Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Tuesday 9 September 2025
Chicago Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for knowingly providing false verifications of employment for foreign nationals seeking to stay in the United States on an immigration visa.
ZHAO TAI CUI charged F-1 visa holders a fee to falsely represent that they were employed by Cui’s company so they could improperly extend their stay in the United States. Cui advertised his fraudulent visa-related employment services on various websites and incorporated a company in Illinois with the sole purpose of serving as a sham employer. During the scheme, which began in 2013 and continued until 2019, Cui falsely claimed that at least 250 F-1 visa holders worked for his sham company.
Cui, 60, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Cui to two years in prison and ordered him to pay a personal money judgment of $652,963.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“Cui’s scheme was expansive and involved multiple levels of deception,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Walgamuth argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “This type of crime erodes the public’s faith in the immigration system.”
Charlotte Man Charged with Federal Crime in Fatal Attack of Iryna Zarutska on City’s Light Rail SystemRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal criminal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte today, charging a Charlotte man with a federal crime in connection with the fatal attack of Iryna Zarutska on the city’s light rail system, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Decarlos Dejuan Brown, Jr., 34, is charged with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.
James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
“The brutal attack on Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte Light Rail was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again. I want to thank Attorney General Bondi for her pursuit of today’s federal charges, which are the first step toward delivering justice for Iryna and her family – as well as the millions of Americans who deserve to live in our great American cities free from being targeted by violent criminals.”
“This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Of course, crimes like this affect the victim the most—Iryna deserves justice, and we will bring justice to her and her family. But crimes like this also affect everyone who relies on mass transportation to get to and from work and go about their daily lives, and federal charges are necessary to protect the public and ensure confidence in our transportation systems.”
“Iryna Zarutska had likely taken that train ride many times before. She was probably tired after a day at work and just wanted to go home, but tragically she never made it. We hope this federal charge will help bring her family a measure of justice and the courts will hold the subject charged in this horrific act accountable. Everyone in this country deserves to go work, to school, or just across town without fear of being attacked,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge.
According to allegations in the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint:
On August 22, 2025, at approximately 9:55 p.m., officers with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) responded to a call for service related to an assault that occurred on the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte. Callers indicated that a woman had been stabbed by a male. Responding officers located the victim inside the rail car. The victim, subsequently identified as Iryna Zarutska, had sustained fatal stab wounds. A pocketknife and other items were collected from the scene.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that showed the victim entering the light rail car and sitting down in the row in front of Brown. Approximately four minutes later, Brown pulled a knife from his pocket and unfolded it before striking the victim three times from behind. Following the attack, Brown walked away from the victim. Responding officers located Brown on the light rail platform and he was arrested.
If convicted, Brown faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison or death. Ultimately, his sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Odulio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
The charges against Brown are allegations and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
California woman sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug charges on the Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A California woman who trafficked significant amounts of drugs on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Ashley Joceyln Cortez, 25, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that from October 2023 until May 21, 2024, Cortez trafficked substantial amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. She made four trips for a co-defendant beginning in November 2023. Cortez estimated she transported 23 pounds of meth, 4,500 fentanyl pills, five ounces of fentanyl powder, and three ounces of cocaine. She also estimated she transported $230,000 and watched a co-defendant distribute drugs out of her house in Box Elder.
On May 21, 2024, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at the co-defendant’s residence in Box Elder. During the execution of the search warrant, a law enforcement agent saw Cortez hiding in a bathroom with the water running. After detaining her, the agent noticed a large amount of methamphetamine and cocaine in the bathtub with the water running. It was apparent to the agent Cortez was attempting to destroy evidence. During the search, law enforcement seized approximately 64.5 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 98 grams of cocaine, and about 64 fentanyl pills. They also found approximately $8,800 in cash and a firearm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, ATF, Tri-Agency Task Force, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services, and Hill County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
XXX
Buffalo man sentenced for his role in conspiracy to steal mailRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eric Michael Robinson, 33, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail theft, was sentenced to serve two years’ probation, to include six months home detention, by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who handled the case, stated that in October 2024, Robinson conspired with co-defendants Lamor Runell Bolden and Antonio Jones, Jr. to steal mail from mail receptacles in Cheektowaga, NY. In addition, the defendants also possessed a key used to open authorized mail receptacles. Robinson drove Bolden and Jones to a mail facility in Cheektowaga at approximately 1:00 a.m. on the morning of October 2, 2024. Robinson parked behind a row of blue collection mailboxes outside the postal facility. Bolden and Jones got out of the car, while Robinson remained in the driver’s seat and kept watch. Jones opened the mailboxes with the stolen key and stole mail from the mailboxes. Bolden and Jones got back into the car and Robinson drove away from the mail facility. A short time later, their car was stopped by law enforcement. At the time the car was stopped, various opened and unopened pieces of mail were found inside. Robinson admits that he and his co-conspirators used the stolen key to open mailboxes at other locations around the Western District of New York.
Lamor Runell Bolden and Antonio Jones, Jr. were previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons.
# # # #
Brookfield Man Charged with Money Laundering Conspiracy and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Ankurkumar Patel (age: 41) of Brookfield, Wisconsin, with one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of substantive money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(h) and 1957, respectively.
The indictment alleges that Patel conspired with others to launder over $1 million from elderly victims in multiple states, including a victim in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who fell prey to a “Phantom Hacker Scam.” Phantom Hacker Scams are a type of fraud that primarily targets elderly victims. A participant in the scheme, who is often located overseas, poses as a customer service agent at a company or government agency. The purported customer service agent contacts the victim or induces the victim to contact the purported agent and falsely claims that the victim’s identity or bank account has been hacked or compromised. The fraudster then refers the victim to a co-conspirator posing as a law enforcement agent who directs the victim to move their funds, usually in the form of cash or physical gold, to a third-party or government account for safe keeping. The co-conspirator then coordinates the transfer of the victim’s funds to other participants in the scheme who act as couriers. The indictment alleges that Patel personally retrieved over $1 million from victims and conspired to launder it by distributing the money to other co-conspirators through anonymous, surreptitious transactions.
If convicted of the money laundering conspiracy, Patel would face a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not more than $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. If convicted of the substantive money laundering count, Patel would face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not more than $250,000, or twice the amount of the criminally derived property.
If you believe you or someone you know may have fallen victim to a similar scam, please contact the FBI at 414-276-4684.
This case was investigated by the FBI in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Homeland Security Investigations in St. Louis, Missouri. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter J. Smyczek.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
# # #
For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on X
Bristol Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking, Defrauding COVID-19 Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TERRY COLLINS, 31, of Bristol, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl and for laundering funds received through misrepresentations to a COVID-19 relief program.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, the Waterbury Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies determined that Gawayne Fisher, also known as “Fruit” and “Tank,” was trafficking narcotics in and around Waterbury while on federal supervised release. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Fisher and others were selling large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as counterfeit oxycodone and alprazolam (Xanax) pills. Collins supplied fentanyl to Fisher’s organization, and he maintained a location on Yale Street in Waterbury to store, process, and package narcotics.
Collins, Fisher, and two associates were arrested on April 13, 2023. On that date, a search of the Yale Street location revealed drug-processing equipment, approximately three kilograms of loose fentanyl, and approximately 75,000 individual bags containing fentanyl. In addition, a West Main Street apartment in Waterbury that Fisher used as a stash location revealed approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl, 125,000 individual glassine bags containing fentanyl, and $7,574 in cash, and a search of Fisher’s residence on Beverly Avenue in Waterbury, and his vehicle, revealed approximately $175,110 in cash.
The investigation also revealed that Collins defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), a COVID-19 pandemic relief program established by the U.S. Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act to provide financial assistance to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. In May 2021, Collins submitted documentation to the U.S. Small Business Administration that Platinum Liquor, a store he operated in Waterbury, had 14 employees and an average monthly payroll of $59,612. In fact, Platinum Liquor only had one employee and the store did not generate as much money as Collins claimed. Based on these misrepresentations, Platinum Liquor received a $149,030 PPP loan. Collins made additional misrepresentations in loan forgiveness documents and the loan was subsequently forgiven.
On October 2, 2024, Collins pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of money laundering related to the PPP loan scheme. Collins, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 28.
Judge Bolden will determine Collins’ restitution obligation within 90 days.
On January 27, 2025, Fisher was sentenced to 217 months of imprisonment for this drug trafficking offense and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Naugatuck, Ansonia, West Haven, Meriden, East Haven, Branford, Shelton, and Bristol Police Departments.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.
Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Anthony Broadnax, 61, of Beckley, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for failure to register as a sex offender, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), after moving from Virginia to West Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about May 2021 through on or about July 26, 2021, Broadnax resided in Beckley, West Virginia, after relocating from Virginia. Broadnax failed to register in West Virginia or update his registration in Virginia as required by SORNA after his relocation. Broadnax is required to register as a sex offender and comply with SORNA because of his convictions for aggravated sexual battery on August 25, 1990, and rape on February 7, 1991, both in Prince William County, Virginia.
Broadnax has a criminal history that also includes a prior conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
“It is vitally important that sex offenders are tracked and communities are kept aware through the enforcement of these registration and notification requirements,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “Prosecuting SORNA violators is a top priority of this office and would not be possible without the outstanding investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and its coordination with other law enforcement agencies in these cases.”
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-226.
###
Attorney General Bondi Issues Memo Upholding Constitutional Rights and Parental Authority in America's Education SystemRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi sent a memo to FBI Director Kash Patel and all 93 U.S. Attorneys entitled Upholding Constitutional Rights and Parental Authority in America’s Education System.
As Attorney General Bondi notes in the memo, “recent years have seen a disturbing trend in which government officials and public education authorities have ignored, dismissed, or even retaliated against concerned parents” for daring to voice opposition to their children’s curriculum. Notably, the prior administration engaged in such weaponization by targeting concerned parents at school board meetings with a threat tag reserved for potential terrorists.
Under the leadership of President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, parents’ First Amendment rights – and their “fundamental right to direct the moral and religious education of their children” – will be protected from unlawful attacks.
Per today’s memo, Attorney General Bondi has instructed U.S. Attorneys to “work with federal, state, and local partners to identify and respond to credible threats against parents or violations of their lawful rights.”
Please read the full memo HERE
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Crimes on Public Lands
Yellowstone National Park
John Nofsinger, 31, of Columbus, Ohio pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher and refusing to provide a breath test. On the same date Nofsinger was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration for refusing the official breath test, with credit for 2 days previously served. Nofsinger was sentenced to a 3-year term of probation for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol under certain terms and conditions, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probation period. Nofsinger was also sentenced to pay a total of $800 in fines and court costs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 3 in Mammoth, Wyoming.
Michael O’Connell, 54 of Canton, Massachusetts, pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park under the influence of alcohol to the extent he was incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle and refusing to comply with an official breath test. For refusing to comply with the official breath test O’Connell was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration with credit for 1 day previously served. O’Connell was ordered to serve the additional 6-day sentence immediately and was not released from custody after the sentencing hearing. O’Connell was also sentenced to a 2-year term of probation for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol under certain terms and conditions, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probation period. O’Connell was also sentenced to pay a total of $800 in fines and court costs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 4 in Mammoth, Wyoming.
Kyle Decare, 30 of Brighton, Michigan, pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park with a breath alcohol concentration of .08% and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Decare was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration with credit for 2 days previously served for driving the motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. For driving with a suspended driver’s license, the defendant was sentenced to a 2-year term of probation under certain terms and conditions, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probation period. Decare was also sentenced to pay a total of $1,650 in fines and court costs because it was his second DUI conviction within one year. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 4 in Mammoth, Wyoming.
Drug Trafficking
Calvin Eugene Stroup, 42, of Greeley, Colorado, was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in February 2024, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began an investigation into drug trafficking in Sheridan and Campbell Counties. Through the investigation, agents identified Stroup as a middleman, receiving large quantities from a source of supply and selling them to distributors in Wyoming. DCI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Stroup was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on June 4. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 22 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00016
Collie Judson Warren, 49, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. During an investigation into drug trafficking activities on the Wind River Indian Reservation and surrounding communities, Agents of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) observed Warren pick up suspected drugs from a known source of supply. Agents subsequently seized nearly two pounds of methamphetamine from Warren’s pickup. The FBI and DCI through the Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force investigated the offense. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Warren was indicted on March 20 and pleaded guilty on June 6. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Aug. 22 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00055
Violent Crime
Matthew Jarrett Smith, 33, of Kinnear, Wyoming, was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to court documents, on Dec. 5, 2024, law enforcement responded to an assault incident. The victim reported she had been assaulted by the defendant including being hit, kicked, and strangled, which resulted in extensive injuries to her neck and face, rib fractures, bruising and swelling, and a broken toe. The crime was investigated by the FBI and the BIA Wind River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case. The defendant was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on June 2. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 21 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-00012
Drew Blackburn, Jr., 18, from Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for making interstate threats to injure another person. According to court documents, between August and October 2024, the defendant was incarcerated in South Dakota for conduct related to an assault on his victim. During that time, correctional officers audited his phone calls and learned he had been calling the victim with whom he was not supposed to have contact. They also found over 1,000 texts, some of them containing threats. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Blackburn was indicted on March 20, and he pleaded guilty on June 3. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 22 in Casper. Case No. 25-00046
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Juan Flores-Pinuelas, 37, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Jan. 3, the defendant was arrested in Uinta County for domestic battery. Fingerprints taken at the time of detention indicated Flores-Pinuelas is a citizen of Mexico and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Flores-Pinuelas had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in December 2018. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 18 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00100Jose Guadelupe Luna-Murillo, 29, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Nov. 3, 2024, the defendant was arrested in Sweetwater County for driving while under the influence. He provided a written statement that he was from Mexico and that he was in the U.S. illegally. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted and they took the defendant’s fingerprints. It was determined that Luna-Murillo had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in September 2018. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Sept. 4 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00009
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
14 Members of a Violent Gang in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On August 27, 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 14 gang members from the municipality of Arroyo with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) Guayama Strike Force were in charge of the investigation of the case. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Response Team (SRT) collaborated during the arrests.
“These arrests show the relentless determination of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable criminal enterprises that use violence and intimidation to control drug territory,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “We will continue to dismantle violent gangs and make our communities safer.”
“The FBI will not allow violent gangs to dictate the quality of life or diminish hope for the people of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Our office, together with our partners, will continue to dismantle criminal organizations fueling terror in our streets. The deliberate efforts of thugs to destroy prosperity will be met with the FBI’s relentless efforts to crush violent crime and defend the homeland.”
The indictment alleges that from 2020 through the present, the drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, fentanyl or a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of any analogue of fentanyl, and marihuana within 1,000 feet of the Isidro Cora Public Housing Project (PHP), and other areas nearby the municipality of Arroyo, all for significant financial gain and profit.
As part of the conspiracy, the defendants established a drug distribution point operating within three apartments inside the Isidro Cora PHP, and that sellers would sell drugs through a window or balcony to avoid being seen and/or detected by law enforcement. Some of the defendants and their co-conspirators mixed fentanyl into the cocaine to be sold at the drug points as well as mixing xylazine with the fentanyl – a deadly combination. Court documents also reflect at least two overdose deaths of drug customers within the Isidro Cora PHP.
The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, to include: leaders, runners, sellers, and facilitators. The members of the gang used force, violence, and intimidation to threaten rival drug trafficking organizations, and to discipline members of their own organization, to include giving beatings to other co-conspirators and residents of the housing projects, with different weapons, including horse whips, as a disciplinary measure if they stepped out of line.
The defendants charged in the drug trafficking conspiracy are:
[1] Eduardo Contreras-Hernández, a.k.a. “Eddie/Paleta/Tipo/Paletita”
[2] Juan Carlos Soto-Santos, a.k.a. “Juanka”
[3] Jeremy E. Rodríguez-Cruz, a.k.a. “Gordo/Arabe”
[4] Edwin García-González, a.k.a. “Tabaco”
[5] José A. Torres-Figueroa, a.k.a. “Cholo”
[6] José A. Ruiz-Morales, a.k.a. “Shano”
[7] Yenaritza N. Escobar-Santiago, a.k.a. “Yuyo”
[8] Hermenegildo Ruiz-Robledo
[9] Mónica González-Rivera
[10] Savon Lee-Ewin, a.k.a. “Gringo”
[11] Joseph Rivera-Bustamante
[12] José Melendez-Pizarro, a.k.a. “Cabrilla”
[13] Victor Alexis Collazo-Bones, a.k.a. “Molle”
[14] Anyeli Andreina-Medina
Defendant [1] Eduardo Contreras-Hernández is also charged in Count Six with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges in Count Six, Contreras-Hernández faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison. All defendants charged in the drug conspiracy are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $2,850,900.
The FBI thanks the PRPB Guayama Strike Force for their assistance in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney from the Puerto Rico Department of Justice Daphne M. Cordero-Guilloty are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Monday 8 September 2025
Zuni Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Shooting Zuni ResidentRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for shooting a man during a confrontation.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on September 19, 2024, Devin Wade Wyaco, 34, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, fired a handgun from the passenger seat of a moving vehicle at two bicyclists following a dispute, striking one of them in the abdomen. The victim was treated at a local hospital and survived the shooting.
As a previously convicted felon, Wyaco was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Wyaco pled guilty to three felony crimes: assault with a dangerous weapon; using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Upon his release from prison, Wyaco will be subject to five years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
Zuni Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man has pleaded guilty to federal charges for sexually abusing a woman.
According to court records, on August 19, 2023, Stanton Hannaweeke, 63, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, used force to engage in nonconsensual sexual conduct with Jane Doe.
Hannaweeke pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse. At sentencing, Hannaweeke faces up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, Hannaweeke will be subject to no less than five years and up to life of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Burkhead is prosecuting the case.
Wilmington Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion and Failure to Pay Employment Taxes on Behalf of Cash-paid EmployeesRead the Press Release
Wilmington, Del. – Domenico Mazzella, the owner and operator of a Wilmington restaurant, Mazzella’s Italian Restaurant, pleaded guilty in federal court to a multi-year scheme to evade taxes, announced Julianne E. Murray, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. Mazzella pleaded guilty to four counts of tax evasion and twelve counts of failure to collect, account for, and pay over trust fund taxes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least 2017 through 2020, Mazzella defrauded the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Mazzella failed to pay required employment taxes by paying a number of employees entirely in cash and concealing this cash payroll from his tax preparer. Mazzella also attempted to evade a substantial portion of his personal income tax by diverting over $600,000 from the business’s bank accounts to his personal account, falsely characterizing the payments as reimbursements for business expenses. Mazzella’s overstatement of expenses caused his tax preparer to underreport the restaurant’s income, which in turn caused Mazzella’s personal income to be substantially underreported on his tax returns.
Mazzella has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $549,370.39, consisting of evaded income taxes and employment taxes. At sentencing, he faces a maximum of five years in prison for each of the 16 counts of conviction. The Court will determine Mazzella’s sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors required by federal law.
“Domenico Mazzella’s actions were a deliberate attempt to cheat the American public and gain an unfair advantage over law-abiding businesses and citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This plea demonstrates that our office, working with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue those who willfully evade their tax obligations.”
“IRS-Criminal Investigation takes these violations of law very seriously,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Field Office. “This plea exhibits a positive message to honest taxpayers and further demonstrates that the IRS and U.S. Attorney’s Office are duty bound to protect the integrity of the U.S. tax administration system, and to make sure everyone complies with their tax obligations."
The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan C. Williamson is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-113-GBW.
Two Men Admit Kidnapping St. Louis County Toddler in Attempt to Recover GunsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two men have admitted kidnapping a toddler in St. Louis County, Missouri in a bid to recover missing guns.
Kendal “KD” White, 20, of St. Charles, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of kidnapping. Cam’Ron Henderson, 20, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty to the same charge on August 11.
White admitted as part of the plea agreement that he believed that the father of the kidnapping victim, a 2-year-old, had taken firearms and other items from him. On Aug. 10. 2023, White, Henderson and others then began looking for the man and eventually found their way to the victim’s mother’s apartment in St. Louis County. When she did not answer the door, White and Henderson kicked it in. Both men were armed. After learning that their quarry was not in the apartment, White demanded that the mother turn over her daughter. She refused, and White struck her in the head with his gun multiple times before grabbing the toddler from her arms. White and Henderson fled with the girl and the victim’s mother called police.
When White and Henderson learned that an Amber Alert had been issued and included a description of the Hyundai Elantra they were driving, White paid three women to return the toddler to her uncle’s home.
The kidnapping charge carries a penalty of at least 20 years in prison. Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2 and White on January 27.
The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
Two Albuquerque Men Plead Guilty to Harboring Undocumented Immigrants and Ransom ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Two Albuquerque men have pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport and harbor undocumented immigrants after federal agents uncovered a stash house linked to a kidnapping and ransom scheme.
According to court documents, the investigation began on March 1, 2025, when the FBI received a kidnapping complaint reporting that the victim’s family was being extorted for ransom under threats of violence and cartel involvement. Agents traced the ransom calls to a residence in southwest Albuquerque and executed a search warrant the following day. Inside, they found 11 undocumented immigrants, including an unaccompanied minor, along with more than 20 cell phones and a ledger of smuggling activity. Victims reported being locked in rooms, threatened with violence, and told not to contact law enforcement. Both Isaias David Jose and Tomas Mateo Gaspar were identified as running the stash house and producing ransom videos.
Jose and Gaspar admitted to their roles in a conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented immigrants in Albuquerque between late February and early March 2025. Jose maintained the stash house and took videos of the individuals he was harboring, while Gaspar lived at the residence without paying rent and supported the operation by cooking, cleaning, and helping manage the premises. Both defendants acknowledged they knowingly participated in the conspiracy, which was carried out in exchange for money.
At sentencing, Jose and Gaspar both face up to 10 years in prison. Upon their release from prison, Jose and Gaspar will be subject to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case as 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.
Three high-level MS-13 gang members plead guilty to 50-year sentences in large-scale racketeering conspiracy involving murder and other violent crimesRead the Press Release
GALVESTON, Texas – Eight El Salvadorian citizens who illegally resided in Houston and are members of the violent transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a racketeering conspiracy that included multiple murders and acts of witness tampering, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia aka Mejia, 28, Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia aka Discreto, 29, Miguel Angel Aguilar-Ochoa aka Darki, 40, and Marlon Miranda-Moran aka Chinki, 26, have now entered their pleas. Four others - Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, aka Destino, 33, Edgardo Martinez-Rodriguez aka Largo, 35, Carlos Alexi Garcia-Gongora aka Garcia, 27, and Wilman Rivas-Guido aka Inquieto, 29 - also pleaded guilty to the same racketeering conspiracy Aug. 11.
“This case demonstrates the tremendous public safety threat that MS-13 and other criminal terrorist organizations pose to American communities,” said Ganjei. “Here, defendants carried out a series of murders - bludgeoning, butchering, and strangling their victims with sadistic glee. These are people without remorse or pity. When it comes to eradicating these gangs, the United States cannot afford to either relent or fail. As the facts of this case show, the stakes are too high.”
“These defendants carried out brutal murders in the name of MS-13, killing victims with machetes, baseball bats and their bare hands, and then sending photos of the victims’ bodies to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants committed these unthinkable acts to maintain their status in a gang that spread fear in local neighborhoods and targeted those brave enough to cooperate with law enforcement. Today’s guilty pleas send a powerful message that the Justice Department will aggressively pursue and hold accountable MS-13 members who use violence and murder to terrorize our communities.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, MS-13 is a violent international street gang involved in a variety of violent criminal activities across the United States, including Texas, Virginia, Maryland, New York and California. MS-13 also has a large international presence in El Salvador and Honduras. To protect MS-13’s power, reputation and territory, members and associates must use intimidation and violence, including murder and assault with deadly weapons, such as machetes.
As part of their plea agreements, all eight admitted to being members of MS-13 and participating in a criminal enterprise responsible for multiple murders, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery and obstruction of justice in and around the Houston area from 2017 through 2018. High-ranking MS-13 leaders based in El Salvador ordered and approved of the murders, sometimes listening by phone as MS-13 members carried out the crimes.
MS-13 members participated in the murders to increase or maintain their own position within MS-13’s ranks. MS-13 targeted the murder victims because they were believed to be members of rival gangs, cooperating with law enforcement or working against MS-13’s interests. MS-13 members committed the murders using machetes, a baseball bat and strangling. After the murders, MS-13 members sent photos of the victims’ bodies to high-ranking MS-13 members in El Salvador, sometimes further mutilating or dismembering the victim’s bodies before sending the photos.
According to their plea agreements, Chicas-Garcia, Ventura-Mejia and Aguilar-Ochoa will each be sentenced to 50 years in federal prison while Miranda-Moran will receive a 35-year-term of imprisonment. Martinez-Rodriguez, Garcia-Gongora and Rivas-Guido have agreed to a term from 45-50 years, while Carbajal-Peraza is expected to receive 40-45 years of imprisonment.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown accepted the pleas and has set sentencing for November. At that time, he will consider the sentencing stipulations and impose any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; police departments in Houston and Galveston as well as Prince George’s County in Maryland; sheriff’s offices in Harris and Liberty counties; Texas Department of Public Safety; University of North Texas Center for Human Identification; U.S. Marshals Service; and Texas Office of the Attorney General led or contributed to the lengthy and complex investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keri Fuller and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Temu Agrees to $2M Civil Penalty and Injunction for Alleged Violations of the INFORM Consumers ActRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced today that a federal court has entered a stipulated order resolving a case against Whaleco Inc., doing business as “Temu.” Under the order, Temu will pay $2 million in civil penalties as part of a settlement to resolve allegations that it violated the INFORM Consumers Act in connection with its online marketplace.
The INFORM Consumers Act requires that online marketplaces clearly and conspicuously disclose identifying information about high volume sellers on their platforms and provide mechanisms for consumers to electronically and telephonically report suspicious activity to the marketplace. In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the government alleged that Temu failed to sufficiently disclose certain information for high-volume third party sellers, such as seller addresses, and Temu did not consistently provide the reporting mechanisms required by law.
“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring American consumers have information about third-party sellers online and mechanisms to report suspicious marketplace behavior,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will continue to ensure that online marketplaces follow the INFORM Consumers Act.”
In addition to imposing a $2 million civil penalty on Temu, the stipulated order requires Temu to put measures in place to ensure compliance with the INFORM Consumers Act going forward.
The United States is represented in this action by Senior Trial Attorney Sarah Williams and Assistant Director Zachary A. Dietert of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Brazier for the District of Massachusetts, provided assistance. Tiffany M. Woo and Carl Settlemyer represent the FTC.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Stockton Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
Charles Billingsley Jr., 55, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 15 years and eight months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between March and December 2019, Billingsley conspired with other members of a Stockton-based drug trafficking organization to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. Billingsley regularly obtained and distributed methamphetamine and heroin on behalf of the organization. On Dec. 5, 2019, law enforcement officers searched Billingsley’s two adjacent residences in Stockton and seized more than 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 30 ounces of heroin, six ounces of cocaine, four loaded firearms, and more than $33,000 in cash. Agents also eradicated 451 marijuana plants that Billingsley was growing in one of the residences and seized more than 52 pounds of processed marijuana.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, the California Highway Patrol, and the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted the case.
Statement of David X. Sullivan on his appointment by the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut to serve as United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
“I sincerely thank Chief Judge Shea and the District Court judges for allowing me to continue in my role as United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. I am honored that they, President Trump, and Attorney General Bondi have placed their trust in me to serve our country and the people of Connecticut alongside the hard-working men and women of the office, and federal, state, and local law enforcement.”
St. Louis Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining $1.2 Million in MortgagesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Monday sentenced a man to five years in prison for fraudulently obtaining home mortgages totaling more than $1.2 million.
Judge Autrey also ordered Edward James Mitchell Jr., also known as Musa Muhammad, to repay a total of $482,096 to lenders for their losses due to Mitchell’s scheme.
Mitchell, now 37, of St. Louis, participated in four fraudulent home mortgages from October 2021 through November 2023. Mitchell’s company, Home Team Solutions LLC, purchased three homes in St. Louis and one in Florissant. Mitchell then pretended to be one of his relatives to “buy” two of the homes, submitting fraudulent mortgage loan applications and false employment and financial information and using his relative’s Social Security number and birthdate. He bought another home himself and sold another to his paramour, again submitting false or fraudulent documents.
The total value of the loans was $1,226,550. All the lenders suffered losses due to Mitchell’s fraud. One home was sold at a discount. Another was sold in a foreclosure sale. A third was sold in a short sale.
“The Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) carefully investigates allegations of mortgage fraud involving the government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,” said Korey Brinkman, Special Agent in Charge of FHFA-OIG’s Central Region. “We are proud to work with our partners in this investigation.”
Mitchell pleaded guilty in April in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of bank fraud.
In October 2023, Mitchell legally changed his name to Musa Muhammad.
The FBI and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman prosecuted the case.
St. Louis Area Doctor Sentenced to 70 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Monday sentenced a St. Louis, Missouri area doctor to 70 months in prison for two separate criminal cases, one charged in 2020 and one in 2024.
Dr. Asim Muhammad Ali, 54, was also ordered to pay $1,845,916 in restitution for the 2020 case and $3,902 for the 2024 case.
In the 2020 case, Dr. Ali was involved in a conspiracy to pay kickbacks for urine specimens referred for testing to one of the companies he owned, Central Diagnostic Laboratory. Dr. Ali also admitted signing prescriptions for controlled substances for patients who appeared to be selling or giving away their drugs. He also pre-signed prescriptions for controlled substances to be given to patients of one of his other businesses, the Institute for Pain Management LLC. Dr. Ali did not see the patients on the dates they received the prescriptions and rarely looked at patient charts or determined a legitimate medical need for the controlled substances.
Judge Autrey ordered Dr. Ali and a number of his codefendants in that case to pay $950,381 to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, $13,993 to Tricare and $881,542 to Missouri Medicaid.
In the 2024 case, Dr. Ali agreed to perform health care services for the Medicare patients of a company Dr. Mohd Azfar Malik owned, Psych Care Consultants LLC, but bill using Dr. Malik’s name and Medicare billing number. The doctors billed Medicare for “annual wellness visits,” a comprehensive yearly appointment, but Dr. Ali did not see them in person and simply called asked a series of questions. Medicare paid $3,902 for the fraudulent claims.
Dr. Ali pleaded guilty in the 2020 case to one count of conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances, one count of illegally prescribing controlled substances, one count of paying illegal kickbacks for referrals and one count of a submitting false claims. He pleaded guilty in the 2024 case to one count of conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances and to maintain a drug-involved premises.
Dr. Malik pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements related to health care matters. He admitted submitting claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurers in which he falsely claimed to have performed in-person services when he was out of the state or the country. He admitted billing a private insurance company for the intravenous infusion of ketamine that was performed by Dr. Ali, knowing that Dr. Ali was under indictment and lacked a DEA registration authorizing him to administer controlled substances. Dr. Malik admitted causing a total loss of $19,442 to Medicare, Medicaid, and the private health care insurers.
In August, Dr. Malik was sentenced to five years of probation, fined $20,000 and ordered to pay restitution of $19,442. He has also agreed to surrender his Drug Enforcement Administration registrations authorizing him to administer controlled substances.
“Health care providers who unlawfully distribute dangerous and addictive controlled substances not only endanger the lives of vulnerable individuals but also undermine the integrity of our nation’s health care system. Dr. Ali exploited the trust placed in him by his patients and engaged in kickback schemes for personal financial gain,” said Linda T. Hanley, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s sentencing highlights HHS-OIG’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to hold health care providers accountable for their unlawful actions.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sestric prosecuted the 2024 case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Sestric, Derek Wiseman and Jonathan Clow handled the 2020 case.
South Dakota man sentenced to over 12 years in prison for sexually abusing two victims on Fort Belknap Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – An South Dakota man who sexually abused two victims on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 148 in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Farron Gene American Horse, Sr., 40, was found guilty by a jury in April 2025 of sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged at trial and in court documents that American Horse sexually abused the victims in September and October 2020 in Hays, on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. In October 2020, one victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, who had attained the age of 12 years but had not yet reached the age of 16 years, disclosed being sexually abused by American Horse. About this time, another victim, identified as Jane Doe 2, who also had attained the age of 12 years but had not yet reached the age of 16 years, disclosed that American Horse had touched her.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey Hendricks and Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services.
XXX
Shiprock Man Charged in Stabbing that Left Victim Seriously InjuredRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man is facing federal charges after allegedly attacking a woman with a knife in a grocery store parking lot, leaving her with life-threatening injuries.
According to court documents, on August 31, 2025, Navajo Police Department officers responded to a stabbing in the parking lot of the Bashas Grocery Store in Shiprock, New Mexico. Officers located the victim with serious stab wounds and significant blood loss. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment and survived.
A witnesses identified the assailant as Tony Tsosie, 56, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Tsosie was later detained nearby with blood on his hands and shoes matching prints at the scene. Tsosie denied involvement, provided a false identity, and claimed not to be carrying a knife, though a witness described him stabbing the victim multiple times after a verbal altercation.
Tsosie is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Tsosie faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Tsosie).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Shelton Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sex Abuse ImagesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROSS DeLIBRO, 54, of Shelton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 288 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for producing and possessing child sex abuse images.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2024, a detective assigned to the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit began an investigation into the sharing of child sex abuse images and videos over a peer-to-peer file sharing network. The investigation revealed that an internet protocol (IP) address assigned to DeLibro’s residence in Shelton had been used to share child sex abuse videos.
The investigation also revealed that DeLibro had worked since at least 2007 as a preschool teacher and in-home nanny for several families with young children in Connecticut, and had a degree in early childhood education. He solicited in-home nanny business through a popular and legitimate employment website.
On May 1, 2024, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of DeLibro’s residence and seized his Apple MacBook Air, his iPhone, an external hard drive, and other items. Analysis of the seized items revealed image and video files depicting male children being sexually abused, including two images in which DeLibro appears engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a toddler.
DeLibro has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on June 11, 2024. On May 15, 2025, he pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the Shelton Police Department and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Scientific Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel George and Nancy Gifford.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford for its cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
San Gabriel Valley Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal Prison for Role in $36.9 Million Global Digital Asset Investment ScamRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Gabriel Valley man was sentenced today to 51 months in federal prison for his role in laundering more than $36.9 million from victims in an international digital asset investment scam conspiracy that was carried out from scam centers in Cambodia.
Shengsheng He, 39, of La Puente, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who also ordered him to pay $26,867,242 in restitution.
He pleaded guilty on April 10 to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal money transmitting business.
“This defendant will spend years in federal prison for participating in a conspiracy in which victims lost tens of millions of dollars, starting with the simple step of responding to unsolicited messages on their phones,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The public should always remember to be vigilant and wary of strangers marketing promising investment opportunities. Your retirement fund or children’s college money may depend on it.”
“The defendant was part of a group of co-conspirators that preyed on American investors by promising them high returns on supposed digital asset investments when, in fact, they stole nearly $37 million from U.S. victims using Cambodian scam centers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Foreign scam centers, purporting to offer investments in digital assets have, unfortunately, proliferated. The Criminal Division is committed to bringing to justice those that steal from American investors, wherever the fraudsters may be located.”
According to court documents, He was part of an international criminal network that induced U.S. victims to transfer funds to accounts controlled by co-conspirators who then laundered victim money through U.S. shell companies, international bank accounts, and digital asset wallets.
As part of the conspiracy, co-conspirators residing overseas would contact U.S. victims directly through unsolicited social media interactions, telephone calls, text messages, and online dating services to gain the victims’ trust. The co-conspirators then promoted fraudulent digital asset investments to the victims. Scammers would tell victims that their investments were appreciating in value when, in fact, the funds the victims sent to the scammers had been stolen. More than $36.9 million in victim funds were transferred from U.S. bank accounts controlled by the co-conspirators to a single account at Deltec Bank in the Bahamas, opened in the name of Axis Digital Limited. He and other co-conspirators directed Deltec Bank to convert victim funds to the stablecoin Tether (USDT) and to transfer the converted funds to a digital asset wallet controlled by individuals in Cambodia. From there, co-conspirators in Cambodia transferred the USDT to the leaders of scam centers throughout the region including in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far, including Daren Li, a national of China and St. Kitts and Nevis who has been in U.S. custody since April 2024, and Lu Zhang, a Chinese national illegally in the United States who managed a network of U.S.-based money launderers. Li and Zhang each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on Nov.12, 2024, and May 13, 2024, respectively.
He co-founded Axis Digital with defendant Jose Somarriba. Chinese national Jingliang Su joined Axis Digital as a director and participated in the digital asset conversions and transfers of victim funds. Somarriba and Su each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business on April 14, and June 9, respectively.
The United States Secret Service’s Global Investigative Operations Center is investigating the case. The Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Dominican National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maxwell Coll and Alexander Gorin of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, Nisha Chandran of the Major Frauds Section, and Trial Attorney Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted this case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of more than 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of more than $350 million in victim funds.
If you or someone you know is a victim of a digital asset investment fraud, report it to IC3.gov.
Roswell Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Making Bomb Threats to Government OfficesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Roswell man pled guilty to federal charges for making multiple bomb threats to government offices across several states.
According to court documents, on February 14, 2025, Jeffrey Ramon Diaz, 43, made threatening calls to several governmental agencies and offices, including a United States Senator’s office, the New Mexico Second Judicial District Court in Bernalillo County, the Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, and the Governor of Pennsylvania’s office.
During the calls, Diaz identified himself by name and made explicit threats of violence and bombings. He told a congressional staffer he was threatening to bomb the Senator’s office. He left a voicemail for a New Mexico state court judge threatening to blow up the judge’s building and harm the judge. He also spoke directly to a receptionist at the Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, declaring a bomb threat and threatening to set the building on fire. Additionally, Diaz called the Pennsylvania Governor’s office claiming he had placed a bomb in the Governor’s home and threatened to kill those inside.
Diaz knew at the time that he did not have bombs at any of these locations but made the threats intending to cause fear, panic, and intimidation.
On August 11, 2025, Diaz pled guilty to four counts of Malicious Threat to Injure by Fire or Explosive. At sentencing, Diaz faces up to 10 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Las Cruces Police Department and Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher McNair is prosecuting the case.
Roanoke Man Who Posed as Baseball Prospect Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke, Virginia man, who used burner phones to pose as officials from both Major and Minor League baseball teams, was sentenced recently to 41 months in federal prison for failing to register as a convicted sex offender and making false statements.
Janike Dunbar Holt, 29, a.k.a. “Nike,” a.k.a. “Janike Tagovailoa” a.k.a. “Keanu Tagovailoa,” a.k.a. “Trey Tagovailoa,” previously pled guilty to one count of failure to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and one count of making a false statement to law enforcement.
According to court documents, in August 2018, Holt was convicted of three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child in North Carolina after he had sexual relations with a fifteen-year-old. Holt was released from custody in October of 2018 and, after initially complying with his required sex offender registration requirements, Holt failed to report an address change in June 2022.
In March 2022, Holt began dating a woman (Individual 1) who had a minor child (Minor A). Holt was not the father of Minor A, but he told others that he was. In addition, Holt was asking several other women for money that he claimed was to support Minor A, to visit Minor A, or to help obtain custody of Minor A. However, Holt did not actually use the money for these stated purposes or otherwise provide this money to Individual 1 or Minor A.
Around October 2022, Holt began dating Individual 2. Holt falsely told Individual 2 that he had a child (Minor A) and got Individual 2 to give him $65 for diapers for the child and for gas to go visit her. Individual 2 gave Holt access to her bank accounts, and Holt stole $5,000 from her. Individual 2 was able recover this money from her bank.
At other times in 2022, Holt also dated Individual 3. While living with Individual 3, Holt stole at least three checks from her, which he subsequently made out to himself. Holt filled out one of these checks and asked another person, Individual 5, to cash it for him. Holt made out another of these stolen checks for $225,000, with the memo line reading “Lawsuit Refund.” The check was never cashed. Holt later made out another of these stolen checks for $75,000, with the memo line reading “Law-suit settlement.” He asked two other people, Individuals 7 and 8, to cash this check for him, but they refused.
On February 6, 2023, Holt asked a friend to drive him from North Carolina to Virginia, where he was planning to move. Holt lived with his brother in Roanoke for a few days before moving in with a new girlfriend, Individual 6. Holt continued living with his new girlfriend until March 14, 2023. While living in Roanoke, Holt never registered as a sex offender in Virginia, despite being required to under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Despite living with Individual 6, Holt also spent a significant amount of time at a house where the mother of two of his brother’s children (Individual 7) lived with her mother (Individual 8). Holt falsely told his brother, Individual 7, and Individual 8 that he had been recruited to play for a Major League Baseball team. Holt used burner phones to send text messages to his brother, Individual 7, and Individual 8 while pretending to be actual individuals affiliated with a Major League Baseball team and a Minor League Baseball team. Holt used the names of these individuals without their knowledge.
Holt told his brother, Individual 6, Individual 7, and Individual 8 that they would all be moving as a result of his purported Major League Baseball career. In preparation, and at Holt’s urging, Individual 7 and Individual 8 sold some of their vehicles and gave Holt the proceeds. Holt also attempted to sell Individual 6’s vehicle without her knowledge.
On March 14, 2023, Holt was arrested on a warrant out of North Carolina. While being interviewed by a deputy marshal, Holt made several false statements, including that he had a child (Minor A), that he had not been living in Roanoke, Virginia but had been driving back and forth between Roanoke and North Carolina every other day, and that his probation officer was aware that he was habitually traveling between Roanoke and North Carolina.
Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci made the announcement today.
The United States Marshals Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff is prosecuting the case.
Repeat Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
An Oklahoma man was sentenced last week to 10 years in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Thomas Edward Gailus, 52, of Webber Falls, Oklahoma, used the dark web to access child sexual abuse material, which he collected in large quantities, including child sexual abuse material featuring prepubescent minors. Gailus had previously been convicted in 2005 of possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and communication with a minor for immoral purposes in Washington State. At the time of the search of his home in 2023, Gailus possessed or accessed with intent to view child sexual abuse files with the same series title as the images that he was convicted of possessing in 2005.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Chris Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas Goodwater of the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was a part of Operation Grayskull, a highly successful joint effort between the Department of Justice and the FBI, led by the FBI Child Exploitation Operation Unit. Operation Grayskull resulted in the dismantling of four dark web sites dedicated to images and videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Putnam County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Richard Charles Cart, 42, of Poca, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 28, 2025, Cart sold a Ruger model LCP .380-caliber pistol at a pawn shop in Charleston. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Cart knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for grand larceny in Kanawha Circuit Court on May 23, 2022, and for possession of methamphetamine in Jackson County, Georgia, Superior Court on August 8, 2019.
Cart is scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-108.
###
Previously convicted felon charged federally for possessing firearm during local gas station shootoutRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Trotwood man was charged federally today after he allegedly participated in a shootout at a local gas station last week.
Walter Rodgers, 35, is charged with illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime.
According to charging documents, on Sept. 2, Dayton police officers were dispatched to the Sunoco gas station on E. Third Street in Dayton due to early afternoon calls of a shooting. Rodgers allegedly ran inside the gas station after being shot at, retrieved a firearm from his bag and exited the Sunoco to return fire.
It is alleged that Rodgers possessed a firearm that law enforcement recovered at the scene. The gun was covered in blood; Rodgers was hit during the gun fight.
Court documents also detail that, during the shootout, Rodgers allegedly stated, “I’m going to do ya’ll like I did Cierra,” potentially referring to his former girlfriend Cierra Chapman, who was reported missing in 2022 and is yet to be found.
Rodgers was previously convicted in Montgomery County of aggravated burglary and abduction. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Erica Lunderman is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Portland Man Charged with Assaulting Federal Law Enforcement Officer Near Local ICE OfficeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man made his first appearance in federal court today after assaulting a federal officer during ongoing protest activity near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
Devin P. Montgomery, 49, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.
According to court documents, on the afternoon of September 4, 2025, Federal Protective Service (FPS) observed Montgomery operating an Unmanned Aircraft System, also commonly described as a “drone,” in a temporary flight restricted area near the ICE facility in Portland. The FPS advised Montgomery that flying a drone above or around the federal facility was prohibited due to the restriction imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Montgomery ignored FPS’s instructions and continued to operate the drone in the restricted area. Federal officers approached Montgomery, who became belligerent with the officers and began cursing at them. After his arrest, Montgomery spit in an officer’s face.
Since June 13, 2025, a total of 26 defendants have been charged with federal offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, arson, possession of a destructive device, and depredation of government property.
Montgomery made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.
Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to 8 years in federal prison.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Porcupine Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault within the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Porcupine, South Dakota, convicted of one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on August 18, 2025.
Elijah Keith Battese, 25, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Battese was indicted for two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on May 2, 2025.
On September 27, 2024, Battese struck a juvenile male with a vacuum handle. The victim suffered a 1.4-inch laceration to his right-ear area, requiring eleven sutures from emergency medical services. The offense took place within the Pine Ridge Reservation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Battese was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 70 months of imprisonment on his conviction of bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Mark Laughner, 38, on September 4, 2025, and included an order that the defendant pay restitution to the bank.
According to the information presented to the Court, on May 16, 2024, Laughner entered a Reserve Township bank wearing a baseball cap and neck gaiter that covered his mouth and nose and instructed the teller to give him all of her large bills. After the teller handed over the $100 and $50 bills from her cash drawer, the defendant demanded that the teller provide more cash quickly or he would shoot her in her face. Laughner left the bank with $1,370 in U.S. currency and was ultimately identified through the utilization of surveillance recordings as well as witness interviews.
Allegheny County Police Department (ACPD) detectives obtained a warrant for Laughner’s arrest, and, on May 20, 2024, attempted to apprehend the defendant when detectives observed him in the passenger seat of a vehicle outside of a Pittsburgh fire station. As detectives converged on the vehicle with their emergency lights activated, the driver exited the vehicle. Laughner jumped from the passenger side of the vehicle into the driver’s seat and began fleeing detectives by driving in reverse at a high rate of speed. Ignoring multiple verbal commands to stop, Laughner came within inches of striking two ACPD detectives before stopping, exiting the vehicle in the middle of the street, and fleeing on foot. Using a police K-9 unit, law enforcement apprehended Laughner after finding him hiding in thick brush.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Allegheny County Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Laughner.
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.
Owners of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Pled GuiltyRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Two former owners of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare pled guilty today to conspiring with others to commit federal healthcare fraud.
Kafomdi “Josephine” Okocha, 49, and Samuel Okocha, 52, both of Upper Marlboro, Maryland pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. At sentencing, both defendants face a penalty of up to 8 years in prison.
The defendants were charged in March 2025 along with Carolyn Bryant-Taylor, 61, of Clinton, Maryland; Shekita Gore, a.k.a. Shekita Steele, 38, of Clinton, Maryland; Elizabeth Ilome, 41, of Stafford, Virginia; and Eno Utuk, 47, of Stafford, Virginia.
Bryant-Taylor pled guilty last week to similar charges. All other defendants have pending charges.
According to court documents, Bryant-Taylor, Josephine Okocha, and Samuel Okocha were owners and operators of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Service, a Medicaid-enrolled home health agency providing private duty nursing, personal care, and respite care services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, including in the Western District of Virginia. Gore was the director of nursing, while Utuk and Ilome were employed by 1st Adult to provide nursing and personal care.
The defendants conspired to submit false claims to Medicaid for services that were not provided to patients, including falsifying records and documentation in support of the fraudulent claims submitted for reimbursement.
As part of this scheme, between 2017 and 2023, Bryant-Taylor and her co-defendant, Josephine Okocha, planned arrangements to pay the parents or guardians of patients in exchange for blank, signed nursing notes which would be filled out and used to support billing to Medicaid. In these arrangements, the amount billed to Medicaid either reflected nursing services that were not provided at all, or an amount of nursing services that was in excess of what was provided.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Farina of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are investigating the case, with assistance from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Jones and Laura Taylor, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Terry, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case.
Owner of Facility for Intellectually Disabled Adults Pleads Guilty to Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of the East Hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh pleaded guilty in federal court to health care fraud, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Kelley Oliver-Hollis, 61, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. Through her plea, Oliver-Hollis also acknowledged responsibility for 39 other counts with which she was charged by Superseding Indictment in August 2025, including making false statements relating to health care matters, concealment of material facts related to health care matters, money laundering, and misuse of Social Security benefits by a representative payee (read the Superseding Indictment news release here).
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Oliver-Hollis was an enrolled Medicaid provider operating as Serenitycare LLC in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, under the state’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Program, through which the defendant housed and was to have provided services to several intellectually disabled adults, including staffing the homes with adequate workers to care for the residents. Program records demonstrated that, between 2018 and 2023, Oliver-Hollis failed to sufficiently staff the homes according to the requirements of the program, and instead regularly submitted weekly claims for HCBS benefits falsely representing proper staffing of the homes. Additionally, Oliver-Hollis allowed the homes to fall into a state of disrepair, resulting in multiple citations for unsanitary and unsafe living conditions for the residents.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for February 10, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory C. Melucci and Brendan J. McKenna are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General, and U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Oliver-Hollis.
The United States Attorney’s Office’s efforts to combat healthcare fraud are frequently made possible by tips from the community. To report suspected fraud, please contact the FBI’s healthcare fraud tipline at [email protected] or the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Oregon Man Sentenced to 39 Months in Prison for Cyberstalking and Interstate StalkingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On September 4, Brian Thomas Balda, 52, of Oregon, was sentenced by United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 39 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. On June 13, 2025, a federal jury found Balda guilty of one count of Cyberstalking and one count of Interstate Stalking following a four-day trial
In 2023 and 2024, Balda engaged in a campaign to intimidate and harass a former United States government official. For approximately ten months, Balda sent abusive and profane text messages and voicemails to the victim. Balda ultimately drove from Oregon to Arizona to confront the victim, and was arrested by law enforcement near the victim’s home. Four knives, binoculars, and a replica handgun were found in Balda’s car at the time of his arrest.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office investigated this matter, with the assistance of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the University of Arizona Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-1182-TUC-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-145_Balda# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Online child predator sentenced to 25 yearsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 28-year-old Vermont man has been ordered to federal prison after his multiple convictions related to the production of child sexual assault material (CSAM) involving a South Texas victim, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Daniel Lee Hicks pleaded guilty April 16 to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now sentenced Hicks to a total of 300 months in federal prison. In imposing the sentence, the court noted its responsibility to the victims and advised Hicks there are consequences for his actions. Hicks will also serve 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Hicks will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. The court will determine and order restitution at a later date.
“The internet is a valuable tool, but unfortunately, for predators like Hicks, it can become a weapon used to target some of our most vulnerable,” Ganjei said. “To anyone who tries to use social media or other avenues to prey on our kids, it matters not where you are. We will hunt you down, arrest you, and imprison you…often for decades. To parents, stay vigilant and be aware of those that could be infiltrating your children’s devices.”
“As a parent, cases like this hit close to home knowing that dangerous predators like this are just a mouse click or phone swipe away from our children on social media,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of Homeland Security Investigations Houston. “Fortunately, working with our partners at the Montgomery County Constables Office, we were able to identify this child predator and remove him from the community for the next 25 years, but it’s never a bad time for parents to talk to their kids and educate them about the dangers on social media. Department of Homeland Security offers plenty of useful tools and resources that can be found at https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect.”
In November 2022, authorities discovered sexually explicit conversations between Hicks and a minor female victim who was residing in the Southern District of Texas. Hicks began communicating with her since at least 2021 and knew she was under the age of 14. During the conversations, Hicks sent demeaning and threatening messages to coerce the victim to create and send videos and images depicting sexually explicit conduct. During the conversations, Hicks also sent CSAM images to her.
Authorities identified at least two additional minor victims residing across the United States, both under the age of 16. Hicks would communicate with the children online for the explicit purpose of creating and obtaining more CSAM. Hicks exploited online social media platforms to identify and exploit the minor victims.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation as part of their Child Exploitation Investigations Group with the assistance of Montgomery County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse prosecuted the case which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Okemah Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffrey Gilbert Franklin, Jr., age 50, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to thirty-three months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Okemah Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 9, 2025, Franklin pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on April 25, 2024, police conducting a traffic stop discovered Franklin in possession of a baggie containing approximately 36 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. After Franklin’s arrest and booking, Franklin made calls from jail coordinating distribution of methamphetamine.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Franklin will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy-Related FraudRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Wayne Robert Rummel, 40, of Crown City, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to falsifying recorded information relating to the property or financial affairs of a debtor in bankruptcy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 5, 2023, Rummel filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. While the bankruptcy case was still pending, Rummel sought to obtain financing to purchase a 2022 Nissan Altima for $24,758.50. Rommel knew he needed the permission of the Bankruptcy Court or the United States Trustee, who oversees the administration of bankruptcy cases in the Southern District of West Virginia, to obtain a post-bankruptcy petition loan.
On February 26, 2025, Rummel emailed the lender a fake order from the Bankruptcy Court, which purported to provide approval for him to finance the vehicle purchase through the lender. As part of his guilty plea, Rommel admitted that he knew the Bankruptcy Court order was fake because he created it, and that neither the Court nor the United States Trustee had given him permission to obtain a loan with his bankruptcy case still pending.
Rummel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The United States Trustee’s Charleston field office, which serves West Virginia, made the criminal referral of this case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States Trustee Program is a component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-138.
###
New York Man Sentenced for Identity TheftRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Bolarinwa Salau, 30, of Rockaway Beach, New York, was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for identity theft.
According to the court documents and statements made in court, during a traffic stop of Salau’s vehicle, West Virginia State Police found identification documents for other people which were being used in connection with a stolen identity refund fraud scheme, often referred to as “SIRF.” This type of fraud involves the use of stolen personal information, including social security numbers, used to file tax returns for purposes of obtaining fraudulent refunds. Salau attempted to file fraudulent tax returns that would have yielded nearly $1 million in refunds.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the West Virginia State Police, with assistance from the Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
New Orleans Men Indicted for Hobbs Act Robbery and Felon in PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JEREMIAH MILLS (“MILLS”), age 28, was charged on August 28, 2025 in a four-count indictment, announced Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson. Count 1 charged him with Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a). Count 2 charged him with Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(iii). Count 3 charged him with Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a). Count 4 charged him with Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to the indictment, on or about July 17, 2025, MILLS committed an armed Hobbs Act robbery at a gas station in the 2700 block of S. Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. During the robbery, MILLS allegedly knowingly used, carried brandished and discharged a firearm during the robbery. Three days later, on July 20, 2025, MILLS attempted to rob the same gas station.
If convicted of Count 1, MILLS face a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, as to Count 2, he faces; a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release; as to Count 3, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count 3; and as to Count 4, he faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. MILLS also face a payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to all four counts.
Acting United States Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. [use if applicable] Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.
New Horizons Computer Learning Center in Jacksonville and Owner Resolve GI Bill AllegationsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Fla. – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces today that a New Horizons Computer Learning Center franchise and its owner, Coastal Corporate Training, Inc., have agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve allegations that the school overcharged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by failing to support tuition waivers provided to VA-supported students, by false certifying compliance with a statutory ban on incentive compensation tied to student enrollment, and by falsely certifying compliance with a rule governing veteran enrollment.
The Post - 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 (“GI Bill”) financially supports service members, veterans, and their eligible dependents who attend an education or training program at an educational institution. The longer a person serves in the military, the greater the benefits available under the GI Bill. If a school offers to waive tuition for a student receiving less than 100-percent assistance, that tuition waiver must be reported to the VA and the student’s portion reduced accordingly. Additionally, federal law prohibits participating schools from paying any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing student enrollments.
Finally, a federal regulation imposes the “85/15” rule, which prohibits the VA from approving enrollment in any course for an eligible veteran not already enrolled for any period during which more than 85% of the enrolled students have all or part of their tuition paid for by the educational institution or the VA.
The United States alleged that, between 2015 and 2020, Coastal Corporate Training, Inc., which owned the New Horizons Computer Learning Center – Jacksonville franchise, failed to deduct tuition waivers from the tuition billed to the VA for students receiving less than 100-percent assistance under the GI Bill, falsely certified compliance with Title 38 by paying commissions, bonuses, or other incentive payments to enrollment representatives, and falsely certified compliance with the 85/15 rule for courses that included VA-funded students.
“The Post - 9/11 GI Bill provides a hard-earned benefit to our nations’ veterans, equipping them with the education and training of their choice for civilian careers after they have completed their military service,” said United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “My office will continue to ensure that the GI Bill funds are used as intended – to benefit American veterans.”
“This settlement demonstrates that violations of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regulations will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of VA’s education benefits program.”
This resolution results from a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General. Senior Litigation Counsel Mamie V. Wise handled the investigation and prosecution of the case.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. No determination of liability has occurred.
Muskogee Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Catherine Victoria Rogers, age 52, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to two years’ probation for one count of Acquiring Hydrocodone by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, and Deception.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General.
On October 23, 2024, Rogers pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, between August and November 2023, while serving as a nurse with the VA Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Rogers removed approximately 132 pills of Hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, from the medical center’s medication storage and distribution system for her personal benefit.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Cornell and Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Modesto, Bakersfield, and Fresno Defendants Indicted as Part of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
On Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, a federal grand jury in Fresno brought two indictments for drug trafficking and one for illegal gun possession, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Modesto
Manuel Rodriguez Diaz, 41, of Modesto, was charged with possessing more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, on July 10, 2025, Diaz was pulled over by law enforcement officers while driving north on California State Road 99 in Madera County. Officers seized 16 individually wrapped packages of cocaine from Diaz’s car. In total, Diaz was transporting approximately 27.65 kilograms (61 pounds) of cocaine.
This case is the product of an investigation by the California Highway Patrol, the Madera Police Department, the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team, the Madera County District Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
Bakersfield
Individually Packaged Methamphetamine Seized from Garcia’s Car.
Steven Paul Garcia, 53, of Bakersfield, was charged with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to court documents, on Aug. 26, 2025, Garcia was pulled over by law enforcement officers while driving north on California state road 99 in Fresno County. During the stop, deputies seized approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine individually packaged in 1-pound bags.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Bakersfield Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
Fresno
Thomas Carter Beasley, 20, of Fresno, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Nov. 16, 2024, when law enforcement officers attempted to pull Beasley over in Fresno, he led them on a highspeed chase, speeding through stop signs and nearly hit bystanders. After crashing into a parked car, he fled on foot through a nearby apartment complex before he was caught and arrested. Officers later seized a loaded Glock 27 .40‑caliber pistol hidden under a doormat in a breezeway that Beasley fled through. The serial number of the firearm matched the gun box left behind in the crashed car. At the time, Beasley was on probation, and the firearm was loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition. Beasley is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction for receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Robert Veneman-Hughes are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Diaz and Garcia face a statutory minimum of 10 years with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. If convicted, Beasley faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; all of the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case involving Beasley is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Missouri Man Sentenced for Advertising Child Pornography on the Dark WebRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Missouri man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for advertising child pornography on the dark web.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Larry Stendebach, 60, to 17.5 years (210 months) in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Stendebach pleaded guilty on April 27, 2025.
According to court records, in May 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Maine were investigating a site on the dark web dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. During the investigation, HSI agents observed a profile, later identified as belonging to Stendebach, that had a history of postings dating back to December 2022. Agents observed the profile had made over 1,000 posts on the site. Agents reviewed several links posted by Stendebach that contained videos of child sexual abuse material including young children. In August 2024, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Stendebach’s residence in Hannibal, Missouri. During a subsequent interview, Stendebach admitted he had used the profile on the dark web.
HSI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
###
Mexican National Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States for the Third TimeRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Mexican national was sentenced to three years in federal prison today for illegally reentering the United States following multiple prior deportations and felony convictions.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about March 17, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents were conducting enforcement operations in Rankin County on Interstate 20. Agents conducted a vehicle stop and Luis Simon Acevedo-Rodriguez, 33, freely admitted to being a citizen of Mexico and to being present in the United States without the requisite permission. He was arrested and processed for removal. Acevedo-Rodriguez’s fingerprints were scanned into DHS databases resulting in a computer match to his prior immigration records, including photographs. Acevedo-Rodriguez has previously been convicted three times in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas – once for improper entry by an alien and twice for illegal reentry by a deported or removed alien. He has been formally removed from the United States three times previously.
A Criminal Complaint was filed against Acevedo-Rodriguz on March 20, 2025. Acevedo-Rodriguez was then indicted by a federal grand jury on April 8, 2025, and pleaded guilty to unlawful return of an alien removed after conviction of a felony on June 6, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Adam M. Calderon, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, made the announcement.
The United States Border Patrol investigated the case with assistance from the Rankin County Sherriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the Mississippi Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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).
Mexican National Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national who concealed his identity from officers and was found with firearms and multiple types of narcotics in Española has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on April 24, 2023, officers with the Española Police Department found Marco Antonio Lozoya-Ugarte, a Mexican nationalwho entered the United States on a business visa, unresponsive behind the wheel of a running vehicle in Española, New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of Santa Clara Pueblo. After removing Lozoya-Ugarte from the vehicle, officers discovered a holstered handgun on his hip, a loaded rifle magazine inside the vehicle, and an AR-15 style rifle in plain view. A subsequent search revealed additional firearms and approximately 148 grams of methamphetamine, 22.5 grams of cocaine, 605 fentanyl pills, 204 ecstasy pills, and 6.5 grams of black tar heroin as well as drug paraphernalia, and distribution materials. Lozoya-Ugarte initially gave officers a false name but later admitted his true identity.
Lozoya-Ugarte pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Upon his release from prison, Lozoya-Ugarte will be subject to five years of supervised releasewhich shall convert to unsupervised release upon his deportation from the United States.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Española Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert James Booth II and Mark A. Probasco are prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Admits Child Sex ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Mexican national on Monday admitted sexually abusing a minor and engaging in explicit communications with her on Instagram.
Giovanni Falcon, 41, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to transfer of obscene material to a minor and coercion and enticement of a minor. He admitted messaging a 15-year-old girl on Instagram between Jan. 1, 2024, and Aug. 12, 2024. In July and August of that year, Falcon sent the victim images of his genitals. Falcon and the victim also engaged in sexual contact on multiple occasions. On Aug. 13, 2024, the victim’s father contacted the St. Ann Police Department after discovering the explicit Instagram messages. St. Ann police arrested him the next day, and he admitted sexually abusing the victim.
The U.S. Attorney’s office will ask for 216 months in prison at Falcon’s sentencing, which has been set for Jan. 27, 2026. Falcon is not in the country legally and will be deported upon his release from prison.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Ann Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Daphne man was sentenced to 90 months in prison for a methamphetamine-trafficking conspiracy and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
According to court documents, Robert Keith Corte, Jr., 35, was caught on three occasions selling methamphetamine to confidential informants in September and October 2023 in Baldwin County, Alabama. On October 16, 2023, narcotics agents executed a search warrant at Corte’s apartment in Daphne, locating drugs and drug paraphernalia. In total, agents seized more than 185 grams of methamphetamine, which Corte admitted belonged to him. Corte admitted that he had recently gone to Pensacola, Florida, to obtain methamphetamine to sell in Baldwin County. Corte’s cell phone contained numerous text messages about his drug-dealing activities, including discussion of prices, payments, and amounts of drugs to be purchased. At the time of his arrest, Corte was on federal supervised release for a prior methamphetamine-trafficking conviction.
In addition to the 90-month prison sentence, Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Corte to serve a ten-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and treatment and will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Beaverstock ordered Corte to pay $200 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Marion County Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Vincent Irving Jones, 34, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 151 months in federal prison for methamphetamine and firearm charges.
According to the court documents and statements made in court, Jones was found with methamphetamine and a pistol in Marion County. Jones has multiple prior felony convictions, prohibiting him from having firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Rhee prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fairmont Police Department.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.