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Thursday 7 August 2025
KC Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced to four years of imprisonment in federal court today for conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and illegally trafficking firearms.
Antonio Manning, Sr., 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 48 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The court also ordered the defendant to pay a criminal forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $11,260.
On April 14, 2025, Antonio Manning admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law. According to the plea agreement, the defendants trafficked at least 22 firearms to persons who were known felons or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Antonio Manning admitted that he was personally involved in illegally selling at least nine firearms and one of those firearms was an unregistered machinegun.
On Jan. 22, 2025, co-defendant Sheron Manning, the brother of Antonio Manning, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun. On May 21, 2025, Sheron Manning, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 57 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On April 07, 2025, co-defendant Michael Dewayne Hardy, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons, to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun, and one count of knowingly being a felon in possession of firearms. On June 26, 2024, Michael Dewayne Hardy, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 70 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Justice Department Requires Broad Divestitures to Resolve Challenge to UnitedHealth’s Acquisition of AmedisysRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, together with its state co-Plaintiffs, filed a proposed settlement today requiring broad divestitures to resolve Plaintiffs’ challenge to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated’s (UnitedHealth) $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys Inc. In addition, Amedisys would pay a $1.1 million civil penalty to the United States for falsely certifying that it had provided “true, correct, and complete” responses under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
“In no sector of our economy is competition more important to Americans’ well-being than healthcare. This settlement protects quality and price competition for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable patients and wage competition for thousands of nurses,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “I commend the Antitrust Division’s Staff for doggedly investigating and prosecuting this case on behalf of seniors, hospice patients, nurses, and their families.”
The proposed settlement would require UnitedHealth and Amedisys to divest 164 home health and hospice locations (including one affiliated palliative care facility) across 19 states, accounting for approximately $528 million in annual revenue. By number of facilities, the settlement would secure the largest divestiture of outpatient healthcare services to resolve a merger challenge. In addition, the proposed settlement would:
- Obligate UnitedHealth to divest eight additional locations if it fails to obtain regulatory approval for the divestiture of associated facilities without the additional locations;
- Impose a monitor to supervise UnitedHealth’s divestiture of the assets and compliance with the consent decree;
- Provide the divestiture buyers with the assets, personnel, and relationships to compete against UnitedHealth in the overlap areas;
- Incorporate robust protections to strengthen adherence to the decree and deter interference with the divestiture buyers’ ability to compete; and
- Require Amedisys to pay a $1.1 million civil penalty and train its corporate and field leadership on antitrust compliance for falsely certifying that the company had truthfully, correctly, and completely responded to the United States’ requests for documents.
The map below shows the locations of the divested home health and hospice locations under the decree:
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Jill Maguire, Acting Chief, Healthcare and Consumer Products Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 4100, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
UnitedHealth is a vertically integrated insurer, healthcare provider, pharmacy benefit manager, and healthcare software and services vendor headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. UnitedHealth acquired Amedisys’s home health and hospice rival LHC Group Inc. (LHC) in 2023. Amedisys is a home health and hospice services provider headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Illinois Man Charged in Durable Medical Equipment SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Geneva, Ill., man has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with an alleged fraud scheme to defraud Medicare of over $2 million by submitting claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that was medically unnecessary, not wanted by the Medicare beneficiaries and tainted by kickbacks.
Kartik Bhatia, 36, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of making false statements. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging documents, Bhatia allegedly worked with Raju Sharma, and other co-conspirators to own and operate a DME company that paid telemarketing companies for DME orders for orthotics such as ankle, wrist, knee and back braces. Often, the Medicare beneficiaries did not need or want the braces the defendants shipped them and, as further alleged in the information, the doctors whose signatures appeared on these DME orders often did not treat these beneficiaries and did not prescribe the DME. After the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a payment suspension to Bhatia’s DME company, Bhatia simply opened a new DME company that engaged in the same conduct. Bhatia has agreed to plead guilty to health care fraud conspiracy for his alleged role in the scheme as well as false statements in connection with a materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statement and representation that he made to law enforcement during the investigation.
The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Graber and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
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 Victoriano Ponce-Garcia, age 53, a Mexican national unlawfully present in 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 and the Coalgate Police Department.
On May 27, 2025, Ponce-Garcia pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on April 11, 2025, Ponce-Garcia, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously removed in 2009 and in 2020 without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.
Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Honduran national has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Jose Denis Guardado-Paz, 40, was sentenced on Aug. 4, 2025 by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to time served (approximately 43 days in prison). Guardado-Paz is now subject to deportation proceedings. Earlier in the hearing, Guardado-Paz pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Guardado-Paz was arrested on May 5, 2025 and was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025.
Guardado-Paz was most recently deported from the United States on Oct. 18, 2019. Sometime after his October 2019 removal, Guardado-Paz illegally reentered the United States without permission.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Honduran Guilty of Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ABRAHAM RAMIREZ-CANTOR (“RAMIREZ-CANTOR”), age 40, a native of Honduras, pleaded guilty today to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, RAMIREZ-CANTOR was previously removed from the United States on November 21, 2005. He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on April 3, 2025, and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to re-enter the country. United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo accepted the guilty plea and sentenced RAMIREZ-CANTOR to time served.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Homewood Felon Charged with Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Homewood, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Chaz Mitchell, 35, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about July 5, 2025, Mitchell had three firearms and ammunition in his possession after having been convicted of two prior felonies, including on state firearm charges. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Harrison County Man Admits to Fentanyl ChargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Chad William Mullooly, 40, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to the distribution of p-Fluorofentanyl.
According to court documents, Mullooly sold fentanyl and p-Fluorofentanyl, a synthetic opioid, on several occasions in Harrison County.
Mullooly faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rhee is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Fresno Man Indicted for Unlawful Firearms SalesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Bee Her, 20, of Fresno, charging him with unlawful transfer of firearms in violation of the National Firearms Act and dealing and manufacturing firearms without a license, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, Her sold 10 firearms to undercover agents in three different transactions, including multiple short-barreled rifles. Her sold firearms despite being told by the undercover agent that the firearms were going to Mexico. He also possessed 12 privately manufactured firearms receivers and six auto-sear machine gun conversion devices for purposes of sale.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium, and the California Department of Justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Her faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Fresno Man Charged with Offenses Involving the Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Miguel Angel Dorantes, aka Miguel Castro, 28, of Fresno, charging him with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, between Nov. 6, 2021, and May 7, 2025, Dorantes used three minors to create visual depictions of the minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Dorantes also provided obscene material to a minor in November 2021.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Dorantes faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine for each count of sexual exploitation of a minor. If convicted of transferring obscene material to a minor, Dorantes faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Fraud Conspiracy Leader Sentenced on Bank Fraud, Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A North Providence man convicted and sentenced multiple times on economic-based and firearms charges was sentenced today to federal prison for leading a well-organized conspiracy to defraud banks, steal individuals’ personal information, and for illegally possessing a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Jamal Mansaray, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 110 months of incarceration, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution to various financial institutions totaling more than $70,000. Mansaray pleaded guilty on April 29, 2025, to charges of bank fraud conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
As detailed in court documents, Mansaray led a well-organized conspiracy from his dining room table to steal checks from the U.S. Mail, and to obtain and use business and personal identifying information of third parties. The stolen identifying information was used to alter stolen checks, create fraudulent checks, and to fraudulently access bank accounts.
A court-authorized search of Mansaray’s residence in May 2023 resulted in the seizure of hundreds of personal and business checks, blank “washed” checks, more than 1,000 blank check stock used to create and print counterfeit checks, multiple laptops and printers, checks in various stages of alteration, Social Security cards, debit cards, and a temporary driver’s license in the name of others.
Additionally, law enforcement also located a loaded firearm and ammunition inside a backpack belonging to the defendant. Mansaray is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he has been convicted previously on felony charges, including firearms and financial crimes.
In 2018, Mansaray was convicted on federal charges of bank fraud conspiracy and aggravated ID theft. He was sentenced in October 2018 to 60 months of incarceration and three years’ supervised release.
This most current case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Rhode Island State Police.
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sentencing_memo.pdfFort Wayne Man Sentenced to 188 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, Brock E. Russell, 45 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Russell was sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.According to documents in the case, in February of 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Russell was driving. In the vehicle was approximately five pounds of methamphetamine and a digital scale. During further investigation, Russell was also found in possession of numerous firearms. As a multi-convicted felon, Russell is prohibited from possessing any firearms.
“Brock Russell aimed to distribute a large amount of meth—five pounds—into our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “He further endangered those communities by possessing firearms that federal law prohibited him from possessing. Thankfully, our exceptional team of investigators, prosecutors, lab techs, and support staff put an end to his illegal conduct. Northern Indiana is safer thanks to their efforts.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Allen County Police Department; South Bend Police Department; and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Ashcraft.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Forsyth County Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Connection with COVID-19 Rental Assistance FundsRead the Press Release
Greensboro, NC – Shakerra Aarka Jones of Forsyth County pled guilty Tuesday, August 6, to one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Treasury and Forsyth County’s Department of Social Services of funds allocated for emergency rental assistance, announced Clifton T. Barrett, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to court documents, Jones, age 48, submitted fraudulent applications to the City of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (“ERA”) Program in 2021 and 2022 to obtain money to personally enrich herself. ERA funds were designated to assist low-income residents who were behind on their rent and/or utilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A tenant had to meet eligibility requirements, and the tenant and property owner were required to submit supporting documentation. Jones submitted applications for ERA funds as though her business, BAS Tax Service, were the property owner to whom past-due rent was due, but neither Jones nor BAS Tax Service owned any property. In the applications, Jones made false and fraudulent representations, including the submission of fake rental agreements, fake arrears letters, and fake property management agreements with false information and forged signatures. When the applications were approved, the checks were issued to BAS Tax Service as the property owner, and, with one exception, Jones deposited them into the bank account in the name of Shakerra Jones d/b/a BAS Tax Service. In total, Jones fraudulently obtained $135,501 in ERA funds.
Sentencing is scheduled to take place on November 24, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina, before United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. At sentencing, Jones faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, a period of supervised release of up to three years, and monetary penalties.
The United States Secret Service, Winston-Salem Police Department, and Forsyth County Department of Social Services Program Integrity Unit are investigating. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Jeanne Dildine.
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Former East Bay Middle School Aide Indicted for Receipt and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted Dominic James Vannucci, who was employed as a teacher’s aide at a middle school in Contra Costa County until June 2025, on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography. Vannucci made his initial appearance in federal court in Oakland today.
According to the indictment filed and unsealed last week, Vannucci, 25, of Discovery Bay, Calif., allegedly received child sexual abuse materials involving a minor in May 2025. Vannucci is also charged with possessing child sexual abuse materials involving a prepubescent minor beginning from an unknown date continuing through June 2025.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Vannucci faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for each count of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Vannucci was transferred to federal custody earlier today and is currently on conditional release. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Sept. 19, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly I. Volkar is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alycee Lane and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone who has information relevant to this case can report it by contacting HSI at [email protected] or (877) 477-4847.
Vannucci Indictment
Former Corrections Officer Admits to Taking BribesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A former correctional officer at Federal Corrections Institution Gilmer has admitted to taking bribes from inmates in exchange for smuggling in contraband.
Hector Lopez, age 41, of Weston, West Virginia pled guilty to bribery of a public official. According to the plea agreement, Lopez accepted $40,000 in payments from or on behalf of inmates as payment for smuggling contraband into the prison.
Lopez faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Former Augusta State Medical Prison Correctional Officers Charged in Connection with Inmate’s DeathRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — On Aug. 5, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia returned a two-count indictment charging former Augusta State Medical Prison Correctional Officers Robert Roberson and Marcus Phillips with violating the constitutional rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm to an inmate, resulting in his death. The indictment further charges Roberson with falsifying a logbook to cover up his misconduct.
The indictment alleges that on Oct. 28, 2020, Roberson and Phillips became aware of a smoldering fire in an inmate’s cell, and, rather than extinguish the smoldering fire, evacuate the inmate from his cell, remediate the smoke from the cell, or call a fire emergency over the radio, they willfully disregarded the substantial risk of serious harm to the inmate by leaving him in his locked cell for several hours while he slowly died from smoke inhalation.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons for the Southern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Augusta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Augusta Resident Agency is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kirkland for the Southern District of Georgia and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Briana M. Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Augusta State Medical Prison Correctional Officers Charged in Connection with Inmate’s DeathRead the Press Release
On Aug. 5, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia returned a two-count indictment charging former Augusta State Medical Prison Correctional Officers Robert Roberson and Marcus Phillips with violating the constitutional rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm to an inmate, resulting in his death. The indictment further charges Roberson with falsifying a logbook to cover up his misconduct.
The indictment alleges that on Oct. 28, 2020, Roberson and Phillips became aware of a smoldering fire in an inmate’s cell, and, rather than extinguish the smoldering fire, evacuate the inmate from his cell, remediate the smoke from the cell, or call a fire emergency over the radio, they willfully disregarded the substantial risk of serious harm to the inmate by leaving him in his locked cell for several hours while he slowly died from smoke inhalation.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons for the Southern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Atlanta's Augusta Resident Agency is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kirkland for the Southern District of Georgia and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Briana M. Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Conspiring to Destroy Baltimore Region Power GridRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Senior U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Brandon Clint Russell, 30, of Orlando, Florida, to 20 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for conspiring to damage or destroy electrical facilities in Maryland.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor, FBI Tampa Field Office.
“Russell allowed hatred to drive him and his co-conspirator to plot a dangerous scheme that could have harmed thousands of people,” Hayes said. “The sentence imposed today reflects the gravity of Russell’s egregious conduct and his ongoing threat to public safety. This conviction underscores our unwavering commitment to dismantling violent extremist threats and holding accountable anyone who dares to conspire to endanger the lives of others.”
“Swift and thorough coordination from our law enforcement partners through the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force disrupted this significant threat to Maryland,” DelBagno said. “I am proud of the dedicated FBI agents and analysts who worked this case from Maryland to Florida. This investigation shows the commitment and broad reach of the FBI to ensure those plotting harm are brought to justice.”
“This case illustrates the FBI’s vigilance in defending the homeland from radical violent extremists like Brandon Russell,” Fodor said. “Our strong partnerships, resources, and resilience exemplifies our commitment to disrupting hate-filled campaigns intended to harm our communities.”
Judge Bredar previously sentenced Russell’s co-conspirator, Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 37, of Catonsville, Maryland, to 18 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, in connection with her role in the scheme.
According to evidence presented at trial, from at least November 2022, until February 3, 2023, Russell conspired to carry out attacks against critical infrastructure, specifically transformers located within electrical substations. Russell’s plan was in furtherance of his racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist beliefs. Russell posted links to open-source maps of infrastructure, including the locations of electrical substations. He described how a small number of attacks on substations could cause a “cascading failure.” Additionally, Russell discussed maximizing the impact of the planned attack by attacking multiple substations at one time.
Russell recruited Clendaniel to carry out the attacks in Baltimore and elsewhere. They planned to damage energy facilities involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity and to cause a significant interruption and impairment of the Baltimore regional power grid. The intended monetary loss associated with the planned attacks would have exceeded $75 million.
Clendaniel identified five substations to target, and Russell attempted to secure a weapon for her. She stated that if they attacked multiple substations in the same day, they “would completely destroy this whole city,” and that a “good four or five shots through the center of them . . . should make that happen.” Clendaniel further added, “[i]t would probably permanently completely lay this city to waste if we could do that successfully.”
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI Baltimore and FBI Tampa for their outstanding work in the investigation and praised the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Maryland State Police, Baltimore County Police Department and FBI Washington for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also acknowledged the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida for their support. Additionally, U.S. Attorney Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Aubin and Joseph R. Baldwin who prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is a partner in the U.S. Department of Justice’s United Against Hate community outreach program. The United Against Hate initiative seeks to directly connect federal, state and local law enforcement with traditionally marginalized communities in order to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. To report a Maryland-based hate crime, contact the FBI Baltimore field office at (410) 265-8080 or tips.fbi.gov.
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Final Defendant in Massive Chicago-to-Duluth Fentanyl Trafficking Scheme Convicted After TrialRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Following a three-day trial, a federal jury found defendant Carl Maurice Brown, 32, guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
In February 2024, a federal grand jury indicted multiple defendants, including scheme leader Ezell Cordero Lucas, a/k/a “Cash,” and trial defendant Carl Brown, with engaging in a Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine. Carl Brown proceeded to trial and today a federal jury found him guilty. Six other defendants, including scheme leader Lucas, have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
“This conviction closes the book on a dangerous fentanyl trafficking ring that pumped poison into northern Minnesota from Chicago,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Fentanyl has devastated families and communities across our state, and this case is a powerful reminder: we will not let drug traffickers exploit our cities or our rural communities. We are grateful to the federal, state, and local partners whose tireless work dismantled this network and helped protect Minnesotans from the lethal fentanyl epidemic.”
From December 2021 to February 2024, defendant Ezell Lucas, a/k/a “Cash,” managed a large-scale drug distribution operation (the “Lucas drug trafficking organization” or the “Lucas DTO”) based in Chicago, Illinois, that transported mass quantities of fentanyl to Duluth, Minnesota, for sale to drug customers in the Twin Ports region. Lucas worked with local drug distributors in Duluth to traffic fentanyl from Chicago and establish a customer base in Duluth. Lucas directed criminal associates from Chicago, including defendant Carl Brown, to travel to Duluth and conduct the organization’s operations on the ground. Lucas, sitting in Chicago, fielded calls from drug customers and directed those customers to pre-determined locations in Duluth to meet Lucas’s drug dealers and complete the sales. During a two-year period, law enforcement seized more than 890 grams of fentanyl and 262 grams of methamphetamine from the Lucas DTO over the course of 19 seizure events, including controlled buys, traffic stops, residence search warrants, and a seizure incident to an overdose death.
Brown will be sentenced at a later date. He faces up to life in prison.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Duluth Police Department, the Saint Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and Syngen Kanassatega are prosecuting the case.
Federal Hate Crime and First-Degree Murder Charges Filed Against Alleged Killer of Israeli Embassy Staff MembersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, was charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday with additional federal and local murder offenses in connection with the May 21, 2025, fatal shootings of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rodriguez previously was charged by complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia with the murder of a foreign official, causing death through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, he had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder under the D.C. criminal code.
The indictment adds two federal counts of hate crime resulting in death and two local counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
Multiple charges in the indictment carry a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment. At a later date, the Attorney General will decide whether to seek the death penalty.
“This office will leave no stone unturned in its effort to bring justice to the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The hate charges shed further light on his evil intent in the killing of innocent victims.”
Joining in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith.
“This Justice Department will not tolerate violence motivated by hatred of faith or national origin, and we will enforce our federal civil rights laws accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Dhillon.
According to the indictment, Rodriguez made multiple statements prior to the slayings in which he advocated for violence against Israelis.
On May 20, 2025, Rodriguez flew from Chicago to Washington D.C. with a Heckler and Koch VP9 SK 9mm semi-automatic handgun packed in his luggage.
The same day, he allegedly authored a manifesto that he called “Explication,” in which he argued for the “morality of armed demonstration” and wrote that “[t]hose of us against the genocide take satisfaction in arguing that the perpetrators and abettors have forfeited their humanity.”
On May 21, 2025, Rodriguez purchased a ticket to the “Young Diplomats Reception” sponsored by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) at the Capital Jewish Museum (CJM) located at 575 3rd Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T., were employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., who attended the reception at the CJM. Yaron Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen who was in the United States on official business. Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. were United States citizens.
Rodriguez allegedly approached the victims after they walked out of the CJM and fired approximately 20 shots using the 9mm semi-automatic handgun that he had transported from Chicago. After the victims fell, he allegedly continued firing at close range, including as one attempted to crawl away. Multiple shots struck Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, killing them. During the shooting, the defendant allegedly called out, “Free Palestine.”
Moments after the shooting, Rodriguez entered the CJM, where several event attendees were still present., displayed a red keffiyeh and allegedly said, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.”
Police removed Rodriguez from the CJM. As he was taken away, Rodriguez yelled at event attendees who had remained inside CJM, “shame on you” and “shame on Zio-nazi terror.”
Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun and 20 spent shell casings at the scene.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with assistance from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Farmington Man Sentenced to Imprisonment After Embezzling Approximately $1.7M from His Small Business EmployerRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Timothy Sean Edgar, 44, of Farmington, Utah, was sentenced today to 18 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud and money laundering after he admitted to engaging in a years-long scheme to embezzle approximately $1.7 million from his employer for his personal enrichment.
In addition to Edgar’s term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr. ordered that he serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,778,251 in restitution to the victim.
According to court documents and statements made at Edgar’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, beginning in 2021 and continuing until October 2024, Edgar defrauded his employer to obtain money and property by stealing and lying. As part of Edgar’s scheme, he fraudulently opened a sales channel through a popular online marketplace and used his employment credentials to access the vendor portal and redirect Automated Clearing House payments to his personal bank account. Edgar then made payments back to his employer using his personal credit card.
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.
“This case is an example of a defendant who used the victim’s trust against them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. “Mr. Edgar took advantage of a small business by building a strong relationship with his employer and gained access and control that he then used to perpetrate his fraud scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate fraud in our communities, and we will continue to investigate and prosecute fraudsters and seek justice for victims of these crimes.”
The case was investigated jointly by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, and the North Salt Lake City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Woolf and Jacob J. Strain of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Executives of Data Intelligence and Mobile Advertising Companies Charged in Connection with Accounting Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ANIL MATHEWS, RAHUL AGARWAL, and KENNETH HARLAN with conspiracy and securities fraud. MATHEWS and AGARWAL were, respectively, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Near Intelligence, Inc. (“Near”), and HARLAN was the Chief Executive Officer of MobileFuse LLC (“MobileFuse”). The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged scheme to defraud investors in Near by fraudulently inflating the company’s revenue by approximately $25 million through a series of “round trip” transactions in which Near made inflated payments to MobileFuse, only for MobileFuse to pay the money back to Near. MATHEWS and AGARWAL are also charged with wire fraud in connection with their separate schemes to embezzle money from Near, and MATHEWS is charged with aggravated identity theft in connection with his appropriation of the identities of others that he used to generate fake invoices to disguise his embezzlement.
MATHEWS was previously arrested in connection with these charges in France, where he fled during the pendency of this criminal investigation. The United States is seeking his extradition. AGARWAL, an Indian citizen and resident, is at large. HARLAN was arrested earlier today and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.
“As alleged, executives from Near and MobileFuse ran a circular payment scheme to inflate revenue and increase Near’s value,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Our investors, businesses and employees depend on the integrity of our capital markets. Market integrity is one of America’s great competitive advantages, and this Office will hold those who undermine that essential integrity to account.”
“These defendants not only allegedly recycled more than $25 million through each other’s businesses, but two of them also stole even more funds to maintain their personal lifestyles,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “These defendants allegedly manipulated their executive positions within their respective companies to create a mirage of financial success and attract prospective buyers. The FBI is determined to apprehend any individual who relies on fraudulent misrepresentations to improve their economic portfolio.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
The defendants, from 2021 to December 2023, caused Near to fraudulently inflate its reported revenue by “round-tripping” money through MobileFuse, a private mobile advertising company founded and run by HARLAN. The round-tripping scheme began before Near became a public reporting company, and MATHEWS and AGARWAL’s fraudulent inflation of Near’s revenue was designed, at least in part, to make Near look more attractive for acquisition by a Special Purpose Acquisition Company, or SPAC, to take Near public. HARLAN, along with other senior MobileFuse executives, agreed to facilitate Near’s fraudulent inflation of its revenue by exchanging fake invoices along with inflated payments that allowed Near’s revenue from MobileFuse’s business to appear more than 10 times higher than it actually was, while MobileFuse “netted” out the roundtripped amounts and paid Near only what MobileFuse owed it for services actually rendered. The defendants, and other senior executives at Near and MobileFuse, knew that Near was recognizing fake revenue that was based on these round-tripped amounts that originated at Near, rather than representing money MobileFuse legitimately owed Near for business services.
The fraudulent accounting practices instigated by the defendants and their co-conspirators caused Near to overstate its revenue by at least approximately $25 million. At various times, Near’s revenue was falsely inflated by as much as approximately 28 percent, with the greatest inflations to Near’s revenue in 2022, just before it went public. These inflated figures were relied on by the SPAC when it evaluated whether to acquire Near. Near’s misrepresentations about its revenue, as orchestrated by the defendants and their co-conspirators, continued after it became a public reporting company. Revenue inflated by MobileFuse’s round-tripped payments gave the appearance that Near was meeting its revenue projections, when, actually, Near would have failed to meet those projections without the round-trip payments. In order to conceal Near’s fraudulent accounting practices, the defendants, and other senior executives at Near and MobileFuse, took steps to mislead the independent certified public accountants engaged to audit Near’s financial statements.
The round-tripping scheme unraveled a few months after Near began trading on the Nasdaq on or about March 24, 2023. On or about October 5, 2023, Near announced an initial assessment that revenue may have been overstated and that its financial statements should not be relied on. Near filed for bankruptcy in December 2023, less than nine months after its merger with the SPAC was completed.
The Round-Tripping Scheme
In January 2021, before the round-tripped payments began, MATHEWS and AGARWAL, along with another Near executive (“Near Executive-3”), invested $2 million in MobileFuse through a Singaporean private limited company in exchange for approximately 1.2 million Class B MobileFuse shares, which amounted to an approximately 10% equity stake in MobileFuse. In the summer of 2023, shortly after Near became a public company, MobileFuse repurchased these Class B MobileFuse shares from MATHEWS, AGARWAL, and Near Executive-3 for only approximately $12,000. Effectively, therefore, the January 2021 “investment” amounted to a nearly $2 million payment from the Near executives to MobileFuse, and specifically, to HARLAN and his co-founder, the majority owners of MobileFuse.
A few months later, the round-tripped payments began. MATHEWS, AGARWAL, and HARLAN coordinated the mechanics of the payments, which would begin with a large invoice from Near to MobileFuse followed by a “counter invoice” representing the amount MobileFuse would legitimately owe Near for services rendered on a monthly basis, plus the round-tripped amount that originated from Near. In accordance with this plan, from May 2021 to September 2023, Near and MobileFuse engaged in a series of similar transactions in which Near paid MobileFuse followed by reverse payments to Near on or about the same day in close but slightly greater amounts, the difference representing the amount MobileFuse legitimately owed to Near for actual services rendered. The payments totaled approximately more than $25 million to MobileFuse, and approximately $27,750,000 to Near.
Near booked payments received from MobileFuse as revenue, even though the defendants knew that the payments Near received from MobileFuse lacked economic substance and merely reflected a return of money Near had previously paid MobileFuse the same day or the day before. Near’s recognition of the fraudulently inflated revenue from the MobileFuse round-tripped transactions caused Near’s revenue to be overstated on its financial statements, including its audited financial statements from both before and after Near became a public company.
HARLAN knew that MobileFuse’s exchange of invoices with Near enabled Near to record increased revenue on its books and that this the increased revenue was fraudulent, and he acted accordingly. Explaining the arrangement to other MobileFuse executives, HARLAN said “Basically [Near is] grossing up their revenue.” MobileFuse, however, did not book the money it received from Near as part of the round-tripped transactions as revenue within its own financial statements. Rather, MobileFuse “netted” the amount Near paid it against the amount it paid Near and recorded only the difference. The result was that Near and MobileFuse accounted for the revenue from their mutual transfers differently. HARLAN recognized that Near’s approach was highly misleading: on or about March 28, 2023, HARLAN texted MobileFuse Executive-2 to compare MobileFuse’s finances to Near’s: “Interesting note….we have more revenue than Near and obviously profitable both in 2022 and forecasted for 2023 and our revenue is real.”
The Embezzlement Schemes
MATHEWS and AGARWAL further enriched themselves at Near’s expense by embezzling money from the company. From in or about May 2022, through in or about 2024, MATHEWS engaged in a scheme to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from Near to pay rent for a luxury home located in Laguna Beach, California. MATHEWS took concerted efforts to conceal the embezzlement scheme from Near, its auditors, and its shareholders, including through the creation and use of fictitious invoices using misappropriated identities. Similarly, from in or about 2021 to in or about 2022, AGARWAL also embezzled from Near by transferring funds equivalent to more than a million dollars to a Singaporean company owned by him, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars to a company owned by another Near executive (“Near Executive-3”). Agarwal later facilitated a cover-up by causing Near’s finance department to transmit to Near’s independent auditors a fraudulent MobileFuse invoice to account for the transfers.
* * *
A chart containing the names, ages, residences, charges, and maximum penalties for the individual defendants is attached.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI and further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is handling the extradition.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Chiuchiolo and Allison Nichols are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DefendantAgeResidenceChargesMaximum Potential Sentence(s)MATHEWS51Laguna Niguel, CAConspiracy to commit securities fraud, to make false statements in a registration statement, to make false statements in reports required to be filed by the SEC, improperly influencing the conduct of audits, and falsifying the books and records of a publicly traded company, 18 U.S.C. § 371
(Count One)
Securities fraud, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff
(Count Two)
Wire Fraud,
18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Three)
Aggravated Identity Theft, 18 U.S.C. § 1028A
Five years
20 years
20 years
Two years, mandatory consecutive
AGARWAL40IndiaConspiracy to commit securities fraud, to make false statements in a registration statement, to make false statements in reports required to be filed by the SEC, improperly influencing the conduct of audits, and falsifying the books and records of a publicly traded company, 18 U.S.C. § 371
(Count One)
Securities fraud, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff
(Count Two)
Wire Fraud,
18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Five)
Five years
20 years
20 years
HARLAN52Princeton, NJConspiracy to commit securities fraud, to make false statements in a registration statement, to make false statements in reports required to be filed by the SEC, improperly influencing the conduct of audits, and falsifying the books and records of a publicly traded company, 18 U.S.C. § 371
(Count One)
Securities fraud, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff
(Count Two)
Five years
20 years
u.s._v._mathews_et_al_indictment.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Española Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Española man was sentenced to more than 154 months in federal prison for robbing an ATM technician at gunpoint.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on January 15, 2022, Michael Cobb, 42, approached an ATM technician who was loading cash outside a Century Bank in Española, New Mexico. Cobb pointed a handgun at the technician and demanded the cash canisters. After the technician backed away, Cobb took the canisters, fired a round near the ATM, returned to grab two more canisters, and drove away.
Española Police used license plate reader technology to identify the red Chevrolet Sonic used in the robbery. The vehicle was registered to Cobb’s family residence in Ohkay Owingeh. Investigators matched surveillance footage to Cobb. On January 19, 2022, Pojoaque Tribal Police located the vehicle at Buffalo Thunder Casino. Cobb attempted to flee but was arrested following a brief pursuit. Officers recovered cash consistent with the stolen denominations from Cobb’s person at the time of his arrest.
On November 26, 2024, Cobb pled guilty to bank robbery with a dangerous weapon and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Upon his release from prison, Cobb will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Española Police Department and Pueblo of Pojoaque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Bell prosecuted the case.
El Salvadoran Man Recently Convicted of Sexual Battery Sentenced to Maximum Federal Prison Term for Unlawful Reentry by a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – An El Salvadoran national who recently pled guilty to sexual battery was sentenced August 6, 2025 to twenty-four months in federal prison, the maximum sentence for unlawful reentry by a removed alien. Jose Rigoberto Mejia-Cubias will serve his federal prison sentence consecutively to the twenty-five-year sentence for his sexual battery conviction in the Madison County Mississippi Circuit Court.
According to court documents, Mejia-Cubias was arrested on January 30, 2025, by the Madison Police Department and charged with the sexual battery of a patron of a local restaurant where he worked as a bartender. Immigration officials determined that Mejia-Cubias was illegally in the United States and that he had previously been removed from the United States to El Salvador on August 26, 2010. Mejias-Cubias was charged with both federal and state crimes, and he later pled guilty to the state and federal charges.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Brian Acuna, Acting Field Office Director of ICE/ERO in New Orleans, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kabah Ealy prosecuted the case.
Eight Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marvin Rivera, a/k/a “Mace,” age 26, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Oliver Rivera, age 31, of Drums, Pennsylvania, Mark Reynolds age 57, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Sherrielee Stout, age 32, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, Chandler George, age 34, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Angela Ruggiero, age 42, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Joel Fernandez, age 34, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and Eric Konnick, age 41, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges and firearm offenses.
According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that between January of 2025, and July 30 of 2025, the eight charged defendants conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and marijuana within Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. The indictment further alleges the defendants committed the following criminal offenses:
- On multiple occasions between January of 2025 and July 2025, Marvin Rivera, a/k/a “Mace,” distributed and possessed with intent to distribute over 50 grams and more of methamphetamine;
- Between May 29, 2025, and July 20, 2025, Marvin Rivera, a/k/a “Mace,” and six of the other co-defendants used communication facilities to facilitate the commission of a drug trafficking crime, namely conspiracy to distribute controlled substances;
- On July 30, 2025, Joel Fernandez and Marvin Rivera possessed with intent to distribute over 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and over 400 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl;
- On July 30, 2025, Angela Ruggiero possessed with intent to distribute over 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine;
- On July 30, 2025, Eric Konnick possessed with intent to distribute over 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and over 40 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl; and,
- On July 30, 2025, Joel Fernandez and Marvin Rivera, a/k/a “Mace,” each possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
During the investigation, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) executed search warrants at numerous locations associated with the drug trafficking activities of the defendants. On July 30, 2025, the agents found, among other items: approximately 71 pounds of alleged methamphetamine, over 2 kilograms of alleged fentanyl (which represents over one million in potential fatal doses), approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine, marijuana, and benzodiazepines, as well as multiple firearms, drug packaging materials including a kilogram press and vacuum sealers, and over $160,000 in cash. The street value for the recovered controlled substances is approximately $600,000.
The case was investigated by the DEA, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James M. Buchanan and Tatum Wilson are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is imprisonment for life, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Dulce Man Pleads Guilty to Assault by StrangulationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman by strangulation.
According to court records, between April 7 and April 8, 2024, Kayiliab Haines, 34, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe, assaulted Jane Doe by strangling her.
Haines pleaded guilty to assault by strangulation. He will remain in custody pending sentencing. At sentencing, Haines faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Haines will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.
Current Camden County Sheriff’s Sgt. Indicted on Federal Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A federal grand jury returned a thirteen count Indictment charging current Camden County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant, Buck William Aldridge, 42, of St. Mary’s Georgia, with deprivation of rights under color of law and falsifying records.
According to the allegations contained in the indictment, Aldridge, while working in his capacity as a Deputy Sheriff with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), used excessive force on arrestees on four separate occasions. In addition to the use of excessive force, the indictment alleges Aldridge prepared multiple misleading CCSO reports to justify his use of force.
Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons for the Southern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
Aldridge faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each federal civil rights violation, and 20 years in prison for each false report. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with the authority to uphold the law—not to break it. When that trust is violated, the FBI will act. No badge puts anyone above the Constitution,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “We remain committed to investigating civil rights violations and holding accountable those who abuse their power.”
The FBI Brunswick Field Office is investigating the case. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Coralville Man Sentenced to 144 Months in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Coralville man was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams or More of a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Fentanyl and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Crime.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Jacky Michael Mabikulu, 35, possessed a loaded handgun and 397 fentanyl pills designed to look like prescription medication. In 2022 and 2024, Mabikulu was convicted in the Iowa District Court for Johnson County for possessing firearms as a felon.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Mabikulu will be required to serve a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Johnson County Drug Task Force, which was comprised of and/or assisted by members of the Iowa City Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), University of Iowa Police Department, Coralville Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Liberty Police Department.
Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Just two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially fatal dose. Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced, killing 48,422 Americans in 2024. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Convicted Felon and His Demolition Company Agree to Pay $2.01 Million to Resolve Allegations Regarding False Applications for Pandemic Relief LoansRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Charles Smith, Jr. of Sharon, Mass. and SMI Demolition, Inc., of Norwood, Mass. have agreed to pay $2.01 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that SMI Demolition falsely certified to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) its eligibility for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).
In January 2018, Smith pleaded guilty in federal court in Massachusetts to two counts of mail fraud. In April 2020, Smith owned 51% of SMI Demolition, but on April 7, 2020, SMI Demolition applied for a PPP loan and certified that no owner had pleaded guilty to a felony involving fraud. Around the time of the application, Smith and others prepared an agreement that purported to transfer part of his ownership to another person. But that agreement was never finalized. SMI Demolition nonetheless applied for and received two more loans from SBA - an EIDL and a second PPP loan. These loans totaled $1,448,402, of which all but $150,000 was forgiven by SBA. Smith and SMI Demolition admitted to the facts forming the basis of the settlement, including that the loan applications falsely stated that the companies did not have owners who had pleaded guilty to certain felonies, when in fact Mr. Smith had pleaded guilty to mail fraud charges in 2018.Because SMI Demolition was not eligible for the PPP loans nor the EIDL due to Smith’s felony convictions and ownership interest, the United States contends that Smith and SMI Demolition thus caused false claims for payment to SBA.
The claims resolved by today’s settlement include claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Forsyth v. SMI Demolition, Inc. and Charles Smith, Jr., No. 23-cv-10091-NMG (D. Mass.). As part of today’s resolution, the relator will receive approximately $200,000.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration made the announcement today. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew A. Caffrey, III and Brian Sullivan.
Columbus man pleads guilty to dogfighting, drug crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to federal dogfighting and drug crimes.
Joel Brown, 38, admitted to possessing and training dogs for fighting purposes and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Brown was keeping 11 pit bull-type dogs for fighting purposes at his residence in Franklin County. The dogs on his property were chained with heavy tow chains attached to tire axels buried in the ground. The dogs were within eyesight of each other but housed just out of reach – a housing style typical with organized dogfighting. On one of Brown’s Facebook accounts, he posted a video of a black pit bull with visible scarring running on a slatmill – a type of treadmill often used by dogfighters.
After responding to complaints about dogs being left outside at the property and obtaining search warrants, Columbus Humane rescued the dogs. They worked in conjunction with the Columbus Division of Police. Authorities also recovered tools and supplies commonly used in the training and keeping of dogs for fighting. Under federal law, it is illegal to possess, train, transport, deliver, receive, buy or sell animals intended for use in an animal fighting venture.
While conducting search warrants, law enforcement officers also discovered approximately 52 grams of methamphetamine in Brown’s home.
Brown was indicted in December 2024.
Brown will be sentenced at a later date. He faces five to 40 years in prison for the methamphetamine crime and up to five years in prison for animal fighting.
Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Kevin W. Kelley and Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section are representing the United States in this case. Columbus Humane, the Columbus Division of Police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
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Citrus Heights Couple Sentenced for $1 Million Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Citrus Heights residents Deshawn Oshaea Campbell, 38, and Rochelle Pasley, 35, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to seven years and three months and five years and five months respectively and ordered to pay $1,157,000 in restitution, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, between June 2020 and December 2020, Campbell and Pasley conspired to defraud by filing fraudulent unemployment insurance claims with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) seeking Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits under the CARES Act. During the conspiracy, the defendants obtained the identifying information of other individuals and used their identities to submit dozens of fraudulent claims. The claims represented, among other things, that the claimants had recently lost employment or were unable to find employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These claims were fraudulent because, for instance, many of the individuals whose identities were used did not reside in California and were thus ineligible for benefits from EDD.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been committed to combatting fraud that abuses the provisions of the CARES Act,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sanchez. “We will continue to prosecute fraud arising out of the pandemic and bring offenders to justice.”
In the applications, the defendants used mailing addresses that were under their control, or under the control of their family and friends. EDD approved more than 50 of the fraudulent claims and authorized Bank of America to mail out EDD debit cards containing benefits. The defendants then obtained these debit cards and used them to withdraw the benefits at ATMs throughout California and to make direct purchases, all for their own benefit. The scheme resulted in EDD paying out more than $1 million.
“These defendants stole from our nation’s unemployment insurance program by fraudulently filing for UI benefits in the names of individuals who were not entitled to such benefits. They took advantage of the UI program at a time when so many deserving American workers were suffering from pandemic-related economic challenges. The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General remains committed to combating UI fraud and holding individuals accountable for their fraudulent schemes. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the California Employment Development Department-Investigations Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California in this collaborative investigative effort,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
In addition to the mail fraud scheme, Campbell pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the EDD – Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Delaney and Justin Lee prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Catawba Man Arrested for Soliciting Sexual Material from MinorsRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Catawba, Virginia man was arrested yesterday for his attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
Jacob Ryan Barnett, 34, was arrested yesterday in North Carolina by FBI agents pursuant to a federal criminal complaint. He will make his initial court appearance early next week in U.S. District court in Roanoke.
“While the charges against Mr. Barnett are just allegations at this point, the facts presented do serve as a reminder for all parents to be aware of what their children are doing online,” United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert said today. “Our kids occupy a world where those seeking to harm them have countless avenues, like TikTok, Discord, Snapchat and others, to reach across vast distances directly into their bedrooms. Please, monitor their online activity, talk to them about the dangers that are out there, and let them know how to report folks who try to exploit them online.”
“The heinous crimes Barnett is charged with are what keep parents up at night. Educating our kids and communities about the threats posed by faceless, online personas is crucial to maintaining their safety. Working with our partners, FBI Richmond will bring the full weight of the justice system on anyone who attempts to harm our children. The FBI will never stop searching for these predators and bringing justice for victims,” said Ann Busby, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division.
According to court records, the FBI received a tip that a then-unknown subject had attempted to groom a 15-year-old girl living in Michigan. Investigating agents discovered that on May 18, 2025, the victim first received a message from a TikTok account that appeared to belong to a teenaged boy who called himself “Jodie Johnson.” Johnson exchanged phone numbers with the victim, and through persistent messaging over the next few days, convinced her to send him a sexually explicit video of herself.
Agents were able to determine that “Jodie Johnson’s” TikTok account and phone number belonged to Barnett, an individual working in Catawba, Virginia who routinely interacted with young people. Phone records showed that Barnett was operating the number while talking to the Michigan victim.
Agents observed that Barnett’s TikTok account appeared to be following thousands of minor girls. They also uncovered that Barnett was using Discord and Snapchat accounts to solicit sexually explicit material from other children while posing as a teenager.
If convicted, Barnett faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum punishment of life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert and Ann Busby, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman is prosecuting the case for the United States.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Career Offender Receives Significant Sentence for Firearm Possession and Distribution of MarijuanaRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Memphis man has been sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Memphis, Tennessee. Joseph C. Murphy, Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in June 2022, detectives with the Western District of Tennessee Multi-Agency Gang Unit (MGU), assisted by special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), began investigating Robert Ingram, 39, who was selling marijuana out of an apartment in the 6500 block of S. Country Oaks Circle in Memphis, Tennessee. Based on information linking Ingram and his apartment to the storage and distribution of large amounts of marijuana, MGU and ATF executed a search warrant on the apartment on June 28, 2022.
Ingram was detained by detectives without incident when they entered the apartment. Once inside, detectives discovered more than 10 kilograms of raw marijuana bundled in various increments and two loaded pistols: a Glock 9mm and a stolen Smith & Wesson 9mm.
Ingram was indicted in February 2023 on possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm charges. On January 15, 2025, Ingram entered a guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
At the time of sentencing, Ingram was determined to be a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. On August 5, 2025, United States District Court Judge Jon Phipps McCalla sentenced Ingram to 180 months of incarceration with a three-year period of supervised release to follow.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“This individual persistently violates the law by illegally possessing firearms and distributing narcotics,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Belew, ATF Nashville Field Division. “The ATF will continue to work collaboratively with our local, state, and federal partners to combat violent crime and hold these criminals accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Western District of Tennessee Multi-Agency Gang Unit and the Memphis Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Drug Enforcement Administration's Nashville laboratory assisted in this investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce H. Phillips and William Crow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Cape Cod Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Violence Against a Federal Official and Their RelativesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A South Dennis, Mass., man pleaded guilty to threatening to murder a prominent federal official, their relative and the relative’s spouse.
Michael P. Mahoney, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats to injure another person. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Oct. 29, 2025. In April 2025, Mahoney was arrested and charged.
On March 28, 2025, the relative of a prominent federal official was having dinner with two other individuals at a location outside of Massachusetts. At approximately 10:15 p.m. the relative received a phone call with “No Caller ID.” Upon answering the phone, the caller, later identified to be Mahoney, confirmed the relative’s full name. Mahoney then started to scream and stated that he was going to murder the relative, their spouse and the federal official –referring to the spouse and federal official by their first names – and said, “Die you f*****g c**t mother f****r.” The relative hung up while Mahoney, was yelling. The call lasted approximately 12 seconds. Mahoney then called back immediately, but the relative did not answer.
Call records obtained from the relative’s phone service provider indicated that the originating number for the threatening call, as well as the subsequent unanswered call, belonged to Mahoney. When approached by law enforcement at his South Dennis residence on March 29, 2025, Mahoney refused to answer the door or his phone.
The charge of transmitting interstate threats to injure another person provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Dennis Police Chief John Brady made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini, Chief of the National Security Unit, is prosecuting the case.California CEO Sentenced for Role in Covid-19 Relief Fraud Resulting in Millions of Stolen FundsRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay $6,993,700 in restitution and $535,041 in forfeiture for his role in defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA) out of millions of dollars in loans through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program.
According to court documents, from March 2020 through October 2022, Abraham Park, 67, of La Mirada, California, submitted over 120 fraudulent applications to the SBA for EIDL loans on behalf of himself and others which resulted in a total funded and unfunded loss of over $12 million. Park was the owner and CEO of a California financial services company that assisted clients with obtaining financing, including loans, and repairing credit scores. After the Covid-19 pandemic started, Park advised his clients to create fictitious corporate entities so that he could submit fraudulent EIDL loan applications to the SBA on their behalf. In return, his clients paid Park a portion of the funded loans as a kickback. In addition to submitting applications for his clients, Park also submitted several applications for himself and his family members for fictitious entities. In total, 73 fraudulent loans were funded, which resulted in a nearly $7 million dollar loss to the SBA.
On March 20, Park pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS-CI Los Angeles Field Office; Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office; and Western Region Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Huang of the SBA Office of Inspector General, made the announcement.
The IRS-CI, FBI, and SBA-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
CEO of Spine Device Company Sentenced for False Statements in Connection with Mandatory Reporting to CMSRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The Founder, President and CEO of SpineFrontier, Inc. was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for making false statements to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Dr. Kingsley R. Chin, 61, the Founder, President and CEO of SpineFrontier, Inc., a Massachusetts-based medical device company, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to one year of supervised release with the first six months to be served in home confinement. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $9,500, in addition to $40,000 the defendant personally agreed to pay as part of a related civil settlement, and $855,000 his wholly-owned company, KICVentures, agreed to pay as part of the same settlement. In May 2025, Chin pleaded guilty to one count of false statements.
Pursuant to the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, device manufacturers, like SpineFrontier, are required to report any payments or transfers of value to physicians, including spine surgeons. CMS maintains a database, via the Open Payments website, which makes all such payments or transfers of value publicly accessible.
SpineFrontier offered surgeons the opportunity to engage in purported consulting on product development. Specifically, Chin directed his employees to report the payment of fees paid to a surgeon as consulting fees that were not compensation for actual consulting work. Chin caused his employees to report a payment of $4,750 on Jan. 19, 2016, to the surgeon as a “consulting” payment, even though Chin knew that the surgeon had not performed actual consulting work for the payment. He also knew that he and SpineFrontier were required to accurately report any payments or transfers of value to the surgeon.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abraham R. George, Christopher R. Looney and Mackenzie A. Queenin prosecuted the case.Burglar Sentenced for Stealing Personal Items from a Woman’s Apartment While She Was SleepingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nathaniel Robinson, 36, of Washington, D. C., was sentenced in Superior Court today for burglarizing a woman’s apartment in the middle of the night on March 6, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Robinson pleaded guilty on June 4, 2025, to one count of first-degree burglary. Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro sentenced Robinson to 70 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, suspended as to all but three years.
According to court documents, on the night of March 6, 2025, Robinson broke into the victim’s apartment while she was sleeping. The victim slept through the burglary and when she awoke around 9:00 a.m., the next day after she started to get ready for work, she went to look for her bag but could not locate it. When the victim went to retrieve her cell phone, she discovered that it was missing, along with other personal items such as credit cards and a key fob which belongs to a wine cellar inside the building. The victim called the police using her work phone to report the burglary.
Surveillance footage from the apartment building camera showed the defendant attempt to break into the lobby entrance of the apartment building, but he was unsuccessful. The victim’s patio door is adjacent to the lobby entrance, and the defendant later told detectives that he jumped over the victim’s gate and entered through her patio door.. According to the footage, thirteen minutes went by between Robinson trying to break into the lobby entrance from the outside and when Robinson was seen leaving the building through the lobby with a red bag in his possession. That bag was identified as belonging to the victim. Robinson was arrested on March 7, 2025 and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Skopicki, who prosecuted the case.
Bryan County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sammy Lynn Key, age 45, of Colbert, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment charged Key with knowingly possessing a .38 Special caliber revolver on September 23, 2022, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Atoka County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Key will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Brothers from Washington sentenced to prison for Virginia, Maryland armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Three Washington men have been sentenced to prison for a series of armed robberies across Maryland and Virginia.
According to court documents, from September 2023 to February 2024, brothers Andre Joel White Jr., 41; Abdullah Khalil Ismael DeVaugh Michelle, aka Damien Devaughn Moore, 43; and Aaron Isaiah Devaughn Aaron White, 29, robbed a convenience store, four tobacco shops, and a gas station, which they robbed twice, and attempted to rob another gas station. During the robberies, the brothers wore masks and gloves, brandished firearms, assaulted a victim, and stole money and cigarettes.
On Dec. 4, 2023, in Washington, D.C., Michelle noticed a ride-share driver exit his vehicle at a hotel to help a passenger with their luggage. Michelle jumped in the driver’s seat of the car and drove away. The brothers then used the stolen car to commit additional robberies in Virginia. When the car became disabled following a robbery, they abandoned it and continued to rob stores using a van rented by Michelle. The van was eventually reported stolen, and despite using stolen license plates, Michelle was arrested on Feb. 13, 2024, while driving the van.
On Feb. 5, Michelle pled guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On July 2, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Aaron White pled guilty on Feb. 5 to two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On June 18, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
On Dec. 18, 2024, Andre White pled guilty to three counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and William J. DelBagno, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith J. Edwards and Nicholas A. Durham prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-222-2.
Bronx Man Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today the arrest of CARLOS RIVAS in connection with the unsealing of a Complaint charging RIVAS with possessing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography that depict pre-pubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. RIVAS was arrested yesterday and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.
“As alleged, Carlos Rivas possessed hundreds of images and videos of child pornography while working at a Bronx school,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Child pornography has no place anywhere in our society, particularly anywhere connected to a school. Our devoted prosecutors and partners will unrelentingly fight this scourge.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
In the summer of 2024, RIVAS worked at a school in the Bronx, New York (“School-1”).
From at least in or about July 14, 2024, through in or about August 15, 2024, RIVAS possessed hundreds of images and videos constituting child pornography on his account with an electronic service provider’s file storage service. Some of the child pornography was uploaded to RIVAS’s account from an Internet Protocol address associated with School-1.
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RIVAS, 22, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of possession of child pornography, including images and videos of prepubescent minors and minors who had not attained 12 years of age, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations.
The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Maxwell is 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.
u.s._v._rivas_complaint_1.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Boston Gang Member Sentenced for Trafficking Firearms; Defrauding Federal Credit Union; Hundred-Thousand-Dollar Check Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mission Hill gang member with multiple prior convictions was sentenced today for a sweeping slate of federal charges – including trafficking firearms, defrauding a credit union of over $130,000 and stealing mail as part of a large-scale “card cracking” scheme that caused up to half a million dollars in losses.
Glenroy Miller, a/k/a “Trinny,” 29, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 71 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Miller pleaded guilty in May 2025 to three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun; one count of trafficking in firearms; two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud; one count of bank fraud and aiding and abetting; and one count of conspiracy to steal and possess stolen mail.In September 2019, Miller was convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of possession of a firearm without a permit; carrying a firearm with ammunition; possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number; and resisting arrest. He was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison, followed by two years’ probation. In December 2019, shortly after beginning his state prison sentence, Miller conspired with long-time friend Nadaje Hendrix to defraud a credit union where Hendrix served as a loan officer and assistant branch manager at the time. Specifically, between December 2019 and August 2021, the two defrauded the credit union by obtaining loans in the names of other individuals, including Miller’s fellow inmates, as well as loans under stolen identities. In total, Miller and Hendrix defrauded the credit union of approximately $134,000. The two were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2024 in relation to this conduct. In October 2024, Hendrix was sentenced to eight months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in July 2024.
In the summer of 2023, upon his release from state prison, and prior to his January 2024 indictment, Miller conspired with other Mission Hill members to engage in a mail theft and “card cracking” scheme while on probation. According to court documents, card cracking involves the theft of checks – usually checks stolen from USPS collection boxes – which are chemically washed to remove the payee information. The checks are then rewritten in the names of others who have typically been recruited into the scheme via social media, deposited into their bank accounts and withdrawn or transferred as soon the funds are made available.
Miller is responsible for $250,000 - $550,000 in losses or attempted losses via checks that were stolen from the mail, washed and/or deposited into recruited accounts between June 2023 and February 2024. In August 2024, Miller was indicted by a federal grand jury along with eight other Mission Hill gang members and associates for their alleged roles in the card cracking scheme.Additionally, during the summer of 2023, while on state probation, Miller sold six firearms to a cooperating witness on four separate occasions on Aug. 7, 2023 and Oct. 24, 2023. One of the sales included a firearm with a high-capacity magazine equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Additionally, Miller was aware that the cooperating witness was a convicted felon who was prohibited from purchasing or possessing the firearms.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Randy Maloney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston and Wellesley Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kriss Basil, Lucy Sun and Philip C. Cheng of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Bakersfield Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of Explosives and Ammunition and Manufacturing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Matthew Henry Jacober, 43, of Bakersfield, charging him with being a felon in possession of explosives and ammunition and manufacturing methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.
According to court documents, Jacober possessed and improperly stored 50 pounds of dynamite and 25 rounds of shotgun shells. He was also in the process of manufacturing crystal methamphetamine at his residence in a remote area of Bakersfield. Jacober had previously been convicted in Kern County Superior Court of making a destructive device without a permit, a felony. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing explosives and ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kern County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad, and the Kern County Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the drug offense, Jacober faces a mandatory minimum prison term of five years in prison and a maximum term of 40 years, along with a $5 million fine. If convicted of being a felon in possession of explosives, he faces a 10-year prison term and, if convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition, he faces a 15-year prison sentence. Both of these offenses also carry a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
August Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Elijah Lee Chandler, Jr. Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (superseding). Chandler, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to possess more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He is additionally charged with possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute. Lastly, Chandler is charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-231
Nicholas Donell Cotton. Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country (Count 1); Theft in Indian Country – Over $1,000 (Counts 2 & 3); Wire Fraud (Counts 4 & 5). Cotton, 37, of Inola and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with breaking into a fenced-in structure with the intent to steal any property and to commit a felony. He is charged with stealing a vehicle, assorted equipment, and tools valued at over $1,000. Cotton is further charged with fraudulently using two stolen credit cards. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-280
Aldo De Leon Mendoza. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Leon Mendoza, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Apr. 2016. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Regan Reininger is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-284
Alexander Douglas Goins. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Goins, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexually explicit activity. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Owasso Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Scaife is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-274
Chad Allen Haeberle. Threat to Assault, Kidnap, and Murder a Member of Congress; Cyberstalking. Haeberle, 34, of Jay, is charged with threatening to assault, kidnap, and murder a Member of Congress. Further, Haeberle is charged with causing reasonable fear or substantial emotional distress by using an electronic communication service with intent to harass and intimidate a Member of Congress and their spouse. The U.S. Capitol Police, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the Jay Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Tara T. Heign are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-273
Mynor Antonio Hernandez-Aguilar. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez-Aguilar, 34, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jan. 2020. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-281
Ramsey Nathaniel Hogan. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Hogan, 58, transient, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Probation and Parole Office, and the U.S. Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Mike Flesher are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-282
Juan Manuel Joaquin-Francisco. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Joaquin-Francisco, 51, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2019. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-283Roberto Montel Madden. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Madden, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-275
Simon Martinez-Gonzalez. Kidnapping of a Child (superseding). Martinez-Gonzalez, 44, a Mexican National, is charged with kidnapping a minor child in Dec. 2024. The Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, Webb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Stacey Todd are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-029
Jesus Medina Acevedo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Medina Acevedo, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in July 2017. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-285Anibal Valentin Rivas Gabino. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rivas Gabino, 35, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2019. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-286Jose Luis Rodriguez Cornejo. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien (superseding). Rodriguez Cornejo, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. Additionally, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2001. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-187
Odell Carl Stokes; Arthur Lee Hudgens, Jr.; Roderick Dale Favors; Cornelius James Artis. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 and 3); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 4 and 5) (superseding). Stokes, 49, Hudgens, 46, Favors, 43, and Artis, 44, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Oct. 2024 through May 2025. They are additionally charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-188
Mark Joseph Vossler. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Vossler, 53, transient, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from March through July 2025. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-276
Assault Charges Filed Against Shiprock ManRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man is facing federal charges for a violent assault that left two people seriously injured.
According to court documents, on August 5, 2025, Joshua Black, 20, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, became violent during an argument at the home. Black assaulted another man by slamming his head into a fireplace and striking him repeatedly with a shovel and a wooden board. The man sustained life-threatening head injuries and was later airlifted to a local hospital. During the same incident, Black also assaulted a woman, kicking her and taking her mobility aids, and pushed another man to the ground.
During a search of the residence, officers located Black hiding inside a box spring and took him into custody. Investigators recovered bloodied objects at the scene, including a broken shovel, a wooden board, and a crutch.
Black is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in third-party custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Black faces up to 10 years in prison per count.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case as part of Summer Heat, the FBI’s nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months. As part of this effort, the FBI has launched a multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside state and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, we are aggressively restoring safety in our communities across the country.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Anderson Man Sentenced for Impersonating Homeland Security Officer and Possessing Incendiary BombsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Joshua W. Stearman, 42, of Anderson, Indiana, has been sentenced to 65 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In April of 2025, a federal jury found Stearman guilty of unlawfully possessing incendiary bomb sand falsely impersonating an officer or employee of the United States.
According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, on December 12, 2023, around 1:47 a.m., Ingalls Police responded to a suspicious person report near a home previously targeted by vandalism and arson. A witness saw Stearman approach the house carrying something before fleeing to a red Toyota RAV4 when security lights activated. Officers quickly located the vehicle and pulled it over. Stearman presented both his driver’s license and a fake government ID, claiming to be a Homeland Security Officer returning from a mission. He was wearing black gloves with duct tape wrapped around his wrists. Officers took him into custody and discovered four bottles filled with gasoline, each containing cloth wicks and wood pieces, along with a lighter in the car.
At trial, experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed the bottles were each incendiary bombs. A forensic chemist testified the liquid inside each bottle was gasoline, and a destructive device examiner explained their intended design was to start and spread fire upon impact. Possessing such devices is a federal crime under laws regulating destructive devices.
“This defendant not only endangered lives by bringing homemade firebombs into a residential neighborhood but also sought to evade detection by impersonating a Homeland Security officer,” said Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thanks to the swift actions of local law enforcement and the expert analysis of our federal partners, this dangerous individual was stopped before he could carry out a potentially deadly attack.”
The ATF and Ingalls (Indiana) Police Department investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by Lapel (Indiana) Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nate Walter, who prosecuted this case.
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Alleged Perpetrator of Shooting in Washington, D.C. Charged with Hate CrimesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. returned an indictment yesterday charging Elias Rodriguez with murder of a foreign official, hate crimes, firearms offenses, first-degree murder, and assault with intent to kill, for the shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers leaving a reception hosted at the Capital Jewish Museum (CJM). Rodriguez had previously been charged by complaint with murder of a foreign official, firearm offenses, and first-degree murder on May 22.
According to the indictment, on May 21, Rodriguez purchased a ticket to the American Jewish Committee (AJC)’s Young Diplomats Reception being hosted at CJM. Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. were employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. who attended the reception. After purchasing the ticket, Rodriguez reviewed information about AJC, which indicated AJC’s support for Israel. After Lischinsky, Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. walked out of the reception, Rodriguez approached them and fired approximately 20 shots. Rodriguez shot Lischinsky and Milgrim multiple times, killing them. C.S. and A.T. escaped uninjured. Rodriguez approached a police officer, said “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” and was arrested. Rodriguez’s previously scheduled “explication” was then posted to his X account; in it, Rodriguez advocated for violence against Israelis.
“This Justice Department will not tolerate violence motivated by hatred of faith or national origin, and we will enforce our federal civil rights laws accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“This office will leave no stone unturned in its effort to bring justice to the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The hate charges shed further light on his evil intent in the killing of innocent victims.”
The Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Field Office of the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Joint Task Force October 7.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Albanian Woman Indicted for Willfully Refusing to Depart the U.S. after Receiving Final Removal OrderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On August 5, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned an indictment against Anxhela Spahi, 43, a citizen of Albania, for willfully refusing to depart the United States within 90 days of when her order of removal became final.
A conviction for willful failure or refusal to depart carries a maximum penalty of a $250,000 fine, up to four years in prison, and up to one year of supervised release.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-01106-KML
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-131_Spahi# # #
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.Alameda County Man Charged in Federal Complaint with Stealing Rare and Historical Chinese Manuscripts from University LibraryRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Francisco Bay Area man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with stealing approximately $216,000 worth of rare and historical Chinese manuscripts from a university’s library system, the Justice Department announced today.
Jeffrey Ying, 38, a.k.a. “Jason Wang,” “Alan Fujimori,” and “Austin Chen,” of Fremont, is charged with theft of major artwork, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison.
Ying, who is in state custody, is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in Los Angeles in the coming days.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, from December 2024 to July 2025, Ying stole the rare manuscripts from the university’s library. Ying rented the manuscripts, brought them home for days at a time, then returned a dummy manuscript instead of the authentic one. He typically then traveled to and from China within several days of the thefts.
The library noticed that several rare Chinese manuscripts were missing, and an initial investigation revealed the books were last viewed by a visitor who identified himself as “Alan Fujimori.” Due to the rarity and value of the books, they are not in regular circulation in the library and must be reserved and checked out.
Law enforcement searched Ying’s Brentwood hotel room and found blank manuscripts and paperwork in the style and manner of the books that Ying had checked out from the university. Law enforcement also found pre-made labels known as asset tags associated with the same manuscripts that could be used to create “dummy” books to return to the library in place of the original books.
Upon Ying’s arrest on Monday, they found a fraudulent California identification card in the name of “Austin Chen” along with two library cards in the names of “Austin Chen” and “Jason Wang.”
A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team is investigating this matter with valuable assistance from the UCLA Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Williams of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section is prosecuting this case.
ATF Operation Yields Six Convictions for Narcotics Distribution Offenses in JacksonRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – Six individuals have pleaded guilty to narcotics distribution offenses after an ATF Operation in Jackson, Mississippi in 2024 and 2025.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, the ATF Jackson Field Office began a street-level narcotics operation in Jackson in September 2024 with the goal of identifying and investigating narcotics traffickers in Jackson. Over the course of four months, the ATF made numerous controlled purchases of illegal narcotics and executed search warrants at three separate residences in Jackson. Fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and ecstasy were seized during the operation. Also seized were firearms, ammunition, and two ballistic vests. These narcotics traffickers have pleaded guilty and await sentencing:
- Stevenson Bentley, 46, Jackson, MS: pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on August 7, 2025, and awaits sentencing scheduled for November 5, 2025. Bentley faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
- Michael Murrell, 61, Jackson, MS: pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on May 28, 2025, and awaits sentencing scheduled for August 27, 2025. Murrell faces a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of 40 years imprisonment.
- Lorenzo Loggins, 35, Jackson, MS: pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl on May 13, 2025, and awaits sentencing scheduled for August 11, 2025. Loggins faces a maximum penalty of twenty years imprisonment.
- David Ransom, 56, Jackson, MS: pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base on July 11, 2025, and awaits sentencing scheduled for October 17, 2025. Ransom faces a maximum penalty of twenty years imprisonment.
- Rodrick Hunter, 48, Jackson, MS: pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on June 13, 2025, and awaits sentencing scheduled for October 16, 2025. Hunter faces a maximum penalty of twenty years imprisonment.
- Brian Hobson, 35, Jackson, MS: pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, and awaits sentencing scheduled for October 16, 2025. Hobson faces a maximum penalty of twenty years imprisonment.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement.
The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive is investigating the case with assistance from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Jackson Police Department, and the Capitol Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Goff and Brett Grantham are prosecuting the case.
Wednesday 6 August 2025
Would-be smuggler of three-year-old child sentenced to 36 months in federal prisonRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas - A 25-year-old Laredo woman has been sentenced for conspiracy to transport, attempting to transport and bringing in and attempting to bring a minor alien to the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before finding Salma Galilea Veliz guilty April 15 after a two-day trial.
U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Veliz to serve 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.
“We may never know who or what awaited that three-year-old boy had he been successfully smuggled across the border. What is certain, however, is that no child’s safety or well-being has a price tag. The Southern District of Texas will not hesitate to prosecute those who illegally bring children into the United States by falsely claiming family ties,” said Ganjei. “Also, a word of warning - if you put a child, even if it’s your own, into the hands of smugglers, you will be prosecuted. Return home to them; don’t endanger your children by placing their lives in the hands of people you don’t know.”
Law enforcement first encountered Veliz at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo Nov. 14, 2024, with a three-year-old male. She presented a Texas birth certificate and claimed the minor was her son, later admitting he was not and that she had picked him up in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
Veliz claimed she did not know the boy’s name or where she was taking him, just that a person known as “Malandro” was bringing him to her. Veliz planned to have the boy assume her biological son’s identity to smuggle him into the United States in exchange for $2,500.
During trial, the jury heard testimony and evidence regarding his true identity, which included the minor child’s original birth certificate indicating Mexico as his place of birth. Testimony also revealed there was no record in existence pertaining to the minor child that would indicate he had ever been authorized to enter the United States.
The defense attempted to convince the jury the boy had claims to citizenship through an unidentified father. However, evidence revealed the minor is a Mexican citizen and had no claim to enter the county. The jury ultimately found Veliz guilty as charged.
She was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of State and Department of Health and Humans Services - Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa A. Lopez and Tory Sailer prosecuted the case.