Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
28 August 2025
Violent Drug Dealer Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Royce Cobb, a/k/a “Rapp,” 47, of Atlanta, Georgia, a multi-time convicted felon who was distributing kilogram quantities of dangerous drugs from an Atlanta stash house, will serve a 23-year prison sentence following his convictions for cocaine trafficking and illegal possession of a loaded semiautomatic firearm. Cobb previously served prison sentences in Georgia and North Carolina for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, trafficking and attempted trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Cobb’s aggravated assault conviction followed a 2001 shooting during which Cobb killed one of his drug customers.
“More than a decade behind bars failed to deter Cobb from trafficking large amounts of drugs from an Atlanta stash house while armed,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thankfully, the determined investigation of the DEA and their state and local partners finally halted Cobb’s illicit activity.”
“Far too many victims have suffered at the hands of repeat offenders who show no remorse for the chaos they create,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA is committed to dismantling criminal networks and protecting our communities.”
“When we team our resources with the resources of our local, state, and federal partners, gang members better beware,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “The removal of drugs, weapons and gang members from the streets immediately makes those communities safer.”
“This case underscores the powerful impact that can be achieved when law enforcement agencies unite with purpose, harnessing their collective strength to dismantle complex drug trafficking networks and deliver a decisive blow to criminal organizations,” said Acting Director Andy Dimond of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA).
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Cobb, a large-scale drug trafficker, was responsible for distributing at least 50 kilograms of cocaine, 4 kilograms of methamphetamine, and various quantities of fentanyl and heroin. In 2022, DEA investigators began surveilling Cobb’s southwest Atlanta drug stash location, which enabled them to seize kilograms of illegal drugs, firearms, and thousands of dollars of drug proceeds from Cobb’s customers and associates. Agents observed dozens of drug traffickers, including some from neighboring states, visit Cobb’s residence for suspected drug deals. Agents’ seizures included approximately 17.6 kilograms of cocaine concealed under the bed of a tow truck and approximately 22 kilograms of cocaine in an associate’s vehicle in South Carolina. In 2023, DEA agents seized multiple kilograms of cocaine and other narcotics, and drug proceeds, from drug transporters working with Cobb and his conspirators.
In July 2023, agents executed a search warrant at Cobb’s primary drug stash house, where they seized counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, three bricks of marijuana, and a loaded semiautomatic firearm with a large-capacity magazine. Agents also seized ammunition for two other firearms, money counters, and a pill counter. At another of Cobb’s Atlanta stash locations, agents seized seven kilograms of cocaine. Agents recovered more than a quarter-million dollars of cash from the two stash houses combined.
Yesterday, United States District Judge J.P. Boulee sentenced Cobb to 23 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Cobb was convicted on April 16, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Suwanee Police Department, and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgia State Patrol, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office (South Carolina).
Assistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Dwayne A. Brown, Jr., along with former Assistant United States Attorney Rebeca M. Ojeda, prosecuted the case.
This case was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
United States Files Civil Complaint Against S.F.-Based Air Carrier to Enforce Penalties for Alleged Drug and Alcohol Testing Program NoncomplianceRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The United States filed a civil complaint in federal district court this week against passenger air carrier Boutique Air, Inc. to enforce civil penalties that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assessed for alleged violations of federal regulations governing drug and alcohol records checks on employees.
Boutique Air is a San Francisco-based air carrier that operates scheduled and charter flights. As an FAA-certified air carrier, Boutique Air is required to comply with federal regulations governing workplace drug and alcohol testing, records checks, training, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. Among other requirements, FAA-certified air carriers are prohibited from permitting a newly hired employee to continue performing safety-sensitive functions for more than 30 days unless the carrier checks the employee’s drug and alcohol testing records from the employee’s prior transportation industry employers or makes a good faith effort to obtain the required information.
According to the complaint, Boutique Air failed to conduct requisite drug and alcohol records checks on 21 employees that it hired into safety-sensitive positions, including mechanics, a pilot, and a ground security coordinator. The FAA found that between August 2020 and September 2021, Boutique Air allegedly authorized 21 new employees to perform safety-sensitive functions beyond the 30-day threshold without obtaining, or making a good faith effort to obtain, requisite drug and alcohol testing information from those employees’ previous transportation industry employers.
On Sept. 22, 2023, the FAA issued a letter to Boutique Air outlining the FAA’s conclusion that Boutique Air violated federal regulations governing drug and alcohol records checks on employees on 21 occasions and seeking payment of a civil penalty. The maximum allowed penalty totals $291,417. The complaint seeks collection of the civil penalty.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FAA Chief Counsel Liam McKenna made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sapna Mehta is handling this case. The FAA investigated this matter.
The complaint contains allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
U.S. Government Seizes Online Marketplaces Selling Fraudulent Identity Documents Used in Cybercrime SchemesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced today the seizure of two marketplace domains and one blog used to sell fraudulent identity documents to cybercriminals worldwide. The operators of VerifTools produced and sold counterfeit driver’s licenses, passports, and other identification documents that could be used to bypass identity verification systems and gain unauthorized access to online accounts.
VerifTools Splash PageThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began investigating in August 2022 after discovering a conspiracy to use stolen identity information to access cryptocurrency accounts. The investigation revealed that VerifTools offered counterfeit identification documents for all 50 U.S. states and multiple foreign countries for as little as nine dollars, payable in cryptocurrency.
The FBI used the VerifTools marketplace to generate and purchase counterfeit New Mexico driver’s licenses, which were paid for with cryptocurrency. The FBI has identified the equivalent of approximately $6.4 million of illicit proceeds linked to the VerifTools marketplace. The following counterfeit documents are an example of New Mexico driver’s licenses obtained from VerifTools.
Counterfeit New Mexico Driver’s License Counterfeit New Mexico Driver’s License with watermark“The internet is not a refuge for criminals. If you build or sell tools that let offenders impersonate victims, you are part of the crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “We will use every lawful tool to disrupt your business, take the profit out of it, and bring you to justice. No one operation is bigger than us together. With our partners at every level of law enforcement we will protect New Mexicans and defend those who stand up for our community.”
"The removal of this marketplace is a major step in protecting the public from fraud and identity theft crime," said Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division. "Together with our partners, we will continue to target and dismantle the platforms that criminals depend on, no matter where they operate."
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.
The Justice Department collaborated closely with investigators and prosecutors from multiple jurisdictions in this investigation, including the District of New Mexico, Eastern District of Virginia, the Dutch National Police and the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service.
U.S. Attorney announces immigration case updates for the Eastern District of VirginiaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today case updates on six immigration cases in the district.
On Jan. 20 the President signed executive orders addressing the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. Protecting the American People Against Invasion recognized that enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States, and that it is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those aliens who threaten the safety or security of the American people. The order tasked the Department of Justice with prioritizing the prosecution of criminal offenses related to the unauthorized entry or continued unauthorized presence of aliens in the United States. Securing Our Borders prioritizes the pursuit of criminal charges against illegal aliens who violate immigration laws and against those who facilitate their unlawful presence in the United States.
Honduran national Oscar Armando Duarte-Salinas, 42, was removed from the United States on June 27, 2005, again on Jan. 26, 2011, and once more on Aug. 10, 2012. On April 18, 2022, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) learned that Duarte-Salinas had returned to the United States following his arrest in Fairfax County. Duarte-Salinas was arrested for public drunkenness 11 times since April 2022, eight of which led to convictions, and charges remain pending for public drunkenness, felony breaking and entering, petit larceny, and failure to appear. Duarte-Salinas pled guilty today to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 1:25-cr-228
Pursuant to a final order of removal, on May 22, 2019, Salvadoran national Pablo Arnoldo Argueta Gonzalez, aka Jose Rodriguez-Montoya, 43, was removed from the United States. On March 14, ICE agents learned that Argueta-Gonzalez had unlawfully returned to the United States when he was detained at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail in James City County following his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). On Aug. 19, Argueta-Gonzalez pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 4:25-cr-39
Pursuant to a final order of removal, on June 29, 2011, Guatemalan national Jiber Nemias-Lucs, 34, was removed from the United States. Less than three months later, Nemias-Lucs again illegally entered the United States and was removed. After illegally reentering a third time, in 2015 Nemias-Lucs was charged in Arlington County with assault and battery of a family member and in 2016 was found guilty in absentia of driving the wrong way on a roadway and driving without a license. In August 2017, Nemias-Lucs was convicted of DUI and refusal in Arlington County, and he was removed again. He subsequently returned to the country and in February 2018 was convicted of illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He once again illegally reentered the United States and in August 2023 was charged and convicted in absentia in Arlington County for being drunk in public. In June 2024 he was convicted of obstruction of justice. In November 2024 he was charged with two counts of assault and battery, and in December 2024, he was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. On Feb. 17, Nemias-Lucs was arrested for robbery by force and on Feb. 18 ICE entered a detainer. On June 24, Nemias-Lucs was again arrested for being drunk in public and was taken into federal custody. On Aug. 20, Nemias-Lucs pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 1:25-cr-240
On July 22, 2014, pursuant to a final order of removal, Salvadoran national Marlon Omar Flores Quintanilla, 35, was removed from the United States. Flores Quintanilla subsequently reentered the United States illegally and on Dec. 1, 2015, was removed again. On May 16, ICE officers learned that Flores Quintanilla was detained at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center. On Aug. 21 Flores Quintanilla pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 1:25-cr-237
Pursuant to a final order of removal, Guatemalan national Abel Enrique Carrillo Cobo, 29, was removed from the United States on Oct. 6, 2014, again on Jan. 27, 2015, and once more on May 21, 2018. After his most recent removal, Carrillo Cobo unlawfully reentered the United States and on July 20, 2022, was arrested in Fairfax County for carrying a concealed weapon. ICE agents learned of the arrest on April 3, 2025. Carrillo Cobo pled guilty yesterday to illegal reentry after removal subsequent to a felony conviction. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 1:25-cr-187
Guatemalan national Jose Adolfo Veliz, 53, illegally entered the United States on Aug. 14, 1990. On Aug. 24, 2009, a designated immigration officer with the San Bernardino County (California) Sheriff’s Department encountered Veliz and, pursuant to a warrant of removal, Veliz was removed from the United States on Oct. 19, 2009. On April 21, Veliz was arrested by the Hanover County Police Department for charges related to sexual battery. On Aug. 26, Veliz pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 3:25-cr-86
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for the case number provided above.
U.S. Air Force Major Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Steven Dennis Mack (40, Tampa) to five years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Mack was also ordered to pay $42,500 in restitution; $40,000 in fines; and will be required to register as a sex offender. Mack entered a guilty plea on March 6, 2025. An Air Force court martial is pending.
According to court documents, Mack, while in another state, sent an image of CSAM from his personal email address to an individual with an email address that geo-located to the Philippines. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Mack’s email address and found hundreds of emails exchanged with the Philippines user in which they discussed engaging in sexual activities with minors. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mack’s Tampa residence, where they seized a cellphone and laptop computer. A search of the laptop showed that Mack searched terms consistent with CSAM and accessed pornographic content. A search of the cellphone revealed that it contained 64 images of CSAM. Further investigation revealed that Mack had viewed most of those images in Tampa in June and December 2023.
This case was investigated by the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 340 at MacDill Air Force Base and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Three Federal Inmates Plead Guilty to Retaliating Against A Government Witness After Vicious AttackRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jose Carbajal (35, Palm Springs, CA), Edward Camacho (21, Winter Garden), and Jose Lugo (41, Kissimmee) have pleaded guilty to retaliating against a government witness and conspiracy to retaliate against a government witness. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to records and information presented in court, in November 2024, Carbajal was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for drug and money laundering conspiracies. For several years, Carbajal had shipped large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to his partner in a drug trafficking organization operating in the Middle District of Florida. During the course of that investigation, several cooperating sources came forward, including Witness 1.
On December 26, 2024, Carbajal was in the Seminole County Jail awaiting transport to begin serving his prison sentence for the drug and money laundering conspiracies. Witness 1 was accidentally placed in the same jail housing unit with Carbajal. Within a few minutes, Carbajal recruited two other federal inmates, Camacho and Lugo, to help him retaliate against Witness 1. While Witness 1 was sitting at a table with his back turned, Carbajal, Camacho, and Lugo snuck up from behind and attacked Witness 1. The three inmates knocked Witness 1 to the ground and punched, kicked, and stomped him repeatedly. Carbajal also used a jail telephone to beat him. Detention deputies were able to stop the attack after more than a minute and a half, just after Carbajal shattered a broomstick over Witness 1’s head and back. After the attack, Carbajal, Camacho, and Lugo all made incriminating jail calls indicating their motive and coordinated involvement in the attack. Camacho (4 years, 3 months) and Lugo (7 years, 8 months) are currently serving federal prison sentences for separate offenses.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Texas Woman Pleads Guilty to Multiple Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Texas woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to bank fraud, false use of a passport, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, in June 2024, Andrea Cochran, 51, entered a credit union in Westbrook and used a falsified passport card to withdraw money from a victim’s accounts. The falsified passport card presented by Cochran bore her picture but had the personal information of the victim account holder. She also presented the victim’s Social Security number and forged the victim’s signature for each withdrawal.
Cochran faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1 million to be followed by up to five years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Westbrook Police Department and the Windham Police Department.
###
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing over $500,000 in COVID Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Terrance Bradford (46, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud. Bradford faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, Bradford devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting multiple false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. These programs were some of the sources of economic relief provided for by the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Contrary to the certifications made on his loan applications, at the time Bradford was applying for the loans, he was excluded from receiving any federal contracts and one of his businesses had filed for bankruptcy. Had Bradford truthfully disclosed this information, he would have been precluded from receiving CARES Act funding.
As part of his sentence, Bradford also faces an order of forfeiture of $533,648.32, the proceeds of the criminal conduct to which he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.
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 www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Cocaine and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Torrey Taylor (44, Tampa) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and distribution of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Taylor faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, Taylor conspired with his co-defendant, Temeko Evans, to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Between February 11 and March 26, 2025, detectives from the Tampa Police Department conducted a series of controlled purchases from Evans and Taylor to include approximately two ounces of crack cocaine and two ounces of methamphetamine.
Evans’s case is currently pending trial in the October 2025 trial term.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Tallahassee Violent Felon Pleads Guilty to EscapeRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Derek Somerset, 46, of Tallahassee, Florida pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday August 22, 2025, to escape from the custody of the Attorney General and the Attorney General’s authorized representative. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I commend the efforts of our local law enforcement partners, working with the U.S. Marshal’s office, to get this violent felon off our streets and back in federal custody.”
Court documents reflect that on October 15, 2024, Somerset was furloughed from federal prison, where he was serving a 48-month sentence for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Somerset was to report the next day to a residential re-entry facility in Tallahassee to complete his sentence. Somerset, though, failed to report and was found a little over two months later in a motel parking lot overdosing on fentanyl.
Somerset faces up to five years’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release when he is sentenced.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the United States Marshal’s Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.
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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Eddie Lee Shular Jr., 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the excellent work of our local and federal partners to make our community safer by getting this dangerous individual off the streets. My office remains committed to fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by targeting criminals who are endangering our communities with the full force of the law.”
Court documents reflect that in March 2025, an officer from the Tallahassee Police Department found a vehicle illegally parked in Jack McLean Park overnight. The officer made contact with two occupants and could smell marijuana and see drug paraphernalia. During a search of the vehicle, a firearm was found in the glovebox. Subsequent DNA testing found Shular’s DNA on the firearm.
Shular has 17 prior felony convictions. He faces imprisonment for up to 15 years.
The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2025, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker
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).
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
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.
St. Louis Sheriff Indicted on Civil Rights ChargeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery was indicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on a civil rights charge. He appeared in court Thursday morning and pleaded not guilty.
Montgomery, 28, was indicted on a misdemeanor count of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from unreasonable seizure.
The indictment alleges that on Feb. 14, 2025, Montgomery deprived the acting commissioner of the St. Louis City Justice Center of her right to be free from unlawful detention by a person acting under color of law, when he directed and participated in the restraint and detention of her.
The charge is punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000 or both prison and a fine..
A charge set forth in an indictment is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.
South Bend Woman Ordered to Repay Funds from PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Rachael Robinson, 37 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to a federal felony for wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Robinson was ordered to pay $55, 280.47 in restitution to the victims of the offense.According to documents in the case, in February and April 2021, Robinson submitted two fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) relief funds for a business that did not exist. The PPP program was designed to approve loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses as part the CARES Act that provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of her fraudulent representations, Robinson received about $50,000.00 in PPP funds which she used for her own benefit rather than for any legitimately approved purpose.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Joel Gabrielse.
Six-Time Felon Who Threatened Metro Bus Passenger with a Gun and Caught with a Switch Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Clenest Demon Wells Jr, age 28, has been sentenced in U.S. District Court to 116 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release for illegally possessing firearms as a felon and possessing a machinegun, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“Minneapolis belongs to the families who ride the bus to work, the parents who take their children to school, and the residents who build this community, not to felons who terrorize it,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Wells is a six-time felon armed with guns and a switch who threatened an innocent passenger on a Minneapolis bus. He is now going to federal prison for nearly a decade.”
According to court documents, a federal jury convicted Wells proceeded to trial and a federal jury found him guilty on all four counts. Evidence presented at trial proved that on three separate occasions between 2020 and 2023 law enforcement caught Wells illegally carrying firearms.
On April 6, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to reports of a passenger wearing a black vest and grey winter hat on a Metro Transit bus in Minneapolis threatening another passenger with a firearm. Law enforcement officers located and boarded the Metro Transit bus at the intersection of Penn and Lowry Avenue North, identified a passenger who closely fit the description, and conducted a pat-down search. The passenger was later identified as Wells, who was found in possession of a black HiPoint 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
On May 23, 2022, Minneapolis Police Department officers on patrol observed a Pontiac G6 speeding through a residential area and conducted a traffic stop. Wells was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. Officers searched the car and found Wells in possession of a black Springfield Model XD9 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
On July 30, 2023, Wells fled from law enforcement in a busy entertainment district of downtown Minneapolis while he possessed a loaded machinegun, an extended firearm magazine, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Wells’ Glock pistol was equipped with a “switch” conversion device that enabled the firearm to fire in fully automatic mode. The gun was capable of firing 10 rounds of ammunition in well under a second.
Prior to 2020, Wells has been convicted of six felonies, so he was prohibited from possessing firearms. His prior convictions include multiple felony assault convictions for attacking and throwing bodily fluids at law enforcement officers while in jail.
Wells was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Donovan W. Frank to 116 months imprisonment. When handing down his sentence Judge Frank noted, “The amount of gun violence we are having in Minnesota is just off the charts.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Metro Transit Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Green and Syngen Kanassatega prosecuted the case.
Sisseton Man Sentenced to Almost 30 Years in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Sisseton, South Dakota, convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on August 26, 2025.
Chauncey Allen White, age 31, was sentenced to two years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100 on the Assault with a Dangerous Weapon charge.
White was sentenced to 26 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200 on the Sexual Abuse of a Minor charge. Upon release from federal prison, White must register as a sex offender. White’s sentences are to be served consecutively, which amounts to 29 years and four months in federal prison.
White was indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in March 2024. He was indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Minor in July 2024. White pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon on November 18, 2024. He pleaded guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor on June 9, 2025.
The Assault with a Dangerous Weapon conviction stemmed from an incident on February 28, 2023, when White assaulted his romantic partner with a knife. The victim was trying to break up with White, which angered White. While sitting in the victim’s vehicle in the parking lot where she worked, White held a knife to the victim’s body and asked how she wanted to die. The victim was able to escape without physical injury. White, however, stabbed the center console of the victim’s car causing property damage.
The Sexual Abuse of a Minor conviction stemmed from an incident in 2014 when White, 20-21 years old at the time, provided alcohol to two young teenage girls. The girls became heavily intoxicated and lost consciousness. White then removed the clothes of minor victim 1 and began to vaginally rape her. She came to and was able to push him off. White then found minor victim 2 and proceeded to vaginally rape her before she regained consciousness. The incident happened at White’s family home on the Lake Traverse Reservation.
These cases were investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton Wahpeton Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was 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.
White was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Women Sentenced to 16 Years and 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced two Sioux Falls women convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Hailey Schneiderman, 25, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentencing took place on August 4, 2025.
Heather Downey, 54, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentencing took place on August 25, 2025.
Schneiderman and Downey were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2024. Schneiderman pleaded guilty on May 8, 2025. Downey pleaded guilty on June 4, 2025.
Schneiderman obtained methamphetamine from a source in California and sold it to Downey and others in the Sioux Falls area. Downey also sold methamphetamine in the Sioux Falls area. Schneiderman was identified when she twice sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant. In total, those sales involved more than 100 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Schneiderman and Downey were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Salvadoran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national unlawfully residing in Chelsea, Mass. pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Juan Carlos Gil-Ochoa, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien before U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley who scheduled sentencing for Oct. 3, 2025. In June 2025, Gil-Ochoa was indicted by a federal grand jury. He was arrested by immigration authorities on May 12, 2025.
Gil-Ochoa was deported from the United States to El Salvador in April 2013. Sometime after his removal, Gil-Ochoa illegally reentered the United States without permission and was encountered by immigration authorities in October 2023.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Safety Inspectors Charged with Fabricating Hundreds of Gas Pipeline Test Results Throughout New York City and WestchesterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the New York State Inspector General, Lucy Lang, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging LIAM TREIBERT and MICHAEL VASCONCELLOS with wire fraud arising out of their scheme to defraud a regulated utility company (“Utility-1”) in connection with fraudulent safety inspections of natural gas pipelines that Utility-1 was installing throughout New York City and Westchester County. TREIBERT was arrested today in North Carolina and will be presented in Raleigh federal court. VASCONCELLOS was arrested today in New York and will be presented in White Plains federal court.
“As alleged, Liam Treibert and Michael Vasconcellos violated the trust placed in them to ensure the safety of natural gas pipelines that were being installed throughout New York City and Westchester County,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “They lied about having performed hundreds of inspections and then covered up those lies with fraudulent paperwork. Their actions put the lives of New Yorkers at risk. The safety of New Yorkers is of paramount importance to our Office.”
“When deliberate misconduct - as alleged here - puts entire communities at risk, those responsible must face swift and decisive consequences,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. “Today’s arrests, made in partnership with the Southern District of New York, demonstrate my agency’s unwavering commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and pursuing accountability on behalf of all New Yorkers.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
Between at least in or about 2016 and 2023, TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS were supposed to perform safety inspections of welds on natural gas pipelines that were being installed throughout New York City and Westchester County. Those inspections were necessary to ensure that the welds did not contain defects that could cause gas leaks or explosions. TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS lied about having inspected hundreds of welds that they never actually reviewed and created fraudulent records to cover up what they had done. As a result, Utility-1 paid for hundreds of sham inspections and were deceived by TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS into thinking that its pipelines had passed critical safety tests that TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS never performed.
As part of the pipeline installation process, Utility-1 or its contractors would typically place gas pipelines into the ground in segments and then weld those segments together. Before a pipeline could be put into service, the welds throughout the pipeline had to be inspected to assess their quality. Those inspections included non-destructive testing.
One common form of non-destructive testing of pipeline welds involved radiographs, often referred to as x-rays. Radiographic testing required a team to radiograph each weld and then examine the films to identify any defects in the welds. If a defect was identified, then the weld would have to be repaired before the pipeline was put into service. Failure to repair a defect before a pipeline was put into service could have led to critical failures, including gas leaks or explosions.
During the period alleged, TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS, while performing radiographic testing for Utility-1, repeatedly engaged in a practice referred to in the non-destructive testing industry as “radaring.” Radaring typically involved radiographing the same weld twice and then passing off one copy of films as having come from a second weld. For instance, a radiographer might radiograph Weld A twice, and then claim that the second set of films are of Weld B, even though the radiographer never inspected Weld B.
In total, hundreds of welds across Utility-1’s pipelines installed throughout the Bronx and Westchester County between in or about 2016 and 2023 were affected by radaring engaged in by TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS. And although TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS did not actually inspect those welds, invoices for those inspections were submitted to Utility-1. Utility-1 paid those invoices through, among other methods, bank transfers.
* * *
TREIBERT, 30, of Wendell, North Carolina, and VASCONCELLOS, 44, of Mahopac, New York, are each charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the Offices of the New York State Inspector General and the special agents with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz and Jay McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._treibert_et_al._indictment.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
Shipping Company Fined $2m for Maritime Pollution OffenseRead the Press Release
V.Ships Norway A.S. (V.SHIPS) pleaded guilty today to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and was sentenced to pay a $2 million fine. V.Ships admitted that oily bilge water and oily waste was discharged from the Motor Tanker Swift Winchester (M/T Swift Winchester) and the discharges were omitted from the Oil Record Book.
“Dumping oil-contaminated waste into the waters around our ports and coasts violates the law and poses an unnecessary health and environmental hazard,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The crew took pains to hide their illegal activity by knowingly keeping inaccurate records. We will not turn a blind eye to this kind of irresponsible and fraudulent activity.”
“The Gulf of America and the Texas ports are amazing places with great natural beauty. They are also vital to our economy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “When a foreign ship operated by a foreign company discharges polluting wastes, it threatens waters that are vital to the United States and the state of Texas. We will hold those responsible for polluting the Gulf of America accountable.”
“The criminal prosecution of this case underlines our commitment to enforcing the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis for the Middle District of Louisiana. “The illegal discharge of bilge water and oily waste from vessels poses a significant threat to our waters and marine life and by holding those accountable who violate these standards, we send a clear message that we will not tolerate actions that endanger our environment. We remain dedicated to ensuring that the maritime industry operates responsibly and in compliance with environmental laws.”
“Coast Guard Marine Inspectors, Pollution Responders and Investigating Officers undergo rigorous and specialized training to detect and gather evidence of environmental crimes. This expertise alongside our federal partnerships was crucial to the successful prosecution of this violation,” said Capt. Jennifer Andrew, the Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur. “The Coast Guard maintains one of the world’s most comprehensive and thorough vessel inspection programs, and we will continue to leverage this robust capability to ensure strict compliance with domestic and international maritime laws.”
Between February 2022 and August 2022, a hose was connected between the incinerator waste oil tank and the sewage holding tank on the M/T Swift Winchester. This allowed oily waste to transfer into the sewage holding tank and then to be discharged directly into the sea, bypassing required pollution prevention equipment. A low-ranking engine crewmember reported this to a Superintendent at V.Ships. The Superintendent investigated the matter and discovered what appeared to be oil in the sewage tank. V.Ships dismissed the Chief Engineer. In August 2022, the new Chief Engineer ordered the engine crew to clean the Oil Water Separator (OWS) filter. The engine crew took the filter onto the deck and hosed it down with a degreaser and the oily waste washed directly overboard through a scupper.
Coast Guard members from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur conducted an examination, during which an engine room crewmember disclosed the discharges and provided photographic and video evidence documenting the illegal discharges. The M/T Swift Winchester entered Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Aug. 25, 2022, and Port Arthur, Texas, on Sept. 7, 2022, with a knowingly falsified Oil Record Book.
U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth E. Nelson and Trial Attorney Lauren Steele of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Batte for the Eastern District of Texas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Warner for the Middle District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.
-###-
25-XXX
Romanian Citizen Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Reentry; Faces DeportationRead the Press Release
Williamsport-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nicolae Strava, age 30, a citizen of Romania, was sentenced today to nine months in prison by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for illegally reentering the country after having previously been removed.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Strava was indicted by a federal grand jury after being arrested for theft by deception in Centre County, Pennsylvania, on September 20, 2024. Strava had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to a court order on April 23, 2019, through Houston, Texas. Strava pleaded guilty to illegal reentry prior to being sentenced.
An ICE detainer is lodged against Strava for deportation proceedings.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted 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).
# # #
Roanoke Man Pleads Guilty to Witness Tampering After Sending Illicit Texts to TeenRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man, who was a registered sex offender and on federal supervised release for a previous conviction on charges of soliciting minors, pled guilty yesterday to witness tampering after he sent a 16-year-old boy inappropriate text messages he knew violated the terms of his supervised release.
Lenny Baldwin Jr., 30, pled guilty yesterday to one count of witness tampering. At sentencing, Baldwin faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, on May 10, 2023, Baldwin was released from federal prison and began a term of supervised release. In the summer of 2023 while working at Dollar Tree, Baldwin met and befriended a 16-year-old boy (MV1). Baldwin eventually spent time with the boy and his mother at their Roanoke home.
In October 2023, Baldwin began exchanging sexually charged text messages with MV1 while using an iPhone. During the conversation, Baldwin used the iPhone’s “unsend” feature to unsend three of the messages to conceal these messages from being discovered, knowing that these communications violated the terms of his supervised release. The following day, Baldwin, using a different phone number, texted MV1 and asked him to delete the messages between the two of them, telling MV1 that he did not want “the wrong eyes” to see the messages.
On November 30, 2023, Baldwin began texting MV1 using a different phone connected to a different phone number. Baldwin did not notify his probation officer of this new phone or phone number. Again, the messages sent to MV1 were sexually charged, and Baldwin knew they violated the terms of his supervised release. Baldwin again asked MV1 to delete the messages.
Finally, on December 24, 2023, Baldwin sent MV1 additional messages of a sexual nature and in violation of his supervised release.
Throughout the totality of the text message conversations between Baldwin and MV1, Baldwin unsent multiple messages to conceal them from his probation officer, knowing they constituted a violation of the terms of his supervised release. In addition, Baldwin asked MV1 to delete their text messages to conceal from his probation officer the fact that he was sending sexual text messages to a minor.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the City of Roanoke Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff is prosecuting the case.
Providence Resident Admits to Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man found to be in possession of more than 1,500 fentanyl-laced pills and more than 400 grams of fentanyl powder today pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Court records reflect that during a court-authorized search of his residence in November 2022, Carols Molina, 35, was found to be in possession of 1,503 fentanyl-laced pills designed to look like prescription drugs (weighing a total of 170.6 grams) and a mixture of powder containing fentanyl weighing 411.75 grams.
Leading up to the search of his residence, while under surveillance by DEA agents and DEA Drug Task Force officers, Molina made multiple sales of fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills to another induvial. A total of 2,416 pills were seized immediately following the transactions.
Molina is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2, 2025. The sentence imposed in this matter will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force.
###
Postal Employee Admits Role in Conspiracy to Steal Checks from the MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A mail carrier on Thursday admitted stealing checks from the mail and selling the key that allowed her co-conspirators to steal mail.
Cambria M. Hopkins, 30, of Florissant, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of unlawful use of a mail key. Hopkins, a postal carrier based in Clayton, joined a conspiracy to steal mail to obtain personal and business checks, knowing that they would be used to commit fraud. On March 20, 2022, Hopkins sold her “arrow key,” which allows access to U.S. Postal Service collection boxes, to Malik A. Jones. She also told Jones which boxes the key would open. Jones then paid others to steal mail using Hopkins’ key.
Hopkins also stole mail at the Post Office and mail that she encountered on her route. From roughly August 2022 to August 2023, Hopkins sold checks to Jones multiple times. He paid her in cash, via CashApp or in groceries.
Hopkins is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1. The conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine. The mail key charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Jones, now 28, pleaded guilty October 25 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft and is awaiting sentencing. He admitted recruiting other people who would then allow him to use their bank accounts to deposit forged and fraudulent checks that had been stolen from the mail.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Pennsylvania Man Who Used Snapchat to Gain Access to Abuse Minors Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Codi Vaughan, who had been contacting minors and seeking self-produced child pornography for more than a year, will spend 17 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
On June 2, 2023, Vaughan, 25, of Fair Chance, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Little Rock on five counts of production of child sexual abuse material and three counts of receipt or distribution of child sexual abuse material. On October 16, 2024, Vaughan pleaded guilty to count seven of the Indictment. Chief Judge Baker sentenced Vaughan to 204 months in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On February 3, 2023, the FBI received a tip from the Secretary of the Air Force Inspector General tip hotline stating Vaughan wanted to have sexual relations with minors and purchased child pornography. Vaughan worked as a mechanic for the Air Force and lived on the Little Rock Air Force Base. Special Agents from the FBI interviewed the caller, a minor who lived in Maryland. The minor stated Vaughan contacted her through Snapchat wanting to purchase child pornography from her and her minor friends. On February 6, 2023, Vaughan used Snapchat to contact another minor in Maryland, again asking for the minor to send him self-produced child pornography. In both instances, Vaughan offered to pay the minors for the child pornography. Special Agents learned that Vaughan regularly communicated with minors in Maryland and Virginia through Snapchat and has been doing so since at least January 2022. This pattern of abuse of minors led to a sentencing enhancement. In January 2023, Vaughan offered a minor $1,000 to perform sexual acts.
An investigation revealed that Vaughan regularly paid or offered to pay minors for child pornography through CashApp. A review of Vaughan’s CashApp history revealed numerous payments to minors. During the times he contacted them, Vaughan knew they were minors.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Air Force, Office of Special Investigations, with assistance from the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Operator of illegal alien stash house at center of smuggling-for-ransom scheme sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old Guatemalan national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to transport other illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Junior Morales-Chutan pleaded guilty April 24.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Morales-Chutan to serve 48 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
“As this office has pointed out several times before, the human smuggling business is ruthless, inhumane, and sometimes deadly,” said Ganjei. “This case shows how those who make their living smuggling and warehousing human beings have no respect for the safety or dignity of their fellow man. Don’t put your life, or the lives of your loved ones, in their hands. Stay home and stay safe.”
Morales-Chutan ran a stash house in Houston where illegal aliens were kept after being smuggled into the United States from various countries. There, associates used weapons and threats to keep them from leaving. Morales-Chutan was also in charge of picking up money paid in relation to the smuggling scheme.
In August 2023, the father of two illegal aliens had paid $25,000 for their transportation from Guatemala to the United States. Once they were in Houston, Morales-Chutan demanded an additional $32,500 in ransom for their release. He threatened that if he did not get the money by the end of the day, he would turn them over to the cartel.
The investigation led to a residence on Tanager Street in Houston, where authorities recovered firearms, cash and ledgers detailing human smuggling.
The smuggled individuals were later released and identified Morales-Chutan as the one in charge of the stash house and that there had been up to 20 other illegal aliens there at various times.
Morales-Chutan is also an illegal alien himself, having been previously removed from the United States and reentered unlawfully approximately 18 months prior to the smuggling offense. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Day prosecuted the case.
Nigerian Citizen Guilty of Years-Long Romance Scam that Victimized Multiple United States CitizensRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DANIEL CHIMA INWEREGBU(“INWEREGBU”), age 40, a citizen of Lagos, Nigeria, pled guilty on August 21, 2025 before United States District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown to two of the counts pending against him, including conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and using an assumed name to commit a mail fraud scheme, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1342, 1343 and 1349 (Count 1), and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), 1957, and 1956(h) (Count 12). INWEREGBU’s plea stemmed from his role in a lengthy romance scam targeting American citizens.
According to court documents, a “romance scam” was a confidence scheme in which the perpetrator feigned romantic intentions towards a victim, gained their affection, and used the victim’s goodwill to commit fraud. These fraudulent acts might involve such acts as obtaining access to the victim’s money, bank accounts, credit cards, passports, e-mail accounts, or national identification numbers; convincing the victim to transmit things of value to the perpetrator or his witting or unwitting co-conspirators; or inducing the victim to, unintentionally, commit or participate in the commission of financial fraud against third parties on behalf of the perpetrator.
Between at least July 1, 2017, and December 16, 2018, INWEREGBU, and his co-conspirators, devised and operated a “romance scam” whereby they sought to obtain money and property from multiple American women, including 4 victims, by means of false and fraudulent representations and promises. Specifically, INWEREGBU and his co-conspirators created profiles on social media and online dating sites using the alias “Larry Pham,” purportedly a middle-aged male, to attract middle-aged female victims.
The co-conspirators, including INWEREGBU, used online messaging platforms and email, to contact victims, introduce themselves, and appeal to victims’ longing for companionship. If the victim responded favorably, INWEREGBU and his co-conspirators began to cultivate a romantic relationship that emotionally attached the victims to “Larry Pham.” Once the relationship was established, the defendant and his co-conspirators, posing as Larry Pham, requested victims send them money under various scams and ruses to domestic bank accounts they opened and managed. INWEREGBU’s scheme resulted in actual and intended losses to the victims of over $405,000. Thereafter, INWEREGBU and his co-conspirators laundered the funds, by conducting financial transactions using the proceeds of their wire and mail fraud scheme, designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds, by directing the victims’ funds through intermediaries.
INWEREGBU faces up to twenty years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a fine of $250,000 as to Count 1. He faces up to twenty years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a fine of $500,000 as to Count 12. He also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count. Sentencing before Judge Brown has been scheduled for December 4, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the great support provided by United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the United States Department of State. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
Newport News man sentenced to over eight years in prison following neighborhood shootingRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Nov. 5, 2023, Newport News Police (NNPD) responded to a report of a man brandishing a firearm. As police arrived, Jimmy Lee Scott, 33, was firing a handgun. The shooting damaged multiple vehicles. Scott fled the scene but was arrested in a neighboring back yard after a brief pursuit.
During a search of a residence associated with Scott, investigators recovered six firearms, including a stolen revolver. One of the firearms recovered from the residence matched all twenty casings recovered from the scene of the shooting.
Scott was previously convicted for disorderly conduct, driving on a suspended license (twice), carrying a concealed weapon (twice), trespassing, possession with intent to distribute marijuana (twice), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. As a previously convicted felon, Scott cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-21.
New Jersey fast-food restaurants owner pleads guilty to $2.4M tax fraud schemeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A New Jersey man who owns fast-food restaurants in multiple states pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to conspiring to commit tax fraud.
As part of his plea, Ali Shahid Butt, 56, of Princeton Junction, New Jersey, has agreed to pay more than $2.4 million in restitution to the IRS.
According to court documents, from 2015 through 2021, Butt partially owned several fast-food restaurants throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, including in Zanesville. He frequently controlled the relationship with the restaurant franchisor.
With Butt’s knowledge, his franchise co-owners and managers paid certain employees in cash and did not report or pay over tax withholdings for those employees. In many cases, these employees were paid in cash because they were illegal aliens without work authorization.
For example, co-conspirator Bahadar “Sam” Durrani and Butt caused a tax loss of more than $1.2 million by failing to withhold, account for and pay over employment taxes on cash wages for employees at several restaurants, including in Zanesville.
Butt was charged by a bill of information on Aug. 11 and pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit tax fraud.
Durrani has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in October.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Murfreesboro Woman Charged with Threat to Murder United States Senator Marsha BlackburnRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Penelope R. Convertino, age 22, of Murfreesboro, has been charged by criminal complaint with making a threat to murder a federal official with the intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn while she was engaged in the performance of her official duties, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.
“Our public officials should be able to do their jobs without receiving vile death threats,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “Threatening public officials with deadly violence cannot and will not be tolerated. We will not hesitate to hold those who make these kinds of violent threats accountable for their crimes.”
According to court documents, on Friday, May 30, 2025, a voice message was left on the voicemail for Senator Blackburn’s Nashville satellite Senate office. One of Senator Blackburn’s staff listened to the voicemail the following Monday. In it, the caller said, “My name is mother**ker and I’m gonna kill Marsha Blackburn. I’m gonna shoot her with a gun. I’m gonna blow up her head on national TV. She will literally have brains splattered behind her because she will not be a person. She will be a dead f**king body.”
Convertino was arrested earlier today by FBI agents.
If convicted, Convertino faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office. Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
# # # # #
Militia Members Sentenced for Conspiracy to Murder Border Patrol Officers, Attempted Murder of FBI AgentsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two members of the 2nd American Militia were sentenced on Aug. 27, 2025, in federal court for their roles in a 2022 conspiracy to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents and, related to their shooting at FBI agents during the execution of a search warrant, of attempting to murder federal agents.
Bryan C. Perry, 39, of Clarksville, Tenn., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 15 consecutive life terms in federal prison without parole for his convictions for one count of conspiracy to murder a federal officer and fourteen counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The court also sentenced Perry to concurrent terms of imprisonment of 20 years for his convictions for seven counts of attempted murder of a federal officer, seven counts of assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and one count of assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury. Perry further received concurrent sentences of varying terms of imprisonment for his convictions for conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that involves physical contact, depredation of government property, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of body armor by a violent felon, and communicating a threat to injure. The court also sentenced Perry to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $3,717.98.
Jonathan S. O’Dell, 35, of Warsaw, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 165 years in federal prison without parole for one count each of conspiracy to murder a federal officer, conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury, depredation of government property, possession of a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, communicating a threat to injure, making a false statement, escape from custody, two counts of assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, seven counts each of attempted murder of a federal officer and assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and 14 counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The Court also sentenced O’Dell to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $19,234.63.
On Nov. 7, 2024, Perry and O’Dell were found guilty after a 9-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo. The jury deliberated for about two hours and 23 minutes before returning guilty verdicts, ending a trial that began on Oct. 28, 2024. On the morning of the first day of trial, O’Dell pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, one count of making a false statement to a federal agent, and one count of escaping from custody.
Evidence introduced during the trial showed that, throughout the summer, and fall of 2022, Perry and O’Dell recruited and attempted to recruit other individuals to join the 2nd American Militia, a group they co-founded, and join in their plan to travel to the United States-Mexico border to go to war with U.S. Border Patrol. Perry posted several videos on TikTok in an attempt to recruit other members into their conspiracy and they advertised a recruitment event in Warsaw.
On Sept. 5, 2022, Perry, bringing at least two stolen firearms, body armor, and gas masks with him, traveled from Tennessee to Warsaw to live with O’Dell. They used O’Dell’s residence as a staging site as they prepared for their trip to the border and collected firearms, paramilitary gear, ammunition, and other supplies.
On Sept. 12, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he discussed illegal immigrants coming into the United States from Mexico. Perry stated that the U.S. Border Patrol was committing treason by allowing these illegal immigrants to enter the United States, and that the penalty for treason was death. Perry posted another video on TikTok the next day in which he stated that he was “ready to go to war against this government.”
On Sept. 22, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we’re out to shoot to kill” and that “our group is gonna go protect this country.” On Oct. 3, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we were going out huntin’,” that his group was taking their “full kits,” and that they were leaving for the United States – Mexico border on Oct. 8, 2022.
O’Dell and Perry continued to conduct preparatory steps to further their conspiracy, including continuing to recruit others, attempting to acquire other gear, and practicing shooting at targets with firearms.
On Oct. 7, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s residence. Federal agents approached the property at about 6 a.m. in vehicles with red and blue lights activated. As the FBI approached, an agent utilized a loudspeaker in the lead armored vehicle, the “Bearcat,” to announce they were with the FBI and that they had a search warrant for the residence. Seven agents were inside or behind the Bearcat. The FBI agent began to repeat the announcement, again stating that they were with the FBI, when gunshots were fired from a front window at the lead FBI vehicle. Perry fired 11 shots from his Voodoo Innovations multi-caliber rifle with an AM-15 lower receiver. Several rounds hit the lead FBI vehicle.
Agents responded by deploying flash bangs around the residence. Agents used the Bearcat to conduct a breach of the front door of the residence using an affixed ram. Agents did not return fire and, after the gunshots ceased, the FBI established a perimeter and began communicating with the persons inside the residence to come out.
O’Dell and his girlfriend came out of the residence and surrendered to authorities. Perry eventually came out of the residence. Perry took down an American flag from the front porch of the residence and walked down the steps while waving the flag. After beginning to walk to the agents, Perry then turned around and moved back to the residence. Agents pursued Perry, who began to fight and swing his fists, striking the agents several times and causing injury to at least one agent before he was taken into custody.
Agents then searched the residence and found six firearms, 23 magazines filled with ammunition, 1,770 rounds of various other ammunition, 11 spent casings, two sets of body armor with corresponding plate carrier vests, one handheld radio, two sniper rests, two gas masks, two ballistic helmets, multiple containers of a binary explosive mixture commonly sold as an exploding target, zip ties, medical supplies, and two 2nd American Militia patches. Agents also found two go-bags that contained food, provisions, and other gear.
Later, on Sept. 29, 2023, while O’Dell was in custody awaiting trial on the charges, he escaped from the Phelps County, Mo. Jail and eventually led authorities on a high-speed chase in Ray County, Mo., before being apprehended.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Mexican National with Three Prior Deportations and Multiple Felony Convictions Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Gloria Navarro to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after being removed from the country on three prior occasions.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Salvador Gonzalez-Sanchez was found by immigration officials in Nevada after he was previously deported in 2011, 2017, and 2023. Gonzalez-Sanchez has four previous felony convictions: illegal alien in possession of a firearm from 2010, deported alien found unlawfully in the United States from 2016, assault with firearm on person from 2021, and conspiracy to violate uniform controlled substance act from 2023.
Gonzalez-Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. This was his second such conviction, as he was convicted in 2016 for the same crime.
After Gonzalez-Sanchez serves his sentence, he will be deported to Mexico for a fourth time.
Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
###
Mexican National Sentenced to 228 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Heriberto Martinez Contreras, 24 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Martinez Contreras was sentenced to a total of 228 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.According to documents in the case, Martinez Contreras is an alien illegally present in the United States. He led and organized a mission from Indianapolis to Fort Wayne to deliver ten pounds of methamphetamine for an anticipated $18,000 payday. Law enforcement intercepted the delivery in Fort Wayne and, after a traffic stop, recovered the drugs along with an AK-style rifle, four high-capacity magazines, and ammunition. Laboratory testing later confirmed the methamphetamine to be approximately 97% pure, weighing over 4.3 kilograms.
“Heriberto Martinez Contreras wanted to sell ten pounds of near-pure poison to those who would distribute it across our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “And he was willing to take dangerous measures to protect that transaction, as he demonstrated when he armed himself with a style of high-powered rifle best known for its reliability in combat. Thankfully, the excellent work of our law enforcement team ended Martinez Contrera’s attempt to extract a profit from the suffering that drugs like methamphetamine inflict on Americans. This case should leave no doubt in the minds of foreign criminals: if you come to northern Indiana to ply your trade, you will be discovered, you will be prosecuted, you will pay for your crimes with many years of your life, and you will then be deported.”
“Today’s guilty plea makes clear that the FBI will not tolerate drug traffickers who combine deadly narcotics with firepower,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge, Timothy O’Malley. “Heriberto Martinez Contreras, an illegal alien, sought to deliver ten pounds of methamphetamine of near total purity while armed with an AK-style rifle and multiple magazines of ammunition. His actions represent not only a severe threat to public safety, but also highlight the dangers posed to our country when individuals who are in the United States illegally engage in violent criminal activity. The FBI remains resolute in its mission to protect our communities and safeguard our nation by dismantling trafficking operations and ensuring that violent offenders face justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration North Central Laboratory, and the Indiana State Police Regional Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Ashcraft.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation and furthers the mission of both the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and Operation Take Back America. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. HSTF and Operation Take Back America specifically target those involved in transnational crime, including those who traffic in illegal drugs.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Mexican National Sentenced to 12 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the USRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States.
Jose Raul Falcon-Reyes, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry after deportation and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes.
Falcon-Reyes was previously convicted of improper entry by an alien in 2015 and was subsequently deported to Mexico that same year. He illegally returned to the United States one month after he was deported. On Feb. 15, 2025, he was arrested in Pettis County, Mo., for this charge.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, and Enforcement & Removal Operations conducted the investigation.
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).
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Hilario Dorantes-Ortiz, age 40, a Mexican National residing in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 28, 2025, to 30 days’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for illegal reentry into the United States.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Dorantes-Ortiz was previously removed from the United States on July 20, 2022, via Brownsville, Texas. After being charged with aggravated indecent assault in March 2025, Dorantes-Ortiz was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He had not obtained legal permission to reenter the country.
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).
This matter was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.
# # #
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Entering United States After Being Previously DeportedRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican national pleaded guilty today for his illegal re-entry into the United States after being previously deported.
Carlos Omar Rogel-Sanchez, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally re-entering the United States after being previously deported.
Rogel-Sanchez was arrested on July 5, 2025, by the McDonald County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office for an outstanding arrest warrant out of Joplin, Mo., for a prior assault. Rogel-Sanchez has been previously deported from the United States on at least four prior occasions.
Under federal statutes, Miller is subject to a sentence of up to two years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the McDonald County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office.
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).
Mexican National Convicted of Misusing a Texas Inmate’s Social Security Number is SentencedRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A Mexican national residing in Pandora, Ohio, who admitted to using a social security number that belongs to an inmate at a Texas prison as his own, has been sentenced.
Julio Juarez Garcia, 32, was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after he pleaded guilty in July to misuse of a social security number in violation of Title 42 United States Code 408(a)(7)(B).
According to court documents and testimony before Judge Zouhary, on Feb. 28, the defendant attempted to file taxes for the 2023 tax year with a fiscal officer for the Village of Pandora. He filled out tax forms and presented a W-2 document issued by his employer, where he had been employed since 2020. Law enforcement subsequently discovered that Garcia had submitted false information. During the investigation, it was learned that the defendant was using a social security number that was not his, but rather, it was a number assigned to an inmate who is serving a prison sentence at the Three Rivers Federal Correctional Institution in Live Oak, Texas. Garcia later admitted to investigators that the social security number was not his and that he was in the country illegally and was a citizen of Mexico. He is currently being held in federal custody pending removal from the United States.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Border Patrol, and the Village of Pandora Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio.
Man Indicted on Federal Fraud and Tax Charges for Allegedly Defrauding Individuals out of $2.6 Million and Evading Income TaxesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been indicted on federal fraud and tax charges for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals out of at least $2.6 million and willfully evading income taxes.
An indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges JAWAD FAKROUNE, also known as “Angelino Escobar,” “Anjelino Escobar,” “Angelo Escobar,” “Giovanni Escobar,” and “Angelo Baldini,” 45, with seven counts of wire fraud, four counts of tax evasion, and four counts of failing to file income taxes. Arraignment in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
According to the indictment, Fakroune is a foreign national who recently resided in the Chicago area. In 2022, Fakroune fraudulently obtained approximately $2.45 million from an individual by falsely representing that Fakroune would invest the money in a shipping container business and a marijuana growing operation, the indictment states. Instead of investing the money, Fakroune used nearly all of it for his personal purposes, including purchasing a residence in Lemont, Ill., paying rent for a residence in New York, funding restaurant and shopping trips in New York City, purchasing a 2022 Cadillac Escalade, and buying multiple high-end watches, the indictment states.
The indictment alleges that Fakroune engaged in similar fraud schemes between 2023 and 2025. One scheme involved Fakroune obtaining $150,000 from a victim by falsely representing that Fakroune would invest the money in a coffee shop or Mexican restaurant. Fakroune allegedly caused this victim to sign a lease on Fakroune’s behalf for a residence in Michigan City, Ind., based upon Fakroune’s false representations that, in exchange for signing the lease, Fakroune would repay the victim $300,000 in connection with the purported coffee shop or Mexican restaurant investment. In fact, Fakroune did not repay any of the victim’s money, the indictment states.
The tax charges accuse Fakroune of attempting to evade income taxes and willfully failing to file income taxes for the calendar years 2020 through 2023.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Hennessy and Richard M. Rothblatt.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
fakroune_indictment.pdfMadison Man Who Pointed Loaded Handgun During Dispute Sentenced to 6 ½ Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joseph Harrison, 36, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 6 ½ years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Harrison pleaded guilty to this charge on June 11, 2025.
During a dispute on April 9, 2024, Harrison brandished a gun, pointed it in a woman’s face, and threatened to shoot her. He then fled in another woman’s car. Because Harrison was on state supervision at the time for a prior criminal offense, officers tracked him using GPS monitoring. Officers stopped and arrested Harrison and then searched the vehicle, where they found a loaded Beretta .22 caliber handgun under the seat Harrison had occupied. Harrison is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Harrison had spent approximately 17 years in and out of jail or prison and was on a “disastrous path for everyone, society most of all.” Judge Conley also noted that Harrison had a history of violence, particularly toward women. Judge Conley found a substantial sentence of 6 ½ years was necessary to protect the public.
The charge against Harrison was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Ginsberg, Jennifer Remington, and Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, 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).
Luzerne County Man Sentenced to 120 Months Imprisonment on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jon Robert Donohue, age 32, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 27, 2025, to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by four years of supervision by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on May 9, 2022, Donohue was serving a house arrest sentence in Luzerne County when probation officers received information that Donohue was trafficking drugs and possessed firearms. During a search of his residence, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, seven firearms, including a stolen firearm, drug trafficking paraphernalia, 593 grams of methamphetamine, 782 grams of cocaine, 72 grams of MDMA and 1.3 kilograms of marijuana were seized. Donahue was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his prior record.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force and the Luzerne County Adult Probation and Parole Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted 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).
# # #
Los Angeles Lawyer Found Guilty of Five Federal Charges in Connection with $2.1 Million Bribe Payment from Oil CompanyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles-area lawyer was found guilty by a jury today of receiving a $2.1 million bribe while serving as an officer of Nigeria’s state-owned oil company in connection with negotiating favorable drilling rights for a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned oil company.
Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo, 58, a.k.a. “Pollie,” of Valencia, who practiced immigration, family, and personal injury law out of an office in Koreatown, was found guilty of three counts of transactional money laundering, one count of tax evasion, and one count of obstruction of justice.
According to evidence presented at a four-day trial, Okoronkwo, who is a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria, was a foreign official who served as the general manager of the upstream division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC), a state-owned company through which Nigeria’s government developed that nation’s fossil fuel and natural gas reserves, including through partnerships with foreign oil companies. In this role, Okoronkwo owed a fiduciary duty to the Nigerian government and was a public official.
In October 2015, Addax Petroleum, a Switzerland-based subsidiary of Sinopec, a Chinese state-owned petroleum, gas, and petrochemical conglomerate, wired a payment of $2,105,263 to an Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA) in the name of Okoronkwo’s Los Angeles law firm, purportedly for his work as a consultant who negotiated and completed a settlement agreement with the NNPC with respect to Addax’s drilling rights in Nigeria. According to the indictment, Addax calculated that it stood to lose billions of dollars if its favorable drilling rights were not secured.
The engagement letter that Addax signed that month with Okoronkwo’s law office – with a fake address in Lagos, Nigeria – was a ruse intended to conceal the fact that its payment to Okoronkwo was a bribe in exchange for his influence in securing more favorable financial terms relating to its crude oil drilling in Nigeria.
To conceal the illegal bribery scheme, Addax falsely characterized the $2.1 million payment as a payment for legal services, lied to an auditor about the payment, and fired executives who questioned the payment’s propriety. To create the false impression that the bribe payment constituted client funds, Okoronkwo received the payment in his law firm’s IOLTA.
In November 2017, Okoronkwo used $983,200 of the illegally obtained funds to make a down payment on a house in Valencia.
Okoronkwo omitted the $2.1 million bribe payment from his 2015 federal income tax return. He also obstructed justice in June 2022 when he lied to federal investigators when he told them he did not use any of the $2.1 million to purchase a house and that the money represented client funds rather than income to his law office.
United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled a December 1 sentencing hearing, at which time Okoronkwo will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count, up to 10 years in federal prison for the obstruction of justice count, and up to five years in federal prison for the tax evasion count. Okoronkwo is free on $50,000 bond.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Nisha Chandran of the Major Frauds Section, and Alexander Su of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.
Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Julianne E. Murray, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that on August 24, 2025, Dwayne Fountain, 54, of Middletown, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of possession with intent to distribute, and two counts of distribution of controlled substances. Dwayne Fountain was convicted after a trial in March 2025. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence, finding that the defendant was a leader of a drug trafficking organization. The amount of fentanyl seized from this organization, over ten kilograms, represents the largest known fentanyl seizure in Delaware history.
This case was the result of a long-term investigation spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Delaware State Police, and Dover Police Department. The evidence at trial showed that Dwayne Fountain bought kilograms of drugs from his suppliers and added ingredients like xylazine, also known as “tranq,” to make the drugs more potent and profitable. Agents found a kilogram press in a home he owned in Middletown, which was used to put the drugs back into “brick” form after they were adulterated. The defendant also rented an apartment in Bear, Delaware, where he stored his inventory of drugs. Search warrants executed in the case led to the seizure of over 10.5 kilograms of fentanyl, over 200 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, over 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, and nearly 3 kilograms of heroin.
The government stressed at sentencing that the defendant knowingly placed the public in danger by mixing and selling drugs that frequently cause overdoses and deaths. On a recorded call, the defendant admitted that he knew the drugs he was selling could kill people stating, “They said it's too strong, come on man... We all got some sh*t that can make a [person]die. For real, for real. You gotta know how to mix it right.” The defendant also stored his drugs in the same apartment where his teenaged son lived, and he coached his other son about how to manage a drug operation on wiretap calls.
U.S. Attorney Murray commented, “The defendant well knew the danger he was causing, both to his own family and to the public. He sold drugs anyway, for no reason other than the desire to make money. The Court’s sentence sends the right message – selling drugs, especially fentanyl – will land you in federal prison for many years.”
“Law Enforcement took Dwayne Fountain off the streets in 2023. He was enriching himself by selling poison in our community on a scale not often seen. Surely this arrest was a contributor to the 36% drop in overdose deaths recorded in Delaware in 2024,” offered Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson. “I understand and acknowledge the broader effort in reducing the overdose death rate in the First State, but sometimes we forget the months of crime fighting efforts put in by our police officers. Cases that involve both physical and electronic surveillance are labor intensive and require considerable sacrifice. This was a tremendous effort by all the involved officers. They made Dover a little safer and they certainly saved lives.”
“This case serves as a reminder of the dangers our communities face from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids,” said Colonel William D. Crotty, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “The amount of fentanyl seized in this case could have led to countless overdoses. Thanks to the dedication and teamwork of our detectives and federal partners, a major supplier has been taken off the streets, and lives were undoubtedly saved.”
“Dwayne Fountain was poisoning our communities through the distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Working with our law enforcement partners from the Delaware State Police, Dover Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office, Mr. Fountain was brought to justice through his sentencing to a 25-year term of incarceration,” stated Special Agent in Charge Thomas Hodnett, DEA Philadelphia Field Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer K. Welsh and Samuel S. Frey prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by the DEA Dover Post of Duty, Delaware State Police and Dover Police Department, with assistance from the DEA Scranton Resident Office, Delaware National Guard, Smyrna Police Department, Ocean View Police Department, and Delmar Police Department.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 23-CR-49-CFC.
Lancaster Woman Who Defrauded Nonprofit Veterans Organizations Sentenced to Two Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jessika L. Hiepler, 47, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, 100 hours of community service, and $432,925.35 in restitution for her scheme to defraud two nonprofit veterans organizations, American Legion Post 34 and American Veterans Post 19. Hiepler and her associate netted over $1.425 million from the fraud scheme.
In August of last year, the defendant was charged by information with two counts of wire fraud, and she pleaded guilty in September. As part of her plea agreement, Hiepler also agreed to a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $1,425,847.24.
As detailed in court filings, for nearly 15 years, Hiepler served as a board member and as the manager, treasurer, and financial officer for American Legion Post 34 (“Legion Post 34”). In 2019, Hiepler offered to “bail out” a separate veterans organization, American Veterans Post 19 (“AMVETS Post 19”), that was facing financial difficulties. Under the pretext of bailing out AMVETS Post 19, Hiepler assumed control over its financial affairs and acquired its valuable four-acre commercial property in Lancaster through theft, deceit, and misrepresentation. While Hiepler presented herself as a good-hearted veteran looking out for other veterans, she lied, stole, manipulated records, and betrayed her employers’ trust for her own financial benefit.
First, Hiepler misled AMVETS Post 19 to secure approval for the “bailout,” including with the false promises of an interest-free loan, minimal rent, and full transparency. To raise funds for the “bailout,” she diverted funds from her then-employer, Legion Post 34.
Once in control of AMVETS Post 19’s finances, Hiepler stole from AMVETS Post 19 and used its funds for her own benefit. She concealed her self-dealing, manipulated and altered financial records, and destroyed financial and business records at both Legion Post 34 and AMVETS Post 19.
From the outset, the defendant schemed about making money and selling the AMVETS Post 19’s property on Fairview Avenue in Lancaster. In Hiepler’s own words:
- “[W]e will make our money and they [AMVETS Post 19] can kiss our a[**]”
- “I am ready to get rid of these motherf[*****]s. . . . I can’t wait for sh[**] to be ours”
- “I can’t wait to see their face when we hand them their eviction notice”
- “Wizardry at work / Madoff activated”
- “Honestly all I want is my money. That’s it. I could care f[***]ing less about any of them.”
Three years after acquiring the AMVETS Post 19’s property for a below-market rate of $500,000 through the “bailout,” Hiepler’s real estate investment company sold the fraudulently obtained property for $1.95 million and booked a gain of $1.425 million after expenses.
“Jessika Hiepler abused the great reputation of veterans to win the trust of those who support them,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “All the while, she boasted about her schemes, mocked her victims, and celebrated her role in their misfortunes. These were calculated crimes of greed, not of impulse or desperation, and justice demanded that Hiepler be held to account.”
“Jessika Hiepler and her associate pocketed over one million dollars intended for organizations that support our nation’s veterans, and today illustrates our commitment to holding to account anyone who preys on the public for personal profit,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners at every level, will continue to safeguard the integrity of these organizations and bring these fraudsters to justice.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel Dalke and J. Andrew Jenemann.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation to Pay up to $40M to Resolve Criminal Charge Related to the Sale of Adulterated MicroCool Surgical GownsRead the Press Release
Note: This press release has been updated to more accurately reflect the terms of the DPA.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Kimberly-Clark), a U.S.-based multinational consumer goods and personal care company, has agreed to pay up to $40.4 million to resolve a criminal charge relating to the company’s sale of adulterated MicroCool surgical gowns.
“Kimberly-Clark betrayed the trust placed in it by consumers and healthcare providers when it chose to defraud the FDA and bring adulterated surgical gowns to market for its own financial gain,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s resolution demonstrates the Criminal Division’s unwavering commitment to holding corporations accountable when they threaten the integrity of our healthcare system. This resolution, in which the company has agreed to pay up to $40 million, sends a clear message that those who endanger patients and medical professionals will face significant criminal penalties.”
“Companies that sell medical products cannot misrepresent the safety and quality of those products,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously enforce laws that protect patients and medical professionals.”
A criminal information filed today in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas charges Kimberly-Clark with one count of introducing adulterated surgical gowns into interstate commerce with an intent to defraud and mislead. According to court filings, a Kimberly-Clark employee conducted fraudulent testing on Kimberly-Clark’s MicroCool gowns to avoid having to submit a premarket notification to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after Kimberly-Clark made a change to the gowns. A premarket notification is meant to show FDA that a medical device is as safe and effective as an already legally marketed device. Based on the fraudulent testing, Kimberly-Clark sold the gowns after the change without a new premarket notification, marketing the gowns as providing the highest level of protection against fluid and viruses.
Under the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement filed with the criminal information, Kimberly-Clark will pay up to $40,400,000, which consists of a monetary penalty of $24,500,000, a forfeiture of profits of $3,900,000, and up to $12,000,000 in victim compensation. The deferred prosecution agreement resolves a criminal investigation into Kimberly-Clark’s sale of its adulterated MicroCool surgical gowns under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).
According to court documents, surgical gowns sold in the United States are subject to regulation by the FDA, which recognizes a system of classification set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) — known as the ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard. The ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard was first established in 2003 and revised to be more rigorous in 2012. Under the standard, the highest protection level for surgical gowns — AAMI Level 4 — is reserved for gowns intended to be used in surgeries and other high-risk medical procedures on patients suspected of having infectious diseases. To establish compliance with the standard, a surgical gown needs to demonstrate blood-borne pathogen resistance in each of several critical zones, including the sleeve, by preventing fluids from penetrating the gown.
As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, Kimberly-Clark admitted that, with an intent to defraud and mislead and to avoid filing a 510(k) premarket notification with FDA for its MicroCool gowns, an employee of Kimberly-Clark directed the preparation of test samples for the surgical gowns that did not meet the requirements of AAMI Level 4 testing. Kimberly-Clark further admitted that between late 2013 and late 2014, it sold millions of adulterated MicroCool surgical gowns labeled as AAMI Level 4 after the fraudulent testing and without a new 510(k) FDA premarket notification. In total, Kimberly-Clark sold approximately $49,000,000 worth of adulterated MicroCool gowns to customers in the United States and abroad.
The deferred prosecution agreement requires Kimberly-Clark to, among other obligations, provide ongoing cooperation with and disclosures to the Justice Department, implement a compliance and ethics program, and report to the Justice Department regarding remediation and implementation of these compliance measures.
The government reached this resolution with Kimberly-Clark based on a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense conduct and that Kimberly-Clark ceased manufacturing the surgical gowns at issue in this matter. Kimberly-Clark did not voluntarily and timely self-disclose the conduct to the department, but did receive full credit for its cooperation with the department’s investigation, which included meeting requests from the government promptly, making regular factual presentations and updates to the government, and producing extensive documentation to the Offices, including documents located in foreign jurisdictions.
The criminal case was investigated by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
Trial Attorneys David Gunn, Max Goldman, and Amanda Kelly of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Jacob Foster, Acting Chief of the Criminal Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting health care fraud (HCF) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s HCF enforcement efforts can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Kansas man indicted for false statements during firearms purchasesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with making straw purchases of firearms.
According to court documents, N’Darius Sullivan, 24, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on two counts of false statements during two separate firearm purchases.
In 2024, Sullivan is accused of knowingly making false written statements to a licensed firearms dealer to obtain two Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber pistols. On two different occasions Sullivan allegedly lied by indicating he was not purchasing the firearms on behalf of another person.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Marcos Alvarado-Machorro, 44, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States, was indicted on one count of reentry of previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting the case.
Darryl James Bush, 46, of Clay Center, Kansas, was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of child pornography. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Walton is prosecuting the case.
Keeno D. Collins, 31, of Edwardsville was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
Meliton Garcia-Guillermo, 43, a Mexican national residing illegally in Olathe, was indicted on one count of reentry of previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting the case.
Tommie Ernest Giles, 52, of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Sohail Reza Ibrahimi, 27, of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Jason Teeman, 46, of Raymore, Missouri, was indicted on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Kansas City Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the SBA under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Rasheda McDaniel, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, on or about March 22, 2021, McDaniel and co-defendant Briauna Adams used the personal identification information of another person to submit an online application for a COVID-19 relief PPP loan in that individual’s name.
The loan application listed a business with Schedule C gross receipts of $147,412 and a net income of $98,562. The true business tax return listed zero taxable income and did not have a Schedule C.
On or about April 2, 2021, the PPP loan was approved and $20,832 was wire deposited. On the same day, $2,000 was transferred to an account controlled by Adams. An amount of $18,830 was transferred to defendant McDaniel’s account.
On or about Feb. 27, 2021, co-defendant Adams submitted an online application in McDaniel’s name, using personal identification information McDaniel provided to Adams, for a separate COVID-19 relief PPP loan.
The application and supporting documents stated that McDaniel was a sole proprietor of a business established July 7, 2017, that had an average monthly payroll of $8,333. As part of the application, a 2019 Form Schedule C was submitted listing gross receipts of $144,080 and a profit of $99,982. McDaniel did not have a business during that time with gross or net income in those amounts.
On or about March 4, 2021, the defendant’s personal account received a $20,832 wire deposit. The same day, McDaniel made a $15,000 cash withdrawal from the account.
McDaniel’s co-defendant, Briauna Adams, pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges on May 7, 2025, and is awaiting sentencing.
McDaniel faces up to 22 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentence of the defendant will be determined by the court based upon the advisory sentencing guidelines and other factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.
Kalispell man sentenced to over 2 years in prison on illegal firearm possessionRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Kalispell man who possessed a firearm illegally was sentenced today to 32 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Caelus James Hattel, 22, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in August 2023, Hattel was convicted of criminal endangerment, a felony, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, in Flathead County District Court. Hattel was sentenced to five years to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, with four of those years suspended, on each count, to run concurrently.
On September 26, 2024, the owner of Raven Rock Armory in Kalispell, MT, reported that a white male with a beanie and hand tattoos stole a Ruger SR-1911 10mm stainless steel pistol from his store, then fled. On October 3, 2024, Law enforcement officers contacted Hattel and located the stolen Ruger SR-1911 inside Hattel’s pants against his inner left thigh. The owner of Raven Rock Armory identified Hattel as the thief who took the firearm in September.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, and Kalispell Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
XXX
Justice Department Secures Agreement with North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections to Improve Communication Access for Incarcerated People who are Deaf or Hard of HearingRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today secured an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections (NCDAC) to ensure that incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities are provided effective communication and the opportunity to participate equally in NCDAC’s prison services, programs, and activities. NCDAC operates more than 50 prison facilities and houses more than 30,000 individuals.
The agreement resolves complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) alleging that NCDAC fails to provide incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities with sign language interpreters, hearing aids, cochlear implants, text telephones, videophones, and other auxiliary aids and services. Under the settlement agreement, NCDAC will identify and accommodate incarcerated individuals with appropriate auxiliary aids and services, as well as provide training on the ADA to staff.
“The ADA requires effective communication for incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities so they have access to critical programs, including religious and vocational services,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to eliminating barriers, including communication barriers, that prevent individuals with disabilities from participating fully in prison programs.”
To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov.
Jury Convicts Sherwood Man for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A federal jury convicted a Sherwood man who illegally possessed a firearm. Following a two-day trial and after approximately two hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Keith Harris, 24, of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On November 8, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Harris that charged him with one count he took to trial.
The jury returned the verdict Wednesday evening to United States District Court Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr., who will sentence Harris at a later date. Harris will remain in federal custody pending sentencing. The statutory penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is not more than 15 years imprisonment.
The evidence presented at trial showed that on October 26, 2022, a law enforcement officer with the Little Rock Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Challenger for speeding. Law enforcement officers learned that Harris, who was a passenger, was on active parole with a search waiver on file. Harris was asked by law enforcement officers to step out of the vehicle to conduct a search of his person and the area of the car where he was seated. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement officers located a Glock, model 22, .40 caliber firearm under the seat where Harris had been sitting.
Harris was convicted by the state of Arkansas in 2019 for being a felon in possession of a firearm following an incident at a gas station in North Little Rock that resulted in the murder of a U.S. Air Force airman during an armed robbery. Harris, who was 18 at the time, was initially arrested for capital murder and aggravated robbery before pleading guilty to the lesser charge after police identified Harris as one of the four people involved in the incident. Harris received five years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and was paroled in October 2021. Harris was also convicted as an adult of two counts of theft of property by threat of serious physical injury following an incident in 2016.
The present investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Eldridge and Amanda Fields prosecuted the case.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Jefferson County Man Admits Producing, Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from DeSoto, Missouri on Thursday pleaded guilty to child pornography charges involving three victims.
Dylan James, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. He admitted recording a sexual act with a 13-year-old in 2024 and then distributing that recording.
Investigators later discovered evidence of two more victims on James’ phone. The second victim, who was 15, told investigators that James gave her alcohol and “possibly some vapes” in exchange for sexually explicit images. The third victim was 16 when James watched a livestream of her engaging in sex acts with her boyfriend. He later paid her for additional videos, James’ plea agreement says.
James is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2. The production charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years. The distribution charge carries a potential penalty of 5 to 20 years.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in January 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the home of Janard Fitzgerald Goins, 34, and found methamphetamine, crack, and marijuana, $5,877 dollars, and a Glock 17 9mm handgun. Goins’ phone contained several photographs showing his possession of the Glock 17 handgun, along with other evidence of drug trafficking. Goins has a prior felony conviction from Illinois.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Goins will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Iowa City Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.