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Tuesday 16 September 2025
U.S. Attorney's Office Collects $48 Million Restitution Ordered Against Insys Executives Convicted of Health Care Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced today that her office has collected the entire $48,344,036 in criminal restitution awarded to victims of a health care racketeering conspiracy committed by the founder and six former executives of Insys Therapeutics.
John N. Kapoor, Insys founder and former Executive Chairman; Richard M. Simon, the former National Director of Sales; Sunrise Lee, a former Regional Sales Director; Joseph A. Rowan, a former Regional Sales Director; and Michael J. Gurry, the former Vice President of Managed Markets, were convicted by a federal jury in May 2019 in connection with bribing medical practitioners to prescribe Subsys, a highly-addictive sublingual fentanyl spray intended for cancer patients experiencing breakthrough pain, and for defrauding Medicare and private insurance carriers. Two other Insys executives – Michael Babich, the former CEO and President of the company and Alec Burlakoff, the former Vice President of Sales – pleaded guilty.
The court ordered the defendants to pay $48,344,036 in restitution to victims of the defendants’ crimes, including individual patient-victims, several insurance companies and Medicare. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is responsible for collecting criminal restitution. Since the defendants’ sentencings, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has diligently pursued enforcement of the restitution until it was collected in full.
Subsys, a drug owned and manufactured by Insys Therapeutics, Inc., was a fentanyl-based, rapid-onset opioid approved to treat cancer patients suffering intense breakthrough pain. From May 2012 to December 2015, the defendants conspired to bribe practitioners, many of whom operated pain clinics, in order to induce them to prescribe Subsys to patients, often when medically unnecessary. The defendants used pharmacy data to identify practitioners who either prescribed unusually high volumes of rapid-onset opioids, or had demonstrated a capacity to do so, and bribed and provided kickbacks to the practitioners to increase the number of new Subsys prescriptions as well as to increase the dosage and number of units of Subsys. The defendants measured the success by comparing the net revenue earned from targeted practitioners with the total value of bribes and kickbacks paid. The defendants used this information to reduce or eliminate bribes paid to practitioners who failed to meet satisfactory prescribing requirements.
The defendants also conspired to mislead and defraud health insurance providers who were reluctant to approve payment for the expensive drug when it was prescribed for patients without cancer. Medicare would not approve payment for the drug unless the patient was being treated for breakthrough cancer pain.
The Asset Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office oversaw restitution enforcement, which was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Amrhein and Raquelle L. Kaye.
Two Sentenced in Firearms Trafficking Operation in Berkeley CountyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two people have been sentenced for their roles in a firearms trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
Marcus De’Angelo Brown, age 40, of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced to 137 months in federal prison for trafficking in firearms and the unlawful possession of a firearm. Matthew Blake Robinson, age 28, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for the straw purchase of a firearm. Brown and Robinson worked together to fraudulently purchase and transfer firearms in Berkeley County and elsewhere.
Brown is prohibited from having firearms because of prior felony convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Two San Fernando Valley Men Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging They Exported $611 Million of Electronics Obtained by FraudRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two San Fernando Valley men were arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging them with running a Van Nuys-based company that exported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of consumer electronics and gift cards, nearly all derived from criminal activities such as identity theft, credit card theft, and fraud.
Saman Delafraz, 32, of Woodland Hills, and Benjamin Daneshgar, 34, of Studio City, are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
They are expected to make their initial appearances tomorrow in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Delafraz and Daneshgar owned and operated Wireless World, a company that operates from warehouses in Van Nuys and New Castle, Delaware. Wireless World uses these locations to aggregate electronics before shipping them out of the United States. Since 2019, Wireless World has exported more than $611 million in electronics from the United States, nearly all of which law enforcement believes to be crime proceeds.
In addition, and pursuant to federal warrants, the Van Nuys and Delaware warehouses and Delafraz’s residence were searched today, and Wireless World’s bank accounts were seized.
Delafraz and Daneshgar procured electronics and gift cards from many illicit sources, including Blade Bai, 37, of El Monte, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of federal money laundering charges. Bai sold electronics and gift cards to Wireless World and those items were largely derived from telephone scams in which victims were duped into buying and providing gift cards numbers over the phone. Those gift cards then were used to buy electronics and laundered into new gift cards to conceal the source of the funds.
Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 58, a.k.a. “Parcero,” of Canyon Country, also sold electronics and gift cards to Wireless World, which he provided the company from December 2018 to August 2024. Thola is in federal custody and charged in a separate federal criminal case with acting as a coordinator and fence for South American crime tourism groups and other individuals who obtained electronics and gift cards using illegal means, including stolen bank cards. Thola and several other defendants are scheduled to go to trial in January 2026.
Delafraz and Daneshgar also acquired electronics directly themselves through fraud. They bought electronics from Best Buy, The Home Depot, and other retailers using gift cards loaded with fraud proceeds – primarily via stolen credit cards. Those electronics often were shipped directly to the Wireless World warehouse or to mailboxes the defendants controlled.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI are investigating this matter. The Los Angeles Police Department, the Cobb County Police Department (Georgia) provided significant assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Khaldoun Shobaki of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan J. Waters of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.
Two Pennsylvania Men Charged with Defrauding Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program of Nearly $220,000Read the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Alexander Daravina, aka Alexander Danazina and “Colombian Al,” 38, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, and Moses Benabe, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa., were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, seven counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft, arising from a scheme to defraud the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) program of at least $218,570.
The PUA program was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, enacted in March 2020, and provided unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended unemployment benefits. When PUA applications were approved, applicants were eligible to receive benefits via electronic funds transfer, or in a check or debit card mailed to the address on the application.
The indictment alleges that, from about July 2020 through September 2020, Daravina, while incarcerated at State Correctional Institution Phoenix (“SCI Phoenix”), obtained the personal identification information (“PII”), such as names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, of dozens of real people, including other inmates at the facility. Daravina then shared that PII with Benabe and others and directed them to apply for PUA benefits on behalf of those people, even though the defendants both knew that the individuals weren’t eligible for PUA benefits.
The indictment further alleges that Benabe used the PII provided, including the information of dozens of SCI Phoenix inmates, to fraudulently apply for PUA benefits. When the applications were approved, Benabe had the debit cards sent to addresses under the control of members of the conspiracy. He and his co-conspirators then withdrew cash from ATMs and purchased items, using the fraudulently issued cards.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum possible sentence of 161 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of two years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $3.75 million fine.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Tucson Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Prison for Attempted Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – John Stephen Baker, 71, of Tucson, was sentenced on September 10, by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 8.5 years in prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervised release. Baker previously pleaded guilty to Attempted Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity.
Beginning around February 6, 2023, and continuing through May 10, 2023, Baker communicated with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old female, who was actually an undercover special agent with Homeland Security Investigations. During his chats with the undercover agent, Baker asked about previous sexual experiences and expressed fears with engaging in sexual intercourse with an underage female because of the potential for arrest. Nonetheless, on May 10, 2023, Baker traveled from his home in Tucson to Sahuarita, Arizona, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with the person he believed to be an underage female.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Officers and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters and Jennifer H. Berman, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01362-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-148_Baker# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tren de Aragua Members Charged with May 2024 Double Murder in the Bronx and Other Racketeering OffensesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of a superseding indictment (the “superseding indictment”) charging 10 members of the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) with participating in a racketeering conspiracy and committing multiple violent crimes in aid of racketeering.
Keiber Jaen Martinez, also known as “Keybe;” Samuel Gonzalez Castro, also known as “Klei” and “Kley;” Eferson Morillo-Gomez, also known as “Jefferson” and “Efe Trebol;” Keiver Silva-Jimenez, also known as “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky”; Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica, also known as “Keiner;” and Marlon Farias, also known as “Bili,” were charged with participating in the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless on May 24, 2024, in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx, New York, which also resulted in a third victim being shot and injured. Gonzalez Castro was also charged with participating in the shooting of a rival gang member on Aug. 3, 2024, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 90th Street in Queens, New York, which also resulted in an innocent bystander being shot and injured. Six of the 10 defendants charged in the superseding indictment were previously charged with racketeering, firearms, drug, and sex trafficking offenses on April 16. Eight of the defendants are already either in federal custody or state custody. Silva-Jimenez is currently at large. Farias was previously removed from the United States by immigration authorities. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote for the Southern District of New York.
“The Department of Justice is completely committed to destroying Tren De Aragua and bringing its members to justice for their horrific crimes against the American people,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s indictment reflects our ongoing efforts to dismantle this terrorist organization by any legal means necessary.”
“Tren de Aragua is one of the most violent and ruthless terrorist gangs on planet earth,” said U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. “They murder those who stand against them. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are utilizing a whole-of-government approach to arrest and deport these foreign terrorists. Today’s murder and racketeering indictment is a victory for the rule of law and the American people. Thanks to our collaboration with federal and local partners, Americans can rest easy at night knowing these dangerous terrorists are off our streets. Let me be clear: If you are in this country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you will never return. That’s a promise.”
“As alleged, these members of Tren de Aragua were illegally present in the United States and committed a series of devastating and horrific crimes, including robberies, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless outside of an apartment building in the Bronx,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “We are committed to putting cartels, gangs, and others who poison our children and pursue violence as a way of life out of business. We and our law enforcement partners know that is what New Yorkers want, and it is what they deserve.”
“As demonstrated with today’s allegations, the Tren de Aragua street gang has unleashed a reign of terror in New York, marked by brutal and unforgiving violence that defies humanity,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office. “With ruthless tactics and a disregard for human life, this foreign terrorist organization has become a symbol of unchecked brutality. HSI New York, together with our law enforcement partners, is waging an unyielding offensive against TdA and Anti-Tren, dismantling gang operations piece by piece and pursuing their members with relentless determination. HSI will not rest until this ruthless criminal enterprise is obliterated and the streets are reclaimed from their grip of savagery.”
“Tren de Aragua has been terrorizing New York City streets, causing widespread violence and claiming lives,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Over the past few months, the NYPD has taken significant action to root out this criminal enterprise and shut down their operations across the city, and today’s indictment reflects our relentless efforts. I want to thank all our law enforcement partners for their continued commitment to making New York City safer.”
According to the allegations contained in the superseding indictment:
TdA is a criminal organization that operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, as well as internationally in Venezuela, Peru, and elsewhere. The purposes of TdA included:
- Preserving and protecting the power and territory of TdA and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren.
- Enriching the members and associates of TdA through, among other things:
- The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including young women from Venezuela, into Colombia, Peru and the United States;
- The sex trafficking of young women (whom members and associates of TdA often refer to as “multadas”) who had been unlawfully smuggled into Peru and the United States;
- The trafficking of controlled substances, including a mixed substance called “tusi” that contains ketamine;
- And armed robberies.
- Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of TdA and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence.
- Promoting and enhancing TdA and the reputation and activities of its members and associates.
- Providing assistance to members and associates of TdA who committed crimes for and on behalf of TdA, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of TdA to flee prosecution.
- Protecting TdA and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of TdA.
Members and associates of TdA transported young women, again often referred to by members and associates of TdA as “multadas,” from Venezuela into Peru and the United States in exchange for debts that the young women would pay back to TdA by engaging in commercial sex work. Members of TdA enforced compliance among these young women by, among other things:
- Threatening to kill the young women and their families,
- Assaulting the young women,
- Shooting or killing the young women,
- And tracking down and kidnapping the young women who tried to flee.
Members of TdA also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and expand TdA’s criminal operations; resolve disputes within TdA; to retaliate against rival organizations, including Anti-Tren; and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims. TdA members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition.
On May 24, 2024, Jaen Martinez, Gonzalez Castro, Morillo-Gomez, Silva-Jimenez, Ibarra-Mujica, and Farias agreed with others to kill Daniels and Lawless in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx. Jaen Martinez, Gonzalez Castro, Morillo-Gomez, Silva-Jimenez, Ibarra-Mujica, and Farias then shot and aided and abetted the shooting of Daniels, Lawless, and another victim (Victim-3), which resulted in the deaths of Daniels and Lawless, and multiple non-fatal gunshot wounds to Victim-3. Daniels was 44 years old, and Lawless was 36 years old.
On Aug. 4, 2024, Gonzalez Castro shot and injured a rival gang member from Anti-Tren (Rival-1), a splinter organization of former TdA members, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 89th Street in Queens. During the shooting, a bystander (Victim-4) was also shot and injured.
On Sept. 30, 2024, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, and Morillo-Gomez committed a gunpoint carjacking and robbery of an employee of a car dealership (Victim-1) in the Bronx.
A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.
The maximum potential penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
The Justice Department praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and NYPD and also thanked the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office; the Aurora Police Department in Aurora, Colorado; Joint Task Force Vulcan; the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Gang Unit and New York Human Intelligence Division; ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations New York; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the New York City Crime Analysis Center at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
This case is a part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Texas; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; HSI; the ATF; USMS; and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have been essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
This case is being handled by attorneys from JTFV and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kathryn Wheelock, Timothy Ly, and Andrew K. Chan for the Southern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAX. PENALTIES
1
Racketeering
conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,”
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Brayan Oliveros-Chero,
Sandro Oliveros-Chero, and
Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia”
Life in prison2
Drug trafficking conspiracy
21 U.S.C. § 846
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Brayan Oliveros-Chero,
Sandro Oliveros-Chero, and
Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia”
20 years in prison3
Carjacking conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 371
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Five years in prison4
Carjacking
18 U.S.C. § 2119
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
15 years in prison5
Hobbs Act robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
20 years in prison6
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – September 30, 2024
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii), and 2
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison
7
Attempted Hobbs Act extortion
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
20 years in prison8
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 924(o)
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
20 years in prison9
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 924(o)
Brayan Oliveros-Chero, and
Sandro Oliveros-Chero
20 years in prison10
Firearm use, carrying, and possession
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2
Brayan Oliveros-Chero20 years in prison11
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Brayan Oliveros-Chero15 years in prison12
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Sandro Oliveros-Chero15 years in prison13
Firearm use, carrying, and possession
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2
Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia”Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison
14
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia”15 years in prison15
Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison
16
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
17
Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Justin Lawless
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison
18
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Justin Lawless
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
19
Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – Victim-3
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
20 years in prison20
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Victim-3
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
21
Conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeeringKeiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
22
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
15 years in prison23
Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – August 3, 2024, ShootingSamuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”20 years in prison24
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – August 3, 2024, Shooting
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
25
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”15 years in prisonNote: A copy of the superseding indictment can be found here.
Tren De Aragua Members Charged with May 2024 Double Murder in the Bronx and Other Racketeering OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Attorney General of the United States, Pamela Bondi; Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), Kristi Noem; Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel; and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today a Superseding Indictment (the “Superseding Indictment”) charging 10 members of the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (“TdA”) with participating in a racketeering conspiracy and committing multiple violent crimes in aid of racketeering. KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Keybe”; SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO, a/k/a “Klei,” a/k/a “Kley”; EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ, a/k/a “Jefferson,” a/k/a “Efe Trebol”; KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,” a/k/a “Chuky”; KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA, a/k/a “Keiner”; and MARLON FARIAS, a/k/a “Bili,” were charged with participating in the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless on May 24, 2024, in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx, New York, which also resulted in a third victim being shot and injured. GONZALEZ CASTRO was also charged with participating in the shooting of a rival gang member on August 3, 2024, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 90th Street in Queens, New York, which also resulted in an innocent bystander being shot and injured. Six of the 10 defendants charged in the Superseding Indictment were previously charged with racketeering, firearms, drug, and sex trafficking offenses on April 16, 2025. Eight of the defendants are already either in federal custody or state custody. SILVA-JIMENEZ is currently at large. FARIAS was previously removed from the U.S. by immigration authorities. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.
“As alleged, these members of Tren de Aragua were illegally present in the United States and committed a series of devastating and horrific crimes, including robberies, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless outside of an apartment building in the Bronx,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “We are committed to putting cartels, gangs, and others who poison our children and pursue violence as a way of life out of business. We and our law enforcement partners know that is what New Yorkers want, and it is what they deserve.”
“The Department of Justice is completely committed to destroying Tren De Aragua and bringing its members to justice for their horrific crimes against the American people,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s indictment reflects our ongoing efforts to dismantle this terrorist organization by any legal means necessary.”
“Tren de Aragua is one of the most violent and ruthless terrorist gangs on planet earth,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “They murder those who stand against them. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are utilizing a whole-of-government approach to arrest and deport these foreign terrorists. Today’s murder and racketeering indictment is a victory for the rule of law and the American people. Thanks to our collaboration with federal and local partners, Americans can rest easy at night knowing these dangerous terrorists are off our streets. Let me be clear: If you are in this country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you will never return. That’s a promise.”
“As demonstrated with today’s allegations, the Tren de Aragua street gang has unleashed a reign of terror in New York, marked by brutal and unforgiving violence that defies humanity,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “With ruthless tactics and a disregard for human life, this foreign terrorist organization has become a symbol of unchecked brutality. HSI New York, together with our law enforcement partners, is waging an unyielding offensive against TdA and Anti-Tren, dismantling gang operations piece by piece and pursuing their members with relentless determination. HSI will not rest until this ruthless criminal enterprise is obliterated and the streets are reclaimed from their grip of savagery.”
“Tren de Aragua has been terrorizing New York City streets, causing widespread violence and claiming lives,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Over the past few months, the NYPD has taken significant action to root out this criminal enterprise and shut down their operations across the city, and today’s indictment reflects our relentless efforts. I want to thank all our law enforcement partners for their continued commitment to making New York City safer.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment:[1]
TdA is a criminal organization that operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, as well as internationally in Venezuela, Peru, and elsewhere. The purposes of TdA included:
- Preserving and protecting the power and territory of TdA and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren.
- Enriching the members and associates of TdA through, among other things:
- The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including young women from Venezuela, into Colombia, Peru and the U.S.;
- The sex trafficking of young women (whom members and associates of TdA often refer to as “multadas”) who had been unlawfully smuggled into Peru and the U.S.;
- The trafficking of controlled substances, including a mixed substance called “tusi” that contains ketamine;
- And armed robberies.
- Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of TdA and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence.
- Promoting and enhancing TdA and the reputation and activities of its members and associates.
- Providing assistance to members and associates of TdA who committed crimes for and on behalf of TdA, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of TdA to flee prosecution.
- Protecting TdA and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of TdA.
Members and associates of TdA transported young women, again often referred to by members and associates of TdA as “multadas,” from Venezuela into Peru and the U.S. in exchange for debts that the young women would pay back to TdA by engaging in commercial sex work. Members of TdA enforced compliance among these young women by, among other things:
- Threatening to kill the young women and their families,
- Assaulting the young women,
- Shooting or killing the young women,
- And tracking down and kidnapping the young women who tried to flee.
Members of TdA also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and expand TdA’s criminal operations; resolve disputes within TdA; to retaliate against rival organizations, including Anti-Tren; and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims. TdA members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition.
On May 24, 2024, JAEN MARTINEZ, GONZALEZ CASTRO, MORILLO-GOMEZ, SILVA-JIMENEZ, IBARRA-MUJICA, and FARIAS agreed with others to kill Daniels and Lawless in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx. JAEN MARTINEZ, GONZALEZ CASTRO, MORILLO-GOMEZ, SILVA-JIMENEZ, IBARRA-MUJICA, and FARIAS then shot and aided and abetted the shooting of Daniels, Lawless, and another victim (“Victim-3”), which resulted in the deaths of Daniels and Lawless, and multiple non-fatal gunshot wounds to Victim-3. Daniels was 44 years old, and Lawless was 36 years old.
On August 4, 2024, GONZALEZ CASTRO shot and injured a rival gang member from Anti-Tren (“Rival-1”), a splinter organization of former TdA members, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 89th Street in Queens. During the shooting, a bystander (“Victim-4”) was also shot and injured.
On September 30, 2024, VALERO-CALDERON, GONZALEZ CASTRO, and MORILLO-GOMEZ committed a gunpoint carjacking and robbery of an employee of a car dealership (“Victim-1”) in the Bronx.
* * *
A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and NYPD. He also thanked the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office; the Aurora Police Department in Aurora, Colorado; Joint Task Force Vulcan; the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service (“USMS”); the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Gang Unit and New York Human Intelligence Division; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s New York Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”); the New York City Crime Analysis Center at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
This case is a part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (“JTFV”), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Texas; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI; DEA; HSI; the ATF; USMS; and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have been essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit and JTFV. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kathryn Wheelock, Timothy Ly, and Andrew K. Chan are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAX. PENALTIES
1
Racketeering
conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,” 29
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” 29
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,” 20
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,” a/k/a “Chuky,” 23
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA, a/k/a “Keiner,” 28, MARLON FARIAS, a/k/a “Bili,” 31
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO, 29
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO, 26, and
ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Biblia,” 30
Life in prison2
Drug trafficking conspiracy
21 U.S.C. § 846
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO,
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO, and
ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Biblia”
20 years in prison3
Carjacking conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 371
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
Five years in prison4
Carjacking
18 U.S.C. § 2119
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
15 years in prison5
Hobbs Act robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
20 years in prison6
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – September 30, 2024
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii), and 2
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison
7
Attempted Hobbs Act extortion
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
20 years in prison8
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 924(o)
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
20 years in prison9
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 924(o)
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO, and
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO
20 years in prison10
Firearm use, carrying, and possession
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO, and
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO
20 years in prison11
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO15 years in prison12
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO15 years in prison13
Firearm use, carrying, and possession
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2
ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Biblia,”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison
14
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Biblia,”
15 years in prison15
Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,” 33
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili,”
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison
16
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
17
Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Justin Lawless
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison
18
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Justin Lawless
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
19
Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – Victim-3
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
20 years in prison20
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Victim-3
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
21
Conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeeringKEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
22
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
15 years in prison23
Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – August 3, 2024, ShootingSAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley”
20 years in prison24
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – August 3, 2024, Shooting
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
25
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley”
15 years in prison
u.s._v._jaen_martinez_et_al._superseding_indictment.pdf
[1] The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Topsham Man Sentenced for Firearm Charges Stemming from Brunswick BurglaryRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing stolen firearms.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Christopher Tucker, 34, to 75 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Tucker pleaded guilty on March 19, 2025.
According to court records, in May 2024, officers from the Brunswick Police Department responded to a citizen’s report of suspicious activity at a nearby residence. Responding officers found that the door of the residence’s garage was open and cabinets inside appeared to have been pried open, with ammunition scattered on the floor. Officers located a vehicle matching the description provided by the reporting witness. Tucker, the owner and only occupant of the vehicle, fled on foot. After a brief manhunt, he was located and arrested. Officers subsequently recovered 20 firearms from his vehicle, all of which had been stolen from inside the Brunswick residence. Tucker was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Brunswick Police Department and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
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Tips to NCMEC CyberTipline Lead to 20-Year Sentence for Lewiston Man Who Possessed, Distributed Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Harold Clayton III, 35, to 20 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Clayton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025.
According to court records, in June 2022, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MSPCCU) received two CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and traced the identified phone number to Clayton. In September 2022, MSPCCU and the Lewiston Police Department executed a search warrant at Clayton’s residence. A cell phone and laptop seized from Clayton and the residence contained multiple images and videos of children, some as young as toddlers, being sexually abused by adult men. The cell phone also contained Telegram Messenger communications in which Clayton distributed such images and videos.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and MSPCCU investigated the case with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department.
“HSI commends the reporting of this heinous abuse of children to the CyberTip line, enabling law enforcement to take action and make sure Harold Clayton faced the full weight of justice,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “It is critically important the public join us in this fight against online child sexual exploitation by reporting suspicious activity. Together, we can protect and safeguard our children.”
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, NCMEC received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Three Sentenced in Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Operation in Eastern PanhandleRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three more have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking organization.
The indictment, returned in January 2024 charged 82 defendants, including Gary Brown, Jr., for their roles in an organization that was selling substantial amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.
Those sentenced this week include:
- Bradley David Welsh, age 53, of Boonsboro, Maryland, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison.
- David Lewis Pennington, Jr., age 21, of Huntington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 87 months.
- Lynn Wood Campbell, age 45, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison.
Of the 82 defendants, 81 have been convicted. Including this week’s three, 77 defendants have been sentenced. Brown, Jr. was sentenced to 327 months in federal prison in May 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Investigative agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Pittsburgh Field Division and Baltimore Field Division); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Ranson Police Department; Martinsburg Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Stafford County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Maryland); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Winchester Police Department; and the Clarke County Sheriff's Office (Virginia).
This investigation 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).
Find the original case press release here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/investigators-dismantle-fentanyl-drug-trafficking-network-eastern-panhandle
Three More Plead Guilty in 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Three former employees of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare, including the director of nursing, pled guilty today to healthcare fraud and misprision charges.
Shekita Gore, a.k.a. Shekita Steele, 38, of Clinton, Maryland, and Eno Utuk, 47, of Stafford, Virginia, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. At sentencing, both defendants face a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Elizabeth Ilome, 41, also of Stafford, Virginia, pled guilty today to misprision of a felony. Ilome faces a maximum possible penalty of 3 years in prison.
In recent weeks, Carolyn Bryant-Taylor, 61, of Clinton, Maryland, Kafomdi “Josephine” Okocha, 49, and Samuel Okocha, 52, both of Upper Marlboro, Maryland all pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to court documents, Bryant-Taylor, Josephine Okocha, and Samuel Okocha were owners and operators of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Service, a Medicaid-enrolled home health agency providing private duty nursing, personal care, and respite care services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, including in the Western District of Virginia. Gore was the director of nursing, while Utuk and Ilome were employed by 1st Adult to provide nursing and personal care.
The defendants conspired to submit false claims to Medicaid for services that were not provided to patients, including falsifying records and documentation in support of the fraudulent claims submitted for reimbursement.
Gore admitted to filling out blank nursing notes to support the nursing services that 1st Adult billed Medicaid for but were not provided.
As part of this scheme, between 2017 and 2023, Bryant-Taylor and her co-defendant, Josephine Okocha, planned arrangements to pay the parents or guardians of patients in exchange for blank, signed nursing notes which would be filled out and used to support billing to Medicaid. In these arrangements, the amount billed to Medicaid either reflected nursing services that were not provided at all, or an amount of nursing services that was in excess of what was provided.
Utuk and Ilome both worked to provide personal care to patients. They admitted to paying cash to the family members of those they provided care in exchange for signing blank nursing notes that would be used to bill Medicaid for skilled nursing services and personal care services that were not actually provided.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Farina of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are investigating the case, with assistance from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Jones and Laura Taylor, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Terry, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case.
Third Defendant Charged on Firearms Violations in Connection with Convenience Store ShootingRead the Press Release
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A third Trumbull County man has been charged in connection with a convenience store shooting Aug. 3, in Warren, Ohio, that left one person dead.
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Sean King, 37, with being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (crack), fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and heroin; and distribution of heroin and fentanyl in 2022.
The grand jury also returned indictments for two individuals previously charged via criminal complaint in connection to the Aug. 3 shooting:
- Jumal Ellis Rowe, 32, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; he was previously convicted of trafficking cocaine in 2013 and possession of cocaine in 2020.
- Rayjon Ray McElroy, 25, charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person; he was previously convicted of domestic violence in 2022.
All defendants are from Warren, Ohio.
According to court documents, on Aug. 3, the Warren Police Department and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunshots and of an individual who was shot at a Convenient Food Mart in Warren. Investigators reviewing the store’s surveillance footage found that around 5 a.m., several individuals were loitering and playing a dice game on the walkway just outside the main door. A fight broke out shortly thereafter and then escalated into a mass shooting incident in the parking lot between multiple individuals. One individual was later pronounced dead and another injured as a result.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 15 years in federal prison. Each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Youngstown Field Office, Warren Police Department, and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yasmine Makridis and Kevin E. Bringman for the Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Theodore Man Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison for Trafficking Illegal Machinegun-Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Theodore man was sentenced to nine months in prison for trafficking illegal machinegun-conversion devices.
According to court documents, Bryan Figueroa Guzman, 29, was recorded on three occasions in early 2025 selling, purchasing, and possessing illegal machinegun-conversion devices (“MCDs”), commonly referred to as “Glock switches.” On January 20, 2025, Guzman sold two MCDs to a cooperating informant for $600. Later, on March 6, 2025, sold another MCD to the informant for $300. Finally, on March 14, 2025, Guzman purchased 20 MCDs from an informant and an undercover federal agent. When agents arrested Guzman, he was beginning to install one of the 20 MCDs on a Glock firearm that he had brought with him to the transaction.
In addition to the nine-month prison term, Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered Guzman to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Guzman to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Jessica Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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).
Texas Man Sentenced to More than 17 Years in Prison for Kidnapping a ToddlerRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Texas man has been sentenced for conspiring to kidnap a toddler, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Steven Andrew Holguin, 42, of El Paso, Texas, to 210 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In April, Holguin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
According to the plea agreement, on November 4, 2021, a police officer with the Birmingham Police Department responded to a call at a residence in Birmingham regarding the kidnapping of a three-year-old female from the residence. Holguin and his co-conspirator, Elis Salgado-Galindo, kidnapped the toddler with the intent of taking her to her father, who lives in Honduras. With Holguin’s assistance, Salgado-Galindo grabbed the toddler and fled the residence. An Amber Alert was issued and law enforcement along the Alabama/Mississippi state line were provided the description of the vehicle, toddler, and suspects. That same evening, deputies with the Rankin County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description of Holguin’s vehicle. Deputies instructed Holguin, who was the driver of the vehicle, to exit the vehicle and walk back to the officer’s vehicle. Deputies then removed the other individuals from the vehicle, including the toddler. A deputy recognized the toddler from the Amber Alert and sent a picture of her to a detective with the Birmingham Police Department. The detective showed the picture to the toddler’s mother, who confirmed that it was her daughter. Both men were immediately taken into custody, and the toddler was safely returned to her mother.
Holguin was previously convicted in 2020 in the United States District Court in the Western District of Texas for conspiracy to transport aliens. He was sentenced to six months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
In December 2023, Elis Salgado-Galindo, a citizen of Mexico, was also charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. On December 14, 2021, Salgado-Galindo was released from state custody on a bond, placed into ICE custody, and deported. A federal warrant for his arrests remains outstanding.
Homeland Security Investigations, Birmingham, investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Pearl Mississippi Police Department, and the Rankin County Mississippi Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
Tango Blast gang member sentenced for firearm felonyRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The court found documented Tango Blast gang member Kristian Ariel Garcia guilty as charged following a one-day bench trial Feb. 18.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Garcia to serve 70 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court considered the circumstances of his arrest and noted Garcia’s violent criminal history to include murder, burglary of a habitation, kidnapping and aggravated assault.
At the hearing, the court also heard additional evidence that Garcia had victimized his girlfriend after breaking into her house, kidnapping her and her 18-month-old daughter and holding them captive. Evidence showed he had drugged the baby to keep her quiet during the ordeal. Judge Ramos also considered the fact that Garcia has been convicted of murder after stabbing a woman to death.
“Violent felons like Mr. Garcia have no business possessing firearms,” Ganjei said. “This sentence sends a strong message to other felons—handle a firearm and we will hand you a prison term.”
On Jan. 9, 2021, authorities conducted a traffic stop because Garcia was driving without headlights. Before stopping, Garcia handed the gun to his then girlfriend and instructed her to hide it.
As law enforcement recovered the weapon, they discovered blood and organic matter on the slide. The investigation revealed that less than 24 hours earlier, Garcia had used the firearm to assault a man while stealing his cellphone.
At trial, the court heard that Garcia had previous felonies at the time he had the firearm. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Peña prosecuted the case.
Suburban Chicago Man Indicted on Federal Healthcare Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been indicted on federal healthcare fraud charges for allegedly submitting more than $17.3 million in fraudulent claims to a private insurer.
SHAWN BASHIR created fictitious entities called Success for Kids and Growing Kids Therapy, which purportedly provided early intervention services to children. From 2019 to 2025, Bashir submitted and caused to be submitted false and fraudulent claims from those entities to a private insurer for therapy services that had not actually been provided, according to an indictment unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Bashir submitted and caused the submission of approximately $17.3 million in false and fraudulent claims, causing the private insurer to pay at least $1.4 million for services that were not provided, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Bashir, 39, of Grayslake, Ill., with eight counts of healthcare fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Bashir pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment on Friday in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing was scheduled for Nov. 12, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis.
The charges against Bashir mark the first indictment returned by the newly created Healthcare Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago. U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros created the Section last month to bring greater focus, efficiency, and impact to one of the Department of Justice’s top fraud enforcement priorities. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged nearly $2 billion in alleged healthcare fraud schemes since Mr. Boutros became U.S. Attorney in April 2025.
The indictment against Bashir was announced by U.S. Attorney Boutros and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and Kelli Hammerl, Acting Regional Director of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Irene Hickey Sullivan.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
bashir_indictment.pdfSt. Helena Man Ordered to Pay $15K into Wildlife Conservation Fund for Trafficking Sperm Whale PartsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Lauren Deloach, 69, of St. Helena, has been sentenced to 30 days of home confinement and a $15,000 fine for violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Lacey Act.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Deloach illegally imported, sold, and possessed sperm whale teeth and bones from September 2021, through September 2024. Deloach knew importing and selling these whale parts was illegal and would falsely label shipments with these products to avoid detection from law enforcement. The Government provided the court with two sperm whale teeth and one whale ear bone, which were among the approximately 47 whale teeth and two whale ear bones that Deloach had previously surrendered to law enforcement prior to his guilty plea.
The sperm whale is native to U.S. waters in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and weighs up to 45 tons. It can grow 52 feet and live 60 years. The sperm whale population was decimated by the commercial whaling industry from 1800 to 1987. Studies have shown that these highly socialized animals communicate over great distances and associate in clans defined by the dialect pattern of their sonar clicks.
The Government advocated for a substantial fine to be paid to the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, also known as the Lacey Act Reward Fund. United States District Judge David C. Norton agreed and imposed a $15,000 fine on Deloach to be paid to the Lacey Act Reward Fund to serve as a deterrent and assist future wildlife trafficking investigations. Judge Norton also sentenced Deloach to 30 days home confinement and two years of probation.
This case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Winston D. Holliday, Jr. and Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section, Trial Attorney Ryan C. Connors are prosecuting the case.
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Slidell Man Sentenced to 12 Months and One Day in Prison for Machine Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on September 11, 2025, CUONG QUOC TRAN (“TRAN”), age 39, of Slidell, La, was sentenced, by United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe, for possession of a machine gun, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 922(o). He was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, one-year of supervised release, a $10,000 fine and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, on January 5, 2022, the Coast Guard Cutter Tiger Shark intercepted a fishing vessel named the “Lucky Jean” approximately four nautical miles from Southwest Pass, and within the jurisdictional limits of the Eastern District of Louisiana. During their safety search, Coast Guard personnel found multiple rifles capable of fully automatic fire. The captain of the vessel, TRAN, was subsequently interviewed by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). TRAN admitted to possessing seven weapons found on the vessel which he had converted into weapons capable of being fully automatic, in other words, a machine gun. ATF subsequently tested the weapons, and determined them to be fully automatic.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit.
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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Sioux Falls Man with History of Eluding Local Police Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. The sentencing took place on September 15, 2025.
Boru Guye Wako, Jr., 39, was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Wako was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment by a federal grand jury in November 2023. He was found guilty following a two-day jury trial on July 1, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from an incident in Sioux Falls, SD, on March 8, 2023, when the Sioux Falls Police Department received a report of a stolen vehicle last seen driven by Wako. When detectives with the Sioux Falls Violent Crime Unit located Wako in the stolen vehicle, they attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Rather than comply, Wako fled in the vehicle through a residential neighborhood, later abandoning the vehicle in an alleyway. As the detectives approached Wako a second time, he fled on foot, eventually escaping by stealing a second vehicle. Detectives then searched the first vehicle from which Wako fled and discovered a firearm in the driver’s side door. Later analysis revealed Wako’s DNA on the firearm. Having previously been convicted of a felony, and at the time being under indictment for a separate felony, Wako is prohibited from possessing firearms.
“This case is the result of powerful partnerships between local and federal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “For nearly three years now, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked with the Sioux Falls Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to charge local violent offenders with federal firearm offenses whenever possible. Through federal prosecution, we have been removing violent offenders from the streets of Sioux Falls for significant periods of time, interrupting violence and keeping our community safe.”
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen and U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell prosecuted the case.
Wako was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Seven-time felon imprisoned for unlawfully reentering the U.S. and drunkenly firing a weaponRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 39-year-old Mexican national with a felony criminal history has been sentenced for illegally reentering the country without authorization following a felony theft conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Manuel Albert Aragon-Hernandez pleaded guilty July 1.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Aragon-Hernandez to serve 44 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is again expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that after unlawfully reentering the United States, Aragon-Hernandez had fired a weapon while intoxicated. Authorities also found him in possession of narcotics. In handing down the sentence, the court took into consideration that Aragon-Hernandez has been in custody for narcotics offenses since 2023.
“If you illegally reenter the United States after being removed or deported, you are going be imprisoned and then sent home again,” Ganjei said. “Save yourself the trouble—and the prison time—by just staying home in the first place.”
Aragon-Hernandez has convictions for failure to identify with intent to give false information and theft from a person as well as three prior convictions for illegal entry and two for possession of a controlled substance.
He was first removed from the country Sept. 14, 2010, and returned illegally three times. While in the country after illegally reentering the last time, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle he was driving and found him in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. Immigration authorities ultimately encountered him April 2.
Aragon-Hernandez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation along with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Wirsing prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Seven Charged with Kidnapping ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Seven Massachusetts men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly conspiring to kidnap and torture a victim in February 2025.
The following defendants have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of obstruction of justice by tampering with a witness, victim, or informant by physical force or threat. Two additional unnamed defendants were also charged.
- Brian Cardoso, a/k/a “B,” 33, of Dorchester;
- Marcus Castaldi, a/k/a “Skino,” 29, of Revere;
- Melvin Coleman, a/k/a “Mel,” 34, of Roxbury;
- Anthony Lima, a/k/a “YT,” 37, of Quincy; and
- Samuel Alouidor, 27, of Dorchester.
On April 22, 2025, Cardoso was charged by criminal complaint in connection with the alleged offenses.
According to charging documents, Cardoso has been identified as a member/associate of NOB, a Dorchester-based street gang. NOB – an abbreviation for the Norton/Olney/Barry streets in Dorchester – is alleged to be a violent criminal enterprise whose members and associates are involved in numerous types of criminal activities, including murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, robberies, firearm offenses and other violent crimes.
It is alleged that, on Feb. 27, 2025, the kidnappers, with masks concealing their faces, assaulted the victim outside his home in Quincy and forced the victim at gunpoint into the passenger seat of the victim’s vehicle. The masked kidnappers allegedly drove the victim to a garage in Saugus where they demanded ransom from the victim, held the victim at gunpoint, threatened to kill the victim and beat, burned and assaulted the victim.
The kidnappers allegedly used the victim’s cell phone to videocall the victim’s contacts, including the victim’s spouse, to demand ransom. It is alleged that during these videocalls, the kidnappers displayed their torture of the victim. Some of the defendants allegedly picked up ransom from the victim’s spouse and an acquaintance of the victim.
The kidnappers allegedly obtained approximately $4,000 in cash from the victim as well as the victim’s credit and debit cards, and a total of $18,000 in cash and a Rolex watch from the victim’s spouse and an acquaintance of the victim whom the kidnappers had video called. The kidnappers then allegedly drove the victim back to Quincy and released the victim in the early morning hours of Feb. 28, 2025.
“The conduct alleged in this case is nothing short of barbaric. These defendants allegedly inflicted unimaginable suffering, not only on the victim but on his loved ones. Such lawless depravity is an affront to every value we stand for and it will not be tolerated in our communities,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s arrests make clear that the law – not violence and intimidation – will have the final word, and those who commit such savage crimes will face the full weight of the federal justice system.”
“Today’s arrests by FBI Boston’s Violent Crimes Task Force ensures the men behind these alleged heinous acts of violence are brought to justice for what they’ve done and prevents them from terrorizing anyone else. What they’re accused of doing is nothing short of a terrifying nightmare brought to life; forcing a victim into their car at gunpoint and driving to a garage where the victim was beaten, burned, tortured, and used as a human bargaining chip for ransom,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Our goal is to provide some measure of justice for the victim in this case, and work with our partners to eradicate the drivers of violent crime in our communities.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of obstruction of justice by tampering with a witness, victim, or informant by physical force or threat provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; and the Quincy, Boston, Central Falls (R.I.), Everett, Wellesley, Braintree, Revere, Somerville, Malden and Dedham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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 details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Save our Seniors efforts results in eight arrestsRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that an effort known as Save our Seniors, which targets defendants who prey on and defraud senior citizens, has resulted in the arrest of eight defendants in seven different criminal complaints. The defendants are responsible for over $11,053,989 in actual and attempted losses, impacting over 139 victims, many here in the Western District of New York (WDNY). Named in the seven criminal complaints are:
Dhruv Patel, 34, of Franklin Park, NJ, is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and transportation of stolen money in interstate commerce and conspiracy to transport stolen money in interstate commerce, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the complaint against Patel, he was caught attempting to pick up $567,000 worth of gold bars from an elderly woman in the WDNY, who fell victim to a customer support scam. Just weeks before, he was arrested in the Northern District of New York while trying to pick up $48,000 from another elderly victim, who also fell victim to a customer support scam. Patel also allegedly acted as a middleman between fraudsters and couriers, arranging for pickups to take place around the country. Patel is accused of defrauding at least 12 victims out of more than $9,100,000. Patel is currently serving a sentence of probation for a state fraud conviction.
Stephen Odiboh, 53, of Stone Mountain, GA, is charged with mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the complaint against Odiboh, he received money from an elderly woman in the WDNY who fell victim to a romance scam. The victim lost over $175,000, with Odiboh personally receiving $70,000. Odiboh then laundered that money. He was previously convicted of money laundering in the Southern District of New York was on supervised release when he laundered the victim’s money. Odiboh was also previously convicted of Forgery in the third degree in Gwinett County Superior Court, Gwinett, Georgia. He is accused of victimizing individuals, with losses and attempted losses totaling $356,525.
Renee Thompson, 52, of North Lauderdale, FL, is charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry which carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. According to the complaint against Thompson, she created 17 counterfeit checks totaling $193,167 from a company in the WDNY, deposited them into her own checking account, and laundered the funds. The investigation revealed that she also deposited approximately $7,000 in counterfeit checks from a second company. Thompson was issued a “money mule letter,” which warns a person that they are laundering fraudulent proceeds through their accounts and can be charged with a crime if they do not stop. Despite receiving that warning, Thompson continued to launder money through her bank account, with losses and attempted losses totaling $234,485.22. She was previously convicted of bank embezzlement in the Southern District of Florida.
Christopher Hernandez, 29, of North Bergen, is charged with possession and transfer of fraudulent identification documents and conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, computer fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison and a maximum of 15 years. According to the complaint against Hernandez, he was part of a conspiracy that hacked into the retirement account of a victim located in the WDNY and stole $175,000 from her, which he then deposited into his own bank account and dispersed the proceeds. The investigation also discovered that Hernandez is manufacturing and selling identification documents and bank cards using stolen personally identifiable information. One of the victims whose name and information was used to create a fake license and bank card resides in the WDNY. Hernandez is accused of losses and attempted losses totaling $265,800.89. Hernandez has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions in City of Mary’s, Pennsylvania, for Felony Access Device Fraud and Felony Identity Theft; Bronx County Supreme Court for Attempted Possession of a Forged Instrument-2nd Degree; Credit Card Crime-CR Card Theft-4th Degree in Hudson County Superior Court; and Hudson County, New Jersey, for Aggravated Assault-Knowingly Pointing a Firearm-4th Degree.
Touhedul Tuhin, 24, and Iftekhar Latif Nieon, 23, both of Kent, OH, are charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the complaint against Tuhin and Nieon, they collected $40,000 from an elderly resident in the WDNY, who fell victim to a scam in which the perpetrators posed as Federal Trade Commission (FTC) agents; $38,000 from an 81-year-old resident of the WDNY, who fell victim to a scam in which the perpetrators posed as tech support (tech support scam); $19,500 from an elderly victim in the WDNY who fell victim to a tech support scam; and $28,000 from an elderly resident of the WDNY who fell victim to a tech support scam. The defendants, who are both in the United States on student visas, are accused of taking money from several other elderly victims in other jurisdictions including $15,000 from an elderly victim in Ohio. Tuhin and Nieon are accused of losses and attempted losses totaling $276,000.
Elias Circle, 23, of Rossford, OH, is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the complaint against Circle, he and his co-conspirators sent email solicitations to elderly victims and falsely represented that they were writing on behalf of a government agency that was responsible for distributing restitution to victims. Between 2017 and 2024, Circle fraudulently induced an elderly resident of the WDNY to send him payments totaling approximately $600,000.
Estermarie Jones, 35, of Rochester, NY, is charged with conspiracy, altering a postal money order, identification document fraud, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud and conspiracy to commit access device fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison. According to the complaint against Jones, she obtained approximately 50 $1.00 Postal Money Orders, altered them to increase their value to $1,000, and then deposited (or attempted to deposit) them. In addition, she used the names and other personally identifiable information of eight other victims to create fraudulent driver’s licenses with her own photograph, which she then used to open bank accounts, register two businesses with the Monroe County Clerk’s Office, fraudulently endorse checks, register for and pay utilities for her residence, and withdraw money from a victim bank account. Jones allegedly possessed approximately 31 fraudulent or stolen identification cards, four fraudulent or stolen Social Security cards, and 65 fraudulent or stolen bank cards. Jones is accused of losses and attempted losses totaling $190,032.
“These cases should send a loud and clear message that if you prey on the senior citizens of our community, no matter where you are in the country, we will identify, arrest and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “Too often, many seniors fall victim to these fraudsters, who don’t think twice about taking advantage of our parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles. It’s important that we all consistently remind the seniors in our lives to reach out to a loved one or friend if they think they could be the victim of a scam.”
Save our Seniors (SOS) in a working group founded in April 2025. It’s comprised of members of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, Secret Service, New York State Police, the Monroe County Sherriff’s Office, the Rochester Police Department, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, and Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. Additional assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida, the Northern District of Georgia, the District of New Jersey, and the Northern District of Ohio.
If you or someone you know is asked to do any of these things mentioned in the above case, you are dealing with a fraudster, and you should do the following immediately:
- Do not send any more money
- Save copies of your communications, receipts, bank records, etc.
- Call your local police department or sheriff’s office, the New York State Police, or the FBI
- Submit a complaint online at IC3.gov
In addition, an individual employed by the federal government will never:
- Tell you to withdraw any of your money from your bank accounts.
- Ask you to convert your money to gold bars or some other form of currency.
- Come to your house or meet you at a predetermined location and take money from you.
- Ask you to wire money to an account.
- Ask you to send money via CashApp, Zelle, Apple Pay, or any other peer-to-peer platform.
- Ask you to send cryptocurrency.
- Ask you to buy gift cards and send them (either by mailing the physical cards or by scratching them off and sending pictures of the redemption information).
- Tell you they need remote access to your computer or any of your accounts.
- Ask you for your social security number, bank account information, or any other sensitive information over phone or email.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Roanoke Home Health Care Attendant Pleads Guilty to Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A home health care attendant pled guilty today to fraudulently billing Medicaid for services she did not provide.
Vicki Lynn Dowdy, 55, of Roanoke, Virginia, pled guilty today to healthcare fraud. At sentencing, Dowdy faces up to 10 years in federal prison. In addition, Dowdy was ordered to pay $24,760 in restitution to the Virginia Medicaid program.
According to court documents, Dowdy was hired as a home health attendant (HHA) to provide home health care and respite care services to Medicaid recipients in the greater Roanoke region. Specifically, Dowdy was contracted to provide home health care and respite care services to two recipients of Medicaid, Individual 1 and Individual 2.
From January 16, 2021 through March 30, 2022, Dowdy submitted fraudulent timesheets and billed Medicaid for 1,970.5 hours of personal home health care and respite services that were not rendered to Individual 1 and Individual 2.
As a result, Medicaid issued $24,760 in total payment to Dowdy for services she never performed.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement.
The Virginia Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the United States Department of Health and Human Services is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlene R. Day and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Terry, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case.
Richmond, Vermont Man Charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Kenneth Beane, 37, of Richmond, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials. On September 8, 2025, Beane appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. A detention hearing was held on September 9, 2025, during which the government requested Beane be held pending trial, due to his prior federal conviction for possession of child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”) and his prior violations of release conditions that included unapproved contacts with minors. Magistrate Judge Doyle denied the government’s motion and ordered Beane released on conditions that included location monitoring, not having contact with children, and avoiding places where children are likely to congregate.
According to court records, in July of 2025, Homeland Security Investigations began investigating a person who was sharing CSAM materials on a peer-to-peer network involving sexual assaults of prepubescent children. The IP address for the person sharing the materials led investigators to a residence in Richmond, Vermont which was determined to be Beane’s home. On September 8, 2025, HSI and members of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a federal search warrant at Beane’s Richmond apartment. Inside the apartment, law enforcement found a hand-held tablet on which CSAM materials were located.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Beane is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Due to his prior conviction, Beane faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years of imprisonment and a maximum sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, if convicted. The actual sentence, 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 Homeland Security Investigations, the Merrimack County (New Hampshire) Sheriff’s Office, and the Vermont ICAC Task Force. Acting U.S. Attorney Drescher also thanked the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Richmond, Vermont Police Department for their assistance.
The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys David Golubock and Jonathan Ophardt. Beane is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Richland County Man Sentenced for Possession of Illegal DrugsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — William Justin Marshall, 43, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that a deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department made a traffic stop on a car in which Marshall was a passenger. During the stop, a K-9 officer alerted to the car. The car was searched, and the deputy found a digital scale with a heavy white residue consistent with crack cocaine. The substance field tested positive for cocaine. Both the driver and Marshall denied ownership and were charged with possession of crack cocaine and taken to a field office for processing.
While in processing, Marshall became defensive and would not allow the officers to do a complete search of him. Marshall then asked to be taken to the hospital. At the hospital, police removed his shoes and found multiple bags containing fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
United States District Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Marshall to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Sentenced to Six Years in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Admiral Robert P. Burke (USN-Ret.), 62, of Coconut Creek, Florida, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 72 months in prison in connection with accepting future employment at a government vendor in exchange for awarding that company a government contract, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Following a five-day trial, a federal jury found Burke guilty on May 19 of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, performing acts affecting a personal financial interest, and concealing material facts from the United States. In addition to the six-year prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered Burke to serve three years of supervised release, to pay $322,850 in restitution, and to pay $86,748.08 in forfeiture.
Joining in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Transnational Operations Field Office, and Assistant Director in Charge Reid Davis of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division.
“Integrity — not cash — is the currency of public service. Admiral Burke rose to the pinnacle of the U.S. Navy, entrusted with leadership and honor. But instead of leading by example, he cashed in that trust — turning four stars into dollar signs and trading duty for a corporate payday,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message: if you sell your honor and trade your influence, you’ll pay the price — in prison time.”
“No individual, regardless of rank or prior service, is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Newell of the DCIS. “The actions uncovered in this investigation represent a serious breach of the public trust and dishonor the values of integrity and accountability that military service demands. DCIS remains committed to ensuring that corruption of this nature is met with consequences.”
“Any individual involved in corrupting Department of the Navy acquisitions will be held accountable, regardless of rank or position,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS remains steadfast in bringing those to justice who commit crimes that erode public trust in the Department of the Navy’s procurement process.”
"When Burke awarded a contract to Kim and Messenger's company in exchange for future employment, he put himself ahead of thousands of civilian and military personnel serving under his command," said Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division. "As today's sentencing demonstrates, the FBI remains committed to bringing government officials — even four-star admirals — to justice when they abuse their positions of power for personal gain."
According to court documents and as the evidence proved at trial, from 2020 to 2022, Burke was a four-star Admiral who oversaw U.S. naval operations in Europe, Russia, and most of Africa, and commanded thousands of civilian and military personnel.
Burke’s co-defendants, Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, were the co-CEOs of a company (Company A) and provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019. The Navy terminated that contract with Company A in late 2019 and directed Company A not to contact Burke directly about contracting actions.
Despite the Navy’s instructions, the co-defendants met with Burke in Washington, D.C., in July 2021, to reestablish Company A’s business relationship with the Navy. At the meeting, the co-defendants agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy Admiral to steer a contract to Company A in exchange for future employment at the company. They further agreed that Burke would later use his official position to influence other Navy officers to award another contract to Company A to train a large portion of the Navy with a value one of the co-defendants allegedly estimated to be in the “triple digit millions.”
In December 2021, Burke ordered his staff to award a $355,000 contract to Company A to train personnel under Burke’s command in Italy and Spain. Company A performed the training in January 2022. Thereafter, Burke promoted Company A in a failed effort to convince another senior Navy Admiral to award another contract to Company A. To conceal the scheme, Burke made several false and misleading statements to the Navy, including by falsely implying that Company A’s employment discussions with Burke only began months after the contract was awarded and omitting the truth on his required government ethics disclosure forms.
In October 2022, Burke began working at Company A at a yearly starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options.
This case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca G. Ross for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Trevor Wilmot and former Trial Attorney Kathryn Fifield. It was investigated and indicted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein.
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Reliance Man, Seventh in a Large-Scale Conspiracy, Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in the Pierre AreaRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Reliance, South Dakota, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on September 15, 2025.
Heath Choal, age 51, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Choal was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025.
This conviction stemmed from a drug distribution conspiracy beginning in June 2023 and continuing until September 2024. Choal would obtain methamphetamine from his codefendants Misty and Heather Stahlhoefer, who were the sources of supply to several other individuals in the Pierre area. The Stahlhoefers would acquire up to one pound of methamphetamine per trip to be further distributed by themselves and others including Choal, Whitney Marrowbone, Wendy Mealer, Brent Larvie, and David Rinehart. The conspiracy involved between 30 and 35 pounds of methamphetamine.
The co-defendants who were earlier sentenced to federal prison are as follows:
- Misty Stahlhoefer was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison.
- Heather Stahlhoefer was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.
- Marrowbone was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.
- Mealer was sentenced to six years in federal prison.
- Larvie was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison.
- Rinehart was sentenced to two years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Pierre Police Department, the Chamberlain Police Department, and the Lyman County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges.
Choal was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Ryan Keith Bailey, 47, of Beaver, was sentenced today to one year and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,134,900 in restitution for theft of government money. Bailey obtained $2,166,517.40 in loans through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for his business and instead converted nearly all the proceeds for his personal use.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 20, 2020, Bailey applied for a $166,517.40 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan available under the CARES Act on behalf of his business, RKB Inc. Guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), PPP loans were a source of emergency financial assistance provided by the CARES Act to Americans suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bailey certified that he would use the PPP loan proceeds only for permissible expenses, specifically to maintain payroll and cover mortgage interest, lease, and utility costs. Bailey’s PPP loan application was approved and $166,517.40 was deposited into the RKB Inc. business checking account on May 1, 2020.
Between May 1 and May 19, 2020, Bailey transferred $160,000 of the PP loan proceeds to his personal bank accounts and a personal brokerage account, using those proceeds for his personal benefit. As part of his guilty plea, Bailey admitted that his certification was false and that only $6,517.00 of the PPP loan proceeds were spent for RKB Inc.’s legitimate business expenses.
Loan forgiveness was allowed under the PPP program when proceeds went solely to eligible purposes. On November 30, 2020, Bailey falsely certified that the PPP loan proceeds were used only on permissible expenses when he applied to have RKB Inc.’s loan forgiven. The SBA ultimately forgave $157,456.50 of the $166,517.40 PPP loan for RKB Inc.
Bailey also admitted to relevant criminal conduct as part of his guilty plea. Bailey obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for RKB Inc. from the SBA on January 6, 2021, and later successfully applied several times to increase its amount from $150,000 to the maximum allowable amount of $2,000,000. The CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDL program loans of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bailey admitted that he transferred over $1,974,900 of the EIDL proceeds to his personal bank accounts, his personal brokerage account, and a cryptocurrency exchange platform for his own personal benefit.
Bailey paid $192,000 of the court-ordered restitution in advance of today’s sentencing. The United States has also frozen assets of Bailey totaling $1,348,249.81.
“This defendant stole more than $2.1 million in taxpayer funds for his own personal benefit. Today’s sentence shows that this office will use all available means to bring those who commit such crimes to justice and recover their fraudulent gains,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “Prosecuting these schemes protects the contributions of hard-working Americans, preserves confidence in government relief programs, and ensures that aid from those programs reaches those who truly need it. I commend the excellent investigative work of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General (NASA OIG), the United States Secret Service, the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU), and since-retired Litigation Financial Analyst Steve Rowley from this office.”
NASA OIG is an active member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case with assistance from Asset Forfeiture Assistant United States Attorney Justin Marlowe.
Bailey’s brother, Ross Jay Bailey, 50, of Cool Ridge, pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025, to theft of government money. Ross Jay Bailey obtained a $2 million loan through the CARES Act for his business and instead converted at least $1.4 million of the proceeds for his personal enrichment. Ross Jay Bailey is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2025.
Mark William Bailey, 53, of Beckley and a cousin of Ross Jay Bailey and Ryan Keith Bailey, pleaded guilty on September 8, 2023, to theft of government monies, admitting he stole approximately $451,237.51 in SBA loans he obtained through the CARES Act. On October 25, 2024, Mark William Bailey was sentenced to five years of federal probation, including one year on home detention, and paid $451,237.51 in restitution and an additional $451,237.98 as a civil penalty to settle False Claims Act allegations.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:24-cr-106.
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Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in A Conspiracy to Act as an Illegal Agent of the Chinese Government in the United StatesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today that YUANJUN TANG, a naturalized citizen of the United States and resident of Flushing, Queens, pled guilty to conspiring to act in the United States as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl. TANG will be sentenced on January 29, 2026.
“For years, Yuanjun Tang abused the trust he had gained among pro-democracy activists in New York City and around the United States by secretly accepting tasks from Chinese intelligence officers and reporting on persons of interest to the PRC and events conducted in support of democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Tang’s covert operations violated our nation’s sovereignty and threatened the security of New Yorkers exercising their fundamental rights to free speech and free association. Tang’s plea today illustrates our profound commitment to protecting American ideals from malign foreign influence.”
“Today, Yuanjun Tang admitted that, for years, he willingly acted on orders of the Chinese government to report on the constitutionally protected activities of US-based Chinese dissidents,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “Tang's betrayal of the ideals of the US to help the Chinese government repress pro-democracy activists goes against the very values he claimed to promote. The FBI will continue to defend the freedoms enshrined in our Constitution and bring to justice anyone willing to break the law by illegally acting on behalf of a hostile foreign nation.”
As alleged in public court filings, statements at public court proceedings, and the charging documents in the case:
TANG is a former PRC citizen who was imprisoned in the PRC for his activities as a dissident opposing the one-party authoritarian political system controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”), the PRC’s sole ruling party, including during the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations. In 2002, TANG defected to Taiwan, and he was subsequently granted political asylum in the U.S. He has since resided continuously in New York City, where he has regularly participated in events with fellow PRC dissidents and leads a nonprofit dedicated to promoting democracy in China.
Between at least 2018 and June 2023, TANG acted in the U.S. as an agent of the PRC by gathering information and completing tasks at the direction of the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (“MSS”), which is the PRC’s principal civilian intelligence agency. The MSS is responsible for, among other things, the PRC’s foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, espionage, and political security functions.
Specifically, TANG regularly received instructions from and reported to an MSS intelligence officer regarding individuals and groups viewed by the PRC as potentially adverse to the PRC’s interests, including prominent U.S.-based Chinese democracy activists and dissidents. This included providing the MSS information about specific individuals identified by the MSS as persons of interest, as well as naming, photographing, and recording individuals participating in pro-democracy activities in the U.S. TANG provided the MSS a range of additional information, such as contact information belonging to immigration lawyers based in New York City and details about the process for gaining political asylum in the U.S.
TANG accepted monetary payments for his work and traveled at least three times to Macau and mainland China for face-to-face meetings with MSS intelligence officers, during which he submitted to polygraphs and questioning. During one of these meetings, he allowed the MSS to install an application on one of his cellphones to facilitate the instantaneous transmission of photographs and other information from his phone to the MSS and accepted a laptop for use in communicating with the MSS.
TANG used a large number of electronic devices and online services to collect or transmit information on behalf of the MSS. Law enforcement agents recovered specific instructions TANG received from the MSS, including via encrypted methods, as well as photographs, videos, and documents that TANG collected or created for transmission to the MSS. TANG not only provided the MSS information about specific individuals and events but also helped the MSS infiltrate a group chat on an encrypted messaging application used by numerous U.S.-based PRC dissidents and pro-democracy activists to communicate about pro-democracy issues and express criticism of the PRC government.
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TANG, 68, of Flushing, Queens, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and its New York Field Office, Counterintelligence Division, and thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Yumi Chong is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Sean O’Dowd of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced for Role in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 18 months of imprisonment on his conviction of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Cayce Williams, 23, of the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
According to information presented to the Court, between March 2024 and July 2024, Williams participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, both scheduled controlled substances, by functioning as a redistributor of street-level amounts of the drugs.
Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Kelly M. Locher prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to fentanyl and heroin trafficking and violating federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Antonio Arrington, 23, of the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl and heroin and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between March 2024 and July 2024, Arrington participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin, both scheduled controlled substances, by functioning as a redistributor of street-level amounts of the drugs. In April 2024, law enforcement recovered a loaded stolen firearm from Arrington’s vehicle. Arrington has multiple prior felony convictions involving drug trafficking and firearms. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for January 15, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Kelly M. Locher are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and City of Duquesne Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Arrington.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Pinellas Park Man Sentenced to Nine Years for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Samuel Rinehart (58, Pinellas Park) to 9 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Rinehart will also be required to register as a sex offender and pay $27,000 in restitution. The court ordered Rinehart to forfeit approximately 50 electronic devices and 2 plastic sex dolls, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Rinehart pleaded guilty on May 29, 2025.
According to court documents, Rinehart used file-sharing software to download and possess more than 600 images and videos of CSAM, which included depictions of young children and sado-masochistic abuse towards children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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.
Pine Hills Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm as Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Ellie Edward Dulaire (27, Orlando) to six years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Dulaire is currently serving a sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections. His federal sentence will commence on October 9, 2026, when the state sentence is scheduled to end. The court also ordered Dulaire to forfeit a Smith & Wesson firearm and ammunition, which were used in the offense. Dulaire pleaded guilty on June 24, 2025.
According to court documents, on January 23, 2022, Dulaire was observed at the Florida Gun Show by a deputy from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy recognized Dulaire from a prior case and knew that he was wanted on an arrest warrant from Lake County. After making contact with Dulaire, deputies located a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield firearm inside his vehicle. The firearm was reported stolen out of Pasco County in 2021. Dulaire is a nine-time convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Courtney Richardson-Jones.
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.
Penitas man charged with impeding federal law enforcement during arrest of othersRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 19-year-old man for impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement agents in the course of their duties, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Diego Masiel Torres remains in custody following the filing of the original criminal complaint. He will remain there pending his appearance on the charges in the indictment.
On Aug. 27, authorities were conducting a consensual worksite enforcement operation in Harlingen, according to the charges. Upon their arrival, several people allegedly fled from the area.
While authorities attempted to apprehend an illegal alien, Torres allegedly attempted to physically remove a law enforcement officer from that person.
“The Southern District of Texas is committed to fully enforcing our country’s immigration laws, and anyone who tries to stop a federal agent from carrying out this mission will be held accountable before a judge and jury,” said Ganjei. “So, the message is simple. Don’t end up on the wrong end of a federal indictment – keep your hands to yourself.”
If convicted, he faces up to eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Salazar is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Pensacola Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Interstate Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jafari J. Williams, 48, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I am incredibly proud of the excellent collaboration between our state and federal law enforcement partners that dismantled this drug trafficking operation, and this successful prosecution ensures this offender will be removed from our community for a long time. My office will not hesitate to target those who flood our streets with deadly drugs for aggressive prosecution and sentencing, and will deploy the full force of the law to keep our communities safe.”
Court documents reflect that Williams was identified during a federal wiretap investigation conspiring with others regarding shipments of cocaine coming from Texas. During execution of a search warrant of a building where Williams maintained his contraband in Pensacola, law enforcement seized approximately seven and a half kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of methamphetamine, drug distribution paraphernalia, an AR-15-style rifle, and approximately $10,000 in United States currency.
“In total, eight law enforcement partners pulled resources and personnel to make this investigation a success,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Pensacola communities will be safer with this drug distributor off the streets.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Pensacola Police Department; the Gulf Breeze Police Department; and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
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).
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.
Oneida County Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – John Secor, Jr., age 44, of Rome, New York, appeared in federal court on Friday on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and receipt of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The complaint filed against Secor, Jr. alleges that beginning in or about May 2025, Secor Jr. began chatting online with a 16-year-old girl. Secor Jr.’s chats with the child quicky became sexual in nature with Secor Jr. requesting that the child create sexually explicit images and videos of herself for him, which she did. The complaint also alleges that on least one occasion Secor Jr. attempted to arrange a meeting with the child during which Secor Jr. planned to engage in sex acts with the child. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. Secor, Jr. is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The receipt charge filed against Secor, Jr. carries a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in prison and a maximum term of 20 years. The exploitation charge carries a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum term of 30 years. Both charges carry a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release between 5 years and life. Secor, Jr. would also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Secor Jr. was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric and ordered detained pending further proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “We thank HSI and the NYSP for their tireless work in this case that, once again, resulted in a dangerous sexual predator facing justice and a child saved from unspeakable horrors. The defendant’s conduct as alleged in the complaint is disgusting and despicable and my office will make sure he is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. He is also detained pending trial, which would not have happened had he been charged in a local court thanks to the bail ‘reform’ that has been plaguing New York State for eight years and counting.”
Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Buffalo Field Office, stated, “These allegations represent some of the most reprehensible crimes imaginable, preying on the innocence of a child. HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting our communities by leveraging our investigative expertise and partnerships to bring predators like this to justice. We will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure those who exploit children are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Anyone involved in child pornography, promoting the acts of child predators, or performing predatory acts against children must understand that such crimes will not be tolerated. Through the partnership among members of the United States Attorney’s Office and the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations we were able to gather the necessary evidence and bring charges against Mr. Secor. The charges send a clear message as to the severity of the alleged crimes and our diligence in finding justice for the victims.”
HSI and NYSP are investigating this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adrian LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Omaha Men Sentenced to Years in Federal Prison for Interstate Transportation of Stolen MoneyRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced two men from Omaha, Nebraska, convicted of Interstate Transportation of Stolen Money. The sentencings took place on September 15, 2025.
Roberto Carlos Gonzalez Miranda, age 24, was sentenced to five years and ten months in federal prison. Co-defendant Roberto Orellana, age 46, was sentenced to four years and two months in federal prison. Both Orellana and Miranda were ordered to pay $352,000 in restitution to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Miranda was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund; Orellana, $200.
Miranda and Orellana were indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024. They both pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025.
Shortly after 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 25, 2024, personnel at the Grand River Casino in rural Mobridge, South Dakota, received a call from someone claiming to be a U.S. Government official. The caller claimed the casino owed $700,000 in audit fees and that steep fines would be levied if the casino did not immediately make a down payment on the debt. Acting at the direction of the caller, casino personnel took cash from the casino vault and transported it to Mitchell, South Dakota, to make a payment.
Miranda and Orellana occasionally worked as money mules for a transnational criminal organization during the winter of 2023-2024. On February 25, 2024, the organization dispatched them to Mitchell to collect the casino funds. The caller who arranged the fraud was not identified, and the casino funds have not been recovered.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the South Dakota DCI, the Mitchell Police Department, and the Corson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Miranda and Orellana were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Omaha Gang Member Sentenced to 220 Months for Fentanyl and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Clifford Wright III, 36, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 10, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Wright to a total of 197 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Wright’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Chief Judge Rossiter also sentenced Wright to a consecutive 23 months’ imprisonment for violating his supervised release from a 2021 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A jury convicted Wright of the three charges on June 6, 2025, after a seven-day trial. The evidence at trial established Wright, a documented member of the 29th Street Bloods in Omaha, who was observed on surveillance footage at a crowded gas station in north Omaha on October 31, 2022, making apparent hand-to-hand drug transactions from his vehicle. Shots erupted toward the crowded parking lot from across the street and Wright exited his vehicle holding a handgun, but his handgun appeared to malfunction or not fire.
Omaha police identified Wright based upon prior investigations and their knowledge of Wright as a gang member. Wright has two prior convictions in federal court for illegal firearm possession, including the conviction for which he was on supervised release at the time.
Wright was arrested on November 2, 2022. A search of a safe belonging to Wright pursuant to a warrant uncovered approximately 850 fentanyl pills and three loaded handguns, including a 9mm handgun that was visually consistent with the handgun Wright tried to fire at the gas station on October 31, 2022. The 9mm was the only handgun from the safe that had a round in the chamber. Two of the handguns had been reported stolen, including one stolen from the inventory of a federal firearms licensee in Omaha during a burglary.
Review of extracted data from Wright’s cell phone showed that he had been dealing drugs dating back to February 2022, the month after he was most recently released from federal prison. Wright appeared to also be selling cocaine, ecstasy pills, and marijuana, based upon his text messages.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department. An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also testified as a firearms expert at trial. 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.
Olive Branch Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Covid-19 Relief Program of over $5,000,000Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Lisa Evans, 43, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, has been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal program intended to help small businesses and their employees survive the COVID-19 pandemic, out of over $5,000,000. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Evans submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications for numerous individuals who were not entitled to PPP loans. The applications Evans submitted contained false representations, including fake federal tax documents. When the individual borrowers obtained the PPP loan funds, they then paid Evans kickbacks of 20 to 30%. The loss to the PPP program was $5,126,258.
Evans was sentenced on September 11, 2025, by United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker to 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Evans was also ordered to pay $4,400,723 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret Service, Memphis Field Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony R. Arvin.
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North Platte Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Michael W. Stroble, 32, of North Platte, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 11, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Stroble to 138 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Stroble’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
Between July 2022 and February 2023, Joey Romero, Jamie Hopkins, Michael Stroble, Luke Schwartz, and others conspired to sell methamphetamine in and around North Platte. The group was responsible for the distribution of pounds of methamphetamine and was subject to multiple controlled buys, search warrants, and arrests.
By January 2023, Stroble and Hopkins were dating, living together, and selling methamphetamine together. On January 17, 2023, a controlled buy of 48 grams of methamphetamine from Schwartz and Stroble occurred less than half a mile from Hopkin’s home. On January 30, 2023, another controlled buy of 36 grams of methamphetamine from Hopkins and Stroble occurred at Hopkins’s home.
A search warrant was served on Hopkins’s residence in North Platte on February 7, 2023. During the search, law enforcement found multiple baggies of methamphetamine to include on a nightstand, a bed, Hopkins’s purse, on the floor, and in the toilet. Law enforcement also found two bongs, 29 pills, owe notes, three scales, spoons with residue, 224 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a box of Winchester .380 ammunition with 23 rounds in it, and empty baggies in the house.
Stroble’s co-defendants were sentenced in 2024. Schwartz was sentenced on September 5, 2024, to 120 months’ imprisonment; Hopkins was sentenced on October 17, 2024, to 120 months’ imprisonment; and Romero was sentenced on December 12, 2024, to 120 months’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Noble Outdoors Associate Sentenced for Lacey Act Violation for 2019 Mule Deer HuntRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Mark Cooper, 73, of North Platte, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 11, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for violating the Lacey Act. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Cooper to two years’ probation, a $5,000 fine, and $15,000 restitution. In addition to the sentence imposed, Cooper abandoned a 5 X 5 mule deer taxidermy mount originating from the illegal 2019 mule deer hunt associated with the conviction, three additional mule deer taxidermy mounts and antler sets, and several white-tailed deer antlers. Judge Bazis also ordered that Cooper shall not hunt, fish, trap, guide, outfit, or otherwise associate or be in the field with anyone engaged in those activities for a period of two years.
Enacted 125 years ago, the Lacey Act protects the nation’s wildlife resources by prohibiting wildlife violations that cross state or international borders. A joint investigation conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division determined that Dustin Noble operated a big game guiding and outfitting business from his North Platte residence and provided illegal hunting and guiding services to paying clients, family, and other associates, many from outside the state of Nebraska, between 2015 and 2021. Noble also operated a commercial taxidermy business providing services of converting hides, skins, antlers, and other trophy parts of wildlife into taxidermy mounts. Some of Noble’s taxidermy clients included hunters unlawfully guided by Noble. During those hunts Noble’s friends, associates and clients agreed with Noble to violate Nebraska hunting laws to take wildlife including mule deer and wild turkeys.
The investigation determined that on numerous occasions Cooper, a close associate of Noble, hunted with and on various occasions accompanied Noble while providing guiding services to hunting clients, and assisted Noble transporting raw hides for the Noble Outdoors taxidermy business. On October 31, 2019, Cooper illegally killed an approximately 172-inch 5 X 5 mule deer during the archery deer season in Lincoln County, Nebraska, while accompanied by Noble and two Noble Outdoors clients. Cooper killed the mule deer from a seated position within Noble’s pickup while parked on a public roadway with a center-fire rifle. Under Nebraska state law, hunters are prohibited from possessing firearms or using firearms to hunt deer during the archery season and from shooting from or over a roadway. On November 7, 2019, Cooper delivered a shipment of raw wildlife skins on behalf of Noble Outdoors to a commercial carrier. Cooper delivered the shipment containing numerous wildlife skins knowing the shipment was destined for a fur dressing company in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and knowing it contained illegally taken wildlife including at least Cooper’s 172-inch mule deer and another trophy-sized mule deer Cooper knew was taken illegally by Noble on October 28, 2019.
The investigation substantiated 114 unlawful hunts conducted and provided by Noble during the course of the conspiracy. Noble’s unlawful activities primarily targeted trophy-sized mule deer, including early season mule deer in velvet antlers. As revealed by extensive evidence obtained during this investigation, Noble’s illegal hunts included the taking of more than 12 species of wildlife, including most notably: 61 mule deer, 33 wild turkeys, 4 pronghorn, 3 white-tailed deer, an American alligator, a timber rattlesnake, and approximately 12 upland game birds, migratory non-game birds, game fish, and furbearing or non-game animals.
This sentencing completes the final prosecution of numerous defendants related to violations committed by Dustin Noble and Noble Outdoors associates and clients between 2015 and 2021. Twenty defendants have been collectively sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment, 15 years’ probation, 32 years’ hunt/fish/trap restrictions, and ordered to pay more than $275,000 in fines and restitution for state and federal convictions related to this case. The investigation included the seizure and subsequent forfeiture or abandonment of more than 50 trophy wildlife antlers or taxidermy mounts from 27 Noble Outdoors clients or associates.
The operation was a joint investigation conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division.
Nigerian National Sentenced for Defrauding Colorado Woman in Romance SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Adetomiwa Seun Akindele, age 37, a Nigerian national who had been residing in Minnesota prior to his arrest, has been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison, ordered to pay $1,692,945 in restitution, and a forfeiture money judgement in the same amount after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Upon serving his sentence, Akindele will be deported to Nigeria.
According to the plea agreement, beginning in January 2018, and continuing until October 2018, Akindele posed as a wealthy Italian American businessman, “Frank Labato,” on a dating website, where he met a widowed Colorado woman. In February 2018, Akindele began emailing the victim, and in March 2018, the two began exchanging telephone calls. During these communications, Akindele provided the victim with additional false details about his personal and work background, images, and photos, to substantiate his fictitious persona of “Frank.” In March 2018, Akindele represented to the victim that he had encountered a financial crisis related to his purported work abroad for which he claimed to need money, funds, and assistance from the victim. At Akindele’s direction, the victim opened a cryptocurrency exchange account, where she eventually wired over $1.6 million dollars as directed by Akindele. From there, Akindele converted the money into various cryptocurrencies, laundered it across multiple crypto exchanges and then converted it back into U.S. dollars and deposited it into his own bank accounts. Akindele fraudulently represented to the victim that he would repay her for the requested “loans” to his business. Over the course of the scheme, Akindele executed three fraudulent “promissory notes” to reassure the victim that she would be repaid.
“This sentence both serves justice to the victim and helps prevent this individual from scamming someone else,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “This case should be a reminder to the public to be cautious when engaging with people they meet online - especially when those people are asking for money.”
“Romance scammers are relentless and cunning, preying on trust and emotion to exploit victims,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “This was an egregious case, and through relentless investigative work the perpetrator was tracked down and brought to justice.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing.
The FBI Denver Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Martha A. Paluch handled the prosecution.
Case number: 22-cr-00326-CNS
Newcomb Man Pleads Guilty to Assault with a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Newcomb man pleaded guilty to federal charges arising out of an altercation.
According to court documents, on February 28, 2025, James Smiley, Jr., 56, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, entered a residence within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and pointed a firearm at three men while making threats to kill them without provocation.
Smiley pleaded guilty to one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. At sentencing, Smiley up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, Smiley will be subject to no less than five years and up to life of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Sexually Abusing Fifteen-Year-Old FemaleRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that KENDRICK WHITE, SR. (“WHITE”) age 40, a resident of New Orleans, was indicted on September 11, 2025 for sexual abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2242(3) (Count 1), and sexual abuse of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2243(a) (Count 2).
According to the indictment, on or about November 22, 2023, WHITE, with intent to gratify his sexual desire, knowingly engaged, and attempted to engage, in a sexual act with Minor Victim, a female born in January 2008 and who, at the time, was fifteen years old. WHITE committed the offense within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
WHITE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years as to Count One and a maximum term of life in prison as to Count Two. WHITE also faces a lifetime of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and can be required to register as a sex offender. He also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count.
Acting U. S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys= Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Orleans Man Guilty of Possessing Machine Gun and Being Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on September 10, 2025, ROY HILTON (“HILTON”), age 26, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment charging him in Count 1 with possession of a machine gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2), and in Count 2 with felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).
U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan will sentence HILTON on January 15, 2026.
According to court documents, on August 20, 2024, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), while conducting surveillance in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, observed HILTON meeting with other possible gang associates who were in possession of firearms. HILTON himself possessed two firearms with extended magazines tucked into his front waistband. Based on their observations of seeing multiple individuals possessing firearms, when NOPD officers in their vehicles approached them, HILTON ran, chased by police, and ditched a firearm that he previously held. HILTON was apprehended. Officers later located HILTON’s firearm that contained a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a “Glock switch.” This device converts a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machine gun.
Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms. HILTON is a convicted felon, having previously been convicted in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court of possession of cocaine.
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.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit/Strike Force Unit.
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New Bedford Man Indicted for Possessing Firearm on Foxborough Elementary School GroundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man was indicted today by a federal grand jury for allegedly possessing a firearm and ammunition on the grounds of the Charles G. Taylor Elementary School in Foxborough.
Jameel Clark-White, 32, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and one count of possessing a firearm in a school zone. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the indictment, Clark-White allegedly possessed a .45 caliber Glock 41 pistol and 49 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition within 1,000 feet of the Charles G. Taylor Elementary School on June 12, 2025. The indictment also alleges that Clark-White was previously convicted of a felony.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possessing a firearm in a school zone provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Scott Riordan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Foxborough Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Muscatine Man Sentenced to 58 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Muscatine man was sentenced to 58 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents, in May 2024, Robert Owen Knapp, III, 33, fled on foot armed with a pistol, following an attempted traffic stop. Knapp was apprehended and had a pistol in his hand. At the time, Knapp was on federal supervised release due to a 2017 conviction for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Knapp will be required to serve a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Knapp’s supervised release for his prior federal conviction was revoked and the Court sentenced Knapp to a nine-month term of imprisonment, consecutive to the 58-month sentence.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
Morgan County Man Sentenced for Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Remington Colt Arnold, 34, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, West Virginia State Police were serving a parole violation warrant on Arnold at a home. The homeowner allowed officers inside, where officers found Arnold asleep with a pistol nearby. Following Arnold’s arrest, a search resulted in a seizure of a backpack containing ammunition. Arnold is prohibited from having firearms because of prior assault and grand larceny convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Montgomery County Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme That Defrauded FEMA of over $1.5 Million in Hurricane Ida Disaster BenefitsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jasmine Williams, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty before United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge yesterday to one count of fraud related to a major disaster declaration, 24 counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of mail fraud, arising from a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) in the wake of Hurricane Ida.
Williams was charged by indictment with those offenses in April of last year.
As presented in court filings, in September 2021, President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration for much of the eastern part of Pennsylvania, after the remnants of Hurricane Ida struck the Commonwealth. This declaration authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to residents whose homes and properties were damaged by the hurricane.
As further detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Williams recruited others over social media, advertising that she could assist them in applying for FEMA benefits. Williams then submitted fraudulent documents to FEMA on behalf of dozens of others, including fraudulent leases, letters from landlords, utility bills, earning statements, and home repair estimates. In exchange, Williams collected half of the payout for herself. In total, the government calculates that FEMA paid over $1,500,000 in assistance based on false representations made by Williams.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, with assistance from FEMA Fraud Prevention and Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and S. Chandler Harris.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Harboring FugitiveRead the Press Release
A Minnesota man who harbored and concealed a fugitive in 2022 was sentenced today to nine months in federal prison. Jay Anthony Tapper, age 57, from Rosemount, Minnesota, received the prison term after a May 13, 2025, guilty plea to one count of harboring a fugitive.
At his plea and sentencing hearings, it was established that, in August and September of 2022, Tapper knew there was a federal warrant outstanding for the arrest of Mary Kate Nguyen. Tapper booked hotels for Nguyen in his own name, bought her a camper in which to stay, and served as a lookout during a meeting with a potential fraud victim. Tapper intended to prevent Nguyen’s discovery and arrest on then-pending felony charges.
During the time Nguyen was on the lam in 2022, Tapper and Nguyen submitted the winning $1.3 million bid to purchase the former U.S. Courthouse in Bemidji, Minnesota. Tapper later continued to have telephone calls with Nguyen while she was incarcerated, helping her with financial transactions.
U.S. Marshals ultimately arrested Nguyen, and she was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment on fraud and contempt charges in January 2025. Tapper also admitted he made false statements to, and withheld documents from, a grand jury that was investigating Nguyen for financial crimes in 2022.
Tapper was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Tapper was sentenced to 9 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Tapper was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation-Special Enforcement Operations Bureau. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Woodbury (Minnesota) Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement, and Iowa Division of Intelligence assisted in the investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 25-CR-4024 (Tapper) and 21-CR-3037 (Nguyen).
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