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17 December 2025
Medina man going to prison for possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kyle Stack, 40, of Medina, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that in July 2020, Stack possessed a cellular phone, which contained more than 4,000 images and videos of child pornography. The child pornography included prepubescent minors less than 12-years-old and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Stack possessed a laptop, which contained more than 9,000 images and videos of child pornography.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
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Man Indicted and Ordered Detained for Possessing Ammunition Recovered in Connection with Fatal Shooting in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing ammunition that was recovered in connection with a fatal shooting in Chicago has been ordered detained pending trial.
FABIAS SHIPMAN possessed the ammunition on the afternoon of Sept. 29, 2025, in an alley in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, according to an indictment returned Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case. The ammunition had been discharged in a shooting in the alley that day where one victim was killed and another victim was wounded, the complaint states. As a previously convicted felon, Shipman was not legally allowed to possess a firearm or ammunition.
The federal indictment charges Shipman, 37, of Cook County, Ill., with one count of illegal possession of ammunition. The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
Shipman was arrested on Oct. 16, 2025, and has been ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth W. Jantz to remain detained in federal custody pending trial.
The indictment and detention order were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Valuable assistance has been provided by the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dunne.
The investigation is being conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every single gun case in Chicago is processed through ATF’s CGIC on a daily basis. As recently reported, federal firearm indictments under the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) program are up 292% in the Northern District of Illinois compared to last year (through Oct. 31, 2025).
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
shipman_indictment.pdfLeader of Transnational Terrorist Group Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Murder, and for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to TerroristsRead the Press Release
Dallas Humber, 35, of Elk Grove — leader of the transnational terror group called the Terrorgram Collective — was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 years in prison and a lifetime period of supervised release for soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“From the comfort of her suburban California home, Humber used online platforms to celebrate violence and solicit attacks that took the lives of innocent people and injured others around the world. Her incarceration makes the world a safer place,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department of Justice has shown that it can and will find these criminals even in the darkest corners of the Internet.”
“Today’s 30-year sentence sends an unmistakable message: if you plot acts of terror or use extremist networks to incite violence, you will be found, prosecuted, and incarcerated for decades,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This case demonstrates that our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will disrupt these threats and will pursue the maximum penalties the law provides.”
“Humber actively encouraged violence against, and the murder of, individuals based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity,” U.S. Attorney Grant stated. “Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners and with other Department of Justice components to stop these hate-fueled crimes and to ensure the safety of all people and public officials.”
“With today’s sentencing, Dallas Humber will pay the price for encouraging racially motivated violence, attacks on critical infrastructure, and the murder of federal officials,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Humber led the Terrorgram Collective which inspired and guided individuals to commit violent acts around the world. Keeping our communities safe is a top priority of the FBI. Let there be no doubt, we will remain steadfast in identifying and holding accountable those who commit or encourage terrorism and other heinous acts.”
“Dallas Humber led the Terrorgram Collective as they conspired to murder federal officials and solicited individuals to commit hate crimes across the globe,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “Through close collaboration with our domestic and international partners, we dismantled a dangerous network intent on inciting violence to advance its extremist ideology. Her 30-year sentence serves as a clear message that those who conspire to commit murder and solicit acts of terror in our communities will face justice.”
According to court documents, between July 2022 and September 2024, Humber served as a leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a white supremacist transnational terrorist group. To achieve their ends, she and other members of the Terrorgram Collective solicited individuals to commit hate crimes, terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, and assassinations. They provided technical, inspirational, and operational guidance to equip those individuals to plan, prepare for, and successfully carry out those attacks.
Inspired and guided by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective, individuals committed attacks or plotted to commit attacks in the United States and elsewhere, including plotting to attack an energy facility in New Jersey, plotting to bomb an energy facility in Tennessee, plotting to murder two people in Wisconsin in furtherance of plans to assassinate a federal official, and attempting to assassinate an Australian official. In addition, individuals led by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective have committed acts of violence internationally, including shooting three people, killing two, at an LGBT bar in Bratislava, Slovakia; shooting 11 people, killing four, at two schools in Aracruz, Brazil; and stabbing five people outside of a mosque in Eskişehir, Turkey.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from a variety of foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
Leader of Transnational Terrorist Group Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Murder, and Conspiring to Provide Material Support to TerroristsRead the Press Release
Dallas Humber, 35, of Elk Grove, California, — leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a transnational terrorist group — was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 360 months in prison for soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.
“From the comfort of her suburban California home, Humber used online platforms to celebrate violence and solicit attacks that took the lives of innocent people and injured others around the world. Her incarceration makes the world a safer place,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department of Justice has shown that it can and will find these criminals even in the darkest corners of the Internet.”
“Today’s 30-year sentence sends an unmistakable message: if you plot acts of terror or use extremist networks to incite violence, you will be found, prosecuted, and incarcerated for decades,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This case demonstrates that our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will disrupt these threats and will pursue the maximum penalties the law provides.”
“Humber actively encouraged violence against, and the murder of, individuals based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners and with other Department of Justice components to stop these hate-fueled crimes and to ensure the safety of all people and public officials.”
“With today’s sentencing, Dallas Humber will pay the price for encouraging racially motivated violence, attacks on critical infrastructure, and the murder of federal officials,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Humber led the Terrorgram Collective which inspired and guided individuals to commit violent acts around the world. Keeping our communities safe is a top priority of the FBI. Let there be no doubt, we will remain steadfast in identifying and holding accountable those who commit or encourage terrorism and other heinous acts.”
According to court documents, between July 2022 and September 2024, Humber served as a leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a white supremacist transnational terrorist group. To achieve their ends, she and other members of the Terrorgram Collective solicited individuals to commit hate crimes, terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, and assassinations. They provided technical, inspirational, and operational guidance to equip those individuals to plan, prepare for, and successfully carry out those attacks.
Inspired and guided by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective, individuals committed attacks or plotted to commit attacks in the United States and elsewhere, including plotting to attack an energy facility in New Jersey, plotting to bomb an energy facility in Tennessee, plotting to murder two people in Wisconsin in furtherance of plans to assassinate a federal official, and attempting to assassinate an Australian official. In addition, individuals led by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective have committed acts of violence internationally, including shooting three people, killing two, at an LGBT bar in Bratislava, Slovakia; shooting 11 people, killing four, at two schools in Aracruz, Brazil; and stabbing five people outside of a mosque in Eskişehir, Turkey.
The FBI Sacramento Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from a variety of foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies.
The Eastern District of California, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
Keene, New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 28 Months in Drug Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 16, 2025, William Bostwick, 43, of Keene, New Hampshire, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 28 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Bostwick previously pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute over 30 grams of cocaine in January 2025. Charges related to his possession of additional cocaine and fentanyl and a firearm in December 2024 were dismissed following his plea and sentencing. Bostwick’s sentence will run concurrently with sentences to be imposed in related cases in New Hampshire and Vermont, along with violations of release conditions from prior offenses in Massachusetts.
According to court records, Bostwick was encountered by law enforcement on December 27, 2024 while unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle in Brattleboro, Vermont. Bostwick was found to be in possession of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, $5,700 in cash, and a 9mm handgun. Approximately two weeks later, on January 9, 2025, law enforcement observed Bostwick at a hotel in Putney, where he was arrested and found to be in possession of over $1,000 cash, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 38.5 grams of cocaine.
First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the law enforcement efforts of the Brattleboro Police Department and the Vermont State Police and thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its assistance.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Cowles. Bostwick was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defenders Emily Kenyon and Cameron Brooks.
Kauai Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr., 52, of Kauai, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to a total of 210 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony. Abergas has been detained since his initial arrest in this case on April 10, 2024.
According to court records, Abergas was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine on Kauai. In total, Abergas was held responsible for over 23 pounds of methamphetamine.
Abergas is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, nine of whom have pled guilty with the remaining awaiting trial. The overall investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash.
Abergas is the second defendant in a nine-defendant indictment to be sentenced. On December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 30, 2025, in one of the related cases charged by separate indictment, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.
Jamestown man sentenced for selling heroin/fentanyl that led to overdose death and seriously bodily injuryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James Brandow, 37, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin and fentanyl, was sentenced to time served (approximately 39 months) by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between July 2020, and June 2021, Brandow conspired with others to sell heroin and fentanyl. Brandow utilized Facebook to conduct his drug trafficking activities including arranging deals with customers, associates, co-conspirators, and suppliers. On July 31, 2020, Brandow sold heroin and fentanyl which resulted in the death of an individual identified as K.T. and resulted in seriously bodily injury to an individual identified as B.F.
The sentencing is result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
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Jamestown man pleads guilty to possession of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andre Richards, 26, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Jacovetti and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that in the summer of 2022, law enforcement began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Richards in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties in NY, and in Warren, PA. During the investigation, Richards was charged with several New York State felonies involving the possession and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl as well as criminal possession of a loaded firearm. Despite these pending felony charges, Richards continued to operate a significant drug trafficking organization. Richards utilized a North Main Street residence in Russell, PA, as well as a residence on South Work Street in Falconer, NY.
In March 2023, after investigators conducted surveillance of Richards driving around Jamestown, NY, and observed him engaging in activity consistent with narcotics dealing, including a brief meeting with an individual that involved a hand-to-hand exchange, search warrants were executed on his vehicle and the residence in Falconer, NY. During the searches, law enforcement seized approximately 84 grams of crystal methamphetamine, approximately $6,600.00 of United States currency, a digital scale, a drug processing press, a 9mm magazine, and bullets. During a search of the Russell, PA, residence, law enforcement seized approximately 20 lbs. of crystal methamphetamine.
The plea is the result of a joint investigation by the Jamestown Police Department Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric butler, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Warren County, PA, Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Brian Zeybel.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2026, before Judge Vilardo.
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Jamaican Citizen Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Spearheading a Long-Running Fraudulent Sweepstakes SchemeRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Jamaican citizen, who was previously extradited to the United States from Jamaica. The sentencing took place on December 15, 2025.
Dwayne Anderson, age 36, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $181,075.60 and assessed $100 for the Federal Crime Victim’s Fund.
Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2023. In July 2024, Jamaican authorities arrested him and agreed to a United States request he be extradited to this country to face his federal charges. He pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud in September 2025.
The conviction stemmed from Anderson’s participation in a scheme to defraud an American woman from as early as 2010 until September 2017. Using phony names, Anderson contacted the victim by telephone, text message, and email and falsely informed her that she had won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes. He persuaded the victim, who believed his false representations, to send money to pay various purported fees and taxes associated with the sweepstakes. He instructed her on how, and to whom, to send these payments. Anderson repeatedly contacted the victim with additional requests to pay money and told her that her winnings would be forthcoming if she paid the requested money. The victim paid the purported fees, losing more than $181,000, but never received any of the purported winnings.
“This case underscores the devastating impact that sweepstakes scams have on older Americans who are targeted because of their trust and generosity,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons. “This conviction sends a clear message that we are committed to protecting our seniors and dismantling the criminal networks—here and overseas—who seek to exploit them.”
“If you target vulnerable Americans with schemes designed to steal their hard-earned money, you will become our target,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service knows no boundaries when it comes to protecting our communities. We will find you, we will stop you, and we will hold you accountable.”
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service. Former Assistant United States Attorney Ann Hoffman and Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case. They were joined Assistant Chief J. Matt Williams and Trial Attorneys Brandon J. Robers and Edward E. Emokpae of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Anderson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Iowa Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty December 16, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.
Cori Benson, 36, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Benson admitted that from August 2024 through October 2024, she and others conspired to distribute at least 150 grams of pure methamphetamine. In October 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle Benson was driving and found over ½ pound of pure methamphetamine in Benson’s purse, and two firearms in the vehicle. Benson admitted that she and another transported about one kilogram of methamphetamine from Des Moines, Iowa, to Pierre, South Dakota, for distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Benson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Benson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4080. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Incorrigible drug trafficker who repeatedly possessed firearms sentenced to 15 years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 42-year-old Everett, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 years in prison for eight federal felonies involving drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. David James Michael Jensen was convicted in September 2025, of five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, “You were bringing dangerous drugs into the state. Drugs that are causing thousands of deaths in our country…. Your actions contributed greatly to that suffering…. You kept getting drugs and guns despite being repeatedly detained by police.”
According to records filed in the case, over a three-year period Jensen was repeatedly identified and arrested by Everett Police involved with drug trafficking activities and firearms. On September 7, 2021, Jensen fled the scene of a two-car accident but left behind a backpack containing identity documents and a loaded 9mm handgun with extra ammunition. He was charged and convicted of illegally possessing the firearm.
On April 7, 2022, Jensen was detained for driving without a license. A court authorized search of his car revealed several loaded firearms as well as fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. For these crimes he was charged and convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime which is punishable by a mandatory five-year term to run consecutive to any other conviction.
On May 11, 2022, Jensen was arrested again unlawfully possessing a firearm. In this case he had heroin, methamphetamine, and a High Point 9mm pistol.
Jensen’s next run-in with Everett Police occurred on July 31, 2024. Jensen was followed by police as he drove to a storage unit. Again, he was driving without a license and at the time of arrest officers found narcotics on him. In the storage unit officers found several firearms, including two “ghost guns” those that are privately made without serial numbers. They found ammunition and 400 fentanyl pills as well as several motorbikes – one of which was stolen.
Finally on December 27, 2024, Everett Police observed Jensen in Seattle placing various bags in different vehicles. They got a search warrant for one of the vehicles and found a loaded Glock 19 handgun as well as fentanyl, heroin, and drug paraphernalia. Jensen was then transferred to federal custody and indicted on these federal charges.
In asking for the 15-year sentence Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs wrote to the court, “Jensen was caught on multiple occasions with firearms and distribution quantities of drugs. He was clearly redistributing drugs and was in possession of firearms while doing so. Jensen clearly had no regard for the law, returning to possessing drugs and guns despite being detained for doing so on multiple occasions… Jensen’s actions placed the community, law enforcement, and himself at risk.”
The case was investigated by the Everett Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 360 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Marco Sole, 52 years old, of Lynwood, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Sole was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on June 2, 2022, Sole delivered over 40 grams of fentanyl to another person. He also sold fentanyl on other occasions in Illinois and Indiana. During a search of a stash house Sole operated in Chicago, Illinois, law enforcement recovered additional fentanyl and firearms.
“From his home in Lynwood, Illinois, and a stash house in Chicago, Marco Sole mixed heroin with other even deadlier substances, including fentanyl, p-flourofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), and xylazine, before delivering those drugs to the Northern District of Indiana, often using an intermediary he directed,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “This hefty sentence should make one thing clear to any out-of-state drug dealer who might be planning to traffic his poisons in Indiana: the state line will not shield you, and you will be brought to justice. My thanks go out to the brave and talented public servants who brought and prosecuted this case.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI/GRIT Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, HIDTA, the Indiana State Police, and assistance from the Lynwood Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Toth and Kristian R. Mukoski.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
Houston woman sentenced for misappropriated mail schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old local resident has been ordered to federal prison for a stolen mail fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Britni Marie Johnson pleaded guilty July 29.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Johnson to serve 65 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Johnson as intelligent and capable but cited her involvement in fraud and drug offenses. In imposing the sentence, the court considered the impact of the crimes, noting that mail and identity theft often leave those affected feeling violated. The court also stated her conduct made the lives of innocent victims more difficult. Johnson is also required to pay approximately $1,448.65 in restitution.
At the time of her plea, Johnson admitted she stole checks from the mail to commit fraud and used counterfeit identification documents to cash those stolen checks.
Johnson will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.
Houston Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Smuggling Meth through Eagle PassRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Houston man was sentenced in a federal court to 168 months in prison for importing and trafficking methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Alfonso Avellaneda Chavarrieta, 25, drove into the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Nov. 17, 2021, and was referred to secondary inspection, where a canine alerted U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to 64 bundles of methamphetamine in the vehicle’s rear tires. The methamphetamine inside the bundles tested positive for 31.4 kilograms with a purity level of 97%.
Chavarrieta was indicted for four counts on Dec. 8, 2021. He pleaded guilty to all four charges on Aug. 22, 2022. He was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Fleming and Amy Greenbaum 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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Honolulu Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Tax and Mail Fraud and Ordered to Pay over $1.6 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Hannah Heart, 67, of Honolulu, was sentenced today in federal court by Senior United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to defraud the IRS by fraudulently obtaining a tax refund and then thwarting efforts to recoup it and for mail fraud against her mortgage lender. On May 22, 2025, Heart pled guilty to one count of attempting to defraud the IRS and one count of attempting to defraud her mortgage lender using the mails.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Heart conspired with others to file a false 2014 individual income tax return in her name. As part of the conspiracy, Heart’s co-conspirators created a fake tax form purportedly issued by a mortgage lender to Heart, which Heart attached to her return. The form falsely reported that Heart had received income from a financial institution of more than $2.4 million, from which over $1.2 million in taxes had been withheld. The inclusion of this false income and withholding information on Heart’s 2014 filed tax return resulted in the IRS issuing Heart a fraudulent refund of $471,949.23.
After filing the false tax return and submitting the fake tax form, Heart took steps to try and ensure that the IRS could not recover the fraudulently obtained refund. For example, Heart deposited the refund check into a bank account she had opened in the name of a trust and immediately transferred most of the balance to a separate bank account. She also sent numerous false, fraudulent, and frivolous letters to the IRS in response to IRS efforts to recover the fraudulently obtained tax refund. Following the receipt of her own refund, Heart assisted another co-conspirator, Sook Young Jung, in participating in the same scheme. Heart and Jung together deposited a second fraudulently obtained refund check from the IRS, payable to Jung, in the amount of $1,147,036.31. In total, Heart caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,618,985.54.
Court documents and statements made in court also reveal that Heart attempted to defraud her mortgage lender. Heart took out a mortgage for her home but stopped making payments toward her mortgage. Heart’s mortgage lender then initiated foreclosure proceedings against her. In response, a co-conspirator of Heart’s sent the lender a false and fictitious document purporting to be a check for the full outstanding amount of Heart’s mortgage. The lender initially accepted the check but later rejected it as fraudulent. Afterward, Heart sent mail to the lender demanding that it accept the fraudulent check as full payment of her remaining balance. In pleading guilty, Heart admitted that she intended to defraud the mortgage lender of $2,066,522.22.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Seabright ordered $1,618,985.54 in restitution. Judge Seabright noted that a term of incarceration was called for because deterrence is particularly important in tax cases.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates of the District of Hawaii and Trial Attorneys Sarah Kiewlicz and Megan Jones of the Criminal Division, Tax Section prosecuted the case.
Hammond Woman Sentenced for Laundering Drug Trafficking ProceedsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson announced that LARIJERIA MARTIN, (“MARTIN”), age 34, of Hammond, Louisiana, was sentenced by the U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry to five years of probation on December 9, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).
According to the court documents, beginning at a time unknown and continuing to on or about December 13, 2023, in both the Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana, MARTIN conspired with and assisted her boyfriend, Dequarius Hamler, by taking the cash proceeds of Hamler’s drug trafficking sales and depositing this cash in various banks around the Hammond area. MARTIN was fully aware this cash was drug money yet still deposited the money to disguise it as legitimate business profits. MARTIN helped Hamler launder at least $615,650.00 of drug trafficking proceeds.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
Gallup Man Sentenced for Beating and Choking His Dating PartnerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for strangling his dating partner and leaving her with life-threatening injuries.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of March 6, 2024, Victor Badonie, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted and strangled Jane Doe. During this attack, Badonie menaced Doe in various ways—he punched Doe in her face multiple times, he choked her by pinning her down using his forearm against her neck, he ripped her hair out, and he broke her phone as she tried to phone for help. Doe ultimately drove herself to a Zuni-area hospital, where she was then taken by helicopter to UNMH in Albuquerque due to the severity of her injuries, which included bleeding in Doe’s brain.
Badonie pleaded guilty to the felony crimes of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault by strangulation. Upon his release from prison, Badonie will be subject to three years of supervised release. Badonie must also pay $27,801 in criminal restitution, an amount attributable to Doe’s medical bills caused by Badonie’s criminality.
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 FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Pueblo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
Franklin County Woman Sentenced for Using Stolen Mail to Commit FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine on Wednesday sentenced a woman who used stolen mail in a bid to steal nearly $80,000 from an elderly woman to 39 months in prison, fined her $6,500 and ordered her to repay her victim.
Miranda Burgess, 30, was caught with stolen mail belonging to more than 70 individuals and entities in May of 2022. Investigators soon discovered that she’d used mail belonging to an 89-year-old woman to create counterfeit checks and establish multiple online financial accounts to steal $27,470 from her. Burgess tried to transfer another $50,000 to herself, but the money was later returned to the victim.
Burgess was aware that her victim was nearly 90, Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf wrote in a sentencing memo. Her crimes not only affected that victim, but also 73 others who did not receive their mail or had to resend mail that they sent to others, reducing public confidence in the U.S. Mail.
Burgess, of Franklin County, Missouri, pleaded guilty in August to 13 counts: one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of possession of stolen mail and nine counts of bank fraud.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Arnold Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf prosecuted the case.
Franklin CPA Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Stealing Clients’ Funds and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A Tennessee man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison for stealing money from his clients’ bank accounts, preparing false tax returns that fraudulently increased their refunds, and stealing some or all of those refunds, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
"Jerkins’ clients did not know that he was filing tax returns with the IRS that were different than the copy provided to them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney McGuire. “Jerkins had an obligation to file accurate income tax returns for his clients, but instead, he betrayed them by not only stealing from his clients, but also the American taxpayers in order to line his own pockets and finance his opulent lifestyle.”
Jason Alexander Jerkins of Franklin pleaded guilty on July 30, 2025. According to court documents and statements made in court, Jerkins, owner of Jerkins Business Solutions, provided bookkeeping, payroll, tax-return preparation, and similar accounting and tax services. To pay his clients’ expenses, Jerkins had online access to their bank accounts. Between March 2020 and April 2025, Jerkins stole over $4.6 million from 45 clients by wiring money from their bank accounts to accounts he controlled or could access. He hid these fraudulent wires by recording them with innocuous descriptions like “Jerkins Business Sol” or “Jerkins Business Sale” and timing them close to legitimate transfers. When clients became suspicious, Jerkins created false documents to deceive them into believing the stolen funds were used to pay valid expenses, or he repaid those clients by stealing from other clients.
Jerkins also prepared at least 80 false tax returns to fraudulently inflate his clients’ tax refunds. He then directed the IRS to deposit some or all of each tax refund into an account Jerkins controlled. Jerkins hid this fraud from his clients by printing them a different return than the one he filed. In pursuit of this tax fraud, Jerkins attempted to steal about $380,010, and successfully stole about $280,970, from his clients and the U.S. Treasury.
Jerkins used the nearly $5 million he stole from his clients and the taxpaying public to pay off personal credit cards, take vacations, lease vehicles, purchase real estate, and buy luxuries for himself and his family.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger for the Middle District of Tennessee ordered Jerkins to pay approximately $4.5 million in restitution to his victims and the United States.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew Hicks of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Levine of the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
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Four Individuals Convicted of Insider Trading SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Newark, New Jersey convicted four individuals today for their participation in a scheme to trade securities on the basis of material nonpublic information about the $3.2 billion merger of two companies, which resulted in illicit profits of over $600,000.
“Haghighat abused his role as a senior corporate executive, breaching the trust and confidence placed in him by shareholders, to enrich himself and his friends and family,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “He schemed together with his co-defendants to illegally profit from non-public, insider trading information. Today’s verdict underscores the Criminal Division’s commitment to aggressively prosecuting those who use deception to earn illicit gains at the expense of investors and undermine fairness in the economy.”
“This is a classic example of greed overcoming honest business practices,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group. “These defendants took advantage of insider information when they conspired to devise a scheme to provide protected information to co-conspirators for the purpose of enriching their lifestyles and padding their pockets. Their undoing came when they underestimated the resolve and tenacity of postal inspectors to bring to justice anyone who commits a crime against the public and the rule of law.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rouzbeh “Ross” Haghighat, 61, of West Newbury, Massachusetts; Kirstyn Pearl, 35, of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Seyedfarbod “Fabio” Sabzevari, 31, of North Hollywood, California; and James Roberge, 70, of Westford, Massachusetts, unlawfully purchased the securities of a biopharmaceutical company in Seattle, Washington (Company-1), where Haghighat served on the board of directors. In his position as a director in May 2023, Haghighat obtained material nonpublic inside information about another pharmaceutical company’s (Company-2) proposed acquisition of Company-1, including sensitive deal terms. He then purchased securities, and tipped others — including Pearl, Sabzevari, and Roberge — for personal benefit with the expectation that they would purchase securities of Company-1, which the other defendants did. In May 2023, Company-2 made a confidential proposal to acquire Company-1 at a price per share above the then-current market value. The two companies then negotiated an agreement for the acquisition, which was announced in June 2023, causing the share price of Company-1 to spike. Collectively, the defendants profited more than $600,000 from their purchases of Company-1 securities based on material nonpublic information.
Haghighat was convicted of one count of securities fraud, 16 counts of insider trading, and two counts of conspiracy. Pearl was convicted of one count of securities fraud, one count of insider trading, and one count of conspiracy. Sabzevari was convicted of one count of securities fraud and seven counts of insider trading. Roberge was convicted of one count of securities fraud and seven counts of insider trading. They are scheduled to be sentenced on May 4, 2026 . Haghighat faces a maximum penalty of 380 years in prison. Pearl faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison. Sabzavari faces a maximum penalty of 160 years in prison. Roberge faces a maximum penalty of 160 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys John J. Liolos and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE –Jamarkis J. Carter, 31 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to distributing a controlled substance, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Carter was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on September 25, 2024, Carter and a co-defendant distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory also assisted with this investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Former jailer sentenced for sexually assaulting female inmatesRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 29-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison for sexually assaulting two women while working as a corrections officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Rodriguez’s predatory conduct, the danger he posed to the community and how he abused a system meant to protect victims by exploiting his position of authority to commit the offenses. Rodriguez will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Rodriguez was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Office during the commission of the offenses.
On two separate occasions in Jan. 2022, while working in his law enforcement capacity, he used force to sexually assault the two women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County jail.
During each instance, Rodriguez removed the victims from their cell and isolated them in a secluded area where he then used force, threats and coercion to sexually assault them.
Rodriguez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez prosecuted the case.
Former TSA Security Officer Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Unemployment AssistanceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man has been charged with fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) while employed as a TSA Security Officer full-time.
Ismael Rosado Jr., 40, was charged with one count of wire fraud. The defendant will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, Rosado was employed full-time as a TSA Security Officer at Boston Logan International Airport from November 2018 through October 2021. It is alleged that, between May 2020 and September 2021, Rosado submitted an application seeking PUA and weekly certifications claiming he was unemployed and making no income. Based on the misrepresentations in the application and weekly certifications, Rosado received $47,526 in unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Former T&A Crips gang defendant pleads guilty to illegally possessing firearmRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant in a former gang racketeering case pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Eric Henderson, Jr., 26, of Columbus, was sentenced in 2019 to 78 months in prison for his role in the Trevitt and Atcheson Crips (T&A) gang-related racketeering conspiracy. Henderson sold gram quantities of crack cocaine in Columbus and Chillicothe on behalf of the racketeering conspiracy, which also included five murders, multiple attempted murders, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, witness tampering, robbery, assault and other crimes.
In this case, Henderson was stopped by Columbus police officers for a traffic violation in June 2025. According to court documents, before the vehicle was completely stopped, Henderson fled on foot, gripping the waist of his pants while reaching under his shirt.
Henderson threw a firearm over a privacy fence before he was apprehended. Officers discovered a loaded pistol with an extended magazine. The firearm also had a machine gun conversion device, or switch, attached.
Henderson was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley is representing the United States in this 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.
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Former Subcontractor Supporting U.S. Army in Afghanistan Agrees to Forfeit Nearly $3.5 MillionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney for the District of Columbia announced today that it reached a civil settlement agreement with FedSys, Inc. to resolve the Government’s lawsuit alleging the subcontractor committed fraud in its recruitment and training of linguists to translate languages native to Afghanistan. Pursuant to the settlement, FedSys agreed to forfeit $3,469,882.50 to the United States.
In September 2007, Mission Essential Personnel, LLC was awarded a prime contract by the United States Army for translation and linguistic services to support military operations in Afghanistan. In December 2008, Mission Essential subcontracted with FedSys to recruit and train linguists in support of the prime contract. On Aug. 23, 2024, the United States filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia claiming that actions of FedSys, its chief executive officer, and its director of recruiting under the FedSys subcontract violated the False Claims Act (United States v. FedSys, Inc., et al., Civ. A. No. 24-2450).
Specifically, the Government alleged that FedSys personnel created fictitious linguist candidates that did not meet the minimum language proficiency standards in Dari, Pashto, or English, and then engaged a third party to impersonate the candidate during the initial translation proficiency testing. The alleged goal of the scheme was to create candidates who would pass the initial proficiency test so that FedSys managers and recruiters could collect recruitment fees and bonuses through the subcontract. In all, fourteen FedSys recruiters, forty-three candidates, and two FedSys managing officials were identified as part of the fraudulent scheme. Five individuals later pled guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.
“Properly trained linguists in a combat zone are vital to military operations, significantly reducing risks and safeguarding the lives of our Soldiers,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith Kelly, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Fraud Field Office. “This settlement underscores the importance of businesses contracted by the U.S. Army honoring their commitments; no amount of money can ever justify putting a Soldier's life at risk.”
“The professionals of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, along with our partner agencies, are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of U.S. defense procurement processes,” said Stanley A. Newell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Transnational Operations Field Office for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. “Those who enrich themselves through fraud and deception at the expense of American taxpayers will be vigorously investigated and brought to justice.”
The Government’s lawsuit further alleged that internal warnings of improper recruiting activity were effectively ignored by FedSys senior management until Mission Essential raised questions about the number of candidates who failed subsequent proficiency testing even though those candidates were presented as having passed the initial proficiency testing.
The subcontract between Mission Essential and FedSys was terminated during the summer of 2012 and funds being processed by Mission Essential under the subcontract to pay FedSys were withheld. Pursuant to the settlement, those funds held by Mission Essential are forfeited by FedSys and will be paid to the United States.
The civil settlement was completed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Tepe, based on the efforts of former AUSA Darrell Valdez and Auditor Timothy C. Hurley. The United States Attorney further wishes to commend the special agents of Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Army Criminal Investigation Division for their important assistance.
The claims resolved by the civil settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Former Lafayette Assistant District Attorney Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE– On December 12, 2025, Gary Haynes, 67, of Lafayette, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after his September conviction for conspiracy to engage in bribery, bribery, use of a facility interstate commerce in aid of bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and obstruction of justice.
“Prosecutors bear among the most consequential public trusts in our society, determining matters of liberty, accountability, and the pursuit of justice. Gary Haynes betrayed that system of trust to satisfy his own greed,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “This prosecution, which resulted from amazing work by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation, shows the commitment our Office and the Department of Justice has to safeguarding the rule of law and ensuring that those who undermine it are held accountable.”
“Mr. Haynes betrayed the trust of the people of Louisiana when he traded his sacred honor for bribes,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field office. “The FBI and the US Attorney’s Office are committed to protecting the public from bribery schemes like this one that undermine faith in our great Republic.”
“As an Assistant District Attorney, Gary Haynes was entrusted to faithfully perform his duties on behalf of the public,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Instead of putting his public interest above personal gain, he misused his office to enrich himself through bribes and kickbacks from vendors. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and forwarding for prosecution those who fail to uphold ethics in the public trust.”
Evidence presented at the trial revealed that Haynes conspired with Dusty Guidry and Leonard Franques to solicit bribes and kickbacks and to accept things of value while working as an Assistant District Attorney at the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Haynes oversaw the D.A.’s Office’s Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program which was a program set up to provide an alternative to criminal prosecution for certain criminal offenders. Haynes approved defendants to participate in the program and then directed them to take classes from Franques’s companies. Those defendants paid money to take classes through Franques’s companies to complete the program and obtain dismissal of the criminal charges against them from Haynes. Haynes, Guidry, and Franques agreed that Haynes would receive kickbacks in exchange for accepting people into the PTI program, directing those people to Franques’s companies, and then dismissing the charges against the people who enrolled in and paid for the courses that Franques’s companies provided.
Haynes and his co-conspirators discussed several ways to conceal the nature of the money that Haynes would receive from the kickback scheme, including having Haynes reactivate a defunct company during the conspiracy to hide the proceeds from the kickbacks or potentially providing him with a new truck rather than funnel the kickbacks directly to him. Haynes directed a coconspirator to alter, destroy, and conceal documents and records to prevent their availability in a future proceeding.
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys John Luke Walker and John W. Nickel, and Steven Loew of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 24-cr-00206.
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Former Financial Advisory Group Executive Pleads Guilty to $4 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – David Bradford, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia-based financial advisory group Drive Planning LLC (“Drive Planning”), pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud arising from a multi-year Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of millions of dollars.
“Bradford betrayed the trust of his clients, family, and friends by encouraging them to make millions in bogus investments,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and aggressively prosecute all forms of investment fraud.”
“Justice is served in this latest reminder of the significant impact white collar crime continues to have on everyday Americans,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is aggressively pursuing fraud and will continue to ensure crime does not pay in the end. If you steal from others, you are gambling with your freedom.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: from late 2021 until in or about June 2024, Drive Planning marketed several investments, including the “Cash Out Real Estate Fund,” or “CORE Fund,” as “easy and simple,” advising prospective investors that the fund provided “100% Passive Income from Tax Liens.” Drive Planning guaranteed investors a return of 10% every six months or a 22% return per year for up to three years. Drive Planning further materially misrepresented that investors’ contributions to the CORE Fund were pooled together, government-protected, and fully collateralized. As part of the scheme, Bradford created a marketing brochure to promote the CORE Fund, which was shared with Drive Planning’s sales agents to solicit investors.
In actuality, the investors’ monies were being used for other purposes, including to pay off other Drive Planning investors, make commission payments to Drive Planning’s agents, and pay for personal expenditures. Bradford and others at Drive Planning further concealed the scheme to defraud by failing to disclose that Drive Planning did not invest any funds in the CORE Fund after approximately December 9, 2022. To the contrary, even after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began investigating Drive Planning in approximately March 2024, Bradford and others continued to solicit investments for the CORE Fund. In total, Drive Planning received at least $4.1 million from CORE Fund investors.
In August 2024, the SEC obtained a temporary restraining order against Drive Planning and filed separate civil enforcement actions against Drive Planning and others in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia related to the above-described scheme.
Sentencing for David Bradford, 53, of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, is scheduled for March 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Travel with Intent to Engage in Unlawful Sex and Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Fegley Jr., 31, of Tampa, Florida pled guilty yesterday to travel with intent to engage in unlawful sexual conduct and transportation of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Fegley admitted that he traveled from Florida to the Northern District of New York intending to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a purported 13-year-old child. He also admitted that he brought with him about 1,000 images and videos depicting child pornography that he had obtained on the internet.
At sentencing on April 27, 2026, Fegley faces a mandatory minimum imprisonment term of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years on the child pornography charge and a maximum of 30 years on the travel charge, a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life, restitution to victims, court-ordered destruction of property used to commit the offenses, special assessments, fines, and registration as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone said: “The defendant’s admitted conduct is deeply disturbing. He not only traveled across multiple states to meet a purported child for unlawful sexual conduct, but he brought with him vile depictions of the sexual abuse of children. Let the defendant’s case be a warning to all predators: If you come into the Northern District of New York with the goal of harming a child, you will be prosecuted.”
“This individual’s calculated decision to cross multiple state lines in pursuit of exploiting someone who he believed was a child demonstrates a disturbing level of predatory intent,” said Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Buffalo. “HSI will stop at nothing to track down and bring to justice those who target children, regardless of where their crimes take them. HSI Albany, together with our partners, is unwavering in their resolve to shield children from harm and see that those who prey on them are held to account.”
This case was investigated by HSI in coordination with the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Farrell Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Farrell, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for committing drug trafficking and firearm crimes, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Daniel George, age 37, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak for committing two crimes on July 7, 2022: (1) possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, a quantity of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine; and (2) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Judge Hornak ordered George to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
Prior to sentencing, the Court was informed that, in 2022, George engaged in armed fentanyl and cocaine trafficking in Farrell, Mercer County. He did so despite his prior convictions, and years of incarceration, for drug trafficking, firearm, and domestic violence crimes. He also did so from a location where his girlfriend and an infant child resided.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Mercer County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the convictions and sentence 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.
FBI Disrupts Virtual Money Laundering Service Used to Facilitate Criminal ActivityRead the Press Release
DETROIT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced today a coordinated action with international partners and the Michigan State Police to disrupt and take down the online infrastructure used to operate E-Note, a cryptocurrency exchange that allegedly facilitated money laundering by transnational cyber-criminal organizations, including those targeting U.S. healthcare and critical infrastructure. Since 2017, the FBI identified more than $70,000,000 of illicit proceeds of ransomware attacks and account takeovers transferred via E-Note payment service and money mule network, including laundered funds stolen or extorted from U.S. victims.
In conjunction with the operation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office also announced the unsealing of an indictment in the Eastern District of Michigan against Mykhalio Petrovich Chudnovets, 39, a Russian national, which charges him with one count of money laundering conspiracy.
According to court documents, Chudnovets began offering money laundering services to cyber criminals in 2010. Until this seizure by law enforcement, Chudnovets offered money laundering services via the E-Note payment processing service, which he controlled and operated. Chudnovets worked with financially motivated cyber criminals to transfer criminal proceeds across international borders and to convert those proceeds from cryptocurrency into various cash currencies.
As part of the coordinated actions, U.S. and international law enforcement seized servers hosting Chudnovets’ operations, mobile applications, and the websites “e-note.com,” “e-note.ws,” and “jabb.mn.” U.S. law enforcement separately obtained earlier copies of Chudnovets’ servers, including customer databases and transaction records.
Chudnovets is charged with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, made the announcement.
The FBI Detroit Cyber Task Force is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Wyse is prosecuting this case.
The Justice Department also recognizes the critical cooperation of the German Federal Criminal Police Office, the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, and Michigan State Police Michigan Cyber Command Center (MC3).
Any individual who believes he/she is a victim whose funds were laundered through Chudnovets should reach out to law enforcement via email address [email protected].
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Executive of North Carolina Construction Company Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Bid-Rigging ConspiracyRead the Press Release
The president of a North Carolina construction company pleaded guilty to conspiring to rig bids for maintenance, repair, and operations procurements for military installations in the United States.
According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Rockford, Illinois, Brett Sanborn, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, was the president of a construction company that provided goods and services to military bases through procurements administered by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Between at least 2017 and 2021, Sanborn conspired with other individuals and companies to suppress and eliminate competition by rigging bids for the procurements, which were awarded to subcontractors through a competitive bidding process.
“For $6 million, the defendant defrauded his own government and deprived the U.S. Army of the benefits of open and honest competition.” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force partners will continue to relentlessly pursue bad actors — like the defendant and his co-conspirators — for their assault on taxpayer money dedicated to public projects.”
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that we will relentlessly pursue those who attempt to undermine the integrity of the Department of Defense procurement process,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. “Collusion, bid-rigging, and other anti-competitive conduct schemes erode fair competition, waste taxpayer dollars, and jeopardize trust in acquisition systems. DCIS, alongside our prosecutorial partners, will continue to safeguard the Department’s contracting operations and hold accountable anyone who seeks to corrupt them.”
Sanborn and his co-conspirators exchanged emails, calls, and text messages in which they coordinated their bids and agreed in advance on the pricing that they would submit, then submitted those bids to create the illusion of competition. Sanborn and his co-conspirators referred to these artificial, intentionally losing bids as “comp” bids.
In the plea agreement filed today, Sanborn admitted that the volume of commerce attributable to him and related to the conspiracy was approximately $6 million.
Sanborn pleaded guilty to one felony count of restraining trade by conspiring to rig bids, in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The maximum penalty for individuals is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled in this case. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is investigating this case. The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section is prosecuting the case.
In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Engineer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Bombings of PG&E Transformers, Causing Property Damage and Widespread Power OutagesRead the Press Release
Peter Karasev, 39, of San Jose, California, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison for two counts of willful destruction of an energy facility related to two separate bombings of PG&E electrical transformers in late 2022 and early 2023. U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman handed down the sentence.
“Karasev’s specialized knowledge in explosives, the vast quantity of bombmaking materials discovered in his home, and his readiness to deploy both against our Nation’s energy infrastructure made him a very dangerous individual who posed a significant risk to public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division is committed to prosecuting attacks on critical infrastructure to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Karasev’s attacks on critical infrastructure were direct threats to public safety and national security,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “He aimed to inflict widespread disruption and harm, but we remain steadfast in our commitment to holding accountable those who threaten the safety and well-being of the residents of San Jose. We and our law enforcement partners will leverage every available resource to ensure that violent extremists like the defendant face the full force of justice.”
“This defendant admitted to attacking critical infrastructure which could have harmed people in the San Jose, California community and he will now face the consequences of his actions,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “This individual conducted research and prepared homemade explosives which knocked out power to multiple homes and caused more than $200,000 in property damage to local businesses. The FBI will work with our partners to identify and hold accountable those who engage in such dangerous and illegal acts.”
Karasev pleaded guilty on April 29 to two counts of willful destruction of an energy facility. Karasev admitted that on Dec. 8, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, he willfully damaged energy facilities involved in the production, storage, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The Jan. 5, 2023, explosion was captured on nearby surveillance footage:
Case 5:23-cr-00364-BLF, N.D. Calif. Document 46; Filed 12/10/25. Explosion of transformer located near Plaza Del Ray shopping center on Snell Avenue captured by nearby surveillance footage.In both attacks, Karasev used homemade explosive devices to cause significant destruction and widespread power outages in the San Jose area. According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, the bombings caused over $200,000 in damages to affected businesses and disrupted service to over 1,500 households in the San Jose area. Of those affected included 15 households enrolled in PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program that required continued electrical service for life-sustaining medical needs.
Karasev admitted that the attacks were premeditated and deliberate, and that he had conducted extensive internet searches regarding explosive materials, infrastructure attacks, and geopolitical conflicts.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered $214,880.67 in restitution and $200 special assessment. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne C. Hsieh for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case with the assistance the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and San Jose Police Department.
Easley Man Arrested for Threatening Mass Violence OnlineRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Lucas Brandon Rousso, 30, of Easley, has been arrested by federal agents and charged with making threatening communications online.
Investigators were alerted to a YouTube account posting threatening comments alluding to violence and harm, including the Jewish community. The comments were posted to videos the account uploaded and escalated over the last few months. Most recently, the defendant posted, “I’m going to commit a mass shooting.”
Investigators traced the account to an IP address, email address and device belonging to Rousso. When interviewed by law enforcement, Rousso stated he posted the comments to YouTube.
If convicted, Rousso faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Rousso made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge William S. Brown on Dec. 17 and will have a detention hearing on Dec. 19.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, and the Easley Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Duncan Man Sentenced to Serve 20 Years in Federal Prison Following Fatal Shooting in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JESSE WAYNE JAMES KEENAN, 19, of Duncan, has been sentenced to serve a total of 240 months in federal prison for voluntary manslaughter and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public record, on July 19, 2024, officers with the Duncan Police Department (DPD) responded to an apartment complex on a reported shooting. At the apartment, DPD located a male victim who had been shot. DPD attempted to provide medical care, but the victim died at the scene. Witnesses at the complex identified Keenan as the person who fired the weapon. Law enforcement located and arrested him a short time later. After speaking with Keenan, FBI agents learned Keenan went to the apartment complex after an argument between him and his girlfriend. Following his arrival, a fight ensued between him and the victim. During the altercation, Keenan shot the victim with a pistol and fled from the scene. The pistol was later recovered by the FBI.
On April 7, 2025, Keenan was charged by Superseding Information with one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Keenan pleaded guilty on May 1, 2025, and admitted that during a quarrel, he intentionally and unlawfully shot the victim, while intending to cause serious bodily injury, which resulted in the victim’s death.
At a sentencing hearing on December 12, 2025, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Keenan to serve 120 months in federal prison for each count, to run consecutively, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered Keenan to pay $7,500 in restitution. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the nature and circumstances of the offense and the need to protect the public from future crimes of Keenan.
This case is in federal court because Keenan is a member of the Choctaw Nation, and the crime occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Duncan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Edgmon and Bow Bottomly prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials Results in 100-Month Prison Term for Southeast District ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Stevenson Allen, 21, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 100 months in federal prison for distributing, soliciting, and receiving numerous images of young children being sexually abused, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Allen pleaded guilty on Sept. 17, 2025, to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the 100-month prison term, Judge Trevor N. McFadden also ordered Allen to serve 10 years of supervised release and to pay restitution of $31,500 to the victims.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Allen, aka “prettyboi,” came to the attention of the FBI on July 17, 2024, after he messaged another user on a messaging platform, who stated he was the father of a young child. Allen encouraged the other user to abuse their minor child.
Between July 17, 2024, and Aug. 5, 2024, Allen repeatedly asked the other user to provide images of the purported daughter being sexually abused. Allen also sent the other user multiple images depicting the rape of infants and toddlers.
On Sept. 12, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Allen’s residence in Southeast Washington D.C. During the search, officers recovered Allen’s iPhone. On the iPhone were 17 chat strings with different users that revealed that Allen exchanged more than 300 explicit images, including child sexual abuse materials, and depictions of child erotica, adult pornography, and bestiality between December 2023 and August 2024.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca G. Ross prosecuted this case for the District of Columbia.
The case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Digital Health Company and Medical Practice Indicted in $100M Adderall Distribution SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in San Francisco returned an indictment yesterday charging a California company for its participation in a years-long scheme to illegally distribute Adderall over the internet, conspire to commit health care fraud in connection with the submission of false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement for Adderall and other stimulants, and conspire to obstruct justice. A Florida medical practice was also charged in connection with its alleged participation in the scheme to illegally distribute Adderall.
“As alleged, Done Global used lies and deceit to carry out a sophisticated and wide-ranging telehealth fraud scheme, obtaining over $100 million in the process,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “From feeding addiction to stealing public funds, rampant health care fraud victimizes our citizens and must be stopped. The Criminal Division will not hesitate to hold health care companies that defraud Americans accountable for their crimes.”
“Done Global betrayed the public trust by allegedly exploiting a subscription-based program to flood the country with Adderall, a powerful and highly regulated controlled substance,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division. “By distributing over 40 million Adderall pills for non-legitimate medical purposes, they prioritized profit over patient safety and public health. Controlled substances are not commodities to be marketed through memberships — they are medications that require careful oversight to prevent misuse and diversion. DEA remains steadfast in its commitment to hold registrants accountable.”
“Yesterday, we charged defendants with exploiting telehealth to provide unfettered access to over 40 million Adderall pills. Instead of leveraging technology to improve patient access to care and enhance communications, Done Global saw it as a way to boost profit. We will vigorously pursue companies that engage in this kind of fraud and put patients at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California.
“Prescribing controlled substances without proper medical oversight, as alleged, endangers patients and erodes trust in our health care system,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Running a sham operation to exploit federal programs and funnel taxpayer dollars into unlawful stimulant distribution is a blatant abuse. HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to expose and dismantle schemes that threaten public safety and defraud the American people.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are specially equipped to follow the complex financial trail left by criminals, and we are dedicated to holding those accountable for crimes committed,” said Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis of IRS Criminal Investigation New York. “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions while also putting individual lives at risk. Yesterday’s indictment sends a clear message that we remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.”
According to court documents, Done Global Inc., a California company, allegedly identified itself as a “digital health company,” which operated on a subscription-based model where individuals paid a monthly fee. Done Global advertised that it provided online diagnosis, treatment, and refills of medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As alleged, Done Global and Mindful Mental Wellness P.A. (MMW), a Florida company, allegedly conspired with others to provide easy access to over 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants in exchange for payment of the monthly subscription fee. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy’s purpose was for the defendants to unlawfully enrich themselves by, among other things, instructing Done prescribers to prescribe Adderall and other stimulants without any legitimate medical purpose, thereby increasing monthly subscription revenue and increasing the value of Done Global. Done Global allegedly arranged for the prescription of over 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants and obtained over $100 million in revenue.
The founder and CEO of Done Global, Ruthia He, and Done Global’s former clinical president, David Brody, were previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of controlled substances and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Ruthia He was also convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
According to court documents, Done Global identified itself as a “digital health company,” which operated on a subscription-based model where individuals paid a monthly fee. Done Global advertised that it provided online diagnosis, treatment and refills of medication for ADHD. Done Global and MMW allegedly conspired to provide Done members with prescriptions for Adderall and other stimulants that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice. Done Global and MMW allegedly ordered Adderall and other stimulants for Done members, including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and commercial insurers members, with whom they lacked a pre-existing practitioner-patient relationship, without an examination, and sometimes based solely on a short video or audio communication and limited patient intake documents, or without any video or audio communication at all. Done Global, MMW, and others, allegedly agreed to provide few, if any, medical treatment options besides prescribing Adderall and other stimulants. In some cases, Done members: (a) did not meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-V criteria for diagnosing ADHD; (b) posed a risk of diversion; and (c) in the event such medications were necessary, were provided dosages, directions, combinations or quantities of medications beyond any legitimate medical purpose, and without following the usual course of professional practice for prescribing them.
Done Global and MMW also allegedly enabled Done members to obtain Adderall and other stimulants from pharmacies by defrauding pharmacies and Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers, concealing and disguising the unlawful prescription of Adderall and other stimulants. Done Global also allegedly conspired to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers.
By 2023, certain pharmacies allegedly refused to fill prescriptions written by prescribers retained by Done Health, a California Company that was affiliated with Done Global and purportedly owned by Brody. According to the indictment, Done Global incorporated MMW to circumvent the pharmacies that had blocked the filling of Done Global-affiliated prescriptions.
Done Global also allegedly conspired to alter, destroy, and conceal records after receiving a grand jury subpoena.
Done Global is charged with one count of conspiracy to illegally distribute Adderall, four counts of illegal distribution of Adderall, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. If convicted, Done Global faces a maximum penalty for conspiracy and illegal distribution of Adderall of twice the gross profits or other proceeds; and twice the gain or twice the gross loss for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and obstruction. If convicted, MMW faces a maximum penalty for conspiracy to illegally distribute Adderall of twice the gross profits or other proceeds.
Acting Deputy Chief Jacob Foster, Assistant Chief Emily Gurskis and Trial Attorney Jil Simon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Green for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Finding a New Provider
Patients receiving treatment at this practice may contact their insurance carrier for assistance in identifying a new provider for continued care. Individuals seeking access to a new primary care provider or other services can also find a provider through https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.
Crisis Support
Patients experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for 24/7 support. Trained counselors provide confidential, judgment-free assistance.
Additional Information
The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners are working with public health and behavioral health partners to communicate where patients can find appropriate care and to alert them of potential risks associated with obtaining medications outside legal channels. Patients seeking further information on where to obtain care can refer to the CDC Health Advisory on a related action from June 13, 2024. Health Alert Network (HAN) - 00510 | Disrupted Access to Prescription Stimulant Medications Could Increase Risk of Injury and Overdose.
Digital Health Company and Medical Practice Indicted in $100M Adderall Distribution SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO—A federal grand jury in San Francisco returned an indictment yesterday charging a California company for its participation in a years-long scheme to illegally distribute Adderall over the internet, conspire to commit health care fraud in connection with the submission of false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement for Adderall and other stimulants, and conspire to obstruct justice. A Florida medical practice was also charged in connection with its alleged participation in the scheme to illegally distribute Adderall.
“Yesterday, we charged defendants with exploiting telehealth to provide unfettered access to over 40 million Adderall pills. Instead of leveraging technology to improve patient access to care and enhance communications, Done Global saw it as a way to boost profit. We will vigorously pursue companies that engage in this kind of fraud and put patients at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California.
“As alleged, Done Global used lies and deceit to carry out a sophisticated and wide-ranging telehealth fraud scheme, obtaining over $100 million in the process,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “From feeding addiction to stealing public funds, rampant health care fraud victimizes our citizens and must be stopped. The Criminal Division will not hesitate to hold health care companies that defraud Americans accountable for their crimes.”
“Done Global betrayed the public trust by allegedly exploiting a subscription-based program to flood the country with Adderall, a powerful and highly regulated controlled substance,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division. “By distributing over 40 million Adderall pills for non-legitimate medical purposes, they prioritized profit over patient safety and public health. Controlled substances are not commodities to be marketed through memberships — they are medications that require careful oversight to prevent misuse and diversion. DEA remains steadfast in its commitment to hold registrants accountable.”
“Prescribing controlled substances without proper medical oversight, as alleged, endangers patients and erodes trust in our health care system,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Running a sham operation to exploit federal programs and funnel taxpayer dollars into unlawful stimulant distribution is a blatant abuse. HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to expose and dismantle schemes that threaten public safety and defraud the American people.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are specially equipped to follow the complex financial trail left by criminals, and we are dedicated to holding those accountable for crimes committed,” said Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis of IRS Criminal Investigation New York. “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions while also putting individual lives at risk. Yesterday’s indictment sends a clear message that we remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.”
According to court documents, Done Global Inc., a California company, allegedly identified itself as a “digital health company,” which operated on a subscription-based model where individuals paid a monthly fee. Done Global advertised that it provided online diagnosis, treatment, and refills of medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As alleged, Done Global and Mindful Mental Wellness P.A. (MMW), a Florida company, allegedly conspired with others to provide easy access to over 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants in exchange for payment of the monthly subscription fee. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy’s purpose was for the defendants to unlawfully enrich themselves by, among other things, instructing Done prescribers to prescribe Adderall and other stimulants without any legitimate medical purpose, thereby increasing monthly subscription revenue and increasing the value of Done Global. Done Global allegedly arranged for the prescription of over 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants and obtained over $100 million in revenue.
The founder and CEO of Done Global, Ruthia He, and Done Global’s former clinical president, David Brody, were previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of controlled substances and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Ruthia He was also convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
According to court documents, Done Global identified itself as a “digital health company,” which operated on a subscription-based model where individuals paid a monthly fee. Done Global advertised that it provided online diagnosis, treatment and refills of medication for ADHD. Done Global and MMW allegedly conspired to provide Done members with prescriptions for Adderall and other stimulants that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice. Done Global and MMW allegedly ordered Adderall and other stimulants for Done members, including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and commercial insurers members, with whom they lacked a pre-existing practitioner-patient relationship, without an examination, and sometimes based solely on a short video or audio communication and limited patient intake documents, or without any video or audio communication at all. Done Global, MMW, and others, allegedly agreed to provide few, if any, medical treatment options besides prescribing Adderall and other stimulants. In some cases, Done members: (a) did not meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-V criteria for diagnosing ADHD; (b) posed a risk of diversion; and (c) in the event such medications were necessary, were provided dosages, directions, combinations or quantities of medications beyond any legitimate medical purpose, and without following the usual course of professional practice for prescribing them.
Done Global and MMW also allegedly enabled Done members to obtain Adderall and other stimulants from pharmacies by defrauding pharmacies and Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers, concealing and disguising the unlawful prescription of Adderall and other stimulants. Done Global also allegedly conspired to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers.
By 2023, certain pharmacies allegedly refused to fill prescriptions written by prescribers retained by Done Health, a California Company that was affiliated with Done Global and purportedly owned by Brody. According to the indictment, Done Global incorporated MMW to circumvent the pharmacies that had blocked the filling of Done Global-affiliated prescriptions.
Done Global also allegedly conspired to alter, destroy, and conceal records after receiving a grand jury subpoena.
Done Global is charged with one count of conspiracy to illegally distribute Adderall, four counts of illegal distribution of Adderall, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. If convicted, Done Global faces a maximum penalty for conspiracy and illegal distribution of Adderall of twice the gross profits or other proceeds; and twice the gain or twice the gross loss for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and obstruction. If convicted, MMW faces a maximum penalty for conspiracy to illegally distribute Adderall of twice the gross profits or other proceeds.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Green for the Northern District of California and Acting Deputy Chief Jacob Foster, Assistant Chief Emily Gurskis and Trial Attorney Jil Simon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Finding a New Provider
Patients receiving treatment at this practice may contact their insurance carrier for assistance in identifying a new provider for continued care. Individuals seeking access to a new primary care provider or other services can also find a provider through https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.
Crisis Support
Patients experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for 24/7 support. Trained counselors provide confidential, judgment-free assistance.
Additional Information
The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners are working with public health and behavioral health partners to communicate where patients can find appropriate care and to alert them of potential risks associated with obtaining medications outside legal channels. Patients seeking further information on where to obtain care can refer to the CDC Health Advisory on a related action from June 13, 2024. Health Alert Network (HAN) - 00510 | Disrupted Access to Prescription Stimulant Medications Could Increase Risk of Injury and Overdose.
December Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the December Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Edyn Aguilar Lara. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Aguilar Lara, 33, a Honduran national, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Additionally, Aguilar Lara is charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-464
Antonio Alfonso Chavez Dominguez. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Chavez Dominguez, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. Further, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2009, May 2014, and Apr. 2015. Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-465
Keith Dwayne Cochran. Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Cochran, 47, a transient, is charged with attempting to receive visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children after being convicted of a felony child pornography offense. Further, he is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minor children after being convicted of a felony child pornography offense. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Scaife is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-466
Kevin Dale Coyle. Escape from Federal Custody. Coyle, 52, is charged with escaping federal custody and knowingly departing the Turley Residential Center without permission. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-470
Daniel Christopher Edwards. Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device. Edwards, 37, of Broken Arrow, is charged with possessing a destructive device that was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-471
Stephen Matthew Kite. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Kite, 53, of Broken Arrow, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-467
Garrett Lee Monroe*. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force in Indian Country; Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Threat and Fear in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. Monroe, 37, of Vinta and a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, is charged with engaging in sexual activity by force. He is further charged with engaging in sex with the victim by threat and fear. Lastly, Monroe allegedly assaulted the victim with the intent to commit aggravated sexual abuse. The FBI and the Vinita Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-468
Ronaldo Ramos Quintero. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearm. Quintero, 21, a Mexican national is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigation, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-469
Devin Charles Staller. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Stalled, 38, of Tulsa and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim, resulting in serious bodily injury. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-472
*Garrett Lee Monroe was tried by a federal jury in April 2026. He was acquitted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Threat and Fear in Indian Country and Assault with Intent to Commit Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. Monroe was found guilty of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force in Indian Country.
Dallas County man sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas –A Mesquite man has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Arob Kolnyang, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 17, 2025.
According to information presented in court, beginning in 2021, Kolnyang was involved in a conspiracy with others to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas.
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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service-Office of Inspector General, Mesquite Police Department, and Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Plano office.
Dacula Man Sentenced to Twenty Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting MinorsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Johann Rainer Nix has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. Nix used social media platforms to entice minors to send him sexually explicit images of themselves.
“Nix used popular social media platforms to lure and exploit minors,” said Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Parents should monitor their children’s social media use because predators like Nix are lurking online. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue, arrest, and prosecute child sex offenders like Nix.”
“Nix exploited vulnerable minors on social media for his depraved desires, and the FBI will relentlessly use every tool at our disposal to put predators like him behind bars,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We urge parents to closely monitor their children’s social media use and have open conversations about online safety to protect them from predators.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: throughout 2022 and 2023, Nix used popular social media applications to groom four children who he met online. Nix coerced and enticed all four minors to create and send him sexually explicit images and/or videos. He also sent several minors photographs of his genitalia.
Johann Rainer Nix, 36, of Dacula, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to 20 years in federal prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. On November 18, 2025, Nix pled guilty to one count of production of child sexual abuse material.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren E. Renaud and L. Skye Davis prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Convicted drug dealer and Mexican national sentenced for illegal reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith announced today that Jorge Saavedra-Delgado, 42, of Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico, was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment with one year of supervised release for illegal reentry into the U.S.
According to court documents, on June 28, 2025, the defendant, a citizen of Mexico, was contacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while he was in the Lincoln County Jail after being arrested on state charges for interference with a peace officer and other offenses. In April 2011, the defendant was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming for the distribution of methamphetamine and for illegal reentry of a previously deported alien into the U.S. The defendant was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment for the drug offense and 24 months of imprisonment for the illegal reentry offense.
ICE agents determined that the defendant had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in March 2015. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 16 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00106
“We fully support ICE’s efforts to identify, locate, prosecute, and remove convicted felons who are in the United States illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Congolese national sentenced to over two years in prison after impersonating his brother throughout his arrest and trialRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Congolese national was sentenced today to two years and two months in prison for aggravated identity theft and perjury.
According to court documents, on Sept. 29, 2019, in response to a reported hit-and-run, U.S. Park Police stopped Daniel Likala Emony, 33, on the George Washington Memorial Parkway and asked Emony for his identification. Emony responded that he did not have his driver's license and provided the name and date of birth of his brother, Gregory Emony. Officers arrested Emony and issued violation notices to him under his brother’s name for driving under the influence (DUI), refusal, and hit and run.
On Nov. 12, 2020, Emony appeared in the United States District Court for a bench trial where he identified himself under oath as “Gregory Emony.” The Court convicted Emony, still under his brother’s name, of DUI and refusal. Emony failed to comply with the terms of his probation and the Court issued an arrest warrant in Gregory Emony’s name.
In April 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Court, and Probation Office learned of Emony’s deception, and a grand jury returned an indictment against him on Nov. 1, 2022. Emony was extradited from Canada on July 31 and pled guilty on Sept. 26.
“By allowing his brother to take the blame for his crimes, Daniel Emony deliberately obstructed justice and wasted crucial law enforcement resources,” Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “His deception falsely implicated an innocent person and necessitated an international extradition. This office will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who seek to evade justice through fraud and obstruction.”
The FBI investigated this case. The Justic Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Emony.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Birnbaum and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Mumma prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-201.
This release was revised on 17 DEC 25 to reflect a revised sentence from the Court.Chicago Man Sentenced for Role in Schemes to Transport Contraband into FCI McDowell with DroneRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Arturo Joel Gallegos, 27, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation, for conspiracy to introduce or attempt to introduce contraband into a federal prison.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 1, 2024, Gallegos traveled to Welch, West Virginia, with two other Chicago men, co-defendants Miguel Angel Aleman-Piceno and Francisco Alejandro Gonzalez. Later that day, law enforcement officers caught Aleman-Piceno and Gonzalez with a drone and camouflaged packages containing tobacco, four cell phones, chargers, phone cards and marijuana next to the prison fence. Also that day, officers encountered Gallegos at a Welch motel where they seized packaging materials, tobacco, and marijuana.
As part of his guilty plea, Gallegos admitted that he conspired with Aleman-Piceno and Gonzalez to fly the contraband onto the grounds of FCI McDowell, and that he expected to be paid for his participation in the conspiracy.
Aleman-Piceno, 23, pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025, and Gonzalez, 25, pleaded guilty on July 7, 2025, each to conspiracy to commit the felony crime of attempting to introduce contraband into a federal prison. Each was sentenced to three years of federal probation.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-126.
Chester County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Numerous Minor Girls Online, Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Valentin Lubinski, 26, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, a $3,600 special assessment, and a total of $28,000 in restitution and other assessments by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage for the online sexual exploitation of numerous minor girls and child pornography offenses.
In February 2023, the defendant was charged by indictment with 18 counts of use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor, and attempt to entice a minor, to engage in sexual conduct, and 18 counts of manufacture, attempted manufacture, and willfully causing the manufacture of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to all 36 charges in December of last year.
As detailed in court documents and statements, throughout June of 2022, Lubinski, operating with the handle “Leo_32149,” used a social media application to sexually exploit and extort 18 identified minor victims to self-produce sexually explicit images and videos of themselves and send them to him. The defendant’s victims ranged in age from nine to 16 years old and lived primarily in rural areas throughout the United States.
Lubinski engaged in a common communication style with each victim. He quickly asked the victims how old they were and then lied about his own age, identifying himself as a male between the ages of 13 and 17 years old. He then asked for an image to see what the victim looked like, and upon receipt, responded with a compliment. Lubinski often sent the victims a photo of a teen boy he purported to be himself.
After the initial exchange, the defendant commonly told the victim that he had a question for her, and asked some variation of “R u freaky?” Regardless of the victim’s response, he then asked her to make a deal with him – the victim would send him a picture of his choice, and, in exchange, Lubinski promised to send a combination of pictures and videos of himself to the victim.
Depending on the victim’s level of resistance at this point, the defendant would explain that the photo he wanted “wasn’t bad” and would then ask for a photo of the victim in her bra or underwear, followed by a topless photo. Upon receipt of these images, he took screenshots and asked the victim for more sexually explicit images, and sexually explicit photos with her face included.
Typically, the victim declined to send these images, at which point Lubinski began his sextortion of the victim, threatening to post her topless photo/bra photo/underwear photo on various social media platforms and often sending the screenshot back to her with a banner of text such as, “follow [the victim’s social media handle] she sends nudes.”
Lubinski continued to ask for more explicit and humiliating photos and videos of the girls, often employing a countdown, giving the victims “one minute” to pose in a certain way and send him a photo or video or he would post their other images. Many of the defendant’s victims begged him to stop, as he extorted them.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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 projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Harrell and Amanda McCool.
Chantilly man convicted of sexually exploiting minors he targeted onlineRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal judge convicted a Chantilly man today on charges of sexual exploitation of children and coercion and enticement of minors to engage in illegal sexual activity.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, between Feb. 9, 2022, and April 18, 2023, Michael Logan Bourne, 55, sexually exploited and enticed four minor girls between the ages of 13 and 17, as well as two other unidentified individuals who purported to be 14 and 16 years old, online. Bourne engaged in graphic sexual chats with the victims and enticed them to participate in sexual activity during live video calls that he conducted from his home. He also sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself to his victims and received child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from a 13-year-old victim.
“Michael Bourne knowingly targeted children, exploiting their vulnerability for his own gratification,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Crimes like these inflict lasting harm, and this office is unwavering in its commitment to bringing child predators to justice. We will always prioritize cases involving the abuse of minors and pursue offenders like Bourne with the full force of federal law.”
“Bourne sexually exploited his victims online, knowing full well that they were vulnerable minors,” said Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division. “His conviction is a testament to the work that our Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and our law enforcement partners do day in and day out to apprehend child predators and secure justice for victims of online child sexual exploitation.”
Bourne faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison when sentenced on March 18, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Halper and Vanessa Strobbe are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-218.
Career Offender from West Memphis Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Alreico Wiley, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 144 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on December 16, 2025, by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky. Wiley had seven previous felony convictions for controlled substance offenses.
On April 1, 2025, Wiley, 50, of West Memphis, pleaded guilty to count two of an Indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The two-count Indictment filed on November 2, 2023, also charged Wiley with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Wiley to three years’ supervised release.
An investigation revealed that after receiving complaints of Wiley distributing methamphetamine from his residence in West Memphis, on July 27, 2023, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration made contact with Wiley, who was on active parole and had a search waiver on file. During a search of Wiley’s, residence officers located approximately 27 grams of methamphetamine in Wiley’s bedroom. Law enforcement officers also located on the dresser a bag containing 2.5 grams of powder fentanyl and 6.6 grams of fentanyl tablets. In the kitchen of Wiley’s residence, law enforcement officers located two digital scales. After being transported to the West Memphis Police Department, Wiley waived his Miranda rights and admitted to selling methamphetamine.
Because Wiley’s criminal history includes felony convictions that include three convictions for possession with intent to deliver cocaine, a conviction for possession with intent to deliver marijuana, two convictions for the sale or delivery of cocaine, and a conviction for the sale or delivery of marijuana, he is classified as a career offender and received an enhanced sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was conducted by the West Memphis Police Department with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shelby Shelton.
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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
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@USAO_EDAR
CEO, CFO, COO Charged in Connection with Billion-Dollar Collapse of Tricolor AutoRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General (“FDIC-OIG”), Patricia Tarasca, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging DANIEL CHU, the founder and former CEO of Tricolor Holdings LLC, with orchestrating a years-long financial crimes enterprise that defrauded multiple banks and other private credit providers. CHU and DAVID GOODGAME, Tricolor’s former COO, are also charged with bank fraud and wire fraud offenses in connection with schemes to fraudulently double-pledge collateral to multiple lenders and manipulate the characteristics of collateral to make ineligible, near-worthless assets appear to meet lender requirements. Both defendants were arrested today. CHU will be presented later today in the Southern District of Florida, and GOODGAME will be presented tomorrow in the Northern District of Texas.
Also unsealed today are the guilty pleas of JEROME KOLLAR, Tricolor’s former CFO, and AMERYN SEIBOLD, a former finance executive at Tricolor, in connection with their participation in the conspiracy. KOLLAR and SEIBOLD pled guilty to fraud charges before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman on December 16, 2025. Both are cooperating with the Government.
“As alleged in the indictment, CEO Daniel Chu was the leader of an elaborate scheme to defraud creditors of Tricolor,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “At his direction, Tricolor repeatedly lied to banks and other credit providers, including by falsifying auto-loan data and ‘double pledging’ collateral. Fraud became an integral component of Tricolor’s business strategy. The resulting billion-dollar collapse harmed banks, investors, employees and customers. It also undermines confidence in our financial system. New Yorkers and all Americans want continuing criminal enterprises shut down and their leaders brought to justice whether they are on our streets or in our markets.”
“These four executives allegedly conspired to defraud lenders based on bogus collateral,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “The defendants’ alleged manipulation not only ripped off multiple banks but also violated the integrity of our credit markets. The FBI will never tolerate any company that makes fraud part of its business.”
“As alleged, the defendants in this case participated in a years-long fraudulent scheme that deceived the lenders of Tricolor,” said FDIC-OIG Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca. “The FDIC-OIG stands firm in its commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate all allegations of fraud that target financial institutions, as we seek to preserve the integrity of our Nation’s financial system.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
From in or about 2018 through in or about 2025, CHU, GOODGAME, KOLLAR, and SEIBOLD conspired to defraud the lenders and asset-backed securities investors of Tricolor Holdings, LLC and its affiliates (“Tricolor”), a subprime auto retailer and financing company. CHU, Tricolor’s founder and chief executive officer; GOODGAME, Tricolor’s chief operating officer; and others operated Tricolor through systematic fraud. At CHU’s direction, multiple Tricolor executives repeatedly double-pledged collateral to multiple lenders and manipulated the characteristics of collateral to make ineligible, near-worthless assets appear to meet lender requirements. By in or about August 2025, Tricolor had pledged approximately $2.2 billion of collateral to lenders and investors, but Tricolor had only approximately $1.4 billion of real collateral. The difference—consisting of approximately $800 million in bogus collateral—resulted from the series of schemes and the conspiracy in which CHU, GOODGAME, KOLLAR, SEIBOLD, and others participated. Over time, this series of fraudulent schemes had a profound effect on Tricolor, which obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in cash advances; on CHU, who used a portion of the funds to enrich himself; and on Tricolor’s lenders, who extended billions in loans based on fabricated data and false statements.
In or about the summer of 2025, lenders confronted CHU and others at Tricolor about problems with Tricolor’s collateral. In a series of secretly recorded phone calls, CHU and his conspirators concocted plans to conceal or explain away the fraud. For example, on or about August 17, 2025, CHU proposed blaming certain loan data discrepancies on fictitious deferment policies. CHU acknowledged, however, that “where we would have an issue is if, if they sent an auditor and they said, pull this up on your screen, right, that would be a problem.” KOLLAR agreed, stating, “Yes. That would be bad.” These efforts to conceal failed.
Unable to explain or excuse Tricolor’s fraud, CHU turned his sights on blaming others. On another recorded phone call, CHU compared Tricolor’s circumstances to the circumstances of Enron, the energy trading firm that collapsed into bankruptcy following the discovery of accounting fraud and other misconduct. Specifically, CHU and others discussed the possibility that they could blame the banks for ignoring red flags and use that threat as leverage to extract a favorable settlement. CHU proposed using artificial intelligence tools to search for key words that GOODGAME could use in a discussion with a lender. After another participant described an Enron-related litigation, CHU stated: “Enron obviously has a nice ring to it, right? <laugh>, I mean, Enron, Enron raises the blood pressure of the lender when they see that <laugh>. It, it has to, right? I’m not— […] Cause who wants to be thrown in the category?” CHU later said, “That Enron case is fucking perfect, I think.”
CHU, recognizing that Tricolor was, in his words, “basically history,” turned his attention to extracting millions of dollars from the company. As Tricolor approached collapse, and after CHU observed that the company was “definitely insolvent,” he directed KOLLAR to pay him the final installments of a $15 million bonus. On or about August 19 and 20, 2025—roughly three weeks before Tricolor placed more than 1,000 employees on unpaid leaves of absence and before the company filed for bankruptcy—CHU received two payments from Tricolor totaling $6.25 million. CHU used some of this money to purchase a multimillion-dollar property in Beverly Hills, California on or about August 27, 2025.
Unable to maintain its access to loans, and unable to sustain its business without substantial cash, Tricolor filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on September 10, 2025. By that time, the company’s largest lenders had advanced and were owed more than $900 million as a result of the fraudulent double-pledging and collateral manipulation schemes that CHU had orchestrated, and in which GOODGAME had knowingly participated as the company’s chief operating officer, for years.
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A chart containing the names, ages, residences, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is attached.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the FDIC-OIG. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance and cooperation in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micah F. Fergenson and Justin V. Rodriguez are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant,
Age, and
Residence
ChargesMaximum Potential Sentence(s)United States v. Daniel Chu and David GoodgameCHU,
62,
Miami,
FL
Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise, 18 U.S.C. § 225 (Count One)
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1349 (Count Two)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Three)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Four)
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
GOODGAME,
49,
Waxahachie,
TX
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1349 (Count Two)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Three)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Four)
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
United States v. Jerome KollarKOLLAR,
62,
Shady Shores,
TX
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1349 (Count One)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Two)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Three)
False Statements to Financial Institutions, 18 U.S.C. § 1014 (Count Four)
Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Count Five)
Securities Fraud, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff (Count Six)
Destruction of Records, 18 U.S.C. § 1519 (Count Seven)
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
Five years in prison
20 years in prison
20 years in prison
United States v. Ameryn SeiboldSEIBOLD,
31,
Princeton,
TX
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1349 (Count One)
Bank Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (Count Two)
Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Three)
False Statements to Financial Institutions, 18 U.S.C. § 1014 (Count Four)
Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Count Five)
Securities Fraud, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff (Count Six)
Destruction of Records, 18 U.S.C. § 1519 (Count Seven)
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
30 years in prison
Five years in prison
20 years in prison
20 years in prison
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Byrd Gang Leader Pleads Guilty Mid-Trial to Rico Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Conspiracy to Possess FirearmsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson announced that TIM JACKSON(“JACKSON”), a/k/a T-Maf,” “Maf,” of New Orleans, pled guilty last week to RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, and firearms conspiracy. after three days of jury trial before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.
JACKSON was a leader of the Byrd Gang, also known as M3RE, MagFischer, 315 and Piff Gang, which operated primarily out of the former Magnolia Housing Development in New Orleans. Its members distributed heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine and marijuana daily, while possessing multiple firearms. JACKSON participated in numerous drug trafficking activities and violent crimes for the Byrd Gang.
Members of the enterprise, including JACKSON, participated in acts of violence, to include, but not limited to the July 18, 2016, murder of Kent Franklin; the September 3, 2016, murder of Javon Johnigan; the October 29, 2016, shooting of a rival; the November 25, 2016, shooting of a Ghost Gang member; the December 20, 2016, shooting of a rival; the December 30, 2016, shooting of a Ghost Gang member; the January 31, 2017, double murder of Ghost Gang members Wynston Jackson and Lawrence Williams, IV; the May 3, 2017, shooting at a victim; and, the August 25, 2017, shooting of another Ghost Gang member.
The government’s evidence regarding the existence and nature of this criminal enterprise came from the testimony of witnesses and cooperating informants, cooperating defendants, police searches and seizures, Title III wiretaps, historical arrests of members of the enterprise, including of JACKSON, among other things. Collectively, the evidence showed that JACKSON, was a leader of the Byrd Gang and the principal supplier of heroin for the enterprise. He also distributed controlled substances and acted as a gunman for the enterprise. JACKSONunlawfully and knowingly conspired with other members of the Byrd Gang to participate in the affairs of the enterprise through racketeering activities such as murders, in violation of Title 14, Louisiana Revised Statutes, Sections 24 (Principals), 26 (Criminal Conspiracy), 27 (Attempt) and 30.1 (Second Degree Murder); as well as heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana trafficking, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846.
As part of the conspiracy JACKSON and his co-defendants agreed that each would commit at least two acts of racketeering as Byrd gang members. JACKSON himself participated in numerous such acts. Specifically, between 2014 and January 2017, when JACKSON was arrested on federal charges for which he is still serving a sentence, JACKSON regularly purchased large quantities of heroin from a supplier. During this period, JACKSON was the leader of the Byrd Gang and its most prolific drug dealer.
During the trial, the evidence showed a slew of back-and-forth retaliatory shootings between the Byrd Gang and the Ghost Gang, much of which was fueled by social media posts and rap music and videos. Additionally, dozens of firearms, most with large-capacity magazines, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition, were recovered from Byrd Gang members, including from JACKSON.
JACKSON agreed to accept a 30-year sentence. Sentencing will be held before Judge Milazzo on January 14, 2026.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Sarah Dawkins are in charge of the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Bluefield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Landon Joseph Cartwright, 22, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 13, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Cartwright’s residence in Bluefield and seized approximately 443 grams of methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Cartwright admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it.
Cartwright is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons 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. 1:25-cr-115.
Billings woman sentenced to 10 years in prison on methamphetamine and fentanyl chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings woman who distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Tori Lee Hutzenbieler, 46, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in May 2023, law enforcements officers learned from a source of information that Tori Hutzenbieler was selling drugs in the Billings area. The source said Hutzenbieler concealed drugs in a trap compartment inside her Toyota Camry. Law enforcement learned through electronic surveillance that Hutzenbieler, using the Camry, frequented a storage unit at odd hours and then drove around town making several stops.
A search warrant was executed on Hutzenbieler’s residence where fentanyl pills were located under her mattress and $3,919 in cash was found in the bedroom. Four vehicles at Hutzenbieler’s residence were also searched and a trap compartment was located inside the Camry. Law enforcement searched a Buick used by Hutzenbieler and located and seized a bag of methamphetamine and several fentanyl pills from the trunk.
Additionally, law enforcement executed a search of Hutzenbieler’s storage unit where methamphetamine and fentanyl pills were located inside a red cooler.
Hutzenbieler’s cell phone had several text messages related to drug transactions and a photograph of her holding a plastic bag containing a large amount of methamphetamine.
In total, Hutzenbieler was found in possession of 393.5 grams of methamphetamine and 1,007 fentanyl pills.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten prosecuted the case. The DEA and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
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