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Thursday 18 September 2025
Nigerian Man Charged with Unauthorized Computer Intrusion and Wire Fraud for Theft of over $235,000 from Western Pennsylvania UniversityRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A Nigerian citizen residing in the United Kingdom has been arrested pursuant to a United States request for extradition following his indictment on charges of wire fraud and computer fraud, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Farouk Adekunle Adepoju was arrested by U.K. authorities on September 15, 2025, and is currently awaiting extradition to the United States to face the seven-count Indictment in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
According to the Indictment, which was unsealed today, between March 2023 and April 2023, Adepoju remotely accessed a protected computer belonging to a Western Pennsylvania construction company that was performing work for a university also located in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Adepoju used this unauthorized access to create rule changes within the email account of an employee with the construction company, and then registered a spoofed domain and spoofed email account to assume the identity of another employee of that company. From that spoofed email account, Adepoju sent fraudulent emails to employees of the university, requesting that they update the construction company’s payment information to a fraudulent bank account. Relying upon the emails, the university updated the payment information to the fraudulent bank account that Adepoju provided and sent a payment of approximately $235,266.80 to that account, funds that the university has not recovered.
“Adepoju is charged with using sophisticated cyber means to illegally access accounts belonging to a business in order to victimize one of our region’s universities,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “Even from halfway across the world, however, Adepoju was not beyond the investigative reach of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His arrest in the United Kingdom underscores our district’s unwavering commitment to aggressively locate and prosecute cybercriminals worldwide with the assistance of our law enforcement partners—both here and abroad.”
“Criminals who think they can reach across the globe into the United States to line their pockets at the expense of the American public need know one thing: the FBI and our partners are not going to let you get away with it,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “We will find you and bring you to justice, no matter where you might be. Email compromise schemes are not victimless crimes; they are one of the costliest threats large and small businesses, universities, and organizations face today.”
Adepoju is charged with six counts of wire fraud and one count of computer fraud. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud offenses and up to five years in prison for the computer fraud offense. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States, with significant assistance provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Pittsburgh Field Office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
New York and South Carolina Men Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine and Cocaine Base in RutlandRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 17, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging James Brown, 43, of Troy, New York, and Lionell Thompson, 40, of Manning, South Carolina, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, as well as multiple counts of distributing cocaine and cocaine base.
Brown and Thompson are scheduled to be arraigned today before Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in Burlington at 3pm.
According to court records, Brown, Thompson, and others conspired to distribute cocaine and cocaine base between July 2024 and September 2025. Brown and Thompson’s conduct in that conspiracy, including the reasonably foreseeable conduct of other members of the conspiracy, involved more than 280 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base. Brown’s conduct in that conspiracy, also involved more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. The indictment also alleges that Brown distributed cocaine base on January 30, January 31, February 20, March 27, and April 2, 2025, and distributed cocaine on March 13, 2025. The indictment alleges that Thompson distributed cocaine base on October 8, 2024, as well as February 26 and April 2, 2025. The indictment also alleges that Thompson distributed cocaine on July 16 and October 16, 2024, and March 13, 2025. According to court documents, law enforcement has conducted over 35 controlled purchases into Brown and Thompson’s drug organization and the distribution charges are the result of controlled purchases conducted by a law enforcement confidential informant and an undercover detective.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Brown and Thompson are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Both Brown and Thompson face up to a life sentence of incarceration, with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of ten years if convicted. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police’s Vermont Drug Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rutland City Police Department, Vermont National Guard Counterdrug Program, the Brandon Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York State Police, the Rutland Town Police Department, New England State Police Information Network, and Capital Region Crime Analysis Center.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jason Turner. James Brown is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon. Lionell Thompson is represented by John-Claude Charbonneau, Esq.
New Hampshire Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A New Hampshire woman pleaded guilty yesterday to filing a false tax return.
The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Denise Thibodeau, of Berlin, owned and operated North Country Angels, a home health care business. Most of her clients were elderly individuals who needed frequent in-home health care assistance. To perform the work, Thibodeau hired caregivers and paid them using an under-the-table cash payroll. Specifically, Thibodeau required clients to pay her in checks made payable to cash. Thibodeau cashed the checks, kept a portion of the cash as her own income, and paid the remainder to the caregivers without withholding any Social Security, Medicare, or federal income taxes from the caregivers’ wages as required by law. She did this to conceal the wages paid to the caretakers and her own income.
On Thibodeau’s individual income tax returns, Thibodeau significantly underreported the income she and her business earned. For 2018-2020, for example, Thibodeau reported on her returns that the business earned a total of $35,000 in gross receipts when it actually earned nearly $1.7 million.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2026. Thibodeau faces a maximum of three years in prison. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Justice Department’s Tax Division is prosecuting the case.
New Britain Man Who Recorded His Sexual Abuse of a Child Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ORLANDO GUZMAN, 74, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 240 months of imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release for recording his sexual abuse of a minor and possessing thousands of child sexual abuse images and videos.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has been investigating a network of individuals who have been using private groups on an internet chat application to share images and videos of child sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that an account associated with Guzman was an active member of two of these groups. The investigation further revealed that, between February and August 2022, Guzman sexually abused a minor female and used mobile devices to record and store images and videos of the abuse.
On September 2, 2022, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Guzman’s mobile devices. Analysis of the devices revealed more than 3,000 video files and more than 2,000 image files of child pornography, including images and videos depicting Guzman’s abuse of the minor victim.
Guzman has been detained since his arrest on September 7, 2022. On January 22, 2025, he pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
This investigation was conducted by HSI with the assistance of the New Britain Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Naranjito Man that Plead Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Sentenced to 7 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño Coll sentenced Dalien Enrique Nieves-Santiago to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release for possession of a pill press die or set used to manufacture counterfeit pills, drug trafficking, and firearms violations. His wife, Zuleyka M. Santiago-Andino also pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and possession of a pill press die and will be sentenced at a later date. Nieves-Santiago, 38, and Santiago-Andino, 35, from Naranjito, PR, were charged in a superseding indictment on December 6, 2023, and pleaded guilty on June 5, 2025.
According to court documents, Dalien Enrique Nieves-Santiago pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to: (Count 1) possession of a punch and die set; (Count 2) conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl; and (Count 5) possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On April 14, 2023, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers in San Juan, Puerto Rico encountered a UPS package while conducting inspections of inbound parcels that were subject to routine border search as they entered the United States. The package, shipped from an address in China, was addressed to defendant Zuleyka M. Santiago-Andino. After an import cargo database search based on the address selector, international shipments records indicated that she received a total of twenty-three (23) shipments between July 3, 2018, and April 8, 2023, at their address in Naranjito, Puerto Rico. All 23 shipments originated from China.
Upon further inspection, CBP Officers discovered a “pill die” set inside the package. A “pill die” is used with a pill press to cut and mark narcotic tablets and other such controlled substances in a pill or tablet form and used in the furtherance of manufacturing and distribution of controlled substances including, but not limited to, pills such as Oxycodone. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan Agents assigned to the AirTAT agreed to take custody of the pill die, in order to conduct a controlled delivery.
The above-mentioned pill die displays the mark “M” and “30”. “30” is an imprint pressed on to Oxycodone Hydrochloride tablets. HSI and DEA agents executed a court authorized search warrant. Among the items seized in the residence included approximately 2 kilograms of a blue colored bonding agent, approximately 302 grams of Xanax pills and a small scale.
HSI agents also recovered two firearms: a 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistol, one 9 mm magazine and eleven (11) 9 mm rounds of ammunition; and a loaded .40 caliber Glock pistol, three (3) .40 caliber magazines, and twelve (12) .40 caliber rounds of ammunition next to 1,037 Xanax pills.
A laboratory analysis concluded that a total net weight of 286.51 grams from the 1,037 white rectangular pills with “Xanax” imprinted on one side and “2” on the other side. The substances identified in the pills were fentanyl. A total net weight of 1,921.15 grams of the blue bonding agent typically used to manufacture Oxycodone Hydrochloride tablets with the use of a pill die.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and the Drug Enforcement Administration were in charge of the investigationand their respective Airport Investigations and Tactical Teams (AirTAT).
Assistant United States Attorney Luis A. Valentin from the Asset Recovery, Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crime Unit prosecuted the case.
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Murray County Resident Sentenced for Assault with A Dangerous Weapon and Eluding A Peace OfficerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jayson Geoffrey Evans, age 51, of Sulphur, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and 46 months in prison for one count of Eluding Peace Officer in Indian Country. The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation—Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, the National Parks Service, and the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
On May 7, 2025, Evans pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on December 30, 2023, Evans fled from a Trooper during a roadside traffic stop, leading law enforcement on a chase at speeds reaching 90 mph. During the pursuit, Evans threw road-spikes—known as caltrops—into the path of the pursuing law enforcement, causing damage to a law enforcement vehicle and two civilian vehicles. Evans was taken into custody but failed to appear to face charges, eluding law enforcement for over a year until his campsite was discovered in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in April of 2025. The crimes occurred in Murray County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect the American people. Harming, or attempting to harm them for doing their job is completely unacceptable,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “For nearly two years, this dangerous fugitive went to extreme lengths to evade justice, but he was not successful. I appreciate the efforts of the FBI Oklahoma City JTTF, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the National Parks Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who brought this case to a resolution.”
“Evans’ brazen and reckless acts endangered law enforcement and the public,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I commend the collaborative work of troopers, rangers, deputies, officers, agents, and prosecutors for their tireless efforts in locating and bringing the defendant to justice.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Evans will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Jarrod Leaman represented the United States.
Multi-Convicted Felon Is Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Assault of Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Erik Dezjhion Tillman, 29, of Charlotte, was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by two years of supervised release for assaulting federal officers attempting to arrest him on outstanding warrants, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Jamaal Thompson, Chief Inspector of the United States Marshals Service, Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force (CRFTF), joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According to filed documents and the sentencing hearing, Tillman was wanted on multiple warrants for crimes committed in Mecklenburg County and a felony probation violation in South Carolina for a Strong Arm Robbery conviction. Court records show that, on November 8, 2024, members of a CRFTF apprehension team located Tillman asleep on the passenger side of a parked vehicle. Law enforcement ordered Tillman to exit the vehicle, but Tillman ignored the commands. Instead, Tillman started the vehicle and rammed it into the SUV of the CRFTF apprehension team in an attempt to escape. Ignoring commands of law enforcement and with his car now unable to move further, Tillman got out of the car and escaped through a wooded area. On November 13, 2024, a CRFTF apprehension team located Tillman. He again ran from law enforcement officers and refused to comply with their commands, but was taken into custody by the CRFTF.
Tillman will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. attorney Ferguson thanked the CRFTF and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
More Than 30 Charged in Akron Firearms and Drug CrackdownRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio today announced the unsealing of 17 federal indictments charging more than 30 people allegedly involved in connection with firearms offenses and illegal drug violations. Ten additional defendants will face state charges.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, led the investigation and apprehension of defendants in a series of coordinated arrests that concluded this morning. One federal defendant remains at large.
The law enforcement initiative was conducted over a 60-day period and focused on Akron’s most violent areas. During the investigation, law enforcement seized 32 pistols, one revolver, six rifles, two suppressors, and one machinegun conversion device. Illegal substances seized included 417.6 grams of powdered cocaine, 376 grams of cocaine base (crack), 94 grams of heroin, 4663.4 grams of methamphetamine, 443.5 grams of marijuana, and 134.6 grams of fentanyl.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio; Acting Special Agent in Charge John G. Smerglia for the ATF Columbus Field Division; and Chief Brian J. Harding of the Akron Police Department.
The charges filed today coincide with the ATF announcement of a new Akron Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC). The CGIC will serve as an intelligence hub and coordination center for local, state and federal response to crimes involving firearms. CGICs use cutting-edge forensic science and evidence to support the investigation and prosecution of violent criminals.
These returned indictments are separate and not related. All defendants are from Akron unless otherwise noted:
Case Number (CN) 5:25CR430
- Robert Hazel, 40, of Tallmadge, is charged with Engaging in the Business of Manufacturing and Dealing Firearms without a License and Possession of Unregistered Firearms.
CN 5:25CR431
- Charles Klein, 49, of Tallmadge, is charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine.
CN 5:25CR432:
- Michael Czerpak, 45, and Jennifer Schaeffer, 37, are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine.
CN 5:25CR433:
- David Felix, 33, is charged with Distribution of Cocaine.
CN 5:25CR434
- Gary Robinson, 26, is charged with Distribution of Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Trafficking in Firearms.
- Walter Hicks, 23, is charged with Trafficking in Firearms.
- Alonzo Brewer, 22, Lily Palmer, 23, Madison Schreckengost, 23, and Diamond Taylor, 25, are all charged with making False Statements during Purchase of Firearms and Straw Purchase of a Firearm.
CN 5:25CR435
- Terrance Bivens-Boyd, 19, is charged with Distribution of Cocaine, Trafficking in Firearms, Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, and making False Statements During Purchase of a Firearm.
- Elijah Hawkins, 28, is charged with Trafficking in Firearms.
- Ellis Bloodworth II, 25, is charged with making False Statements During Purchase of Firearm and Straw Purchase of Firearm.
CN 5:25CR436
- Anthony Maurice Mims, 32, is charged with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm; previous convictions include burglary in 2012; and domestic violence in 2020.
CN 5:25CR440
- Davante Neal, 31, and Larry Vaughan, 67, are both charged with Distribution of Cocaine.
CN 5:25CR441
- Jaelyn Barnhart, 26, and Traci Howard, 26, are both charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
CN 5:25CR442
- Devontae Simmons, 32, is charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
CN 5:25CR443
- Brandon Travis, 38, is charged with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions for involuntary manslaughter in 2008; and robbery in 2022. He is also charged with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and Distribution of Methamphetamine.
CN 5:25CR448
- Antonio Guice, 42, and Wathen Milliner, 40, are both charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Troy Miller, 54, Guice, and Milliner are all charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine.
CN 5:25CR456
- Devant’tair Brown, 25, and Davone Smith, 33, are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Distribution of Cocaine.
CN 5:25CR458
- Dazzmond Lenoir-Pratt, 24, and Darren Tibbets, 31, are both charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl and Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl.
CN 5:25CR459
- Jermaine Baker, 42, is charged with Distribution of Cocaine.
CN 5:25CR460
- Teon Brown, 22, of Medina, and Jaylyn Blackmon, 20, are both charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine.
CN 5:25CR473
- Damon McKinney, 53, of Shaker Heights, is charged with Distribution of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigations leading to the indictments were conducted by the ATF Columbus Division’s Cleveland Field Office, Akron Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Barberton Police Department, University of Akron Police Department, and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter E. Daly, Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel, Yasmine Makridis, Margaret A. Sweeney, Stephanie A. Wojtasik, Brett S. Hammond, Brenna L. Fasko and Joseph H. Walsh for the Northern District of Ohio, with valuable assistance from the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.
The assistance of the U.S. Marshals is also acknowledged for providing related support for this crime reduction initiative.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Montana man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for engaging in a cryptocurrency money laundering conspiracyRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Montana man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a cryptocurrency money laundering conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Randall V. Rule, 73, formerly of Kalispell, Montana, was found guilty by a jury of money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and a conspiracy to violate the Bank Secrecy Act, following a three-day trial in federal court. On September 17, 2025, Rule was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
“Special Agents from the United States Secret Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service did tremendous work in their response to the victimization of our citizens, some who lost their life savings. Agents were relentless in their resolve to seek justice for victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Let scammers and those who facilitate their crimes by laundering the criminal proceeds be on notice: You cannot hide your crimes by using crypto currency; we will find you and we will prosecute you.”
“Sophisticated money laundering networks, such as the one in this case, are the path for victims’ funds to be sent to transnational criminal organizations,” said U.S. Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Brad Schley. “We must continue to dismantle these networks and assist victims with recovery of their losses and the administration of justice. We are honored to work with the team of tremendous prosecutors at the US Attorney’s Office in the EDTX, and I commend them for their dedication and work in seeking a just result in this case.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will not tolerate attacks on the United States Mail. These defendants weaponized the mail system to carry out fraud and money laundering, and they have been held accountable,” said Kai Pickens, Inspector in Charge, Fort Worth Division. “Postal Inspectors will relentlessly protect the American public and the integrity of the mail system. I commend our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service, for working decisively with us to stop the illicit flow of funds and secure justice for the victims.”
According to information presented in court, Rule and Gregory C. Nysewander, formerly of Irmo, South Carolina, conspired with others to launder the proceeds of wire fraud and mail fraud schemes through cryptocurrency. The defendants converted funds from romance scams, business email compromises, real estate scams, and other fraudulent schemes into cryptocurrency and sent the cryptocurrency to accounts controlled by foreign and domestic co-conspirators. The defendants and their co-conspirators made false representations and concealed material facts, to avoid discovery of the fraudulent nature of deposits, wires, and transfers, such as providing instructions to co-conspirators and victims to label wire transfers as “loan repayments” and “advertising.” Nysewander created videos instructing other co-conspirators how to package money to be shipped without detection for the purpose of laundering the funds. The defendants also made false representations and concealed material facts when completing account opening documents and when communicating with financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges. During the conspiracy, Rule, Nysewander, and their co-conspirators laundered more than $2.4 million and willfully violated the money services business requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act. As a result of the scheme, many victims lost their life savings, and a multi-generational family business was bankrupted.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys D. Ryan Locker, Dustin Farahnak, and Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
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Missouri Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking A MinorRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jerome Anthony Oliver a/k/a “Daddy,” age 53, from Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury for sex trafficking a minor and related offenses.
According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that between November 1, 2024 and April 28, 2025, Oliver sex trafficked a minor by force, fraud, and coercion. The indictment further alleges on April 28, 2025, Oliver transported a minor and a second victim in interstate commerce with the intent for the victims to engage in prostitution. Pennsylvania State troopers arrested Oliver on that day, and he is currently in state custody on related charges.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dukes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the Indictment is a lifetime term of imprisonment, with a minimum of 15 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Mississippi Man Convicted of Federal Civil Rights and Arson Charges for Setting Fire to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsRead the Press Release
Yesterday, a federal jury in Gulfport, Mississippi, convicted Stefan Day Rowold on six counts of federal arson and civil rights charges for vandalizing and setting fire to a house of worship.
On July 5, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Rowold vandalized and set fire to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wiggins, Mississippi. Evidence at trial showed that Rowold targeted the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of his disagreement with what he believed to be their religious views. During a confession, Rowold admitted to breaking into the building, vandalizing the interior walls of the building with hateful messages, and ultimately setting a fire in the middle of the church’s multipurpose room so they could not hold services. Rowold used the church’s hymnals as kindling for his original fire.
Rowold also confessed to breaking into the building two days later to finish the job, and after police had attempted to secure the scene. The second time he broke in, Rowold set another fire using cardboard and a piece of firewood.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
A sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 14, 2026. Rowold faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison on each of the arson charges, a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison for each of the civil rights charges, and a minimum penalty of ten years in prison for the use of fire to commit a federal felony offense.
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal, and the Wiggins Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Indicted for Trafficking Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Jose Tobias Jimenez-Martinez, 35, a Mexican national residing in Madera, charging him with trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on March 4, 2025, probation officers arrived at Jimenez’s residence in Madera to conduct a probation search. Jimenez is on probation for a prior state felony conviction. During the search, officers found and seized several thousand fentanyl pills and more than 75 pounds of methamphetamine. Jimenez later admitted to transporting the methamphetamine from San Diego and was planning to distribute it in Reno, Nevada. The methamphetamine was individually packaged in several plastic bags.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Madera Police Department; the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which is composed of personnel from the California Department of Justice, the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Madera County Narcotics Enforcement Team (MADNET); the Madera County District Attorney’s Office; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Jimenez faces a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Associated with Bloods Street Gang Sentenced to 108 Months’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Three members of a drug trafficking organization associated with the Sex, Money, Murder subset of the Bloods street gang street gang were each sentenced to 108 months in prison, Acting United States Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Jerry Ross, a/k/a “Molly” (“Je. Ross”), age 47, Luis Delvalle, a/k/a “Lou” (“Delvalle”), age 42, and Joseph Ross, a/k/a “Rock” (“Jo. Ross”), age 43, each previously pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to Informations that charged each of them with conspiracy to distribute large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin. Jo. Ross also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Je. Ross was the leader of the drug trafficking organization, and Delvalle was a manager and supplier. All three received sentences of 108 months in prison.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The Ross brothers, Delvalle, and their co-conspirators are all members and associates of a drug trafficking organization that operated an open-air narcotics market in and around the area of West 3rd Street in Plainfield, New Jersey (“West 3rd Street”). The West 3rd Street drug trafficking organization is affiliated with, and the defendants are members and associates of, the Sex, Money, Murder subset of the Bloods street gang. For several months, law enforcement conducted extensive surveillance of the area, conducted numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, and analyzed telephone records, all of which demonstrated extensive interactions related to drug trafficking between and among the members of the conspiracy. Following the execution of search warrants and arrests of the defendants, law enforcement recovered multiple firearms, controlled substances including fentanyl, and supplies to package and distribute those drugs on the street.
All co-conspirators charged in the case, including Je. Ross, Delvalle, Jo. Ross, Pernell White, 37, Jaquay Bell, 36, Andre Gaddy, 32, Jacob Douglas, 43, Tarrell Strond, 43 and Tayeire Thomas, 27, all of New Jersey, have also pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Thomas was sentenced to 48 months in prison and Strond was sentenced to 36 months in prison. The remaining defendants are set to be sentenced in the coming weeks.
“These sentences confirm our commitment to eradicating the Bloods and all violent criminal street gangs throughout New Jersey. For too long, this gang plagued the residents of Plainfield with a scourge of drugs, primarily deadly fentanyl, weaponizing addiction for their own personal gain. Every law-abiding citizen deserves to feel safe in their neighborhoods and free from gangs infiltrating their communities,” said Acting United States Attorney and Special Attorney Habba. “My office is committed to our long-standing partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement to eliminate gangs like the Sex Money Murder set of the Bloods, wherever they attempt to gain a foothold. Let these sentences serve as a clear message that if you engage in gang activity, we will find you, dismantle your operation, and prosecute you.”
“These sentencings send a clear message: violent criminals who poison our communities with dangerous drugs will be held accountable,” said HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy. “These convictions are the product of a relentless two-year investigation into a drug trafficking network that put New Jersey families and the American public at risk. As additional defendants await sentencing, HSI remains steadfast in tearing down criminal organizations and protecting the safety of our neighborhoods.”
Acting United States Attorney Habba credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations in Newark under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, detectives of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Daniel and Chief Harvey A. Barnwell, and officers of the Plainfield Police Department under the direction of Director James Abney and Captain Brian Newman, with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked agents with United States Customs and Border Protection for the Port of New York/New Jersey under the direction of Port Director TenaVel Thomas, and officers of Perth Amboy Police Department under the direction of Chief Lawrence Catano, for their assistance with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Goldberg of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit and Rachelle M. Navarro of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering and Recovery Unit in Newark.
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Media Advisory - Press ConferenceRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney Ellis Boyle, along with representatives from the Henderson Police Department, the 11th Prosecutorial District Attorney Mike Waters, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol Colonel Freddy Johnson, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes, and the ATF will hold a press conference on Friday to provide an update on a joint state and federal law enforcement operation in Henderson. The update will include information on state and federal arrests and illegal firearm and drug seizures.
WHERE: Henderson Police Department, 200 Breckenridge St., Henderson, NC 27536
WHEN: Friday, September 19, at 3:00 p.m.
Media please arrive at the police department by 2:30 p.m. for set up.
For logistical information in advance of the media availability, the Public Information Officer with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. No case specific information is available until the press conference.
McKees Rocks Resident Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 46 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, on his conviction of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Brandon Jennings, 38, on September 18, 2025.
According to the information presented to the Court, in and around March 2021 and July 2021, Jennings possessed 926 images and 803 videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were infants, toddlers and prepubescent. Other child sexual abuse material possessed by Jennings portrayed sadomasochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Jennings.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Meridian Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian, MS man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for his operation of a large drug trafficking organization in the Meridian area. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, Marcus Tremaine Powell, 40, conspired with at least 15 others charged with him in the Meridian area to distribute illegal drugs, including kilogram quantities of powder cocaine and crack cocaine, as well as large amounts of crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, and marijuana. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Powell’s sentence was increased because of his lengthy criminal history in state court and because (1) Powell was manager or supervisor of the drug trafficking operation that involved 5 or more people; (2) during the criminal activity a firearm was possessed; (3) Powell used or directed the use or threat of violence; and (4) when fleeing from law enforcement, Powell recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to others.
Marcus Tremaine Powell was one of approximately 50 Meridian drug dealers arrested in January 2024 who were charged in a series of 9 federal indictments. Powell was charged in two of those indictments. He pled guilty in both indictments to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a series of illegal drugs.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Reidell, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director Phillip Pope, and Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun, III, made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla J. Clark and Adam T. Stuart 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Luzerne County Main Sentenced to 134 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug Conspiracy OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ryan Medar, age 38, of Jenkins Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 134 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and 50 grams and more of methamphetamine.
According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Medar previously pled guilty to conspiring with his co-defendants Jamie Smicherko, Patrick Russin, Carlos Laurel, and others to distribute controlled substances in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, between October of 2023 to April of 2024. Medar was responsible for distributing cocaine and over 50 grams of methamphetamine. During the investigation, law enforcement officers utilized a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine and a pistol from Medar.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), the Kingston Police Department, the Plains Township Police Depart, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, the Pittston Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, and the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Leader of Houston robbery crew sentenced to nearly 20 yearsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 21-year-old Houston man has been sentenced for his role in multiple gunpoint robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Danial Starr pleaded guilty March 20 to two counts of aiding and abetting robbery and two counts of aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during the commission of the crimes.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Starr to a 70-month-term of imprisonment for his involvement in a series of robberies. He also received 168 months for the firearms charges, which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. The total 238-month prison term will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court also imposed $1,960 in restitution to the victims for all the money he and his accomplices stole.
“Hard-working, law-abiding people should be able to go about their day without having their lives threatened in armed robberies,” said Ganjei. “This sentence was richly deserved. A difficult childhood is not an excuse for committing crime-plenty of people with similar upbringings manage to lead productive lives and not stick guns in other people’s faces. If you are thinking about committing robbery in the Southern District of Texas, you’d better think twice.”
At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence describing Starr’s challenging upbringing as an orphan in the foster care system. Despite this background, the court emphasized that the victims had experienced significant trauma during the robberies and would carry those memories with them.
On Jan. 27, 2024, Starr robbed three Houston-area smoke shops and a liquor store along with three other men, former high school classmates and peers. Calvin Deshazo and others distracted store employees by pretending to be customers, Starr entered the stores wearing a mask and brandishing a firearm, demanding cash.
Approximately two days later, Starr targeted the Spring Smoke Shop on Veteran’s Memorial Drive, one of the same locations he had robbed earlier. Patrick Norman acted as a lookout while Starr once again threatened an employee with a firearm, swiftly stealing cash and smoke products.
Deshazo, 19, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies and was ordered to serve a total sentence of 112 months in federal prison July 11.
Norman, 20, was convicted after a three-day trial by jury of aiding and abetting the smoke shop robbery on Jan. 29, 2024, and sentenced to 33 months in federal prison July 24.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the joint investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francisco J. Rodriguez and Anh-Khoa Tran prosecuted the case.
Las Vegas Woman Arrested and Charged with Threatening and Assaulting Flight CrewRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was arrested Tuesday and made her initial court appearance today for allegedly assaulting a flight attendant and intimidating other flight attendants during a flight to Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made in court, on September 16, 2025, Ketty J. Dilone was a passenger aboard an American Airlines flight from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to Las Vegas, connecting through Charlotte, North Carolina. On the flight from Charlotte to Las Vegas, Dilone was walking down the aisle and yelling. She allegedly started to verbally threaten multiple flight attendants. Due to Dilone’s disruptive and threatening behavior, she had to be restrained in her seat with zip ties and duct tape. She allegedly kicked a flight attendant causing the flight attendant to fall. When the flight arrived at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded and took Dilone into custody.
Dilone is charged with one-count of interference with a flight crew and one-count of assault by striking, beating, or wounding.
United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah scheduled a preliminary hearing for October 1, 2025.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 20 years of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division made the announcement.
The FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings is prosecuting the case.
If you’ve been the victim of a crime committed aboard an aircraft or have witnessed one take place, report it to your flight crew, airport authority police, and the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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KC Man Sentenced for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for producing and distributing child pornography.
Leonardo Leon, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Leon to 5 years of supervised release following incarceration.
On March 28, 2025, Leon pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers learned that Leon was having sex with a 15-year-old minor victim. Investigators learned that Leon had recorded himself having sex with the minor victim, and that he had sent a copy of the video to a friend of the minor victim a week after the minor victim died in 2024.
Leon will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Justice Department Seeks Forfeiture of Vehicle Used by a Convicted Sex Offender Who Drove from Maryland to D.C. with Intent to Sexually Abuse a ChildRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint today against a 2020 Subaru Forester SUV belonging to a convicted sex offender who distributed child pornography before he traveled to the District in the Subaru for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Kaziah Matthew White, 33, pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2024, to a charge of distribution of child pornography. He was sentenced on May 7, 2025, to 87 months in prison and ordered to serve a lifetime term of supervised release.
White, of Long Lake, New York, communicated online with an undercover officer who had posed as an abusive father offering up his own 10-year-old son for sex with others.
In March 2024, White sent the undercover officer more than 100 videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children and toddlers, as well as sadomasochistic abuse involving a blindfolded child. During the chats, White agreed to meet the undercover officer in Washington D.C. for a “playdate” with the fictional child and even bought them Spiderman-themed underwear to wear.
White drove the Subaru SUV from Maryland to a coffee shop in D.C. on March 28, 2024, to meet with the purported abusive father. Agents of the FBI-MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force arrested White soon after arrival.
The Subaru SUV is currently in FBI custody and will be transferred to the United States Marshals Service in the District of Columbia.
The United States regularly seeks to lawfully forfeit defendant property to punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of property used in illegal activities and to recover the assets so that they may be used to compensate victims.
The government is represented in this case by Asset Forfeiture Coordinator Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia in conjunction with Deputy Chief Janani Iyengar of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Section. Former Assistant United States Attorney Jocelyn Bond prosecuted the criminal case.
Justice Department Investigates Austin, Texas for Racially Discriminatory Employment PracticesRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched an investigation into the City of Austin, Texas, to determine whether it engages in employment practices that discriminate based on race, sex, color, and national origin in violation of Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964, as amended.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate discriminatory race-based employment practices and DEI policies, in Austin or other cities,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Such practices are illegal and un-American, and we will vigorously protect equal opportunity and hold accountable those who seek to perpetuate vestiges of outlawed discrimination.”
According to its website, the City of Austin’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, Equity Division “works across all City departments . . . to build capacity and leadership in working from a racial equity lens.” The Equity Division publicly promotes City guidance that recommends delineating “clear racial equity expectations regarding hiring,” applying “stronger racial equity criteria to the design and execution of executive-level searches,” and using “racial equity tools” that are “designed to integrate explicit consideration of racial equity in decisions, including policies, practices, programs and budgets.”
You can read the notice letter here.
Justice Department Awards over $19 Million to the Louisiana Commission on Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime has awarded $19,207,912 to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (“LCLE”) to provide resources to crime victims.
$2,104,000 was awarded to support Louisiana’s VOCA (Victim of Crimes Act) Victim Compensation Program. This program assists state-administered victim compensation programs, helping to reimburse victims for expenses such as medical care, counseling, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs incurred due to a crime.
$17,103,912 was awarded to provide subgrants to local community-based organizations and public agencies that provide services directly to crime victims, such as crisis counseling, telephone and onsite information and referrals, criminal justice support and advocacy, shelter, therapy, and additional assistance.
LCLE is a foundation located in Baton Rouge dedicated to improving the operations of the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems and to promoting public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community.
For more information about this award, please contact the OJP Office of Communications at 202-307-0703 or [email protected].
Indiana Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
TEXARKANA – A South Bend, Indiana man was sentenced yesterday to 235 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for possessing 20 kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute it. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the trial and sentencing hearing, which were held in the U.S. District Court in Texarkana.
According to court documents, on February 26, 2022, an Arkansas State Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Sidney Hunt, age 42, on Interstate 30 near Hope, Arkansas. Hunt initially consented to a search of the vehicle, but after the Trooper located a large amount of narcotics in the rear compartment, Hunt fled across all four lanes of Interstate 30 and into the woods. Hunt was later located walking alongside the interstate and taken into custody. The narcotics seized from Hunt’s vehicle were later determined to be approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine.
Hunt was indicted on drug trafficking charges by a Federal Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas in July of 2022. In April 2025, a Texarkana-area federal jury found Hunt guilty of all charges. During the trial, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent testified that the street value of 20 kilograms of cocaine at the time of Hunt’s arrest was approximately $360,000. Trial testimony also revealed that Hunt obtained the narcotics in Texas and was transporting them to a drug trafficker in Tennessee when he was stopped by Arkansas law enforcement.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
Arkansas State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Still and Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Illegal Alien and Arizona Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Mailing Kilograms of Fentanyl to AtlantaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Walter Alexander Argueta-Aguilar, an illegal alien from El Salvador, and Jorge Manuel Zamora Cano have been sentenced for their roles in shipping and distributing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription medication.
“Argueta-Aguilar and Cano profited from the opioid epidemic and endangered thousands of lives by trafficking fentanyl-laced pills resembling actual medicine,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg “Thanks to collaboration among our law enforcement partners, these defendants, including an illegal alien, have been prevented from causing further harm in our community.”
“The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is committed to combating the deadly fentanyl crisis facing our nation by holding those accountable that believe they can misuse the U.S. Mail to traffic drugs,” said Tammy Hull, Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service. “Our special agents, along with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will always work together to aggressively investigate these federal crimes to ensure the integrity of the nation’s postal system. We appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta for their support and prosecution of this case.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In February 2024, federal agents began investigating Argueta-Aguilar, an illegal alien who was living in Norcross, Georgia, for receiving mail parcels containing counterfeit pills with the imprint M30, which is a common imprint on legitimate oxycodone tablets. On March 19, 2024, federal agents intercepted a package Cano shipped to Argueta-Aguilar from Arizona. The package contained more than 125 grams of fentanyl-laced blue M30 pills in a vacuum-sealed plastic baggie.
The investigation revealed that, between July 2023 and March 2024, Cano mailed dozens of packages containing over 50,000 blue M30 fentanyl pills to the Atlanta area. Argueta-Aguilar received more than 28,000 of the pills. The pills were often concealed in items such as stuffed animals to avoid detection.
Both defendants subsequently pled guilty to drug trafficking-related offenses and received the following sentences:
- Walter Alexander Argueta-Aguilar, 21, of Sonsonate, El Salvador, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 5, 2025. He was sentenced to five years in prison on July 7, 2025, and will face deportation from the United States.
- Jorge Manuel Zamora Cano, 23, of Mesa, Arizona, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and unlawful use of a communication facility on May 8, 2025. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and five years of supervised release on September 17, 2025.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with support from Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Gwinnett County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamil A. Favors, Laurel B. Milam, and Benjamin Wylly prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at www.justthinktwice.gov and www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov. Additional resources on fentanyl and fentanyl pills, as well as prevention and treatment, are available at www.dea.gov/onepill.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jose Luis Jimenez-Hernandez, a/k/a Jose Luis Jiminez-Hernandez, age 45, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
The Indictment alleged that on July 24, 2025, Jimenez-Hernandez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on January 10, 2012, June 14, 2013, and October 25, 2013.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The 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.
Jimenez-Hernandez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Carlos Arturo Cahuex-Martinez, a/k/a Carlos Arturo Cahuex, a/k/a Carlos Cahuex-Martinez, a/k/a Carlos Martinez, age 45, a Guatemalan national unlawfully present in Wagoner, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
The Indictment alleged that on July 22, 2025, Cahuex-Martinez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on July 3, 2018, November 13, 2018, and January 26, 2022.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The 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.
Cahuex-Martinez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.
Honduran National Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Laundering $12 Million in International Telemarketing SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that CESAR RAFAEL COELLO DOMINGUEZ was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. COELLO DOMINGUEZ previously pled guilty on May 21, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who imposed yesterday’s sentence.
“Cesar Rafael Coello Dominguez helped steal millions from victims across the U.S.,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Yesterday, he learned that the women and men of our Office are committed to prosecuting those who defraud hard-working Americans.”
According to the charging documents and other public filings and statements made in public court proceedings:
COELLO DOMINGUEZ’s participated in a years-long scheme, primarily based in Costa Rica, which operated call centers that targeted and defrauded victims across the U.S. (the “Call Center Scheme”). From September 2019 to January 2023, COELLO DOMINGUEZ defrauded and laundered at least $12 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. Members of the Call Center Scheme intentionally targeted victims across the U.S. with promises that the victims had won a nationwide sweepstakes that required the victims to pre-pay certain taxes and fees. Once the members of the Call Center Scheme realized that the victims had become aware that the promised sweepstakes prize was a scam, they would often contact the same victims again—this time masquerading as lawyers or members of U.S. law enforcement—and attempt to trick the same victims into paying even more money into the scheme. DOMINGUEZ regularly traveled to the U.S. in order to set up dozens of shell bank accounts, which he used to collect millions of dollars of stolen victim funds on behalf of the scheme and transfer those funds back to Costa Rica.
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In addition to the prison term, COELLO DOMINGUEZ, 39, of Heredia, Costa Rica, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. COELLO DOMINGUEZ was also ordered to forfeit $12 million and to make restitution to victims.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, who assisted in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgia V. Kostopoulos is in charge of the prosecution.
Honduran National Admits Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Honduras who is in the United States illegally on Thursday admitted illegally possessing ammunition.
Lesman Jeroan Rivera-Vasquez, 22, waived his right to indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition by an illegal alien. Rivera-Vasquez admitted that on August 10, 2025, he violated a stop sign, causing a crash with a law enforcement vehicle. Rivera-Vasquez and his passengers had a rifle and a deer that they shot out of season. Rivera-Vasquez also admitted possessing two boxes of ammunition on August 8 that had been purchased by someone else in a St. Peters, Missouri store.
Two Warren County Sheriff’s deputies were injured in the crash.
Rivera-Vasquez, who was living in Breckenridge Hills, was charged by complaint in U.S. District Court on August 21. He is currently scheduled to be sentenced in December. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and fine. He will be deported after his release from custody.
In February of 2019, Rivera-Vasquez told an immigration judge that he had entered the United States illegally. He was granted the ability to voluntarily depart, but did not do so, his plea says.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
Hartford Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JORDAN FLYTHE, also known as “T,” 33, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 70 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl and cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 31, 2021, Flythe was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 36 months of imprisonment for distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine. He was released from federal prison in September 2022.
In August 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and Middletown Police Department determined that Flythe was distributing fentanyl and other narcotics in Middletown. Between August and November 2024, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Flythe. On December 18, 2024, a court authorized search of Flythe’s residence on Adelaide Street in Hartford revealed approximately 240 grams of fentanyl mixed with xylazine and other additives, and approximately 160 grams of cocaine.
Flythe has been detained since his arrest on March 6, 2025. On June 10, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, the Middletown Police Department, and the Hartford Police Department. The task force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham.
Harlem man pleads guilty to sexually abusing a minor on the Fort Belknap Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Harlem man who sexually abused a minor on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Ivan Daniel Raining Bird, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. Raining Bird faces a term of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for January 29, 2025. Raining Bird was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that John Doe was about 13 years old when he received a Facebook Message from a user who went by “Ivey” and appeared to be a woman. “Ivey” turned out to be the defendant, Ivan Raining Bird, who was in his late twenties at the time. Doe and Raining Bird continued to message, and Raining Bird eventually invited Doe over to his house.
When Doe arrived at Raining Bird’s house, he realized Raining Bird was a man dressed as a woman. Doe and Raining Bird shared substances and Raining Bird performed oral sex on Doe. For several months, Raining Bird committed similar assaults on Doe.
The FBI investigated Doe’s disclosure of the abuse and interviewed Raining Bird. Raining Bird admitted sharing drugs with teenagers in the past and specifically admitted he knew John Doe was a minor and sexually assaulted him on multiple occasions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Great Falls convicted felon sentenced to over a year in prison for illegally possessing firearmRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Great Falls convicted felon who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced yesterday to 16 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Montana Lee Covington, 21, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on the afternoon of June 1, 2024, Great Falls Police were dispatched to the Grizzly Inn based on reports someone had threatened another person with a gun. When police arrived, they saw the person identified as the suspect in a Jeep in the parking lot. An officer stopped the Jeep and requested the names of the driver and passenger. The driver identified himself while the passenger, Covington, gave a name the officer knew to be false because the officer recognized Covington from previous interactions and confirmed with a booking photo he was the passenger. The officer asked both occupants of the Jeep whether there was a gun in the vehicle, and the driver showed the officer a rifle on the passenger side of the vehicle with Covington. The rifle was taken into evidence, along with 110 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.
Officers spoke with the victim, Jane Doe, who told them Covington had threatened to shoot her. Doe also said she had seen Covington sitting in the passenger side of the Jeep with a rifle, loading a magazine with bullets. Officers also spoke with the driver, who similarly reported Covington had threatened Doe and had been sitting in the passenger seat with the rifle. Covington denied threatening Doe with a gun but admitted telling her he had guns in the car.
Covington is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a felony theft conviction in Montana state court for which he received a four-year suspended sentence. His probation and parole conditions from that conviction prohibit him from possessing firearms and ammunition, and he acknowledged he knew felons were prohibited from possessing firearms.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Great Falls Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Government Contractor to Pay over $4 Million to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. B Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced today that a government contractor based out of Bayonne, New Jersey, will pay $4,043,810.56 to resolve allegations that it improperly employed unauthorized aliens to work on Navy ships.
The settlement resolves allegations that, from May 2017 through December 2020, Bayonne Drydock and Repair Corporation (“Bayonne Drydock”) utilized multiple subcontractors that were owned and/or controlled by Bayonne Drydock’s Risk Manager to perform work on government contracts, and that those subcontractors were employing individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. Following a notice that one of the subcontractors was employing unauthorized workers, Bayonne Drydock’s Risk Manager purportedly terminated that employee, but that same month took affirmative steps to assist another subcontractor to employ unauthorized aliens, who continued to work on Navy ships. Bayonne Drydock’s Risk Manager previously pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of knowingly hiring and continuing to employ unauthorized aliens. In total, Bayonne Drydock was alleged to have employed approximately 52 unauthorized aliens on government contracts.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Newark Field Office under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher Silvestro for the investigation of the allegations against Bayonne Drydock.
The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark C. Orlowski of the U.S. Attorney’s Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit in Newark.
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Defense Counsel: Matthew Beck, Esq., Chiesa, Shahinian and Giantomasi, Roseland, New Jersey.
bayonnedrydock.agreement.pdfGeorgia Men Sentenced for Arrest Warrant ScamRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Four Georgia men were sentenced for their role in a nationwide fraud conspiracy.
According to public court documents, between March 2022 and April 2024, Russell Tafron Weatherspoon, 26, Karl Andre Dieudonne, 23, Demonte Tequis Brazil, 32, and Gregory Lamar Scorza, 25, ran a multi-state fraud scam. The scammers led victims in several states across the United States, including Iowa, to believe that an arrest warrant had been issued for them for failing to appear in court. The scammers used names of local law enforcement officers and used an application that spoofed law enforcement phone numbers. The victims were told they would be arrested if a cash bond was not posted. The victims were directed to a bond company or other location to meet and pay a bond for failing to appear as an expert witness pursuant to a subpoena. The scam involved the use of legal terminology, purported court proceedings, and threats of arrest to authenticate the scam.
Weatherspoon led and organized these activities from a Georgia state prison. A drone was used to fly over the prison and drop cell phones into the yard that were then utilized by inmates to make the scam calls. Weatherspoon was in prison following his 2020 convictions for aggravated assault and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
Weatherspoon was sentenced on April 9, 2025, to 130 months in federal prison. Dieudonne was sentenced on May 13, 2025, to 36 months in federal prison. Brazil was sentenced on May 13, 2025, to 51 months in federal prison. Scorza was sentenced September 9, 2025, to 72 months in federal prison. One additional man has been charged in the conspiracy but has not yet been arrested.
After completing their terms of imprisonment, each defendant will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Victim restitution was also ordered.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa City Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Iowa State Patrol, Omaha Police Department, and Eppley Airport Police.
Guatemalan National Illegally Residing in the United States Indicted on Fraud Charges Related to the Sponsorship of Unaccompanied Alien ChildRead the Press Release
An indictment unsealed today in the Middle District of Louisiana charges a Guatemalan national residing illegally in the United States with fraud related to the submission of an application to sponsor an unaccompanied alien child (UAC).
“As alleged, this defendant made fraudulent misstatements to the U.S. government to try to sponsor an unaccompanied child in the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Defendants who lie to secure the care and custody of an unaccompanied child threaten the government’s ability to ensure that the child is placed in a safe environment with a proper caregiver. The Criminal Division is fully committed to protecting vulnerable children and delivering justice to those who violate the law.”
“I would like to thank our prosecutor and our partners for their tireless work on this matter,” said U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis. “We are committed to eliminating the exploitation of minors and their families by unscrupulous traffickers, and appreciate the resources which were brought to bear by federal authorities to bring this defendant to justice.”
“Deliberately attempting to defraud a government program designed to safeguard vulnerable children is a reprehensible act that demands accountability,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “In close coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to rigorously pursue those who attempt to exploit the Unaccompanied Alien Children’s program and ensure they are held fully accountable under the law.”
According to court documents, Felix Coc Choc, 29, of Rogers, Arkansas submitted an application to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under penalty of perjury to sponsor and obtain custody of a UAC after the UAC entered the United States illegally.
As alleged in the indictment, after a 16-year-old Guatemalan UAC entered the United States illegally in January 2023, Coc Choc submitted an application to sponsor the UAC. Coc Choc allegedly falsely claimed to be the UAC’s brother and asserted that his own name was J.C.J. as listed on a Guatemala national identification card that he submitted in support of the sponsorship application. After initially denying that he was using another individual’s identity, Coc Choc admitted to the misrepresentation. Coc Choc then filed a sponsorship application in his true name. ORR denied this application as a result of the alleged fraud.
Coc Choc is charged with one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the false statement count, and a mandatory consecutive penalty of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft count.
These charges are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the Americas, including Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Colombia, and the Caribbean that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, the Northern District of New York, the District of Vermont, and the Southern District of Florida. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), the Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO), and the Office of International Affairs (OIA), among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 415 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 355 U.S. convictions; more than 305 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General is investigating the case. Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Legal Attaché team in Guatemala, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided valuable assistance.
JTFA Trial Attorneys Aaron Jennen and Nicole Lockhart, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Craig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from Samantha Usher of the Justice Department’s Healthcare Fraud Unit.
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 other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Grand Blanc Man Indicted for Illegally Purchasing Firearms for OthersRead the Press Release
FLINT – A Grand Blanc, Michigan man was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with illegally purchasing firearms for others, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. Several of the firearms were later recovered from felons and some were recovered at crime scenes.
Joining in the announcement was James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) – Detroit Field Division.
Charged was Kobe Y. Patterson, 24.
According to the indictment, Patterson purchased several firearms from local firearms dealers on behalf of others. When purchasing the firearms, Patterson lied claiming he was the actual purchaser of the firearms when in fact he knew he was purchasing the firearms for others. Patterson was also charged with illegally possessing a machinegun.
When a gun buyer lies to a firearms dealer to purchase a gun for someone else this is called a “straw purchase.” Most often straw purchases occur because either the actual buyer cannot pass the required background check, or the actual buyer wants to avoid having their name associated with the purchase. Straw purchasing is a serious threat to public safety because it undermines background check laws and contributes to the illegal gun market.
“Patterson’s straw purchases are dangerous because they undermine our ability to keep firearms away from criminals and other prohibited persons,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “If you straw purchase a gun, we will prosecute you.”
“Patterson is a gun violence enabler! He represents the worst in our community by trafficking firearms to people unable to legally obtain and possess them,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “The message is clear: If personal greed takes you to a place where you illegally traffic firearms, your next destination on your greed journey is federal prison.”
This case was investigated by special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, with assistance from the Grand Blanc Township Police Department and the Flint Township Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Vance.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Fort Belknap man sentenced to 7 years in prison for assault on the Fort Belknap Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Fort Belknap man who assaulted an individual with a baseball bat on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 84 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Jeremy Owen Walker, 39, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on July 15, 2023, law enforcement was dispatched to the emergency room at Harlem Hospital to investigate a possible assault. The victim, Jane Doe, told law enforcement she had been sleeping at her house when the defendant, Jeremy Owen Walker, burst into her room and beat her with a baseball bat. According to Jane Doe, Walker came to the house and left with another person who was not involved in the assault.
Walker hit Jane Doe on the head with the baseball bat, and when she put her arms up to protect her head, he hit her arms as well. Walker broke Jane Doe’s arm so the bone was visible, and she was diagnosed with a compound fracture of her left arm and a fractured wrist. She underwent surgery to repair the fractures in July 2023. During surgery, medical hardware was placed in her arm and she experienced prolonged complications from her injury and the hardware. She underwent a second surgery in December 2023 to remove a broken plate and screws from her arm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services.
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Former State Department Budget Analyst Sentenced to 12 Months for Embezzling More than $650,000Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Levita Almuete Ferrer, 65, of Montgomery Village, Md., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 12 months and one day in prison for embezzling more than $650,000 from the U.S. State Department over a two-year period, using the funds to fuel her gambling addiction, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Ferrer, aka Levita Brezovic, pleaded guilty April 30, 2025, to theft of government property. In addition to the 12-month prison term, Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Ferrer to serve three years of supervised release, to pay $657,347.50 in restitution to the U.S. government, and to not gamble or visit any casinos
Joining in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Brockschmidt of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Inspector General, and Deputy Assistant Director George Semertsidis of the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service Office of Special Investigations.
As part of her guilty plea, Ferrer admitted that she abused her signature authority over a State Department checking account between March 2022 and April 2024 while working as a Senior Budget Analyst in the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol. She issued 60 checks payable to herself and three checks payable to another individual with whom she had a personal relationship. She printed and signed each check and then deposited all 63 checks, which totaled $657,347.50, into her personal checking and savings accounts.
After her guilty plea, Judge Cooper set release conditions, which prohibited Ferrer from going to casinos. But the same day that she pled guilty, Ferrer went to the MGM National Harbor casino. She returned to the MGM a week later, gambling on high-limit slot machines. Once the government learned of Ferrer’s casino visits, it brought her behavior to the attention of the Court. As a result, Judge Cooper revoked her release and ordered her detained pending sentencing.
Ferrer perpetrated her embezzlement scheme by abusing the signature authority that she had over a State Department checking account. Specifically, between March 2022 and April 2024 while working as a Senior Budget Analyst in the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol, she issued 60 checks payable to herself and three checks payable to another individual with whom she had a personal relationship. She printed and signed each check and then deposited all 63 checks, which totaled $657,347.50, into her personal checking and savings accounts.
Ferrer attempted to conceal her scheme by using a common QuickBooks account at the State Department. After entering her name as the payee on checks in QuickBooks and then printing them, she often changed the listed payee in QuickBooks from herself to an actual State Department vendor. As a result, anyone viewing those entries in the QuickBooks system did not see Ferrer’s name as the payee on the checks unless they accessed an audit trail.
This case was investigated by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General and Diplomatic Security Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman with assistance from former Paralegal Specialist Sona Chaturvedi.
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Former Plantation Bookkeeper Sentenced to Federal Prison for $9.8 Million Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A former bookkeeper from Plantation has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for orchestrating a multi-year embezzlement scheme that stole $9.8 million from her employer.
On September 15, Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga imposed the sentence on Hava Yfrah Austin, 58. The Court also ordered forfeiture and restitution. Austin previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false income tax return, after failing to report the stolen funds on her return.
According to court records, Austin owned and operated Accounting Solutions Today, P.A., a bookkeeping and tax services business in Broward County. Austin was also the long-time bookkeeper for the victim company, where she had signature authority over its bank accounts.
From 2018 through April 2024, Austin embezzled approximately $9.8 million. Austin executed unauthorized wire transfers from the victim company’s accounts to her own business and used much of the stolen money to gamble at local casinos and through online gaming platforms.
To conceal her theft, Austin falsified accounting entries in the victim company’s ledgers, often creating fraudulent entries under fake but similar-sounding vendor names.
“This defendant betrayed the trust placed in her, stole nearly $10 million, and gambled it away,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Our Office will hold accountable those who abuse positions of trust and conceal their crimes, and we will ensure victims see justice and restitution.”
“The IRS-CI enforces the nation’s tax laws with particular emphasis on cases where individuals abuse positions of trust and steal what belongs to others through fraudulent schemes designed to conceal their misconduct,” said Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office. “In this case, the defendant booked a one-way ticket overseas- but thanks to our complex financial investigation, the only one-way trip she’s taking is straight to prison.”
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Gomez made the announcement.
IRS-CI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Juenger prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
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-20239.
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Former Georgia Poll Worker Sentenced for Threatening to Bomb Voting LocationRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A former Georgia poll worker was sentenced to prison after admitting to mailing a letter that contained threats to bomb a Jones County precinct and harm poll workers, and for lying to the FBI during the investigation.
Nicholas Wimbish, 26, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Sept. 18. Wimbish previously pleaded guilty to one count of conveying false information and making hoaxes on Feb. 14. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Ensuring the security of our polling places is essential. Americans must be able to express their political choices at the ballot box without fear of violence or harm,” stated U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “These threats undermine the core values of our nation, and we will vigorously pursue justice in such matters.”
“The FBI takes all threat-to-life matters very seriously,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate a public official or interfere with the election process.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Wimbish was employed as a poll worker at the Jones County Elections Office in Gray, Georgia, on Oct. 16, 2024, when he had a verbal altercation with a voter. Later that evening and into the early hours of Oct. 17, 2024, Wimbish conducted relevant online research and then drafted a letter posing as the voter threatening to bomb the polling place. Wimbish mailed the threatening letter to the Jones County Elections Superintendent from a “Jones County Voter” on Oct. 17, 2024. It arrived at the election office on Oct. 22, 2024.
Wimbish admitted he intended the letter to appear as if it came from the voter and added details to make it seem like the voter was targeting Wimbish and other poll workers. For example, it said, "Yesterday I had your young liberal woke idiot Nicholas Wimbish give me hell," that "he tries to influence peoples votes in line," and that "I researched a newspaper article about Nicholas Wimbish and other woke liberal fraudsters impostering to be patriots." The letter threatened that Wimbish and others "should look over their shoulder," that "I know where they all go," that "I know where they all live because I found home voting addresses for all them," that "the liberal young men will get beatdown if they fight me," that "they will get the treason punishment by firing squad if they fight back," and that "they should watch every move they make looking over their shoulder." Further, the letter threatened to "rage rape" the "ladies" and warned them to "watch every move they make and look over their shoulder." Below the typewritten letter, Wimbish wrote a note by hand, "PS boom toy in early vote place, cigar burning, be safe." Wimbish admitted he knew that a "boom toy" was a term for an explosive device. Wimbish also acknowledged that he lied to FBI agents investigating the mailed threat and falsely stated that he believed the Jones County voter sent the letter and that he had not conducted online research on himself. The letter was found on Wimbish's computer.
The FBI Atlanta Field Office investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government with assistance from the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and DOJ’s Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).
Former Financier Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly Family Member of $8.4 MillionRead the Press Release
Miami – A former financier previously disciplined by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for defrauding his elderly family member out of approximately $8.4 million.
Brett Thomas Graham, 61, was sentenced on September 16 by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks after pleading guilty to wire fraud.
According to court documents, Graham began assisting his widowed family member in 2017. Graham helped her retain a financial advisor in November 2018. The following year, the family member sold a New York townhouse for approximately $9 million. Within months, Graham began diverting money from her accounts into his own, using the stolen money to finance overseas vacations, luxury jewelry purchases, artwork, and other personal expenses.
In 2020, Graham obtained power of attorney over his family member’s finances, which obligated him to act in her best interest. Instead, Graham exploited that authority to continue his fraud. That December, Graham falsely claimed to the financial advisor that $250,000 was needed to cover the family member’s “higher medical & care expenses.” Graham spent the funds on himself. In November 2022, Graham requested an additional $400,000, citing “[a]mazing [investment] opps…” More than $300,000 of that money was spent on his credit card, art, travel, and rent.
Law enforcement was able to seize jewelry and art purchased with fraud proceeds for approximately $2 million.
“Exploiting an elderly family member to steal millions is unconscionable,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We will hold fraudsters accountable and protect seniors from abuse.”
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Demirci handled asset forfeiture.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
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-20103.
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Former Essex County Sheriff’s Officer Admits Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former Essex County Sheriff’s Officer admitted to his role in a bank fraud conspiracy, United States Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Ryan L. Terry, 32, of Piscataway, pleaded guilty on September 11, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas to an Information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Terry, who served as a police officer with the Orange Police Department at the time he conspired to commit bank fraud, was part of a multi-person operation that stole checks from the mail, deposited those checks into bank accounts controlled by the enterprise, and then withdrew the proceeds before the bank or the victims became aware of the illegal activity.
For example, in June 2023, Company-1 mailed out a business check for over $50,000. That check was stolen and thereafter the payee information was altered to enable it to be deposited into an account controlled by Terry and his co-conspirators. Then in July 2023, after the stolen check cleared, Terry and his co-conspirators withdrew the money from the account and split the proceeds.
Terry then continued to actively recruit other members to the conspiracy. Specifically, he recruited individuals who had long-standing bank accounts to continue the scheme of depositing stolen checks and withdrawing the funds before the bank or the victims of the stolen checks were aware of the fraud.
The bank fraud conspiracy and the bank fraud charges both carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division and Thomas S. Kearney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Charles Simmons, Esq., East Orange, New Jersey.
terry.information.pdfFormer Charity Employee Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Stealing Nearly $700,000Read the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced a former charity employee who embezzled $690,902 over more than a decade to 40 months in prison.
Judge Sippel also ordered Joelle Fouse, 58, to repay the money.
Fouse was the manager/director of finance and human resources for Promise Community Homes, formerly known as Rainbow Village, a charity that provides housing and resources for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She was responsible for payroll, expense reimbursement and maintaining the charity’s books and records.
Fouse caused 71 unauthorized payroll deposits totaling $139,810 and 181 unauthorized expense reimbursement payments totaling $407,186 to be made to her personal bank accounts. She also used the charity’s credit card to make 184 unauthorized personal purchases totaling $133,210. Her theft, and the unauthorized payments, caused the charity to overpay payroll taxes by approximately $10,694.
Fouse’s “significant embezzlement” was “in addition to the generous salary and benefits the charity was already providing her,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith wrote in a sentencing memo. “While depriving the disabled residents of the charity of much needed and essential resources, Defendant used the stolen charitable funds for extravagant purchases for such things as vacation travel, expensive clothing and handbags, entertainment, restaurant meals, and to fund her own side businesses which provided her with additional income.”
Fouse also lied about graduating college with an accounting degree for years, Goldsmith wrote, when she was actually academically disqualified from continuing in school.
In a letter to Judge Sippel, Promise Homes Executive Director Matt Elmore wrote that Fouse’s embezzlement while the charity was “stretching every dollar” and “making difficult decisions about which projects to fund” robbed clients of vital services. The $8,000 of the charity’s money Fouse spent at Louis Vuitton “could have funded a new ramp for a resident who can no longer navigate stairs,” he wrote. The $5,000 she spent on “bottle service at the Ritz-Carlton could have covered urgent repairs-HVAC systems, water heaters, essential appliances-for multiple homes.”
Her crime, Elmore wrote, poisoned their workplace and damaged the charity’s reputation. “We are now forced to spend valuable time and resources reassuring donors-many of whom have supported us for decades that we remain trustworthy and financially stable. Every hour we spend restoring confidence is an hour not spent serving our residents,” he wrote.
Elmore also said that Fouse was always the first and strongest advocate for raising the rent of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities living on fixed incomes, “because she needed to fund her own lavish lifestyle. That is a level of heartlessness I struggle to comprehend.”
Fouse used the money to pay for personal expenses for herself and relatives including travel, clothing, entertainment, restaurant meals and rent payments. To cover up her crimes, she created false financial reports, doctored receipts, made false entries in the charity’s financial records and prevented the charity’s officials from accessing records which would have disclosed her scheme.
Fouse worked for the charity from October 2012 through December 2023, when she was terminated and her employer contacted federal authorities. She pleaded guilty in April of 2025 to three felony counts of wire fraud.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith prosecuted the case. Officers of Promise Community Homes cooperated substantially in the investigation.
Former Bank of O’Fallon executive sentenced to prison for swindling $2 million in check kiting fraud schemeRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced the former second-in-command of the Bank of O’Fallon to 63 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to federal charges for engaging in a fraud scheme to obtain more than $2 million.
Andrew P. Blassie, 70, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of interstate transportation of security or funds obtained by fraud. In addition to imprisonment, he was ordered to pay $2,461,887.67 in restitution.
“Blassie’s prison sentence underscores the severity of his crimes to betray his clients, employer, family, and community,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The outstanding work by the investigators and the Bank of O’Fallon’s vital cooperation to dismantle this scheme delivered justice and helped to protect the integrity of our financial system.”
According to the indictment, Blassie served as the Executive Vice President for the Bank of O’Fallon and defrauded the bank out of $1,972,887.67 in a check kite scheme from September 2023 through September 2024 during his employment.
Blassie admitted to falsely inflating the balance of his personal checking account at the Bank of O’Fallon by depositing checks he knew to be backed by non-sufficient funds. He deposited checks with non-sufficient funds from four personal accounts at three other banks and one credit union into the Bank of O’Fallon account.
“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to pursuing criminal actors who seek to rip off law-abiding citizens and undermine our nation’s financial system in the process. This was an outrageous scheme that hurt innocent victims,” said acting Resident Agent in Charge David Bolin, of the U.S. Secret Service’s Springfield Resident Office. “I am proud of our agency’s work in this case. Thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Illinois as well as our federal and local law enforcement partners who helped to bring justice for the victims, including the O’Fallon Police Department.”
Blassie paid nearly $2.7 million for personal expenses from the falsely inflated account thus using funds belonging to the Bank of O’Fallon. As the former Executive Vice President, Blassie used his position to conceal his fraud from the Bank of O’Fallon by scrubbing his name and account number from suspected kiting reports.
“Today’s sentencing brings justice to the defendant, who violated his position of trust as Executive Vice President at the Bank of O’Fallon. He defrauded the bank of approximately $2 million through a check kiting scheme that he used to enrich himself,” said Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Chicago Region. “This case exhibits the FDIC OIG’s steadfast commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to hold bank insiders, and other perpetrators of fraud, accountable for their role in such schemes, especially those that threaten the safety and soundness of our Nation’s financial institutions.”
From August 2022 through September 2024, Blassie also persuaded a couple from Lebanon, Illinois, to give him $489,000 of their retirement savings. In return for this investment, Blassie gave the couple two promissory notes. He agreed to pay the couple interest on the notes and used money he obtained through his check kite scheme to pay some of that interest.
As security for his promissory notes, Blassie pledged 128 of his and his wife’s shares of the holding company which owns the Bank of O’Fallon.
“Today’s sentencing holds accountable and brings to justice a former bank executive who abused his position to defraud Bank of O’Fallon and its customers,” said Don Daley, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Western Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to achieve this result. We will continue to vigorously pursue those who undermine the safety and soundness of our banking institutions.”
According to the indictment, Blassie later sold most of these shares and did not use those funds to repay the Lebanon couple. This left the couple with no means of recourse when Blassie later defaulted on the promissory notes.
“Bank officials who abuse their positions of public trust for personal gain pose an unacceptable threat to the integrity the Federal Home Loan Bank system,” said Korey Brinkman, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General’s Central Region. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investigating thoroughly allegations of fraud involving bank officials and supporting the prosecution of those charged with these offenses. We are proud to work with our investigative partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure insider fraudsters are held accountable under the law.”
Officials with the Bank of O’Fallon have fully cooperated with law enforcement during the investigation.
The O’Fallon Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General made contributions to the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.
Former Assistant District Attorney in Lafayette Convicted of Conspiracy and Bribery Charges in Federal CaseRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal jury has found Gary Haynes, 67, of Lafayette, guilty of conspiracy to engage in bribery, bribery, use of a facility interstate commerce in aid of bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and obstruction of justice after a nearly two-week long trial, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. After deliberating for nearly two and one half hours, the jury returned their verdict. The indictment charged Haynes with conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, two counts of using his cell phone in aid of bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and obstruction of justice.
Evidence presented at the trial revealed that Haynes conspired with Dusty Guidry and Leonard Franques to solicit bribes and kickbacks and to accept things of value while working as an Assistant District Attorney at the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Haynes oversaw the D.A.’s Office’s Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program which was a program set up to provide an alternative to criminal prosecution for certain criminal offenders. Haynes approved defendants to participate in the program and then directed them to take classes from Franques’s companies. Those defendants paid money to take classes through Franques’s companies to complete the program and obtain dismissal of the criminal charges against them from Haynes. Haynes, Guidry, and Franques agreed that Haynes would receive kickbacks in exchange for accepting people into the PTI program, directing those people to Franques’s companies, and then dismissing the charges against the people who enrolled in and paid for the courses that Franques’s companies provided.
Haynes and his co-conspirators discussed several ways to conceal the nature of the money that Haynes would receive from the kickback scheme, including having Haynes reactivate a defunct company during the conspiracy to hide the proceeds from the kickbacks or potentially providing him with a new truck rather than funnel the kickbacks directly to him. Haynes directed a coconspirator to alter, destroy, and conceal documents and records to prevent their availability in a future proceeding.
Franques pleaded guilty on January 12, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Guidry pleaded guilty on March 23, 2023, to two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Both Guidry and Franques are scheduled to be sentenced on October 1, 2025.
Haynes faces a sentence of 65 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS - Criminal Investigation. The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys John Luke Walker and John W. Nickel, and Steven Loew of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.
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Former Antioch Police Officer Found Guilty of Conspiracy Against RightsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal jury today convicted former Antioch police officer Devon Wenger of one count of conspiracy against rights. The jury’s verdict follows a seven-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White.
Wenger, 33, was previously employed as a police officer with the Antioch Police Department. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Wenger conspired with other Antioch Police Department officers to use unreasonable force to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate residents of Antioch, California.
“Public trust must be at the forefront of the duty to protect. By using unnecessary and unreasonable force under the guise of law enforcement, Wenger betrayed the community he was entrusted to protect. Officers who hold themselves above the law and dishonor their oath of office will be held to account. The people of Antioch deserve no less,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Today’s conviction makes clear that when an officer violates the civil rights of those he was sworn to protect, it will not be overlooked or excused. This marks the second time a jury has held Devon Wenger accountable, and it reflects the FBI’s commitment to pursuing justice in every instance where authority is abused. We will continue working with our partners to ensure that those who betray the public’s trust face consequences,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Agustin Lopez.
According to the evidence at trial, Wenger and two other Antioch Police Department officers, Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough, communicated with each other and others about using and intending to use excessive force against individuals in and around Antioch. The uses of excessive force included deployment of a K9, deployment of a 40mm “less lethal” launcher, and other unnecessary violence. The evidence showed that Wenger and others deployed uses of force as punishment to subjects beyond any punishment appropriately imposed by the criminal justice system. Wenger also withheld details about uses of excessive force from police reports and other official documents.
The jury convicted Wenger of one count of conspiracy against rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241. The court dismissed a second count that charged Wenger with deprivation of rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.
Wenger was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute steroids and obstruction of justice following a jury trial in April 2025.
The Court ordered Wenger remanded to custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 2, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney.
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These civil rights charges against Wenger were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments that resulted in multiple charges against 10 current and former officers and employees of these two police departments for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud. The status of these cases, all of which are before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, is below:
Case Name and NumberStatute(s)Defendant
(Bold: multiple case numbers)
StatusFraud
23-cr-00264
18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 1343 (Wire Fraud)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 24-cr-157 on 9/5/24Morteza AmiriSentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-269 on 6/24/25Amanda Theodosy a/k/a NashSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release 11/15/24Samantha PetersonSentenced to time served, 3 years supervised release 4/24/24Ernesto Mejia-OrozcoSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 9/19/24Brauli Jalapa RodriguezSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 10/25/24Obstruction
23-cr-00267
18 U.S.C. §§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations); 1512(c)(2) (Obstruction of Official Proceedings); 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Timothy Manly WilliamsPleaded guilty 11/28/23, status conference 10/7/25Steroid Distribution
23-cr-00268
21 U.S.C. §§ 846 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids), 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 10/7/2521 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids);
18 U.S.C.§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)
Devon WengerConvicted at trial 4/30/25, sentencing pendingCivil Rights
23-cr-00269
18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law); § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)Morteza AmiriSentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 6/24/2518 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Eric RomboughPleaded guilty 1/14/25, status conference 10/7/2518 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Devon WengerConvicted at trial 9/18/25, sentencing 12/2/25Steroid Distribution
24-cr-00157
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 9/5/24Bank fraud
24-cr-00502
18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) (Bank fraud)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 10/7/25Final Los Valles drug trafficking organization defendant sentenced for his role in distributing loads of cocaine into the United StatesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Honduran national was sentenced on Sept. 16 to four years in prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, Erlis Antonio Leon Castellanos was an important part of an international drug trafficking organization based in Honduras known as “Los Valles” (Valle DTO). The Valle DTO moved multi-metric-ton loads of cocaine from Honduras to Guatemala, before it was moved to Mexico and ultimately the United States. The Valle DTO used helicopters and commercial trucks to transport cocaine from Honduras to Guatemala, where the cocaine was transferred to co-conspirators associated with Mexican drug trafficking organizations that smuggled the cocaine into the United States for redistribution. Some members of the Valle DTO imported smaller quantities of cocaine from Honduras directly into the United States using human couriers, who would travel on commercial airlines.
Leon Castellanos owned property near the Honduras-Guatemala border. The Valle DTO sent cocaine loads to Leon Castellanos at his property, where Leon Castellanos stored them before he and other DTO members smuggled the cocaine into Guatemala on its way to the United States. Leon Castellanos began by accepting cocaine loads of approximately 15 to 20 kilograms and eventually accepting loads of hundreds of kilograms at a time. Leon Castellanos also delivered cocaine to another DTO member who was responsible for coordinating the northward travel of the drugs. Between 2011 and 2014, Leon Castellanos personally transported cocaine over the border. He is the final defendant of 15 indicted in the case to be captured and sentenced.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Siddhartha Patel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Sacramento Field Office; and Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Guatemala to secure the arrest and March extradition of Leon Castellanos.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Guatemala to secure the arrest and March extradition of Leon Castellanos.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin S. Starr and Philip Alito prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:14-cr-135.
Federal Inmate Serving Life Sentence Receives 30 More Years for Cellmate’s MurderRead the Press Release
TERRE HAUTE- Jeremy Mack, 50, has been sentenced to 30 years and 5 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to murder in the second degree. Mack was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, in 2021, Jeremy Mack was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, serving a life sentence imposed by the Northern District of Ohio for Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking and Drug Trafficking, Sex Trafficking of Children by Force, Fraud or Coercion, Witness Tampering and Obstruction of Justice.
On September 3, 2021, at approximately 9:28 p.m., correctional officers responded to an inmate duress alarm in the general population housing unit. Upon arrival, the officers found inmate Jeremy Mack standing near the door with the lights off. Officers instructed Mack to turn on the light and immediately observed blood on Mack’s hands and forearms. His cellmate, Stephen Cannada, was lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
Officers attempted CPR and other life-saving measures on Cannada but were unsuccessful. He was later pronounced deceased by medical staff. The medical examiner ruled the official cause of death to be multiple stab wounds to the neck and abdomen.
“This additional sentence underscores our office’s commitment to ensuring accountability, even within the walls of a federal prison. The sentence imposed reflects the gravity of this crime, and we hope it brings a sense of justice and closure to the family and loved ones of Mr. Cannada,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: violence within our correctional system will not be tolerated. Even individuals already serving lengthy prison terms are accountable under the law when they commit further acts of violence. The FBI remains committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure that every life is protected, and justice is upheld – no matter where the crime occurs,” said Timothy O’Malley, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Indianapolis.
"Today's sentencing sends a clear message - those who threaten or harm others will be held accountable. The safety and security of our facilities will always be the BOP’s top priority in our mission to ensure public safety,” said a BOP Spokesperson.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Prisons investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case.
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Former University Postdoctoral Scholar Sentenced to Prison for Distribution and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Dylan Kelby Rogers, 39, formerly of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for distribution 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: “These crimes deserve swift and severe punishment not only because they involve the sexual exploitation of minors, but because those minors continue to be re-victimized each time these horrific videos and images of their exploitation are shared. I am proud of the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners in this case, and my office remains committed to using the full force of the law to hold accountable the predators who victimize our children.”
Court documents reflect that in December 2024, Rogers, a local university postdoctoral scholar, reported to the Tallahassee Police Department that he was extorted online. During an interview with a federal agent, Rogers explained that he and an individual had watched child pornography on an online application and showed the agent a folder on his cell phone that contained several child pornography videos. Law enforcement seized Rogers’s cell phone and conducted a forensic examination of it. A search of the phone revealed more than 30 illegal videos. Rogers’s cell phone also contained evidence of his communications with other online users about child pornography.
“The exploitation of children is one of the most heinous crimes we face, and the Tallahassee Police Department remains dedicated to bringing offenders to justice, said Chief Lawrence Revell. “This case highlights the importance of strong partnerships in protecting our most vulnerable.”
“Dylan Rogers’ actions represent a deeply disturbing betrayal of trust and highlight the alarming prevalence of child exploitation crimes in our society,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “This is not just a law enforcement issue but a societal challenge that requires vigilance, education, and collaboration across all sectors to protect the most vulnerable among us. HSI, alongside our partners, remains unwavering in our efforts to tirelessly combat the scourge of child exploitation, bring offenders to justice, and safeguard our children from harm.”
Rogers’ imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration. Additionally, Rogers was ordered to pay restitution to victims and he will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations. 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.
Executive of Miami-Based Seafood Wholesale Company Pleads Guilty to Price-Fixing ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Miami – The vice president of a Miami-based seafood wholesaler pleaded guilty on September 16 to conspiring with competitors to fix prices for the purchase of stone crab claws and spiny lobster in Florida.
According to documents filed with the court, Dennis Dopico, of Miami, was a vice president for a company that operated a seafood processing center that sold stone crab claws and spiny lobsters. Between 2023 and 2025, Dopico conspired with competing companies and their employees to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing the prices paid to fishermen for stone crab claws and spiny lobsters. This conspiracy deprived fishermen in Florida the benefits of competition, depressing the prices paid to fishermen for their harvests.
“Price fixing cheats fishermen, squeezes restaurants, and makes families pay more at the table,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We will protect honest competition from the boat to the dinner table.”
“Criminal conspiracies to deprive hardworking Americans the right to earn a fair wage are untenable in a free society. As the defendant admits, his price fixing conspiracy unfairly took money out of the pockets of hardworking fishermen for years,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to ensure that hard working Americans are paid competitively for an honest day’s work.”
“This case highlights the serious consequences of undermining the integrity of our nation’s natural resource markets,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “Price-fixing schemes not only disrupt fair competition but also threaten American businesses and the sustainability of our valuable fisheries. We remain committed to working with our federal partners to hold accountable those who exploit our natural resources for unlawful profit.”
Dopico and his co-conspirators exchanged text messages and calls in which they coordinated and agreed on the prices they would pay fishermen and would adjust the prices together as the respective harvest seasons progressed. For example, on Sept. 28, 2023, following communications with a co-conspirator about spiny lobster prices Dopico replied “[d]on’t show text to anyone[.] Confidential,” to which the co-conspirator responded, “I give you my word. We’re working together now not against each other[.]” Later, on Oct. 13, 2023, the same co-conspirator texted Dopico new stone crab claw prices. Dopico responded, “[l]et me know what you do. I am matching your prices. It’s the one we like the most.”
In the plea agreement, Dopico admitted that the volume of commerce attributable to him and related to the conspiracy was approximately $8 million.
Dopico pleaded guilty to one felony count of restraining trade by conspiring to fix prices, in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The maximum penalty for individuals is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
The court set Dopico’s sentencing hearing for Jan. 5, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services is investigating this case.
The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section is prosecuting the case with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
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-20393.
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