentenced Whitt to 10 years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation revealed that on January 18, 2024, a parent contacted local law enforcement stating that her high school daughter allowed her friend, whose phone was broken, to borrow her phone to log into her Instagram account. The mother stated that when the daughter received the phone back from her friend, she noticed the Instagram account was still open under her friend’s account. The mother stated both she and her daughter observed explicit and obscene messages between the friend and an adult male, later identified as Whitt, on the Instagram account. Whitt had sent the minor victim numerous sexual images, videos, and messages. Whitt asked the minor victim to have phone sex with him and send him various photographs of her nude body parts.
On January 25, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant for Whitt’s residence and seized multiple electronic evidence. Whitt’s cell phone contained approximately 150 different sexually explicit images of the minor victim and at least two videos. During an online chat with the minor victim, Whitt requested the minor victim send him videos of her engaged in sadistic sexual behavior for his own self-gratification. Whitt asked for photographs of the minor victim’s full body, her breasts, and her genitals. During a search of Whitt’s phone, investigators also observed several videos of child sexual abuse material of different children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Parents are encouraged to always monitor your children’s online activity.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from the Eufaula (Oklahoma) Police Department, Pope County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Arkansas State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Shelby Shelton.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Round Rock Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Building, Possessing MachinegunsRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – A Round Rock man was sentenced in a federal court in Austin today to 30 months in prison for possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, Ashton Blake Donaldson, 22, knowingly built an illegal machinegun—specifically a fully-automatic .300 AAC Blackout caliber AR-platform pistol—and kept it in a commercial storage unit that he used and controlled.
Donaldson was arrested on May 22, 2025, after he sold multiple privately manufactured machineguns to an undercover agent. He was charged with two counts of possession and transfer of a machinegun and one count of possession of a machinegun. Donaldson pleaded guilty to the third count on July 24, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Round Rock Police Department, and Austin Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Buie prosecuted the case.
###
Roofing Contractor Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced ANGELO DELMARO, 49, of Farmington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to eight months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release for tax evasion. Delmaro also must perform 200 hours of community service while on supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, since at least 2012, Delmaro has owned and operated commercial roofing businesses in Connecticut, initially doing business as “Value Roofing,” then “Roofing Services of New England,” and most recently as “Roofing Services.” The businesses also provided paving services. None of Delmaro’s companies registered with the Connecticut Secretary of State or had a federal Taxpayer Identification Number. From 2012 to 2022, Delmaro’s companies earned approximately $12.7 million in customer receipts, but Delmaro paid his workers in cash, never filed income or payroll tax returns for himself or the business, and took several steps to conceal income and operating expenses from the IRS.
As part of his tax evasion scheme, Delmaro and others associated with his business cashed checks from customers at various check cashing businesses instead of depositing them into bank accounts. Delmaro provided the check cashers with addresses associated with UPS mailboxes rather than his home address. When the check cashers filed Currency Transaction Reports (“CTRs”), the IRS only had a UPS mailbox location to try to identify source of income.
Delmaro also had customers file false Forms 1099 made out to a family member, rather than his business, or made out to Delmaro himself, making income attribution more difficult. At times, when a customer requested that Delmaro provide a completed Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, Form W-9, Delmaro worked with his father to prepare a false W-9 that included the name and social security number of his father and a UPS mailbox address. Delmaro sometimes provided customers with W-9 forms using false identities, such as “Harvey Rubino” or “Tony Stano,” which the customers used on the 1099. Delmaro’s father used an alias, which differed from the name and information Delmaro provided to the customer.
Judge Nagala ordered Delmaro to pay restitution of $630,869 to the IRS.
Delmaro pleaded guilty on September 24, 2025.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
Retired DEA agent going to prison for 5 years for conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to distribute controlled substancesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that retired Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Joseph Bongiovanni, 61, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, four counts of obstruction of justice, and one count of false statement to law enforcement, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph M. Tripi, Nicholas T Cooper, and Casey L. Chalbeck, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that between 1998 and February 1, 2019, Bongiovanni served as a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. From 2001 until his retirement, he was assigned to the Buffalo Resident Office. Bongiovanni used his position as a DEA special agent to defraud the DEA, an agency that is a part of the Department of Justice and the Executive Branch of the United States government, by violating his oath to the United States Constitution and duty to enforce the drug laws of the United States. As a part of his agreement to defraud the United States in violation of his oath and duty, and as part of his agreement to accept bribes, Bongiovanni protected his friends, associates, and individuals he believed were members or associates of Italian Organized Crime in Buffalo, from investigation, arrest, and prosecution. Bongiovanni provided Michael Masecchia, a former Buffalo School teacher with connections to Italian Organized Crime, and others involved in the distribution of substantial quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and fentanyl pills, by providing law enforcement sensitive information about the existence of investigations, the identities of informants, and about sensitive law enforcement techniques and tactics. As part of his protection and in furtherance of his conspiracy to defraud the DEA, Bongiovanni opened a case file within the DEA, which he then used to obtain to ensure that other state and local law enforcement agencies, and federal agents, would defer the investigation of the individuals that the defendant was protecting to the defendant. Bongiovanni also used the DEA case file to enter information pertaining to drug traffickers he was protecting into deconfliction databases in order to alert himself if any other members of law enforcement were investigating coconspirators Bongiovanni was protecting.
Relatedly, Bongiovanni was convicted of obstruction of justice and making materially false statements to an agent of the United States for preparing false and fraudulent official DEA memoranda, and making false statements to agents investigating Bongiovanni, to conceal his relationship with Peter Gerace Jr., an individual who was under investigation by the DEA, and others for drug trafficking and related offenses.
“As a member of law enforcement, this defendant was in a position of trust in the eyes of the public,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “However, his criminal actions over the course of 10-plus years eroded that public trust and tarnished the reputation of the men and women in law enforcement who uphold justice with honesty and integrity every day.”
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with significant authority and violating that trust will not be tolerated. Today’s sentencing affirms that no one is above the law,” said Philip Tejera, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “Bongiovanni’s actions, however, do not represent the vast majority of law enforcement officers who protect their communities with integrity and honor. The FBI, and our law enforcement partners, remain committed to accountability and protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system.”
“Bongiovanni flagrantly betrayed his oath, and the trust placed in him by the American people. Instead of upholding the law, he became the very criminal he was sworn to pursue,” said Erin Keegan, HSI Buffalo Special-Agent-in Charge. “Bongiovanni thought he was above the law, but today’s sentence proves otherwise. We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure those who abuse positions of power are held accountable.”
“The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to ensuring the integrity of the Department’s law enforcement personnel by investigating alleged misconduct and supporting criminal prosecution when warranted by the evidence,” stated OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Ryan Geach. “The jury’s verdict in this case and today’s sentencing affirm the OIG’s mission.”
“The sentencing today of retired DEA Special Agent Joseph Bongiovanni sends a powerful message that those who betray their badge will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” stated DEA Northeast Associate Chief of Operations Frank Tarentino. “Any abuse of authority is a breach of trust that not only undermines public confidence but also erodes the foundation of integrity upon which society relies.”
Michael Masecchia was previously convicted and sentenced to serve seven years in prison. Peter Gerace Jr. was convicted by a federal jury and is awaiting sentencing.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera; and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General New York Field Office Special Agent-in-Charge Ryan Geach. The Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarantino, III, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti also assisted in the investigation.
# # # #
Repeat Offender Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident with prior criminal convictions, including for domestic violence, was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
Devon Marquell Rambo, 28, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Jan. 21. Rambo was found guilty at trial on May 28, 2025, of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our office will prosecute repeat offenders with violent criminal records when they are caught illegally possessing firearms in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R “Will” Keyes. “We are grateful for the continued strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners at every level, working with us for safer communities.”
“When convicted felons repeatedly ignore the law and continue to carry guns, they leave us no choice but to bring the full force of federal prosecution,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, ATF Atlanta Field Division. “This verdict sends a clear message: We are watching, we are acting and we are not backing down.”
“We are grateful for the assistance that we have been receiving from the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold offenders accountable,” said Albany Police Chief Michael Persley. “I hope this case serves as a warning that the illegal possession of weapons is not tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Albany Police Department (APD) officers responded to a report of shooting and disorderly conduct on Sept. 20, 2024, at around 10:30 a.m. at a residence on Avalon Avenue. Based on this, the officers obtained a search warrant and lawfully executed that search warrant on the residence. Officers found Rambo alone at the house. After he was apprehended, officers searched the residence, discovering that Rambo had covered his wife’s dog, furniture and several areas of the home with oil, which would make it difficult for officers to arrest him.
During the search, they also found a black safe in one of the rooms, which contained a pistol and a semi-automatic rifle, two 9mm pistol magazines, one rifle magazine and ammunition along with Rambo’s social security card, credit card and Texas inmate identification card. Rambo has prior felony convictions in Texas for domestic violence and burglary. There was also an active arrest warrant out of Texas for aggravated assault at the time of this incident in Georgia. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Albany Police Department with assistance from the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Lim and Matthew Redavid prosecuted the case for the Government.
Raytown Man Pleads Guilty to Using Gun During CVS RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Raytown, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to using a firearm during an armed robbery of a CVS pharmacy in Kansas City, Mo.
Ta’Rod Glenel Perkins, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuan M. Counts to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, specifically a robbery of a CVS pharmacy store.
According to the written plea agreement, Perkins admitted that on February 13, 2025, he entered a CVS in Kansas City, Mo., wearing a Nike mask, black Nike coat, blue jeans, and gloves. Witnesses reported that the robber had a handgun and stated: “I want promethazine and oxy. I don’t want any trouble. Just give me promethazine and oxy.” Perkins jumped over the counter and grabbed a red tub that was filled with controlled substances. CVS employees were able to place a tracking device in the red tub that Perkins stole. This tracker led investigators to a residence in Belton, Mo., where Perkins was found. Investigators obtained a search warrant of the residence and found clothing worn by the robber during the robbery. A firearm was later recovered from a neighbor who found it hidden under a barbeque grill on his deck. Law enforcement officials swabbed the firearm for genetic material and DNA comparative analysis tended to show that Perkins’s DNA was present on the firearm.
Under federal statutes, Ta’Rod Glenel Perkins is subject to a sentence of up to life in federal prison and a minimum sentence of five years of imprisonment without parole. 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 United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, the Belton, Mo. Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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.
Rapids Theatre owner and co-defendant sentenced for defrauding COVID programs out of more than $1.8 millionRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John L. Hutchins, 72, of Lewiston, NY, and Roberto Soliman, 45, of Niagara Falls, NY, who were convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, were sentenced by Judge Meredith A. Vacca. Hutchins was sentenced to serve 14 months in prison, while Soliman was sentenced to serve 20 months. Both defendants were also ordered to pay full restitution to the Small Business Administration and the victim banks.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Bonanno and Douglas A. C. Penrose, who handled the case, stated that between March 2020, and March 2024, Hutchins and Soliman conspired with others to file fraudulent loan applications to obtain money through Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). The loans available for these programs were designed to provide emergency financial assistance pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act). Hutchins and Soliman applied for loans under the following companies, which were owned by Hutchins:
• Rapids Theatre Niagara Falls, USA, Inc.
• 1711 Main, LLC
• Bear Creek Entertainment, LLC
• Hutch Enterprises, LLC
• The Hutchins Agency, LLC
• CWE Entertainment, Corp. (owned by defendant Soliman)
Between March and August 2020, Hutchins and Soliman received Economic Injury Disaster Loans totaling $779,500.00, SVOG loans totaling $989,905.05 and PPP loans totaling $115,978. In support of each of the loans, Hutchins and Soliman submitted false revenue and expense figures for the businesses on the loan applications.
“These defendants conspired with others to take advantage of government programs designed to assist struggling businesses during the COVID 19 epidemic,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “By submitting false and fraudulent applications, Hutchins and Soliman lined their own pockets, thereby depriving struggling businesses that were actually eligible for this money.
“Hutchins and Soliman abused a system of benefits put in place specifically for businesses experiencing hardships. Instead of using the money legitimately, the pair stole nearly $2 million from the program while others still waited in line. Today’s sentencing means that each of these fraudsters will now face the punishment of their illicit, greedy behavior,” said Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS-CI New York.
The sentencings are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Chavis, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Rose Brophy, Director of Field Operations, and the New York State Office of Professional Discipline.
# # # #
Putnam County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Richard Charles Cart, 42, of Poca, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 28, 2025, Cart sold a Ruger model LCP .380-caliber pistol at a pawn shop in Charleston.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Cart knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for grand larceny in Kanawha Circuit Court on May 23, 2022, and for possession of methamphetamine in Jackson County, Georgia, Superior Court on August 8, 2019.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-108.
###
Ponzi Schemer Admits Bilking Investors in Missouri, Elsewhere out of $25 MillionRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former Texas-based investment adviser on Wednesday admitted running a Ponzi scheme that cost investors in Missouri and elsewhere more than $25 million.
Siddharth Jawahar, 38, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to three counts of wire fraud.
Jawahar ran a Texas-based investment company called Swiftarc Capital LLC. He initially invested in a diverse array of securities, but in 2015, began investing client funds in a single investment, Philip Morris Pakistan (PMP). Eventually, 99% of client funds were consolidated into PMP. When the value of PMP declined, Jawahar did not tell investors, instead claiming that shares were trading at a much higher price and that they were making profits. Jawahar used money from new investors to repay older investors and to fuel an extravagant lifestyle that included flights on private planes, stays at luxury hotels and expensive outings at fancy restaurants.
Jawahar on Wednesday also admitted misleading investors by falsely entering into agreements in which he agreed to invest their money in a specific company or companies, including one Missouri investor who gave him $175,000, another Missouri investor who gave him $75,000, a New York investor who handed over $350,000 and an Ohio investor who gave him $250,000. Jawahar never made the promised investments.
From about July 2016 through December 2023, Jawahar took in more than $35 million from Swiftarc investors but invested only about $10 million.
Jawahar also managed additional entities that he utilized during his scheme, including Swiftarc Fund LP, Swiftarc LLC, Swiftarc Holdings, SJ Investment Holdings LLC, Order of Magnitude Ventures LLC, Extra Sensory Perception Inc., Swiftarc Growth Fund LP, Swiftarc Opportunities Fund LP, SJ Investment Holdings LLC, SV Labs SPV 1 LP, Swiftarc Venture Labs Fund GP LLC, SJDB Ventures LLC, Swiftarc Ventures LLC, Swiftarc Venture Labs Fund LP, Swiftarc Telehealth Labs Fund LP, NI Stubbs LLC and Swiftarc Beauty Fund LP.
Jawahar is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21. The wire fraud charges are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both. He will also be ordered to repay investors.
The FBI and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
Penitas resident sentenced for impeding federal law enforcement during arrest of othersRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 19-year-old South Texas man has been ordered to federal prison for interfering with officers in the course of their duties, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Diego Masiel Torres pleaded guilty Oct. 29, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Torres to serve six months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court described Torres’ conduct as unlawful towards someone performing their official duties. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his sentence is warranted as no one is above the law.
“There is, at present, an unfortunate belief that the public can freely obstruct law enforcement from carrying out their duties, and do so without consequence. Today’s sentence shows just how mistaken that belief is," said Ganjei. “If you want to express your disagreement with a particular federal law or policy, there is a right way to do so, and a wrong way — and tangling with the police is one hundred percent always the wrong way. Today, Mr. Torres learned that lesson the hard way.”
“Those who endanger our agents and undermine the safety of our communities will face serious consequences,” said acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of HSI San Antonio. “Interfering with federal law enforcement is a grave offense, and today’s sentencing makes clear that such actions will be met with swift and decisive justice.”
On Aug. 27, 2025, authorities were conducting a consensual worksite enforcement operation in Harlingen. Upon their arrival, several people fled from the area. While authorities attempted to apprehend an illegal alien, Torres attempted to physically interfere by trying to remove the individual from custody and placing the law enforcement officer in a chokehold. Additional agents intervened and subsequently arrested Torres.
He has been and will remain in custody.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Salazar prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Passaic County Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A New Jersey man was sentenced today to 12 years in prison following his conviction for drug trafficking conspiracy and international promotional money laundering conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, William Panzera, 53, of North Haledon, was a member of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues. Panzera and other members of the conspiracy agreed to import and distribute controlled substances and analogues, including fentanyl analogues, MDMA, methylone and ketamine. The co-conspirators placed orders with a source in China and agreed to distribute, and did distribute, the controlled substances and analogues in New Jersey, both in bulk and in the form of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that actually contained fentanyl analogues. In total, they imported over a metric ton of fentanyl-related substances and other drugs into the United States. They also sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to China using wire transfers and Bitcoin to pay for the drugs.
Panzera was convicted at trial in January 2025. Eight other defendants have previously pleaded guilty in related cases.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.
The Newark Field Division of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation, with assistance from HSI in Philadelphia, the FBI Newark Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Newark Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New Jersey, New York and Kentucky, the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Stephen Sola of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Hasapidis-Sferra for the District of New Jersey. Financial Investigator Kathryn Montemorra of MNF supported the investigation.
Panama City Felon Indicted for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – John D. Ford, 50, of Panama City, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Ford appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for February 23, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
Ford faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Owner of Money Service Business Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced for Conspiring to Launder Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced to federal prison today for laundering money for drug traffickers in the Portland metropolitan area through her money service business La Popular.
Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes, 40, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Barerra Orantes owned and operated La Popular stores in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Woodburn, Odell, and Canby, Oregon, as well as in Vancouver, Washington. From August through November 2024, La Popular stores sent over $4.2 million dollars through wire transfers to places in Mexico associated with drug trafficking. During this same time period, Barrera Orantes and other co-conspirators accepted $49,500 in cash that was represented as drug proceeds and laundered it through La Popular stores.
Barrera Orantes accepted cash she believed was generated from drug dealing, and in exchange for a 10% commission, conducted wire transactions using techniques that made the laundered funds harder to detect, including using false sender information, structuring wire transfers into smaller amounts, and using different La Popular stores to help conceal the drug proceeds.
On April 16, 2025, investigators executed federal search warrants at Barrera Orantes’ Beaverton residence and three La Popular stores in Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Vancouver and arrested Barrera Orantes. During the warrants, agents seized more than $300,000 in cash, a 2021 Cadillac Escalade, jewelry, and high-end clothing.
On May 13, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 23-count indictment charging Barrera Orantes with money laundering and conspiracy, failure to file a currency transaction report, and failure to file a suspicious activity report.
On October 24, 2025, Barrera Orantes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. She also agreed to forfeit her Beaverton residence and all the seized cash and other property involved in her money laundering offense.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher L. Cardani and Julia Jarrett prosecuted the case.
Operation Tidal Wave: Seven Indicted in $7.1 Million Money Laundering Conspiracy Following Investigation That Resulted in One of the Largest-Ever Firearms Seizures in the History of the Northern District of New YorkRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Iziah Cox, 38, of Albany, Kaya Cox, 41, of Albany, Sincere Cox, 26, of Albany, Davion Carrington, 38, of Albany, Jahmell Manso, 27, of Albany, Tiffany Banks, 42, of Albany, and Tamicca Jennings, 34, of Troy, New York were charged last week with conspiring to launder $7.1 million in proceeds of a complex fraud scheme with victims from all over the world, according to an indictment unsealed earlier today. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), made the announcement.
The indictment is the latest result in the Operation Tidal Wave investigation led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI’s Albany Regional Financial Crimes Task Force that resulted in the seizure of 135 firearms last August. See https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/two-albany-men-charged-fraud-investigation-resulted-one-largest-ever-firearms-seizures.
According to the indictment and documents previously filed in the case, Iziah Cox and his coconspirators were part of a scheme to defraud businesses, individuals, and financial institutions and launder over $7.1 million in illegal proceeds through transactions designed to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of their ill-gotten gains. The victims of the fraud were located all over the world, and many of them were businesses that were victimized by business email compromises (“BECs”). Through these BECs, the businesses received an email that appeared to be from a legitimate company with which they had an ongoing financial relationship. But the email accounts were controlled by members of the conspiracy, who instructed the businesses to wire future payments to bank accounts controlled by other coconspirators. To make the bank accounts appear legitimate and trick the victims and financial institutions into authorizing the payments, the conspirators registered “doing business as” (“DBA”) entities, in Albany County and elsewhere, in the names of real companies from all over the world. Those DBA registrations were then used by the conspirators to open bank accounts in the names of those companies, which in turn were used to receive and rapidly disburse the fraud proceeds.
The investigation began last summer after a local financial institution, headquartered in Albany, New York, alerted the FBI to a series of account openings and fraudulent financial transactions at its Capital Region branches. On August 19, 2025, the FBI’s Albany Regional Financial Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of members of local, state, and federal agencies, executed search warrants at numerous locations throughout the Capital Region. In executing those warrants, agents uncovered and seized a total of 135 firearms, including machineguns, high-capacity magazines, and firearms with obliterated serial numbers.
Iziah Cox was separately charged by the grand jury with illegal possession of a firearm as a felon in connection with the firearms seizure.
“I commend the tireless work of my Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the FBI, the IRS, and the Albany and Troy Police Departments in spearheading this investigation and terminating this worldwide fraud scheme,” Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone said. “I also thank our local banking partners for their hawkish effort in spotting this scheme, which ultimately led to law enforcement seizing scores of dangerous firearms and getting them off our streets. We have all saved lives here.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “This meticulous investigation produced one of the largest weapons seizures in the Northern District of New York, and today’s indictments illustrate the staggering depth of the alleged financial fraud that led to that seizure. The alleged scheme was complex, but thanks to our invaluable private sector and state and local law enforcement partnerships – especially the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center – these individuals are all facing serious federal charges and our communities are undoubtedly safer. This investigation should send a very strong message that the FBI will not tolerate any criminal looking to fund their illicit business on the backs of hardworking Americans.”
Troy Police Chief Dan DeWolf said “the excellent partnerships with our Federal, State and local law enforcement partners are the reason for this very successful investigation. The arrests of several unscrupulous defendants and the large seizure of firearms certainly help make our communities much safer. I’m proud and grateful for the hard work of all those involved in bringing this investigation to a triumphant finish.”
Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox said, “Operation Tidal Wave indictment represents the culmination of an extensive multi-agency investigation. The message is clear, criminal activity of this magnitude will not be tolerated. We are grateful for our strong partnership with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, whose combined efforts were critical in the success of this operation.”
The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. The firearm charge against Iziah Cox carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charges in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and its Albany Regional Financial Crimes Taskforce is investigating the cases, with assistance from Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York State Comptroller’s Office, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, the Albany Police Department, the Troy Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center and the New York State Intelligence Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark, Matthew M. Paulbeck, and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the cases.
Oklahoma Man Charged with Threatening on YouTube to Kill Federal Agents and OthersRead the Press Release
Note: View complaint here.
A federal criminal complaint has been unsealed charging Taylor Ryan Prigmore, 30, of McLoud, Oklahoma, with threatening to kill federal agents and others.
“As attacks on law enforcement rise around the country, this Department of Justice will continue to identify and prosecute violent threats against the brave men and women who keep us safe,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Hiding behind a screen will not protect you from severe legal consequences.”
“This individual allegedly made statements that he would kill ICE agents and others. If you threaten to harm law enforcement officers, the FBI and our partners will find you and hold you accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “There will be no free passes for threats against the hard-working men and women who wear the badge and protect our communities.”
According to court records, on Jan. 17, the FBI received information from Google regarding several threatening statements made by a YouTube user. The YouTube account holder — alleged to be Prigmore — posted several comments on videos between May 9, 2025, and Jan. 17 threatening to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and others. Court records further reflect that Prigmore left eight threatening comments last week alone expressing his desire to kill federal agents and others. Prigmore also threatened to kill any law enforcement officers that came to his residence, stating he would kill “as many as possible.”
On Jan. 19, Prigmore was charged by complaint with communicating a threat through interstate commerce. He was arrested by the FBI the same day. He appeared yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma and was ordered detained pending trial. If found guilty as charged, Prigmore faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma joined in making today’s announcement.
The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arvo Mikkanen and Matt Dillon for the Western District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.
A complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Roderick Tyrone Boyd, 30, of Vandalia, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl and to aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 26, 2025, Boyd aided and abetted another individual in the sale of fentanyl and distributed a quantity of fentanyl on April 26, 2025. Both transactions occurred in Cross Lanes, West Virginia.
Boyd is scheduled to be sentenced on May 19, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-165.
###
New York Men Plead Guilty to Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy to Buy Illegal Marijuana Grow HousesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: Two New York men pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiring to defraud Maine banks of mortgage funding to buy houses used to illegally cultivate marijuana.
According to court records, Tony Liang, 37, of Brooklyn, New York, orchestrated the conspiracy to fraudulently obtain over half a million dollars in residential mortgage loans from two Maine banks. Liang and co-conspirators used the funds to purchase properties in Bucksport, Eddington, and Canaan. Throughout the loan application process, Liang emailed and DocuSigned materially false information to the banks, including by creating and submitting fake documentation. Liang and his co-conspirators misrepresented to the banks that the three properties would be used as residences. Instead, each property was used to illegally cultivate and manufacture marijuana.
Liang also pleaded guilty to maintaining a marijuana-involved premises at the Bucksport property. Liang maintained that property from January 2021 through February 2022 for the purpose of manufacturing marijuana, until a severe house fire disrupted the operation. The State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the fire, discovering the remains of the illegal marijuana grow. The surviving portion of the property was filled with grow materials, chemicals, and high-powered lighting. Charred marijuana plants, processed marijuana, and hydroponics equipment also were found.
Yongliang Deng, 35, of Queens, New York, provided his personal information and government-issued identification documentation to Liang, who used Deng’s information from November through December 2020 to apply for and obtain a residential mortgage loan from a Maine bank to buy the Eddington property. Deng used his own bank accounts to make the down payment and pay the closing costs required for the purchase, with money received through Liang. Deng granted a mortgage to the Maine bank for the Eddington property. He obtained the mortgage by misrepresenting that he would occupy and use the property as his primary residence. Liang agreed to pay Deng money each month in exchange for Deng nominally holding the property as its owner. In May 2024, federal law enforcement agents interviewed Deng. During the interview, Deng admitted that the property in Eddington was an investment which had been rented out, and that he had never resided there.
Neither defendant nor any property associated with the conspiracy was licensed through the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.
Liang and Deng each face up to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million for the mortgage fraud conspiracy. Liang also faces 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 for maintaining the marijuana-involved premises. Each defendant will be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigative reports by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and IRS-Criminal Investigations investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office.
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. The Maine HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; HSI; DEA; IRS-Criminal Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
###
New York Man Who Used Stolen Identities in U.S. Postal Service Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EZEKIEL BAILEY, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 24 months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release for using stolen identities to defraud the U.S. Postal Service.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the U.S Postal Inspection Service began an investigation after receiving reports that an individual had been passing, and attempting to pass, bad checks to purchase thousands of dollars in postage stamps from U.S. Post Offices in Connecticut and surrounding states. The investigation revealed that Bailey had used the identities of three separate victims, fake driver’s licenses, and checks linked to empty bank accounts that had been created in the victims’ names, to purchase or attempt to purchase $134,297 in stamps from U.S. Post Offices in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
On January 20, 2023, Bailey was arrested on related state charges after he attempted to purchase 25 books of postage stamps for $300 at post office in Stonington. He possessed two fake driver’s licenses in the names of identity theft victims at the time of his arrest. He was charged federally on November 26, 2024.
On September 15, 2025, Bailey pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.
New Jersey Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Targeting Jewish VictimsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Terence G. Reilly, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ALAZIM BAKER with two counts of committing hate crimes in connection with his assaults of Jewish victims in Manhattan on October 27, 2025. BAKER was arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.
“As alleged, Alazim Baker deliberately targeted Jewish victims with violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Violence motivated by antisemitism or any other anti-faith bias has no place in this great city. Our collective strength as a city is the result of mutual respect for each other’s beliefs and rule of law. The women and men of our Office are dedicated to protecting life, property and faith.”
“Alazim Baker allegedly committed despicable hate crimes against multiple members of the Jewish community,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Terence G. Reilly. “Hate crimes like those in this indictment tear at the fabric of our communities. The FBI remains dedicated to holding perpetrators of these offenses accountable to deliver justice for victims and reaffirm to the American people that targeted violence will not be tolerated.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, other public filings, and statements previously made on the record in this case:[1]
On October 27, 2025, BAKER approached a visiting Israeli rabbi (Victim-1) while Victim-1 was walking on the block of a well-known kosher restaurant in Manhattan. BAKER repeatedly and aggressively asked Victim-1, “What is your religion?” When they approached the restaurant, BAKER refused to let Victim-1 enter. BAKER then grabbed Victim-1’s yarmulke and threw it on the floor. He then stomped on the yarmulke and spit on it before punching Victim-1 in the face. The punch caused Victim-1 to fall to the ground and into the bike lane. While Victim-1 was lying on the ground and bleeding, Baker yelled toward Victim-1, in sum and substance: “let me spit on that Jew.” The punch left bruises on Victim-1’s face and knee and resulted in Victim-1 suffering a brain bleed.
BAKER also made antisemitic statements to two individuals who sought to intervene to help Victim-1—both of whom were wearing yarmulkes. BAKER yelled, in sum and substance: “your people own everything,” “I want my reparation,” and “I’m going to jail today.” BAKER punched one of the intervening individuals (Victim-2) in the head, causing pain and swelling for several days. The other individual (Victim-3) observed brass knuckles on BAKER’s hand. After punching Victim-2, BAKER aggressively pursued Victim-3, who collided with a large, hard object while evading BAKER. The collision caused serious swelling and bruising on Victim-3’s leg for several days. During this part of the interaction, Victim-1 ran for safety into the restaurant.
* * *
BAKER, 29, of Irvington, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of committing hate crimes, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and thanked the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the New York City Police Department, and the Port Authority Police Department for their assistance.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg and Emily A. Johnson are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Montgomery County Man Who Fraudulently Obtained More Than $240,000 in Disability Benefits from the VA Sentenced to 18 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Victor Milbourne, 52, of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release, $241,690 in restitution, a $20,000 fine, and a $1,000 special assessment by United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond for defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of approximately $241,260 in benefits.
The defendant was charged by indictment in August 2022 and pleaded guilty in September of last year to 10 counts of theft of government funds.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, from December 1, 2013, through December 1, 2022, Milbourne knowingly defrauded the VA by claiming that he was severely disabled and unable to work due to service-connected injuries, in order to receive disability benefits to which he was not entitled.
In reality, the defendant led a very active lifestyle, including international travel, running his own business, and doing intensive physical workouts multiple times a week. Milbourne used the funds he stole from the VA to support his preferred lifestyle, including frequent dinners out and luxury vacations.
This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and FBI Philadelphia’s Fort Washington Resident Agency and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Bradbury and Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Scicchitano and MaryTeresa Soltis.
Monessen Resident Indicted for Violating Federal Narcotics and Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Monessen, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Anthony Crews, 52, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about June 25, 2025, Crews possessed with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The defendant is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of multiple prior felonies, including on state aggravated assault, drug trafficking, and firearm offenses. Crews also was previously convicted on a federal drug trafficking offense. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $5.5 million or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
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.
Minneapolis Gang Member Convicted of Murder and RICORead the Press Release
Following a two-week trial, a federal jury in Minneapolis convicted William Johnson today for his involvement in a violent Minneapolis street gang and a gang-related murder in August 2021.
“This is the Criminal Division’s fifth successful trial against members of this violent Minneapolis gang,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department’s firm resolve to stop violent crime in Minneapolis and around the country remains a top priority of this Administration. We will continue to obtain justice for crime victims in Minneapolis and around the country to halt senseless gang killings wherever they occur.”
“This conviction reflects sustained effort by investigators and prosecutors,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “These cases do not end with a single verdict. ATF and our partners will continue holding every individual involved in this RICO conspiracy accountable for their actions.”
“Criminal gangs who threaten and terrorize our communities will be tracked down and held accountable by the FBI and our partners,” said Acting Assistant Director Mark Remily of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The danger the Highs have brought onto our streets will not be tolerated. Today’s conviction is another step in dismantling these criminal enterprises and stopping their acts of violence.”
“William Johnson and the Highs criminal street gang did not simply commit isolated acts of violence — they imposed control through killings, robberies, and assaults, leaving the entire community to live under threat,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Chicago Field Office. “This conviction holds Johnson accountable for a murder carried out to advance a violent criminal enterprise that treated fear as a tool and human life as disposable. IRS-CI will continue working alongside our federal, state and local partners to dismantle these organizations at every level. We will follow the money, expose the structure behind the violence, and help ensure that gangs that terrorize communities in Minnesota are brought to justice.”
“Today’s conviction should put violent gang members on notice. The U. S. Postal Inspection Service will target anyone who uses the U. S. Mail to conduct and fund illegal criminal enterprises,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the U. S. Postal Inspection Service Denver Division. “Residents deserve to feel safe in their communities. We remain dedicated to tracking criminals down and bringing them to justice, no matter their affiliation.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, William Johnson, 35, of Minneapolis, was a member of the Highs — a criminal gang that controlled territory north of West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. Highs members committed murders, firearms crimes, burglaries, assaults, and robberies on behalf of the gang. As part of his membership, the gang expected Johnson to retaliate against their rivals, namely, the Lows gang, which operated south of West Broadway Avenue.
As proven at trial, the gang war between the Highs and Lows escalated when on Aug. 7, 2021, a prominent Highs member was shot and killed by a Lows member at a gas station — a notorious High’s hangout. The next day, Highs members organized a memorial for the deceased member at the gas station. During the memorial, they distributed firearms and told one another to retaliate against Lows members for the murder. Defendant Johnson and other Highs conspirators all attended.
Later that day, Johnson and two other Highs members went looking for Lows members to shoot and kill. Johnson drove himself and others to Skyline Market, a well-known favorite Lows’ hangout. Seeing the victim and mistakenly believing him to be a Lows member, they shot at him inside of the store. The victim ran from the store and into the street where another Highs member was driving two juveniles in a stolen Porsche. The juveniles exited the vehicle and chased the victim into a nearby alley where they fired additional shots at him. He died at the scene. Johnson drove the two Highs members away and back to the memorial site.
The defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. His sentencing date has yet to be set by the court. Two other defendants in prior trials in this case, Dantrell Johnson and Gregory Hamilton, have already been sentenced to life in prison. A third co-defendant, Keon Pruitt, was sentenced to over 37 years in prison. Numerous other Highs members have been sentenced to penalties in excess of ten years.
To date, 42 Highs members or associates have been convicted of federal charges.
The ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U. S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the case, with assistance from the U. S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Brian Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section and Assistant U. S. Attorneys Albania Concepcion, Carla J. Baumel, and Rebecca E. Kline of the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.
Middle District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More Than $47.8 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
Tampa ― U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced today that the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) collected $47,802,832.17 related to local criminal and civil matters in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 (FY 2025). Of this amount, $35,353,280.69 was collected in criminal cases and $12,449,551.48 was collected in civil actions.
The MDFL’s Civil Division, led by Civil Chief Randy Harwell, recovered a total of $163,931,176.51 on behalf of federal agencies and programs in affirmative civil enforcement cases during the last fiscal year. This amount has two components. In addition to civil recoveries in local cases noted above, the District’s Civil Division also joins forces with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and with the Department of Justice Civil Frauds Section to address fraud schemes and illegal practices extending beyond district boundaries. The MDFL’s Civil Division recovered an additional $151,481,625.03 in FY 2025 in these jointly handled cases.
“The Middle District of Florida has a proud record of achievement in the recovery of losses suffered by crime victims and federal programs damaged by white collar fraud schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Kehoe. “The substantial criminal and civil penalties collected in the past fiscal year is tangible evidence of our commitment to this vitally important part of our district’s mission.”
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigation divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The MDFL’s Asset Recovery Division, led by Acting Chief Nicole Andrejko, recovered a total of $35,393,845.89. This amount has two components―criminal monetary penalties and forfeiture. First, in addition to the $35,353,280.69 in criminal monetary penalties collected in cases prosecuted by the District, the Asset Recovery Division worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $40,565.20 in criminal monetary penalties in cases pursued jointly by these offices.
Additionally, the District’s Asset Recovery Division, working with partner agencies, forfeited $28,968,242 from criminal and civil asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. For instance, in FY 2025, $22,441,475 forfeited in the MDFL was returned to victims of the criminal offenses, and more than $2,203,808 was shared with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Significant Affirmative Civil Enforcement Cases
United States ex rel. Novak v. Walgreens Boots Alliance
Case no. 1:15-cv-5452 (N.D. Ill.)
Four independent qui tam whistleblowers filed lawsuits under the False Claims Act in various districts around the country, including one in the Middle District of Florida captioned United States ex rel. K&V Group v. Walgreens Boots Alliance, et al., case no. 8:19-cv-2736-MSS-CPT (M.D. Fla.). Each whistleblower alleged that Walgreens had engaged in a nationwide scheme to defraud federal and state healthcare programs by dispensing dangerous opioid medications pursuant to facially illegitimate prescriptions. Working jointly with the Department of Justice Civil Frauds Section and Federal Programs Branch, as well as with a number of other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, the Middle District of Florida investigated these claims and corroborated the allegation that Walgreens had ignored “red flags” associated with opioid prescriptions on a nationwide basis, and falsely billed government programs for having dispensed those medications. The United States transferred the qui tam cases to the Northern District of Illinois where Walgreens is headquartered and filed a complaint in January 2025. In April 2025, the United States announced a settlement of these allegations in return for $350 million, in what is the largest civil Controlled Substances Act settlement in MDFL history.
Press release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/walgreens-agrees-pay-350m-illegally-filling-unlawful-opioid-prescriptions-and-submitting
United States ex rel. Kane v. Semler Scientific, Inc.
Case no. 3:16-cv-1516 (M.D. Fla.)
A whistleblower filed a complaint in the Jacksonville Division of the Middle District of Florida alleging that Semler Scientific, a manufacturer of a device used for non-invasive vascular testing services, conspired with a distributor of the device (C.R. Bard, Inc.), to defraud Medicare through a scheme that falsely billed federal healthcare programs for testing services used in assessing certain arterial diseases. Working jointly with the Department of Justice Civil Frauds Section, the MDFL Civil Division corroborated the allegation that these defendants caused false billings to the Medicare program for services that did not meet the program’s reimbursement requirements. On September 26, 2025, the United States announced settlements with Semler Scientific and Bard to resolve these claims for $29.75 million and $7.2 million, respectively.
Press release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/semler-scientific-inc-and-bard-peripheral-vascular-inc-pay-nearly-37m-resolve-false-claims
United States ex rel. Stuckmeyer et al. v. LiveCare Health
Case no. 8:22-cv-1880 (M.D. Fla.)
In August 2022, a whistleblower filed a lawsuit under the False Claims Act in the Middle District of Florida alleging that LiveCare had entered into an agreement with a marketing company that violated the federal anti-kickback statute. In July 2023, LiveCare made a voluntary disclosure of an agreement that paid a marketing company a flat rate for lead generation services. LiveCare cooperated with the government’s investigation and in December 2024, agreed to pay the United States $4.9 million to resolve the claims in full.
Press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/livecare-inc-agrees-pay-49-million-resolve-false-claims-act-allegations
United States v. Mahir Taneja
Case No. 8:21-cv-2102 (M.D. Fla.)
The United States filed a civil suit in the Middle District of Florida in January 2021 alleging that a Tampa investor, Mahir Taneja, had conspired with Larry Smith and Smith’s pharmacy, Oldsmar Pharmacy, LLC, as well as with a marketing company, Centurion, Inc., to defraud the TriCare health program through a kickback scheme associated with compounded pain creams. Smith resolved the civil claims against him through an ability to pay agreement that paid the government $600,000. After four years of litigation, the United States announced a settlement that paid $2 million in resolution of its claims with Taneja.
Press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/tampa-man-agrees-pay-us-government-2-million-his-role-medical-kickback-scheme
Brandon Eye Associates, LLC and Pinellas Eye Care, P.A.
Working jointly with the DOJ Civil Frauds Section, the Middle District of Florida’s Civil Division investigated allegations that two Tampa Bay area ophthalmology practices, Brandon Eye Associates and Pinellas Eye Care, had defrauded the Medicare and Medicaid programs by submitting false claims for reimbursement of ultrasound procedures that were medically unnecessary, premised upon false diagnoses, and arose from unlawful kickback arrangements. The allegations were corroborated, and ultimately the government’s claims under the False Claims Act were resolved in two separate agreements, with Brandon Eye and Pinellas Eye Care for $1.3 million and $615,000, respectively.
Press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/florida-ophthalmology-practice-agrees-pay-615000-resolve-allegations-fraudulent-claims
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/florida-ophthalmology-practice-agrees-pay-13m-resolve-allegations-fraudulent-claims
New Horizons Computer Learning Center.
The Middle District of Florida’s Civil Division participated in a national investigation into allegations that franchises of a federally subsidized provider of computer technology training had defrauded the Veterans Administration’s subsidy program in various ways, notably by paying improper incentives to recruiters for the program and by defying program rules governing the numbers of veterans who could participate in the program on a subsidized basis at any given time. The government’s claims against the Jacksonville franchise of New Horizons were resolved pre-suit for $500,000.
Press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/new-horizons-computer-learning-center-jacksonville-and-owner-resolve-gi-bill
Mexican Felon Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Multiple Firearms, Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio today to 384 months in prison for selling methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and illegal re-entry into the United States.
According to court documents, Ricardo Mujica-Calderon, 36, sold methamphetamine from his vehicle at a motel in San Antonio in January 2022. During a search warrant on his residence in April 2022, Mujica-Calderon fled through his backyard and was located approximately one block away. He falsely identified himself with a Mexican ID card in another person’s name. During his transport to jail, Mujica-Calderon slipped his left handcuff and became violent with a law enforcement officer, who was able to re-secure Mujica-Calderon.
In the search of Mujica-Calderon’s home, Drug Enforcement Administration agents found 13 kgs of methamphetamine in a guest bedroom closet and five firearms in the master bedroom, several of which were loaded with extended magazines. Also in the master bedroom, DEA agents discovered a safe containing approximately 192.5 grams of methamphetamine and 227.7 grams of cocaine, as well as $12,725 and a semi-automatic pistol that had been reported stolen.
Mujica-Calderon was named in a six-count indictment on May 4, 2022. On Oct. 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 kgs of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of illegal re-entry into the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Jason K. Pulliam presided over the case.
“This successful prosecution of a felon with multiple convictions for illegal re-entry, assault of a family member, and a DWI with a child under 15 years of age is a great example of the level of collaboration that can be achieved between federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “In the Western District of Texas, we will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to hold criminal illegal aliens accountable for poisoning our communities and committing violent crimes.”
“Mujica-Calderon profited from peddling poison in our San Antonio neighborhoods,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division Miguel Madrigal, "When DEA agents searched his home, they found not only lethal drugs but also numerous firearms, some of which were stolen. We've seen time and time again that when drugs and guns are together, violence is always looming. There will never be a place for those who bring about devastation to our communities.”
“ICE will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify illegal aliens who are not only illegally present in this country, but also commit crimes and endanger our communities,” said ICE San Antonio Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director Miguel Vergara. “ICE placed a detainer on this criminal illegal alien. Upon his release from custody, he will be transferred to ICE and deported to his home country.”
The DEA, ICE, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Devine Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Yuen 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.
###
Mentmore Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mentmore man was sentenced to 37 months in prison for assaulting and strangling the victim and causing substantial bodily injury
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on December 5, 2024, Alery Al Reid, 27, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, punched, strangled and threatened to kill Jane Doe.
Reid subsequently pled guilty to assault of an intimate partner by strangling and assault of an intimate partner resulting in substantial bodily injury. Upon his release from prison, Reid will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
McLoud Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Federal Agents and Others on YouTubeRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal criminal complaint has been unsealed charging TAYLOR RYAN PRIGMORE, 30, of McLoud, Oklahoma, with threatening to kill federal agents and others, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
“As attacks on law enforcement rise around the country, this Department of Justice will continue to identify and prosecute violent threats against the brave men and women who keep us safe,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Hiding behind a screen will not protect you from severe legal consequences.”
“This individual allegedly made statements that he would kill ICE agents and others. If you threaten to harm law enforcement officers, the FBI and our partners will find you and hold you accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “There will be no free passes for threats against the hard-working men and women who wear the badge and protect our communities.”
According to court records, on January 17, 2026, the FBI received information from Google regarding several threatening statements made by a YouTube user. The YouTube account holder—alleged to be Prigmore—posted several comments on videos between May 9, 2025, and January 17, 2026, threatening to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and others. Court records further reflect that Prigmore left eight threatening comments last week alone expressing his desire to kill federal agents and others. Prigmore also threatened to kill any law enforcement officers who came to his residence, stating he would kill “as many as possible.”
On January 19, 2026, Prigmore was charged by Complaint with communicating a threat through interstate commerce. He was arrested by the FBI the same day. He appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge yesterday and was ordered detained pending trial. If found guilty as charged, Prigmore faces up to five years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The public is reminded that this charge is merely an allegation, and that the defendant is innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arvo Mikkanen and Matt Dillon are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
The federal criminal complaint can be accessed here.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Animal Welfare Act ViolationRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for sponsoring and exhibiting roosters in an animal fighting venture, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Luis Castillo, 35, pleaded guilty to violating the Animal Welfare Act, in connection to his role and participation in a cockfighting derby in 2022. Castillo admitted travelling from Massachusetts to Rhode Island and bringing roosters to cockfight for sport, wagering and entertainment. He will be sentenced on April 21, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner and Assistant Chief Stephen Da Ponte of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John McAdams for the District of Rhode Island prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, the Postal Inspection Service, and the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rhode Island State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Providence, Woonsocket, and Attleboro Police Departments.
Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Recent Prosecutions in Connection with DOJ Take Back America InitiativeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s recent prosecutions in connection with the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America.
Hayes announced the superseding indictment and sentences with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.
U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow recently sentenced Edwin Armando Sanchez-Montiel, 32, a national of El Salvador residing in Silver Spring, Maryland, to 16 1/2 months in federal prison for re-entry of an alien removed after being convicted of accessory after the fact to first degree murder in Montgomery County, Maryland, an aggravated felony.
Additionally, U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman recently sentenced Cesar Odilo Contreras-Lopez, 27, a Guatemalan national residing in Hyattsville, Maryland, to 63 days in federal prison for re-entry of an illegal alien after a prior removal.
In addition, a federal grand jury recently indicted Willians Elenilson Beltran-Quintanilla, 39, of El Salvador, charging him with illegally re-entering the United States after two prior removals.
These cases are 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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in these investigations. Ms. Hayes also thanked the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted these federal cases.
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 and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Man Sentenced to 25 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on January 20, 2026.
David George Flute, III, 36, was sentenced to two years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Flute was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 20, 2025.
Flute was previously convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child. Due to this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. Flute has seven prior convictions for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and is well-aware of his obligation to register and to keep his registration current. Following his most recent release from federal prison on November 11, 2024, Flute decided to abscond from probation and remain on the lam until located and arrested by United States Marshals in Sioux Falls on May 21, 2025.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Flute was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
This case was brought as a 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. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit 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.
Mexican National Sentenced to Sixteen Months in Prison Following Armed Standoff with Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Camerino Perez Perez, a/k/a “Squirrel,” 42, of Mexico, was sentenced to sixteen months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien unlawfully in the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case demonstrates the remarkable danger our law enforcement officers face on a daily basis, and I applaud the skill and professionalism with which they acted to incapacitate this violent, armed illegal alien. My office will continue to deliver successful prosecutions like this one to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the violent criminal aliens who have illegally entered our country and who threaten the safety of our communities.”
Court documents reflect that on May 25, 2025, the defendant was holding a loaded rifle when law enforcement responded to a residence in Levy County for a domestic disturbance call. The defendant had to be tased after he refused to comply with law enforcement’s instructions in English and Spanish to drop the firearm and then flipped a table towards the law enforcement on scene. After the defendant was detained, law enforcement found an additional twenty-four rounds of ammunition in his pocket. The defendant, a citizen and national of Mexico, is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because he entered the United States illegally and was not authorized to remain in the United States.
The defendant will be held for deportation proceedings at the conclusion of serving his federal sentence.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Local Restaurateur Sentenced for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former owner of two restaurants was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for filing false tax returns.
Remigijus Mikelenas, 55, of Gilford, N.H., formerly of Canton, Mass. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. Mikelenas was also ordered to pay more than $800,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and more than $100,000 in restitution to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In August 2024, Mikelenas was arrested and charged with three counts of filing false tax returns.
Mikelenas was the owner of a café and a juice bar in Canton. Between approximately 2012 through 2020, Mikelenas deliberately failed to report more than $3.5 million in gross receipts at his businesses to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As a result, Mikelenas avoided paying more than $820,000 in federal income taxes.
During the investigation, Mikelenas told an undercover agent posing as a prospective buyer for the businesses, that he regularly underreported his gross receipts to the IRS and showed the agent a copy of the “real” books that reflected the businesses’ true earnings. During the meeting, Mikelenas asked the agent whether he worked for the IRS, and added, “If I get caught, I’ll be screwed.”
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Leader of Terrorist-Designated Mexican Drug Cartel Indicted in Washington D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Armando Gomez Nunez, a Mexican national and senior leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), was charged in a two-count indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine for importation into the United States and carrying and using firearms, including machine guns and destructive devices, in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“President Trump has made it clear that we will pursue every legal avenue to hold transnational criminal organizations accountable for their crimes against the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Now one of the most dangerous criminals in Mexico is in U.S. custody as we continue our fight against one of the largest, most violent drug trafficking organizations in the Western Hemisphere.”
CJNG is one of the largest and most violent drug trafficking organizations operating in Mexico and is responsible for exporting tonnage quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and illicit opioids into the United States. CJNG was designated by the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) for conducting intimidating acts of violence, including attacks on Mexican military and police with military grade weaponry, the use of drones to drop explosives on Mexican law enforcement and assassinations or attempted assassinations of Mexican officials.
Gomez Nunez, aka “Delta 1” and “Maximo,” is the reputed leader and commander of Los Deltas, a violent enforcement and assassination cell of CJNG. Mexican authorities arrested Gomez Nunez in December 2025. He is one of 37 Mexican nationals who arrived in the United States on Jan. 20, 2026 following their expulsion by Mexico.
“Securing the largest transfer to date of fugitives from Mexico to the United States is another victory in the Department of Justice’s battle to eliminate transnational criminal organizations and secure our border,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Mexico’s use of its National Security Law to transfer these 37 fugitives ensures that justice will neither be delayed nor denied. With great thanks to our law enforcement partners and the Government of Mexico, the Department of Justice intends to move swiftly to prosecute each fugitive to the fullest extent of the law.”
This transfer marks only the third time that Mexico has used its National Security Law to expel fugitives to the United States. It is also the largest such transfer of fugitives to occur—the first transfer, on Feb. 27, 2025, involved 29 fugitives, and the second, on Aug. 12, 2025, involved 26 fugitives.
The investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
u.s._v._gomez_nunez_-_superseding_indictment_-_foreperson_redacted_002.pdfLead Narcotics Distributor for the Violent H-2 Drug Trafficking Organization Transferred from Mexico to Face Narcotics Trafficking and Firearms Charges in Federal Court in BrooklynRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Jair Francisco Patron Tobias, also known as “Crixus,” “Junior,” and “Gannicus,” was arraigned on an indictment charging him with participating in a large-scale narcotics distribution conspiracy and using one or more firearms in connection with those narcotic offenses. The defendant, a Mexican citizen, was arrested in Mexico on a provisional arrest warrant issued from the Eastern District of New York and transferred from Mexico to the United States on January 20, 2026. Today’s proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. The defendant was ordered detained pending trial.
Patron Tobias was among 37 Mexican nationals who were transferred to the United States from Mexico yesterday to face a range of federal criminal charges around the country.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino, III, Associate Chief of Operations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Northeast Region (DEA), and Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Los Angeles Field Division which oversees the Las Vegas District Office (DEA), announced the arraignment.
“As alleged in the indictment and court filings, the defendant was one of the lead drug distributors for a vicious cartel responsible for sending massive quantities of dangerous drugs into the United States,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s arraignment in a U.S. courtroom is the first step in holding him accountable for his serious crimes and the immense harm that he has caused. Our Office is working with federal and international partners to dismantle drug cartels and prosecute high-level drug traffickers responsible for flooding our country with dangerous drugs that leave death in their wake.”
Mr. Nocella thanked the DEA’s offices in Mexico City, Mexico and New York, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Department of State, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Government of Mexico for their invaluable assistance.
“Once again we see the power of collaboration between our DEA’s offices, the HSTF, and our law enforcement partners in holding accountable those who traffic illicit narcotics while using violence, intimidation, and fear as a means to push their poison into American communities” stated DEA Northeast Regional Associate Chief of Operations Tarentino. “The DEA is committed to targeting those drug trafficking organizations and individuals, like Jair Francisco Patron Tobias, who are responsible for causing the most harm. This is the DEA’s focus, both here and abroad, and we will continue this fight until we have a drug-free America.”
“In recent years and through today, our country has suffered one of the biggest and most destructive drug crisis ever imagined. DEA is tackling this problem head on, and with urgency. Working in conjunction with national and international partners, we are intent on dismantling these violent global drug networks. They unleash poison onto our streets, lining their pockets with no regard to human suffering. Make no mistake, the heads of these drug emporiums will be held accountable. Today’s indictment of an alleged narcotics kingpin is just one example of more to come,” stated DEA Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Chrysanthis.
According to the indictment and other court filings, the defendant was a lead distributor for the H-2 Drug Trafficking Organization (the H-2 DTO), a violent Mexican drug trafficking organization based in Nayarit and Sinaloa, Mexico. The H-2 DTO was previously led by the defendant’s father, Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez, also known as “H-2,” who was killed in 2017. After Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez’s death, his brother Jesus Ricardo Patron Sanchez (the defendant’s uncle) assumed principal leadership over the H-2 DTO. The H-2 DTO had numerous distribution cells in the United States, including in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Ohio, Minnesota, and North Carolina. The DEA estimates that between January 2013 and February 2017, the H-2 DTO distributed, on a monthly basis, hundreds of kilograms of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as thousands of kilograms of marijuana, into the United States and earned millions of dollars in illegal proceeds in return. The H-2 DTO used firearms and physical violence in furtherance of its drug trafficking operation.
Between June 2013 and December 2016, the defendant directed the distribution of large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana from Mexico throughout the United States, including the Eastern District of New York. The defendant also coordinated money laundering activities of the H-2 DTO to ensure the proceeds of their drug trafficking were transferred back to Mexico. The defendant worked closely with his father and uncle to expand the H-2 DTO’s power and territory by prohibiting rival drug trafficking organizations from manufacturing heroin.
This prosecution is also 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces up to life in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nomi D. Berenson, Raffaela S. Belizaire, and Andrew D. Wang are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
JAIR FRANCISCO PATRON TOBIAS
Age: 31
MexicoE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-241 (S-2) (CBA)
La Jolla-Based Couple Charged with $100 Million FraudRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Brett Rosen and Deborah Rosen of La Jolla were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that they, through their joint investment business, RB Capital Partners, Inc., engaged in a years-long securities fraud and money laundering scheme.
According to the 24-count indictment, since 2020, the Rosens engaged in a market manipulation scheme through financing, promoting, and selling the stock of six publicly traded companies – Optec International, Inc., Sunshine Biopharma, Inc., BlockQuarry Corp., Solar Integrated Roofing Corp., Cyberlux Corp., and Ilustrato Pictures International, Inc.
The indictment alleges that the Rosens’ promotions of these companies provided false and misleading information to investors, potential investors, and the market about their financing of and stock positions in these companies. The false and misleading information was designed to encourage the public to invest in these companies while the Rosens secretly dumped their own stock in these companies to make millions of dollars.
According to the indictment and court documents, the Rosens used the profits of their massive securities fraud scheme to fund their lofty lifestyle, including to purchase a multi-million dollar home in La Jolla Shores.
The United States acknowledges the assistance and cooperation of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janaki G. Chopra and Joseph S. Smith.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 26-CR-0192-DMS
Brett David Rosen Age: 45 La Jolla, CA
Deborah Rachel Rosen Age: 44 La Jolla, CA
RB Capital Partners, Inc. La Jolla, CA
CHARGES
Conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371
Maximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine
Securities Fraud, in violation of 15 U.S.C. §§ 78(b), 78ff & 17 C.F.R. §. 240.10b-5
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $5 million fine
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $500,000 fine or twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved in the transaction
Money Laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957
Maximum Penalties: Ten years in prison; $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Justice Department Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Priority Hospital Group and Three Long Term Care HospitalsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — On Jan. 16, the United States filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against Priority Hospital Group LLC (PHG), a Louisiana-based hospital management company, three PHG-managed long term care hospitals, and a doctor, alleging False Claims Act violations based on medically unnecessary care and patient referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law.
Long term care hospitals (LTCHs) provide inpatient hospital services for patients whose medically complex conditions require long hospital stays and programs of care. Medicare reimburses LTCHs based, in part, on a patient’s length of stay. According to the United States’ complaint, PHG and the LTCH defendants allegedly held patients in the hospital longer than medically necessary in order to increase their Medicare reimbursement. The United States alleges that PHG and the LTCH defendants delayed discharging certain patients, even when their course of treatment had been completed or when they could have been transferred to a lower level of care, because doing so would have resulted in lower payments from Medicare.
The United States’ complaint also alleges that one LTCH, Riverside Hospital of Louisiana, entered into medical directorship agreements with a doctor, and provided him other remuneration, to induce him to refer patients to Riverside in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law.
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration of items or services covered by Medicare and other federally funded programs. The Stark Law forbids a hospital from billing Medicare for certain services referred by physicians that have a financial relationship with the hospital. The Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law seek to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.
“Medicare patients deserve to receive care based on their clinical needs, not the financial interests of a hospital or doctor,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to pursuing cases where financial interests have improperly influenced the medical decision-making of providers participating in federal health care programs.”
“Billing federal healthcare programs for medically unnecessary treatment undermines the viability of those programs and exploits our most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “Our Office will continue to combat fraudulent billing by unravelling these schemes and holding the perpetrators accountable.”
“Schemes that involve false claims and unlawful referrals erode the integrity of federal health care programs and betray the trust placed in providers,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The False Claims Act is a critical tool for protecting Medicare and ensuring that patient care decisions are driven by medical necessity—not financial gain. HHS-OIG will continue to work with or partners to hold accountable those who put profits over patients.”
The LTCHs named in the United States’ complaint are: Riverside Hospital LLC and Riverside Hospital of Louisiana, Inc. (collectively doing business as Riverside Hospital); Post Acute Enterprises, LLC (doing business as Mid Jefferson Extended Care Hospital); and New Lifecare Hospital of North Louisiana, LLC (doing business as Ruston Regional Specialty Hospital).
The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Michaela DeVos, a former employee of Riverside Hospital. Under the False Claims Act, private parties file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The False Claims Act permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the False Claims Act, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana (W.D. La.) are handling the matter with assistance from HHS-OIG. The case is captioned United States ex rel. DeVos v. Priority Hospital Group LLC, et al., No. 20-cv-01041 (W.D. La.).
This case is being handled by Trial Attorney Emily Bussigel of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Theriot for the Western District of Louisiana.
The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
###
CONTACT
Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Justice Department Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Priority Hospital Group and Three Long Term Care HospitalsRead the Press Release
On Jan. 16, the United States filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against Priority Hospital Group LLC (PHG), a Louisiana-based hospital management company, three PHG-managed long term care hospitals, and a doctor, alleging False Claims Act violations based on medically unnecessary care and patient referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law.
Long term care hospitals (LTCHs) provide inpatient hospital services for patients whose medically complex conditions require long hospital stays and programs of care. Medicare reimburses LTCHs based, in part, on a patient’s length of stay. According to the United States’ complaint, PHG and the LTCH defendants allegedly held patients in the hospital longer than medically necessary in order to increase their Medicare reimbursement. The United States alleges that PHG and the LTCH defendants delayed discharging certain patients, even when their course of treatment had been completed or when they could have been transferred to a lower level of care, because doing so would have resulted in lower payments from Medicare.
The United States’ complaint also alleges that one LTCH, Riverside Hospital of Louisiana, entered into medical directorship agreements with a doctor, and provided him other remuneration, to induce him to refer patients to Riverside in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law.
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration of items or services covered by Medicare and other federally funded programs. The Stark Law forbids a hospital from billing Medicare for certain services referred by physicians that have a financial relationship with the hospital. The Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law seek to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.
“Medicare patients deserve to receive care based on their clinical needs, not the financial interests of a hospital or doctor,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to pursuing cases where financial interests have improperly influenced the medical decision-making of providers participating in federal health care programs.”
“Billing federal healthcare programs for medically unnecessary treatment undermines the viability of those programs and exploits our most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “Our Office will continue to combat fraudulent billing by unravelling these schemes and holding the perpetrators accountable.”
“Schemes that involve false claims and unlawful referrals erode the integrity of federal health care programs and betray the trust placed in providers,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The False Claims Act is a critical tool for protecting Medicare and ensuring that patient care decisions are driven by medical necessity—not financial gain. HHS-OIG will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable those who put profits over patients.”
The LTCHs named in the United States’ complaint are: Riverside Hospital LLC and Riverside Hospital of Louisiana, Inc. (collectively doing business as Riverside Hospital); Post Acute Enterprises, LLC (doing business as Mid Jefferson Extended Care Hospital); and New Lifecare Hospital of North Louisiana, LLC (doing business as Ruston Regional Specialty Hospital).
The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Michaela DeVos, a former employee of Riverside Hospital. Under the False Claims Act, private parties file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The False Claims Act permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the False Claims Act, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana (W.D. La.) are handling the matter with assistance from HHS-OIG. The case is captioned United States ex rel. DeVos v. Priority Hospital Group LLC, et al., No. 20-cv-01041 (W.D. La.).
This case is being handled by Trial Attorney Emily Bussigel of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Theriot for the Western District of Louisiana.
The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Jury Convicts Fayetteville Man on Drug and Gun Offenses at Fort BraggRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal jury in Wilmington found Muwsay Ibn Ibrahim Tulu, of Fayetteville, guilty of possessing fentanyl and cocaine while armed and with the intent to distribute the drugs, and felon in possession of a firearm.
“We appreciate the partnership with the Fort Bragg Police, Army CID, ATF, and the Fayetteville Police Department to get this Big Shark Bad Boy off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to focus on making Eastern North Carolina safer for the good citizens who proudly live here.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on July 13, 2023, military police found Tulu passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle in the middle of the road on Fort Bragg with drugs and a loaded ghost gun with an extended magazine at his feet. Months later, agents executed a search warrant at a Fayetteville residence linked to Tulu and recovered more drugs, a firearm, ammunition, scales, and ledgers consistent with drug trafficking.
At trial, Tulu argued that although he possessed the guns and drugs, he was only a user and not a distributor.
Tulu now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, with a maximum of life, when sentenced later this year.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the verdict. The Fort Bragg Provost Marshals Office, Army CID, and the ATF investigated the case with the assistance of the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Newby and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Stark are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-00108.
Jacksonville Businessman Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A Jacksonville businessman pleaded guilty yesterday to evading millions of dollars in federal income taxes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Phillip Mak, a sales representative, earned more than $10 million during 2008 through 2020. Mak owed more than $3.7 million in federal taxes on that income but did not pay them when required to do so. The IRS sent Mak notices about paying his taxes and filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien against his property. Nevertheless, by the end of 2021, Mak still had not paid any federal income tax for the last 13 years.
Mak also took steps that moved his assets out of the reach of the IRS. Between 2019 and 2021, Mak, instead of paying his taxes, transferred $1 million to his domestic partner. He also transferred ownership of his personal residence to a trust created and controlled by his domestic partner. Finally, he created a corporate entity and deposited his personal income into the corporate entity’s bank account. Mak admitted that he committed at least one of these acts with an intent to evade payment of his taxes and knew that his conduct was against the law.
Mak faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The court has not yet scheduled a sentencing date.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Isaiah Boyd and Michael Jones of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.