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19 November 2025
Johnstown Resident Pleads Guilty to Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
This release was published following the 43-day government shutdown during which the plea occurred.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.
Jonathan Brunson, 54, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to Counts One, Two, Three, and Five of the Superseding Indictment on November 4, 2025.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2019 to July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Brunson conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, 28 grams or more of crack, 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and cocaine. Similarly, in and around June 2021, Brunson possessed with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture of fentanyl and, in and around April 2021, possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. Brunson was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Brunson. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation; United States Postal Inspection Service; Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; Pennsylvania State Police; Cambria County District Attorney’s Office; Indiana County District Attorney’s Office; Cambria County Sheriff’s Office; Cambria Township Police Department; Indiana Borough Police Department; Johnstown Police Department; Upper Yoder Township Police Department; Richland Police Department; Ferndale Police Department; and other local law enforcement agencies.
Illegal alien pleads guilty to assaulting Immigration OfficerRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, an illegal alien from Mexico, has pleaded guilty to assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officer. The defendant, during a traffic stop, shoved a deportation officer into oncoming traffic, endangering the officer’s life.
“All law enforcement officers must be allowed to perform their duties free from violent attacks,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will prosecute anyone who assaults a federal officer in this district.”
“Violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and will never be tolerated,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, is committed to holding accountable those who resort to violence against the brave men and women who work tirelessly to protect our communities.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On May 20, 2025, an ICE deportation officer conducted a vehicle stop in Commerce, Georgia to execute an administrative arrest warrant for an illegal alien. The driver, Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. He refused to comply with the officer’s requests to provide identification and identify himself. Once outside the vehicle, Trejo-Martinez shoved the deportation officer into the four-lane highway where vehicles were passing.
Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, 41, of Querétaro, Mexico, pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer. Trejo-Martinez was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 1, 2025. Sentencing has been scheduled for January 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cathelynn Tio is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Two Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A native of Mexico has been sentenced for illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
United States District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Cristofer Ruben Pecero-Ramirez, 27, a citizen of Mexico, to 24 months in prison. Pecero-Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation.
According to the court documents, Pecero-Ramirez was originally removed from the United States on August 12, 2024. Just 11 days after removal, Pecero-Ramirez was found in the United States and removed again on August 26, 2024. Just over a month after his second removal, Pecero-Ramirez was arrested in Columbiana, Alabama, by an officer with the Alabaster Police Department for two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Removal Office (ICE/ERO) in Birmingham was notified of the arrest through the Alien Criminal Response Information Management System (ACRIME), and Pecero-Ramirez was later transferred into federal custody.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Alabaster Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Brame prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Camerino Perez Perez, 41, a/k/a “Squirrel,” a Mexican citizen, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as an alien unlawfully in the United States. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent work by our state and federal law enforcement partners, and another successful prosecution by my office, this violent illegal alien faces federal prison for violating our nation’s public safety laws, and will be swiftly deported thereafter. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have unleashed the full force of our law enforcement resources when they promised to Take Back America from violent illegal aliens who think they can violate our federal laws with impunity, and my office intends to make good on that promise to keep our communities safe.”
Court documents reflect that on May 25, 2025, the defendant was holding a loaded rifle when law enforcement responded to a residence in Levy County for a domestic disturbance call. The defendant had to be tased after he refused to comply with law enforcement’s instructions to drop the firearm and then flipped a table towards the law enforcement on scene. After the defendant was detained, law enforcement found an additional twenty-four rounds of ammunition in his pocket. The defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because he entered the United States illegally and was not authorized to remain in the United States.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
Sentencing is set for January 13, 2026, at 2 pm in Gainesville, Florida, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. The defendant faces a maximum of fifteen years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, Illegal Reentry After Prior DeportationRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Marco Gonzalez-Oliva, 25, of Honduras, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of child pornography and illegal reentry by a removed alien. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I truly appreciate the hard work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and help bring this criminal illegal alien to justice. My office will aggressively prosecute offenders who perpetuate the cycle of victimization that exists whenever child sexual abuse material is accessed and distributed, and we will seek maximum punishment for those who exploit the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Court documents reflect that in March 2024, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant related to CyberTips generated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The defendant was located at the Fort Walton Beach residence. Pursuant to the search warrant, law enforcement found videos and photographs of child pornography on the defendant’s cellular telephone. During the investigation, the defendant was identified as a native and citizen of Honduras, who was previously deported from the United States in April of 2023.
The defendant faces a maximum of ten years of imprisonment on the child pornography charge and a maximum two years’ imprisonment on the illegal reentry charge.
The case involved a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 8, 2026, at 1:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case is also part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
ICYMI: Significant Federal Prosecutions in the Northern District of Alabama During the 2025 Government ShutdownRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – During the recent federal government shutdown, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama continued its mission to protect public safety and hold criminals accountable, prosecuting cases involving immigration violations, violent crime, drug trafficking, and other federal offenses.
“During the shutdown, the mission of my office remained the same: to pursue justice for the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. “Our prosecutors’ efforts never stopped. Every day, they were in the office, in the courtroom, and working with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice and keep our communities safe.”
The following cases highlight just a portion of the important work carried out during the shutdown:
- Juan Francisco Castaneda, also known as “Pariente,” 44, pleaded guilty to all counts charged in the superseding indictment, including conspiring to traffic fentanyl, conspiring to commit money laundering, and distribution of fentanyl.
- Juan Martin Sanchez-Suarez, 24, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for production of child pornography.
- Wayne Carnell Brown, 74, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, Alabama, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine.
- Raymone Eugene Tabb, 33, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Joel Wesley Dillard, 47, of Morris, Alabama, was sentenced to 189 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release for possession of child pornography.
- Addison Lee Cook, also known as “Adihsun,” 34, of Nashville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release for production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.
- Elmer David Hernandez-Garcia, 29, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
- Jamarion Carmaine Walker, 23, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegal possession of a machine gun. Walker advertised and sold machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly referred to as “Glock switches.” Walker marketed himself as the “Switch God.”
- Gary Forrest Edwards, 65, of Maylene, Alabama, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for tax evasion and interfering with the administration of federal tax laws. Edwards, a chiropractor, pleaded guilty during his trial.
- Daymon Maurice Collins, 52, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.
- Jacob Edward Daugherty, 34, of Steele, Alabama, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
These cases were investigated by federal law enforcement partners from ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI and Homeland Security Investigations.
Hollidaysburg Lawyer Sentenced to Prison for Forging U.S. District Judge’s SignatureRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on November 18, 2025, to 15 months of imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release, on his conviction of forgery, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Michael Brandon Cohen, 42, who pleaded guilty on July 25, 2025, to forging the signature of a United States District Judge on two occasions.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, in 2022, Cohen was licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Cohen was retained to represent a victim in a civil lawsuit against a healthcare company, and informed the victim that he filed the lawsuit on the victim’s behalf in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; however, Cohen never filed the lawsuit.
On both May 18, 2022, and October 13, 2022, Cohen sent the victim fake court orders purportedly issued by the Chief United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in the victim’s favor against the healthcare company. The orders awarded the victim monetary sanctions and fees and bore the electronic signature of the Chief Judge. However, the Chief Judge never issued the orders and, therefore, did not authorize his electronic signature on the orders. Rather, Cohen forged the Chief Judge’s signature on the fake orders in an effort to authenticate their legitimacy to his victim client.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carl J. Spindler and Mark Gurzo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Blair County District Attorney’s Office for their support in the successful prosecution of Cohen.
Henry County Man Indicted on Federal Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in Jackson, Tennessee recently returned an indictment charging a McKenzie, Tennessee man with multiple federal child sexual exploitation offenses. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the return of the indictment today.
According to the indictment, John A. Bell, 59, is charged with 14 counts of using and employing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct and a single count of possessing a cell phone that contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including visual depictions involving a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age engaging in such conduct. The indictment concerns Bell’s alleged acts against six minors and ranges in time from the fall of 2021 until October 2025.
This case is pending before United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen in Jackson. Bell is facing a 15-year mandatory-minimum sentence and a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment on each of the production counts and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession count.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by Special Agent Eric McCraw, FBI Nashville Division, Jackson Resident Agency, and Lt. David Andrews with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. If anyone has any additional information regarding this case or any matter involving the abuse of minor children, please contact the FBI Nashville Division (615-232-7500) or the Henry County Sheriff’s Office (731-642-1672).
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Hamden Woman Charged with Child Sex Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that JAMIRA DENISE MYERS, also known as “Chocolate,” 42, of Hamden, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with sex trafficking and attempted sex trafficking of minors, forced labor and attempted forced labor of minors, and obstruction and attempted obstruction of sex trafficking enforcement.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in July 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) reported to the New Haven Police Department that images of a 16-year-old girl had been seen on skipthegames.com, a website that advertises commercial sex services. An HSI Task Force investigation revealed that Myers used the website to post advertisements for sexual services involving the 16-year-old girl and at least four other minor girls between the ages of 14 and 17. Myers arranged meetings between clients and the minors and transported the minors to the meetings, including hotel rooms she rented. Myers initially instructed the minors to rob clients upon meeting them, splitting the stolen money with the minors. She later directed at least one minor girl to engage in sexual acts with clients.
Myers was arrested on October 10, 2025, and is currently detained. If convicted of the most serious charges, she faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the New Haven Police Department and the Watertown Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel M. Krull and Daniel P. Gordon.
To report information that may be helpful to the investigation and prosecution of this matter, please call the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423. To report cases of child exploitation, please visit https://report.cybertip.org.
Honduran Nationals Indicted for Sex Trafficking and Prostitution OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kurt Wall announced that a federal grand jury recently returned a five-count indictment charging Jesus Lopez, age 45, Zaira Lopez-Oliva, age 24, Kirsis Castellanos-Kirington, age 30, with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking, and coercing and enticing another to travel interstate for prostitution. Each defendant is a Honduran national that is present in the United States without authorization. They appeared for their arraignments and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
According to the criminal complaint that preceded the indictment, between May 2023 and continuing through October 9, 2025, the defendants used WhatsApp to send photographs of scantily clad women of various nationalities, advertising that they were available for commercial sex acts. They are also alleged to have transported young women from the New Orleans Airport back to the Middle District of Louisiana in furtherance of the sex trafficking operation. The defendants also created a “menu” advertisement on social media to solicit customers for commercial sex acts with those females. The females were allegedly threatened and feared harm if they left the apartments where the commercial sex acts took place.
If convicted of the sex trafficking charges, each defendant faces a minimum of fifteen years and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. They are also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completing any sentences imposed.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—Homeland Security Investigations, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner, who also serves as Deputy Criminal Chief, Assistant United States Attorney Stephen R. Vick, Jr., and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allen Ross.
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.
An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Four men arrested and charged with illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that two defendants were charged in separate criminal complaints with illegal re-entry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, two other defendants were charged in separate complaints with unlawful re-entry after certain convictions, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Named in the complaints are:
- Mario Dario Cao-Tzul a.k.a. Mario Hernandez-Lopez, 38, a native and citizen of Guatemala. On November 6, 2025, law enforcement encountered Cao-Tzul following a traffic stop of a vehicle that he was driving in Amherst, NY. Cao-Tzul was illegally present in the United States without any valid immigration documents that would allow him to remain. A subsequent records check determined that Cao-Tzul was physically removed from the United States in August 2010, April 2013, and May 2019.
- Miguel Ibarra-Saavedra, 43, a native and citizen of Mexico. On November 3, 2025, Ibarra-Saavedra was encountered by law enforcement in West Seneca, NY, as they conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle he was riding in. When questioned about citizenship, Ibarra-Saavedra stated that he did not have any legal status or immigration documents that would allow him to remain in the United States legally. A records check determined that Ibarra-Saavedra was physically removed from the United States in January 2008 and February 2008.
- Pedri Servin Grimaldo, 53, and Luis Alberto Servin Sanchez, 47, both natives and citizens of Mexico. On November 3, 2025, Servin Grimaldo and Servin Sanchez were encountered by law enforcement following the traffic stop of a vehicle the two men were passengers in near a construction site in West Seneca, NY. Neither defendant had any valid immigration documents that would allow them to remain in the United States. A records check determined that Servin Grimaldo was convicted of felony charges in the State of Florida in August 1995 and February 1999. In October 2001, Servin Grimaldo was physically removed from the United States. Servin Sanchez was convicted of a felony charge in September 2001 in the State of North Carolina. He was physically removed from the United States in December 2001. In August 2004 Servin Sanchez was found to be in the United States unlawfully and was physically removed once again in September 2004. In October 2008, Servin Sanchez was again found to be in the United States unlawfully and was physically removed in December 2009.
The defendants made initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and were detained.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The complaints are the culmination of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol Buffalo Station, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Four men arrested and charged with illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that four defendants were charged in separate criminal complaints with illegal re-entry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Named in the complaints are:
- Salvador Vargas Nava, 43, a native and citizen of Mexico. On October 20, 2025, Vargas Nava was pulled over by law enforcement for running two stop signs in Concord, NY. When questioned, Vargas Nava did not possess valid immigration documents that would allow him to be in the United States. Vargas Nava was physically removed from the United States in July 2009.
- Juver Vidal Quex Tocora, 29, a native and citizen of Guatemala. On October 20, 2025, law enforcement encountered Quex Tocora in Amherst, NY. When questioned, he did not possess valid immigration documents that would allow him to be in the United States. Quex Tocora was physically removed from the United States in May 2013.
- Jose de Jesus Rodiguez Esparza, 32, and Mauricio Rangel Rangel, 48, both natives and citizens of Mexico. On October 16, 2025, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop of two vehicles in West Seneca, NY, associated with a company that transported and hired illegal aliens. The vehicle Rangel Rangel was riding in pulled over and when asked by law enforcement, he stated that he did not have any valid immigration documents that would allow him to remain in the United States legally. Rangel Rangel was physically removed from the United States in October 2014. The vehicle Rodiguez Esparza was riding in pulled over, but the occupants attempted to flee. Law enforcement caught up to Rodiguez Esparza, who did not possess any valid immigration documents that would allow him to remain in the United States legally. He was physically removed from the United States in September 2016.
The defendants made initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and were detained.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The complaints are the culmination of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol Buffalo Station, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sasha Mascarenhas.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Four Drug Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Thousands of Fentanyl-Laced PillsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Four drug traffickers responsible for distributing thousands of fentanyl pills in the Charlotte area were sentenced to prison today, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Ezekiel Lee Suber, 26, of Forest City, N.C. was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Darien Akiel Brown, 24, also of Forest City, was sentenced to 72 months in prison and four years of supervised release. Elija McDowell, 22, of Charlotte was ordered to serve 57 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and Jocelyn Marie Hamilton, 26, of Charleston, West Virginia, was sentenced to five years of probation.
According to court documents and court proceedings, between 2023 and 2024, the defendants, led by Suber, operated as a drug conspiracy trafficking fentanyl in Charlotte and elsewhere. Court documents show that during the investigation undercover law enforcement officers made multiple purchases of fentanyl-laced pills from Suber and his co-defendants. The pills were yellow in color and had a “T-189” imprint, which is the same as color and imprint as 30 milligram Oxycodone Hydrochloride tablets. In addition, court documents show that during some of the undercover drug buys law enforcement observed that Suber was armed with a firearm. On February 27, 2024, law enforcement arrested Suber at his residence in Charlotte. During a subsequent search of the residence, they seized two loaded firearms, two loaded magazines, multiple rounds of ammunition, and more than $4,200 in U.S. currency. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement purchased over 7,000 fentanyl-laced pills from the co-conspirators, containing over a kilogram of fentanyl.
In making the announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington prosecuted the case.
Founders of Samourai Wallet Cryptocurrency Mixing Service Sentenced to Five and Four Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, Nicolas Roos announced today the sentencings of KEONNE RODRIGUEZ and WILLIAM LONERGAN HILL, the co-founders of Samourai Wallet (“Samourai”), a cryptocurrency mixer that facilitated over $237 million in illegal transactions. RODRIGUEZ, the Chief Executive Officer of Samourai, and HILL, the Chief Technology Officer, participated in a conspiracy to operate a money transmitting business in which they knowingly transmitted criminal proceeds. The over $237 million dollars of criminal proceeds laundered through Samourai came from, among other things, drug trafficking, darknet marketplaces, cyber-intrusions, frauds, sanctioned jurisdictions, murder-for-hire schemes, and a child pornography website. RODRIGUEZ and HILL were respectively sentenced to five and four years in prison. U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote sentenced RODRIGUEZ on November 6, 2025, and HILL on November 19, 2025.
“The sentences the defendants received send a clear message that laundering known criminal proceeds—regardless of the technology used or whether the proceeds are in the form of fiat or cryptocurrency—will face serious consequences,” said Attorney for the United States Nicolas Roos. “These sentences reflect the harmful impact that money laundering services have on victims by making it virtually impossible for victims to recover their stolen funds. Our office will continue to work tirelessly to hold accountable those who profit by helping criminals hide their criminal proceeds.”
According to the Indictment, other public filings, and statements made in court:
Beginning around 2015, RODRIGUEZ and HILL began developing Samourai, a mobile application that was designed and operated as a service for transmitting criminal proceeds. The defendants engineered Samourai around two services specifically intended to conceal the nature of illicit transactions. The first, a Bitcoin mixing service known as “Whirlpool,” coordinated batches of Bitcoin exchanges between groups of Samourai users. Through this process, the original source of particular Bitcoin holdings became obscured within the blockchain’s transactional record, effectively preventing law enforcement agencies and cryptocurrency exchanges from tracing funds back to their origins. The second service, called “Ricochet,” enabled users to introduce additional and unnecessary intermediate transactions—known as “hops”—between sending and receiving addresses. This feature served a similar obfuscation purpose, making it substantially more difficult for monitoring entities to establish connections between cryptocurrency transfers and potential illicit activities. The scale of these operations was considerable: from Ricochet’s launch in 2017 and Whirlpool’s inception in 2019, more than 80,000 Bitcoin—valued at over $2 billion at the time—passed through these services. Samourai collected fees for both services, estimated to have a total value of more than $6 million.
RODRIGUEZ and HILL actively promoted Samourai to criminal users and encouraged criminal activity. HILL marketed Samourai as a transmittal service for criminal proceeds on Dread, a darknet forum dedicated to discussing illegal marketplace activities. In one exchange on that platform, a user asked about the most “secure methods to clean dirty BTC” to make it “untraceable, clean” and ensure the user would “never get caught.” HILL responded by writing that “Samourai Whirlpool is a much better option” than a competitor service to “clean dirty BTC.” Similarly, in July 2020, RODRIGUEZ engaged in a Twitter exchange in which he personally encouraged the hackers of a social media platform to “feed” and “send” the criminal proceeds into Samourai’s Whirlpool. When the hackers ultimately used a different cryptocurrency mixing service to launder the proceeds of the hack, RODRIGUEZ and HILL expressed their disappointment.
The defendants also had a clear understanding that Samourai was, in fact, used for money laundering. In a WhatsApp exchange, when asked to explain the concept of “mixing,” RODRIGUEZ described the process as “money laundering for bitcoin.” The defendant’s own marketing materials acknowledged that customers would include “Dark/Grey Market participants” moving proceeds from “illicit activity.”
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In addition to their terms of prison, RODRIGUEZ, 37, of Harmony, Pennsylvania, and HILL, 67, a U.S. national who was arrested in Portugal at the request of the United States, were each sentenced to three years of supervised release. Judge Cote also ordered that RODRIGUEZ and HILL each pay a fine of $250,000. RODRIGUEZ and HILL have paid a total of $6,367,139.69 in forfeiture, representing the fees Samourai earned, in satisfaction of an order to forfeit $237,832,360.55, the larger sum representing the total traceable criminal proceeds for which Samourai executed transactions.
Mr. Roos praised the investigative work of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”). He also acknowledged the assistance of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Europol, the Portuguese Judicial Police, the Procuradoria-Geral da República, the Icelandic Police, and the FBI Field Office in Pittsburgh for their assistance in the investigation of this case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance to secure the July 2024 extradition from Portugal of HILL.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit and the Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan, David R. Felton, and Cecilia Vogel are in charge of the prosecution.
Founder/CEO and Clinical President of Digital Health Company Convicted in $100M Adderall Distribution and Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in San Francisco yesterday convicted Ruthia He, the founder and CEO of Done, a California-based digital health company, and David Brody, its clinical president, for their roles in a years-long scheme to illegally distribute Adderall over the internet and conspire to commit health care fraud in connection with the submission of false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement for Adderall and other stimulants. Ruthia He was also convicted of conspiring to obstruct justice.
“These defendants carried out a $100 million scheme to unlawfully provide easy online access to Adderall and other stimulants by targeting drug seekers, engaging in deceptive advertising, and putting profits above patient care,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This verdict sends a clear message that the Criminal Division will hold accountable criminals who attempt to exploit telehealth to write illegal prescriptions for their personal gain. Innovation in health care must never come at the cost of patient safety, professional integrity, or the rule of law.”
“Not all drug dealers operate in the shadows or on street corners,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “Some, like Ruthia He and David Brody, use computers and social media instead. Doctors take an oath to do no harm. David Brody and other doctors were only too willing to sell their integrity to He and put money ahead of patient wellbeing. Medical necessity must always drive the decision to prescribe controlled substances like Adderall and other stimulants. Ruthia He and David Brody violated that core principle when they exploited telehealth rules to push prescription medication, and hurt patients in the process. This prosecution marks the beginning of a sustained effort. Digital health companies that engage in unlawful drug distribution should take notice that they will not escape accountability.”
"These criminals turned telehealth into a pipeline for addiction, recklessly distributing controlled medications with no regard for safety, science, or the law,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division. “This verdict makes clear that DEA will shut down anyone who abuses medicine, exploits patients, or puts profit above the American people."
“This case represents one of the most egregious abuses of telehealth we’ve seen,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The defendants built a brazen business model based on addiction, deception, and disregard for patient safety — flooding the market with controlled substances while defrauding federal health care programs. Their intentional disregard for patient safety and the law put lives at risk and eroded public trust in digital medicine. HHS-OIG will relentlessly pursue those who exploit innovation to endanger lives and steal from taxpayers.”
“The fraudulent acts of He and Brody led to clients’ substance abuse, addiction and, in some cases, overdose. Instead of putting the care of their customers first, they prioritized their own greed by fraudulently prescribing more that $100 million worth of Adderall and other stimulants. These were shameful acts, and a jury of their peers agreed. Both He and Brody will now face the consequences of this egregious fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis of IRS Criminal Investigation New York.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, He and Brody conspired with others to build a billion-dollar technology company and raise money from investors by providing easy access to over 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants in exchange for payment of a monthly subscription fee.
He and Done spent over $40 million on deceptive advertisements on social media networks that sought to convince Americans challenged by a lack of structure during the COVID-19 pandemic that they were suffering from ADHD. Defendants also paid for targeted keyword search advertisements for drug seekers who wanted to obtain Adderall without a legal prescription. The evidence at trial showed that He and Brody sought to place “hard limits” on clinical discretion by limiting the length of the initial appointment to less than half the length of a typical psychiatric examination, and seeking to increase profits by refusing to pay for any follow-up treatment. In order to facilitate the illegal prescriptions, He paid nurse practitioners around the country up to $60,000 per month to refill prescriptions without clinical interaction, and enabled an “auto-refill” technology feature where patients could receive prescriptions without clinical interaction for years based on an auto-generated email sent each month requesting additional prescriptions. The auto-refill policy, in some instances, resulted in prescriptions being issued for deceased patients.
He instructed employees that successful technology companies profit off addiction, and offered an expensive luxury electric vehicle to employees who broke the law. Brody told nurses to continue prescribing Adderall, even to patients who were abusing other medications, and to disregard the risk of going to jail. He and Brody also prohibited independent clinical practitioners from discharging patients, and patients were not discharged and continued to receive Adderall even after concerned family members repeatedly notified Done that their children were suffering from bipolar, Adderall-induced psychosis, or other mental health conditions that could be worsened by continued prescriptions.
In order to ensure that members continued paying monthly subscription fees, He, Brody, and others conspired to defraud insurers so that Done members would be able to use insurance to pay for Adderall dispensed at pharmacies. He, Brody, and others submitted false and fraudulent prior authorization requests to insurers, which claimed that Done followed the DSM-5 in diagnosing ADHD, utilized urine drug screens, and falsely claimed that non-stimulants had previously been tried without success. As a result, Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers paid in excess of approximately $14 million.
In 2022, national media outlets reported that Done was making Adderall too easy to get online. In response to questions from the media, investors, and certain major pharmacy chains, the defendants made deceptive statements about Done’s policies. While internal documents showed that the defendants followed a “customer-first” philosophy where they attempted to obtain customer approval ratings higher than America’s highest-rated retailers, offered second opinions to patients who complained of being denied Adderall, and that He – who had no medical training – ultimately was responsible for approving clinical practices, the defendants falsely denied the existence of these policies and claimed Done was run by independent clinical leadership.
To obstruct the government’s investigation, the evidence at trial showed that He moved operations to China to make personnel and evidence unavailable. He limited her communications on company platforms, used encrypted messaging apps with disappearing messages, and deleted incriminatory documents, such as language encouraging Done providers to provide Adderall even to patients who did not have ADHD. He also transferred over $1 million to a Chinese shell company named Make Believe Asia, conducted internet searches for countries that did not have extradition, and was stopped by law enforcement leaving the country.
He and Brody were both convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of controlled substances, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He was also convicted of one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He and Brody each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances counts. Sentencings are set for Feb. 25, 2026. Judge Breyer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA, HHS-OIG, HSI, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Acting Health Care Fraud Unit Chief Jacob Foster, Assistant Chief Emily Gurskis, and Trial Attorney Arun Bodapati of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Green, for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Founder/CEO and Clinical President of Digital Health Company Convicted in $100m Adderall Distribution and Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury yesterday convicted Ruthia He, the founder and CEO of Done, a California-based digital health company, and David Brody, its clinical president, yesterday for their roles in a years-long scheme to illegally distribute Adderall over the internet and conspire to commit health care fraud in connection with the submission of false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement for Adderall and other stimulants. Ruthia He was also convicted of conspiring to obstruct justice.
“Not all drug dealers operate in the shadows or on street corners,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “Some, like Ruthia He and David Brody, use computers and social media instead. Doctors take an oath to do no harm. David Brody and other doctors were only too willing to sell their integrity to He and put money ahead of patient wellbeing. Medical necessity must always drive the decision to prescribe controlled substances like Adderall and other stimulants. Ruthia He and David Brody violated that core principle when they exploited telehealth rules to push prescription medication, and hurt patients in the process. This prosecution marks the beginning of a sustained effort. Digital health companies that engage in unlawful drug distribution should take notice that they will not escape accountability.”
“These defendants carried out a $100 million scheme to unlawfully provide easy online access to Adderall and other stimulants by targeting drug seekers, engaging in deceptive advertising, and putting profits above patient care,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This verdict sends a clear message that the Criminal Division will hold accountable criminals who attempt to exploit telehealth to write illegal prescriptions for their personal gain. Innovation in health care must never come at the cost of patient safety, professional integrity, or the rule of law.”
“This case represents one of the most egregious abuses of telehealth we’ve seen,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The defendants built a brazen business model based on addiction, deception, and disregard for patient safety—flooding the market with controlled substances while defrauding federal health care programs. Their intentional disregard for patient safety and the law put lives at risk and eroded public trust in digital medicine. HHS-OIG will relentlessly pursue those who exploit innovation to endanger lives and steal from taxpayers.”
“The fraudulent acts of He and Brody led to clients’ substance abuse, addiction and, in some cases, overdose. Instead of putting the care of their customers first, they prioritized their own greed by fraudulently prescribing more that $100 million worth of Adderall and other stimulants. These were shameful acts, and a jury of their peers agreed. Both He and Brody will now face the consequences of this egregious fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis of IRS Criminal Investigation New York.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, He and Brody conspired with others to build a billion-dollar technology company and raise money from investors by providing easy access to over 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants in exchange for payment of a monthly subscription fee.
He and Done spent over $40 million on deceptive advertisements on social media networks that sought to convince Americans challenged by a lack of structure during the COVID-19 pandemic that they were suffering from ADHD. Defendants also paid for targeted keyword search advertisements for drug seekers who wanted to obtain Adderall without a legal prescription. The evidence at trial showed that He and Brody sought to place “hard limits” on clinical discretion by limiting the length of the initial appointment to less than half the length of a typical psychiatric examination, and seeking to increase profits by refusing to pay for any follow-up treatment. In order to facilitate the illegal prescriptions, He paid nurse practitioners around the country up to $60,000 per month to refill prescriptions without clinical interaction, and enabled an “auto-refill” technology feature where patients could receive prescriptions without clinical interaction for years based on an auto-generated email sent each month requesting additional prescriptions. The auto-refill policy, in some instances, resulted in prescriptions being issued for deceased patients.
He instructed employees that successful technology companies profit off addiction, and offered an expensive luxury electric vehicle to employees who broke the law. Brody told nurses to continue prescribing Adderall, even to patients who were abusing other medications, and to disregard the risk of going to jail. He and Brody also prohibited independent clinical practitioners from discharging patients, and patients were not discharged and continued to receive Adderall even after concerned family members repeatedly notified Done that their children were suffering from bipolar, Adderall-induced psychosis, or other mental health conditions that could be worsened by continued prescriptions.
In order to ensure that members continued paying monthly subscription fees, He, Brody, and others conspired to defraud insurers so that Done members would be able to use insurance to pay for Adderall dispensed at pharmacies. He, Brody, and others submitted false and fraudulent prior authorization requests to insurers, which claimed that Done followed the DSM-5 in diagnosing ADHD, utilized urine drug screens, and falsely claimed that non-stimulants had previously been tried without success. As a result, Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers paid in excess of approximately $14 million.
In 2022, national media outlets reported that Done was making Adderall too easy to get online. In response to questions from the media, investors, and certain major pharmacy chains, the defendants made deceptive statements about Done’s policies. While internal documents showed that the defendants followed a “customer-first” philosophy where they attempted to obtain customer approval ratings higher than America’s highest-rated retailers, offered second opinions to patients who complained of being denied Adderall, and that He – who had no medical training – ultimately was responsible for approving clinical practices, The defendants falsely denied the existence of these policies and claimed Done was run by independent clinical leadership.
To obstruct the government’s investigation, the evidence at trial showed that He moved operations to China to make personnel and evidence unavailable. He limited her communications on company platforms, used encrypted messaging apps with disappearing messages, and deleted incriminatory documents, such as language encouraging Done providers to provide Adderall even to patients who did not have ADHD. He also transferred over $1 million to a Chinese shell company named Make Believe Asia, conducted internet searches for countries that did not have extradition, and was stopped by law enforcement leaving the country.
He and Brody were both convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of controlled substances, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He was also convicted of one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He and Brody each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances counts. Sentencings are set for Feb. 25, 2026. Judge Breyer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA, HHS-OIG, HSI, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Acting Health Care Fraud Unit Chief Jacob Foster, Assistant Chief Emily Gurskis, and Trial Attorney Arun Bodapati of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Green for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Maryam Beros and Lynette Dixon.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Former Orlando Middle School Teacher Sentenced to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed has sentenced Italo Rafael Brett Bonini (26, Orlando) to life in federal prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and 30 years’ imprisonment prison for the production of child sexual abuse material. The sentences will run concurrently. The court also ordered Bonini to forfeit a desktop computer, which he used to commit the offenses. Bonini pleaded guilty on May 1, 2025.
According to court documents, on January 12, 2025, Bonini video chatted from his residence in Orlando with two child victims in Maryland through an online communication platform. During that video chat, Bonini offered currency in an online videogame in exchange for the victims to show their genitals on screen. Both child victims pulled down their pants at Bonini’s request, and one of the child victims complied with Bonini’s request to display his genitals on screen.
Further investigation revealed that Bonini has victimized minor victims across the globe. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has found evidence of chats between Bonini and approximately 30 minor victims, many of whom have been identified. The chats revealed that Bonini engaged in sexual activity with young children online, including exposing himself on camera, requesting and receiving sexually explicit photos, urinating and defecating on camera. Bonini also tried to entice minor victims to perform sexual acts with their minor siblings and to engage in bestiality.
Prior to his arrest, Bonini was a music teacher at a middle school in Orange County, Florida. He also taught private music lessons to children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Cruz.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Florida businessman sentenced to 46 months in prison for fraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Florida businessman was sentenced to 46 months in prison for defrauding clients in Kansas, Missouri, Utah, and Ohio by inducing them to enter into loan agreements to finance construction projects and then causing more than $8 million in victim losses by misappropriating funds.
According to court documents, David Ingram, 73, of Bristol, Pennsylvania (previously of Sanford, Florida and Cornelius, North Carolina), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Ingram was founder and managing member of AltosGroups, LLC, which purported to have warehouse lines of credit with major international financial institutions. AltosGroups signed contracts with commercial real estate developers, agreeing to secure funding to finance construction projects. Ingram required that developers pay initial deposits to gain access to lines of credit he claimed his company maintained. In reality, AltosGroups had no such lines of credit. Ingram told victims that their deposits would be kept in an account specifically dedicated towards funding their respective construction projects. Instead, he diverted the money to accounts belonging to him or his wife and used it for personal expenses and other business purposes, including the transfer of $3 million to a Mexican financial institution. The defendant failed to fund the loans and did not return the deposits to the victims.
“Schemes as shady as this one merit aggressive investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigation,” said St. Louis Field Office Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “Mr. Ingram caused a great deal of financial loss to the four victims all to fill his own bank accounts with their hard-earned money. Now it’s time for him to be held accountable for his actions.”
IRS Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan J. Huschka prosecuted the case.
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Former Employee of South Lake Tahoe Construction Company Convicted of Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Dena M. Coggins, Kami Elois Power, 54, of Gardnerville, Nevada, was found guilty today of 11 counts of wire fraud, three counts of bank fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between November 2019 and May 2023, Power worked as an office manager and controller at a family-owned construction company in South Lake Tahoe. During her employment, Power embezzled more than $1.4 million from the company. She disguised more than $700,000 of these fraudulent transfers as payments made to vendors that the company worked with—under fake profiles she created in the names of real companies, as well as fake companies that reflected her own initials, such as “KEP Inc. Sale” and “KPI.” She disguised additional fraudulent transfers as payments for payroll or reimbursements. Power also used the company’s credit card to make unauthorized personal purchases and paid down the balance of her own personal credit cards. Power used the money she stole to purchase two houses, several new cars and ATVs, and a horse. She also spent the money on field-level seats at football games and a $29,000 Hawaii vacation.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Wong and Dhruv Sharma are prosecuting the case.
Power is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Coggins on Feb. 27, 2026. Power faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud, 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count of bank fraud, and a mandatory two-year sentence on each count of aggravated identity theft. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Investors in Ponzi Scheme that Took in over $27 MillionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Florida man has pled guilty to his part in defrauding investors through a company called Peoples Equity Group (PEG), an investment company based in Miami, Florida, that operated from 2021 to 2024. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.
Dakota A. Smith, 34, of Miami, Florida, pled guilty on November 18, 2025, before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to information presented in court, Smith and his co-conspirator defrauded investors by misrepresenting to them that PEG owned small, profitable companies in e-commerce and aviation. Smith solicited investments based on promises that the investors would obtain ownership interests in the companies owned by PEG and its affiliated entities. In fact, Smith and his co-conspirator knew that neither PEG nor its affiliated entities had any ownership interest or control over the companies in marketed.
As a part of the fraudulent scheme, Smith presented fraudulent financial documents which purportedly showed the financial success of the acquired companies while on monthly video calls with investors located across the United States, including investors in West Tennessee and abroad.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2026. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Ponzi schemes and crimes of dishonesty do not pay and will be exposed. This case represents our commitment to root out fraudulent schemes, protect investors, hold offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct, and to recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of victims.”
"This elaborate investment fraud scheme defrauded investors of over $27 million," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate those who attempt to defraud unsuspecting Americans of their hard-earned money. It is thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the FBI Memphis Resident Agency’s White Collar Crime Squad and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee that this scheme was detected and stopped.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant United States Attorney Scott P. Smith.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Florida Man Indicted for Interstate Threats Made While Living in MarylandRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed an indictment, charging Arsham Rashidi Dizajgan, 27, of Gainesville, Florida, with six counts of transmitting in interstate or foreign commerce a threat to injure another person. Law enforcement arrested Dizajgan today in Gainesville.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley, FBI – Jacksonville Field Office; Police Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD); and Chief of Police Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department (GPD).
“Threats to the safety and security of American citizens will not be tolerated, particularly when such threats adopt the language and tactics of violent extremists and foreign terrorist organizations,” Hayes said. “We will investigate and prosecute such violations to the fullest extent of the law.”
"The FBI takes all threats seriously and will investigate each and every potential threat brought to our attention,” Paul said. “Swift collaboration between the FBI’s Baltimore and Jacksonville Field Offices, as well as the Anne Arundel County and Gainesville Police Departments, led to this arrest. We continue to encourage the public to report any concerning messages to law enforcement.”
“This arrest reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities,” Carley said. “When an individual uses social media to issue violent threats and signals support for a foreign terrorist organization, the FBI will hold that individual accountable. We take these threats seriously and will move quickly to ensure online rhetoric does not turn into real-world harm.”
As alleged in the indictment, in widely disseminated propaganda videos, Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization, uses upside-down red triangles to mark targets just before they are attacked. Beginning in about September 2024, and continuing through March 2025 — while living in Arnold, Maryland — Dizajgan used the social media platform TikTok to post photographs and videos of Americans with upside-down red triangles over their heads, along with threatening comments. During the same time frame, Dizajgan also used his TikTok account to post photographs, videos, and comments condemning Americans and non-Muslims and celebrating violence against them.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, AACOPD, and GPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina A. Hoffman who is prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Final Defendant Sentenced in Major Wiregrass Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer, with the Drug Enforcement Administration New Orleans Division, announced the final sentencing in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that spanned Alabama’s Wiregrass region. On November 4, 2025, 45-year-old Terrell Edwards, of Ozark, Alabama, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Following his prison term, Edwards will serve three years of supervised release. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to court records, in the spring of 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with multiple local law enforcement partners, launched an investigation into suspected drug trafficking by 46-year-old Terrance Edwards — Terrell Edwards’s brother — in Dale and Houston counties. Investigators determined that fifteen individuals, including the Edwards brothers, were involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for bringing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into the Wiregrass for distribution. Twelve members of the organization were indicted in June 2024, and three additional members were indicted in August 2024.
During the investigation, agents identified Terrance Edwards, also of Ozark, as a major participant who played a significant leadership role within the conspiracy. On March 13, 2025, Terrance Edwards was sentenced to 408 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Other members of the conspiracy and their sentences include:
- Deondre Ferebee, 43, of Ozark, Alabama – 210 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Carlos Olivo Ynirio-Sanchez, 24, of the Dominican Republic – 168 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Anthony Williams, 46, of Ozark, Alabama – 156 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Michael Sanford, 54, of Brundidge, Alabama – 150 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Corey Jones, 39, of Midland City, Alabama – 144 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Frazier Franklin, 47, of Dothan, Alabama – 120 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Kevin McLeod, 48, of Enterprise, Alabama – 120 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Aaron Jiles, 46, of Ozark, Alabama – 84 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Cornelius Kilow, 48, of Ariton, Alabama – 84 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Kevon Green, 37, of Ozark, Alabama – 67 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Dontavia Barrow, 46, of Brundidge, Alabama – 60 months in prison; four years of supervised release
- Palmere Ritter, 39, of Dothan, Alabama – 44 months in prison; five years of supervised release
- Willie C. Matthews, 55, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida – 30 months in prison; three years of supervised release
“The Edwards brothers and their co-conspirators flooded the Wiregrass with illegal narcotics,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Their sentences reflect our commitment to protecting the people of this district from those who endanger our communities through drug trafficking.”
“This sentencing marks the successful conclusion of a significant investigation that has dismantled a major drug trafficking organization,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Hofer. “For too long, these individuals poisoned our communities with large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. The substantial sentences handed down send a clear message: the DEA and our law enforcement partners are committed to aggressively pursuing and bringing to justice those who profit from drug distribution. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and health of the citizens in Alabama and across the New Orleans Division.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Eufaula Police Department, Dothan Police Department, Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Dale County Sheriff’s Office, and Ozark Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea Wilson and Mark Andreu.
Felon Who Harassed Family on WMATA Bus with an Uzi-Style Pistol Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ricardo Rush, 29, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced on October 23 to 60 months in prison in connection with a March 2025 incident during which he pulled out an Uzi-style semi-automatic pistol on a crowded Metrobus and threatened to kill two parents and their young children, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rush pleaded guilty on June 17 before Judge Amir H. Ali to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, to assault with a dangerous weapon, and to possession of a firearm during crime of violence or dangerous offense. In addition to the five-year prison term, Judge Ali ordered Rush to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Rush boarded a WMATA bus on March 8, 2025 about 11:26 a.m. on the 300 block of Ridge Road SE. Four minutes later, a man and a woman accompanying two small children board the same bus on the 4800 block of Texas Avenue SE.
The family sat in the row in front of Rush, who began harrassing them. About 11:32 a.m., Rush stood up, stated “Bitch, sit down, this isn’t a toy,” and pointed a black pistol in the woman’s face.
The bus pulled over. Rush continued to intimidate the woman, waved the gun, and threatened to kill all four family members.
About 11:33 a.m., Rush stepped off the bus and pointed the weapon at the woman for a third time. Two minutes later, Rush reboarded the bus. He threatened again to kill the man and woman as he held the firearm, pointing it at the man. Rush head-butted the man and threatened him.
After threatening the family again, Rush exited the bus and fled the scene.
On April 10, 2025, about 11:10 a.m., law enforcement located Rush at his residence. Officers located a black MasterPiece Arms Defender semi-automatic handgun loaded with one round in the chamber, and which contained a high-capacity magazine loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition. They recovered an additional magazine holding 13 rounds.
Rush had previously been convicted in 2021 of assault with a dangerous weapon in Superior Court and as a felon was prohibited from possessing any firearm.
This case was investigated by WMATA and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English and Special Assistant Haley Pennington.
Federal Law Enforcement Highlight Continuity of Operations During Government ShutdownRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- On Wednesday, November 19th, federal law enforcement leaders from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, FBI Indianapolis, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives gathered at a roundtable discussion to highlight each agency’s accomplishments in maintaining public safety during the 43‑day government shutdown.
“No matter the circumstances, our commitment to you does not waver. We are here every day- protecting communities, upholding the rule of law, and defending the safety and rights of Hoosiers,” said U.S. Attorney Wheeler. “We extend our deepest gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. Department of Justice and our federal law enforcement partners in Indianapolis and across the district. Despite going without pay for six weeks, they continued to safeguard our communities and uphold the rule of law with unwavering commitment.”
“I could not be prouder of the men and women of the FBI who showed up every day during the shutdown because protecting the American people isn’t something we do only when it’s convenient - it’s our mission,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley. “Alongside our partners we continued investigations, responded to threats, and worked to keep our communities safe, even without receiving a paycheck. That’s what public service looks like.”
“ATF protects America’s communities by confronting violent crime driven by the illegal use of firearms, explosives and acts of arson. Our Special Agents concentrate on identifying and dismantling illegal firearms traffickers who fuel violence by arming prohibited persons, gang members, drug cartels, illegal aliens and terrorist organizations. Through advanced Crime Gun Intelligence (NIBIN, firearms tracing, and touch DNA), ATF partners with state and local law enforcement to investigate, identify, and prosecute violent offenders. At the same time, we safeguard lawful commerce and uphold the Second Amendment.”
This commitment to justice was no more evident than in the Southern District of Indiana, where the attorneys and staff of the United States Attorney’s Office, as well as our federal partners, continued critical operations to keep Hoosiers safe.
For the period between October 1st and November 12th, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) secured federal charges against 41 individuals:
- 19 for violent crime and firearms
- 13 for federal drug trafficking
- 6 for child sexual exploitation
- 3 for fraud
The USAO also secured federal prison sentences against another 30 individuals:
- 12 for violent crime and firearms
- 12 for federal drug trafficking
- 1 for child sexual exploitation
- 5 for fraud
The Civil Division safeguarded the interests of the federal government in both federal and state courts, resolving allegations of fraud against the public, including a $9.6 million health care fraud settlement under the False Claims Act and Anti‑Kickback Statute. The division defended the United States, its agencies, and employees in more than forty new lawsuits, enforced debts owed by criminal defendants, and pursued asset forfeiture actions that returned thousands of dollars to crime victims.
The Appellate Division advanced key prosecutions, handling 11 appeals and managing 7 district court cases. These included affirming convictions of methamphetamine and fentanyl traffickers, a child molester in possession of child sexual abuse material, and an armed robber of a cell phone store. The division also litigated appeals involving a Sinaloa Cartel member smuggling drugs across the border, local drug dealers, a police officer convicted of assaulting detainees, a felon selling meth while armed, and a robber who stole $148,000 at gunpoint from an ATM worker.
These cases, and many others like them, were successfully worked by the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals and state and local law enforcement partners while the government was shut down. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked law enforcement partners throughout the Southern District of Indiana and the paralegals, victim specialists, financial investigator, and federal prosecutors who work in the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Federal Court Terminates Consent Decree Regarding the New Orleans Police Department After Successful ReformsRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana terminated the consent decree covering the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), marking the end of federal court oversight under the 2013 decree. The Justice Department and the City of New Orleans jointly moved to terminate the consent decree based on NOPD’s successful implementation of reforms related to use of force; crisis intervention; stops, searches, and arrests; and other areas.
“We are proud to recognize the New Orleans Police Department’s sustained progress and commitment to constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We credit the officers and supervisors who have transformed NOPD — despite local political obstacles — and who continue to work to keep communities safe.”
“We join our Justice Department colleagues in the Civil Rights Division in applauding the collaborative efforts with the NOPD that have resulted in today’s termination,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “The NOPD’s reforms have already borne many good fruits in our community. There can be no question that our city is safer, and our police department is better, as a direct result of this case.”
In 2012, the Justice Department completed an investigation into NOPD under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. In 2013, the Department and the City of New Orleans entered into a consent decree to address the investigation’s findings that NOPD engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that violated the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In January 2025, the district court granted the parties’ joint motion for approval of a sustainment plan to ensure the durability of NOPD’s reforms, recognizing that today’s NOPD “is a far different agency from the one that spawned DOJ’s investigation in 2011 and the imposition of the Consent Decree in 2013.”
Resolution of the NOPD case marks the seventh police reform matter — some court consent decrees and some out-of-court agreements — that the Justice Department has been able to resolve so far in 2025. In each of these matters, the Justice Department has worked with law enforcement agencies around the country to successfully implement reforms to better serve Americans and return control to local authorities.
Farmington Marijuana Conspirators Convicted at TrialRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: Lucas Sirois, 45, and his father, Robert Sirois, 71, both of Farmington, were found guilty on November 18 in U.S. District Court in Bangor of multiple charges arising from their participation in a lengthy conspiracy to cultivate and distribute vast quantities of marijuana. The verdicts followed a five-day jury trial.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least 2016 through July 2020, Lucas Sirois was the leader of a conspiracy that involved the cultivation and distribution of well in excess of 8,000 kilograms of marijuana from just one of several industrial grow locations he operated through corporate shell companies Lakemont LLC, Sandy River Properties LLC, and Spruce Valley LLC. Each corporation was found guilty of operating a drug premises.
Robert Sirois was also found guilty of participating in the conspiracy, based on his involvement at the grow facility located at 374 High Street in Farmington, referred to by the conspiracy members as the Shoe Shop. The Shoe Shop was divided into multiple rooms, and cooperating witnesses estimated that it produced upwards of 50 pounds a week of marijuana throughout the conspiracy period.
Five of the defendants’ drug coconspirators, including four cooperating defendants and one immunized witness, testified over the five-day trial. One cooperating defendant testified that for a three-year period, he purchased more than 30 pounds a week of marijuana for between $900 and $1500 per pound from Lucas Sirois, which he supplied to mid-level drug dealers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Lucas Sirois was also convicted of two counts of tax fraud, and one count of bank fraud at trial. Lucas Sirois’s tax preparer, Kenneth Allen, who had previously pleaded guilty to tax fraud himself for his role in the conspiracy, testified that at Sirois’s direction, he created false transactions among Sirois’s companies in order to zero-out more than $400,000 in federal taxes Lucas Sirois owed for 2017 and 2018. Multiple witnesses testified that Lucas Sirois had lied to a local credit union when he opened accounts there in order to hide that he was in the marijuana business. Millions of dollars in marijuana proceeds flowed through those accounts during the conspiracy period.
Robert Sirois was acquitted of one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Lucas Sirois faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, and up to a $10 million fine. Robert Sirois faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Both men will be sentenced after the completion of presentence investigative reports by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine their sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Trial proceeded in this case only after a lengthy evidentiary hearing on the defendants’ motion to enjoin the prosecution and subsequent litigation, including interlocutory review by the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. In the context of that litigation, the district court found, and the court of appeals affirmed, that the Sirois defendants had been unable to establish that they complied with Maine’s medical marijuana regime in force during the conspiracy period.
In addition to Lucas and Robert Sirois, the following individuals have been convicted of federal crimes for their roles in this case: Randal Cousineau, Alisa Sirois, Brandon Dagnese, Kenneth Allen, former Rangeley Assemblyman David Burgess, former sheriff’s deputies Derreck Doucette and Bradley Scovil, and former prosecutor Kayla Alves, who was convicted of destroying evidence related to the investigation in 2022.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI, and local and state partners investigated the case.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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False Claims Act Lawsuits Filed Against Two Individuals for Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Relief FundsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The U.S. Attorney’s Office today filed lawsuits against two individuals alleging they fraudulently applied for and received CARES Act pandemic relief funds:
• Ahmed Suja, of South Portland, is alleged to have fraudulently applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in the amount of $20,833.
• Kamil Suja, also of South Portland, is alleged to have fraudulently applied and received a PPP loan in the amount of $20,832.
As alleged in each of the complaints, the defendants misrepresented that they each owned and operated sole proprietorships with annual gross revenues of approximately $100,000. In reality, neither defendant owned any business. As alleged in the complaint against Kamil Suja, Kamil Suja used the PPP loan funds on a variety of non-qualifying expenditures, such as the purchase of a car and to fund securities purchases on an online trading platform.
The complaints against Ahmed and Kamil Suja were brought by the United States pursuant to the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). The FCA provides that any person who “knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval” or “knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim” is liable to the United States for three times the amount of damages that the United States sustains, plus a civil penalty for each FCA violation. For FCA violations assessed after July 3, 2025, the minimum penalty per violation is $14,308.
FIRREA provides that the Attorney General may recover civil penalties against persons who knowingly make a false statement for the purpose of influencing a decision by the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration or to obtain a loan, money, or anything of value under the SBA’s 7(a) program, including the PPP. For FIRREA violations assessed after July 3, 2025, the maximum penalty per violation is $2,513,215.
The complaints filed by the United States are a result of the District of Maine’s ongoing efforts to identify and investigate fraudulently obtained pandemic relief funds. Recent amendments to federal law have extended the statute of limitations for civil and criminal fraud enforcement actions concerning PPP loans and other CARES Act pandemic relief funds from six to 10 years.
The civil actions are docketed United States v. Suja, 2:25-cv-00576-SDN (D. Me.); and United States v. Suja, 2:25-cv-00577-SDN (D. Me.).
The claims asserted against the defendants are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
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Employee of a Federal Official Charged with Conspiracy to Falsely Report Violent Attack and Giving False Statements to Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A New Jersey woman was charged with conspiring and falsely reporting to law enforcement that she had been violently assaulted with a firearm due to her employment with a federal official, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Natalie Greene, 26, of Ocean City was charged with one count of conspiracy to convey false statements and hoaxes and one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement. On November 19, 2025, Greene made her initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal. Greene was released on a $200,000 unsecured bond and additional conditions, as set by the Court.
According to statements made in court and documents filed in the case:
Late at night on July 23, 2025, Greene’s co-conspirator called 911 and reported that she and Greene had been attacked by three men when they were out walking on a trail at a nature preserve in Egg Harbor Township. According to the co-conspirator, during the attack, the men had called Greene by name and had specifically referenced her employment with Federal Official 1, an official whose identity is known to the Government.
When law enforcement officers located Greene, she was lying in a wooded area just off the trail, with her hands and feet bound together with black zip ties. Greene’s shirt was pulled over her head and was also tied with a black zip tie. Greene had numerous lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest, and shoulder. The words “TRUMP WHORE” were written on her stomach and the words “[Federal Official 1] IS RACIST” were written on her back. Greene was crying and yelling that one of her alleged attackers had a gun.
Greene told police officers that one or more of the men who allegedly attacked her said he had a gun and threatened to shoot her. Greene also said that one or more of the attackers had held her down and restrained her movement, cutting her and writing on her body. A couple days later, after receiving medical treatment for her lacerations, Greene again described her alleged attack to law enforcement officers, including an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The investigation revealed that Greene had not, in fact, been attacked by three men at gunpoint on July 23. Instead, Greene had paid a body modification/scarification artist to deliberately cut the lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest, and shoulder, based on a pattern that she had provided beforehand. Law enforcement officers recovered black zip ties in Greene’s car on the night of the alleged attack, similar to the zip ties that had been used to bind Greene’s arms and feet. Also, the investigation revealed that, two days prior to the alleged attack, the cellphone of Greene’s co-conspirator had been used to search “zip ties near me.”
The count of conspiracy has a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of 3 years of supervised release. The count of false statements also has a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of 3 years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited the following law enforcement agencies with the investigation: special agents and Joint Terrorism Task Force Officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; detectives with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds; officers and detectives with the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Marcella Aylwin; officers with the New Jersey State Police; and special agents with the Capitol Police.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Askin and Sara A. Aliabadi in the Criminal Division in Camden, and James Donnelly of the Department of Justice National Security Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Louis M. Barbone, Jacobs & Barbone, P.A.
greene.complaint.pdfEllsworth, Minnesota Man Sentenced to More than 22 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced an Ellsworth, Minnesota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 27, 2025.
Lugene Rafael Russell, 56, was sentenced to 22 and a half years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Russell was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025.
Russell’s conviction stems from an incident in July 2024 when law enforcement officers were called to his home in Ellsworth for a report of a crime. Nobles County Sherrif’s deputies eventually obtained a warrant for the home and found approximately a half pound of methamphetamine and a pistol inside the home. Deputies later returned to the home after a tip and found approximately 12 pounds of methamphetamine and three more firearms. The investigation showed that Russell worked with others to obtain methamphetamine and then distribute it to others including those on the Crow Creek and Lower Brule reservations in South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the DEA and Nobles County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Russell was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eight Georgians Sentenced to Prison in Fraudulent Check Cashing SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – Eight South Georgia residents, including a bank branch employee, were sentenced to prison for a check cashing and kickback scheme in Valdosta utilizing stolen check information from a former United States Postal Service employee.
“Individuals who participate in check-cashing and kickback schemes will face imprisonment and other penalties,” stated U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Investigators from the Secret Service and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office worked to unravel this criminal network, ultimately preventing further theft and helping us ensure accountability for the defendants.”
“The involvement of the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was crucial in helping Lowndes County investigators solve this complex fraud case and ensure that the defendants are held accountable for their actions,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.
Frederick Pernell Green, 27, of Valdosta, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 122 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Oct. 10, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Thomas Christopher Mitchell, 31, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 92 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on X, after he previously pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Calvin Dewayne McKeithen, aka “Supa,” 26, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on March 27, after he previously pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Dewayne Rasheen Butler, aka “Guwapo,” 26, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 51 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Aug. 28, after he previously pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Tyler Khershad Jones, aka “LA Clippers,” 24, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Sept. 25, after he previously pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Mariarlene Brown, aka “Mati Mom,” 44, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 33 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Oct. 9, after she previously pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
William Allen Roberts, 27, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve six months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Oct. 30, after he previously pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Davontay Wiseman, aka “Vonn,” 28, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $390,475.84 in restitution to Truist Bank on Sept. 8, after he previously pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands presided over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, beginning at least as early as November 2021, and continuing until December 2022, Roberts conspired with his codefendants to commit bank fraud. At the time of this conspiracy, Brown was an employee at a Truist Bank branch in Valdosta. Roberts unlawfully obtained check information from Vincent Galliard, 41, of Sumter, South Carolina, a former U.S. Post Office employee in South Carolina, who sold checks he stole from the mail. Galliard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in Case No. 3:23-CR-799-1 in the District of South Carolina and was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $149,692.14 in restitution for his crime. Roberts used the check information provided by Galliard to produce fraudulent checks.
Green, Mitchell, McKeithen, Jones, Butler and Wiseman recruited people to open bank accounts at Truist and to provide their new Truist debit card and account information to them, with the understanding that they would be paid for doing so. Green, Mitchell, McKeithen, Jones, Butler and Wiseman passed the account information to Roberts, who would write the fraudulent checks in various sums of money to those individuals. Roberts, with Brown’s help, deposited the checks into the accounts, and Brown would ensure that Roberts would be able to withdraw the cash from these accounts. Brown was paid for her services, and Roberts also paid out a portion to the other codefendants and the solicited accountholders. Green, Roberts, Mitchell, McKeithen, Jones, Butler and Wiseman retained most of each check deposited. Investigators found text messages between the co-defendants that described the conspiracy, as well as photos of debit cards, account numbers, fraudulent checks, cash obtained from the check deposits and a custom-made diamond ring in the shape of the Truist logo worn by Green.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service (USSS) and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch Hostetler prosecuted the case for the Government.
This press release about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown is now available after the return to normal operations.
Drug Trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, aka “Brother Wang,” Returned from Mexico to Face International Narcotics and Money Laundering Charges in New York and GeorgiaRead the Press Release
Zhi Dong Zhang, also known as “GG,” “Kun Li Hernandez,” “Chang Li Gong Sun,” “Memo,” “Brother Wang,” “BW,” “Pancho,” “HeHe,” “HaHa,” “Chino,” and “Summor Ownor,” 38, was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky for the Eastern District of New York at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, on a second superseding indictment (the Indictment) charging him with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution, cocaine importation conspiracy, cocaine and methamphetamine possession and distribution conspiracy, and money laundering crimes. The defendant, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in Mexico after Mexico issued an arrest warrant based on extradition requests from the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia and was returned to the United States on October 23. The defendant was ordered detained pending trial. On October 24, the defendant had an initial appearance in the Southern District of Texas, where he was arraigned on this Indictment and on the indictment in the Northern District of Georgia.
The defendant has been designated a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) by the Department of Justice, a designation given to the most significant narcotics traffickers in the world.
“The defendant stands accused of running a global enterprise that pumped massive quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine into our communities and laundered millions in narcotics proceeds,” said U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd W. Blanche. “His return to the United States is a major step in dismantling a network that has fueled addiction, violence, and death. I’m grateful for the outstanding work of our prosecutors, agents, and international partners who refused to let him hide behind aliases, shell companies, or foreign borders. The Department of Justice will continue to target the world’s most dangerous traffickers, wherever they operate, and bring them to justice.”
“As alleged, the defendant is a leader of one of the most prolific drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the world who, together with his co-conspirators, imported thousands of kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine, into the United States and other countries,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “The indictments he faces in the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia will hold him responsible for the great harm he has caused.”
“Zhang’s transnational network was allegedly intricate, well-coordinated, and well-funded,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “However, through the great work of dedicated law enforcement agencies and valued cooperation from our international partners, Zhang’s poison pipeline has been shut off. Whether the perpetrators are here or hiding abroad, my office will continue to vigorously pursue anyone who is trafficking illegal narcotics in and through the Northern District of Georgia.”
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)’s arrest of Zhi Dong Zhang marks a decisive blow against the ruthless criminal enterprises responsible for flooding our streets with cocaine, meth and deadly fentanyl,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of HSI New York. “The defendant’s alleged actions on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG have bolstered the operations of transnational criminal organizations responsible for peddling death in nearly every form – fueling an overdose epidemic, spreading violence, and destabilizing communities across the United States and beyond. One by one, year after year, the HSI New York Homeland Security Task Force will continue to wage an unyielding campaign against those who empower cartels to sow destruction and death for greed, ensuring that no corner of their criminal empire is beyond the reach of justice.”
“This arrest represents a critical milestone in a long-running investigation into an alleged high-level narcotics trafficker with international reach,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division. “A defendant wanted on warrants out of Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia has now been taken into custody, thanks to years of coordinated work by DEA and our partners. We will continue to follow the evidence and the money until the leadership of these organizations is dismantled.”
The Justice Department also expressed appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, HSI Mexico City, HSI Rio Grande Valley, and the Government of Mexico.
The EDNY Indictment
As set forth in court filings, since June 2016, Zhang has operated a massive narcotics trafficking and money laundering organization in Mexico and the United States, importing thousands of kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine, into the United States and other countries. Law enforcement has made numerous seizures of narcotics traced to the defendant’s organization, including 46 kilograms of cocaine, 58 kilograms of methamphetamine, and almost seven kilograms of fentanyl.
Zhang and members of his organization also laundered millions of dollars of criminal proceeds from these narcotics sales through the creation and use of shell companies in the United States, which were opened using false social security numbers and other fraudulent documents. The organization recruited individuals known as “banqueros” to open bank accounts at various banks on behalf of the shell companies, engage in money pickups at different money drop locations throughout the United States, deposit that money into the shell company bank accounts, and wire the funds to other beneficiary accounts to be laundered outside of the United States. The organization employed supervisors in Mexico, known as “coordinators,” who directed the banqueros at every step of the process, including coordinating the money pick-ups, buying and booking travel, and providing the fraudulent documentation to open bank accounts. In total, law enforcement identified more than 100 shell companies tied to Zhang’s organization that were used to launder at least $77 million in narcotics proceeds.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
This case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section as part of the work of the Office’s Transnational Criminal Organizations Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miranda Gonzalez and Vincent Chiappini of the Eastern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution.
The NDGA Indictment
As set out in Court filings, Zhang was allegedly a leader of a vast drug trafficking and money laundering organization that began operating in Mexico at least as early as 2016. Zhang allegedly used an extensive network of coordinators and couriers to get cocaine and fentanyl to multiple destinations in the United States. In January and February 2022, Zhang personally negotiated and coordinated the delivery of 11 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl to Atlanta for distribution.
Once the cocaine and fentanyl were distributed, Zhang allegedly oversaw the use of stash houses in Georgia and California to collect the drug proceeds which were then deposited into bank accounts. The money laundering was massive and involved 150 companies, 170 bank accounts and approximately $20 million in drug proceeds.
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).
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Drug Trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, A.K.A. “Brother Wang,” Returned from Mexico to Face International Narcotics and Money Laundering Charges in New York and GeorgiaRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – Zhi Dong Zhang, also known as “GG,” “Kun Li Hernandez,” “Chang Li Gong Sun” and “Memo,” “Brother Wang,” “BW,” “Pancho,” “HeHe,” “HaHa,” “Chino,” and “Summor Ownor,” was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on a second superseding indictment (the Indictment) charging him with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution, cocaine importation conspiracy, cocaine and methamphetamine possession and distribution conspiracy, and money laundering crimes. The defendant, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in Mexico after Mexico issued an arrest warrant based on extradition requests from the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia, and was returned to the United States on October 23, 2025. The defendant was ordered detained pending trial. On October 24, 2025, the defendant had an initial appearance in the Southern District of Texas, where he was arraigned on this Indictment and on the indictment in the Northern District of Georgia.
The defendant has been designated a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) by the Department of Justice, a designation given to the most significant narcotics traffickers in the world.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Todd W. Blanche, United States Deputy Attorney General; Theodore S. Hertzberg, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia; Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); and Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Atlanta Division (DEA Atlanta), announced the arraignment.“As alleged, the defendant is a leader of one of the most prolific drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the world who, together with his co-conspirators, imported thousands of kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine, into the United States and other countries,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The indictments he faces in the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia will hold him responsible for the great harm he has caused.”
“The defendant stands accused of running a global enterprise that pumped massive quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine into our communities and laundered millions in narcotics proceeds,” stated Deputy Attorney General Blanche. “His return to the United States is a major step in dismantling a network that has fueled addiction, violence, and death. I’m grateful for the outstanding work of our prosecutors, agents, and international partners who refused to let him hide behind aliases, shell companies, or foreign borders. The Department of Justice will continue to target the world’s most dangerous traffickers, wherever they operate, and bring them to justice.”
“Zhang’s transnational network was allegedly intricate, well-coordinated, and well-funded,” said Unites States Attorney Hertzberg. “However, through the great work of dedicated law enforcement agencies and valued cooperation from our international partners, Zhang’s poison pipeline has been shut off. Whether the perpetrators are here or hiding abroad, my office will continue to vigorously pursue anyone who is trafficking illegal narcotics in and through the Northern District of Georgia.”
United States Attorneys Nocella and Hertzberg also expressed their appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the United States Marshals Service, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, HSI Mexico City, HSI Rio Grande Valley, and the Government of Mexico.
“HSI’s arrest of Zhi Dong Zhang marks a decisive blow against the ruthless criminal enterprises responsible for flooding our streets with cocaine, meth and deadly fentanyl,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Patel. “The defendant’s alleged actions on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG have bolstered the operations of transnational criminal organizations responsible for peddling death in nearly every form – fueling an overdose epidemic, spreading violence, and destabilizing communities across the United States and beyond. One by one, year after year, the HSI New York Homeland Security Task Force will continue to wage an unyielding campaign against those who empower cartels to sow destruction and death for greed, ensuring that no corner of their criminal empire is beyond the reach of justice.”
“This arrest represents a critical milestone in a long-running investigation into an alleged high-level narcotics trafficker with international reach,” said DEA Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Murphy. “A defendant wanted on warrants out of Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia has now been taken into custody, thanks to years of coordinated work by DEA and our partners. We will continue to follow the evidence and the money until the leadership of these organizations is dismantled.”
The EDNY Indictment
As set forth in court filings, since June 2016, Zhang has operated a massive narcotics trafficking and money laundering organization in Mexico and the United States, importing thousands of kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine, into the United States and other countries. Law enforcement has made numerous seizures of narcotics traced to the defendant’s organization, including 46 kilograms of cocaine, 58 kilograms of methamphetamine, and almost seven kilograms of fentanyl.
Zhang and members of his organization also laundered millions of dollars of criminal proceeds from these narcotics sales through the creation and use of shell companies in the United States, which were opened using false social security numbers and other fraudulent documents. The organization recruited individuals known as “banqueros” to open bank accounts at various banks on behalf of the shell companies, engage in money pickups at different money drop locations throughout the United States, deposit that money into the shell company bank accounts, and wire the funds to other beneficiary accounts to be laundered outside of the United States. The organization employed supervisors in Mexico, known as “coordinators,” who directed the banqueros at every step of the process, including coordinating the money pick-ups, buying and booking travel, and providing the fraudulent documentation to open bank accounts. In total, law enforcement identified more than 100 shell companies tied to Zhang’s organization that were used to launder at least $77 million in narcotics proceeds.
The charges in the Indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces up to life in prison.
This case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section as part of the work of the Office’s Transnational Criminal Organizations Strike Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Miranda Gonzalez and Vincent Chiappini are in charge of the prosecution.
The NDGA Indictment
As set out in Court filings, Zhang was allegedly a leader of a vast drug trafficking and money laundering organization that began operating in Mexico at least as early as 2016. Zhang allegedly used an extensive network of coordinators and couriers to get cocaine and fentanyl to multiple destinations in the United States. In January and February 2022, Zhang personally negotiated and coordinated the delivery of 11 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl to Atlanta for distribution.
Once the cocaine and fentanyl were distributed, Zhang allegedly oversaw the use of stash houses in Georgia and California to collect the drug proceeds which were then deposited into bank accounts. The money laundering was massive and involved 150 companies, 170 bank accounts and approximately $20 million in drug proceeds.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Defendant:
ZHI DONG ZHANG
Age: 38
ChinaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-302 (S-2) (BMC)
22-cr-294_nd_ga_superseding_indictment.pdf 21-cr-302_second_superseding_indictment.pdfDrug Distributor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 40 Grams of Fentanyl and Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Kelly Bowers, 36, of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD), and Chief Edward Jackson, Annapolis Police Department (APD).
According to the guilty plea, in August 2022, FBI investigators identified Bowers as a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) known as Newtowne (collectively, “the Newtowne 20 DTO”) that supplied drugs to individuals in the Annapolis area.
During the period of the conspiracy, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland authorized wiretaps on DTO members’ electronic devices. Law enforcement intercepted numerous conversations which allowed investigators to identify individuals, including Bowers, involved in drug trafficking with Newtowne 20 DTO members. Other charged members include Leonard Simms, sentenced to 57 months on July 1, 2025; Isiah Naylor, who pled guilty on May 23, 2025; Raheem Allsup, sentenced to 48 months on May 9, 2025; and Keith Williams, sentenced to 68 months on November 19, 2024.
Bowers served as one of the Newtowne 20 DTO’s main distributors. Law enforcement intercepted and recorded several calls between Bowers and his customers and conversations between him and his co-conspirators.
During the investigation, law enforcement conducted surveillance and observed Bowers engaging in a drug transaction. On November 27, 2023, AACOPD investigators saw Bowers driving in Annapolis. After AACOPD officers watched Bowers conduct a hand-to-hand transaction with a known user of controlled substances, they initiated a traffic stop. Officers stopped the buyer and recovered drugs from her which later tested positive for cocaine. Additionally, law enforcement recovered cocaine from Bowers’ vehicle.
The federal wiretap led to an eventual takedown on January 25, 2024. During the investigation, law enforcement identified multiple vehicles and locations in and around Annapolis used by the Newtowne 20 DTO as stash houses and residences for drug trafficking. Then on January 25, agents executed search warrants on eight locations and four vehicles, and arrest warrants on several individuals. Law enforcement also recovered drugs of various types and quantities from three of the targeted locations and one firearm from the residence of a co-conspirator.
In his plea agreement, Bowers agreed that he was involved in possessing at least 40 grams of fentanyl in furtherance of this drug trafficking conspiracy. Bowers faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison, followed by up to lifetime of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 12 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, AACOPD, and APD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Jon Tsuei who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Director of Richmond homeless shelter pleads guilty to stealing funds designated for the shelterRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond woman pled guilty yesterday to wire fraud in connection with her operation of a homeless shelter focused on women and children.
According to court documents, Kia A. Player, 41, won a grant to operate an inclement weather shelter for homeless women and children in the Richmond metropolitan area, named RVA Sister’s Keeper. RVA Sister’s Keeper obtained over $995,000 in governmental funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Richmond to implement and operate the shelter. From August 2022 through April 2023, Player, RVA Sister’s Keeper’s director, fabricated and falsified at least 35 separate invoices for costs purportedly paid for the benefit of RVA Sister’s Keeper and its homeless residents, even though Player never made corresponding expenditures on RVA Sister’s Keeper’s behalf. Player submitted these fraudulent and inflated invoices for reimbursement to the City of Richmond, causing the city to improperly disburse funds to her.
For example, Player submitted at least 21 separate inflated invoices claiming RVA Sister’s Keeper made payments to an entity called “VCM Catering Services” to provide breakfast and dinner at the homeless shelter. VCM Catering Services was a fictitious business, however, and Player had hired an acquaintance to provide breakfast and dinner for the homeless residents. Player’s acquaintance was a cafeteria manager at a Richmond City public school occasionally provided RVA Sister’s Keeper residents with food taken from the school’s cafeteria – food that had already been procured with other public funds. Player also fabricated invoices for bed bug treatment, laundry services, and cleaning services at RVA Sister’s Keeper that were never provided. Player fabricated invoices for purported renovations at the shelter, including repairs to the shelter’s roof and upgrades to the plumbing and the shower of the shelter, which she never actually performed.
Player’s inflated invoice scheme caused $199,163 in actual losses to HUD and the City of Richmond. Player spent the fraud proceeds on personal expenses, including on a tattoo, airline tickets, a luxury Caribbean ferry ride in Miami Beach, furniture, and items at an antiques store.
Player is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 25, 2026, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and George Richardson, III, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. accepted the plea. The Office of the Inspector General for the City of Richmond provided substantial assistance with the prosecution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth is 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. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-146.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Rodolfo Tellez Gutierrez, Jr., 23, threw a gun out of the window of a vehicle during a traffic stop. Review of Gutierrez’s phone revealed messages with the purchaser of the recovered firearm.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Gutierrez will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Scott County Sherriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Davenport Man Indicted for Intending to Distribute over A Kilogram of CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Alexis Irnel Cintron Victoria (39, Davenport), a/k/a “Gordo,” with the possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a cocaine. If convicted, Cintron Victoria faces a minimum penalty of five years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Cintron Victoria that the United States intends to forfeit any assets used in the commission of the offense.
According to court records, on November 6, 2025, officers from the Lakeland Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle Cintron Victoria was driving. During the stop, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle. A wrapped brick-like object was found under a false bottom within the center console. It tested positive for the presence of cocaine.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Sarasota Police Department and the Lakeland Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Counselor Man Charged in Death of 4-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Counselor man was charged in connection with the death of a 4-year-old child.
According to court documents, on November 7, 2025, Randall Pablo, 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fatally injured his 4-year-old nephew. Emergency responders were called after the child was found unresponsive, and attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. A preliminary autopsy indicated John Doe suffered significant blunt force trauma to the head and multiple contusions consistent with a violent attack.
Pablo is charged with abandonment and abuse of a child resulting in death and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Pablo faces life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Costa Rican drug trafficker sentenced to federal prison for importing cocaine into the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Costa Rican drug trafficker has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking cocaine into the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Rolando Alberto Vindas Abarca, 45, a Costa Rican citizen, pleaded guilty to conspiring to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine for importation into the United States, and was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison, after being extradited to the United States, by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on November 12, 2025.
According to information provided at court, Vindas Abarca was a Costa Rican trafficker of cocaine responsible for coordinating maritime shipments of cocaine from Colombia to the United States. Telephone intercepts of Vindas Abarca revealed that he was responsible for more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine that was destined for the United States, as well as for bribing Costa Rican naval officers to permit the shipments from being intercepted.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá, Colombia worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and November 1, 2025, extradition from Colombia of Vindas Abarca.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration – Dallas Division. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson.
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Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a South Dakota MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Bellevue, Nebraska, man convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on October 27, 2025.
Sean Carlos Payne, 34, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $300 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Payne was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025.
Payne was originally charged by Criminal Complaint on October 21, 2024, after the Meade County Sheriff’s Office received an emergent report of a missing 13-year-old female. It was discovered that Payne groomed the girl for multiple weeks leading up to her disappearance using online applications including Teen Chat, Discord, and Snapchat.
During Payne’s communications with the child, Payne persuaded her to send him sexually explicit images of herself. Payne repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim in South Dakota and took her across state lines to Wyoming. There, Payne fled a traffic stop initiated by a law enforcement officer who was on the lookout for the missing child. Payne led multiple state and local Wyoming law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit with the child in his vehicle before being captured. Payne told the victim he intended to take her to California.
Payne, who had been convicted of attempted enticement of a minor in Iowa in June 2024, was a convicted sex offender in violation of his felony probation and the national sex offender registry at the time he began communicating with the victim.
“Thanks to swift, coordinated action by a team of dedicated law enforcement personnel, this is one horror story that ends with a multi-decade sentence for this egregious offender,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons.
"Payne's heinous crimes shattered a child's innocence and left them with unimaginable pain and trauma," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "Protecting our children is our greatest duty and privilege as law enforcement. Payne's sentence highlights our enduring commitment to that mission. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to secure justice for victims and let predators know they will face the full weight of the law."
“The protection of our youth is, and always will be, a top priority for the Meade County Sheriff’s Office. I am proud of our team’s efforts and the partnerships that made it possible to bring this dangerous individual to justice and to reunite the juvenile with their family. Our children will always come first. I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone whose dedication led to the successful resolution of this case,” said Meade County Sheriff Pat West.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Rawlins, Wyoming Police Department, and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Payne was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Connecticut Dentists Pay More than $714K to Settle False Claims AllegationsRead the Press Release
Two Connecticut dental providers have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments to resolve allegations of violations of the federal and state False Claims Acts. The settlements stem from a larger investigation into fraudulent activity by health care providers who submit kickback-tainted claims to the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (“CTMAP”) for services rendered to Connecticut Medicaid patients referred by third-party “patient recruiting” companies.
It is alleged that, in violation of their CTMAP provider agreements and the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, DENT PLUS FAMILY DENTISTRY, PLLC, a now dissolved dental practice based in Stamford, L&M FAMILY DENTISTRY, LLC, a now dissolved dental practice based in New Haven, and their owners, IVAN MAKAR, DDS and OLEG LOSIN, DDS, submitted claims to the CTMAP, which includes the state’s Medicaid program, related to dental services rendered to Connecticut Medicaid patients referred to the businesses by a third-party patient recruiting company. Dent Plus Family Dentistry and L&M Family Dentistry paid a patient recruiter for each Connecticut Medicaid patient the recruiter referred to the practices. With each submitted claim, Dent Plus Family Dentistry, L&M Family Dentistry, and their owners impliedly certified that the conditions of receiving payment were met, including, but not limited to, that they did not pay kickbacks or violate any terms or provisions of the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (“CTDHP”) provider manual concerning the submitted claim.
The CTDHP provider manual, which is an addendum to both the CTMAP provider agreement and the CTMAP provider manual, expressly prohibits per-patient compensation for individuals referred to CMAP providers.
To resolve the allegations under the federal and state False Claims Acts, Makar and Losin paid $714,446.27 to reimburse the Medicaid program for conduct occurring from January 1, 2019, through September 6, 2020.
In entering into the civil settlement agreement, the providers and their practices did not admit liability.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office; and the Connecticut Department of Social Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Thidemann and Assistant Attorney General Joshua L. Jackson of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.
People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Combs appointed interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – The Attorney General has appointed Jay R. Combs as the interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas on November 19, 2025.
“I am thankful to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for the opportunity they have given me to continue my service to the American people. It is both a tremendous responsibility and a great privilege,” said Combs. “The office I lead is at the forefront in the mission of pursuing justice and protecting our communities and our country as a part 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.
Combs has served as the Acting U.S. Attorney since May 24, 2025, and is the chief federal law enforcement official in the Eastern District of Texas, which includes 43 counties stretching from the Oklahoma border to the Gulf of America. The district includes six fully staffed offices in Beaumont, Lufkin, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana, and Tyler with 93 employees, including 50 prosecutors. Combs is responsible for the prosecution of federal criminal offenses in the district and will represent the United States in all civil litigation in the district.
Prior to serving as Acting U.S. Attorney, Combs worked as the Chief of the Plano Branch Office for the Eastern District of Texas, overseeing the day-to-day operations of that office. Combs worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) for the Western District of Texas from 2006-2010 when he first joined the Eastern District of Texas as an AUSA.
Before joining the Department, Combs served in the United States Army. He served two combat tours in the Army earning several awards including the Bronze Star medal.
Combs has lived in Texas for over twenty years but originally hails from Springerville, Arizona. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and his law degree from the University of New Mexico. He has been married to his wife, Melissa, for 30 years and they have seven children.
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Child Predator Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced William Isaak Sparks (24, Kalamazoo, Michigan) to 16 years and 9 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity via the internet. After being released from prison, Sparks will be required to register as a sex offender. The court also ordered Sparks to forfeit a cellphone that was used in the offense. Sparks pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025.
On two separate occasions in May 2024, Sparks encountered an online undercover FBI agent posing as the father of an 11-year-old daughter who was available for sex. Sparks described his desire to have sex with the purported child and asked the agent to purchase a bus ticket so that Sparks could travel from Michigan to Jacksonville to have sex with the purported child. Before Sparks could make the trip to Jacksonville, he was arrested trying to meet a different fictitious 11-year-old for sex in Michigan.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Township of Kalamazoo (Michigan) Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Charlotte Woman Charged with Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A newly-unsealed criminal complaint charges Heather Morrow, 44, of Charlotte, with felony assault, resist, or impede a federal officer, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint, on the morning of November 16, 2025, Morrow and others gathered at a U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement & Removal Operations Office (ICE/ERO) facility in Charlotte in an apparent attempt to impede law enforcement movement on the property. The complaint alleges that a federal officer who was just arriving to work encountered several individuals, including Morrow, blocking the entrance. While the officer attempted to arrest one individual for punching the window of the officer’s vehicle and impeding the officer’s path, Morrow approached the officer from behind and forcibly made physical contact with him, including grabbing the officer’s shoulders and attempting to jump on the officer’s back. Morrow was arrested on the scene.
“Recently in North Carolina, we have seen that the very worst can happen when individuals forcibly gain access to a law enforcement officer’s weapon. We take seriously incidents where that could happen,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Fortunately, the officer in this case was arriving to work and was not armed.”
Morrow had her initial appearance in federal court on Monday and was released on bond.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is joined in making the announcement by Homeland Security Investigations, ICE/ERO, U.S. Border Patrol, and the FBI.
The charges against the defendant are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Charlotte Man Sentenced to More Than Nine Years in Prison for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to prison yesterday for robbing a Family Dollar store at gunpoint, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Belton Lamont Davis, 44, was ordered to serve 117 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for Hobbs Act Robbery and firearms offenses.
Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Estella Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According to filed documents and the sentencing hearing, on April 30, 2024, Davis entered a Family Dollar store located at 3618 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte and robbed the store at gun point. Court documents show that Davis robbed the store after an individual associated with the defendant had a dispute with the store clerk about a monetary transaction. Upon entering the store, Davis retrieved a firearm from his waistband, pointed it at the store clerk and demanded money from the register. The store clerk complied. After stealing the money, Davis fled the scene in his vehicle. A witness on the scene observed the vehicle’s license plate which the store clerk provided to the 9-1-1 operator. CMPD officers quickly located and stopped the vehicle, and Davis was taken into custody. Upon a search of the vehicle and the defendant, the officers found a loaded Smith and Wesson SD40 VE .40 caliber pistol and cash. Davis has a prior conviction for second degree murder, and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
On November 26, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery, possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Central Georgian Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud in Insurance SchemeRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. –The former owner and repeat winner of “Insurance Agent of the Year” of a Warner Robins insurance group was sentenced to federal prison for a premium payment scheme the Government maintains he committed to again win the distinction and enjoy its associated benefits.
Jeremy Lasseter, 44, of Perry, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 27 months in prison and pay $221,515.16 in restitution to the victim (paid in full by the defendant at sentencing) to the victim by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Nov. 19, after he pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud on Aug. 27. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The money taken from the victim has had a significant negative impact on her life. The defendant must be held accountable for defrauding her and abusing the trust placed in him by Alfa Insurance,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This is not a victimless crime; such schemes will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Georgia.”
“Lasseter’s actions undermined the integrity of the insurance industry and his deliberate scheme to redirect premium payments for his own gain is a clear violation of the law and a betrayal of the victim’s trust,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI remains committed to holding individuals accountable who exploit others for personal benefit.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Lasseter was the owner of an Alfa Insurance Agency group located in Warner Robins and was selected as Alfa’s Georgia “Insurance Agent of the Year” for four years in a row. Beginning in March 2020, Lasseter directed the victim, who was one of his insurance customers, to make premium payments but did not apply the payments towards her policies. Instead, the defendant used the victim’s premium payments towards the premiums for other insurance customers without the victim’s knowledge or consent. When directing the victim to make payments, he would sometimes instruct her to make the checks payable to him rather than Alfa Insurance or to provide cash payments to him, stating that it was better for tax purposes. The victim relied on Lasseter’s instructions to her and, at his direction, made a total of $221,515.16 in payments that were not used towards her policies, but were used to pay other customers of Lasseter’s policies. The Government maintains that Lasseter initiated this fraud to secure Alfa’s “Insurance Agent of the Year” award for an additional consecutive year, an honor that would grant him other perks and status.
The case was investigated by FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Carjacker Gets 14 Years in Prison for Two Separate Carjackings Committed in the Same WeekRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Malik Kearney, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced yesterday in Superior Court, for carjacking and firearms offenses stemming from two separate carjackings in December, 2024, and January, 2025, in Northeast Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Kearney pleaded guilty on June 23, 2025, to one count of carjacking and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for offenses that occurred on December 28, 2024, and to one count of carjacking and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for the January 3, 2025, offenses.
On November 18, the Honorable Judge Andrea Hertzfeld sentenced Kearney to 14 years in prison. Judge Hertzfeld sentenced his co-defendant, Erick Alvarenga, to 14 years in prison on August 29, 2025. Kearney and Alvarenga were both sentenced to three years of supervised release following their terms of incarceration.
According to the proffer of facts, on December 28, 2024, around 4:45 a.m., the first victim was in a Jeep SUV that was parked in the 6100 block of Eastern Avenue, Northeast, when the defendants approached, one of whom was armed with a black handgun. Alvarenga and Kearney told the victim to get out of the car and to give them the keys. The victim complied with the demand and exited the vehicle. The defendants then drove away from the scene in the victim’s vehicle.
The second offense occurred days later, on January 3, 2025, around 3:00 p.m. when the second victim was at a gas station in the 4200 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, Northeast. As the victim finished putting gas in his Dodge sedan, Alvarenga used the Jeep which had been stolen on December 28, 2024, to block in the second victim’s car. Kearney then approached the second victim with a handgun and ordered him out of his car. Kearney got behind the wheel of the Dodge, and both vehicles fled in the same direction.
Alvarenga and Kearney were arrested on January 3, 2025, and have been detained during the pendency of this case.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Randle Wilson and Amanda Claire Hoover, who prosecuted the case.
California Company and Three Employees Sentenced for Conspiring to Sell Misbranded N95 Masks to Hospital in Early Months of COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California company, and three individuals who owned and managed the company, were sentenced last week in connection with the shipment of facemasks that were misbranded as N95 respirators during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Advoque Safeguard LLC was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to one year of probation. The company was also ordered to pay a fine of $700,000. Jason Azevedo, 34, of Cedar Creek, Texas and Andrew Stack, 53, of Santa Cruz, Calif. were each sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a fine of $100,000. Paul Shrater, 52, of Simi Valley, Calif. was sentenced to six months’ probation and ordered to pay a fine of $100,000.
In October of 2024, Advoque Safeguard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to introduce misbranded devices into interstate commerce with intent to defraud or mislead. Azevedo, Shrater and Stack pleaded guilty to one count of introduction of misbranded devices into interstate commerce.
A second company, JDM Supply LLC (JDM), and two individuals, Daniel Motha and Jeffrey Motha, also pleaded guilty and were sentenced in April 2025 to one year of probation. Each were also ordered to pay a $9,500 fine. Jason Colantuoni also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit price gouging and in July 2025 was sentenced to time-served and a fine of $3,000.
In the spring of 2020, during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, ASG and JDM conspired to ship facemasks that were misbranded as National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved, N95 respirators. One hospital accepted and paid for hundreds of thousands of purported N95 masks that were manufactured by ASG and sold to the hospital by JDM. The hospital did not use the masks, which were eventually returned to ASG. ASG and JDM misled the hospital into believing that the ASG masks were NIOSH-approved N95s, when in fact they were not. In August 2020, a NIOSH lab tested a sample of the ASG masks that had been shipped to the hospital and all 10 ASG masks tested between 83.94% and 93.24% filtration efficiency and thus fell under the 95% minimum level of filtration efficiency required for N95 respirators.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Queenin prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Gun ConvictionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kurt Wall announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Edward Shaffett, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 100 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Shaffett to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered the firearm involved be forfeited.
According to admissions made during his plea, on July 22, 2022, Baton Rouge Police officers encountered a stolen 2013 Ford Explorer near 7200 Winbourne Avenue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle initially fled. When the vehicle came to a stop, four people fled from the vehicle, with one being Shaffett who was holding a Noreen Firearms, .223 caliber, AR15. When apprehended, Shaffett was wearing a black ski-mask/balaclava and black gloves.
Officers located the firearm along the path through which Shaffett fled. An extended AR15 magazine was located under the driver’s seat of the Ford Explorer. Video camera footage from a police unit depicts Shaffett fleeing from the Ford Explorer with an object in his hands consistent with the AR15.
Shaffett was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and attempted illegal felon in possession of a firearm on April 20, 2021, in the 19th Judicial District, and sentenced to three years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Baton Rouge Police Department, was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy S. Johnson.
Brooklyn Business Owner Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for $55 Million Illegal Check Cashing, Bank Fraud, and Tax Evasion SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, David Motovich was sentenced by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II to 15 years in prison for operating an illegal money transmitting business, failure to file currency transaction reports, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Kuntz ordered Motovich to forfeit approximately $38 million, including his interests in a penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan featuring a private indoor swimming pool, commercial real estate buildings in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn, and luxury jewelry and handbags. Motovich was convicted by a jury following a three-week trial in July 2024.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI) announced the sentence.
“The defendant used his family-run lumber business to orchestrate a massive illegal check cashing scheme and facilitate rampant tax evasion in the New York City construction industry,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendant put his own greed and thirst for luxury above the needs of helpless victims, whose identities, company names, and signatures he ruthlessly stole. The defendant’s significant sentence should send a message that fraud does not pay, and federal banking and tax rules apply to all.”
“David Motovich allegedly deposited more than $55 million into accounts he opened in the names of other individuals to selfishly fund an unearned lavish lifestyle, by swindling unsuspecting victims and companies,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “The FBI will relentlessly pursue those individuals who not only deceive others, but also defraud the United States for their own personal gain.”
“David Motovich made millions from his shady business, making back-office deals to hide cash for clients,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Chavis. “While trying to conceal more that $55 million from the U.S. government, Motovich adorned himself with watches and jewelry and luxury cars. Now, after today’s sentencing, he will have years to think of his actions as he lives in less luxurious federal housing. There is no penthouse with a pool available.”
As proven in court proceedings, Motovich used his family-run business in the Midwood section of Brooklyn as a front for an illegal, unlicensed check-cashing operation. From the second floor of Midwood Lumber on Coney Island Avenue, Motovich offered his services primarily to the owners and operators of construction companies, cashing millions of dollars in checks to fund off-the-books payrolls for those businesses. As part of the scheme, Motovich cashed checks for his customers in exchange for a fee or a percentage of the face amount of the checks, ranging between four and 15 percent. Motovich’s customers paid a higher fee to Motovich than the fees charged by licensed check cashing businesses because the customers understood that Motovich would not file Suspicious Activity Reports or Currency Transaction Reports for cash transactions in amounts greater than $10,000, as required by federal anti-money laundering statutes. Motovich supplied his check cashing customers with fraudulent documents that they could use to disguise the transactions as payments by the customers for materials and/or subcontracting work if the customers were audited by the New York State Workers Compensation Board or tax authorities.
In furtherance of his scheme, Motovich created shell companies for the purpose of facilitating his illegal check cashing business and enabling himself and his associates to evade taxes. Motovich instructed his customers to issue checks drawn against their business accounts and to make the checks payable to one of the companies. Motovich then deposited the checks into bank accounts that he created at several financial institutions. Motovich facilitated tax evasion by using these accounts to conceal millions of dollars in payments from his own companies and those of his associates.
To conceal his control and ownership of the funds in the accounts, and to avoid detection of his scheme, Motovich opened the accounts in the names of other individuals. In one instance, Motovich stole the identity of a low-level worker and then bribed a banker to open accounts in the victim’s name and funnel millions of dollars through the accounts. In other instances, Motovich impersonated the name of a legitimate company to open shell accounts and repeatedly forged the signature of an unwitting insurance broker.
In total, between 2012 and 2019, Motovich deposited more than $55 million into the accounts that he had opened in the names of other individuals and used the funds to purchase real estate; pay personal and corporate credit card accounts; purchase luxury items, including millions of dollars of diamonds, watches, jewelry, and clothing; make lease and purchase payments for Porsche and Lexus luxury vehicles; pay premiums on multi-million dollar life insurance policies for himself, his wife and others; renovate his penthouse apartment in Manhattan to include a swimming pool; and to fund other business ventures.
Motovich’s co-defendants Marina Kuyan, Kemal Sarkinovic, and Joshua Markovics all previously pleaded guilty to various charges in connection with the scheme. They are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik Paulsen, Andrew Grubin, and Matthew Skurnik are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Daniel Arakawa.
The Defendant:
DAVID MOTOVICH
Age: 50
New York, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-497 (WFK)
Box Elder Woman Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South DakotaRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a woman from Box Elder, South Dakota, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 28, 2025.
Jenna Holzer, 41, was sentenced to 30 years, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Holzer was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2024. She pleaded guilty on August 7, 2025.
Holzer joined a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in 2022. During her involvement, she worked with others to obtain methamphetamine from California, typically through the mail, for redistribution in Western South Dakota. A United States Postal Inspector identified multiple packages sent from California to addresses known to be associated to Holzer. On October 16, 2024, investigators performed a traffic stop on Holzer’s vehicle. Troopers discovered an ounce of methamphetamine and approximately $3,365 in Holzer’s possession during that stop. Investigators determined Holzer was involved in trafficking approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine during her involvement in the conspiracy.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), and the Drug Enforcement Administration. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Hodges and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
Holzer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.