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15 September 2025
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft Charge Stemming from U.S. Postal Service Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, announced that EZEKIEL BAILEY, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to an identity theft offense stemming from a U.S. Postal Service fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the U.S Postal Inspection Service began an investigation after receiving reports that an individual had been passing, and attempting to pass, bad checks to purchase thousands of dollars in postage stamps from U.S. Post Offices in Connecticut and surrounding states. The investigation revealed that Bailey had used the identities of three separate victims, fake driver’s licenses, and checks linked to empty bank accounts that had been created in the victims’ names, to purchase $98,000 in stamps from U.S. Post Offices in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
On January 20, 2023, Bailey was arrested on related state charges after he attempted to purchase 25 books of postage stamps for $300 at post office in Stonington. He possessed two fake driver’s licenses in the names of identity theft victims at the time of his arrest. He was charged by federal criminal complaint on November 26, 2024.
Bailey pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9.
Bailey is released on a $25,000 bond pending sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.
Neshoba County Man Found Guilty of Second-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – On September 10, 2025, following a three-day jury trial, a Neshoba County man was found guilty of second degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of the murder. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, Brian Keith Bell, 56, of the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation used a handgun to shoot and kill another tribal member.
In April of 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Bell on the charges of Murder in the Second Degree and the Use of a Firearm in a Crime of Violence.
Honorable Daniel P. Jordan, III., United States District Judge, presided over the trial and scheduled Bell’s sentencing for November 14, 2025. Bell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is currently being held in federal custody.
Acting United States Attorney Lemon commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 260 Months in Prison for Recording His Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Monday sentenced a man who recorded his sexual activity with a 14-year-old to 260 months in prison.
Todd Kelly, now 37, of Washington, Missouri, will be on supervised release for life after he is released from prison. Kelly admitted making the recordings on his cell phone in June and July of 2023. The investigation began in August of 2023 when the victim’s father learned about the relationship and discovered Snapchat communications between Kelly and his daughter. Investigators seized Kelly’s four cellular phones and found videos that he recorded.
Kelly pleaded guilty in April to one count of producing child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory sentence of at least 15 years in prison.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianne Edwards prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Michigan Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Miami – A Farmington, Michigan man has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of children under the age of 13.
U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks imposed the sentence on Ahmed Sultan Faraz, 30, on September 10.
According to court records, between September and October 2021, Faraz and five co-conspirators participated in a private chat room on a social networking application. Entry into the chatroom required participants to distribute CSAM of children under the age of 13. Once admitted, Faraz distributed CSAM and engaged in discussions with more than 50 other individuals about the sexual abuse of children. The children in the images and videos were as young as 4 years old.
In a post-Miranda interview, Faraz admitted to communicating online with five or six minors. Forensic evidence obtained from his electronic devices revealed that Faraz produced CSAM with at least two of these children and attempted to produce CSAM with a third.
In 2024, Faraz had a pending application to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, which has since been denied.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
HSI West Palm Beach and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case as part of a joint effort of the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Chase prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-80036.
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Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jeremiah Telmon-Isaiah Hand, also known as “Joey,” 29, of Inkster, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 17, 2024, Hand sold approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $180 to a confidential informant near Ritter Park in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Hand admitted to conducting the transaction, to arranging it beforehand, and that co-defendant Madison Grant Sergent was with him during the transaction.
Hand also admitted to additional criminal conduct as part of his guilty plea. On July 22, 2024, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hand in Huntington. Hand admitted that he was driving the vehicle, that he possessed $1,465 in proceeds from distributing methamphetamine, and that co-defendant Rakai Travall Hawkins was a passenger in the vehicle.
Hand is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Hawkins, also known as “G,” 31, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on July 29, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2025. The indictment against Sergent, 26, of Huntington, remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-51.
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Mexican National Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States for the Fourth TimeRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS - A Mexican national was sentenced to two years in federal prison today for illegally reentering the United States following multiple prior deportations.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Francisco Rios-Munoz was found illegally present in Rankin, County, Mississippi on February 2, 2025, after having been previously removed from the United States three times. Rios-Munoz was encountered after being arrested by Rankin County Sheriff’s Department for aggravated assault.
Rios-Munoz was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 22, 2025, and pleaded guilty to illegal reentry after removal of an alien on June 6, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana made the announcement.
The United States Department Homeland Security and the Rankin County Sherriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber S. Jones prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the Mississippi Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mexican National Indicted for Drug Crimes in UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging an undocumented Mexican national, living in the United States illegally, with drug crimes after he allegedly possessed and intended to distribute methamphetamine in the District of Utah.
Manuel Santos-Ramirez, 32, who was living in Salt Lake City, was charged by complaint on August 28, 2025.
According to court documents, since July 2025, agents with the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force have been investigating a drug trafficking organization (DTO). In August 2025, during a controlled purchase of methamphetamine, a male later identified as Santos-Ramirez, arrived in a silver Ford F-150 pick-up truck, which agents followed to a residence in Salt Lake City. A search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence in Salt Lake City and the silver Ford F-150 pick-up truck. Law enforcement seized 5,843 grams of methamphetamine, which field-tested positive for the narcotic. Half of the methamphetamine was found in the pick-up truck, and the other half was inside the residence. The substance purchased during the controlled buy also field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Santos-Ramirez was arrested and remains in federal custody.
Santos-Ramirez is charged possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment was September 11, 2025. A three-day jury trial is scheduled for November 14, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 7.2 before Senior U.S District Court Judge Clark Waddoups at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian man pleaded guilty on Tuesday, September 2nd in federal court to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 28, 2023, Jimmy Hodges, 40, was identified by East Mississippi Drug Task Force members as a distributor of narcotics in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. Officers determined that Jimmy Hodges sold methamphetamine on multiple occasions in the district. While executing a search warrant of his home, law enforcement discovered that the home was outfitted with an internal barricade, surveillance system, and delivery door for drug sales along with quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs.
Jimmy Hodges is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States 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 Explosives is investigating the case with assistance from the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Maryland Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Murdering His Girlfriend’s HusbandRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Keyon Slaughter, 28, of Waldorf, Maryland, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the December 2022 murder of Dana Bailey, Jr., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Slaughter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on June 20, 2025. Slaughter was sentenced on September 12, 2025, by the Honorable Danya Dayson. In addition to the prison term, Judge Dayson ordered Slaughter to serve five years of supervised release.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on December 5, 2022, at approximately 10:15 a.m., Slaughter entered, the victim, Dana Bailey, Jr.’s, residence in Southeast D.C. Once inside the apartment, Slaughter confronted Mr. Bailey and shot him once in the chest with a .40 caliber handgun, causing his death. Slaughter fled the apartment. At the time of the murder, Slaughter was in a relationship with the wife of Mr. Bailey, who was indicted with Slaughter and pleaded guilty to obstructing justice.
At the time of the offense, Slaughter was on supervised probation for a 2019 armed robbery conspiracy conviction in Charles County, Maryland. Slaughter was arrested in July 2023 and has been detained since.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from MPD’s Homicide Branch.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles R. Jones, who prosecuted the case.
Maryland Man Sentenced for Firearms and Cocaine ConvictionsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – John Ryan Zajac, age 31, of Parkville, Maryland, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for firearms and cocaine offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Zajac attempted to trade controlled substances for firearms through social media. Investigators arrested Zajac at the attempted trade and recovered cocaine and a 9mm pistol. Zajac is prohibited from having firearms because of prior armed robbery and firearms convictions.
Zajac will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Marengo County Man Sentenced to Thirteen Years for Armed Robbery of Chevron in Dixon MillsRead the Press Release
United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Yancy Xavier Dumas to 157 months’ imprisonment for armed robbery of a business and discharging a firearm during the crime.
Court documents show that on January 9, 2024, Dumas robbed the Chevron Gas Station located on Highway 43 in Dixon Mills, Alabama. During the robbery Dumas wore a mask, pointed a handgun at the cashier, and demanded money. Dumas kept the gun pointed at the cashier during the robbery and repeatedly stated “give me that bag,” and “I’m going to bust you up.” During the robbery Dumas also discharged a round from the handgun to get the victim to speed up the process in turning over the money. The victim placed approximately $5,000.00 on the counter and Dumas fled the store with the money using a car which belonged to his girlfriend.
The Marengo County Sheriff’s Office immediately investigated the case and that evening they arrested Dumas at another gas station owned by the same store owner. Approximately $3,700 of the stolen money was recovered from a shed at Dumas’ mother’s house and the handgun was recovered Dumas’ girlfriend’s trailer.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marengo County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
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).
Luzerne County Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Brandon Christopher Heck, age 25, a resident of Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr., for production of child pornography.
According to the Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between July 26, 2023, and July 27, 2023, Heck communicated with a 7-year-old child via the Likee application. Over a twenty-four-hour period, Heck, who posed as a 14-year-old boy, directed the child to take and remit sexually explicit images of herself. A subsequent forensic review of Heck’s cellular device confirmed that in addition to producing child pornography, Heck distributed child pornography via Telegram throughout 2024.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Philadelphia Division. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Love County Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dustin Scott Langley, age 32, of Overbrook, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by up to twenty years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 2, 2025, Langley knowingly possessed visual depictions of a minor who had not attained twelve years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which Langley accessed with the intent to view.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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.
Langley will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Last Defendant of Johnson City Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 262 Months for Methamphetamine and Cocaine Conspiracy, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE Tenn – On September 15, 2025, Spencer Allen Bradley, 33, of Atlanta, GA, was sentenced to over 21 years by the Honorable Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his imprisonment, Bradley will be on supervised release for five years.
According to the filed plea agreement, Bradley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)A), and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).
According to court filed documents, in July of 2020, the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD), along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), initiated an investigation into the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Spencer Bradley, along with his brother, Camara Antonio Bradley, 25, Shannon Sherrell Bryant, 43, Montdail Maurice Brown, 41, Rachel Hunter Bowers, 33, Timothy Robert Malone, 37, Gabrielle Z’hane Greenlee, 28, Rashad Lorenzo Harrington, 27, James Earl Williams, 61, Dustin Matthew Wells, and Thomas James Dennis, Jr., 45, all of Johnson City, Tennessee, were involved in the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine. Rachel Bowers and Spencer Bradley, who lived together, were digitally transferring large amounts of money into and from shared financial accounts to pay for and receive money from the drug sales, with suspicious transactions totaling $403,455. Spencer Bradley and Hunter Bowers used a business to launder the illegal monies received in the distribution of narcotics.
During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Spencer Bradley and Shannon Bryant used the residence of James Williams as a base of operations for the drug trafficking organization. Spencer Bradley and Bryant would bring or have brought into the Johnson City area large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. Using cooperators and confidential informants, law enforcement made several controlled purchases of narcotics from Spencer Bradley, his brother Camara Bradley, and James Williams. The FBI, using wire intercepts on Spencer Bradley’s phone, identified Rashad Harrington, James Williams, and Gabrielle Greenlee as persons who worked for Spencer Bradley in the distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine. In September of 2023, Greenlee was stopped in Loudon County, TN, and found to be in possession of 4 pounds of methamphetamine intended for distribution.
Judge Greer previously sentenced the other members of the drug trafficking organization as follows:
- Montdail Brown received a sentence of 228 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy, as well as his possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A).
- Shannon Bryan received a sentence of 170 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Gabrielle Greenlee received a sentence of 60 months for her involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Camara Bradley received a sentence of 60 months imprisonment for her involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Rachel Bowers received a sentence of 36 months imprisonment for her involvement in the drug conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
- Timothy Malone received a sentence of 168 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Thomas Dennis, Jr., received a sentence of 167 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Dustin Wells received a sentence of 66 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- James Williams received a sentence of 80 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Rashad Harrington received a sentence of 78 months term of imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by JCPD, TBI, DEA, FBI, and HSI. This investigation was led by DEA Special Agent Cullen Conerly and TBI Special Agent and FBI Task Force Officer, Thomas Garrison.
Assistant United States Attorney B. Todd Martin and Special Assistant United States Attorney AnCharlene Davis represented the United States.
This case is part of the Take Back America Task Force, led by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Lakeland Man Sentenced to Two Years’ Imprisonment for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernadez Covington has sentenced Abraham Othman Yacoub (27, Lakeland) to two years in federal prison for bank fraud. The court ordered that this term of imprisonment must run consecutively to Yacoub’s current federal prison sentence for bringing a firearm into Tampa International Airport. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $181,540.51, the total loss to the victim financial institutions. Yacoub pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025.
According to court documents, from at least January 2021 until approximately February 2023, Yacoub defrauded several financial institutions in the Tampa area. Yacoub made dozens of fraudulent deposits and withdrawals on behalf of his companies, Visionary Auto Body LLC and Visionary Auto Care LLC. Yacoub deposited the same previously deposited checks into business banking accounts that he controlled at different financial institutions, knowing that the checks had previously been deposited and paid, causing the victim banks to credit his accounts for the amounts of the checks. Yacoub then withdrew, transferred, or otherwise spent the funds credited to his accounts from these previously deposited checks before the financial institution realized that the check had previously been deposited.
Yacoub also drafted fraudulent business checks from closed business bank accounts in the name of Visionary Auto Body and Visionary Auto Care, knowing that those accounts had been closed and, therefore, that there were no funds remaining to cover the amount of the check he had drafted. Yacoub withdrew, transferred, or otherwise spent the funds credited by the bank based on these fraudulent checks, or attempted to do so, before the financial institution realized that the account on which the check had been drafted was closed and did not contain any funds to cover the amount of the check.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
Jury Convicts Montana Man of Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy, Tampering with A Witness by Killing, Stalking Resulting in Death, and Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
RENO – A federal jury convicted a Missoula, Montana, man on September 12, 2025, for killing two people, and firearm and marijuana trafficking charges.
“Last week’s verdict underscores our commitment to holding accountable the defendant who carried out violent criminal acts resulting in the tragic loss of two lives,” said United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “I commend the Assistant United States Attorneys who are prosecuting this case, the staff professionals and Victim Witness Unit, and our law enforcement partners for their tireless work to bringing the defendant to justice.”
“This conviction reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and the devastating loss of lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “The FBI, along with our dedicated local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, stands resolute in its mission to crush violent crime and will hold accountable those involved in such acts."
Cory Spurlock, Will Larsen, and others were involved in an illegal, large scale marijuana distribution business based in Mound House, Nevada. During a marijuana transaction in Mound House, Nevada, on June 19, 2020, Jered Stefansky went missing. Stefansky had traveled to Mound House from Redding to pick up a large amount of cash. The last call from Stefansky’s cell phone was to a number associated with Spurlock and Spurlock became a person of interest in the investigation into Stefansky’s disappearance. Stefansky’s mother never gave up on trying to find her son and appeared on a podcast in late September of 2020 where she discussed her son’s disappearance and the people her son was involved with in the marijuana conspiracy, including Larsen and Spurlock.
According to testimony, Spurlock listened to the podcast and believed Larsen was a rat and needed to die. Spurlock promised a co-conspirator payment for assistance in killing Larsen. Between October 2020 and November 8, 2020, Spurlock traveled to Nevada and California with his co-conspirators. Spurlock and his co-conspirators stalked Larsen and his wife, Yesenia Larsen, throughout the Reno and Carson City area and followed them to just outside Bridgeport, California. The Larsens were shot and stabbed to death on November 8, 2020, their bodies left on the side of US Highway 395. Spurlock was also convicted of robbery for stealing the money Will Larsen had in his wallet. Stefansky’s skeletal remains were found in March 2021, at the Rye Patch Recreation area in Pershing County, Nevada.
Following a four-week trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts in a day-and-a-half. Spurlock was found guilty of one-count each of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute over 1000 kilograms of marijuana; murder-for-hire conspiracy; tampering with a witness by killing; interference with commerce by robbery; causing death through use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and two-counts of stalking resulting in death.
United States District Judge Miranda Du scheduled sentencing for December 16, 2025. Spurlock faces the maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division, Deputy Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis for DEA’s Los Angeles Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The FBI, Mono County Sheriff’s Office, DEA, ATF, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, and the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow and Penelope Brady are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Jackson Health Foundation Executive Pleads Guilty to Taking Kickbacks, Stealing Foundation Money to Buy Designer Handbags and Golf CartRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Jackson Health Foundation (Foundation) pleaded guilty on September 11 to embezzling millions of dollars from the nonprofit by submitting false invoices and taking kickbacks.
According to court documents, from 2014 through 2024, Charmaine Gatlin, 52, served as COO of the Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of Jackson Health System. During her tenure, Gatlin drew a base salary ranging from $185,000 and $290,000. Despite her compensation, in pleading guilty, Gatlin admitted that she defrauded the Foundation out of at least $4.3 million by directing funds to herself, her relatives, or unrelated entities, rather than to the Foundation or Jackson Health System.
For example, Gatlin approved approximately $2 million in invoices from a Georgia-based audiovisual company for services that were never provided. In return, the vendor paid Gatlin $1 million in kickbacks, which she used in part to pay her personal credit card bill. Gatlin coached the vendor on how to falsify invoices, including billing for audiovisual services that had already been donated to the Foundation. The vendor, Yergan Jones, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the scheme (25-cr-20312).
Gatlin also directed a merchandise vendor to purchase luxury items for her from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Apple in exchange for keeping the Foundation’s business. Gatlin further misused restricted donations, such as approving $55,101 in Foundation funds to purchase 10,000 “first aid kits” falsely labeled as “trauma burn giveaways” from the same vendor.
In another instance, Gatlin submitted a false invoice to cover the purchase of a rose gold-colored golf cart, which she had delivered to her Weston home in September 2023.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom on November 25. Gatlin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quinoñes for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Young is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. The case number is 25-cr-20220.
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Jamaican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Attempted Illicit Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jevan Antonio Miller, 28, a Jamaican citizen residing in Thomasville, Georgia, pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the commitment of our state and federal law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue the offenders who seek to sexually exploit and victimize our children. It is one of my office’s top priorities to aggressively prosecute predators, like this defendant, who prey upon the most vulnerable members of our community – our children – and we will use the full force of the law to hold him accountable for his heinous crimes.”
Court documents reflect that between April 10, 2025, and April 12, 2025, detectives of the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, along with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), participated in a joint undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, investigators identified Miller, an adult male who was soliciting an undercover detective, whom Miller thought was a 15-year-old girl, for sex through an online website. Miller believed he was going to be engaging in sexual activity with a minor when he drove from Thomasville, Georgia, to a meeting location in Tallahassee where he was intercepted by law enforcement and immediately arrested.
Miller faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum of life imprisonment, followed by five years to life of supervision upon release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2025, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before United States District Mark E. Walker.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Indiana sex offender sentenced to 24+ years’ imprisonment on child pornography solicitation chargesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois district judge sentenced an Indiana man to 293 months in federal prison after he admitted to soliciting child sexual abuse material.
Bryan K. Atkins, 40, of Richmond, Indiana, pleaded guilty to two counts of solicitation of child pornography. Following imprisonment, he will serve supervised release for the rest of his life.
“Targeting children online and solicitating sexually explicit images from them will earn you a federal prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in lockstep with the FBI to protect children from sexual predators and will continue to pursue high penalties for offenders.”
According to documents and evidence presented in court, Atkins initiated a conversation twice with an undercover FBI agent purporting to be a 13-year-old child. During the chats, the defendant asked for sexually explicit images of the minor. The charged conduct occurred on April 3 and June 16, 2024.
“The subject sought to coerce children into providing sexually explicit images, and without our agent’s proactive work in this case, the subject's activities may have gone undetected until they advanced their desires,” said FBI Springfield’s Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. S. Johnson. “FBI Springfield continues to work tirelessly to protect our children from people like the defendant, and we will continue to prove it with actions like this.”
Atkins had a prior conviction for sexual misconduct with a minor in Indiana state court.
The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Derrick Deshawn Bailey, 44, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2025, Bailey sold approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Huntington.
Bailey is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-124.
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Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Darrelle Davon Boynton, also known as “D,” 40, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 23, 2025, Boynton sold approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in a Huntington parking lot. As part of his guilty plea, Boynton admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.
Boynton also admitted to additional criminal conduct as part of his guilty plea. Boynton admitted that he sold approximately 57 grams of methamphetamine on April 29, 2025, and approximately 8.32 grams of heroin and fentanyl on May 8, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington.
Boynton is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
At the time of this offense, Boynton was on supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on August 24, 2020.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-126.
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Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Honduran national pleaded guilty on September 8 to possession of a firearm by an alien and illegal reentry after removal.
According to the facts admitted at the change of plea hearing, on February 25, law enforcement officers were monitoring the social media account of Gustavo Benitez Rodriguez, 22, after observing a post advertising a firearm for sale. Benitez Rodriguez, a native and citizen of Honduras without lawful status in the United States, later engaged in an online conversation with an individual he believed to be a purchaser to arrange the sale. Benitez Rodriguez’s prior arrest records also indicate ties to the Little Havana Taliban gang.
On February 28, officers executed a search warrant at Benitez Rodriguez’s residence. Inside his bedroom, were two firearms: a Stoeger STR 9mm firearm located in his dresser drawer near his passport and ID, and a Ruger ICS 9mm firearm hidden beneath his mattress. A 9mm magazine and 15 rounds of live Luger 9mm ammunition were also recovered.
Benitez Rodriguez had previously been removed from the United States on February 15, 2019, pursuant to a final order of removal. Benitez Rodriguez re-entered the United States without the required consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom on December 5. Benitez Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Field Office Director Garrett Ripa of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Prosecutions Unit, Miami, made the announcement.
ICE-ERO Miami investigated the case with assistance from the City of Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Roca Shaw is prosecuting the case.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20244.
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Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Fredis Amilcar Guiza Hernandez, a/k/a Fredis Amilcar Guiza-Hernandez, age 34, of Honduras, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, punishable by 5 to 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on October 6, 2024, Guiza Hernandez knowingly and intentionally possessed 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with intent to distribute it.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Guiza Hernandez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft and Related Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Juan Ariel Molina-Salles (35, Honduras) today pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, false representation of a Social Security number, and false claim of United States citizenship for employment purposes. Molina-Salles faces a minimum penalty of 2 years in federal prison, consecutive to any other prison term, and a maximum term of 12 years’ imprisonment.
According to court documents, Archer Western-de Moya Group Joint Venture II (Joint Venture) is enrolled in E-Verify, a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. Molina-Salles is an illegal alien from Honduras with no lawful status in the United States. On February 16, 2022, Molina-Salles applied for employment with the Joint Venture in Pinellas County and filled out an I-9 form for use in the E-Verify system. On that form, Molina-Salles falsely identified himself as a United States citizen. He used another person’s means of identification (V.V.R.) to defeat the E-Verify system.
Molina-Salles provided no documents or other proof that he was trained or qualified to operate a front-end loader or other heavy construction equipment. On the evening of September 22, 2022, Molina-Salles was working at the Joint Venture’s highway construction site in Pinellas County under the stolen identity V.V.R. That night, while operating a front-end loader, Molina-Salles struck and killed Deputy Michael Hartwick of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
On September 23, 2022, Molina-Salles was arrested in connection with Deputy Hartwick’s death and interviewed by PCSO detectives. Molina-Salles explained to investigators that he was from Honduras and had been in the United States for approximately eight months and confirmed his identity was not V.V.R, but rather Juan Ariel Molina-Salles. Molinas-Salles stated he had come to the United States illegally and was undocumented, having come through Mexico to the United States by entering in Texas. He admitted to using the stolen identity to gain employment with Archer Western.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
Groveton Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal Prison for Traveling Across State Lines to Engage in Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Groveton man was sentenced to more than 4 years in federal prison for traveling from New Hampshire to Vermont to sexually abuse a minor victim, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Brandon Couture, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 51 months imprisonment and 7 years of supervised release. On May 22, 2025, Couture pleaded guilty to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.
“This defendant’s conduct was predatory and calculated. He crossed state lines with the sole purpose of abusing a child,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This 51-month sentence underscores our commitment to protecting children from those who aim to exploit them, and it sends a clear message: If you prey on minors, we will use every tool and resource at our disposal to investigate you, prosecute you, and ensure you are held accountable.”
“It’s grimly ironic that Brandon Couture, a father himself, admitted to actively planning, and traveling across state lines to sexually abuse a 15-year-old girl. This predator victimized a vulnerable minor and with today’s sentence, he’ll pay a steep price for his atrocious behavior,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Those who sexually exploit children do serious lasting harm, and the FBI is committed to finding and bringing them to justice.”
On June 13, 2024, Couture was arrested after a law enforcement investigation revealed that had he traveled from New Hampshire to Vermont to engage in criminal sexual activity with a minor victim.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Northumberland Police Department and the Essex County, Vermont Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Fraud Charges Filed Against 12 Defendants in Phase II of Operation NightingaleRead the Press Release
MIAMI – In the latest development of Operation Nightingale—a scheme that created an illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses—fraud-related charges have been filed against 12 defendants for their roles in selling fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts.
In Phase I of Operation Nightingale, 30 defendants were charged and convicted by plea or at trial in 2023.
According to court records, the defendants conspired to sell false nursing credentials—diplomas and transcripts fraudulently obtained from Florida-based nursing schools—to aspiring Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Nurse Practioner/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN) candidates. Purchasers of the bogus documents used them to qualify for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), commonly known as the nursing board exam. Candidates who passed the exam became eligible for licensure in various states, and once licensed, obtained employment as nurses across the United States.
The defendants, which include nursing school owners and employees, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Their conduct involved multiple for-profit nursing schools in Florida, all of which have since closed. At one time, these schools were authorized to issue diplomas and transcripts to individuals pursuing RN and LPN/VN licensure. In total, the fraudulent schemes generated approximately 7,300 fake diplomas.
The charges highlight the purpose of a professional nursing licensure: protecting the public from harm by ensuring that only qualified and competent practitioners provide nursing care. Because nursing is a profession that, if practiced by unprepared or unqualified individuals, poses a serious risk to public health and safety, state boards of nursing establish standards for education, regulate licensure, and oversee compliance with training requirements.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), requires candidates seeking RN or LPN/VN licensure to graduate from a board-approved pre-licensure program and pass the NCLEX. The Nurse Licensure Compact—adopted by 43 states, including Florida—further ensures that nurses meet consistent standards for safe practice.
In Florida, the Board of Nursing regulates pre-licensure programs and enforces curriculum requirements under the Nurse Practice Act. To protect patients and ensure safe nursing care, the Board requires that all applicants for licensure as an RN or LPN/VN graduate from an approved program, or its equivalent, and provide official transcripts or equivalent documentation before being permitted to sit for the licensure examination.
Florida’s nursing programs must devote at least fifty percent of their curriculum to hands-on clinical training, in addition to academic coursework, for a practical nursing education program, an associate degree professional nursing program, or a professional diploma nursing education program.
Herline Lochard (Case No. 24-cr-60201-Singhal), 46, of Orange County, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Lochard served as the registered agent and/or manager of Center for Professional Training and Development Inc., located in Miami; Center for Professional Training Inc. located in North Miami; and Wheatland Institute Inc., located in Orlando. On July 31, Lochard was sentenced to 13 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Carleen Noreus (Case No. 25-cr-60039-Singhal), 51, of Broward County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. According to the indictment, Noreus served as the president of Carleen Home Health School, Inc., located in Plantation, and Vice President of Carleen Home Health School II, Inc., located in West Palm Beach.
From January 2019 through September 2022, Noreus and her co-conspirators solicited and recruited individuals seeking nursing credentials and health care employment. Noreus and others created and distributed fraudulent transcripts and diplomas that falsely represented the recipients had completed the necessary coursework and clinical training at Carleen Home Health School or Carleen Home Health School II. In reality, the individuals had not completed the required education or training.
Co-conspirators used these false and fraudulent documents to obtain nursing licenses in various states, including California, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Under the Nurse Licensure Compact, individuals who secured multi-state licenses through the fraud were also authorized to practice in other compact states without additional licensing.
The fraudulent credentials were then used to obtain nursing jobs and benefits from unwitting health care providers across the United States. These employers hired and paid salaries, wages, and benefits based on the fraudulent qualifications.
Noreus is set for trial beginning December 1 in Ft. Lauderdale.
Patrick Buchanan (Case No. 25-cr-60163-Damian), 40, of Broward County, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Buchanan was the owner, registered agent, and manager of Sigma Institute of Health Careers, Inc., located in Lauderhill. Sigma offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
Buchanan is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19.
Gilbert Hyppolite (Case No. 25-cr-60207-Dimitrouleas), 73, of Palm Beach County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Hyppolite was the owner of Techni-Pro Institute LLC, located in Boca Raton. Techni-Pro offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
Irene Matthews (Case No. 25-cr-60209-Damian), 55, of Palm Beach County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Matthews was the registered agent and/or manager of Agape Academy of Sciences, LLC., located in Delray Beach. Agape offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
Lemuel Pierre (Case No. 25-cr-60226-Damian), 56, of Broward County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Pierre was the owner of Med-Life Enterprise, Inc., located in Lauderdale Lakes, and founder of all Med-Life Institute locations. Med-Life Institute, doing business as Med-Life Institute Lauderdale Lakes, located in Lauderdale Lakes, offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs. Med-Life Institute, doing business as Med-Life Institute Kissimmee, located in Kissimmee, offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs. Med-Life Institute, doing business as Med-Life Institute Naples, located in Naples, offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
Joel Lubin (Case No. 25-cr-20391-Bloom), 51, of Miami-Dade County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lubin was the registered agent and administrator of Ideal Professional Institute, Inc., located in Miami Gardens. Ideal offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
Jose Napoleon (Case No. 25-cr-60213-Martinez), 40, of Palm Beach County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Napoleon was the director of admissions for Azure College, Inc., located in Fort Lauderdale. Azure offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
Victor Escalante Zerpa (Case No. 25-cr-60216-Smith), 68, of Miami-Dade County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Escalante Zerpa incorporated Academus University Corp, located in Coral Gables. Academus offered Pracical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
Cleophat Tanis (Case No. 25-cr-60212-Dimitrouleas), 58, of Collier County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Tanis was the co-owner and operator of Med-Life Institute, doing business as Med-Life Institute Naples, located in Naples. Med-Life Naples offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
Lonnette Blair (Case No. 25-cr-60215-Becerra), 51, of Camden County, New Jersey, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Blair was the Chief Academic Officer of Carleen Home Health School II, Inc. Carleen Home Health School II offered Associate of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
Stephanie Dorisca (Case No. 25-cr-60214-Moore), 57, of Broward County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Dorisca was the Head of Nursing at Techni-Pro Institute LLC. Techni-Pro offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
As to the wire fraud conspiracy charges, the defendants face a statutory maximum of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Isaac Bledsoe of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami are investigating. Homeland Security Investigations Miami provided support.
Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark is prosecuting the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
If you have information to report regarding this case or any other case involving falsified medical degrees, please call the FBI hotline: (410) 277-6999.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Former Defense Contractor Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Attempted EspionageRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf, the Justice Department, and the FBI announced that John Murray Rowe Jr., 67, of Lead, South Dakota, was sentenced today to 126 months in prison, three years’ supervised release, and a $25,000 fine by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher for attempted espionage.
The defendant was charged by indictment in December 2021 and pleaded guilty in April of last year to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government, and three counts of willful communication of national defense information.
According to court documents, Rowe was employed for nearly 40 years as a test engineer for multiple cleared defense contractors. In connection with his employment, Rowe held various national security clearances from SECRET to TOP SECRET//SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) and worked on matters relating to U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology, among other things. After several security violations and concerning inquiries and statements about Russia and sensitive information, Rowe was identified as a potential insider threat and terminated from employment.
In March 2020, Rowe told an undercover FBI agent, who he believed to be an agent of the Russian government, that he was not loyal to the United States and that he was interested in helping Russia. During this meeting, Rowe disclosed national defense information classified as SECRET that concerned specific operating details of the electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets, among other things.
Over the course of the next eight months, Rowe exchanged over 300 emails with a person he believed to be a Russian agent, confirming his willingness to work for the Russian government and discussing his knowledge of classified information relating to U.S. national security. In one email, Rowe explained, “If I can’t get a job [in the United States] then I’ll go work for the other team.”
In another email, Rowe disclosed classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force. In September 2020, Rowe had a second in-person meeting with the undercover FBI agent. During this meeting, Rowe again disclosed classified national defense information.
Rowe was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant on December 15, 2021, and was ordered detained pending trial. During his pretrial detention, Rowe again disclosed the same classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force to relatives and an associate during recorded prison calls.
“Despite his knowledge, training, experience, and decades of work as a military contractor, Rowe chose to betray the trust placed in him by his country,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “His repeated, willful efforts to harm the U.S. by divulging sensitive defense information to an adversary are inexcusable. My office and our partners will continue to hold fully accountable anyone seeking to compromise the national security of the United States.”
“The defendant spent decades working on sensitive U.S. defense programs and was entrusted with safeguarding protected and classified information about military technology. Instead of honoring that trust and his legal responsibilities as a clearance holder, he chose to violate both – repeatedly and willfully attempting to disclose classified information to someone he believed was a foreign agent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who disregard country and conscience at the expense of our Nation’s security, including, as here, out of spite.”
“Mr. Rowe's actions were not only dangerous but also reckless, as he sought to provide sensitive defense information to a foreign adversary. This sentencing serves as a powerful reminder of the FBI’s mission to protect the American people,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, the FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding our nation's security and holding those who threaten it accountable.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wolfe and former DOJ Trial Attorney Scott Claffee, with assistance from Trial Attorney Chantelle Dial, of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Section.
Additional assistance was provided by the Lead (S.D.) Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office and Rapid City (S.D.) Resident Agency.
Former Defense Contractor Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Attempted EspionageRead the Press Release
John Murray Rowe Jr., 67, of Lead, South Dakota, was sentenced today to 126 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine for attempted espionage.
The defendant was charged by indictment in December 2021 and pleaded guilty in April of last year to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government, and three counts of willful communication of national defense information.
“The defendant spent decades working on sensitive U.S. defense programs and was entrusted with safeguarding protected and classified information about military technology. Instead of honoring that trust and his legal responsibilities as a clearance holder, he chose to violate both – repeatedly and willfully attempting to disclose classified information to someone he believed was a foreign agent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who disregard country and conscience at the expense of our Nation’s security, including, as here, out of spite.”
“Despite his knowledge, training, experience, and decades of work as a military contractor, Rowe chose to betray the trust placed in him by his country,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “His repeated, willful efforts to harm the U.S. by divulging sensitive defense information to an adversary are inexcusable. My office and our partners will continue to hold fully accountable anyone seeking to compromise the national security of the United States.”
“By attempting to disclose classified information on U.S. Air Force systems to the Russian government, John Rowe endangered American lives and compromised U.S. national security,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “This sentencing demonstrates the FBI and our partners will use every tool available to safeguard the homeland from internal and external threats. Anyone tempted to violate their oath to safeguard classified information should understand the severe consequences — and remember the FBI will never stop until we bring you to justice.”
According to court documents, Rowe was employed for nearly 40 years as a test engineer for multiple cleared defense contractors. In connection with his employment, Rowe held various national security clearances from SECRET to TOP SECRET//SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) and worked on matters relating to U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology, among other things. After several security violations and concerning inquiries and statements about Russia and sensitive information, Rowe was identified as a potential insider threat and terminated from employment.
In March 2020, Rowe told an undercover FBI agent, who he believed to be an agent of the Russian government, that he was not loyal to the United States and that he was interested in helping Russia. During this meeting, Rowe disclosed national defense information classified as SECRET that concerned specific operating details of the electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets, among other things.
Over the course of the next eight months, Rowe exchanged over 300 emails with a person he believed to be a Russian agent, confirming his willingness to work for the Russian government and discussing his knowledge of classified information relating to U.S. national security. In one email, Rowe explained, “If I can’t get a job [in the United States] then I’ll go work for the other team.”
In another email, Rowe disclosed classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force. In September 2020, Rowe had a second in-person meeting with the undercover FBI agent. During this meeting, Rowe again disclosed classified national defense information.
Rowe was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant on Dec. 15, 2021, and was ordered detained pending trial. During his pretrial detention, Rowe again disclosed the same classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force to relatives and an associate during recorded prison calls.
The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wolfe for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Chantelle Dial of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.
Additional assistance was provided by the Lead (SD) Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office and Rapid City (SD) Resident Agency.
First of a pair of men charged in massive stolen goods trafficking scheme enters guilty pleaRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 53-year-old Federal Way, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle for his scheme to sell stolen goods on Amazon or eBay, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Vitaliy F. Bobak, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. Bobak and his co-defendant Andrey A. Balun, 58 of Bellevue, Washington and Las Vegas, jointly owned MBA Trading LLC which did business at a Burien, Washington storefront operating as “We Buy Gold, Silver, and Electronics.” An extensive law enforcement investigation revealed that the storefront knowingly purchased goods stolen from area retailers which the pair then sold on Amazon or eBay for millions of dollars in profit.
According to the plea agreement and other records filed in the case, Bobak co-owned the business since 2020. Bobak admits that he purchased stolen goods from individual sellers knowing that the goods were stolen. He bought primarily over the counter medications and health/beauty products. In many instances the goods still had anti-theft devices attached, and/or stickers saying for sale only at a particular retailer. The men bought the goods far below the retail price and then posted them for sale on two websites they operated on Amazon or eBay. The Amazon store was called “Medikus” and the eBay store was called “abcstore555.” The indictment traces the money from the online stores to the men’s bank accounts. The funds were then used by the men to operate the scheme by paying cash to the “boosters” (people who stole the goods) and payroll to employees who were involved in posting and shipping the goods for sale. The remainder of the proceeds were funneled to the men who then withdrew money to pay themselves and for various personal expenses. For example, Bobak used $66,000 in cash for a new Lexus. Between 2021 and June of 2023, the operation brought in more than $4.5 million.
The plea agreement details three items brought to the We Buy store as stolen goods that were then sold on Amazon and eBay: a Braun electric shaver, sold and shipped to Rhode Island, a Keurig coffee maker sold and shipped to Oregon and Sonicare and Rogaine products that Bobak purchased from a “booster.” Bobak used a torch lighter and drill to remove the security devices on the products.
The scale of the sales was huge and both national and international. An analysis of the sales of the two online stores reveals that between January 1, 2022, and November 28, 2023, there were over 150,000 sale transactions through the abcstore555 eBay and Medikus Amazon stores. When search warrants were served and merchandise seized on December 19, 2023, the conspirators possessed more than 74,000 items of stolen merchandise valued at approximately $2.4 million. After the seizure, the business shut down.
In his plea agreement Bobak admits he personally obtained proceeds of at least $1,000,000. Bobak agrees to forfeit $1,000,000 to the government as part of the resolution of his case.
Conspiracy to transport stolen property is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Bobak is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2025.
Balun is scheduled for a jury trial in front of U.S. District Judge Tana Lin on February 23, 2026. The charges against Balun are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with significant assistance from the Renton Police Department, Seattle Police Department, and the IRS, and aided by investigators from numerous retailers. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite and Asset Forfeiture Assistant United States Attorney Krista Bush.
Felon Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison in Firing Pistol Near Stadium Armory Metro StationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Christopher Forbes, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in Suitland, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 66 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Forbes pleaded guilty June 6, 2025, to being a felon in unlawul possession of a firearm. In addition to the 66-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered Forbes to serve three years of supervised release.
This prosecution came as part of the Make D.C. Safe Again Initiative, which surged resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
According to court documents, on April 5, 2025, at 5:42 a.m., officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the 1800 block of A Street SE after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire near the Stadium Armory Metro Station.
On arrival, officers observed a man, later identified as Forbes, nearby on Independence Ave. SE shouting into his cellphone. Officers approached Forbes and conducted a protective pat-down.
One of the officers asked Forbes if he had anything on him. Forbes admitted that he had his “dog,” meaning a firearm, on his hip. Officers recovered a Smith & Wesson SD40 .40 caliber pistol loaded with two rounds of ammunition. Shell casings found near the scene matched the firearm’s caliber. Forbes was arrested on the scene.
After tracing the firearm’s serial number, law enforcement determined the gun had been reported stolen in North Carolina.
A review of law enforcement databases revealed that Forbes had a prior felony robbery conviction in Prince George’s County, Maryland, in 2024, and an active extraditable warrant for failure to appear related to that case. He also had a non-extraditable warrant out of Florida stemming from a prior conviction for discharging a firearm in public.
Forbes was prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to his felony conviction and his prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
In his plea agreement, Forbes admitted to firing the pistol at least four times outside the Metro Station.
This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Duvall.
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Federal Jury Finds Former Prenatal Care Coordinator Guilty of Healthcare Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Providing Unlawful Kickbacks, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 12, 2025, Precious Cruse, who was the owner and operator of a now-defunct Prenatal Care Coordination Company called Caring Through Love, was convicted of seventeen federal charges, including Healthcare Fraud, False Statements related to Healthcare Matters, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Money Laundering.
The evidence presented at trial established that Cruse exploited vulnerable pregnant women and young mothers by luring them into the company’s prenatal care coordination program with kickbacks in the form of free baby items such as car seats, pack ‘n plays, diapers, and baby wipes. Once enrolled, Cruse’s company used the women’s personal information to submit claims to Medicaid for services that were never provided. In reality, participants often received only occasional deliveries of diapers and baby wipes, and in some cases, nothing at all. The evidence also demonstrated that Cruse used her fraud proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including luxury travel, designer clothing, and even an $18,000 custom diamond necklace and bracelet for her toddler.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2026, by Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper. Precious Cruse faces a mandatory minimum 2-year sentence on the aggravated identity theft charges, and a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the healthcare fraud charges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel prosecuted the case.
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Drug Dealers from Montana Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Carson Lee Maynard, 49, of Livingston, Montana, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison, and Amy Marie Tillman, 43, of Lewistown, Montana, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison. The two were sentenced for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. They were also ordered to forfeit to the government a residence in Livingston Montana because they used it to commit the offense.
According to court records, in the early morning hours an Idaho State Police Trooper stopped a vehicle that Maynard and Tillman were traveling in because of a window tint violation. When police searched the vehicle, they discovered 5 pounds of methamphetamine and 3,000 fentanyl pills in a spare tire in the trunk of the vehicle. Maynard and Tillman were travelling back to Montana from New Mexico and Las Vegas after receiving large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Maynard and Tillman admitted they conspired to return to Montana where they would sell the methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Maynard was previously convicted in federal court for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the District of Montana.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Maynard to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Tillman was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence. Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charge in May 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Idaho State Police, the Missouri River Drug Task Force-HIDTA (Montana), and the Montana Highway Patrol. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted this case.
This case was handled by the U.S. Attorney Office’s specially deputized Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), funded by the Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho. The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction.
The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to utilize the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts.
This program was created in January 2016. Since that time, approximately 247 defendants have been indicted by the EIP SAUSA. Of these defendants, 185 have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. The defendants indicted under the program have been sentenced to 12,090 months (approximately 1,000.58 years) in federal prison, representing an average prison sentence of 83.38 months (6.95 years). Defendants indicted for drug trafficking offenses serve, on average, approximately 69.43 months (5.78 years) in federal prison.
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Denver Man Sentenced to 37 Months, $1.2 Million in Restitution for Defrauding Investment ClientsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Ian Gregory Bell, age 36, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. The court also imposed restitution in the amount of $1,231,230.14, and a $150,000.00 fine.
According to the plea agreement, beginning in early 2020 and continuing through at least 2022, Bell devised, intended to devise, and participated in a scheme and artifice to defraud investors and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. Over that time, Bell defrauded approximately 30 investors of over 1.2 million dollars. With the money, he traveled on lavish vacations, purchased jewelry, numerous expensive meals, and paid his fiancée’s monthly credit card statements. He lulled his investors based on his status as a licensed investment advisor with previous experience as a managing director at an investment firm. He also advertised no risk investments and provided false statements showing substantial gains.
“Defrauding people who put their trust into a financial advisor is a serious crime,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Justice has been served for those who were negatively impacted by the defendant’s dishonest actions.”
“Bell portrayed himself as a successful investment advisor and preyed on innocent victims for personal gain,” Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “Our special agents are experts in unraveling complex financial crimes such as Ponzi schemes that devastate victims emotionally and financially and erode the public’s trust in our financial system.”
“Bell defrauded innocent victims who had placed their trust in him and subsequently suffered financial losses and undue emotional stress,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This sentencing showcases the phenomenal work that Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners do daily to bring those to justice who exploit others through fraudulent schemes.”
Chief United States District Judge Philip A. Brimmer presided over the sentencing.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brad Giles.
Case Number: 24-cr-00345-PAB
Denver Man Convicted on Two Counts of Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Simon Meza, 45, of Denver, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of bank robbery. Meza previously pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in the same matter.
On September 20, 2023, Meza entered the Huntington Bank at 18520 E. Green Valley Ranch Blvd in Denver and robbed the bank by demanding money from the teller. Meza took the money and fled. Eight days later, on September 28, 2023, Meza robbed the PNC Bank on West 32nd Avenue in Denver by, again, demanding money from the teller. Meza took the money, which contained a GPS tracker, and fled. Law enforcement officers were quickly able to track the GPS device to a rented truck traveling near the bank. Denver Police officers tried to arrest Meza in the truck, but Meza led officers on a high-speed chase that ended with Meza causing a four-car accident at 44th Avenue and Harlan Street in Wheat Ridge. Meza then fled from the vehicle and was chased and arrested by Denver Police. Officers found the stolen money and a loaded Glock 27 .40 caliber firearm in the truck. Mr. Meza will be sentenced in November.
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the trial.
This case was investigated by the FBI Denver Field Office, the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, and the Denver Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Dunn and Thomas Minser handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00446-RMR
Colorado Man Sentenced to Twelve Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – A Colorado man was sentenced September 15, 2025, to 12 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Erick Moreno, 44, was found in possession of a firearm after a traffic stop in Warren County. Moreno has a previous conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and was on federal supervised release for that conviction at the time of this possession. As a convicted felon he is prohibited by federal and state law from possessing a firearm.
Moreno was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 10, 2024, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty on June 10, 2025.
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 Explosives and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Joshua Steven Hicks, 43, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 25, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hicks in Hurricane. Hicks admitted that he possessed a Taurus model 709 Slim 9mm pistol that was seized during the traffic stop.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Hicks knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of counterfeit obligations of the United States, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on November 29, 2018.
Hicks is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
At the time of his current offense, Hicks was on supervised release for his November 29, 2018, convictions. On September 12, 2024, Hicks was sentenced to one year in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hurricane Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-54.
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Carlsbad Man Faces Federal Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A previously convicted felon is facing new federal charges after allegedly engaging in drug trafficking during their supervised release.
According to court documents, on September 3, 2025, agents from the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the residence of Jason Cunningham, 46, in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Inside, agents located approximately 1,090 grams of methamphetamine and 56 grams of cocaine.
Cunningham is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Cunningham faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment.
“Traffickers see only profit, but what they leave behind are broken families and endangered communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “These charges reflect our determination to dismantle the networks that exploit addiction and threaten public safety. That work is only possible because of the extraordinary cooperation between federal, state, tribal and local partners who stand together against those who traffic misery.”
“Methamphetamine is one of the most destructive narcotics on the street. This type of crime is an assault on public health and safety, and individuals such as Cunningham profit off human misery.” said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI is united with our law enforcement partners to use every resource at our disposal to cut off their supply chains and hold them accountable.”
“The Eddy County Sheriff’s Office and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force value our relationships with our federal partners,” said Eddy County Undersheriff Mark Cage. “The Cunningham case investigation and very successful prosecution are a testament to the teamwork it takes to ensure the safety and security of our citizens in Eddy County. Our message is clear: drug trafficking and lawlessness will not be tolerated!”
At the time of his arrest, Cunningham was on supervised release following an 87-month prison sentence for a 2017 drug conviction.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso, made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations El Paso and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Camacho is prosecuting the case.
The Pecos Valley Drug Task Force is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, the Artesia Police Department, the Bureau of Land Management and is part of the New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program (HIDTA), a federal grant program that supports law enforcement efforts to combat the drug threat in the state.
View the Criminal Complaint (Cunningham).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Cape Elizabeth Man Enters Civil Settlement for Alleged Misuse of Pandemic Relief FundsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Christopher Hooper, of Cape Elizabeth, has agreed to pay $1,240,500 to settle allegations that he individually and through his company, Hooper Consulting, LLC, received COVID-19 Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) funding but misused the loan proceeds.
EIDL loans were low-interest, fixed-rate, long-term loans intended to help businesses overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing working capital to meet operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses. Under the EIDL program, borrowers could use loan proceeds solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As alleged by the government, Hooper used the COVID relief funds to make stock trades and personal investments. He also made a series of large transfers to his personal checking and savings account. Later, Hooper submitted a hardship application to reduce his monthly repayment obligations. The government further alleged that Hooper comingled EIDL and business funds, then made a series of large expenditures including tens of thousands of dollars to a high-end interior designer, over $10,000 to a Land Rover dealer, and tens of thousands of dollars on home improvements. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
This case is a result of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing efforts to identify and investigate fraudulently obtained or misused pandemic relief funds. Recent amendments to federal law have extended the statute of limitations for civil and criminal fraud enforcement actions concerning PPP and EIDL loans from six to 10 years.
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CEO of Georgia Company Convicted in International Bribery and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Miami, Florida, convicted a U.S. businessman today for his role in a nearly five-year long scheme to bribe Honduran government officials and to launder money to secure business for a Georgia-based manufacturer of law enforcement uniforms and accessories.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Carl Alan Zaglin, 70, of Marietta, Georgia, agreed to pay bribes to Honduran officials in order to obtain and retain business with Comité Técnico del Fideicomiso para la Administración del Fondo de Protección y Seguridad Poblacional (TASA), a Honduran governmental entity that procured goods for the Honduran National Police and other Honduran security agencies.
“Instead of playing by the rules, Carl Zaglin unfairly sought to get ahead and enrich himself by paying bribes to Honduran officials,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Bribing government officials to win business undermines the rule of law and distorts competitive markets. Today’s verdict reaffirms the Criminal Division’s commitment to rooting out corruption and providing an equal playing field for American businesses.”
The trial evidence showed that, between March 2015 and November 2019, Zaglin, the owner and CEO of Atlanco LLC (Atlanco), orchestrated the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to Honduran officials — including former TASA Executive Director Francisco Roberto Cosenza Centeno (Cosenza) and former TASA Titular Director Juan Ramon Molina — in order to secure contracts with TASA worth more than $10 million. The bribes were paid through Aldo Nestor Marchena, a third-party intermediary then residing in Boca Raton, Florida, who received $2.5 million in payments pursuant to sham invoices authorized by Zaglin. In exchange for the bribes, Cosenza and other Honduran government officials assisted Zaglin, Marchena and others in obtaining contracts for the sale of uniforms and other goods for the Honduran National Police and securing payment on the contracts. Marchena, Cosenza, and Molina all previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme.
To conceal the scheme, Zaglin, Marchena, Cosenza, and their co-conspirators used coded and oblique language like “commissions” and “fees” to refer to bribes and “Miami” to refer to Marchena, “the guys” and “the others” to refer to foreign officials, sham “Brokerage Agreements” falsely detailing legitimate services, and they communicated using personal email accounts and encrypted messaging applications. The conspirators laundered the bribes by moving funds from Atlanco to Marchena’s front company in the United States to accounts held for the benefit of Honduran officials in the United States, Belize, and elsewhere.
The jury convicted Zaglin of one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), one count of violating the FCPA, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on both the FCPA count and the FCPA conspiracy count, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Charges in the form of a criminal indictment against Zaglin, Marchena, and Cosenza were unsealed on Dec. 20, 2023. Marchena and Cosenza previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on June 5, 2025 and Aug. 13, 2025, respectively. Molina pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on Dec. 11, 2024.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Belize, Colombia, and Spain provided assistance with the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Peter L. Cooch and Clayton P. Solomon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Brooklyn Man Arrested for Setting Church and Residential Building on FireRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – A criminal complaint has been filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Bryan Oviedo with setting fire to a church and a residential apartment building on August 20, 2025. Oviedo was arrested in Brooklyn on Saturday, September 13, 2025, and is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Robert M. Levy.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Robert S. Tucker, Commissioner, New York City Fire Department (FDNY), announced the arrest and charge.
“As alleged in the complaint, Oviedo went on a pre-dawn spree in residential neighborhoods in Brooklyn during which he set fire to multiple buildings, including a church and a residential building, while families slept inside, endangering lives and causing first responders to race to the scenes of these arsons,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will vigorously prosecute this type of violent conduct, and work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our most sacred places, including homes and places of worship.”
“This arrest marks a critical step in restoring safety and peace of mind to our community,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Miller. “The collaborative efforts between law enforcement, fire investigators, and the public were instrumental in bringing this individual to justice. We remain committed working with our Federal and State partners to hold accountable those who threaten lives and property through acts of deliberate destruction.”
“While New Yorkers were asleep in the dead of night, Bryan Oviedo allegedly put them and their neighbors in grave danger by lighting their residences and a church on fire,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Our homes and houses of worship stand as walls of safety for every community, and I am thankful for the quick response of the police officers and firefighters who put their lives at risk to contain these flames. The NYPD will continue to work with our partners in the FDNY, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure this arsonist is held fully accountable.”
“Arson is a reckless crime that places innocent New Yorkers and our first responders in harm’s way,” stated FDNY Commissioner Tucker. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our Fire Marshals, the NYPD, the ATF, and the U.S Attorney’s Office, this dangerous perpetrator has been removed from the City’s streets and will be brought to justice. This arrest demonstrates the strength of our public safety partnerships and how, together, we keep New Yorkers safe every day.”
As set forth in the complaint, between approximately 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on August 20, 2025, Oviedo was captured on surveillance video carrying a trash bag, wearing a distinctive skirt, riding the G train, and walking the streets setting fires to approximately 20 buildings across the Clinton Hill and Prospect Heights neighborhoods in Brooklyn, New York. One surveillance video shows him leaning over a trash can under the columns of a church, located at 520 Clinton Avenue, and lighting the trash can on fire, causing substantial damage to the church. Another surveillance video shows a porch area of a residential building located at 870 Pacific Street erupting in flames after Oviedo approaches in his distinct garb.
The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Oviedo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Reich and Andy Palacio are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
BRYAN OVIEDO
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-268
Brevard County Multi-Convicted Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Tyriq Quentel Coger (26, Melbourne) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Coger faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Coger that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.
According to court documents, on August 27, 2025, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle driven by Coger for driving with no lights on. Coger then switched seats with the front seat passenger and was observed making stealthy movements. After a backseat passenger admitted to a firearm being in the glove compartment, a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search of the glove compartment, the backseat passenger’s firearm was located along with a loaded Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device.
At the time, Coger had multiple prior felony convictions, including aggravated battery, possession of a firearm by a delinquent, battery by person in prison or jail facility, and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. As a previously convicted felon, Coger is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rockledge Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Blue Hill Man Pleads Guilty to Making a False Statement During Purchase of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Blue Hill man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
According to court records, on June 8, 2023, Caleb Rhine, 22, was indicted in Hancock County Superior Court on one count of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs. On May 5, 2024, Rhine, while still under indictment, attempted to purchase a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Ellsworth. To make the purchase, Rhine filled out a Form 4473 required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In response to the question, “Are you under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or any other crime for which the judge could imprison you for more than one year . . .?,” Rhine falsely checked the box “No.” Rhine was able to successfully buy the gun a few days later based, in part, on his representations on the ATF form.
Rhine faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
ATF and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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).
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Belleville man admits to starting a fire at a Lebanon gas stationRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Belleville man appeared in federal court to admit to an arson charge for setting a fire in a Lebanon gas station bathroom.
Carlos A. Rodriguez, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of arson of real property used in interstate commerce. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2026.
According to court documents, Rodriguez visited the CC Food Mart in Lebanon, Illinois, on the evening of Sept. 10, 2018. In the men’s bathroom, Rodriguez set fire to a plastic air freshener mounted to the wall, exited the room and left the store.
Customer’s and employees detected smoke and found an active fire in the bathroom approximately seven minutes after Rodriguez’s departure.
The ATF’s Fire Research Laboratory later constructed a mock-up of the restroom and conducted multiple experiments to time and assess the spread of such a fire, thereby ruling out other customers who used the restroom that evening.
The fire and necessary firefighting efforts caused approximately $6,000 in damages.
Convictions for arson of real property used in interstate commerce carry a mandatory minimum of five years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, fines up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
ATF led the investigation with the assistance of the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Lebanon Police Department. The Lebanon Fire Department responded to the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke is prosecuting the case.
Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Justin Scott Keyes, 36, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between October 2024 and January 2025, Keyes conspired with another individual sell drugs in and around the Southern District of West Virginia. As part of his guilty plea, Keyes admitted that he and his co-conspirator sold a total of 12.34 grams of fentanyl on four occasions during the time period, each time to a confidential informant. Keyes further admitted that he conducted the hand-to-hand sales at the Beckley residence where he lived with his co-conspirator, and that his co-conspirator communicated with the confidential informant about each sale beforehand.
On January 29, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Keyes’ residence and seized a Ruger model EC9s 9mm pistol and a Taurus model G3c 9mm pistol. Keyes admitted that the seized firearms belonged to him and that he had traded drugs for them.
Keyes is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-73.
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Baltimore County Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining More Than a Half Million Dollars in COVID-19 Cares Act LoansRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Edward McCorkle, 37, of Baltimore County, Maryland, pled guilty today, to one count of wire fraud, in connection with submitting fraudulent CARES Act loan applications.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Robert O. McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives financial assistance including forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. Established by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) — along with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), helped businesses meet their financial obligations.
According to his plea agreement, beginning in May 2020, and continuing through February 2021 in the District of Maryland, McCorkle engaged in a scheme to defraud financial institutions — including Cross River Bank, and the SBA — to obtain fraudulent loans for various purported businesses that he previously established under the PPP and EIDL program.
McCorkle ultimately fraudulently obtained $523,700 as part of this scheme while attempting to obtain a total of $946,500. He used the fraudulently obtained funds for multiple impermissible purposes, including numerous personal expenses, large cash withdrawals, and to purchase and rehabilitate real estate in Baltimore City.
Specifically, on May 26, 2020, McCorkle and a co-conspirator caused the submission of a fraudulent PPP loan application to Cross River Bank for Real Transitions LLC, a purported business McCorkle controlled. The PPP loan application contained multiple material misrepresentations, including that Real Transitions LLC employed 15 workers for an average monthly payroll of $98,600. This equated to approximately $1,183,000 in total payroll expenses in 2019.
In support of the loan application, McCorkle included four fabricated 2019 IRS Form 941 Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns for each quarter of the year. The documents falsely indicated that Real Transitions LLC employed 15 workers and withheld more than $100,000 in federal income taxes in 2019.
But the IRS Forms 941 were not legitimate, as the information within them was false. Real Transitions did not pay any wages to or withhold federal income tax from any employees during the 2019 tax year. Based on the false representations and fraudulent submissions on behalf of McCorkle, and the PPP loan funded, Cross River Bank distributed approximately $246,500 to a Municipal Employees Credit Union (MECU) account that McCorkle controlled.
McCorkle agreed to pay his co-conspirator a kickback payment for helping submit the false application and obtaining the fraudulent PPP loan. After McCorkle received the PPP loan funds, he provided his co-conspirator with a check in the amount of $49,300, exactly 20 percent of the PPP loan amount.
In addition to the $49,300 kickback he paid to the co-conspirator, McCorkle also used the fraudulently obtained PPP funds for multiple impermissible purposes under the PPP. McCorkle used the fraudulently obtained PPP funds to buy and rehabilitate real estate in Baltimore City, pay credit-card expenses, and to make large withdrawals for his own benefit.
On June 5, more than $98,000 was withdrawn from the account in two transactions, including a bank check payable to McCorkle for $49,100. Then on June 15, two withdrawals totaling more than $28,000 were made from the account. On June 19, a withdrawal of $14,500 was made from the account. Then McCorkle accessed the remaining loan proceeds via cash withdrawals, debit-card purchases, and other electronic payments in June, July, August, and September. By October 1, the balance sat at approximately $3,400 in the account.
According to his plea agreement, McCorkle also admitted that he obtained more than $227,000 in EIDL funds for a purported business and used those funds for multiple impermissible purposes under the EIDL program. He used loan proceeds to make mortgage payments for McCorkle’s primary residence, purchases at restaurants and retail stores, and payments to relatives, associates, and co-conspirators.
McCorkle faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison followed by up to three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett scheduled sentencing for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Riley and Paul E. Budlow, who are prosecuting the case, and recognized Paralegal Specialists Juliette Jarman and Joanna B.N. Huber, for their valuable assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Additional Charges Filed for Conspirator in North Charleston Public Corruption SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a 12-count superseding indictment against Rose Emily Lorenzo, 64, of North Carolina, including one count of making a false statement to the FBI and two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation.
The additional charges in the superseding indictment allege that Lorenzo knowingly made a false statement to the FBI by telling them that she was not aware of funds from two non-profits being transferred to a member of the North Charleston City Council. Further, the additional charges allege that Lorenzo knowingly falsified records and documents with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the related federal investigations. Lorenzo was initially charged with conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, theft with respect to programs receiving federal funds, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering in February 2021.
Lorenzo faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, and will be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Molly H. Cherry on Sept. 25 at 10:00 a.m.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse are prosecuting the case.
All charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and Lorenzo is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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A Single Bullet Earns Three-Time Convicted Felon More Than Eight Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Charles Harmon Porter, 54, of Savannah, Georgia, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison plus three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
As described in court documents and at sentencing, on the night of May 29, 2023, Porter—a three-time convicted felon with prior convictions for offenses including terroristic threats, possession of cocaine, and obstruction of law enforcement—used a handgun to shoot his female roommate during a domestic dispute at their residence on Alma Street in Savannah. After the shooting, Porter fled the residence and discarded the handgun at an unknown location, ensuring that it would never be found. Officers with the Savannah Police Department responded immediately to the scene of the shooting and quickly identified Porter as the perpetrator. They obtained a warrant for his arrest, located him at another residence in Savannah, and took him into custody within hours of the shooting. While Porter was being booked at the Chatham County jail, a single round of ammunition was found in his pocket. An ammunition examiner with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) determined that the round had been manufactured outside of the state of Georgia, which made Porter’s possession of the round a federal crime. Porter was indicted in federal court for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year.
At Porter’s September 4 sentencing hearing, the United States presented evidence proving that Porter possessed the round in connection with the shooting, which the Court agreed amounted to attempted murder.
“The sentencing of Charles Harmon Porter reaffirms that this office will vigorously prosecute violent criminals who illegally possess firearms or ammunition down to the very last bullet as part of our commitment to public safety. We wish the victim the best in her continued recovery,” said U.S. Attorney Heap.
"Every bullet represents a potential threat to public safety; we will continue to work diligently to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands," said Acting ASAC Robert Davis.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Savannah Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy P. Dean.
A related state charge of aggravated assault remains pending against Porter in Chatham County Superior Court.
12 September 2025
York County Man Charged for Threatening Member of U.S. House of RepresentativesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Troy Lamont Rishell, age 48, a resident of York, Pennsylvania, was charged by criminal information for threatening a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, between February 28, 2025, and May 20, 2025, Rishell left a series of voicemails with the District Office of a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, with intent to intimidate the Representative while the victim was engaged in the performance of the victim’s official duties.
This case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rishell faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Wilmington Man Sentenced to More Than 27 Years in Prison for Running a Sex Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to more than 27 years in prison (327 months) for sex trafficking and operating a prostitution enterprise. On February 25, 2025, Christopher Todd Evans pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Evans, 41, operated an “escorting” website and business for over a decade between 2010 and 2022. The business was initially called Cape Fear Entertainers and later called Cape Fear Escorts. Evans rented office space in downtown Wilmington and even made victims sign bogus “contracts” promising not to engage in sex trafficking and prostitution. Through Cape Fear Escorts, Evans prostituted more than 200 adult and minor females.
In fact, Cape Fear Escorts was a front for human trafficking and prostitution. Evans used manipulation, control, threats, and occasionally violence to coerce women to prostitute and give him their earnings. He intimidated victims and made them believe that he was well connected and that no one would ever help them. Evans’s exploitation and abuse left countless women struggling with addiction, trauma, and pain.
“Evans made money by exploiting these girls and women and exposing them to all manner of depravity and bodily harm,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Monsters who prey upon others have no place in the Eastern District. The lengthy and appropriate sentence in this case is based on the dedicated work of the FBI, our local partners, and federal prosecutors. We thank law enforcement for their great work on this case. The Eastern District and our citizens are safer because this pimp will spend decades in prison.”
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin C. Blondel and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-CR-82-M.
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Washington County Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – David Dion, age 48, of Greenwich, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 151 months in prison for distributing and possessing child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
As part of his earlier guilty plea, Dion admitted that from July 2023 to January 2024, he distributed images and videos of child pornography via an encrypted chat messenger to another person, and that he possessed images of child pornography on five electronic devices on February 28, 2024, when his residence was searched. He also admitted that he produced morphed images of child pornography by using non-pornographic images of known children from his Washington County community and superimposing the faces of those children onto images of child pornography he found on the Internet to create an adapted or modified depiction of an identifiable minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Dion possessed more than 205,000 images and 545 videos depicting child pornography across his devices.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also ordered a 20-year term of supervised release to follow Dion’s release from prison, as well as restitution to the victims in the total amount of $105,000, and forfeiture of the electronic devices he used to commit the offenses. Dion will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “Dion is a sexual predator who deeply impacted the lives of his community, by merging ordinary photos of local children into images of child pornography. He will now spend the next twelve and a half years of his wretched life locked up in a cage where he belongs. I thank our state and local partners for bringing this case to us for federal prosecution and for making our children safer.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Dion’s significant sentence ensures that he will now spend years in federal prison for terrorizing a community. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to swiftly investigate any individual who knowingly possesses and distributes detrimental images that re-victimize our most vulnerable.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The steadfast work done by the State Police and our law enforcement partners ensures Mr. Dion will serve time for his deplorable actions. There is zero tolerance for those who prey on children, and this sentencing reflects the severity of these crimes. Together, we will continue to seek justice for those who have been victimized and protect those who are most vulnerable, our children.”
The FBI and NYSP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.