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17 December 2025
Barrio Azteca Gang Leader Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Murder Charges Related to 2010 U.S. Consulate Murders in JuarezRead the Press Release
A former FBI “Ten Most Wanted Fugitive” and leader of the El Paso/Juarez-based Bario Azteca gang pleaded guilty today in federal court in El Paso, Texas, for his role in the March 2010 U.S. Consulate murders in Juarez, Mexico, in which three people associated with the U.S. Consulate were murdered when gunmen shot into the vehicle in which they and their children were riding.
Eduardo Ravelo, also known as Tablas, 57, of Juarez, Mexico, pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Texas to racketeering conspiracy (RICO), conspiracy to distribute and import drugs, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, and murder in aid of racketeering. A sentencing date has not yet been set by the court. At sentencing, Ravelo faces a mandatory penalty of life in prison.
“Eduardo Ravelo was responsible for Barrio Azteca brazenly orchestrating the murders of three individuals associated with the U.S. Consulate in Juarez, Mexico,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today, after years of evading capture, he is finally being held accountable for heinous crimes that Barrio Azteca committed during the course of cartel wars in Juarez, including attacks on U.S. employees. The Criminal Division will not tolerate violent attacks on those who support our embassies and consulates abroad, and we will work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”
“Ravelo’s admission of guilt today ensures accountability for his role in the murder of U.S. Consulate employees,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Today’s plea also ensures he is held responsible for his leadership of a vicious criminal enterprise that terrorized the city of Juarez and contributed to the poisoning of our communities on this side of the border. This case has spanned decades, and this latest development reflects our commitment to pursuing and prosecuting violent criminals like Ravelo regardless of how long it takes for the long arm of justice to grab hold.”
“This case is a tragic reminder of the inseparable link between drug trafficking and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Arellano of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) El Paso Field Division. “The dedicated men and women of the DEA remain steadfast in their mission to bring violent drug traffickers to justice for their heinous crimes.”
According to court documents and information presented in court throughout this case, Ravelo is one of 35 Barrio Azteca members and associates based in the United States and Mexico who were charged in the third superseding indictment in 2011 for committing various criminal acts, including racketeering, narcotics distribution and importation, retaliation against persons providing information to U.S. law enforcement, extortion, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and murder. Of the 35 defendants, 10 Mexican nationals, including Ravelo, were charged for their role in the March 13, 2010 murders in Juarez, Mexico, of U.S. Consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton, her husband Arthur Redelfs, and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee.
All of the defendants have been apprehended, and 28, including Ravelo, have pleaded guilty. Three defendants have been convicted at trial, one committed suicide before the conclusion of his trial, and one is awaiting extradition from Mexico. Two defendants await trial in the United States.
Ravelo was the leader of the Barrio Azteca gang in Mexico beginning in around 2004. In 2009, Ravelo was placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list and remained there until his arrest in 2018 in Mexico. He was extradited to the United States on Feb. 20, 2025.
The Barrio Azteca (BA) is a violent street and prison gang that began in the late 1980s and expanded into a transnational criminal organization. In the 2000s, the BA formed an alliance in Mexico with “La Linea,” which is part of the Juarez Drug Cartel (also known as the Vincente Carrillo Fuentes Drug Cartel or VCF). The purpose of the BA-La Linea alliance was to battle the Chapo Guzman Cartel and its allies for control of the drug trafficking routes through Juarez and Chihuahua. The drug routes through Juarez, known as the Juarez Plaza, are important to drug trafficking organizations because they are a principal illicit drug trafficking conduit into the United States. The gang has a militaristic command structure and includes captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and soldiers — all with the purpose of maintaining power and enriching its members and associates through drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, intimidation, violence, threats of violence, and murder.
As a BA Captain in Juarez, Ravelo directed and controlled the BA’s drug trafficking activities, and he was ultimately responsible for and in some cases directly controlled multiple “hit” or “sicario” squads, which consisted of multiple BA members armed with automatic and semi-automatic firearms who committed numerous kidnappings and murders in support of the BA against rival cartel members. On the day of the Consulate murders, Ravelo monitored radio communications and directed BA members who targeted and murdered Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton; her husband Arthur Redelfs, and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros. Enriquez Catton was four months pregnant, and her fetus was also killed.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s El Paso and Albuquerque Field Offices (Las Cruces Resident Agency); DEA Juarez; and DEA El Paso. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; El Paso Police Department; El Paso County Sheriff’s Office; El Paso Independent School District Police Department; Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission; New Mexico State Police; Dona Ana County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Office; Las Cruces, (New Mexico) Police Department; Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility and Otero County Prison Facility New Mexico.
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Trial Attorney Amy Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Spitzer for the Western District of Texas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico and the Criminal Division’s Offices of International Affairs and Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance in this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the extradition of Ravelo.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a MinorRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Zachary Anthony Campbell, 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 30 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for two counts of sexually exploiting a minor.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD), and Chief Charles J. Herring, Towson University Police Department (TUPD).
According to his guilty plea, Campbell sexually abused an 11-year-old victim. On two occasions, in October 2023 and February 2024, Campbell recorded a video of himself sexually abusing the victim who appeared to be sleeping. Additionally, on five occasions in 2023 and 2024, Campbell placed a hidden camera in a bathroom and recorded videos of the victim in various stages of undressing. Campbell saved the sexual-exploitation videos on his phone.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, BPD, and TUPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Arizona Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced Shane Burns, age 26, of Scottsdale, Arizona, to 168 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years’ supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Burns was one of fifteen individuals indicted in February 2023 for conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl in Northeastern Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Burns was the leader and organizer of the conspiracy, having established connections with Mexican cartels to obtain fentanyl pills, and distributing those pills in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and other locations in Northeastern Pennsylvania, as well as other states.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Scranton, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard T. Donahue prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Anthony Man Sentenced to Life Following Trial Conviction for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Anthony man was sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of multiple child exploitation offenses following a federal trial.
There is no parole in the federal system. As a result, a sentence of lifetime incarceration is served without parole.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from 2018 through 2022, Othon Jorge Zamarripa, 35, abused his position of trust as a caregiver by coercing minors to engage in illegal sexual activity through manipulation, threats, physical abuse, and the use of online pornography to exert control and maintain secrecy.
On July 28, 2025, following a multi-day trial, Zamarripa was convicted of two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor. Based on the nature of the offenses, the length of time over which they occurred, and the harm caused, the court imposed a sentence of life imprisonment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Ryan G. McRae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joni Autrey Stahl and Jackson K. Dering V prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
16 Arrested on Complaints Alleging Shootings, Kidnapping, and Illegal Sales of Firearms and Narcotics by Puente-13 GangRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Sixteen members and associates of the San Gabriel Valley-based, Mexican Mafia-linked, Puente-13 street gang were arrested today on federal criminal complaints alleging their involvement in one kidnapping, two shootings, illegal firearms sales, and trafficking of narcotics, including methamphetamine cocaine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than fentanyl.
The defendants arrested today include:
- Victor Sanchez, 24, a.k.a. “Pollo” and “Chicken,” of San Bernardino;
- Isaiah Castro, 24, a.k.a. “Boy,” of Azusa;
- Isaac Estrada-Frost, 21, a.k.a. “Ghost,” of Rosemead;
- Heather Covarrubias, 40, a.k.a. “Snowbella,” of Diamond Bar;
- Dominic Ornelas, 23, a.k.a. “Dom” and “Lil Speedy,” of Rancho Cucamonga; and
- Adrian Lopez, 25, a.k.a. “Tapped In” and “Monkey,” of La Puente.
There are 20 total defendants charged with various offenses, including distribution of methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a machine gun, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Nine of the defendants are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles. The remaining seven defendants are expected to make their initial appearances tomorrow in Los Angeles federal court.
Law enforcement is looking for three defendants who remain at large:
- Larry Castillo, 42, a.k.a. “Lil Dee,” of Victorville;
- Soo Kang, 31, a.k.a. “Easy,” of Koreatown; and
- Bryan Gordian-Padilla, 24, a.k.a. “Goon,” of West Covina.
Another defendant, Heather Johnson, 38, of Victorville, is in state custody.
During the course of this investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) of methamphetamine, thousands of pills containing fentanyl and carfentanil, fentanyl power, 71 firearms, including 14 rifles, one machine-gun conversion device, four short-barreled rifles, three firearms with obliterated serial numbers, three pieces of body armor, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and today seized approximately $9,500 in cash.
According to affidavits filed with the complaints, Puente-13 is a street gang based in La Puente that enriches itself and the Mexican Mafia prison gang by controlling the distribution of narcotics within its “territory,” maintaining and expanding that control through violence and threats of violence and punishing those in its territory who cooperate with law enforcement.
The affidavits outline a series of criminal acts, including the December 2022 shooting of rival gangsters at a Covina residence in which one of the shooters, Ornelas, tripped and left behind his left shoe, which later helped law enforcement link him to the shooting.
In July 2023, Lopez, Covarrubias, and others kidnapped two victims to retrieve items they believed had been stolen during a burglary at Lopez’s residence earlier that month. One of the victims eventually was allowed to leave, but the other victim fled after being severely beaten.
Another Puente-13-linked shooting occurred in May 2025 outside a La Puente liquor store in which Estrada-Frost, mistaking a victim for being a member of a rival gang, yelled racial slurs at the victim and shot at the victim’s car when the victim drove away from the scene, striking one of the car’s doors.
Other criminal acts outlined in the affidavits include illegal sales of dozens of firearms, and the trafficking of pound quantities of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl and carfentanil pills.
Complaints contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
If convicted, nine of the defendants arrested today would face statutory maximum sentences of life in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating this matter, with assistance from the Covina Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the West Covina Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the Baldwin Park Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kenneth R. Carbajal and Clifford D. Mpare of the Major Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
12 Members of East Harlem Narcotics Crew Charged with Narcotics and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced the unsealing of an Indictment today charging 12 members of an East Harlem-based narcotics trafficking organization with conspiring to distribute narcotics and with possessing firearms in furtherance of the narcotics trafficking conspiracy stemming from their conduct in and around the “Johnson Houses”—a colloquial name for the James Weldon Johnson Residential Community, a public housing development under the control of the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”). BRIAN GONZALEZ, a/k/a “Bmakk,” BRIAN NIN, a/k/a “BDot,” IRA BOYCE, a/k/a “Zaza,” JOSE HERNANDEZ, JAHDEEN WILLIAMS, PERCY CARRION, CAESAR HERNANDEZ, and QUADIR DAVONISH, a/k/a “Skii Dotty” were arrested today and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein. BRYAN COWAN, a/k/a “Chapo,” was previously in custody. JAFFARI HOPWAH, a/k/a “Baby Wuu,” DANIEL JONES, a/k/a “D Cash,” and RICHARD FARQUHARSON, a/k/a “Smooth” remain at large. This case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Sideny H. Stein.
“As alleged in the Indictment, these defendants distributed substantial quantities of narcotics into the community, putting lives in danger,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “These defendants degraded the quality of life for Johnson Houses residents and the surrounding community by selling drugs in common areas including lobbies, courtyards, and a children’s playground. New York City residents should be able to live in NYCHA complexes, free from the dangers of drugs and guns. Thanks to the extraordinary work of our partners at the FBI and NYPD, the defendants now face federal charges for their crimes and the Johnson Houses are safer.”
“For years, these 12 defendants allegedly utilized the Johnson Houses to facilitate their open-air drug market and generate an illicit revenue stream,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “This joint investigation with NYPD Manhattan North Narcotics dismantled an alleged trafficking conspiracy disrupting the safety of a public housing development with a continual revolving door of drugs and firearms. During the nationwide initiative, Coast to Coast, our local Operation Empire Heat takedown reflects the FBI’s steadfast commitment to coordinating with our local law enforcement partners to protect innocent New Yorkers from the unlawful activities of any criminal organization.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and other court papers and proceedings:[1]
From at least in or about 2022 up to and including December 2025 in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, GONZALEZ, NIN, COWAN, HOPWAH, BOYCE, JOSE HERNANDEZ, JONES, WILLIAMS, FARQUHARSON, CARRION, CAESAR HERNANDEZ, and DAVONISH, used a building within the Johnson Houses—and that building’s adjoining courtyard—as an open drug market in which they sold a variety of controlled substances, including crack cocaine and fentanyl, to customers who streamed into the building to buy the drugs. They did this by occupying the building’s lobby at all hours of the day and night, often holding cross-body bags or fanny packs where drug products would be stored. At times, the drug products were also kept in a building mailbox. Members of the conspiracy also exploited other parts of the building to facilitate their business. They used specific apartments to package and store drugs, and they used utility boxes throughout the building stairwells to stash their drug products, drug paraphernalia (such as syringes), and firearms.
In addition to possessing and storing firearms in communal locations, such as building utility boxes, some members of the conspiracy also carried firearms at and around the building, and on several occasions, a member of the conspiracy brandished and discharged a firearm within, or in the vicinity of, the Johnson Houses.
Several members of the conspiracy have been arrested at least once in recent years on state charges based on their possession of narcotics that were packaged for sale and/or possession of a firearm. The drug business in and around the building nevertheless continued unabated.
During simultaneous arrests and searches conducted today law enforcement agents seized the following items, among other things:
- a Building “stash” apartment: five firearms, two of which were “long” guns, capsules, bags, and baggies of suspected narcotics, and various drug paraphernalia and mixing material.
- NIN’s apartment: one firearm, one magazine, and two boxes of ammunition.
- CAESAR HERNANDEZ’s apartment: a large bag of suspected cocaine, a gun-cleaning kit, and a .40-caliber shell casing.
Below is a picture of the “long” guns that were seized.
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All defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The defendants are also charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of the narcotics trafficking offense, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
A chart containing the names of the defendants, their ages, and places of residence is set forth below.
The minimum and 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 the judge.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank J. Balsamello and Diarra Guthrie 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.
Name
Age
Place of Residence
BRIAN GONZALEZ, a/k/a “Bmakk”33 years oldNew York, NYBRIAN NIN, a/k/a “BDot”33 years oldBronx, NYJAFFARI HOPWAH, a/k/a “Baby Wuu”19 years oldNew York, NYIRA BOYCE, a/k/a “Zaza”20 years oldNew York, NYJOSE HERNANDEZ31 years oldNew York, NYDANIEL JONES, a/k/a “D Cash”31 years oldNew York, NYJAHDEEN WILLIAMS34 years oldNew York, NYRICHARD FARQUHARSON, a/k/a “Smooth”35 years oldNew York, NYPERCY CARRION26 years oldNew York, NYCAESAR HERNANDEZ34 years oldNew York, NYQUADIR DAVONISH, a/k/a “Skii Dotty”23 years oldNew York, NYBRYAN COWAN, a/k/a “Chapo”31 years oldNew York, NY
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
16 December 2025
Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TASHIA BRIDGES, also known as “Cheena,” 35, of Torrington and Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that operated out of New Britain car dealership.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and New Britain Police Department conducted an investigation into a drug trafficking organization, headed by Wilfredo Ortiz and Michael Luisi, that was operating out of Supreme Automotive, a car dealership located at 494 Main Street in New Britain. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily cocaine.
The investigation revealed that Bridges regularly purchased approximately 400 to 500 grams of cocaine from Luisi and then sold crack and powder cocaine to her own customers.
Bridges, Ortiz, Luisi, and several other co-conspirators were arrested on November 14, 2024. On that date, investigators conducted court authorized searches of Supreme Automotive and other locations connected to the drug trafficking organization and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of heroin, a kilogram press, seven firearms, ammunition, approximately $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles. Searches of Bridges’ residences in Torrington and Waterbury revealed nearly 250 grams of crack cocaine, a small quantity of powder cocaine, a digital scale, a 9mm firearm with an obliterated serial number, and more than $14,000 in cash.
On March 6, 2025, Bridges pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. She has been detained since September 11, 2025, when her federal bond was revoked after she was arrested by the Connecticut State Police and charged with drug distribution and related offenses.
Ortiz and Luisi have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Police, and the New Britain, Hartford, West Hartford, Waterbury, Naugatuck, East Hartford, Brookfield, Milford, Norwich, Orange, North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Manchester Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth, Reed Durham, and David Nelson.
West Des Moines Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Minors on Snapchat and Instagram and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A West Des Moines man was sentenced on December 16, 2025, to 35 years in federal prison for exploiting numerous minors on social media and possessing child pornography.
According to public court records, Nicklas Ray Stanley, 28, exploited multiple minors on Snapchat and Instagram over several years. Stanley falsely told the minors that he was a similar age to them. Stanley later requested and received sexually explicit images or videos from many minor victims. Stanley’s conduct included threatening to disseminate the minors’ imagery if they did not continue to send images to him. Stanley also encouraged some minor victims to sexually exploit their younger siblings and to engage in bestiality with their dogs and send him videos of the abuse. Stanley’s minor victims were located across the United States and in several foreign countries.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Stanley will be required to serve a 10‑year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Stanley was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution, $35,300 in special assessments, and a fine of $12,000.
In response to the conviction and sentence, United States Attorney David C. Waterman said, “Real and serious dangers exist online. Predators—like Stanley—intentionally manipulate and exploit young people while attempting to hide behind screens and false identities. While the Internet may create the illusion of anonymity, it does not provide immunity. Those who target children online will be identified, thoroughly investigated, and held fully accountable through the coordinated efforts of our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office.”
This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force, with assistance from the Urbandale Police Department and Michigan State Police.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources.
Waterbury Drug Trafficker Who Carried Firearm Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MALIK WRIGHT, 22, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised for a firearm possession offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2024, Waterbury Police made a controlled purchase of narcotics from Wright and observed him conducting additional hand-to-hand drug sales. On August 29, 2024, investigators saw Wright stash a satchel in the tire area of an abandoned car in a vacant lot near Coe Street and High Street, and then conduct another apparent drug sale. Officers took Wright into custody and located the satchel, which contained fentanyl and cocaine, a scale, and a loaded .40 caliber handgun with a 23-round magazine.
Wright has been detained since his arrest. On August 6, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Waterbury Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth through Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Warwick Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for production and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Jeremy Giguere, 38, pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025, to four counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of prepubescent child pornography. Giguere will be sentenced on February 26, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, in September 2024, the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a report regarding disturbing CSAM videos uploaded to Giguere’s online photo storage account, linked to devices belonging to the defendant. A state search warrant was executed at his residence on October 16, 2024. As a result of the search and through their investigation, almost five hundred CSAM videos and images were found on the defendant’s personal devices.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Rhode Island State Police, and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
To report suspected online child sexual exploitation and/or abuse, call the Know2Project Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline® at https://report.cybertip.org/.
Union City “Ghost Preparer” Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulently Seeking over $4 Million in COVID-19 Employment Tax CreditsRead the Press Release
Scheme caused IRS to issue over $1.5 million in fraudulent tax refund
AUGUSTA, GA: On December 15, 2025, a truckdriver who operated a “ghost” tax preparation business on the side was sentenced to federal prison for making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits.
Dantavious Jackson, 39, Union City, Georgia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for executing a mail fraud scheme to defraud the United States by making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits announced Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Jackson was also ordered to pay over $1.5 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Tax preparers have a responsibility to accurately prepare tax returns on behalf of their clients. Jackson not only undermined the American tax system and the trust of taxpayers relying on his expertise,” said U.S. Attorney Heap, “but he also took advantage of pandemic relief funds that were intended to help individuals harmed by the pandemic. The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the serious nature of Jackson’s conduct. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia works closely with our partners at IRS Criminal Investigation to protect the law-abiding American public and the treasury by stopping this fraud.”
According to court documents, Jackson owned and operated a trucking business in Union City, Georgia. He also had a side business preparing tax forms for a fee. By law, any individual who assists in preparing federal tax returns for a fee is required to obtain a preparer identification number (“PTIN”) from the IRS. Jackson prepared and filed tax returns as a “ghost preparer,” omitting his identity by PTIN or by any other means on the returns he filed for clients.
In addition, Jackson applied for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (also known as the CARES Act), enacted on March 27, 2020. This Act provided for an employee retention credit (“ERC”), designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jackson executed a scheme to defraud the United States by preparing and filing thirty-five IRS Forms 941 for himself and two clients that falsely claimed they were entitled to receive $4,112,297 in tax refunds based on fraudulently claimed ERCs. Jackson fabricated wages and employees to claim ERCs inducing the U.S. Treasury to mail $1,567,855 in fraudulent tax refunds to himself and his clients.
“IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and forwarding for prosecution, individuals like Dantavious Jackson, who defrauded American taxpayers at a time when businesses needed funds to help keep employees on their payrolls,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “During FY25, IRS Criminal Investigation initiated 588 investigations involving more than $5.6 billion of potentially fraudulent Employee Retention Credits related to tax years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.”
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs, III.
United States Department of Justice Sues the Virgin Islands Police Department for Unconstitutional Practices Resulting in Effective Denials of Gun PermitsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI –United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that the United States Department of Justice filed a complaint against the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) alleging that the territory’s unreasonable delays and conditions on lawful gun owners’ rights create an unconstitutional permitting process in violation of the Second Amendment. Numerous applicants complained that VIPD is unreasonably delaying their gun permit application decisions and adding unreasonable conditions, including bolted-in gun safes, prior to issuing gun licenses. Finally, VIPD continues to enforce a proper cause requirement nearly identical to the law that the U.S. Supreme Court previously struck down in another case years ago.
“This Civil Rights Division will protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “The newly-established Second Amendment Section filed this lawsuit to bring the Virgin Islands Police Department back into legal compliance by ensuring that applicants receive timely decisions without unconstitutional obstruction.”
“The territory’s firearms licensing laws and practices are inconsistent with the Second Amendment,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the District of the U.S. Virgin Islands. “This lawsuit seeks to uphold the rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms in the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a regulation it labeled “proper cause,” which New York law enforcement used to deny gun permits if the applicant did not show “proper cause” for the gun permit. That case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, is the established law of the land, including in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Today, the Virgin Islands maintains and enforces a law nearly identical to the overturned law. Additionally, complaints have poured in from residents showing unconstitutional delays and requirements, including police conducting unconstitutional and unreasonable home searches—the very type of requirements the U.S. Supreme Court finds abusive in permitting schemes. The lawsuit is filed in the U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands.
If you are a current or prospective gun owner and believe your gun permit application is subject to unconstitutional delays or practices, please submit a complaint through justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section.U.S. Attorney’s Office and 24-Hour Fitness resolve allegations it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)Read the Press Release
Seattle – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington and 24-Hour Fitness, a nine-state exercise facility business, this week resolved allegations it failed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. The chain will embark on new training and policies to ensure compliance with the ADA and will pay the complainant $2,000. The fitness chain denies any wrongdoing.
According to the settlement agreement, the complainant was a member at the Vancouver, Washington, Mill Plain Boulevard, 24-Hour Fitness. She complained that the accessible shower in the women’s locker room had not been available for months. An investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed the accessible shower was unusable for several months due to ongoing repairs and maintenance.
While not agreeing that it violated the ADA, 24-Hour Fitness will make new draft policies regarding ADA compliance at all 24-Hour Fitness locations and submit them to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for review. The new policies will require surveys every six months of all 24-Hour Fitness facilities, with an eye to ADA compliance. The policies will also establish a protocol to conduct daily observations of accessible features to ensure usability and address maintenance and repair issues. The company agrees to post its ADA compliance commitment at all Washington locations and will maintain a complaint process for all facilities to address concerns or allegations of discrimination based on disability. If the U.S. Attorney’s Office receives any additional complaints it will provide them to attorneys for the company with the expectation that the company will respond in five business days.
The clubs will train all its employees on ADA compliance and will keep records of facility repairs related to ADA compliance. The clubs will report on compliance regarding the Washington facilities to the U.S. Attorney’s Office every twelve months for a two-year period.
In addition to paying $2,000 to the complainant, 24-Hour Fitness agrees to pay $10,000 to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. However, that payment will be suspended if 24-Hour Fitness successfully meets all the requirements of the settlement over a two-year period.
The settlement was negotiated by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Kas, Civil Rights Coordinator in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Twenty-Four Defendants Charged in Major Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy in South FloridaRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Miami has returned a superseding indictment unsealed today charging 24 defendants with conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in and around Miami-Dade County and elsewhere in the Southern District of Florida.
The eight-count superseding indictment charges the following defendants—each a resident of Miami unless otherwise indicated—with drug trafficking conspiracy and related offenses: Bienvenido Leo Rodriguez, 73; Roberto Rodriguez, 52; Alberto Leandro Curiel, 72; Pedro Gonzalez Alvarez, 48; Claudio Alberto Barrios, 55, of Miami Beach; Raimundo Antonio Roca-Naranjo, 72, of Miami Lakes; Roberto Jimenez, 53; Luis Alejandro Salcedo Rey, 54; Rolando Rodriguez Lugo, 57; Diego Diaz De La Cruz, 47; Lucia Cuadrado, 65, of Hialeah; Jorge Mahique Pareta, 64, of Hialeah; Miguel Marquez Romero, 29, of Naples; Heinrich Castillo Diaz, 47; Jose Arnaldo Bermudez, Jr., 42; Paulo Sabon Montero, 54, of Naples; Valerio Alvarez Abreu, 73, of Hialeah; Santos Saavedra, 81; Eustaquio Luis Cardoso Veliz, 63; Glenis Perez Martinez, 54; Yovanis Fernandez, 51, of Hialeah; Manuel Nuez, 55; Livan Padron Duque, 49; and Jorge Falla, 50.
“This indictment reflects months of coordinated investigative work by federal agents and the City of Miami Police Department, under Chief Morales’s leadership, targeting a large-scale cocaine trafficking conspiracy operating in South Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Through close, sustained collaboration, investigators disrupted a network that moved multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, trafficked in cash and firearms, and posed a real threat to public safety. The seizures in this case and the early intervention to prevent further violence demonstrate the effectiveness of focused, partnership-driven enforcement and our shared commitment to protecting this community.”
“This takedown sends a clear and unmistakable message: drug trafficking and the violence that follows it will not be tolerated in Miami,” said Chief of Police Manuel A. Morales of the Miami Police Department. “I am extremely proud of our narcotics detectives from the Special Investigations Section and grateful for the hundreds of hours of tireless, often undercover work that led to today’s safe and successful operation. Their dedication, combined with outstanding collaboration with our partners at the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and her team at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, made these results possible.”
According to court records, including previously filed criminal complaints, the defendants conspired to distribute multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine throughout South Florida. During the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately seven kilograms of cocaine on April 1 and an additional 10 kilograms of cocaine on May 27.
The investigation also resulted in the seizure of significant proceeds and firearms. From Bienvenido Rodriguez’s residence, law enforcement recovered $58,214 in cash and two firearms. From Roca-Naranjo’s residence, agents seized $62,520 in cash, two firearms, and more than 100 rounds of assorted ammunition.
Roca-Naranjo, a previously convicted felon, is additionally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
The superseding indictment also contains a general forfeiture allegation seeking the forfeiture of proceeds and property traceable to the charged offenses.
If convicted, Bienvenido Rodriguez, Roberto Rodriguez, Curiel, Gonzalez Alvarez, Barrios, Jimenez, Marquez Romero, Castillo Diaz, Bermudez, Jr., Cardoso Veliz, Perez Martinez, and Fernandez face up to life imprisonment. If convicted, Salcedo Rey, Rodriguez Lugo, Diaz De La Cruz, Cuadrado, Mahique Pareta, Alvarez Abreu, and Nuez face up to 40 years in prison. If convicted, Roca-Naranjo, Sabon Montero, Saavedra, Padron Duque, and Falla face up to 20 years in prison.
The investigation also disrupted a murder-for-hire plot in Fort Myers. According to court documents filed in the Middle District of Florida, between April 16 and 17, Marquez Romero and Sabon Montero discussed killing an individual identified by a co-conspirator in exchange for up to $30,000. Investigators learned that the co-conspirator had been hired by the intended victim’s brother to carry out the plot. Marquez Romero, Sabon Montero, and the co-conspirator exchanged multiple phone calls and arranged an in-person meeting to discuss the plan. On April 17, the conspirators met in a grocery store parking lot in Naples, where they were apprehended by the FBI with the assistance of law enforcement partners.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Acting Assistant Attorney General Galeotti, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Chief of Police Manuel A. Morales of the Miami Police Department made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case in conjunction with the City of Miami Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Emery for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Jessica A. Massey and Alieu Kargbo of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from the FBI and the City of Miami Police Department with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
This case is also part of DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Miami. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute offenders and prevent violence.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20253.
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Tulsa Drug Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years After Being Convicted for Fentanyl Related Death of a 29-Year-OldRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, a judge ordered Brandon Jerome Silas to 25 years imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him in May, for the fentanyl related death of 29-year-old Haley Nicole Scruggs.
In May, a federal jury convicted Silas, 45, of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death; four counts of Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony; and Money Laundering.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Silas to 300 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
“Silas will be close to 70 years old when he is released from federal prison after killing Haley Scruggs,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I am grateful for our federal and state partners who worked together to stop Silas from dealing deadly drugs in the Northern District of Oklahoma.”
“This sentence sends a message to those who distribute and profit from the distribution of poison in our communities,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Division, which covers the State of Oklahoma. “The men and women of DEA and their law enforcement partners work tirelessly hold accountable those praying on the addictions of others, never wavering in the pursuit of justice.”
In February 2022, Haley Scruggs fought with her boyfriend about wanting to purchase opioids. After completing drug rehabilitation, her boyfriend discovered that she was relapsing and told her that he would help her stay clean. But if she relapsed, they could not stay together.
While her boyfriend was at work the following day, Haley called her friend, Silas, several times, and sent him more than 90 text messages. A DEA agent testified that through texts, Haley explained to Silas how to get to her house. When Silas arrived, he texted Haley that he was there. Shortly after that, Haley stopped responding to her phone.
Concerned, her boyfriend left work and discovered Haley at home, unresponsive. He immediately called 911, and she was pronounced deceased.
During the trial, two witnesses took the stand and explained to the jury how they originally started purchasing pills from Silas in 2019. When they went to Silas for fentanyl, he warned both of them to “be careful.”
Silas’ bank records presented to the jury showed that money was being digitally transferred from various peer-to-peer cash applications into his accounts. Bank records indicated that Silas deposited or transferred more than $450,000 into his accounts over 14 months.
Court records show that Silas knew of Haley’s death and continued to sell drugs. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
DEA fentanyl seizures represent over 133 million deadly doses in 2025. Click here to find additional resources or learn more about the OnePillCanKill campaign.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Oklahoma City District Office and the Broken Arrow Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey and Charles Greenough prosecuted the case.
Three Chinese-Owned Companies to Pay More Than $7.3M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
Greenland LA Metropolis Hotel Development LLC, Greenland US Management LLC, and Greenland LA Metropolis Development III (together, the Greenland USA Entities), have agreed to pay $7,312,283.36 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible.
“Congress created the PPP to help American small businesses during the pandemic, not to fund large Chinese-owned corporations. Here, however, the defendants are alleged to have provided false information to the SBA to obtain government funds to which they were not entitled,” said U.S. Attorney Brad D. Schimel for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “This settlement demonstrates that the U.S. Attorney’s Office takes seriously its obligation to combat fraud and protect American taxpayers.”
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Regulations provide various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of individuals the borrower and its affiliated entities employed. In January 2021, SBA announced that certain parties that had previously received PPP loans were eligible to apply for a second loan. In their loan applications for both PPP rounds, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate.
The Greenland USA Entities own and develop real estate projects and are part of a large multinational corporation ultimately owned by the Greenland Holding Group Company Limited, a Chinese company with tens of thousands of employees worldwide.
In applying for their PPP loans, the Greenland USA Entities certified that they were eligible for the PPP. The United States alleges that the Greenland USA Entities were not eligible for their first- or second-round PPP loans because they were affiliated with other companies in the United States and China, and together with their affiliates across the globe, the Greenland USA Entities employed more individuals than permitted by SBA’s size standard for their industry. Additionally, the United States alleges that the Greenland USA Entities were not eligible for their second-round PPP loans because they are more than 20 percent owned by entities created and organized in the People’s Republic of China.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. This settlement resolves claims in two related qui tam lawsuits filed by GNGH2 Inc. and Aidan Forsyth. In connection with the settlement, GNGH2 Inc. will receive $697,757.80 and Forsyth will receive $33,470.53.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General.
Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberts of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Carter for the Eastern District of Wisconsin handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Three Chinese-Owned Companies to Pay More Than $7.3 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Greenland LA Metropolis Hotel Development LLC, Greenland US Management LLC, and Greenland LA Metropolis Development III (together, the Greenland USA Entities), have agreed to pay $7,312,283.36 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Regulations provide various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of individuals the borrower and its affiliated entities employed. In January 2021, SBA announced that certain parties that had previously received PPP loans were eligible to apply for a second loan. In their loan applications for both PPP rounds, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate.
The Greenland USA Entities own and develop real estate projects and are part of a large multinational corporation ultimately owned by the Greenland Holding Group Company Limited, a Chinese company with tens of thousands of employees worldwide.
In applying for their PPP loans, the Greenland USA Entities certified that they were eligible for the PPP. The United States alleges that the Greenland USA Entities were not eligible for their first- or second-round PPP loans because they were affiliated with other companies in the United States and China, and together with their affiliates across the globe, the Greenland USA Entities employed more individuals than permitted by SBA’s size standard for their industry. Additionally, the United States alleges that the Greenland USA Entities were not eligible for their second-round PPP loans because they are more than 20 percent owned by entities created and organized in the People’s Republic of China.
“Congress created the PPP to help American small businesses during the pandemic, not to fund large Chinese-owned corporations. Here, however, the defendants are alleged to have provided false information to the SBA to obtain government funds to which they were not entitled,” said U.S. Attorney Brad D. Schimel. “This settlement demonstrates that the U.S. Attorney’s Office takes seriously its obligation to combat fraud and protect American taxpayers.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. This settlement resolves claims in two related qui tam lawsuits filed by GNGH2 Inc. and Aidan Forsyth. In connection with the settlement, GNGH2 Inc. will receive $697,757.80 and Forsyth will receive $33,470.53.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General.
Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberts of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Carter for the Eastern District of Wisconsin handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
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Tampa Sex Offender Indicted for Distribution and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material and EscapeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Richard Plummer (44, Tampa) with distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material and escape. If convicted on all counts, Plummer faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, in 2018, Plummer was convicted of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Between October 29 and 31, 2025, Plummer distributed and possessed a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On November 1, 2025, Plummer escaped from the Bureau of Prisons and the Tampa Residential Re-Entry Center, a facility where he was serving his sentence.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Tallahassee Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Hunter Wesley Aultman, 24, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced last week to seven years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and receive child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Ending the cycle of victimization and sexual exploitation of children that is perpetuated by the distribution of child sexual abuse material remains a top priority for my office. I appreciate the excellent work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate these terrible crimes, and my office will continue to deploy the full force of the law to pursue, prosecute, and punish predators, like this defendant, who threaten the safety and innocence of our children.”
According to court records, in January 2024 the Leon County Sheriff’s Office arrested the defendant for multiple burglaries and seized his cell phone as evidence. A search of the defendant’s cell phone revealed that it contained hundreds of child pornography videos. The phone also contained evidence of multiple online chats in which the defendant traded child pornography with other users. Investigators also discovered evidence that the defendant ran a chat group intended to facilitate the sharing child pornography among its members.
“The deliberate distribution and facilitation of child sexual abuse material is an appalling violation that perpetuates the suffering of innocent children for a lifetime,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Those who engage in these heinous crimes not only exploit victims but also create networks that perpetually amplify harm and trauma. HSI will relentlessly pursue and prosecute anyone who seeks to profit from or enable the abuse of children.”
Aultman’s sentence of imprisonment will be followed by a ten-year term of supervised release and a requirement to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Sumter Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Weapons and Drugs ChargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kendall Kyleek Dow, 28, of Sumter, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
Evidence presented in court revealed that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, in coordination with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the Sumter Police Department, working as part of a joint initiative targeting violent crime and drug trafficking in Sumter, identified Dow as being involved in illegal firearms trafficking and narcotics distribution.
Between February and May 2023, Dow sold 17 firearms, fentanyl, and ammunition to law enforcement. The firearms sold included semi-automatic weapons, multiple stolen firearms, firearms capable of accepting large-capacity magazines, two machine gun conversion devices—designed to convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns—and firearms without serial numbers, along with approximately 170 rounds of ammunition.
In addition to the firearms offenses, Dow distributed more than 153 grams of fentanyl during the same three-month period. Dow has prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dow to 132 months imprisonment to be followed by five years of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sumter Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore is prosecuting the case.
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Sledge, Mississippi Man Sentenced to 37 months imprisonment for COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN, MS – Docterance Atkins, 32, was sentenced last week to 37 months imprisonment for Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Money Laundering. Atkins, at a prior date, had pleaded guilty to one count of Wire Fraud, and a separate count of Money Laundering.
The investigation began after IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) received a tip Atkins had committed COVID-19 Fraud. IRS-CI conducted a thorough investigation unveiling Atkins’ scheme. In essence, Atkins recruited unsophisticated individuals in the community, and convinced them to fraudulently apply for CARES Act Relief funds. Overall, Atkins stole nearly $750,000 from the federal government. The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other related business expenses. Atkins helped numerous individuals file for and receive fraudulent PPP loans in return for a kickback. The PPP loan applications included false information regarding the number of employees and the extent of the claimed business operations.
U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Atkins to 37 months imprisonment. After serving the sentence in federal prison, Atkins will be subject to 5 years of supervised release. The Court ordered restitution to be paid to victims.
“This defendant exploited a national emergency and stole money that was meant to help businesses suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated U.S. Attorney Scott Leary. “He has been held accountable and we will recover this money for American taxpayers.”
“Those who defrauded the COVID-19 economic program for small businesses took funds designated to help retain employees and used it for their personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Docterance Atkins sentence sends a strong message that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue searching and investigating the criminals who took advantage of economic programs created to help small businesses and taxpayers.”
The IRS Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.
Skiatook Man Charged with Assault After Being Released in June from Being Found IncompetentRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Skiatook man was charged today for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country after being found incompetent to stand trial and was released.
According to court documents, Jacob Robin Gilmartin, now 22, was initially charged in 2023 with Second Degree Murder in
Indian Country. Gilmartin was driving under the influence in 2021 and wrecked into another vehicle, killing Clifton Smith.
While on pre-trial release, Gilmartin was in a second wreck, injuring only himself and being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. After a medical evaluation, Gilmartin was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was ordered released in June 2025.On December 9th, seven months after being released, court documents allege that Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched in reference to a domestic violence call. The 10-year-old victim ran to a neighbor's house after receiving a severe laceration to his right arm that cut to the bone. The neighbor applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. The victim told deputies he sustained the injury when Gilmartin threatened to kill him and threw the knife at him.
Court records show that deputies followed the blood trail back to Gilmartin’s residence, where he was detained.
Gilmartin is a member of the Cherokee Nation.
The FBI is investigating the case, and the defendant was arrested with the help of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sallisaw Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Marlina Dawn Hardbarger, age 49, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on September 10, 2025, having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knowing of such conviction, knowingly possessed one .223-5.56mm caliber semi-automatic rifle.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hardbarger will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Shalimar Felon Sentenced to over Seven Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Numerous FirearmsRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Zackery Chase Brunson, 33, of Shalimar, Florida, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent work by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in close collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, this dangerous felon has been removed from our streets and he’ll spend several years behind bars. This successful prosecution is yet another step toward fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the violent criminals who threaten our communities, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute such offenders to deliver safe streets for the residents of the Northern District of Florida.”
In January 2025, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Agency Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Shalimar, Florida. During the search, law enforcement found two rifles, a shotgun, three pistols, and multiple types of ammunition. The defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance.
“We appreciate the strong partnership we share with the United States Attorney’s Office and the federal agencies who work alongside us to keep dangerous offenders off our streets,” said Sheriff Eric Aden. “I am especially proud of the diligent efforts of our Multi-Agency Drug Task Force, whose professionalism and commitment were instrumental in this case. Removing illegally possessed firearms from the hands of convicted felons is critical to protecting our citizens and preventing future violence.”
"This defendant was not just breaking the law—he was found in possession of multiple weapons and ammunition despite being legally barred from possessing a single firearm,” said Special Agent in Charge of DEA Miami Field Division Deanne Reuter. “That kind of disregard puts communities and lives at risk. The DEA Miami Field Division - working alongside our local, state, and federal partners - will continue to target armed offenders and dismantle the networks that fuel violent crime, keeping our citizens safe."
The case involved a joint investigation by the Okaloosa County Sherriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Richmond felon sentenced to 12 years in prison for latest firearms convictionRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to 12 years in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to court documents, on Sept. 6, 2024, law enforcement searched the residence of Javon Antonio Poag, 38, and recovered $7,604, 82.52 grams of cocaine, 8.41 grams of fentanyl, five bags of pills containing 34.85 grams of methamphetamine, two handguns, and a loaded high-capacity drum magazine. Poag had been convicted previously of, among other crimes, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, domestic violence, distribution of cocaine, resisting arrest, robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, assault, and carrying a concealed weapon. As a previously convicted felon, Poag cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
“Javon Poag has persistently returned to crime despite a multitude of opportunities to reform,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Today’s sentence makes clear that recidivist criminal conduct will not be tolerated.”
“This violent criminal and his associates had a malicious agenda to harm our citizens. The quantity of fentanyl they possessed equated to 433 lethal doses," added Christopher Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division. “This operation and today’s sentencing demonstrate our shared dedication to working together to combat the cartels and local drug trafficking organizations that endanger our communities.”
“The Richmond Police Department recognizes the critical public-safety benefits that come from strong collaboration among our partner agencies,” said RPD Chief Rick Edwards. “We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Richmond Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for their outstanding work in prosecuting weapons-law violations. Their efforts help ensure a safer Richmond for all.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Groover, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, 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. 3:24-cr-162.
Repeat offender going to prison for more than 20 years on new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Brandon G. Uber, 25, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, was sentenced to serve 168 months in prison and lifetime supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Uber will serve 36 months of his sentence consecutive to previous sentence of 210 months for a total of 246 months. At the time of the current offense, Uber was awaiting sentencing on a distribution of child pornography charge and was subsequently sentenced to serve 210 months on that charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that on August 22, 2024, a federal search warrant was executed at Uber’s residence because of child pornography files he uploaded to a KIK application server. During the search, various electronic devices were seized, including three tablets and a laptop. At the time, Uber was a member of a KIK chat forum used to trade child pornography with other users. Uber used the forum to distribute child pornography to other users and was a moderator of the forum at one point. Subsequent examination of the seized devices recovered approximately 33 images and five videos of child pornography, some of which depicted the sexual exploitation of an infant or toddler and violence against children.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
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RST-Sanexas, Inc. and Its Owners Agree to Pay $1.5 Million to Resolve Allegations That They Caused False Claims and Accepted and Paid Illegal KickbacksRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that RST-Sanexas, Inc. (Sanexas), a Las Vegas, Nevada-based manufacturer and marketer of electric stimulation devices, and its principal owners, Richard Sorgnard, Lisa Sorgnard, and Morhea Sorgnard (“the Settling Defendants”), along with certain related entities, have jointly agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (“FCA”), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733, by causing the submission of false claims to Medicare for electrical muscle stimulation, vitamin injections, and other related services that were not medically reasonable or necessary and for services that were tainted by impermissible kickbacks. The settlement amount is based on the Settling Defendants’ ability to pay.
“Our office continues to lead the national charge to hold alleged fraudsters accountable for improper Sanexas billing,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “We will continue working closely with our partners at CMS’s Center for Program Integrity, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country to hold accountable any other providers who inappropriately billed for these devices and caused false claims to be submitted.”
“Accurately billing for services provided to Medicare enrollees is required of all health care providers participating in the program,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Alongside our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to evaluate and pursue allegedly inaccurate billings of Sanexas and similar devices.”
Sanexas manufactures and markets a medical device called the “RST Sanexas neoGEN-Series,” which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared for electrical nerve stimulation to treat neuropathy and other forms of chronic pain, in certain limited circumstances. The United States contends that between September 2017 and May 2022, the Settling Defendants improperly marketed the Sanexas device for indications that were outside its FDA clearance and not reasonable and necessary, including for treatment of acute pain, improving nerve health, regrowing nerves, and as a combination product with vitamin injections.
Further, Medicare did not cover some Sanexas treatments, or vitamin injections used in conjunction with Sanexas treatments, as marketed by the Settling Defendants and performed by Sanexas customers. In particular, National Coverage Determination 160.7.1 states that “[e]lectrical nerve stimulation treatments furnished by a physician in his/her office, by a physical therapist or outpatient clinic are excluded from coverage...” Multiple local coverage determinations contain similar statements and further provide that vitamin injections are not medically reasonable and necessary when used to perform a nerve block function.
The United States further contends that the Settling Defendants caused provider customers to submit false claims to Medicare for epidermal nerve fiber density (ENFD) testing. ENFD testing involves performing a “punch biopsy” on patients to evaluate nerve damage that purportedly could be treated with the Sanexas device. Sanexas allegedly encouraged providers to conduct ENFD testing following treatment with the Sanexas device to evaluate any improvement in nerve health. However, the Sanexas device is not cleared for healing or regrowing nerves and procedures using the device for those purposes are not covered, and therefore it was not medically reasonable or necessary to conduct such additional testing.
Finally, the United States alleges that the Settling Defendants violated the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b), by paying and accepting illegal inducements in exchange for customer referrals. The AKS prohibits anyone from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration — which includes money or any other thing of value — to induce referrals of items or services covered by federally funded healthcare programs. The United States alleges that the Settling Defendants violated AKS in two ways. First, the Settling Defendants offered volume-based discounts to distributorships owned and operated by medical providers who performed procedures using the Sanexas device, and paid commissions that were conditioned upon and directly tied to the value of business that the distributors generated on behalf of Sanexas. Second, the Settling Defendants received commissions from a diagnostic laboratory for referring medical providers to perform ENFD testing in conjunction with Sanexas treatment.
This settlement resolves certain allegations in lawsuits filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Western District of Pennsylvania under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Those provisions allow private individuals known as “relators” to sue on behalf of the United States and to share in the proceeds of any settlement or judgment that may result. The relators in these cases will receive statutory awards from this recovery, and also may be entitled to shares of future recoveries from other defendants named in the lawsuits.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern and Western Districts of Pennsylvania and the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Investigative support and assistance were provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The matter was handled in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Wolfish and Civil Chief Gregory B. David, Eastern District of Wisconsin by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Yun and Michael Carter, and Western District of Pennsylvania by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Brown and Paul Skirtich, along with Civil Fraud Section Senior Trial Counsel Kelley C. Hauser and Trial Attorney Evan J. Ballan.
Prior DOJ press releases related to the Sanexas national initiative include:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/two-doctors-and-their-medical-practice-pay-more-181000-resolve-false-claims-act
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/us-attorney-announces-two-additional-civil-settlements-part-national-effort-combat
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/us-attorney-announces-additional-civil-settlement-chiropractor-and-his-practice-part
In addition, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania recently entered a Consent Judgment to resolve the action that this Office filed against Joseph M. Childs, DC, Charles H. Durr, DC, and Active Integrated Medical Centers, PC, for breaching their payment obligations under the parties’ $1.9 million settlement agreement relating to Sanexas billing.
The investigation and pursuit of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud, including in the healthcare technology arena. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims above are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Portageville Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Portageville, Mo., man, who was convicted following a January 2025 jury trial for trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms, was sentenced in federal court yesterday.
Michael C. Patton, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 21 years and eight months in federal prison without parole.
On Jan. 14, 2025, Patton was found guilty after a two-day jury trial of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms.
Patton was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by Springfield police officers on May 12, 2021. When officers searched the vehicle, they found a backpack in the front passenger floorboard that contained a loaded Beretta firearm, along with a plastic bag that contained 344 grams of pure methamphetamine and Patton’s Missouri identification. Officers also found a small black backpack in the backseat floorboard that contained a loaded revolver.
According to court documents, Patton has an extensive criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for stealing, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Beaver and Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Pittsburg County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Samuel James King, age 25, of Indianola, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on May 12, 2025, King knowingly and intentionally possessed less than fifty kilograms of marijuana with intent to distribute it.
The Indictment also alleged that on May 12, 2025, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knowing of such conviction, King knowingly possessed a rifle, a semi-automatic pistol, two revolvers, and multiple rounds of assorted ammunition.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the McAlester Police Department.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
King will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Pierre Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for EscapeRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Escape.
The sentencing took place on December 15, 2025.
James Dubray, age 22, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Dubray was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 14, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on May 5, 2025 when Dubray, who was in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons pursuant to a conviction for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and serving part of his sentence at Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center in Sioux Falls, escaped from the facility by leaving without authorization and failing to return.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
Dubray was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Prison for Creating and Distributing Videos Depicting Animal Torture and MutilationRead the Press Release
A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 38 months in prison and three years of supervised release in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against animals.
Robert Berndt, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty on May 6 to conspiring to create and distribute so-called “animal crush videos.”
According to court documents, Berndt conspired with others to create and distribute videos depicting acts of sadistic violence against baby and adult monkeys. The conspirators used encrypted chat applications to direct money to individuals in Indonesia willing to commit the requested acts of torture on camera.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio made the announcement.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Mark Romley and Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Pakiz for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Child in MarylandRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced David Donnell Fulton, 32, of York, Pennsylvania, today, to 15 years in federal prison for one count of sexual exploitation of a child, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Fulton must also register as a sex offender for life.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Francis Chardo, District Attorney for Dauphin County; Chief County Detective Corey Dickerson, Dauphin County; and Chief Garth W. Waner, Derry Township Police Department.
According to the guilty plea, during Memorial Day Weekend 2024, Fulton traveled with friends and family to Great Wolf Lodge in Elkton, Maryland. While a 7-year-old minor victim slept, Fulton used his iPhone to capture an image of her genitals. A few days later, during a search of Fulton’s home, law enforcement seized several devices and found Fulton with an image of the 7-year-old victim, as well as multiple images of commercially available child sex abuse material.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, District Attorney’s Office for Dauphin County, Criminal Investigations Division for Dauphin County, and the Derry Township Police Department for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Palmyra man going to prison for producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John C. Aldrich, IV, 55, of Palmyra, NY, who was convicted of production of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 30 years prison and 10 years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who handled the case, stated that law enforcement began investigating Aldrich in March 2024, after receiving information that he had engaged in the ongoing physical and sexual abuse of a minor victim in Palmyra, NY. Investigators recovered messages between Aldrich and the victim, which revealed that Aldrich had been involved in an ongoing pattern of abuse, during which he sexually abused the victim and produced child pornography. The abuse took place on a weekly basis over a period of more than one year, beginning when the victim was only 14 years old.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, Lyons, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
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Oklahoma man guilty of transporting children for sexual exploitationRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Lawton, Oklahoma man has pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Rolando Alexis Bravo, 44, pleaded guilty on December 16, 2025, to being involved in a conspiracy to transport minors before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.
According to court documents, on November 16, 2023, Bravo transported three minors from Lawton, Oklahoma, to Dallas where he met a co-conspirator, who then transported the children to Tyler. The co-conspirator obtained hotel rooms in Tyler where the children engaged in prostitution with others.
Bravo faces up to life in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is 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. Attorneys’ 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.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Tyler Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alan Jackson and Emil Mikkelson.
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Nursing director pleads guilty to tampering with drugsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Sand Springs woman accused of tampering with drugs at a local health care center admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Kailyn Marie Smotherman, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with consumer products. Smotherman faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for April 15, 2026. Smotherman remains released with conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on January 19, 2023, Kailyn Marie Smotherman was discovered to have been tampering with controlled substances at the Garfield County Health Center in Jordan, Montana, where she worked as the Director of Nursing. Staff at the facility entered Smotherman’s locked office to retrieve a narcotics log and noticed several suspicious items, including hospital stock narcotics, an IV pole, tourniquets, needles, IV equipment, replacement vial caps, replacement medication labels, and what appeared to be blood on many surfaces. During a subsequent search of the office, staff and law enforcement found numerous vials of fentanyl that had been tampered with (caps removed and replaced) or had been emptied. They also discovered other controlled substances that had been replaced.
Staff reported concerns patients may have received saline solution instead of pain medication in the months preceding the incident.
A forensic chemist with the Food and Drug Administration conducted an analysis of the containers confiscated from Smotherman’s office and concluded the controlled substances had been tampered with and adulterated.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The DEA, FDA and Garfield County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Nikon SLM Solutions Agrees to Pay $1.37 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
Wilmington, Delaware–U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace announced today that Nikon SLM Solutions NA, Inc. (“SLM”) agreed to pay more than $1.3 million to resolve allegations that it improperly obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for which it was not eligible.
PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act and administered by the SBA. It was created to support small businesses and ensure that they could continue to pay employees and meet other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether an applicant qualified as a small business was determined, in part, by assessing the number of employees of the business, including any domestic and foreign affiliates. In early 2021, Congress authorized a second tranche of loans, referred to as second draw loans, that were available under more restrictive eligibility rules to certain small businesses that had already obtained a first draw loan.
SLM is a subsidiary of a global provider of integrated metal additive manufacturing solutions, headquartered in Lübeck, Germany. The United States contends that SLM obtained a PPP loan that it was not eligible for because it exceeded the size requirements for a second draw PPP loan. Specifically, SLM was ineligible for the PPP loan because it, together with its foreign affiliates, had over 300 employees. After the conduct that was the subject of the United States’ investigation, SLM’s parent company was acquired by Nikon Corporation, the publicly listed Japanese company.
“PPP was established to provide necessary support for American small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Wallace. “When larger, international companies sought and obtained those loans, they frustrated the purpose of the program and deprived qualifying small businesses of much needed funds to keep American workers employed. Our office will continue to investigate and aggressively seek to recover funds that were obtained from the Paycheck Protection Program by ineligible borrowers.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party—known as a relator—can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Nikon SLM Solutions NA, Inc., 25-cv-103-CFC (D. Del.). The relator will receive a share of the settlement.
This matter was handled by Civil Chief Dylan J. Steinberg.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
A copy of this press release and the settlement agreement are located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.
settlement_agreement_v.7.pdfNebraska Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Images of S.C. ChildRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Luis Alfred Romero, 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in May 2024, the mother of a minor girl reported to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office that she located concerning messages from Romero on her daughter’s Discord account. Romero knew the child was 13 years old and solicited explicit images and videos from the child. Romero cultivated a relationship with the child and chatted with her online for several months before discovery by the mother. In addition to persuading the child to send explicit images, Romero also urged the victim to engage in sexual relationships with other minors and adults.
With the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Romero was apprehended. During a search of his devices, investigators found hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material on his phone.
“We urge parents and caregivers to talk to their children and be vigilant about the dangers of online communications especially chatting with strangers,” said Bryan Stirling, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The U. S. Attorney’s Office and our partners at every level of law enforcement remain committed to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who exploit and harm our children.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message that those who exploit children and distribute child sexual abuse material will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant who also oversees North and South Carolina. “HSI, together with our local partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and ensuring that offenders face the full consequences of their actions.”
“I hope everyone from here to Nebraska sees Romero’s face and realizes there is no level of prosecution high enough for offenders like this,” said Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride. “Our detective said this case generated some of the most disturbing content to ever come across his desk. To echo our partnering agencies, we will continue to track down those who prey on our children and they will be pursued, prosecuted and brought to justice.”
United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Romero to 110 months imprisonment, to be followed by a life-time term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Romero was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to help cover expenses for the victim’s mental health counseling. He must register as a sex offender for life.
Parents and caregivers can find resources to protect their kids online at dhs.gov/know2protect
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.
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Minnesota Man Sentenced to 20 years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 9, 2025, Michael Williams (age: 44) received a sentence of 240 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances. The sentence, imposed by Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper, came after a federal jury found Williams guilty of the charge on July 17, 2025, following a nine-day trial. After completing his prison sentence, Williams will be on supervised release for an additional 60 months.
According to court documents, Williams manufactured and distributed kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, and he also distributed pound quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana. Williams was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy that had established distribution hubs throughout the Midwestern United States, including Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, the greater Chicago area, and Northern Indiana.
Court documents further indicate that Williams operated the drug trafficking organization’s primary drug stash location in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here, he and others mixed, tested, and packaged controlled substances, including kilogram quantities of fentanyl. On November 29, 2022, when Williams’ stash location was searched, authorities located approximately 1,700 grams of fentanyl, over 700 grams of heroin, 650 grams of methamphetamine, 2,700 grams of cocaine, and 760 grams of marijuana. Williams’ residence was also searched the same day, at which time authorities located 2 loaded firearms and approximately $154,000.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Pepper noted the sheer volume of very dangerous drugs that the defendant was mixing and selling. She also noted Williams’ criminal history, which included multiple felonies, and his pattern of re-offending after serving time in custody.
A co-defendant, Joathan Colula, was also found guilty on July 17, 2025, following the trial. Colula sourced the drug trafficking organization with kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl pills, and methamphetamine. He was based out of California. His sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2026.
“This is just one of many examples of the highly successful collaboration that occurs every day between local, state and federal authorities to identify, arrest and convict dangerous drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “Our nation has never faced a greater public safety or public health crisis than the fentanyl epidemic that threatens our communities of all sizes. I am proud of the hard working and talented people who put this case together and took out these dangerous criminals.”"This 20-year sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic in fentanyl and other dangerous drugs will be held fully accountable,” said DEA Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Shane R. Catone. “Working alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we disrupted a multi-state trafficking operation that moved massive quantities of narcotics across the Midwest. DEA and our partners remain committed to dismantling drug trafficking organizations and protecting our communities.”
"The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is proud of the role our officers played in this case and grateful for the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in this investigation. Drug traffickers bring great harm to our community and must be held accountable.” said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman. “MPD values our collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement partners in criminal cases like this to build a safer city for everyone to live, work and play.”
The case was investigated by the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, comprised of officers and agents from the Milwaukee Police Department, West Allis Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice—Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The Internal Revenue Service and the Apple Valley Police Department also participated in the investigation of the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Monfils and Erica Lounsberry prosecuted the case.
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Mexico Resident Sentenced for Possession of Firearm by Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Mexico pleaded guilty and has been sentenced in federal court to time served on his conviction of unlawfully possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Ignacio Xalamihua-Salinas, 30.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about September 25, 2025, in connection with an ongoing investigation, law enforcement encountered Xalamihua-Salinas and searched the vehicle that he was operating. During the search, officers located a revolver, which Xalamihua-Salinas admitted to possessing. Because Xalamihua-Salinas was illegally and unlawfully in the United States, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
In connection with his guilty plea, Xalamihua-Salinas agreed to cooperate with immigration authorities and will remain in custody until he is deported from the United States pursuant to an Immigration Judge’s Order of Deportation.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania State Police, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Narcotics and Vice Unit for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Xalamihua-Salinas.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Mexican man who was in the United States illegally was sentenced yesterday to time served, 31 days, and remanded to the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Marco Antonio Contreras-Delira, 40, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of illegal reentry.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on November 14, 2025, law enforcement encountered three individuals in a vehicle near Froid, Montana, including Contreras-Delira. The individuals presented Mexican identifications and admitted they were in the United States illegally.
Contreras-Delira was transported to the Plentywood, Montana, Border Patrol Station for processing. Record checks confirmed he had been issued several final orders of removal and had been removed from the United States on one prior occasion.
On December 28, 2007, Contreras-Delira was given a final order of removal and removed in December 2009. He had an active warrant at the time of his arrest in 2007. After paying his fine, authorities released him and he absconded to Texas where he was eventually arrested. Record checks revealed Contreras-Delira was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol on February 1, 2004, in Bartow County, Georgia.
On November 14, 2025, Border Patrol agents interviewed Contreras-Delira. He confirmed he is a Mexican national and citizen and has no documents to enter or remain in the United States. There is no indication in the files of Department of Homeland Security Contreras-Delira ever applied for or obtained the permission of the Homeland Security to reenter the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Border Patrol and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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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Men indicted for crimes related to securities fraudRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging three men with a multitude of financial and securities fraud crimes resulting in a potential loss of tens of millions of dollars for victims.
According to court documents, Steve Parish, 54, formerly of Derby, Kansas, Richard Dean, 66, of Plano, Texas, and Joshua Owen, 39, of Derby, Kansas, were all indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.
Parish is also charged with two counts of bank fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, 18 counts of securities fraud, and one count of wire fraud.
Dean was also indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and 18 counts of securities fraud.
A grand jury also indicted Owen on two counts of bank fraud and one count of wire fraud.
Parish was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Premier Global Corp, a company that offered investments and promissory notes to purportedly purchase factored invoices. Owen was an employee. Dean was the owner of DDI Advisory Group LLC.
Parish, Dean, and Owen allegedly orchestrated a scheme of falsifying records and misrepresenting payments to investors as profits but were making those payments using money that came from investors. Parish is accused of misappropriating investors’ deposits for his own personal expenses.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case with support from Kansas Department of Insurance, Securities Division and the Oklahoma Department of Securities.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Smith and Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###- Member of violent Third World Mob gang sentenced to 17.5 years in prison
Member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios Pleads Guilty to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges, including his participation in two murders and one attempted murder.
James Jimenez, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for March 24, 2026. Jimenez was arrested and charged in February 2025, and was alleged to have participated in the murders of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz in September 2023.
The Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to organize and execute violence and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members.
In February 2025, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multi jurisdictional investigation that began in the aftermath of four murders and a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. In March 2025, a Lynn member of the Trinitarios was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In June 2025, two members of the Trinitarios were charged with kidnapping a drug supplier. In July 2025, the leader of the Lynn Chapter was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Jimenez is the eighth defendant to plead guilty.
During today’s court proceeding, Jimenez admitted to his membership in the gang and participation in two shootings where the Trinitarios intended to kill rival gang members. The first incident took place in August 2023 following the death of a Trinitario member who was believed to have been killed by a rival gang member. Jimenez and five other Trinitarios set out to ambush and kill rival gang members who were at a music studio in Lynn.
Jimenez also admitted to his participation in the Sept. 2, 2023 murders of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz. Jimenez admitted to meeting with other Trinitario members prior to the shooting and learning about the plan to kill a rival gang member who the Trinitarios believed was present at a party on Essex Street in Lynn. Jimenez admitted to driving by the party a number of times, and relaying information about what he observed to the other Trinitarios knowing that the information would be used to further their plan to murder rival gang members. Later that night, members of the Trinitarios drove by the party and discharged numerous rounds at the people gathered outside celebrating a recent graduation. Seven people were shot during this incident, and Abraham Diaz and Jandriel Heredia later died from the gunshot wounds they sustained. After the shooting, Jimenez also worked with other Trinitarios and assisted in concealing and destroying evidence.
The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as “racketeering conspiracy” or “RICO conspiracy”) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.McKees Rocks Felon Charged with Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Mark Lamarr Beavers, 26, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about August 26, 2025, Beavers, as a convicted felon, possessed two firearms and ammunition. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Squad conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Man Who Had $6 Million in Bogus Checks Sentenced to 72 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Tuesday sentenced a man who committed bank fraud for years with checks stolen from the mail to 72 months in prison.
Judge Pitlyk also ordered Terron T. Brown, 23, to repay $51,932 to victims.
Brown pleaded guilty in August to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud. He admitted that between November 2021 and September 2024, he conspired with others to deposit forged and fraudulent checks that had been stolen from the U.S. Mail. Brown used his social media accounts and other methods to recruit people who would provide him with their debit cards and banking information and allow him to deposit fraudulent checks into their accounts. He also recruited his co-defendants, Justyn M. Boyd, Aaliyah A. Jones, Haiden Williams, and Jalen Wright, to recruit account holders. Together, they found dozens of people willing to participate in the scheme in exchange for some of the money.
Brown then used personal and business checks stolen from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes to create forged and fraudulent checks payable to the account holders. Brown altered the payee and amount payable on stolen checks or used stolen checks to create counterfeit checks. He then deposited those checks into the bank accounts that he had co-opted and withdrew the money himself or had the account holders do it.
After learning in January of 2024 that he had been indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, Brown fled to Los Angeles in a Greyhound bus and began living under the fake name "Amiri Leonard." He relocated his scheme there in an attempt to avoid arrest and evade law enforcement. On Sept. 10, 2024, federal law enforcement agents conducted a court-approved search of Brown's California residence and found multiple stolen and counterfeit checks with a value of $1.2 million, blank check stock, multiple debit cards in various names and electronic devices with images of at least $4.7 million worth of counterfeit checks dated between March 2022 and August of 2024. They also found $5,260 in cash and 19 USPS money orders totaling $10,551, proceeds from Brown's check fraud scheme.
Brown admitted obtaining and possessing at least $6 million worth of counterfeit checks and checks stolen from the mail and intending to cause a loss of at least this amount. Brown and his co-conspirators deposited at least $116,834 worth of fraudulent checks and obtained at least $29,562 from the scheme.
Brown directly harmed the victims who had checks stolen, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow wrote in a sentencing memo, but also undermined public confidence in the mail at a time when mail theft was on the rise. He then assumed a fake name and fled St. Louis to avoid the consequences of crimes while thumbing his nose at law enforcement, Clow wrote.
“This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant mail theft investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”
“The sentencing in this case illustrates that individuals who engage in mail theft will be held accountable for their actions,” stated Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Domicile. “The Inspection Service is proud to work with our local, state, and federal partners to bring mail theft perpetrators to justice and prevent financial crimes targeting local citizens, postal customers, and financial institutions.”
Boyd, of Northwoods, Jones, of St. Louis County, Williams, of St. Louis, and Wright, of St. Louis, have all pleaded guilty. All are 24 years old. Boyd was ordered to repay $9,354, Jones $6,000 and Williams $13,015. Wright is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2026.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the University City Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting at Romantic PartnerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michael Manley, 24, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to shooting his girlfriend in April, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Manley pleaded guilty on December 16, to one count each of assault with intent to kill while armed, unlawful discharge of a firearm and destruction of property. The guilty plea is contingent upon the Court’s approval at sentencing and calls for a range of 90-120 months in prison. Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe accepted the factual basis for the plea and scheduled sentencing for February 27, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, Manley and the 32-year-old victim were in a romantic relationship for several months. On April 22, 2025, the victim was sitting in her car in front of her residence when the defendant approached her vehicle and shot at her through the driver’s side window. This was not the only time that Manley was violent towards her. On other occasions, he destroyed her property, shot at her apartment building, and repeatedly returned to her residence in violation of a court-issued stay away.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ariel Lieberman and Olivia Hinerfeld.
Man Charged with Possession of Machine Gun on New York StreetRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), Bryan DiGirolamo, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging DAVID MALDONADO in connection with a November 14, 2025, daytime shooting in which MALDONADO fired 12 rounds from a machine gun on a public street in the Bronx. MALDONADO was arrested and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.
"As alleged, David Maldonado used a machine gun conversion device to spray bullets on a Bronx street,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers want brazen, gun toting criminals off our streets and we hear them. Thanks to the prompt response of our law enforcement partners, Maldonado will now have to answer for his alleged crimes.”
“The ATF/NYPD Crime Gun Enforcement Team is committed to keeping illegal machine guns out of the hands of criminals and away from our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. “We thank the New York City Police Department and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their continued partnership in keeping the public safe.”
“David Maldonado allegedly put New Yorkers at serious risk when he fired a fully automatic ghost gun in broad daylight on a public street, while NYPD detectives were nearby,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Our detectives did exactly what they do best—they ran toward the danger, moved quickly to stop the threat, and our streets are safer because of their actions. I thank the NYPD investigators, our partners at the ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued work to hold violent offenders accountable.”
As alleged in the Indictment, and in public statements made in public court proceedings:[1]
On or about November 14, 2025, at around 4:00 p.m., MALDONADO, who has been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, discharged a machine gun in the vicinity of East 170th Street and Third Avenue in the Bronx, including two shots that struck a nearby vehicle.
Detectives of the NYPD, who were in the vicinity of the gunshots, spotted and promptly apprehended MALDONADO, who was in possession of an unserialized Polymer 80, model PF940C, 9x19mm caliber firearm, also known as a “ghost gun.” During the shooting, MALDONADO used a semi-automatic handgun with an illegal machine gun conversion device installed, which converted his firearm into a fully automatic machine gun capable of shooting more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger. Photographs of the firearm and magazine seized from MALDONADO and the conversion device that was installed on the pistol slide are below:
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MALDONADO, 53, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of possession of ammunition after felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of possession of a machine gun, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and the ATF.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations & Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon D. Harper is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Life Sentence for Highs RICO Defendant Who Murdered Innocent BystanderRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – This morning, United States District Judge Nancy Brasel sentenced Gregory Hamilton, age 29, to life imprisonment, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. Hamilton is a violent member of the Minneapolis criminal street gang known as the Highs. He was convicted after a three-week trial of RICO Conspiracy and Premeditated Murder for his involvement in the Highs and the August 8, 2021 murder of Darryl Wells, Jr., an innocent bystander who was mistaken for a gang member.
This is the second life sentence secured by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a part of the RICO prosecutions aimed at disrupting and dismantling the violent and murderous street gangs of Minneapolis. To date, the office has charged well over 100 gang members with federal crimes, including charging 39 members of the Highs with RICO conspiracy, narcotics trafficking, firearms trafficking, and related offenses.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Hamilton, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was a member of the Highs—a criminal enterprise that controlled territory north of West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. Evidence at trial proved that members of the Highs committed murders, narcotics trafficking, weapons violations, burglaries, assaults, and robberies on behalf of the enterprise. As members of the Highs, the defendants were expected to retaliate against the rival Lows gang, which operated south of West Broadway Avenue.
On August 7, 2021, a prominent Highs member was shot and killed by a Lows member at the Winner gas station, a Highs hangout. The following day, August 8, 2021, Highs members organized a memorial for the deceased member at the gas station, where they distributed firearms and encouraged one another to retaliate against Lows members. Defendant Hamilton attended the memorial.
Later that day, Hamilton and a second convicted defendant, Dantrell Johnson, drove to a Lows hangout—Wally’s Foods—and shot a Lows associate, who survived his injuries. Approximately two hours later, Johnson, Hamilton, and another convicted defendant, Keon Pruitt, drove to Skyline Market, another known Lows hangout. The were “hunting” Lows and wanted to shoot Lows members. They mistakenly believed Wells was a Lows member—he was not—and the store’s cameras captured them shooting Wells inside the store. Wells ran from the store. Pruitt, who was driving two juveniles in a stolen Porsche, chased Wells a short distance. The two juveniles then jumped out of the car, chased Wells into a nearby alley, and fired additional shots at him. All told, Wells was shot at least eight times.
The jury convicted Hamilton, Johnson, and Pruitt of Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Conspiracy and Using a Firearm to Cause Death.
Today, Judge Brasel imposed what the government requested at sentencing—a life sentence. In doing so, Judge Brasel observed, “This was gang revenge, pure and simple.” Judge Brasel noted that the evidence at trial showed that Hamilton is “a shooter for the Highs” and that he killed Darryl Wells “in a horrific and barbaric manner.” She explained that the victims of the Highs violence—which turned North Minneapolis into “an open-air shooting range”—were not just Wells but also the many members of the community who were also bystanders to this violence.
In imposing the life sentence, Judge Brasel concluded, “A lesser sentence would not honor and protect members of this neighborhood who were terrorized” by the violence of the Highs. As one concerned community member wrote to the Court, “Whether it be from violence with guns, drug sales, a combination of both, we have been preyed upon enough as a community.”
These cases against the Highs are a result of an investigation conducted by the ATF, the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation through reports or evidence control.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Lopez-Calhoun, Albania Concepcion, Rebecca Kline, and Carla Baumel of the District of Minnesota, and Trial Attorneys Brian Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section, prosecuted these cases.
Las Cruces Daycare Provider Pleads Guilty in Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces daycare provider pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Juan Jose Cardiel-Hernandez, Sr., 80, admitted to possessing child pornography between January 2012, and December 2014.
In April of 2024, police searched Cardiel’s residence after allegations that he sexually abused a minor. In search of his residence, police located child sexual abuse material. At the time Cardiel was arrested, he was operating a daycare out of his home.
At sentencing, Cardiel faces two to eight years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Cardiel will be subject to no less than five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Ryan G. McRae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and the U.S. Marshals. Assistant United States Attorneys Jackson K. Dering V and Mark Saltman is prosecuting the case as part of as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
Keene Man Sentenced to 36-Months Imprisonment for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Keene Man Sentenced to 36-Months Imprisonment for Child Exploitation Offense
CONCORD – U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe sentenced a Keene man to 36 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Connor Mueller, 31, had previously pleaded guilty to possessing CSAM. In 2023, an undercover law enforcement operation identified Mueller as using specialized peer-to-peer software to receive videos containing CSAM. The same software allowed other users to access materials shared by Mueller. Law enforcement subsequently searched Mueller’s home and discovered multiple devices which together contained numerous images and videos depicting child sexual abuse.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Keene Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.