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11 September 2026
Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 37 months of imprisonment on his conviction of possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Aquay Mitchell, 26, on September 10, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, on September 24, 2024, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detectives observed and attempted to stop Mitchell, suspecting that he possessed a firearm. Mitchell fled and was ultimately located hiding in a stairwell, with officers also finding a firearm, keys, and a cell phone along Mitchell’s flight path. The firearm was a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number that had been reported stolen, and the cellular telephone and keys belonged to Mitchell, who has multiple felony convictions. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Mitchell was indicted in connection with the incident and a warrant issued for his arrest.
On February 4, 2026, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers were conducting a proactive patrol of Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood when they observed Mitchell at a convenience store and took Mitchell into custody on the federal arrest warrant. In a search incident to arrest, officers recovered from Mitchell’s person a loaded semi-automatic pistol that also had been reported stolen, a knotted plastic baggie containing 11 grams of crack cocaine, a digital scale, and a cellular telephone.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mitchell.
New Jersey Woman Who Defrauded Pandemic Relief Program of More Than Half a Million Dollars Sentenced to a Year and a Day in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Treva Harris, 50, of Medford, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $7,500 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $535,000 in restitution by United States District Judge John F. Murphy for fraudulently obtaining a loan award of approximately $535,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), established by the federal government to provide emergency financial assistance to small businesses and their workers suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defendant was charged by information in August of last year and pleaded guilty in October to one count of bank fraud, waiving prosecution by indictment.
As detailed in court filings and statements, in 2020, Harris applied for and received multiple pandemic relief loans backed by the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”), including two loans for a Philadelphia childcare business named Child Prodigy Education Center (“CPEC”).
The first of the two loans was an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) that resulted in approximately $514,900 in disbursements to Harris. Harris’s EIDL loan application, originally submitted in April 2020, accurately represented that her childcare business had only three employees, gross income of $165,907 for the past 12 months, and $113,420 in “cost of goods sold” (i.e. payroll).
However, just two months later, Harris submitted a separate PPP loan application for CPEC, including fabricated IRS documentation, in which she falsely claimed that CPEC actually had 27 employees and a monthly payroll of $214,000, or $2,568,000 annually. Based on that application, she received a loan of $535,000, much of which she promptly misspent on personal luxury retail purchases, large cash withdrawals, and checks written to her boyfriend’s business.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys S. Chandler Harris and Matthew T. Newcomer.
Milton Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearms as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Darin Leigh Roy Vanness, 32, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping dangerous, violent felons, like this defendant, off our streets is the surest way to keep our communities safe. I appreciate the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to bring this dangerous criminal to justice.”
Court documents reflect that Milton Police Department obtained a warrant to search the defendant’s home after receiving reports that he had fired a pistol inside the home during a domestic dispute. The defendant is a convicted felon and cannot legally possess a firearm. Upon searching the home, investigators found four 3D printers, multiple firearms made up of printed and manufactured gun parts, additional gun parts - both printed and manufactured - a Winchester rifle, significant amounts of ammunition, and some drugs and drug paraphernalia.
“I am extremely proud of the hard work, dedication, and investigative efforts demonstrated by the Milton Police Department throughout this case,” said Milton Police Chief Frank. “This case is a strong example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement and our prosecutorial partners work together with a shared commitment to justice, accountability, and the safety of the community we serve.”
The case involved an investigation by the Milton Police Department, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Mexican Man Charged for Smuggling Illegal Aliens into the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican man made his initial appearance in court Thursday for allegedly smuggling two illegal aliens from Mexico into the United States.
“Human smuggling is a direct violation of our nation's laws that compromises the security of our borders and puts human lives at risk for corporate-style profit,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This criminal complaint sends a clear message to smugglers: we will aggressively pursue, disrupt, and dismantle operations that treat human beings as cargo. Our office, alongside our dedicated federal and local law enforcement partners, remains unyielding in our mission to secure our borders and hold smugglers fully accountable under federal law.”
According to allegations in the criminal complaint, on April 14, 2025, a Border Patrol Agent initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Adrian Najera-Santos. When the vehicle came to an abrupt stop, Najera-Santos and two passengers fled into the desert. After a brief foot chase and search of the area, law enforcement apprehended Najera-Santos and the two others. During their interviews, the two passengers stated that they had paid to be smuggled into the United States and to California. They were picked up by a vehicle and taken to an unknown town where Najera-Santos picked them up to take them to Santa Maria, California. They were to pay Najera-Santos $700 for driving them.
Najera-Santos is charged with one count of transporting illegal aliens. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is investigating the case; and the District of Nevada 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 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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McCurtain County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Claborn Clark, a/k/a William Claborn Clark, Jr., a/k/a William Elaborn Clark, Jr., age 46, of Valliant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, and the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office.
On November 10, 2025, Clark pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on May 10, 2025, law enforcement discovered Clark in possession of one .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, one break-open rifle, and 23 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Clark 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. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Sedalia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting in downtown Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025, was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.
Kenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Grant Jr., who has prior felony convictions for harassment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026.
On July 20, 2025, officers with the Springfield Police Department heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. slightly after midnight. Officers responded and found a victim who had suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers located a blood trail on the pavement of the parking lot near a gold, 2014 Chevy Cruze. The officers observed that there was blood on the Cruze and located an “AR” style pistol underneath the car. The firearm was a Fort Barnes Armory, semi-automatic pistol equipped with a 30-round, high-capacity magazine and loaded with 19 rounds of assorted ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.
The shooting was captured on Great Southern Bank surveillance cameras, which depicted Grant Jr. walking through a crowd, approaching an individual, and lifting the front of his shirt, revealing a firearm in the front of his waistband. Later investigation revealed that Grant Jr. made threats against the individual that he approached. Grant Jr. then placed his right hand on the firearm and began pulling it from his waistband, while exchanging words with the individual, who then pulled a pistol and shot multiple rounds toward Grant Jr. and his companion, striking both.
As innocent bystanders ran from the area, Grant Jr. fled northbound, removing the firearm from his waistband. After snaking his way through the parking lot, Grant Jr. can be seen kneeling by the Cruze and placing the gun under the car before walking away from the scene as officers were beginning to arrive. The firearm possessed by Grant Jr. was found to have been stolen.
On the day of the shooting, Grant Jr. was already on probation for felon in possession of a firearm out of Pettis County, Mo., and had only been released from prison approximately two months prior to July 20, 2025.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
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.
Lexington Man Sentenced in Fentanyl Distribution leading to Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., man, Darryl Anderson, Jr., 27, was sentenced to 245 months in prison on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Chad Meredith for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
On January 7, 2023, Lexington Police Department officers responded to a fatal overdose in Lexington. At the scene, investigators recovered the victim’s cellphone and, using a passcode provided by a friend, found recent messages showing that the victim had arranged to purchase marijuana and three “30” pills from a contact saved as “DJ,” whom police identified as Anderson. Law enforcement also discovered drug evidence, including fentanyl residue on a bathroom sink, a cut straw, and a counterfeit blue “M 30” pill; laboratory testing confirmed both items contained fentanyl.
Anderson admitted selling pills to the victim on multiple occasions, including the night before his death, and noted that he purchased the pills for $10 each and sold them for $20. A search warrant executed at Anderson’s apartment led to the seizure of approximately eight pounds of marijuana, a digital scale, and $2,340 in suspected drug proceeds. Anderson acknowledged distributing fentanyl to the victim and that the victim’s use of that fentanyl resulted in his death.
“Fentanyl is a deadly poison, and those who knowingly distribute it must understand that their actions have consequences—especially when those actions result in the loss of a human life,” said Jason Parman, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “You don’t know what you’re getting on the street—counterfeit pills can contain deadly doses of fentanyl, as this case tragically demonstrates. This sentence holds Darryl Anderson accountable for selling fentanyl to a victim who ultimately paid the highest possible price. Our office, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who profit from this poison and hold them responsible for the devastation their drugs cause in our communities.”
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and; Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Leesville Man Sentenced to over 14 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – On September 1, 2026, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Earl Thompson, a.k.a. “Nook,” 45, of Leesville, to 174 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine with five years of supervised release after serving his sentence. Thompson had previously pled guilty.
“Traffickers of methamphetamine and fentanyl have no place in our society, and justice demands punishment that reflects their total disregard of the lives, the families, and the communities that they devastate,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “With our state and federal partners, this Office will continue to use every tool available to investigate, prosecute, and dismantle these criminal organizations that poison our neighborhoods with illegal narcotics.”
In 2024, federal, state, and local agencies launched an investigation into a multi parish narcotics trafficking organization operating throughout Vernon Parish and Central Louisiana. Eleven defendants were indicted on January 21, 2026, for their involvement in a drug network responsible for moving large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Thompson played a significant role in the conspirators’ distribution activities. According to court documents, between July 11, 2025, and November 2, 2025, Thompson entered into a conspiracy with 12 others to obtain distribution-level quantities of methamphetamine for resale in and around Vernon Parish. Further investigation revealed that on July 25, 2025, one of Thompson’s co-conspirators delivered ten pounds of methamphetamine to him. Thompson eventually admitted that all methamphetamine involved in the conspiracy was intended for distribution.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Attorney’s Office, the United States Forest Service, and the United States Army Criminal Investigations Division.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy, with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole of government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:26-CR-00027-05.
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CONTACT: Public Affairs: [email protected]
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
X: @USAO_WDLA
Facebook: USAO_WDLA
(337) 262-6704Leader of the Trinitarios in Massachusetts Pleads Guilty to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A state leader of Trinitarios pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering charges, including his participation in two murders and two other attempted murders.
Ery Jordani Rosario, a/k/a “Racacha,” 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Dec. 10, 2026. Rosario was charged in February 2025.
The Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to coordinate and execute violence, and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members. In Massachusetts, the Trinitarios are alleged to have a state leadership, and multiple local Chapters in the cities of Lynn, Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston.
Rosario was one of the leaders who convened a gang meeting on Dec. 1, 2024. During the recorded meeting, Rosario and other chapter leaders of the Trinitarios discussed the reorganization and restructuring of the Trinitarios chapters, including the need for members to pay dues and contribute to the gang’s operations. The leaders discussed the need to have money on hand to help members who commit shootings and to fund a war against rival gang members. They also discussed the potential violence that will be visited upon members who betrayed the gang.
Rosario also admitted to his participation in an August 2021 shooting outside of a department store in Salem, Mass. During this incident, Luis Jeffrey Santana and other Trinitarios members confronted two victims they believed to be rival gang members and engaged in a verbal altercation with them in the store. The Trinitarios and victims separated, exited the store and proceeded in different directions. The Trinitarios members, however, called for reinforcements who arrived shortly thereafter. The victims proceeded to their vehicle and as they turned out of the parking lot, a black sedan driven by Ery Jordani Rosario containing multiple Trinitarios pulled up and a shooter began firing multiple rounds at the victims. At the same time, a second vehicle pulled out and blocked traffic while the shooting took place.
During today’s court proceedings, Rosario admitted to his membership and leadership in the gang. Photographs and videos recovered in the investigation showed Rosario wearing Trinitarios beaded necklaces, making Trinitarios gang signs with his hands and associating with other members and leaders.
In February 2025, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. On June 9, 2026, additional federal racketeering and drug charges were unsealed charging 26 additional leaders, members and associates of the Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston Chapters of the gang. According to court documents, members of the Trinitarios have allegedly participated in at least fifteen murders in Essex County since 2017. Since 2025, a total of 56 leaders, members and associates have been charged in federal court.
The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as “racketeering conspiracy” or “RICO conspiracy”) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance (also known as drug conspiracy) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million dollars. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester, N.H. Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
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.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
#
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
DOCKET NO.
CASE STATUS
1
Ricardo
Bratini-Perez
24-CR-10310
Pleaded Guilty,
Sentenced to 120 Months
2
Rosnel
Polanco
24-CR-10263
Pleaded Guilty,
Awaiting Sentencing
3
Eric
Rosario
24-CR-10263
Pleaded Guilty,
Awaiting Sentencing
4
Robert
Santana
24-CR-10263
Pleaded Guilty,
Awaiting Sentencing
5
Yeferson
Vallecillo Cambar
24-CR-10335
Pending
6
Elvis
Trujillo
24-CR-10336
Pending
7
Abel
Severino-Reyes
24-CR-10373
Pleaded Guilty,
Awaiting Sentencing
8
Warly
Ruiz
24-CR-10380
Pleaded Guilty,
Awaiting Sentencing
9
David
Garcia
25-CR-10006
Pleaded Guilty,
Awaiting Sentencing
10
Tomy
Sanchez
25-CR-10007
Pleaded Guilty, Awaiting Sentencing
11
Carlos
Ramirez
25-CR-10008
Pleaded Guilty
12
Justin
Alba
25-CR-10058
Pending
13
Darwin
Batista
25-CR-10058
Pending
14
Janoy
Batista
25-CR-10058
Pending
15
Aaron
Diaz Liranzo
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty,
Sentenced to 168 Months
16
Israel
Garcia-Vasquez
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty, Awaiting Sentencing
17
James
Jimenez
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty, Awaiting Sentencing
18
Ery
Jordani Rosario
25-CR-10058
Pending
19
Westyn
Lantigua
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty, Awaiting Sentencing
20
Kelvin
Liranzo Roman
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty, Awaiting Sentencing
21
Michael
Miliano
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty,
Awaiting Sentencing
22
Enmanuel
Paula-Cabral
25-CR-10058
Pending
23
Luis Jeffrey
Santana
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty,
Sentenced to 120 Months
24
Luis Enrique
Santana
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty,
Sentenced to 136 Months
25
Angel
Santos
25-CR-10058
Pending
26
Wilving
Lopez
25-CR-10062
Pleaded Guilty,
Awaiting Sentencing
27
Leonardo
Espinoza
25-CR-10236
Pleaded Guilty,
Awaiting Sentencing
28
Isiah
Medina
25-CR-10302
Pending
29
Rodderrith
Peralta
25-CR-10302
Pending
30
Derek
Mercado
25-CR-10411
Pleaded Guilty,
Sentenced to 37 Months
31
Yordali
Yorro
25-CR-10058
Pending
32
James
Cabrera
25-CR-10058
Pending
33
Luis
Crispin
25-CR-10058
Pending
34
Angel
Castillo-Garcia
25-CR-10058
Fugitive
35
Osviallis
Serrano
25-CR-10058
Fugitive
36
Jervis
Almanzar
25-CR-10058
Pending
37
Enrique
Duran
25-CR-10058
Pending
38
Abigail
Arias
25-CR-10058
Pending
39
Justane
Garcia
25-CR-10058
Pending
40
Riky
Montilla
25-CR-10058
Pending
41
Jeremy
Felix
25-CR-10058
Pending
42
Jose
Martinez
25-CR-10058
Pending
43
Jayden
Muniz
25-CR-10058
Pending
44
Geovane
Fernandes
25-CR-10058
Pending
45
Jahir
Davila
25-CR-10058
Pending
46
Yanuel
Mejia
25-CR-10058
Pending
47
Luis
Fernandez Lopez
25-CR-10058
Pending
48
Victor
Diaz
25-CR-10058
Pending
49
Xavier
Puello
25-CR-10058
Pending
50
Joelfry
Cabrera
25-CR-10058
Pending
51
Richard
Pena
25-CR-10058
Pending
52
Hector
Mota
25-CR-10058
Pending
53
Jean
Delgado
25-CR-10058
Pending
54
Luis
Cabral
25-CR-10058
Pending
55
Yoldari
Tejeda Coronado
25-CR-10058
Pending
56
Martin
Taveras
25-CR-10058
Pending
Kansas man wearing ankle monitor caught with methamphetamineRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 168 months in prison after law enforcement officers found him with a distribution amount of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Dakota Dale McDaniel, 38, of Haysville pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In September 2025, as part of an investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) attempted to stop McDaniel with lights and sirens. He refused to yield and kept driving. Before losing sight of him, a trooper observed that McDaniel was wearing a black backpack. When law enforcement located McDaniel a short time later, the motorcycle and the backpack were on the ground. A trooper searched the backpack and found a bag of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a firearm among other items. McDaniel was wearing a Kansas Department of Corrections ankle monitor, and the charger for it was also in the backpack.
Laboratory tests determined that the bag contained 240.23 grams of 98.2 percent pure methamphetamine.
“Dakota McDaniel can now add another prison sentence to his long resume as a career criminal,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We’re grateful for the exceptional teamwork among our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to keep methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs off our streets.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Kansas Highway Patrol, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, and Butler County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks prosecuted the case.
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Jackson County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Jackson County, Mississippi man was sentenced on September 9, 2026, to 15 years in prison, the maximum amount of prison time provided by federal law, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Curtis Lee Craven, 46, was found possessing a firearm by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department on June 22, 2025, after they were called to his home for a domestic disturbance. Craven was captured on an audio recording physically and verbally abusing a female victim while holding her at gunpoint.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An Illinois woman was sentenced this week to 27 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain tax refunds by submitting false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.
“Monika Skinger engaged in a wide-ranging tax fraud scheme that flooded the IRS with fictitious financial instruments, including fraudulent checks,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Skinger attempted to take millions in refunds she had no right to receive. As we did in this case, the Department of Justice will continue to unmask fraudulent actors and swiftly bring them to justice.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Monika Skinger conspired with others to submit false individual and trust tax returns that claimed millions in refunds they were not entitled to receive. To induce the IRS to accept the false refund claims, Skinger personally submitted at least 16 fictitious financial instruments — such as checks, money orders, and payment vouchers — on behalf of herself and others. She also filed at least four false individual income tax returns for herself and at least two false trust tax returns. In total, Skinger sought $4.6 million in refunds from the IRS and received more than $1.2 million in fraudulent proceeds.
Skinger pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Amanda Brailsford for the District of Idaho ordered Skinger to serve three years of supervised release and pay $303,672.44 in restitution to the United States.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Bart Davis for the District of Idaho made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney David F. Scollan of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a/k/a Arellano Antonio Gomez, a/k/a Juan Roberto Cervantes, a/k/a Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a/k/a Juan Rober Cervantes, a/k/a Juan Robert Cervantes, a/k/a Juan Cervantes-Rodriguez, a/k/a Juan Rober Cervantes-Rodriguez, a/k/a Antonio Gomez Arellano, a/k/a Juan Robert Rodriguez, a/k/a Juan Rober Rodriguez-Cervantes, age 47, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McCurtain, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
On June 11, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on April 21, 2026, Rodriguez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 3, 2010, August 29, 2011, and November 29, 2017.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chuck Sullivan and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Adrian Alcantar-Sanchez, a/k/a Pedro Ruiz-Betancur, age 46, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and 78 months imprisonment for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
On November 14, 2025, Alcantar-Sanchez pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on March 29, 2025, a trooper conducting a routine traffic stop on I-40 in Sequoyah County discovered Alcantar-Sanchez in possession of 878.7 grams of pure fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. At the time he was apprehended, Alcantar-Sanchez had been previously removed from the United States on June 19, 2009, and April 6, 2012, and was in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Alcantar-Sanchez 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. Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.
Hedge Fund Founder Charged with Scheme to Misrepresent Fund Performance to InvestorsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (“Oraclum”) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the “Orca Bason Fund” or the “Fund”), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.
“We will continue working with our committed law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use deception to put investors’ money at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “As alleged, Vuk Vukovic attracted investors to his fund and lulled them into keeping their money invested by reporting high rates of return that were not real. Investors deserve honest and accurate information when deciding where to put their hard-earned money.”
“Vuk Vukovic allegedly used interstate commerce to carry out a deceptive scheme involving the purchase and sale of securities,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “These allegations represent a serious breach of market integrity, and the FBI remains committed to enforcing securities laws to protect investors.”
“When individuals allegedly mislead investors and defraud them, the consequences extend far beyond their immediate crimes—they threaten the economic stability and livelihoods of American citizens,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “While investing always carries inherent risk, a breach of trust adds an unacceptable layer of deception. Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in holding accountable anyone who violates protective laws and compromises that trust. We urge the public to recognize the red flags of fraud, resist high-pressure tactics, and carefully assess every investment opportunity before acting.”
As alleged in the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:(1)
Oraclum is a New York-based hedge fund that operates and manages the Orca Bason Fund. The Orca Bason Fund purports to make investment decisions “using wisdom of crowds and a network analysis of social media bubbles to predict where markets will end up.” Since at least 2024, however, VUKOVIC has engaged in a scheme to obtain investor money by misrepresenting the Orca Bason Fund’s returns to investors. VUKOVIC’s misrepresentations include: sending false monthly account statements to investors that show their investment in the Orca Bason Fund earning greater returns than it actually did; and sending falsified brokerage account statements to a potential investor reflecting a higher net asset value and greater returns than actually existed.
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VUKOVIC, 38, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the USPIS. Mr. McDonald further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Kyle Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Hardy, Iowa, Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Scott Devries, 57, from Hardy, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City on September 11, 2026, to 90 months’ imprisonment. Devries pled guilty April 20, 2026, to one count of possession of child pornography.
Evidence at the hearings showed that between January 2021 and August 2022, Devries possessed and received visual depictions of child pornography, which included prepubescent minors or a minor under the age of 12. While executing a search warrant, law enforcement discovered 20 electronic devices that contained child sexual abuse material. Forensic analysis of the devices found over 1.6 million images of child pornography, some of which involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct including the violent sexual torture of children as well as the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Devries to 90 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ of supervised release following his imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Devries must also pay restitution in the amount of $39,500 to the victims in the case. Devries remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Charles City Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3060.
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Glendale Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Steal U.S. Postal Service Vehicles and Mail Belonging to More Than 200 VictimsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Glendale man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to steal approximately 30 United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier vehicles as well as the mail inside them, including 100 credit and debit cards belonging to other people, some of which he then illegally used.
Vegen Hartoonian, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government property and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Hartoonian, the lead defendant in this case, has been in federal custody since October 2025.
According to his plea agreement, from September 2023 to November 2024,
Hartoonian and his co-conspirators followed postal vehicles using rented vehicles such as a Dodge Caravan, BMW and GMC SUVs, and a Mitsubishi Outlander. The car rental used to follow a USPS vehicle during a September 2023 incident was paid for with stolen credit card information.
Once the mail carrier got out of the USPS vehicle to deliver mail, Hartoonian and his co-conspirators stole the postal vehicle, drove it to another location, and then stole the mail inside the vehicle.
In total, Hartoonian and his co-conspirators stole approximately 30 USPS postal vehicles – each vehicle valued at $11,651 – and the mail of approximately 232 victims and illegally possessed 100 credit and debit cards belonging to other people.
Hartoonian further admitted to unlawfully possessing a victim’s credit card number in connection with a scheme to steal USPS vehicles and the mail inside them during a January 2024 incident.
United States District Judge Christina A. Snyder scheduled a December 7 sentencing hearing, at which time Hartoonian will face a statutory maximum sentence of seven years in federal prison.
Three other defendants have already pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges in this case and remain in federal custody:
- Jose Arviso, 50, of San Bernardino;
- Sanjay Varma, 44, of Pasadena; and
- Juan Nuñez, 25, of Highland Park.
One other defendant – Mark Anthony Quitugua, 43, of Lincoln Heights – has pleaded not guilty to federal criminal charges and is scheduled to go to trial in January 2027. He is free on $10,000 bond.
The United States Postal Inspection Service is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Neil P. Thakor of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section is prosecuting this case.
Gang task force arrests Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootingsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.
Lamont Champion, 27, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance this afternoon.
“As alleged in the complaint, Champion possessed a firearm that had previously been used to murder two individuals in Cincinnati and himself used a second firearm to commit two other shootings,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “We continue to work with our partners at the ATF and the Cincinnati Police Department in leveraging the capabilities of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) to identify these crime guns and hold shooters to account.”
According to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized this firearm.
This morning, agents recovered a second firearm from Champion that he allegedly used in two separate subsequent shootings. Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. In the second shooting, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center.
Analysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.
Agents executed a search warrant at Champion’s residence this morning and recovered both the 9mm handgun allegedly used in the July and August shootings and a second firearm.
Champion’s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the “reaper,” explained how good he is at shooting/killing people, how he does it with a smile on his face and how “hittin a mother***er” would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.
Champion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm as a previously 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; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederick C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson’s Office are 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.
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Four-Times Deported Illegal Immigrant from Mexico Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.
Antonio Espinoza Zarate, 56, a.k.a. “El Gato,” of the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu.
Espinoza pleaded guilty on May 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been in federal custody since March 2025.
According to his plea agreement, from July 2023 to March 2025, Espinoza conspired with others to knowingly distribute fentanyl by obtaining distribution-level quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid to sell to potential drug customers.
Specifically, in July 2023, Espinoza obtained 4,592 pills (527 grams) of fentanyl, which he sold to a buyer in Los Angeles for $4,500. Espinoza also sold the buyer $1,700 in firearms and ammunition, including a Glock pistol and 131 rounds of ammunition.
In August 2023, Espinoza met with another buyer in Los Angeles and, for $8,000, sold the buyer 9,826 pills containing slightly more than 1 kilogram of fentanyl. Espinoza also sold the buyer a rifle for $2,000.
Espinoza, a Mexican national, was removed from the United States in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017, according to court documents.
The investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California, with support from special agents with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California – Criminal Investigative Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding dangers to the community from the sales of narcotics and firearms.
Assistant United States Attorney Neil P. Thakor of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.
Founder and Former CEO of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty to Securities FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (“Joonko”), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko’s customers and Joonko’s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
“Fraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Ilit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.”
“The guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “By admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.”
According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:
Joonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko’s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko’s customers included some of the world’s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko’s actual and anticipated revenues.
After RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko’s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.
In or about 2023, a Joonko investor (“Investor-1”) became suspicious about Joonko’s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko’s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.
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RAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.
Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
A man who possessed firearms illegally was sentenced September 9, 2026, to more than 4 years in federal prison.
Joshua Layne Kelly, age 25, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 28, 2026, guilty plea to one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
At the guilty plea, Kelly admitted that on November 6, 2025, in Webster County, he possessed an FIE, Little Ranger .22 caliber revolver and a High Standard, Double Nine .22 caliber revolver, knowing he was then a felon. In early November 2025, he offered to sell an individual cooperating with law enforcement two revolvers. On November 6, 2025, in Fort Dodge, he sold the cooperating individual an FIE, Little Ranger .22 caliber revolver, a High Standard, Double Nine .22 caliber revolver, and approximately 3.5 grams of synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice).
Prior to his possession of the firearms, he had been convicted of numerous crimes including multiple incidents of Burglary and Theft. At the time of his possession of the firearms, he was also an unlawful user of marijuana.
Kelly was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Kelly was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Kelly is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), the Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-03064.
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Former Postal Worker Convicted of Stealing Nearly $1 Million in Tax-Free Federal Disability BenefitsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a federal jury in Central Islip convicted Luann Middleton, a former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee, of wire fraud in connection with her repeated submission of false workers compensation forms to the United States Department of Labor (DOL), in which she claimed total disability, and thereby received approximately $40,000 per year in federal workers’ compensation benefits for nearly 25 years. The verdict followed a four-day trial before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown. When sentenced, Middleton faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as financial penalties.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office (USPS-OIG), announced the verdict.
“For more than 20 years and until her lies caught up to her, the defendant refused to come to work and instead collected tax-free disability benefits for a highly-exaggerated injury,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office and the Administration has made it a priority to hold accountable those who exploit government benefits programs for personal gain and steal funds that are designated for workers who truly need them.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the USPS-OIG and the United States Department of Labor (DOL) for their assistance with the case.
“This verdict sends a clear message that workers’ compensation fraud will not be tolerated," stated USPS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Modafferi. "These benefits are intended to support U.S. Postal Service employees who are truly injured, not those who misrepresent their condition for personal gain. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General remains committed to protecting the Postal Service, its employees, and federal benefit programs from fraud and abuse. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General for their partnership in this case.”
As proven at trial, in August 1997, Middleton, who was in her mid-forties, claimed that she had sustained an injury to her lower back while performing her duties as a postal clerk. Middleton submitted a claim for compensation to the DOL and began receiving workers’ compensation benefits approximately three months later. Middleton briefly returned to work in a limited duty capacity in February 1999, after a medical doctor found that she was in fact capable of working; but then claimed she had a recurrence of her back injury, which rendered her totally and permanently disabled. She again began receiving workers’ compensation benefits – roughly two-thirds of her annual salary, tax-free – from the DOL. Between November 1997 and September 2022, Middleton regularly submitted medical evaluations and records to the USPS and the DOL claiming that she was incapable of returning to work, and that she was totally disabled. The evaluations claimed, for example, that Middleton could sit, stand, walk, bend, lift and reach above her shoulders for zero hours and could not participate in any physical activities because of her excruciating back pain.
However, the investigation revealed that between October 2015 and March 2022, Middleton engaged in numerous physical activities, including cleaning out a garage, sitting through a movie for more than two hours, standing for more than one hour at a cookie decorating class, climbing stairs and retail shopping. Middleton was observed, and captured on video footage, carrying groceries and laundry bags, lifting and reaching for objects at heights she claimed she could not reach, bending to the floor to retrieve items, and hoisting a bag of potting soil from the bottom of her shopping cart into her vehicle. Records from USPS and DOL indicate that Middleton received more than $900,000 in fraudulent workers’ compensation benefits as the result of her claimed physical limitations.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Ashlyn Miranda are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder, Legal Assistant Danielle Rompel, and Automated Litigation Specialist Michael Compitello.
The Defendant:
LUANN MIDDLETON
Age: 72
Glen Cove, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-339 (GRB)
Former Indiana Medical School Student Petitions to Plead Guilty to $325K COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jonathan Andrew Jones, 31, of Lafayette, has petitioned to plead guilty to two counts of wire fraud for a $325,000 COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. The charges were brought as part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Jones is currently scheduled to formally enter his guilty plea and be sentenced on November 19, 2026.
According to court documents, during the relevant period, Jones was a medical student in Indiana and the sole owner of a purported tutoring business called Med School Side Hustle.
Between January 2021 and December 2022, Jones defrauded the federal government by submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications in his own name and in the names of others.
In one instance, Jones submitted an EIDL application falsely claiming that his business generated thousands of dollars in revenue and had significant payroll costs. In reality, Med School Side Hustle had no customers, no employees, no revenue, and no expenses. To support these claims, Jones submitted fabricated invoices for tutoring services that were never provided to clients who did not exist. As a result, he received $197,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Jones also submitted three PPP loan applications on behalf of himself, claiming he was the sole proprietor of a business with average monthly payroll costs exceeding $8,000. Two of the applications were approved, resulting in $38,148 in disbursed funds.
Additionally, Jones filed fraudulent PPP loan applications using the identities of five friends and family members for a total of approximately $69,629. Within days of the funds being deposited into accounts under those individuals’ names, Jones transferred the money into his own personal bank accounts.
In total, Jones submitted 11 fraudulent EIDL and PPP applications in his name and the names of others, illegally obtaining $326,510.41 in federal relief funds. He used the money for personal expenses, including gambling and purchasing cryptocurrency.
The U.S. Secret Service, Small Business Administration-OIG, the Department of Transportation-OIG, and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee investigated this case.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Sawa and Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Five Defendants Indicted for Attempted Enticement of Minors Following a Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson, serving the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces the results of Operation Protektot Y Famagu’on (Defender of Children). This law enforcement initiative was led by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Guam, with support from HSI Saipan, HSI Honolulu, HSI Atlanta Special Agents, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and HSI Task Force Officers from the Guam Police Department, Guam Customs & Quarantine Agency, and Guam Airport Police.
The operation, conducted from August 22 through August 27, involved a coordinated online undercover effort within the District of Guam aimed at identifying individuals attempting to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with minors. This initiative reflects the continued commitment of federal law enforcement agencies nationwide to protect children, hold offenders accountable, and prevent internet facilitated offenses.
As a result of Operation Protektot Y Famagu’on, five individuals were arrested for Attempted Enticement of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422(b) and 2:
Mike Ybanez Balbuena, 44-year-old, a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines
Eli Valentine, 21-year-old, an active-duty U.S. Navy service member
Keola Joaquin H. Flores, 30-year-old, a United States citizen
Peter John San Nicolas, 36-year-old, a United States citizen
Augusto Bagat Anselmo, 44-year-old, a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. and citizen of the Republic of the Philippines
If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Guam comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USSS, USPIS, USCIS and local law enforcement with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal jury convicts Wellsville man on multiple charges, including distribution of fentanyl causing death, kidnapping and witness intimidationRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury has convicted Simon Gogolack a/k/a Greek, 42, of Wellsville, NY, of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of fentanyl, which resulted in a death, narcotics conspiracy, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, kidnapping and witness tampering. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum of life.
According to testimony presented by the Government, between July 2 and October 17, 2023, Gogolack conspired with others to sell fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, Xanax, and Adderall. Between July 31 and August 1, 2023, Gogolack distributed fentanyl, which resulted in the death of Crystal Quinn. During the course of the conspiracy, Gogolack used a Scott Avenue residence in Wellsville to conduct his drug trafficking activities. In addition, Gogolack possessed firearms during the conspiracy. He was previously convicted of a felony in 2007 and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms. Gogolack was also convicted of kidnapping and threatening an individual and threatening a second individual to prevent them from cooperating with investigators.
“Today’s verdict ensures that Simon Gogolack is being held accountable for the violence and devastation his drug trafficking brought into our community and reflects the commitment by my office to pursue and prosecute those that engage in such conduct” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo.
The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas T. Cooper, Casey L. Chalbeck, and Katerina Powers. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 9, 2027, before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford, who presided over the trial of the case.
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Eye Practice and Physician Owner Agree to Pay $350,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to MedicareRead the Press Release
BOSTON – St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. John Michaelos, an ophthalmologist and owner of St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute, have agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act.
The United States alleges that from September 2015 through December 2020, St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute (St. Michael’s) and Dr. Michaelos caused the submission of false claims for transcranial doppler (TCD) tests to Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. A TCD test is a non-invasive diagnostic test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through certain blood vessels in the brain by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off blood cells. As part of the settlement agreement, St. Michael’s and Dr. Michaelos admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the settlement agreement. St. Michael’s had contractual agreements with an independent medical diagnostics company, Eyecuity, PLLC (Eyecuity). During the relevant time, Eyecuity paid St. Michael’s for referrals that St. Michael’s made for TCD tests, even though the parties’ contracts called for payment based on the cost of office space, staff, and utilities, and not per-patient or per-test that St. Michael’s referred to Eyecuity. When documenting the purported medical necessity of these tests, Eyecuity submitted claims to Medicare that indicated that patients had Vertebro-Basilar Syndrome or Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency (VBI), a very rare condition. But St. Michael’s physicians did not have reason to believe that patients had a diagnosis of VBI.
The United States contends that the claims for the TCD tests that St. Michael’s and Dr. Michaelos caused Eyecuity to submit to Medicare for payment were false because St. Michael’s received payments from Eyecuity that violated the Anti-Kickback Statute.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Weinograd of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the case.
michaelos_fca_settlement_agreement.pdf
Eastern District of Virginia hosts 9/11 observance on 25th anniversary of attacksRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation hosted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos. The observation featured remembrances from former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Spencer.
Three months after the attacks, Al Qaida terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia. Moussaoui was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, conspiracy to destroy aircraft, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to murder employees of the United States, and conspiracy to destroy property. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema sentenced Moussaoui to life in prison.
Moussaoui remains the only individual to date to have ever been convicted in a U.S. court in connection with the September 11 attacks.
“It is impossible to adequately describe either the responsibility of bringing a measure of justice for those lost on September 11, 2001, or the honor of having been entrusted with that responsibility,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Stamos. “Dedicated EDVA employees passed the Pentagon on their daily commute to this office where they tirelessly worked on the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui. Among the best ways we can honor those who were lost that day are vigilance against those who seek to harm America and its people and the unyielding pursuit of justice each day.”
Downsville Man Previously Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Indicted Again for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MONROE – On September 10, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Randy Allen Powell, 46, of Downsville, with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. As a re-offender, Powell faces an enhanced sentence if convicted of all charges that carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to a combined 60 years in federal prison. He was previously convicted of receiving child pornography in 2014, which led to a sentence of 15 years in federal prison and four years of supervised release. Powell was serving his term of federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense.
“As alleged, Powell’s receipt of child pornography while knowing he was being supervised by federal probation officers displays a level of desperate perversion that should concern every member of our community,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Protecting our children is the most sacred and urgent duty that this Office and our federal and state partners perform every single day. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute recidivist offenders, seeking federal prison sentences that reflect the need to deter this sick conduct and protect the public.”
As alleged in the indictment, Powell possessed child pornography on April 2, 2026, after having received it from between March 21 and 23 of 2026. Property subject to forfeiture as a result of the offense include a laptop, flash drive, smartphone, and tablet.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Probation Office investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amy Miller, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart.
This case was prosecuted 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 the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more at https://www.justice.gov/psc/about-project-safe-childhood
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.
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CONTACT: Public Affairs: [email protected]
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
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Cara Alexander: (337) 262-6704Dothan Tax Preparer Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A Dothan, Alabama tax preparer was sentenced yesterday to 57 months in federal prison for aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false tax returns, announced United States Attorney Thomas Govan for the Middle District of Alabama.
“The defendant was entrusted with helping taxpayers comply with the law, yet she repeatedly chose to manipulate the tax system for her own benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Govan. “What makes this case particularly troubling is that the defendant did not change her ways after being indicted. While on federal pretrial release and under an explicit order not to commit additional crimes, she continued preparing false tax returns. Her decision to disregard both the law and the conditions of her release resulted in additional criminal charges and a significant federal prison sentence.”
“As a tax preparer, Carlotta Lampley had a responsibility to prepare and submit accurate tax returns for herself and her clients,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. “She failed to fulfill that responsibility in order to obtain fraudulent refunds. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will investigate unscrupulous tax preparers, and they will be held accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Carlotta Elaine Lampley, 41, operated a tax preparation service in Dothan and began preparing tax returns for clients in 2015. As part of her business practice, Lampley commonly withheld her tax-preparation fees from clients’ tax refunds before transferring the remaining refund proceeds to the clients.
An investigation revealed that Lampley prepared and filed false tax returns for herself and various clients during tax years 2020 through 2025.
In her plea agreement, Lampley admitted that, in 2024, she prepared and filed a federal income tax return for herself for the 2023 tax year that falsely reported her income as $52,343. Lampley knew the reported income was false because it failed to include fees she earned from preparing clients’ tax returns and withheld from their refunds.
A federal grand jury subsequently indicted Lampley, and she was arrested on September 24, 2025. As a condition of her pretrial release, Lampley was prohibited from committing any new violations of law while awaiting trial.
Despite being under federal indictment and released on bond, Lampley continued to prepare false tax returns. On January 22, 2026, she prepared a tax return for a client that falsely claimed the client operated a business and had earned a profit from that business, even though the client did not operate such a business and had never told Lampley that the client did. Lampley also falsely reported “other earned income” for the client despite knowing that the client had not received such income.
Lampley admitted that she knew the false statements were material and were intended to affect the client’s federal tax liability in a manner that benefited the client at the expense of the Internal Revenue Service and the American taxpayer. The conduct also violated the terms of her pretrial release and resulted in a superseding indictment charging Lampley with additional criminal conduct.
Lampley’s 57-month prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
During the September 10, 2026, sentencing hearing, the court also ordered Lampley to pay restitution in the amount of $314,247. This consists of $62,915 associated with her own tax returns and $251,332 associated with tax returns she aided and assisted other taxpayers in filing. The estimated actual loss amount from Lampley’s false tax-return scheme over the full period of her criminal conduct exceeded $2.1 million.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division investigated this case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted.
Dominican National Sentenced to over Three Years for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Jorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In April 2026, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged in May 2025.
On May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston’s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez’s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
District of Arizona Charges 306 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Sep. 5 through Sep. 11, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 306 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 145 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 137 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 20 cases against 24 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Luis Carlos Leyva-Clark. On Sep. 10, 2026, Luis Carlos Leyva-Clark was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On Sep. 9, 2026, a Department of Public Safety Trooper stopped a Nissan Altima on I-10 for displaying suspended plates. As he approached the vehicle, the trooper saw that the front seat passenger and the three backseat passengers were wearing camouflage clothing. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) were called to the scene and confirmed that the four passengers were aliens, all unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5444]
United States v. Frank Bubbico. Frank Bubbico was charged by criminal complaint on Sep. 8, 2026, with one count of Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. On Sep. 4, 2026, BPAs observed a Honda Civic traveling at a high rate of speed on State Route 82. Records checks revealed that the Honda Civic’s license plate belonged to a different vehicle, so BPAs attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver, Bubbico, initially activated his hazard lights and appeared to be looking for a spot to pull over. However, Bubbico failed to yield and instead accelerated, reaching speeds of approximately 70 miles per hour. Other BPAs in the area deployed a vehicle immobilization device and successfully spiked the Honda Civic, but Bubbico still did not slow down. Bubbico’s vehicle lost both front tires as it was approaching the town of Sonoita and he was finally pulled over by a Department of Public Safety trooper. BPAs joined the trooper and found a Mexican citizen hiding in the vehicle who was unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-03864]
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-156_September 11, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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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.Department of Justice Removes Alien Terrorist in First Use of United States Alien Terrorist Removal CourtRead the Press Release
In the first-ever case before the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), Nazira Haji Zada, 47, an Afghan national previously residing in Fort Worth, Texas, was removed from the United States after conceding that she is an alien terrorist. As the matriarch in her family, she supported a plot to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day in 2024 for which her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were previously arrested and convicted. The ATRC issued an order of removal on Aug. 20 that was unsealed earlier today following her return to her country of origin. This was the first case ever brought before the ATRC, which Congress established decades ago, and which no previous administration had used. Zada is now permanently inadmissible to the United States.
The application to remove Zada, certified by Attorney General Todd Blanche, was filed on July 15, and Zada appeared in open court for the first time on July 30. ATRC Chief Judge Joan N. Ericksen presided over that hearing and later signed the removal order. In compliance with the ATRC statute, the government used classified information to establish that Zada is an alien terrorist. Additionally, the government provided Zada and her lawyers, two federal public defenders, with approximately half a terabyte of documents supporting the government’s case. With her lawyers, Zada conceded that she is an alien terrorist and waived appeal of the removal order, terminating her previous status.
“This landmark case, resulting in the prompt removal of this alien terrorist to her country of origin, is a win for national security and the rule of law,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Those who support and condone terrorism should not be living in the United States, and this first-ever case before the ATRC shows how the Department will use every tool at its disposal to protect our country.”
“This is a historic and vitally important step in our work to protect the U.S. homeland from terrorism,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “An individual who supported a plot by ISIS-sympathizing family members to commit an attack in America has paid the price for that. She came to our country, betrayed it, and has now lost the right to live here and enjoy our democratic freedoms. This FBI and our Justice Department partners will protect the American people from the threat of terrorism, using all means necessary.”
“From the moment President Trump took office, he made clear that his Administration would put the safety and security of the American people first,” said Secretary Markwayne Mullin of the Department of Homeland Security. “The President’s direction to use the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to expel Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan national who plotted with members of her family to carry out an ISIS-inspired attack on American soil, delivers on that promise. Thanks to the President’s leadership and the coordinated efforts the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice and State, Nazira Haji Zada’s final order of removal is now FINAL. Those who plot acts of terrorism against the United States have no place in our country. We will find them, and we will use every lawful tool available to remove them.”
“Zada supported her sons’ terrorist plot to attack the United States while she enjoyed the privilege of residing here as a resident alien,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “She abused our Nation’s hospitality and represented a clear threat to our national security. The United States is a safer place now that her sons are in custody and she has been deported.”
“Those who support terrorism against the American people will face the consequences,” said State Department Spokesman Tommy Pigott. “We will secure our borders, and we will use every tool to stop those who intend us harm from entering or remaining at-large in our country. Under the leadership of President Trump, the State Department, alongside the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, will always work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our people and the security of our nation.”
Tawhedi and Abdullah Haji Zada were arrested on Oct. 7, 2024, after purchasing firearms and ammunition to be used in an Election Day terrorist attack from an undercover FBI employee. Nazira’s son Abdullah, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, Abdullah stipulated to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States to Afghanistan following his term of incarceration. Abdullah acknowledged that the order of removal would terminate his lawful permanent resident status, and waived his right to appeal the conviction except in limited circumstances or seek any form of appeal or relief from his removal and deportation, including but not limited to, seeking asylum. Tawhedi, 28, pled guilty to two terrorism-related offenses: conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism on June 13, 2025, and is awaiting sentencing.
According to court documents, Tawhedi admitted that between June 2024 and October 2024, he conspired with at least one other individual to purchase two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines, with the intent to carry out a mass-casualty attack on or around Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, on behalf of ISIS. According to a criminal complaint affidavit filed in the case, Tawhedi communicated with an ISIS facilitator about his plan to purchase firearms for use in the terror plot, including asking the individual whether 500 rounds of ammunition would be sufficient.
According to the criminal complaint, to raise funds for their attack, in 2024, the family started selling off their property, including furniture, computers, a mobile phone, and the family’s two vehicles. Zada signed a contract to sell the family house. The family also purchased one-way airfare for travel to Kabul, Afghanistan shortly before Election Day 2024 for its members, including for Zada and other minor children but not Abdullah and Tawhedi.
The ATRC is a specialized federal court, which Congress established in 1996. The court has jurisdiction to swiftly remove alien terrorists from the United States when the government establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that an alien is a terrorist. See Title 8 of the United States Code, Sections 1227(a)(4)(B), 1531(1), and 1534(g). It is run and staffed by U.S. federal district court judges confirmed to the judiciary pursuant to Article III of the Constitution and then appointed to the ATRC by the Chief Justice of the United States. See Title 8 of the United States Code, Sections 1531 to 1537.
The court allows the government to use classified information where disclosing that information to the public would pose risks to national security. The statutory provisions that establish the court provide paid counsel to the aliens if necessary and also permit either party to appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
This removal proceeding reflects the coordinated efforts of multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Hayden O’Byrne of the National Security Division led the litigation with assistance from Deputy Chief Larry Schneider and Trial Attorneys Anna Donnell, Garrett Coyle and Evan Schultz.
For more information on the ATRC and to view court documents visit: www.atrc.uscourts.gov/. The Department of Justice previously announced the arrest here: www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-first-case-us-alien-terrorist-removal-court-deport-afghan-alien-who
Delaware Army Reservist Arrested for Production of Child Pornography and Traveling for Sex with a 9-Year-OldRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Delaware Army Reservist was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on September 9, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to court documents, Leobardo Carrasco, 39, of Wilmington, communicated with multiple minors on Snapchat, where he engaged in sexually explicit conversations, sent them nude photos of himself, and asked the minors to send nude photographs and videos to him. For example, Carrasco convinced a 9-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos and to also share her location with him over Snapchat. After receiving her location, Carrasco traveled from Delaware to the girl’s Maryland residence in the middle of the night and tried to convince her to come with him. The girl did not get in his vehicle and Carrasco left.
Carrasco is charged in a criminal complaint with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b); production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a); receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2); and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). If convicted, Carrasco faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement. The FBI Baltimore’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case with assistance from Anne Arundel County Police Department and Army Criminal Investigation (CID) Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare 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 CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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. 26-mj-466.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Dairy Manager Sentenced for Role in Polluting Waterway with Waste That Caused a Fish KillRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.
Teunis Jan Willemsen, a citizen of the Netherlands residing in Frankton, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 months of probation and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, as well as serve 100 hours of community service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay imposed the judgment Sept. 8 after Willemsen pleaded guilty in May to negligently discharging a pollutant in violation of the Clean Water Act. The discharge was dumped into the Little Black Creek, which is a tributary of Saint Mary’s River that flows to the Maumee River.
According to court documents, in December 2022 Willemsen was serving as the manager of Heartland Dairy, when investigators found that a discharge was being pumped from a settling basin on the dairy’s property into a nearby ditch that drained into a waterway. The discharge was analyzed and found to consist of manure and silage leachate, which contained concentrated amounts of ammonia—a pollutant—that resulted in the death of approximately 789 fish and 1,371 other aquatic animals.
“Reckless and careless business practices that threaten Ohio’s environment and wildlife will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Let this sentence serve as a reminder that we will aggressively enforce federal environmental laws, and anyone found contributing to the diminishment of the quality of our land, air, and water will be prosecuted.”
“The defendant oversaw a discharge of ammonia-laden wastewater to Little Black Creek in the Maumee River, Ohio watershed that poisoned the water for miles and killed thousands of fish and other aquatic animals,” said Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman of the EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. “Clean water is one of Ohio’s and America’s most valuable resources. This sentencing demonstrates that the EPA and our enforcement partners will investigate violations that pollute interstate waterways and hold polluters accountable.”
“Ohio’s waterways are vital to our communities, our wildlife and our economy. This case sends a clear message: those who pollute Ohio’s waterways will be held accountable,” said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.
The case was investigated by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Special Investigations Unit, with support from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew D. Simko for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Sasha Reyes, U.S. EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.
If you have information or see activity that you believe is a potential or immediate environmental problem, please call the Ohio EPA 24-hour Hotline at 800-282-9378 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802. Potential environmental violations can be reported at https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations.
Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison After Threatening a Woman with a KnifeRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “This violent criminal illegal alien has learned that we have zero-tolerance for criminality of any kind in the Northern District of Florida, and he’ll see the inside of a federal prison before being removed from our country. Keeping our citizens safe from the predations of violent criminal illegal aliens, like this defendant, is of paramount importance, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute cases like this to ensure our immigration laws are fully enforced.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant, a citizen of Mexico, departed the United States in 2016 after an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal. On September 27, 2025, the defendant was involved in a domestic dispute where he struck a female and threatened her with a knife. The defendant was arrested and convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
"Criminal illegal aliens who have previously been removed from the United States and choose to return illegally return and commit additional crimes against our citizens show a blatant disregard for our laws," said ICE Miami Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. "ICE remains committed to our mission of public safety by identifying, arresting, and removing those who pose a danger to the public, especially those who have demonstrated violent behavior."
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Compton Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Injuring Federal Officer During Anti-Immigration Enforcement Riot Last YearRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Compton man was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for assaulting and injuring a federal officer by throwing large rocks at passing government vehicles during an anti-immigration law enforcement riot last year in Paramount.
Elpidio Reyna, 42, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha.
Reyna pleaded guilty on February 17 to one felony count of assault on a federal officer by deadly or dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury. He has been in federal custody since July 2025.
“Disagreeing with laws passed by Congress does not give you a right to assault federal officers,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant thought he would go unpunished for throwing large rocks at law enforcement. Instead, he’ll be serving time in federal prison, where he can reflect on his poor decision.”
According to his plea agreement, on June 7, 2025, Reyna forcibly and intentionally assaulted with a deadly and dangerous weapon a federal law enforcement officer engaged in his official duties, resulting in the infliction of bodily injury to the officer.
On that day, federal law enforcement officers were staging a joint enforcement operation in Paramount in the vicinity of a Home Depot. Protestors, including Reyna, began to throw rocks at the officers’ official vehicles, lit objects on fire, and impeded law enforcement activity.
During this time, Reyna knowingly and intentionally lit objects on fire in the middle of the street and threw rocks at a convoy of law enforcement vehicles occupied by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, including the victim – identified in court documents as “R.T.” – all of whom were engaged in their official duties as federal officers.
Reyna threw a rock at R.T.’s government vehicle, which caused glass to shatter and injure R.T. by cutting his forehead.
“[Reyna’s] reflection on the circumstances surrounding his conduct, that his actions were ‘sudden and emotional and fueled by alcohol,’ because of his anger regarding immigration policy in the United States, is simply not an adequate excuse for his violence,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and United States Border Patrol investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Brenda N. Galván of the Transnational Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
Cincinnati Man Sentenced in Fentanyl Distribution leading to Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati man, Juan Wesley McKenzie, Jr., 25, was sentenced to 300 months in prison on Friday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to court documents, McKenzie supplied fentanyl pills to Andrew Rossi, who then distributed portions of those pills to Steffany Keene. Keene subsequently sold several pills to a victim, who consumed them and died from fentanyl toxicity.
Following the death, investigators used the victim’s cellphone to arrange controlled purchases that led to the arrests of Keene and Rossi on February 13, 2024. Both individuals admitted their roles in the distribution chain and confirmed the defendant as their supplier. Laboratory analysis verified that the seized pills contained fentanyl, and an autopsy confirmed fentanyl toxicity as the cause of death.
McKenzie also has a prior conviction for trafficking a fentanyl‑related compound. In 2025, while jailed, the defendant directed an associate to alter or destroy seized cellphones to impede the ongoing federal investigation.
After previously pleading guilty to distribution and possession of a fentanyl resulting in death, Rossi received 150 months in prison in July 2026, and Keene received 144 months in prison in June 2026.
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and; Scott Hardcorn, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Chicago Trader Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison for Engaging in Unauthorized Trading That Caused $30 Million in LossesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago trader has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for engaging in unauthorized speculative bond trading that cost his employer and others more than $30 million in losses and also caused his employer to become insolvent, which in turn led to more than 200 people losing their jobs.
KEITH WAKEFIELD worked as the head of fixed income trading for IFS Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer in Chicago. In 2019, Wakefield knowingly and fraudulently engaged in unauthorized speculative trading in U.S. Treasury bonds using his employer’s trading accounts, exposing his trading to approximately $250 million in losses and actually causing more than $30 million in losses to the employer and its counterparties. Wakefield attempted to conceal the unauthorized trades and losses by entering fake off-setting trades into a clearing broker’s order system, creating the false impression that he had profitably traded through a different clearing broker.
In addition to the fraudulent trading scheme, Wakefield from 2017 to 2019 embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from IFS Securities by falsifying the company’s books and records to create fake commissions that Wakefield knew were not actually owed to him.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago in 2024 convicted Wakefield, 52, of Chicago, of securities fraud and wire fraud. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Wakefield to 16 years and eight months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance.
“This crime was driven by pure greed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s fraud had a ripple effect causing multiple financial institutions to lose money and causing IFS to go out of business.”
California Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Distributing Sadistic Child Sexual Abuse Material over the Dark WebRead the Press Release
James David Johnson, 58, of Santee, California, was sentenced today to 151 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for distributing images and videos over the dark web that depicted the sexual abuse of children.
Johnson pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography on Oct. 14, 2025. According to court documents, Johnson was a member of at least five dark web communities dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and the sexual exploitation of children. He distributed large volumes of CSAM on these websites and provided other users with advice on how to evade law enforcement. On one of these websites, which was in part dedicated to content depicting children being subject to pain and suffering, he rose through the ranks to become a high-ranking staff member. FBI agents executed search warrants at Johnson’s home and place of work and seized computer devices containing more than 260,000 images and videos of apparent child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as autopsy and crime-scene photos depicting deceased children.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California; Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office; and Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s San Diego Field Office and Child Exploitation Operational Section investigated the case.
Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Griffith for the Southern District of California 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 Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Buffalo man previously convicted of possessing child pornography going to prison on new chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jamie Anderson, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography by a person having a prior conviction relating to the possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison and 40 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
In January 2022, Anderson was convicted of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child in New York State Court. In December 2024, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at Anderson’s Buffalo residence, after receiving a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that he uploaded files containing child pornography to Kik. During the search, law enforcement seized a tablet, which contained at least 10 images of child pornography.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II. Additional assistance was provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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Brooklyn Adult Daycare Owner Sentenced to Prison for Leadership Role in $64M Medicaid Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Brooklyn woman was sentenced yesterday to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership of a vast $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and home health care company. The defendant was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below.
Photograph of cash seized when a search warrant was executed on Zakia Khan’s home. Photograph of cash seized when a search warrant was executed on Zakia Khan’s home. Photograph of jewelry seized when a search warrant was executed on Zakia Khan’s home.“The Fraud Division will relentlessly hold accountable individuals who exploit Medicaid and take advantage of services meant to support our seniors,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This sentence should put all Medicaid fraudsters on notice — if you steal from Medicaid, we will uncover your conduct, protect the beneficiaries you harm, and ensure you are brought to justice.”
“Yesterday’s sentencing sends a strong message of deterrence in our District,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Our Office and the Justice Department are focused on protecting American taxpayers from fraudsters and as such, we will vigorously prosecute corrupt health care owners and operators in our district.”
“Social adult day care and home health services are designed to support seniors, not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s sentence sends an important message that anyone who illicitly exploits the Medicaid program will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
“Khan acted with staggering greed, leading a scheme to defraud Medicaid of millions of dollars intended for people in need. She and her co-conspirators set up social adult day cares but, instead of providing care and services to our most vulnerable neighbors, they enriched themselves with cash, gold and property,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York. “Today’s sentence sends a message: we will be relentless in our pursuit of justice against fraudsters. HSI is working side by side with our law enforcement partners to uncover and dismantle complex fraud networks like this one.”
“Zakia Khan stole $64 million from the Medicaid program through bribes and kickbacks—money meant to support the most vulnerable,” stated NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “This was not only deeply illegal but also immoral, and the NYPC will continue to investigate anyone who exploits government programs for personal gain. I thank our NYPD investigators and all our partners in law enforcement for their work in stopping this criminal and bringing this case to a close.”
According to court documents, Zakia Khan, 55, of Brooklyn, New York, owned two social adult daycare centers—Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Happy Family) and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Family Social). She also owned a home health care fiscal intermediary called Responsible Care Staffing Inc. and an entity she used to receive and disguise fraud proceeds called Tanwee Services Inc.
From approximately October 2017 through July 2024, in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, a web of marketers referred Medicaid recipients to Khan’s social adult daycare centers. As depicted in the pictures below, Khan and the marketers paid kickbacks and bribes to the Medicaid recipients to induce them to sign up for services that Khan then billed to Medicaid. These services were never actually provided as represented to Medicaid.
Between 2017 and 2024, Happy Family and Family Social fraudulently billed Medicaid approximately $64 million. Medicaid paid approximately $56 million based on these false and fraudulent claims. Khan and her co-conspirators used multiple business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes to the marketers and the Medicaid recipients.
Zakia Khan on an undercover recording paying illegal kickbacks inside her office at Happy Family. Medicaid recipients receiving illegal cash kickbacks in exchange for filling out false attendance sheets for Zakia Khan’s social adult daycare centers. Medicaid recipients receiving illegal cash kickbacks in exchange for filling out false attendance sheets for Zakia Khan’s social adult daycare centers.In August 2025, Khan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks.
HHS-OIG, HSI New York, and NYPD investigated the case.
Deputy Chief Patrick J. Campbell and Trial Attorney Leonid Sandlar of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Health Care Fraud Section prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire Kedeshian for the Eastern District of New York who assisted with forfeiture matters.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Arrested at Airport, Man Voluntarily Returns to Minnesota to Face Charges of Defrauding $1.3 Million in Housing Stabilization Services FundsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Kaamil Omar Sallah, 26, was arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) International Airport on the evening of September 10, 2026.
This arrest happened approximately nine months after the defendant flew from MSP Airport to Amsterdam on or about November 26, 2025. His return was coordinated by the Federal Defenders Office after the defendant reported that he wanted to self-surrender and voluntarily return to Minnesota.
The defendant was indicted by grand jury on December 16, 2025, and he is charged with four counts of wire fraud. Sallah had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon G. Elkins on September 11, 2026.
According to the indictment, Sallah participated in a scheme to fraudulently receive Medicaid benefits from Minnesota’s Housing Stability Services (HSS) Program, a program designed to help people with disabilities and addictions find and maintain housing. Rather than provide such help, Sallah obtained and misappropriated funds to enrich himself and his coconspirators.
Sallah owned and operated a company called SafeLodgings, Inc. The defendant registered the company in March 2023, and in the same month, submitted paperwork to enroll the company as an HSS Program provider. The company was supposed to provide services to qualifying people in need including housing consulting, transitioning, and sustaining services.
From approximately March 2023 through August 2025, Sallah and his company fraudulently claimed to be entitled to approximately $1.4 million for providing HSS Program services and received nearly $1.3 million. Sallah knowingly submitted fake and inflated bills and his coconspirators submitted false claims that significantly overrepresented the services through SafeLodgings. In 2024 alone, Sallah claimed to have personally provided more than 3,600 billable service hours of reimbursable services. Sallah additionally hired employees to expand operations at SafeLodgings.
“I commend the work of our law enforcement partners in coordinating the safe transfer of the defendant back to Minnesota. Sallah will now face justice for his role in defrauding Minnesotans and the American people,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“As alleged in the indictment, Kaamil Sallah defrauded Medicaid for approximately $1.3 million. When he learned he was under investigation, he chose to flee,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “This American taxpayer money was designated to help stabilize the housing situation of those in most dire need in our community. The FBI is dedicated to rooting out the fraud that plagues our most vital community services programs, holding fraudsters responsible, and working to ensure those that attempt to flee justice are brought to account.”
This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Steven R. Forrest are prosecuting the case. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Note: Previous press release on the indictment linked here.
Armed Carjacking in Chicago Leads to Nearly Ten-Year Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to nearly ten years in federal prison for committing an armed carjacking in Chicago.
The carjacking occurred on Oct. 23, 2024, on a street in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. The victim and a companion—who played a part in the carjacking—were sitting in the victim’s idling Dodge Challenger when the companion reached over to the gear shift to attempt to place the Challenger into park. The victim and the companion struggled over the gear shift. JAMES HAMPTON and ANDY COLON, JR. then approached the vehicle and brandished firearms. Hampton told the victim, “Don’t be stupid,” meaning that he would shoot the victim if he did not comply with his demands. Hampton and Colon stole the victim’s watch, gold necklace, and cell phone before they and the companion drove off in the Challenger. They were arrested a short time later after Chicago Police gave chase.
Unbeknownst to the victim, the companion—MELIZA CALDERON—had been communicating with another individual about setting up the carjacking. The other individual allegedly told Calderon that he would send “the guys” to “handle it.”
Hampton, 19, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm charges. On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Hampton to nine years and nine months in federal prison.
Hampton’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.
Colon pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm charges. Judge Blakey set Colon’s sentencing for Sept. 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
Calderon pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy, carjacking, and firearm charges. Judge Blakey set Calderon’s sentencing for Oct. 15, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Jhesy Rodriguez, a/k/a “J Sav,” 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.
According to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.
Text messages recovered from Rodriguez’s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child’s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez’s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
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.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Adair County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Levi Grant Loyd, a/k/a Levi Grant Lloyd, age 37, of Westville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.
On November 6, 2025, Loyd pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 4, 2025, law enforcement serving an outstanding felony arrest warrant discovered Loyd in knowing possession of one 12 gauge, semi-automatic shotgun, one 20 gauge pump paction shotgun, one .22 caliber, bolt action rifle, one .22 caliber, semi-automatic rifle, 8 rounds of 12 gauge ammunition, and 18 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Loyd 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. Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office Recent SentencingsRead the Press Release
Narcotics
Joseph Randall Summerlin, 52, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in May 2025, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) learned that Summerlin was selling methamphetamine on the Wind River Reservation. Special agents conducted a controlled buy, purchasing more than one ounce of methamphetamine from him. DCI investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Summerlin was indicted Sept. 16, 2025, and pleaded guilty May 27, 2026. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence Sept. 9, 2026, in Cheyenne. Case No. 25CR00137-01KHR
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
Aaron Farinacci Federally Indicted for ArsonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on that on September 9, 2026, Aaron Farinacci was indicted by a federal grand jury for starting the Old Trails fire on August 1, 2026.
A team of federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been working alongside our state partners to identify applicable federal offenses. The investigation is active and ongoing as to additional potential federal charges. Farinacci is currently in state custody pending related state charges.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
10 September 2026
Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Writing Opioid PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A woman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for using information stolen from physicians to fraudulently write opioid prescriptions.
AMANI IBRAHIM fraudulently caused prescriptions for oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances to be issued under the names of real medical providers and often in the names of nominal patients, neither of whom knew the prescriptions were being written. Ibrahim or others involved in the scheme would then pick up the prescriptions at Chicago-area pharmacies and work to distribute the drugs on the streets. Ibrahim was not a licensed physician and could not lawfully prescribe medications.
From 2022 to 2025, Ibrahim was responsible for the unlawful distribution of 149,152 dosage units of oxycodone, 41,853 dosage units of hydrocodone, 30,517 dosage units of alprazolam, 22,625 dosage units of promethazine-codeine syrup, and 6,990 dosage units of amphetamine. Ibrahim also financially benefited from the scheme, resulting in the forfeiture of $200,800 in illicit proceeds that was seized from her residence.
Ibrahim, 48, of Palos Hills, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug conspiracy charge. On Sept. 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Ibrahim to five years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Hennessy.
Four other defendants were also convicted as part of the federal investigation.
Waynesboro Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bobbie Jerome Newton, age 32, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 30 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for failure to register as a sex offender.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Newton was convicted in 2018 of statutory sexual assault and related offenses. As a result, he was required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In December 2024, Newton cut off the GPS ankle monitor that Pennsylvania state probation required him to wear and traveled across state lines to Baltimore, Maryland, where he took up residence. He did not update his registration to reflect that move, as required by law.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.
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Virginia Beach cocaine dealer sentenced to eight years in prisonRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to eight years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, in April, May and June of 2025, Virginia Beach Police (VBPD) conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Andre Lawrence Shorts, 35. After a fourth transaction was arranged, law enforcement arrested Shorts a short distance from his residence. From Shorts’ vehicle, investigators recovered 199.45 grams of cocaine, 7.25 grams of methamphetamine, 11 methamphetamine tablets, 47 amphetamine tablets, three capsules containing a heroin/fentanyl mixture, baggies, a scale, two cell phones, $546, and a stolen handgun.
From Shorts’ residence, investigators recovered 251.97 grams of cocaine and $1,030. After Shorts was turned over to the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office for booking, a deputy discovered another 27.68 grams of cocaine concealed in a body cavity.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-42.