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Friday 12 September 2025
Co-CEO of Chinese publicly traded technology company and financial advisor indicted for over $100M securities fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Eastern District of Virginia charging two men with orchestrating a securities fraud scheme utilizing Ostin Technology Group Co. Ltd. (OST) stock to target American retail investors. The scheme netted over $100 million for the defendants and their co-conspirators, who siphoned OST shares in non-bona fide securities transactions and then dumped their stock amidst a coordinated social media campaign to pump OST’s share price from April to June 2025. The Department of Justice has already seized nearly $10 million in assets from co-conspirators’ accounts.
“Protecting the integrity of our financial markets remains a top priority,” said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Anyone who picks the pockets of American investors in violation of the law will be aggressively prosecuted. The Department of Justice has established whistleblower programs to encourage corporations and individuals to come forward with timely information regarding misconduct and criminal behavior. Failing to do so invites serious consequences.”
“The defendants targeted American retail investors through a predatory pump and dump scheme to take advantage of the artificial inflation of the price of OST shares,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s charges show the Criminal Division’s focus on aggressively protecting Americans from foreign actors seeking to exploit U.S. markets. Through the hard work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, we will continue to act quickly to seize the proceeds of these crimes and mitigate losses for victims.”
“Securities fraud by foreign actors not only exploits fair investment practices, but also defrauds American investors and harms U.S. markets,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s charges demonstrate the FBI’s continued commitment, alongside our partners, to combatting financial crime and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
"The defendants allegedly concocted a scheme that distorted the price of OST stock, costing investors tens of millions of dollars," said Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division. "Today's indictment should serve as a warning to fraudsters: If you seek to manipulate U.S. markets for personal gain, the FBI will pursue you even if you're operating halfway around the world."
“The SEC-Office of Inspector General (SEC-OIG) will relentlessly investigate individuals who submit false filings with the SEC,” said Inspector General Kevin Muhlendorf of the SEC. “Comprehensive investigative oversight to protect investors, the global markets, and the operational integrity of the SEC’s programs, systems, and operations is a top priority for our office.”
According to the indictment, Lai Kui Sen is the co-CEO of OST, and Yan Zhao, who goes by the aliases Hank Shi and Hank Shu, among others, is a financial advisor. OST is a Cayman Islands company with its principal operations in China, that claimed to be a manufacturer of display modules used in consumer electronics, commercial LCD displays, and automotive displays. OST is publicly traded on NASDAQ and operated, at one point, with a variable interest entity (VIE) investment structure, which is often used by Chinese companies.
According to the indictment, Sen, Zhao, and others allegedly engaged in a complex scheme to first provide a group of fifteen co-conspirators with tens of millions of OST shares through two securities transactions. In one of these transactions, the co-conspirators allegedly paid nothing to OST for more than 70 million OST shares.
On April 15, the same day that the select investors received their first tranche of heavily discounted OST shares, a fraudulent campaign allegedly began to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the OST stock. This allegedly included promoting the stock by impersonating real investment advisors, among others, promoting the stock on social media, and creating a false impression of market-wide buying momentum. To capitalize on OST’s artificial price inflation and to harm the victim investors, Zhao and Sen allegedly facilitated the opening of brokerage accounts for certain select investors and orchestrated the selling of the shares that they had received either heavily discounted or for no remuneration. These sales generated substantial profits of approximately more than $110 million. Ultimately, according to the indictment, unwitting investors suffered significant losses when, on June 26, OST lost over $950 million in market capitalization, representing over 94% of its value.
Zhao and Sen are charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, securities fraud, and wire fraud. If convicted, Zhao and Sen face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy and wire fraud, 25 years in prison for Title 18 securities fraud, and 20 years in prison for Title 15 securities fraud. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and SEC-OIG investigated the case. The Department of Justice appreciates the efforts of FINRA’s Surveillance and Market Intelligence – Market Abuse Group who referred this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Kashan K. Pathan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty
Co-CEO of Chinese Publicly Traded Technology Company and Financial Advisor Indicted for over $100M Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Eastern District of Virginia charging two men with orchestrating a securities fraud scheme utilizing Ostin Technology Group Co. Ltd. (OST) stock to target American retail investors. The charged scheme netted over $100 million for the defendants and their co-conspirators, who siphoned OST shares in non-bona fide securities transactions and then dumped their stock amidst a coordinated social media campaign to pump OST’s share price from April to June 2025. The Department of Justice has already seized nearly $10 million in assets from co-conspirators’ accounts.
“The defendants targeted American retail investors through a predatory pump and dump scheme to take advantage of the artificial inflation of the price of OST shares,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s charges show the Criminal Division’s focus on aggressively protecting Americans from foreign actors seeking to exploit U.S. markets. Through the hard work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, we will continue to act quickly to seize the proceeds of these crimes and mitigate losses for victims.”
“Protecting the integrity of our financial markets remains a top priority,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Anyone who picks the pockets of American investors in violation of the law will be aggressively prosecuted. The Department of Justice has established whistleblower programs to encourage corporations and individuals to come forward with timely information regarding misconduct and criminal behavior. Failing to do so invites serious consequences.”
“Securities fraud by foreign actors not only exploits fair investment practices, but also defrauds American investors and harms U.S. markets,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s charges demonstrate the FBI’s continued commitment, alongside our partners, to combatting financial crime and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
“The SEC-Office of Inspector General (SEC-OIG) will relentlessly investigate individuals who submit false filings with the SEC,” said Inspector General Kevin Muhlendorf of the SEC. “Comprehensive investigative oversight to protect investors, the global markets, and the operational integrity of the SEC’s programs, systems, and operations is a top priority for our office.”
According to the indictment, Lai Kui Sen is the co-CEO of OST, and Yan Zhao, who goes by the aliases Hank Shi and Hank Shu, among others, is a financial advisor. OST is a Cayman Islands company with its principal operations in China, that claimed to be a manufacturer of display modules used in consumer electronics, commercial LCD displays, and automotive displays. OST is publicly traded on NASDAQ and operated, at one point, with a variable interest entity (VIE) investment structure, which is often used by Chinese companies.
According to the indictment, Sen, Zhao, and others allegedly engaged in a complex scheme to first provide a group of fifteen co-conspirators with tens of millions of OST shares through two non-bona fide securities transactions. In one of these transactions, these co-conspirators paid nothing to OST for more than 70 million OST shares.
The indictment alleges that, on April 15, 2025, the same day that the select investors received their first tranche of heavily discounted OST shares, a fraudulent campaign began to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the OST stock. This included promoting the stock by impersonating real investment advisors, among others, promoting the stock on social media, and creating a false impression of market-wide buying momentum. To capitalize on OST’s artificial price inflation and to harm the victim investors, Zhao and Sen facilitated the opening of brokerage accounts for certain select investors and orchestrated the selling of the shares that they had received either heavily discounted or for no remuneration. These sales generated substantial profits of approximately more than $110 million. Ultimately, according to the indictment, unwitting investors suffered significant losses when, on June 26, 2025, OST lost over $950 million in market capitalization, representing over 94% of its value.
Both defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, securities fraud, and wire fraud. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy and wire fraud, 25 years in prison for Title 18 securities fraud, and 20 years in prison for Title 15 securities fraud. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and SEC-OIG investigated the case. The Department of Justice appreciates the efforts of FINRA’s Surveillance and Market Intelligence – Market Abuse Group who referred this matter.
Trial Attorney Kashan K. Pathan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
If you believe you may have been a victim in this case, visit https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-yan-zhao-and-lai-kui-sen for more information.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Cincinnati Man Sentenced for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man, Kevin Prince Davis, 46, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 180 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
According to his plea agreement, Davis was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation traveling on I-75. The officer who made the stop noticed the smell of marijuana from the passenger side of the vehicle. Davis was found with marijuana in his pocked. A search of the vehicle revealed six bricks of cocaine in the rear cargo area. Davis unsuccessfully attempted to flee on foot and eventually admitted to ownership of the cocaine.
Davis has a previous federal conviction of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms of cocaine.
Under federal law, Davis must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the HSI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Cheyenne couple sentenced in fraud caseRead the Press Release
Sean P. Madigan, 35, and Victoria Madigan, 35, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, were both sentenced to five years of supervised probation for crimes related to making false statements and wire fraud. Sean was sentenced on June 6 and the court ordered him to pay $161,175 in restitution to the State of Wyoming. Sean was also ordered to pay $12,864 in restitution, joint and several with his co-defendant Victoria, to the Cheyenne Housing Authority. Victoria was sentenced on September 10 and the court also ordered her to pay $12,864, to be paid joint and several with Sean, to the Cheyenne Housing Authority.
According to court documents, Sean and Victoria Madigan were a married couple with three children living in Cheyenne. The couple received housing assistance through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program while also running a coffee shop in the Cheyenne Frontier Mall. They used the same bank account for the financial needs of the coffee shop and their household, but they did not disclose the income from their business to the Cheyenne Housing Authority when certifying their eligibility for housing assistance. While a false statement to the Cheyenne Housing Authority is not a statement made directly to a federal agency or department, it is still a matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
After various governmental assistance programs became available to help keep businesses from failing due to Covid-19 related restrictions, Sean used the coffee shop to facilitate fraudulently receiving Covid-19 relief funds. Rather than spend Covid-19 business relief funds solely for business purposes as required by the State of Wyoming grant programs, the Madigans spent a material portion of the money on household daily living expenses.
“Some argue that white collar crime is a victimless crime, but that could not be further from the truth. We all end up paying when someone defrauds the government—the Madigan’s actions are an outright theft from American taxpayers,” said U.S Attorney Darin Smith. We are grateful for HUD’s extensive investigation which exposed the calculated efforts of this couple to exploit government programs.”
"The defendants allegedly engaged in a complex, multi-agency fraud scheme that diverted over $300,000 in critical taxpayer dollars intended to support struggling businesses during an unprecedented pandemic, while also receiving HUD housing assistance through a program that was intended for low income families " said Special Agent-in-Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our prosecutorial partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD programs.”
HUD investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne Martens prosecuted the crime. Case No. CR-25-00030 and CR-25-00039
California Resident Sentenced in D.C. to 14 Years in Prison for Exploitation of a Dozen GirlsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – James Styner, 20, of Garden Grove, California, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 14 years in prison after admitting to the online exploitation of at least a dozen girls, ranging in age from 12- to 17-years-old, in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Styner pleaded guilty before Judge Beryl A. Howell. on March 28, 2025, to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, to one count of distribution of child pornography, and to three counts of receipt of child pornography. In addition to the 14-year prison term, Judge Howell ordered Styner to serve seven years of supervised release.
“No man will be allowed to exploit, harm and victimize children under my watch,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “They will be hunted down, prosecuted and then face the full weight of justice. Whether you are behind a screen or behind closed doors—we will find you and convict you.”
According to court documents, beginning at the age of 17 and continuing until the time of his arrest at the age of 19, Styner engaged in a pervasive online campaign to manipulate and exploit vulnerable girls for his own sexual satisfaction. He participated in approximately 45 chat conversations over Discord in which he demanded self-produced sexually explicit material from the individuals on the other end, many of them being underage girls.
His conduct included in-person sexual relationships with at least two minor girls. He also frequently sent explicit images of his own genitalia to his minor victims and distributed self-produced child pornography to others, including minors.
As part of his plea agreement, Styner admitted to conduct involving a total of 12 minor victims, all of whom were identified. He also admitted that he had engaged in similar conduct with other unidentified individuals.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department-Federal Bureau of Investigation (MPD-FBI) Child Exploitation Task Force with substantial assistance from the West Covina (California) Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Janani Iyengar and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Bond for the District of Columbia.
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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Bucks County Man Charged with Child Sexual Exploitation, Cyberstalking, and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mark Wills, aka “Lorenzo Guerra,” “Alex Harrison,” “kevthompson2009,” “18kevinmcbride,” and “leonardobrickma,” 61, of Hulmeville, Pennsylvania, was charged by indictment with three counts of use and attempted use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct; three counts of manufacture and attempted manufacturer of child pornography; four counts of distribution, attempted distribution, and willfully causing the distribution of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; two counts of cyberstalking of a minor; and one count of interstate threats.
Wills has been detained in federal custody since August 12, following his arrest on a criminal complaint and warrant.
The indictment alleges that, from about June 2024 to January 2025, the defendant used the internet to knowingly persuade, induce, entice and coerce Minor #1, Minor #2, and Minor #3, all under the age of 18, to engage in, and send him images of, sexually explicit conduct.
The indictment further alleges that Wills knowingly used the internet to distribute the visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and that he possessed visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. At least one minor depicted was prepubescent and under the age of 12.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that the defendant, with the intent to injure, harass, and intimidate, sent electronic communications to Minor #1 and Minor #3, that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to Minor #1 and Minor #3.
As alleged, the defendant also transmitted a threat to harm Minor #1 and Minor #1’s family if Minor #1 did not continue to produce sexually explicit material of herself and send it to him.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nelson S.T. Thayer, Jr.
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.
Berks County Man Sentenced for Art Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Carter Reese, 77, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to 60 days in prison, two years of supervised release with four months on home detention, a $50,000 fine, and restitution of $186,125, in connection with a scheme in which Reese defrauded customers by making false representations about the source and authenticity of certain art purportedly created by prominent artists.
Reese was charged by information in May of this year with one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud and pleaded guilty the same month.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, from about February 2019 to March 2021, Reese sold and attempted to sell art that he represented as genuine pieces created by prominent artists, including Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jean Cocteau, Keith Haring, Fernand Léger, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and others. Reese knew that the pieces were fake and had not been created by those artists.
The case was investigated by members of the FBI’s Art Crime Team assigned to the Philadelphia and Miami field offices and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and Jason Grenell.
Armed Felons Sentenced to Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Tywon Lavar Hill, Jr. (23, Orlando) and Anjadon Javon Allen (24, Orlando) each to five years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Hill and Allen to forfeit three Glock firearms and ammunition, which were used in the offense. Allen pleaded guilty on May 28, 2025, and Hill pleaded guilty on June 20, 2025.
According to court documents, on May 28, 2024, deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office - Gang Enforcement Unit (OCSO-GEU) stopped a sedan driven by Hill. Allen was a passenger in the vehicle, along with a third individual who was wanted on a warrant for state racketeering charges. After the sedan was blocked by police vehicles, Hill and Allen fled on foot. Allen was quickly apprehended. Hill escaped through a retail store’s emergency exit. The third individual complied and was arrested without incident. Inside the sedan, deputies located cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine, along with two Glock firearms. DNA testing later revealed that Hill and Allen had each left their DNA on the firearms. At the time, both Hill and Allen had prior felony convictions and are therefore prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
On August 2, 2024, OCSO-GEU deputies were looking to arrest Hill and Allen and found them together at an apartment in Mount Dora. Hill was taken into custody and Allen retreated into the apartment. Allen was later arrested when a resident of the apartment allowed deputies to enter. Another Glock firearm was recovered from inside the vehicle that Hill and Allen were observed using. That firearm also contained DNA belonging to Hill and Allen.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office - Gang Enforcement Unit. 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.
Albany County Felon Admits Receiving Firearms Stolen from Hudson Falls Gun Store and Using the Firearms in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kwahpreme Mitchell, age 34, of Watervliet, New York, pled guilty today to one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James; and Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy made the announcement.
Mitchell admitted to receiving firearms from Jonathon Combs and Martin Taft that they had stolen from Calamity Jane’s Firearms and Fine Shoes, a federally licensed firearms dealer, in Hudson Falls, New York, on October 21, 2022. In exchange for the stolen firearms, Mitchell agreed to provide Combs and Taft with 150 grams of cocaine, which they intended to distribute. Additionally, on or about October 15, 2022, Mitchell provided Combs with approximately 3.5 grams of cocaine base in exchange for a shotgun. Mitchell could not legally possess the firearms, as he had been previously convicted of a New York State felony drug charge.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Mitchell, already a drug felon, admitted to using drugs to purchase stolen firearms. Drugs and guns are always a dangerous combination, which is why we will prosecute every armed drug dealer we can find. Thanks to the tremendous work of the ATF and our state and local partners following the October 2022 burglary of Calamity Jane’s, our communities are now safe from this dealer, his drugs, and his stolen guns.”
Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller, stated, ““This case underscores the dangerous intersection of firearms trafficking and illegal drugs. A convicted felon exchanging cocaine for firearms — including guns stolen from a federally licensed dealer — poses a serious threat to public safety. Thanks to the outstanding collaboration between ATF NY Albany, the NYSP, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office NDNY, we were able to disrupt this illicit scheme. This outcome highlights the critical importance of strong partnerships at every level — local, state, and federal — in combating violent crime and keeping our communities safe.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James stated, “Collaborative efforts are an integral part of protecting against the crimes and associated terrors that come with illegal weapons and drug trafficking. The individual involved in this operation posed a significant threat to public safety and his guilty plea is a testament to the results we can achieve when agencies work together. We remain committed to targeting the sources of illicit gun and drug activity and holding those responsible fully accountable.”
Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy stated, “This case underscores the dangers posed by individuals who engage in these activities. The combination of narcotics and firearms in our communities puts not only the public at risk but also law enforcement. I appreciate the assistance received from our State and Federal Partners.”
Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2026, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Mitchell faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
NYSP, ATF and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance provided by the Washington and Warren County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen J. Vickey is prosecuting this case
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
270 New Immigration Cases Added in Western District of Texas This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced today that federal prosecutors in the district filed 270 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from Sept. 5 through 11.
Among the new cases, two individuals were arrested in El Paso on Sept. 4 after allegedly picking up illegal aliens approximately 10.6 miles east of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that the driver of the vehicle, Carlos Misael Soto-Lopez, lost control of his vehicle at a high rate of speed, causing the vehicle to roll multiple times. U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended all seven individuals who were observed fleeing from the vehicle following the crash. Soto-Lopez and a second individual, Axel Arturo Rodriguez-Mata, were charged for transporting illegal aliens.
Mexican national Francisco Javier Mercado-Carrillo was charged with attempting to evade immigration laws by appearing under an assumed or fictitious name when applying for admission to the U.S. Mercado-Carrillo allegedly presented himself to a Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO) at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry with a counterfeit Texas Identification Card bearing the photograph, name, and date of birth, of another individual with the initials of J.D.E. After questioning Mercado-Carrillo, the CBPO referred him to Passport Control Secondary, where he allegedly admitted his true name, date of birth, and stated he was born in Coahuila, Mexico. Mercado-Carrillo has been previously removed from the U.S. three times, the last being on or about July 26.
Also in El Paso, Mexican national Jose Armando Rodriguez-Rincon was charged with illegal re-entry, having been most recently removed from the U.S. for the third time on Aug. 15. Rodriguez-Rincon was convicted in May 2024 for his second DWI and sentenced to 300 days confinement.
In San Antonio, Mexican national Jose Luis Giron-Zepeda was pulled over by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for allegedly speeding in a school zone on Sept. 9. DPS contacted ICE to inquire about Giron-Zepeda’s immigration status and learned he was in the country illegally. Records also indicated that Giron-Zepeda had been convicted in 2013 for transportation of illegal aliens.
Juan Leonardo Tovar-Ramirez, also a Mexican national, was taken into ICE custody in Austin after being convicted for his third DWI. Tovar-Ramirez was also convicted in 2020 for illegal re-entry, having been previously removed from the U.S. to Mexico in 2014.
Mexican national Luis Garcia-Rincon was taken into ICE custody at the Travis County Jail, where he was being confined for a DWI. He was removed from the U.S. in 2023 following convictions in Travis County for indecent assault and unlawful restraint.
Mexican national Jose Alejandro Gonzalez Balderaz was also taken into ICE custody this week, having been in the U.S. illegally and previously removed in 2019. In 2017, he was convicted for unlawful carrying of a weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Dallas. His record also includes two DWI convictions.
In Eagle Pass, two Pakistani nationals were charged with improper entry. U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Jamshaid Iqbal Goraya and Talha Khalid on Aug. 27 after the two allegedly crossed the Rio Grande River and entered the U.S. illegally.
A twice deported Honduran national was also arrested in Eagle Pass. Jairo Moises Garcia-Castro was most recently deported on Nov. 6, 2024, after being convicted for his second DWI in Karnes County.
Alejandro Dominguez-Ortiz, a Mexican national, was arrested in Del Rio for illegal re-entry. He was convicted for sexual assault and sentenced to five years confinement in 2022. His sole deportation was in January 2024.
Mexican national Miguel Rosas-Rosendo was arrested in Del Rio on Sept. 7. With three prior removals, Rosas-Rosendo was convicted for illegal re-entry in 2024, and was convicted in 2023 for a state charge of smuggling of persons.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Thursday 11 September 2025
West Sacramento Men Indicted for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment today against James Kenney, 45, and Kevin Leacy, 31, of West Sacramento, charging them with various drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
In addition, Leacy is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. According to court documents, on Aug. 28, 2025, Leacy knowingly possessed a .40-caliber Glock 23, a .40-caliber Sig SP 2340, and a .380 Ruger LCP. Because Leacy was previously convicted of second-degree robbery with use of a firearm in 2013, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to court documents, in May 2025, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking organization located in West Sacramento. Over the course of the investigation, Kenney and Leacy were found to have sold fentanyl powder and methamphetamine. On Aug. 28, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the motel where Kenney and Leacy were residing and discovered additional quantities of drugs including fentanyl powder, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the West Sacramento Police Department and the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Harman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DeMoura are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Kenney faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. If convicted, Leacy faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 Neighborhoods (PSN).
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice 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.
Walthill Man Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Arthur Marr, Sr., 48, of Walthill, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 8, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Marr to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Marr’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
In October 2024, Marr assaulted a man on the Omaha Nation Indian Reservation, repeatedly striking the victim and causing serious bodily injury, including broken bones and internal damage. Marr’s assault caused the victim to be hospitalized for two days, during which time Marr messaged the victim and threatened to come to the hospital and assault the victim again.
This case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense was a felony and occurred on the Omaha Nation Indian Reservation in Nebraska.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Wakarusa Man Sentenced to 2 Years of ProbationRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Dylan Nissley, 32 years old, of Wakarusa, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to three misdemeanor Lacey Act violations, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Nissley was sentenced to a term of probation of 2 years, which includes a universal fishing and hunting ban for the entire probation period, and 144 hours of community service.
According to documents in the case, during the spring of 2023, Nissley offered unlawful guided fishing trips in Lake Erie, Ohio. At the time of the trips, Nissley did not possess a valid United States Coast Guard Captain License or a valid fishing guide license. He also allowed individuals to “double bag” and catch and keep several more walleye than allowed by the legal bag limit. Nissley also violated the Lacey Act in November 2023 during the archery-only portion of the Missouri hunting season. Nissley killed a buck with a firearm, failed to report all the deer he harvested, and took more than two antlered deer during the season.
“True sportsmen and sportswomen understand that the North American model of wildlife conservation depends upon everyone—and especially guides—following the relevant laws and regulations when harvesting game,” announced Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “Dylan Nissley disregarded those rules, and in doing so he violated the federal Lacey Act. Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement team, he has been held to account for his unlawful acts.”
“Poaching has no place in America’s hunting and fishing heritage,” said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “We appreciate the strong support from our partners in Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service. This case is a reminder for all hunters and anglers to be diligent when selecting guiding services and ensure you’re working with someone who complies with the law and honors the ethical principles of the outdoors."
This case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with assistance from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, and Missouri Department of Conservation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
Wagoner Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyson Gene Goins, age 21, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine, and one count of Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment or Information, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment charged Goins with knowingly possessing two semi-automatic pistols on April 19, 2025, knowing and having reasonable cause that the firearms were stolen.
The Indictment also alleged that on April 6, 2025, Goins received the same two firearms while under Indictment and Information for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Checotah Police Department.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Goins will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
United States Seeks Civil Forfeiture of Cryptocurrency Associated with Iranian National Mohammad AbediniRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover approximately $584,741 in cryptocurrency alleged to be the property of Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, a/k/a Mohammad Abedini (Abedini), 39, of Tehran, Iran and/or his company San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co. (SDRA). The government seized USDT (Tether) from an un-hosted cryptocurrency wallet alleged to be controlled by Abedini. USDT (Tether) is a stablecoin, meaning its value is tied to the U.S. dollar.
Abedini was detained by Italian authorities on Dec. 16, 2024 but was later released in January 2025. He is believed to be in Iran.
According to court documents, Abedini is the founder and managing director of SDRA, an Iranian company that manufactures navigation modules used in the IRGC’s military drone program. SDRA’s main business is the sale of a proprietary navigation system—known as the Sepehr Navigation System—to the IRGC, which the United States designated as an FTO on April 15, 2019. The primary application of SDRA’s Sepehr Navigation System is for use in UAVs, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles.
In December 2024, Abedini was charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, the IRGC, specifically, the IRGC Aerospace Force, which is the strategic missile, air and space force within the IRGC. Since at least in or about 2014, SDRA has had multiple projects with the IRGC Aerospace Force, including projects for guided rockets and integrated navigation systems. As alleged, between 2021 and 2022, approximately 99% of SDRA’s sales of the Sepehr Navigation System, which are used in IRGC one-way attack drones, were to the IRGC’s Aerospace Force.
In January 2024, three U.S. service members were killed, and more than 40 others were injured, in a drone attack by IRGC-backed militants on a military base located in northern Jordan, known as Tower 22. According to court documents, analysis of the drone that was recovered from the site of the attack showed that the drone was an Iranian Shahed UAV and that the navigation system used in the drone was the Sepehr Navigation System, which was manufactured by SDRA.
U.S. law authorizes the forfeiture of all assets of individuals or entities engaged in planning or perpetrating a federal crime of terrorism against the United States, citizens or residents of the United States, or their property and all assets, foreign or domestic, affording any person a source of influence over any such entity. U.S. law further authorizes the forfeiture of all assets acquired or maintained by any person with the intent and for the purpose of supporting, planning, conducting, or concealing any federal crime of terrorism against the United States, citizens or residents of the United States, or their property.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the District of Massachusetts’ Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture action. Assistant United States Jared Dolan, Alathea Porter and Christopher Looney of the District of Massachusetts’ Criminal Division; Trial Attorney Christina Clark of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section; and Trial Attorneys Jessica Joyce and John Cella of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the criminal case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is providing assistance.
The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint and criminal charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Midlands Men Sentenced for Their Role in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Drain Maurice Mazone, 54, of Irmo, and Clinton Raymond Donaldson, 42, of Columbia, have been sentenced to 13 years and three years respectively in federal prison for their role in a drug conspiracy.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Mazone and Donaldson, along with others, were involved in a drug conspiracy that began in Arizona. Drugs were purchased in Arizona and shipped to Mazone, who was involved in distributing them. Donaldson provided local addresses where packages would be shipped and also helped distribute the contraband. Proceeds from the drug sales were sent back to the distributor in Arizona. Some packages of drugs were shipped through the mail to Columbia, Florence, Myrtle Beach as well as locations in North Carolina, Maryland, and Florida. All four members of the conspiracy have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their involvement in the conspiracy.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Mazone to 156 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision and Donaldson to 36 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervision for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of crack cocaine, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of marijuana. There is no parole in the federal system.
This operation 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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Two Akwesasne Men Charged with Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Joseph Coffey, age 35, and Darren Cook, age 32, of Hogansburg, New York, were indicted yesterday for conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and three additional counts of alien smuggling. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector made the announcement.
On August 8, 2025, Coffey and Cook are alleged to have conspired with an alien smuggling organization in Canada to smuggle three aliens—two of which were from China, with the third being from the United Kingdom—across the St. Lawrence River and into the United States for profit. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The defendants will appear in federal court to be arraigned on the indictment before United States Magistrate Judge Gary L. Favro. The defendants were previously ordered detained and are presently in custody.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “As alleged, Coffey and Cook, through their own greed to make a quick dollar, furthered the interests of dangerous alien smuggling organizations that put the people of our country in danger. What’s more, they utilized the Akwesasne Reservation ,which has been used by smugglers as a revolving door for moving aliens, drugs, and other contraband into the United States. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute alien smugglers, like Coffey and Cook, who put our country at risk.”
Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia said: “The United States Border Patrol remains steadfast in its commitment to securing our borders and protecting the American people. Human smuggling is a dangerous and exploitative enterprise that preys on vulnerable individuals, placing them in harm’s way for the sole purpose of profit. Smugglers show a complete disregard for human life and the rule of law, often subjecting their victims to inhumane conditions and perilous journeys. We will continue to work tirelessly with our local, state, and federal partners, including the United States Attorney's Office, to dismantle these criminal networks and ensure justice is served. Let this serve as a warning to smugglers and traffickers: we will apprehend you, and we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The charges of alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling carry a mandatory minimum prison term of 5 years and a maximum prison term of 15 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt is prosecuting the case.
Transylvania County Drug Trafficker Is Sentenced to over 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – James Edward Frady, 39, of Brevard, N.C., was sentenced today to 130 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a drug trafficking ring that distributed methamphetamine and cocaine in Transylvania County announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to documents and court proceedings, from 2021 to 2023, Frady was part of a drug trafficking network that distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Frady frequently communicated with his drug supplier, Zachery Micah Rice, to buy the methamphetamine and cocaine that he then distributed within the Transylvania County area. On October 19, 2023, deputies with the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office arrested Frady for a traffic offense. Over the course of the traffic stop, law enforcement recovered from the passenger of the vehicle two plastic baggies containing 90.79 grams of methamphetamine and 56.51 grams of cocaine. Court documents show that Frady asked the passenger to conceal the drugs prior to being pulled over.
Frady pleaded guilty on February 21, 2025, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending placement by the federal Bureau of Prisons.
Rice was previously sentenced to 28 years in prison, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a machinegun.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina, the Asheville Police Department, the Waynesville Police Department, the Cherokee Indian Police Department, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville handled the prosecution.
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).
Toa Baja Man Arrested After Being Indicted for Sex Trafficking of Children in Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — On September 10, 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Julio Figueroa-Álvarez, a 32-year-old man from Toa Baja with sex trafficking of children and coercion and enticement of a minor. The defendant was arrested today by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents.
“Predators who target and coerce the vulnerable in our jurisdiction will face appropriately serious sanctions under federal law. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to seek justice to vindicate the rights of human trafficking victims,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting victims and ensuring that those responsible for such vicious crimes face the full weight of the law.”
“This individual, a registered sex offender, was arrested in 2014 on charges of sexual exploitation of minors and convicted in 2016 to serve a ten-year sentence. HSI is now arresting him for the second time in less than ten years following his conviction. Child predators remain determined to exploit minors, but we are equally determined to stop them and bring them to justice,” said Rebecca González-Ramos, HSI San Juan’s Special Agent in Charge. “We urge the community to take action before law enforcement becomes involved. Protecting our children requires vigilance and cooperation. Be alert and proactive; engaging in sexual acts with a minor is illegal, and when such heinous acts are committed in exchange for something of value, it constitutes a federal crime. Sex trafficking is real; it’s happening in our island too often. HSI is determined to hold accountable those who believe they can operate above the law; we will arrest them as many times as necessary. Help us keep our children safe and protected.”
According to court documents, between December 2024 and February 2025, Julio Figueroa-Álvarez knowingly and willfully recruited, enticed, transported, and maintained a 13-year-old male minor to engage in a commercial sex act. Figueroa-Álvarez is also accused with using a cellular phone, internet instant messaging services, and social media to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a 13-year-old male minor to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity.
If convicted for the charges, the defendant faces the following penalties: sex trafficking of a child - a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years up to life in prison; and coercion and enticement of a minor - a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life in prison. All charges of conviction would to be followed by a term of supervised release after imprisonment of no less than 5 years up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI San Juan is leading the investigation into this case, with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez Lora, from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969 or send an email to [email protected].
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Texas Resident Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud the Chickasaw Nation Department of HealthRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nnamdi Felix Udeagha, age 39, of Humble, Texas, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and ordered to pay $214,908.34 in restitution.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On February 5, 2025, Udeagha pleaded guilty to the charge. Between April and December of 2021, Udeagha conspired with others to obtain money and property from the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health through materially false and fraudulent pretenses. According to investigators, the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health received emails claiming to be from a legitimate vendor with instructions to wire payments to certain bank accounts. It was later determined the emails were created and sent by a member of the conspiracy, and the bank accounts were opened by conspirators to receive and distribute the fraudulently obtained funds. Udeagha facilitated the fraud by providing the bank account information to the co-conspirator who sent the bogus emails to the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health.
“This defendant tried to hide in the shadows of the internet to steal money from the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, which was needed for vital medical programs and services,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “The FBI is committed to holding fraudsters accountable for the harm they cause the American people and our government institutions.”
“Fraudsters like the defendant employ email compromise schemes to prey on even the most sophisticated business enterprises,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I commend the FBI for the skilled investigative work which uncovered Udeagha’s criminal enterprise, and the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health for its work with law enforcement. This sentence demonstrates the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to pursuing white collar criminals who seek to exploit businesses in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Udeagha will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kara Traster and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Stamford Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax Charges Related to Theft of More Than $28 Million from Mars, Inc.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PAUL R. STEED, 58, of Stamford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to fraud and tax offenses stemming from his commission of multiple frauds against his former employer Mars, Inc.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately 2011 and 2023, Steed was employed by Mars Wrigley, a subsidiary of Mars. Inc. (“Mars”), working remotely from his home in Stamford. Steed served in several positions at the company and last served as Global Price Risk Manager for Mars Wrigley’s Global Cocoa Enterprise. As part of his employment, Steed was responsible for managing Mars Wrigley’s participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Sugar-Containing Products Re-Export Program. In approximately 2016, Steed created a company, MCNA LLC, to mimic an actual Mars entity, Mars Chocolate North America. He then diverted more than $15 million in Mars assets to a bank account he set up in MCNA’s name by directing sugar refineries purchasing Mars’s re-export credits, obtained through the USDA program, to pay MCNA LLC as if it were a legitimate Mars entity.
Mars had an ownership interest in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (“ICE”), a financial services company that operated financial exchanges and clearing houses, and received quarterly dividends in connection with that ownership. In 2017, Steed directed Computershare Limited (“Computershare”), a company that ICE utilized for stock-related services, to pay MCNA LLC for Mars’s dividends from its ownership shares in ICE. As a result, more than $700,000 in dividend payments were diverted to the MCNA LLC account. In 2023, after Steed had used a fraudulent letter purportedly from the Mars Treasurer authorizing him to trade ICE shares, Steed directed Computershare to sell Mars’s ICE shares entirely. Computershare issued a check in the amount of more than $11.3 million, which Steed deposited into the MCNA LLC account.
In addition, from 2013 through 2020, Steed used a company he owned called Ibera LLC to invoice Mars for services Mars did not receive. Mars paid Ibera LLC more than $700,000 through this scheme.
Steed failed to report and pay taxes on his stolen income on his 2014 through 2023 federal tax returns.
Steed pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, and one count of tax evasion, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Steed has agreed to pay restitution of $28,410,489 to Mars, Inc., and the government has calculated that he owes the IRS an additional $10,310,680 in back taxes.
The government has seized, and Steed has agreed to forfeit, more than $18 million from bank accounts controlled by Steed, and the government is seeking to forfeit, or alternatively liquidate for restitution, a Greenwich home that Steed is alleged to have purchased with nearly $2.3 million in stolen funds. It is alleged that another $2 million was sent by Steed to Argentina, where he is a dual citizen, has family ties, and owns a ranch.
Steed was arrested on March 26, 2025. He is released on a $5 million bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 9.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.
St. Louis Lawyer Admits $379,900 Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis lawyer on Thursday admitted defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration out of $379,900 by fraudulently obtaining a COVID-19 pandemic loan.
John J. Diehl Jr., 60, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of wire fraud. Diehl admitted that on March 30, 2020, he applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) on behalf of his law firm, the Diehl Law Group. The EIDL program was designed to help struggling small businesses during the pandemic by providing deferred, low interest loans to be used strictly for working capital, payroll and other fixed debts of the business caused by the pandemic. Diehl signed a loan authorization and agreement form in which he falsely represented and certified that Diehl Law Group “…will use all the proceeds of this Loan solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by disaster occurring in the month of January 31, 2020 and continuing thereafter….”
On April 16, 2020, an advance of $1,000 on the EIDL loan was deposited into a Diehl Law Group bank account. On April 27, 2020, Diehl made a $1,320.15 payment to a country club for personal dues and charges, a payment that inappropriately included those EIDL funds.
On June 9, 2020, the remainder of the EIDL loan, $93,900, was transmitted into his law firm’s bank account. Diehl transferred some of the funds to his personal bank accounts and between June 10, 2020, and August 16, 2021, he impermissibly used the EIDL loan proceeds for unauthorized personal use and purposes. Those included payments on personal Tesla, Audi and Jeep automobiles, personal credit cards, a personal home mortgage, a family member’s college tuition, pool maintenance, country club dues and fees and cash withdrawals for personal use and expenses. On Sept. 16, 2020, Diehl also transferred $50,039.55 of the EIDL proceeds to the Diehl Law Group’s retirement plan in which Diehl was the only participant.
In March of 2022, Diehl requested an EIDL loan modification. He again pledged that Diehl Law Group will use the funds “to alleviate economic injury caused by disaster.” On April 12, 2022, the additional loan proceeds of $285,000 were wired into the Diehl Law Group bank account. Diehl then transferred some of the funds into his personal bank accounts. Between April 14, 2022, and June 21, 2023, Diehl inappropriately used the EIDL funds for payments on personal credit cards, fees paid to a St. Louis law firm for a personal legal matter, college tuition, residential mortgage payments and cash withdrawals for personal use and expenses. On Sept. 16, 2022, Diehl also inappropriately transferred $150,000 of the EIDL modified loan proceeds into his retirement plan.
In total, Diehl obtained $379,900 in EIDL loan funds through his fraud scheme.
Diehl is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. He has repaid the EIDL loan proceeds to the United States Treasury, his lawyer said Thursday.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is prosecuting the case.
St. Louis Felon Accused of Pointing Gun at 7-Year-Old Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a man accused of pointing a gun at a 7-year-old to 10 years in prison.
Dwight Byrd, 59, pleaded guilty in May to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that on Sept. 7, 2023, two witnesses told St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers that Byrd threatened a 7-year-old boy by pointing a black handgun at him and saying that he would “teach him some (expletive) respect.”
After officers spotted Byrd, he ran into his nearby home and changed clothes before surrendering. Officers found a loaded black 9mm handgun with a chambered round near the stairs Byrd used to get to his second-story apartment and a .38 special revolver and 9mm ammunition in his apartment. At the time, Byrd was on parole for a state drug offense.
Byrd conceded at Thursday’s hearing that prosecutors could prove that he pointed a gun at the child by a preponderance of the evidence.
In a letter to Judge Autrey, the victim’s mother wrote that she is not sure what sent Byrd off, adding, “We are all traumatized, and he probably still doesn’t care.”
In court and in a sentencing memo, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj pointed out that Byrd’s prior robbery and drug convictions include three other occasions in which he pointed or shot a gun at one or more people.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Six Defendants Charged with Operating A Fentanyl Mill That Manufactured and Sold Millions-Worth of FentanylRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Frank A. Tarentino; and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging JESUS JAVIER BRITO RIVERA, JOSE ALEXIS DE LA CRUZ MORA, JOSE ANTONIO DE LA CRUZ MORA, DANY RIVERA SANCHEZ, JOAN ALBERTO TORIBIO TAVAREZ, and FREDDYS RIVERA QUEZADA with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute narcotics. The defendants were arrested Tuesday, September 9, 2025, inside a Bronx apartment while in the middle of processing more than eight kilograms of apparent fentanyl powder, producing thousands of individual packages of the drug for distribution. Records recovered from within the mill indicate that the defendants conspired over at least a year to sell millions of dollars’ worth of fentanyl. All six defendants were present in the U.S. without legal status, and one was previously removed from the U.S. after entering the country illegally and later being convicted of another drug distribution offense. All six defendants were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo and ordered detained pending trial.
“As alleged, these defendants were caught in the act of packaging and preparing to distribute enough fentanyl to potentially amount to four million deadly doses,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “At the time our law enforcement partners raided this fentanyl mill, fentanyl glassines were drying in the kitchen oven, and the defendants were gathered around individual workstations. New Yorkers want these mills destroyed and their operators off the streets. We and our law enforcement partners are committed to that mission.”
“Once again, the DEA and our law enforcement partners successfully shut down a fentanyl mill, resulting in the arrests of six illegal, alleged criminal drug traffickers, and the removal of approximately eight kilograms of fentanyl powder from an apartment building in the Bronx,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino. “As we have seen time and again, the Bronx is often exploited by drug trafficking organizations as a hub to transport and distribute their illicit and dangerous narcotics throughout the Northeast corridor of the United States. This operation eliminated their distribution network and their ability to flood our streets with poison. The DEA remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting our communities and safeguarding our nation.”
“These defendants allegedly turned a Bronx apartment into a full-scale drug den, pumping out thousands of packages of illicit fentanyl for profit,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “We know how dangerous even a trace amount of fentanyl is, but this staggering amount would have put countless New Yorkers in great danger. The NYPD will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle dangerous operations like this. I am grateful to the NYPD investigators, the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their relentless work to shut this network down and ensure these criminals are brought to justice.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[[1]]
Inside the Bronx apartment searched by law enforcement, officers observed a table that appeared to be set up with four working stations to mix and package apparent fentanyl powder, each lit with a reading lamp and covered in apparent fentanyl dust; a large pile of individually stamped glassines filled with powder, but which had not yet been sealed; another table piled with thousands of wrapped and stamped glassines; two plastic bags filled with white powder; two boxes filled with 17 grinders, themselves filled with powder; numerous scales, boxes of packaging materials, colanders, markers, rubber bands, and MetroCards, all of which appear to have been used to separate, measure, process, and package the powder; and a shopping bag containing hundreds of fully bundled and stamped glassines. Officers also found glassines and stamps drying inside the kitchen oven and identified a drawer full of stamps used to mark variations of fentanyl being prepared for distribution. Below are images taken during the search of the mill:
* * *
RIVERA, 23; ALEXIS DE LA CRUZ MORA, 23; ANTONIO DE LA CRUZ MORA, 22; SANCHEZ, 34; TAVAREZ, 45; and QUEZADA, 44, all citizens of the Dominican Republic, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of distribution of narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, the NYPD, the New York State Police, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Narcotics. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan T. Nees is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._rivera_et_al._complaint.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Six Alleged “Unknown Vice Lord Gang” Members Indicted for Attempted Murder in aid of Racketeering and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A nine-count indictment was unsealed in the Western District of Tennessee charging six alleged members of a criminal street gang known as Unknown Vice Lords (UVL) – Ghost Mob with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearms violations.
“As alleged, these individuals showed a blatant disregard for public safety, engaging in a retaliatory gang shooting in a residential neighborhood,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence inflicts profound harm on our communities, fostering fear, destabilizing neighborhoods, and damaging the quality of life for law-abiding residents. The arrest of these violent gang members underscores the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting public safety and the rule of law. We will continue to dismantle these criminal organizations and protect the safety and security of our citizens.”
“The premeditated and horrendous acts of violence that these gang members committed demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The men and women of the ATF, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, remain committed to combatting violent crime and swiftly bringing these individuals to justice before they commit other senseless acts of violence.”
According to court documents, the UVL Ghost Mob is a violent, criminal street gang that operates throughout the Western District of Tennessee and elsewhere. The UVL Ghost Mob is a subset of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation, which originated in Chicago, and eventually spread to other parts of the United States, including Tennessee.
Court documents allege that on Sept. 6, 2020, after rival gang members opened fire on UVL Ghost Mob members and their families, injuring four people, UVL Ghost Mob leaders ordered a retaliatory attack. Shortly after midnight on Sept. 7, 2020, the defendants travelled to the residence of the rival gang members, armed with assault style rifles and wearing masks and gloves. The defendants intentionally shot approximately 40-50 bullets into the residence while the rival gang members were inside. Neighborhood security cameras captured the shooting. In the video, the defendants are depicted using, carrying, and firing multiple firearms into the residence.
The following defendants were charged for their role in the offense:
- Antwon Brown, also known as Yayo, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee;
- Cordera Douglas, also known as Chuckie Dee, 36 of Memphis, Tennessee;
- Willie Merriweather, 41 of Antioch, Tennessee;
- Tevin Richardson, also known as Santana, 34 of Memphis, Tennessee;
- Ricky Rogers, Jr., also known as Double R, RR, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee; and
- Laraveus Williams, also known as Ray Ray, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee.
Assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. Conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder in aid of racketeering carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. The charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years consecutive to any other sentence. If convicted, a federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The ATF and Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Dennis Robinson of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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25-941
If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.
Six Alleged “Unknown Vice Lord Gang” Members Indicted for Attempted Murder in aid of Racketeering and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
A nine-count indictment was unsealed in the Western District of Tennessee charging six alleged members of a criminal street gang known as Unknown Vice Lords (UVL) – Ghost Mob with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearms violations.
“As alleged, these individuals showed a blatant disregard for public safety, engaging in a retaliatory gang shooting in a residential neighborhood,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence inflicts profound harm on our communities, fostering fear, destabilizing neighborhoods, and damaging the quality of life for law-abiding residents. The arrest of these violent gang members underscores the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting public safety and the rule of law. We will continue to dismantle these criminal organizations and protect the safety and security of our citizens.”
“The premeditated and horrendous acts of violence that these gang members committed demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The men and women of the ATF, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, remain committed to combatting violent crime and swiftly bringing these individuals to justice before they commit other senseless acts of violence.”
According to court documents, the UVL Ghost Mob is a violent, criminal street gang that operates throughout the Western District of Tennessee and elsewhere. The UVL Ghost Mob is a subset of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation, which originated in Chicago and eventually spread to other parts of the United States, including Tennessee.
Court documents allege that on Sept. 6, 2020, after rival gang members opened fire on UVL Ghost Mob members and their families, injuring four people, UVL Ghost Mob leaders ordered a retaliatory attack. Shortly after midnight on Sept. 7, 2020, the defendants travelled to the residence of the rival gang members, armed with assault style rifles and wearing masks and gloves. The defendants intentionally shot approximately 40-50 bullets into the residence while the rival gang members were inside. Neighborhood security cameras captured the shooting. In the video, the defendants are depicted using, carrying, and firing multiple firearms into the residence.
The following defendants were charged for their role in the offense:
- Antwon Brown, also known as Yayo, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee;
- Cordera Douglas, also known as Chuckie Dee, 36 of Memphis, Tennessee;
- Willie Merriweather, 41 of Antioch, Tennessee;
- Tevin Richardson, also known as Santana, 34 of Memphis, Tennessee;
- Ricky Rogers, Jr., also known as Double R, RR, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee; and
- Laraveus Williams, also known as Ray Ray, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee;
Assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. Conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder in aid of racketeering carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. The charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years consecutive to any other sentence. If convicted, a federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The ATF and Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Dennis Robinson of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Andrew Gross, 42, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty September 11, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Gross was convicted of possessing child pornography.
At the plea hearing, Gross admitted that between April 1, 2024, and May 14, 2024, he engaged in the receipt and possession of child pornography. Sioux City Police received a report from the parents of a 15-year-old regarding conversations Gross was having with their child that were sexual in nature. Further investigation revealed that Gross and the minor victim discussed sexually explicit messages which also contained photographs of the minor victim. Gross also admitted to possessing other images and videos of child pornography. In 2021, Gross had been convicted of offenses relating to aggravated sexual abuse involving a minor in Minnesota.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Gross remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Gross faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by Sioux City Police Department and the South Sioux City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4021. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
SDSU Men’s Basketball Team to Host Fentanyl Awareness/Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament with U.S. Attorney’s Office and City Attorney’s OfficeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Diego City Attorney’s Office and the non-profit MESA (Mentoring and Empowering Student Athletes) Foundation will host a three-on-three basketball tournament featuring San Diego State University Men’s Basketball student athletes as referees and members of the SDSU Greek System as participants to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.
Media is invited to cover the tournament, to be held on September 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Aztec Recreation Center on the SDSU campus (5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182) will highlight the urgent threat fentanyl poses to the community, particularly to college students and young adults. The tournament will feature educational booths with information on fentanyl awareness, prevention and resources on how to obtain free naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan.
Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication, available either as a nasal spray or an injector. In California, naloxone can be purchased from a pharmacist without a prescription. It is also possible to get naloxone from community-based distribution programs, local public health groups, or local health departments at no cost. For more information about naloxone and how to get training on using it, visit: Naloxone Information.
This is the third time that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office have teamed up to feature SDSU student athletes in partnership with an SDSU NIL organization. In 2024, the SDSU Women’s Soccer Team participated in a social media campaign to spread fentanyl awareness, and in 2023 the SDSU men’s basketball team participated in the first-ever social media campaign between law enforcement and collegiate athletics to promote fentanyl prevention.
“This tournament is about more than basketball – it’s about educating young people on the dangers of fentanyl and how to respond in the case of an overdose,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “We are proud to partner with SDSU, the City Attorney’s Office, and the MESA Foundation to reach students with these terrific SDSU basketball ambassadors”.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have attacked the fentanyl crisis through aggressive prosecutions at every level of the supply chain – from cartel leadership to cross-border trafficking organizations, to money launderers, to street level dealers who are selling drugs that result in overdose deaths.
“Fentanyl has taken too many lives, and prevention starts with awareness,” said San Diego City Attorney Heather Ferbert. “By partnering with SDSU, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the MESA Foundation, we’re reaching students directly with life-saving information and resources. Our goal is to empower young people to make safe choices and help keep our campuses and communities healthy.”
MESA is the official partner of San Diego State Athletics dedicated to the advancement of Aztec Basketball and community outreach. Through this partnership, MESA connects Aztec basketball student-athletes with community-based organizations, charitable initiatives, and local businesses across San Diego. More information about the MESA Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, can be found here https://www.mesa-aztecs.org/
For further information, please contact Logan Manning, Law Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (619) 546-7344, or Special Assistant U.S. Attorney/Deputy City Attorney Mark Robertson at (619) 533-5500.
Press officials are permitted to film the participants in the tournament only.
Press please RSVP to [email protected]
Repeat Offender Under Federal Supervision Is Sentenced to over 15 Years for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – John Quentin London, 39, of Hendersonville, N.C., was sentenced today to 188 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release for drug and gun offenses, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. London’s 15+ year sentence will run at the expiration of an additional 24 months he was ordered to serve for violating his federal supervised release.
Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Sheriff Lowell S. Griffin of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
According to court records and the sentencing hearing, in early 2024, law enforcement learned that London was distributing drugs in the Henderson County area while on federal supervised release for a firearm conviction.
On April 18, 2024, deputies with the HCSO conducted a traffic stop of London’s vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, deputies seized two clear plastic bags containing 9.08 grams of methamphetamine and digital scales. The items were found in a magnetic case under the hood.
On June 13, 2024, deputies with the HCSO attempted to pull over London’s vehicle. Initially, London pulled over but then fled the scene, driving in a reckless manner. London eventually slid into a ditch and wrecked his vehicle before fleeing on foot. London was arrested a short time later. Deputies searched London and seized a clear plastic bag containing 1.26 grams of cocaine from his pocket. According to court documents, deputies subsequently executed search warrants at London’s residence and the car from the vehicle chase. Detectives seized from London’s basement a small amount of suspected marijuana, a digital scale with residue, and a stolen .38 Smith and Wesson model 649 revolver loaded with five rounds. Deputies also seized from behind London’s driver’s seat a Puma backpack. Inside the backpack, deputies found a total of 58.17 pure grams of meth, 5.06 grams of psilocin, five suspected Xanax pills inscribed with “21,” suspected marijuana, two digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia.
On July 25, 2024, deputies with the HCSO initiated a traffic stop on London and located 17.74 grams of pure meth in the center console and a digital scale in the driver’s door pocket.
On August 27, 2024, deputies with the HCSO and members with United States Marshals
Service attempted to arrest London on an outstanding warrant. They found London hiding in a camper in Henderson County and he placed under arrest. A loaded 9mm pistol with a round in the chamber and 0.589 grams of pure meth were seized from the camper.
London pleaded guilty on June 30, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by felon. Court records indicate London has two prior felony state convictions for possessing with the intent to distribute controlled substances and as a result he qualified for an increased sentence as a career offender. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville handled the prosecution.
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).
Quant at Investment Management Firm Charged with Securities and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today an Indictment charging JIAN WU with engaging in a scheme to defraud his employer, a New York-based investment management firm (the “Firm”), by secretly manipulating computer-based algorithmic investment models that were used to execute securities trading strategies at the Firm. WU is currently a fugitive, and the case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.
“As alleged, Jian Wu deceived his employer, a quantitative trading firm, into paying him millions of dollars of unearned compensation,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Wu’s employer trusted him to act with integrity when creating models for the firm’s use. Instead, Wu used his technical abilities to cheat his employer out of millions. This Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate, detect, and prosecute fraud in the securities markets wherever we find it.”
“Jian Wu allegedly abused his position to manipulate data models, which resulted in an undeserved multimillion-dollar award for his unlawful actions,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “In doing so, Wu betrayed the trust of his employer who relied on his expertise. The FBI continues its steadfast promise to hold accountable those who seek to exploit their positions to generate illicit compensation.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
WU was employed as a modeler at the Firm, a quantitative investment management firm in Manhattan. In his role, WU designed models for the Firm’s investment vehicles and related funds, using data to build price forecasting models that generated forecasts on stocks and other financial instruments.
Between 2021 and 2023, WU deceived the Firm by manipulating trading models he created in order to increase his own compensation. Specifically, WU designed models, which were approved and released for use, and then covertly made post-release changes to the models’ parameters, which significantly altered the models’ behavior. WU also secretly tested his models on data sets that misrepresented how the models would perform once approved and released. As a result of these changes and misrepresentations, the Firm rewarded WU with an inflated year-end compensation of approximately $23 million. WU then used a portion of his compensation to purchase a multimillion-dollar apartment in Manhattan. When the Firm uncovered WU’s scheme, WU made additional unauthorized changes to the models’ parameters in an attempt to conceal his prior tampering. The Firm fired WU in 2024.
* * *
WU, 34, of China, is charged with one count each of wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which separately initiated civil proceedings against the defendant today.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Li and Alexandra Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
U.S. v. Wu Indictment.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Prior felon arrested on new gun chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael Mitchell, 32, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, late in the evening on August 25, 2025, Buffalo Police officers responded to a residence on Austin Street for a call reporting a male in the house with a gun. When officers arrived, they located the 911 caller down the street. Officers made contact with Mitchell at the residence and detained him while conducting the investigation. Officers searched the residence, during which they seized a black hoodie sweatshirt with an unloaded firearm in the pocket, and a container with two 9mm rounds of ammunition. Officers also located a small amount of suspected crack cocaine.
In April 2013, Mitchell was convicted of a federal charge of bank robbery by force of violence and sentenced to serve 108 months in prison. As a result, he is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Alphonso Wright and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division.
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.
# # # #
Philippine Citizen Charged with Election Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Emily Custodio, 51, of Clementon, New Jersey, has been charged by indictment with one count of voter fraud and one count of voting by an alien.
The defendant made her initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday.
As alleged in the indictment, on or about July 18, 2020, Custodio, a citizen of the Philippines who does not hold American citizenship, applied online to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of State to register to vote in Pennsylvania. In doing so, the indictment alleges, the defendant falsely answered “Yes” to the question about whether she was a United States citizen.
On or about July 21, 2020, based on the information allegedly provided by Custodio, including the false statement that she was a U.S. citizen, her application to register to vote was accepted and she was successfully registered to vote in Pennsylvania.
The indictment further alleges that, on or about November 3, 2020, Custodio appeared in person at her assigned Philadelphia County polling place to cast a vote in the 2020 general election. The defendant allegedly presented photo identification, signed her name in the pollbook next to the statement “I hereby certify that I am qualified to vote at this election…” and cast a vote in the 2020 general election, which included the election for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States.
“The integrity of our electoral system depends on every citizen having confidence that the process is fair, transparent, and free from manipulation,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Election fraud of any sort undermines public trust in our system, and illegal voting by non-citizens dilutes the voice of lawful American voters.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of six years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $350,000 fine.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy Potts and 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.
Philadelphia Man Convicted at Trial in Connection with Violent Home Invasion RobberyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tyreek Byrd, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted today by a federal jury of conspiring to commit armed home invasion robberies, robbery affecting interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery) and using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The defendant was charged with those offenses by second superseding indictment in February 2022.
As proven at trial, from November 2019 through January 2020, Byrd and three co-conspirators conspired to carry out a series of robberies that targeted business owners and another individual that they believed would keep cash in their home. The offenders researched their victims and their businesses, using a GPS tracking device to learn where the victims lived, and used zip ties, duct tape, and firearms to commit these crimes.
On the night of December 31, 2019, Byrd and two co-conspirators accosted the owner of a nail salon in Delaware County, Pa., as the owner returned to the business. The offenders forced the victim inside, and repeatedly demanded money, placing zip ties on the owner’s wrists, covering his mouth with duct tape, and striking his face with their fists and a gun.
The men took cash from the business, then forced the owner to his residence, where they encountered his wife, their children, and their nanny. The men zip-tied the wife and children, then continued to beat the owner and demand money. They ransacked the residence, while making statements like “we have been watching you for weeks” and threatening to drown the victims’ three-year-old daughter.
After approximately 40 minutes of terrorizing the family, the robbers fled with thousands of dollars in business proceeds, jewelry, and other items of value.
Byrd is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum of life in prison.
One of Byrd’s co-conspirators, Willie Singletary, previously pleaded guilty to offenses related to this conspiracy and was sentenced to 17 years’ incarceration on May 20, 2025. Another co-conspirator, Shaquan Brown, was convicted on April 15, 2024, after a trial and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20.
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 Haverford Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Carissimi and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian Doherty.
Pensacola Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jerney Jabara Purifoy, 33, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today.
Purifoy appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho for his arraignment in federal court on September 8, 2025, in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is set for October 20, 2025, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Purifoy faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (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 available 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.
Oskaloosa Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – An Oskaloosa man was sentenced on September 10, 2025, to 18 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation of a child.
According to public court documents, Matthew Scott Beal, 42, produced child pornography of a minor child. Beal also used the internet to distribute four videos of child pornography to an undercover law enforcement account operated by the Homeland Security’s Newark Child Exploitation Task Force. Later, law enforcement seized Beal’s phone during a search of his home in Oskaloosa. Beal’s phone contained over 100 images and videos of child pornography, including prepubescent children engaged in sex acts with adults.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Beal will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Beal was also ordered to pay $15,938.50 in restitution to multiple victims.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations Newark Child Exploitation Group, the Oskaloosa Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jonathan Ayer, 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 5, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for bank fraud. Chief Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Ayer to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ayer’s release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. Additionally, Chief Judge Rossiter ordered Ayer to pay $6,406.89 in restitution.
On January 31, 2023, a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail delivery man was delivering mail in a neighborhood near North 25th and Crown Point avenues in Omaha when he was robbed at gunpoint. The armed robbers demanded his arrow key and were able to obtain it. An arrow key is like a mastery key, allowing the holder to gain access to secure publicly accessible USPS drop boxes, such as blue collection boxes. U.S. Postal Inspectors canvassed the area of the robbery and obtained surveillance video from several neighboring homes, which captured a black sedan that appeared to be following the mail carrier on his route. Footage identified the black sedan leaving the area at an accelerated speed around the time of the robbery. No suspects were immediately identified, but the investigation into the robbery continued.
In April 2023, a victim placed two checks in the blue collection box at the Florence Post Office in Omaha. In May 2023, the victim checked his bank account and saw that one of the checks, originally made out to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), had cleared his bank account. The check was originally made out to the IRS in the amount of $15,171. The image of the deposited check had been altered. The victim indicated the writing on the check was all fraudulent and the only thing that was the same was his signature. The victim reported another check was attempted to be cashed; however, the payment was declined by the bank as a stop payment was placed on the check. The check was in the amount of $10,913 and written out to the Nebraska Department of Revenue. The attempted cashing showed the check was altered and the payee was also changed.
In May 2023, a U.S. Postal Inspector had contact with the Florence Post Office. The clerk indicated they believed they were having issues with an arrow key being used at the location as the volume of mail picked up from the blue collection box outside the Post Office was lower than normal.
Investigation into the bank fraud ultimately identified two addresses in Omaha of interest, which were neighboring homes. The investigation also revealed two possible suspects who were captured on surveillance video cashing checks at ATMs and in Walmart stores. One of the suspects drove a black sedan. Investigation ultimately revealed Jonathan Ayer and Ronnie Colvin, III were suspects in both the robbery and bank fraud.
A search and arrest warrant were simultaneously executed on both Ayer and Colvin in the early morning hours of December 7, 2023. Colvin was pulled over in a vehicle away from the home. Subsequent searches revealed thousands of checks, stolen mail matter and firearms. Colvin was charged with the firearm, robbery, and bank fraud offense. Ayer was charged with bank fraud.
This scheme involved obtaining legitimate checks from the mail and altering the original payee and amount of the check, replacing it with names and identities of individuals whose banking account information Ayer and Colvin had access. Ayer and Colvin would pass the fraudulent checks, obtaining cash. As a result of this scheme, the intended loss amount was over $4.4 million, and the actual loss was more than $200,000.
Colvin was sentenced on August 14, 2025, to a total of 126 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, assaulting a USPS mail carrier, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 150 Months for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Miguel Angel Rodriguez Ramirez, 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 3, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for transportation of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Rodriguez Ramirez to 150 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rodriguez Ramirez’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On May 1, 2024, Google LLC made a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicating a Google user uploaded 13 videos depicting child pornography. The IP address associated with the CyberTip resolved to an Omaha residence where Rodriguez Ramirez resided. A Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained a search warrant for Rodriguez Ramirez’s Google account and, in reviewing the Google account’s contents, confirmed Rodriguez Ramirez uploaded the videos referenced in the CyberTip to his Google Drive in March 2024. On August 8, 2024, the FBI executed a residential search warrant at Rodriguez Ramirez’s Omaha residence. Agents seized his iPhone and several electronic devices from within the residence. Rodriguez Ramirez informed agents he received the child pornography videos from a link someone sent him via Telegram and then uploaded the images to his Google Drive.
Agents forensically extracted and analyzed Rodriguez Ramirez’s electronic devices. The content of Rodriguez Ramirez’s Google account and his device extractions revealed he possessed at least 270 child pornography image files and 13 child pornography video files. The files included pornographic images and videos depicting prepubescent children, including an infant, and contained masochistic conduct.
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 Attorney’s 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.
This case was investigated by the the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Oklahoma City Daycare Owner Convicted of Obstructing Audit and Embezzling Funds Meant for ChildcareRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – PRISCILLA ORANGE, 67, of Oklahoma City, has been convicted of obstructing a federal audit and two counts of federal program theft, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On April 16, 2025, a federal Grand Jury returned a three-count Indictment against Orange, charging her with the crimes listed above. On September 10, 2025, after a two-day trial, a federal jury found Orange guilty on all counts. Orange owned and operated Rainbow Connection Child Care & Learning Center (Rainbow Connection), a childcare center with multiple locations in the Western District of Oklahoma. Evidence presented at trial indicated that, in 2021, the Oklahoma Department of Education launched an audit of reimbursements provided to Rainbow Connection by the Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, CACFP funded nutritious meals and snacks for low-income children at participating childcare centers. Since at least 2013, Rainbow Connection participated in CACFP and received approximately $1,555,000. The 2021 audit was intended to verify that Orange had served as many meals and snacks to children as she had previously claimed each month and for which she had been reimbursed. Testimony at trial showed that, in an attempt to obstruct the audit, Orange submitted false and fraudulent food-related expenses to the Oklahoma Department of Education.
Additionally, trial evidence showed that Orange applied for and received childcare stabilization grants (CCSGs), money allocated by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Childcare centers that received CCSGs were required to use the money for approved business expenses. In all, Rainbow Connection received nearly $500,000 from the CCSG program. Evidence at trial showed that Orange used Rainbow Connection accounts to gamble at local casinos and otherwise diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars for personal use.
At sentencing, Orange faces up to 25 years in federal prison, and fines of up to $750,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys D.H. Dilbeck and Jackson D. Eldridge are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Ocean County Man Admits to Traveling to a Foreign Place to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County man admitted to traveling to a foreign place to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Jacob Bauer, 29, of Toms River, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch to a one-count Information charging him with engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From December 1, 2023 through December 10, 2023, Bauer, then 27 years old, traveled from the United States to Norway to engage in sexual activity with a 14-year-old female. Once in Norway, Bauer, staying at a hotel, engaged in sexual activity with the victim. After returning to the United States, Bauer communicated over social media platforms with the victim and others about his sexual activities with the victim. During those conversations, Bauer acknowledged the victim’s age and status as a minor. After members of an online community that Bauer was active in learned of his sexual activities with a minor, Bauer was “doxxed” (his public information published online) by members of that community.
The charge of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place carries a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2026.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited the special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. She also thanked the New Brunswick Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Vincent Sabo, the Manchester Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Antonio Ellis, the FBI Legal Attaché Office, U.S. Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark, the FBI Legal Attaché Office, U.S. Embassy, Warsaw, Poland, the Jackson County, Georgia Sheriff's Office, INTERPOL, the Norwegian Politiet, Troms District, the Norwegian Politiet, NC3 KRIPOS, and the Poland Policja CBZC, Central Cybercrime Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.
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.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Defense counsel: Andrea Aldana, Esq., Federal Public Defenders.
bauer.information.pdfNew Jersey Woman Indicted on Charges Relating to Stolen U.S. Treasury CheckRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging MADISYN PETTAWAY, 30, of Newark, New Jersey, with offenses related to the attempted deposit of a stolen U.S. Treasury check at a Connecticut credit union.
As alleged in court documents, on August 27, 2024, Pettaway, using a stolen identity and a fraudulent New Jersey driver’s license, opened an account at a branch of Charter Oak Federal Credit Union. On September 13, 2024, Pettaway attempted to deposit a U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $410,085.48 at the credit union. Charter Oak FCU ultimately did not accept the deposit.
It is further alleged that, in June 2025, Pettaway opened another account at a branch of Charter Oak FCU using a fraudulent identity. On July 28, 2025, East Lyme Police arrested Pettaway and charged her with state offenses. Pettaway possessed a fake New York driver’s license and three debit cards in the name of the fraudulent identity at the time of her arrest. She was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on August 20, 2025.
The indictment, which was returned on September 3, charges Pettaway with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud, offenses that carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count; theft of government property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; and aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years.
Pettaway appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and was released on a $100,000 bond.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the East Lyme Police Department, and the Montville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
Naugatuck Resident Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Operating Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAFAEL MUZZI, 28, a citizen of Brazil residing in Naugatuck, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 18 months of imprisonment for operating an investment fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2017 and 2018, Muzzi, at times using two entities he formed, Solace Investments LLC and Asseno LLC, induced victim-investors to provide him funds based on the representation he would use the funds for trading currencies in foreign exchange markets using a trading software program that he told his victims he had developed. Muzzi represented to victims that his software program had a feature that would cause trading to cease in the event of a certain loss in value, thus minimizing downside risk. Muzzi failed to invest a substantial portion of invested funds as he represented, and instead diverted those funds for his own personal use, and to pay other individuals who had invested with him. Through this scheme, Muzzi stole a total of $579,925.28 from 21 victim-investors.
Muzzi sent victims fabricated monthly account statements that falsely overstated their return on investment and their account balances. These misrepresentations induced some victim-investors to provide him with additional investment funds.
In response to victim complaints, the State of Connecticut’s Department of Banking investigated Muzzi’s conduct, issued orders finding that Muzzi and Solace Investments had violated state securities laws, ordered them to make restitution to victims, and fined Muzzi $300,000. On September 6, 2020, Muzzi traveled to Brazil and did not return.
On August 23, 2022, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Muzzi with fraud and money laundering offenses. Muzzi was arrested on April 1, 2023, in Panama, and subsequently waived his right to contest his extradition to the U.S. On July 30, 2024, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
Judge Underhill ordered Muzzi to pay full restitution.
Muzzi, who is released on a $150,000 bond, is required to report to prison on February 11.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Banking, Securities Division.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked Interpol and Panamanian authorities for their assistance in apprehending this defendant, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for providing significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant from Panama.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor M. Reardon and Michael S. McGarry.
Naturalized United States Citizen from Pakistan Charged with Attempting to Kidnap a Minor Child in CanadaRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Today, a criminal complaint was unsealed charging Shahzad Hameedi, a.k.a. Sheraz Hameed, 46, with attempted kidnapping of a minor child, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Hameedi is a naturalized United States citizen from Pakistan who resides in Wayne County, Michigan.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz, Homeland Security Investigations, Detroit.
According to the criminal complaint, Hameedi began dating a single mother in Windsor, Canada under the alternate name Sheraz Hameed. After she restricted his access to her minor child, Hameedi embarked on an operation to kidnap the child in June 2025. During the investigation, agents recovered a laminated ransom note, and evidence showed that Hameedi had researched tranquilizers and assembled items such as a stun gun, a toddler life vest, zip ties, duct tape, rubber gloves, and strong cold medication with a funnel. Evidence also showed that Hameedi then surreptitiously crossed the border to Canada and entered the child’s home at night, where he tried to strangle the mother before being chased away. Two days later, Hameedi returned to the home and assaulted the child.
“The defendant’s alleged plan to kidnap a young child by sneaking across the border and entering Canada, breaking into a mother’s home at night, strangling her and then assaulting her innocent, young child two days later is diabolical. No parent or child should ever be subjected to this wickedness. We will bring the full force of the law against violent predators.” U.S. Attorney Gorgon said.
“HSI is committed to working with our Canadian partners to hold criminals accountable and safeguard innocent children on both sides of the Northern border,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz. “I’m proud of the HSI agents, the Windsor Police Service and the prosecutors who worked tirelessly to bring charges in this case.”
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. It is the burden of the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Windsor Police Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann Nee, Matthew Roth, and Eaton Brown.
Nadine Menendez Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Bribery, Foreign Agent, and Obstruction OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that NADINE MENENDEZ was sentenced to 54 months in prison for bribery, foreign agent, and obstruction of justice offenses. NADINE MENENDEZ was sentenced for her critical role in a corruption and foreign influence scheme involving her husband, convicted former Senator Robert Menendez, and others. NADINE MENENDEZ was convicted on April 21, 2025, following a five-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein, who imposed today’s sentence.
“The defendant and her partner in crime, former Senator Robert Menendez, engaged in the most brazen form of public corruption—gold bars, cash, and a luxury car in exchange for a Senator’s power,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s sentence sends an important message: our elected officials are not for sale.”
According to the Superseding Indictment, the evidence at trial, and public filings:
Robert Menendez, at all relevant times, was the senior U.S. Senator from New Jersey and held a leadership position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (the “SFRC”), first as the Ranking Member and then the Chairman. Shortly after Robert Menendez began dating his now-wife NADINE MENENDEZ, then known as Nadine Arslanian, in early 2018, NADINE MENENDEZ introduced Robert Menendez to her long-time friend Wael Hana, a New Jersey businessman who was originally from Egypt and maintained close connections with Egyptian officials. Hana was also a business associate of Fred Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer and long-time donor to Robert Menendez, and Jose Uribe, who worked in the New Jersey insurance and trucking business.
Between 2018 and 2022, when they learned of the federal investigation, Robert Menendez and NADINE MENENDEZ agreed to and did accept hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of bribes from Hana, Daibes, and Uribe. These bribes included gold, cash, a luxury convertible, payments toward NADINE MENENDEZ’s home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job for NADINE MENENDEZ, home furnishings, and other things of value. In June 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) executed a court-authorized search warrant at the New Jersey home of Robert Menendez and NADINE MENENDEZ. During that search, the FBI found many of the fruits of this bribery scheme. Over $480,000 in cash—much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe—was discovered in the home. Some of the envelopes contained the fingerprints of Robert Menendez or Daibes. Law enforcement agents also found home furnishings provided by Hana and Daibes, the luxury vehicle paid for by Uribe parked in the garage, and over $100,000 worth of gold bars in the home, which were provided by either Hana or Daibes.
In exchange for these and other things of value, NADINE MENENDEZ and Robert Menendez agreed and promised that Robert Menendez would use his power and influence as a Senator to seek to protect Hana’s, Uribe’s, and Daibes’s interests and to benefit a foreign country. Through this corrupt relationship, NADINE MENENDEZ and Robert Menendez promised and agreed that Robert Menendez would take a series of official acts. First, Robert Menendez took actions to benefit the Government of Egypt and Hana, including by seeking to pressure an official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in an attempt to protect a business monopoly granted to Hana by Egypt, and by secretly representing the interests of Egypt by, among other things, ghostwriting a letter for Egypt to be provided to his own Senate colleagues and providing non-public information and assistance to Egypt. Second, Robert Menendez took actions seeking to disrupt a criminal investigation undertaken by the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General related to Uribe and his associates. Third, Robert Menendez recommended that then-President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., nominate a U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey whom Robert Menendez believed he could influence to disrupt a federal criminal prosecution undertaken by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey of Daibes. Finally, NADINE MENENDEZ conspired and endeavored to obstruct justice in connection with the federal investigation into this scheme.
* * *
In addition to her prison term, NADINE MENENDEZ, 58, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $922,188.10.[1]
Robert Menendez, Hana, and Daibes were convicted on July 16, 2024, following a nine-week jury trial. Robert Menendez, Hana, and Daibes were sentenced principally to 11 years, more than eight years, and seven years in prison, respectively, for bribery, foreign agent, and obstruction of justice offenses.
Uribe previously pleaded guilty pursuant to a cooperation agreement to conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, and wire fraud. Sentencing for Uribe is scheduled for October 9, 2025.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation for its invaluable assistance on the investigation and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section for its support of the case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Mark, Paul M. Monteleoni, Lara Pomerantz, Daniel C. Richenthal, and Catherine Ghosh, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Clark, are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Shirel Garzon and former Paralegal Specialist Arjun Ahuja.
[1] The Court ruled that NADINE MENENDEZ’s conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent charge was subsumed by the bribery conspiracy count and did not impose a separate sentence for it.
Multiple Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Running Commercial Pill Press Operation in HillyardRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington –United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice has sentenced Timothy Gary Maddox, 44, of Spokane, Washington to a 20 year term of incarceration, to be followed by 5 years of court supervision upon his release stemming from his role in running a commercial pill press operation out of a residence in the Hillyard neighborhood of Spokane.
According to court documents and information discussed during the sentencing hearing, Maddox and his co-defendant Nicholas Adams obtained a commercial pill press via mail from China and set up a ‘pill mill’ the basement of Adams’ residence, mixing powder fentanyl and cutting agents to make their own fentanyl pills for bulk distribution into the community.
Search warrants were executed at multiple locations in November 2023 and yielded a massive amount of fentanyl powder, cutting agents, pill press parts, and multiple firearms along with an operational commercial pill press (below). Given the extremely hazardous conditions and contamination of nearly every flat surface created by operating a pill lab, the Department of Ecology assisted in the execution of the search warrant at Adams’ residence.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s calculations, the amount of fentanyl powder Maddox and Adams had on hand to produce pills was easily enough to make over 2,000,000 fentanyl pills containing a lethal dose. Put another way, the amount of fentanyl powder they had on hand to make these illicit pills could kill the entire population of Spokane County almost four times over.
In addition to their fentanyl pill production, Maddox and Adams possessed large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana. They were each armed with multiple loaded firearms in their respective residences, which included loaded (and chambered) handguns, loaded modified shotguns, and AK-type rifles. In Maddox’s residence, he also had a loaded firearm (with a round chambered) that had a “Glock switch,” making it a fully automatic machine gun, along with a loaded large drum magazine as well as three sets of body armor.
Notably, Maddox engaged in this conduct after already amassing multiple criminal convictions over the course of the last 30 years, including, residential burglary, vehicle theft, domestic violence, negligent driving, protection order violations, assault, and drug trafficking. Maddox also has a previous federal conviction for drug trafficking in 2015, when he told arresting officers that he had been dealing drugs “for years” in the Spokane area and that he was one of the area’s largest drug dealers. He further advised that during the two years before that arrest, he was dealing approximately one pound of methamphetamine and one ounce of heroin every other day. His criminal history also shows that when he was engaged in the conduct at issue in this case, he committed a drive-by-shooting during which he fired eight rounds into an occupied residence and several days later, fired approximately 17 times into an occupied vehicle (Spokane County Superior Court Case Number 23-1-10840-32).
“Stopping the production and flow of fentanyl into our communities is one of the most challenging crises we face as law enforcement. This is a matter of importance as it will protect public health. This investigation and prosecution provide a tremendous example of the collaborative approach we take to fighting this serious and ever-increasing threat to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Serrano. “The volume of fentanyl that this investigation took of the street is truly staggering. I cannot overstate the impact our team made here, by identifying a repeat criminal who was manufacturing vast quantities of this deadly drug while heavily armed. Removing him for decades will protect this community in ways seen and unseen. We want the public to know that these threats exist and that our team is working tirelessly to combat them wherever and whenever they appear.”
“Mr. Maddox is a career criminal who endangered the safety and health of our community with a truly lethal mix of homemade counterfeit fentanyl pills and automatic weapons,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division. “Mr. Maddox made fentanyl even more dangerous by recklessly mixing substances at home, where he could include anything he chose into his deadly concoctions. Mr. Maddox spent years peddling misery and death for his own enrichment and I am proud that DEA and our partners could put an end to his trafficking with this sentence.”
"HSI Seattle answered the President's call to confront our nation’s fentanyl crisis head-on by bringing justice in one of Eastern Washington’s largest pill manufacturing cases,” said HSI Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “With this sentencing, Maddox is held accountable for endangering a residential neighborhood by operating a makeshift narcotics lab that housed enough fentanyl to produce over two million lethal pills. Clearly, Maddox had no regard for public safety and was only out to make a profit. This case underscores HSI’s unwavering dedication to safeguard our communities and protect the well-being of the American people.”
“I am confident that the removal of this significant and lethal amount of fentanyl, other dangerous drugs, and cache of weapons, combined with the equipment used to produce and distribute these deadly pills rapidly, saved lives,” stated Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels. “This is a direct result of the strong partnership between our local law enforcement agencies and our federal colleagues. Together, we share the goal of eliminating this destructive poison from our community and ensuring that those who pedal it are held accountable.”
Adams is still pending trial which is currently set for December 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement & Narcotics (RAVEN) Task Force, and the Spokane Police Department. It is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.Mexican National Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Reentry; Faces DeportationRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Miguel Molina-Echavarria, age 40, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced yesterday to time-served (nearly 4 months in prison) by United States District Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. for illegally reentering the country after having previously been removed.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Molina-Echavarria was indicted by a federal grand jury after being arrested for Driving Under the Influence and related charges in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on May 18, 2025. Molina-Echavarria had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to a court order in 2024. Molina-Echavarria pleaded guilty to illegal reentry before being sentenced.
The case was investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis P. Sempa and Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Molina-Echavarria still faces pending state charges in Franklin County, and an ICE detainer is lodged against him for deportation proceedings.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry by Deported AlienRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Pedro Lucas-Cruz (31, Mexico) to 30 months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a deported alien. Lucas-Cruz pled guilty to the offense on June 30, 2025.
According to court documents, Lucas-Cruz had been previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and felony battery on or about February 12, 2015. He was previously deported and removed from the United States on September 21, 2017, and reentered thereafter. Lucas-Cruz was convicted of illegal reentry by a deported alien on March 11, 2021, and was again deported and removed from the United States on February 4, 2022. Sometime thereafter, Lucas-Cruz again illegally reentered the United States and was found in the Middle District of Florida on January 6, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick M. Flanigan.
Mexican National Charged with Illegal Reentry After Committing an Aggravated FelonyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Leon-Avalos, age 32, of Mexico, was indicted on September 10, 2025, by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States after committing an aggravated felony.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Leon-Avalos was convicted of Aggravated Assault and Attempted Indecent Assault in Dauphin County’s Court of Common Pleas in January 2015. It further alleges Leon-Avalos was removed from the United States on January 6, 2016, through Brownsville, Texas, and then found on or about August 26, 2025, in Dauphin County without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country.
This case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen W. Dukes is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is twenty years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Mexican Citizen Living Illegally in Charleston Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Immigration CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Bernabe Montalvo Salas, 24, a Mexican citizen living illegally in Charleston, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, to reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to time served. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration detainer on Salas and he will be transferred to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 28, 2025, law enforcement officers encountered Salas in the South Charleston area. ICE agents confirmed that Salas was a citizen of Mexico in the United States illegally and that he had previously been deported from the United States. Salas had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States.
Salas was removed from the United States to Mexico on or about March 4, 2019, after being found at or near Roma, Texas, on March 1, 2019. Salas never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States for either of the prior removals, nor did he seek to reenter the United States through other legal means.
ICE agents encountered two brothers of Salas living illegally in Charleston. Maximino Montalvo Salas, 20, was deported after pleading guilty on July 24, 2025, to the felony offense of knowingly possessing a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”). Federico Montalvo Salas, 22, pleaded guilty on July 1, 2025, to reentry of a removed alien and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2025. ICE has an immigration detainer on Federico Montalvo Salas so he will be transferred to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings at the conclusion of any sentence.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case, as part of a special unit within the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia focused on the immigration enforcement objectives of Operation Take Back America.
Operation Take Back America is 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-81.
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Media Advisory- Chesapeake Regional Medical Center (CRMC) Case UpdatesRead the Press Release
CASE NAME: United States v. Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, Criminal Case No. 2:25-cr-1
COURT: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division
CASE SUMMARY: On January 8, 2025, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center (aka Chesapeake General Hospital, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare) (CRMC) was charged in a two-count criminal indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States and interfere with government functions, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347, related to its alleged actions involving CRMC’s billing to insurance companies for Dr. Javaid Perwaiz’s performance of surgeries and other procedures at its facility. CRMC made its appearance before the Court and entered a plea of not guilty.
According to court documents, CRMC was a hospital in Chesapeake, Virginia. In April 1984, CRMC granted privileges to Perwaiz. In November 2020, Perwaiz was convicted of 52 counts of health care fraud and false statements in health care matters. Approximately 38 counts of the convictions were for procedures performed at CRMC, including unnecessary hysterectomies and other invasive and irreversible surgeries, elective inductions prior to 39 weeks of gestation without medical justification, and sterilizations of Medicaid patients without consent forms signed 30 days in advance. Perwaiz performed all his obstetric deliveries and inpatient surgeries, including hysterectomies, and other surgeries and procedures, at CRMC. From 2010 to 2019, CRMC received approximately $18.5 million in reimbursements from health care benefit programs for surgical and obstetric procedures Perwaiz performed at the facility.
CASE STATUS: Two motions to dismiss were denied by the Court, but the order to deny is currently on appeal.
VICTIM RESPONSE: To ensure that members of the public, including potential victims of CMRC’s alleged fraud, are informed of developments in this ongoing case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has established a page on its website, available at the following link:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/united-states-v-chesapeake-regional-medical-center-crim-no-225-cr-1
The website currently includes a copy of the indictment and other pleadings filed in this case. Victims with questions can call 1-844-527-5299 and reference the above case name and docket number. Victim impact statements can be emailed to EDVA Victim Witness, or mailed to:
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Attn: Victim Witness
101 W Main Street
Suite 8000
Norfolk, VA 23510-1671
McCurtain County Resident Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Allan Wayne Hilton, a/k/a Alan Wayne Hilton, a/k/a Terry L. Leonard, a/k/a Allen Wayne Hilton, age 67, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that Hilton was required to register as a sex offender after being convicted of three counts of Rape in Miller County, Arkansas, on February 25, 1993, and that from June 20, 2023, until June 10, 2025, Hilton failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hilton will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Wittlinger and Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.