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22 August 2025
Mexican national, illegally living in Jacksonville, indicted for unlawfully returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Jacksonville, has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Omar Galvan-Rodriguez, 41, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.
The indictment alleges that on May 9, 2025, Galvan-Rodriguez was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been previously deported.
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).
If convicted, Galvan-Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and deportation.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican national, illegally living in Hallsville, indicted for unlawfully returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Hallsville, has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jorge Martinez-Abundis, 38, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.
The indictment alleges that on February 14, 2025, Martinez-Abundis was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been deported on at least four previous occasions.
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).
If convicted, Martinez-Abundis faces up to 20 years in federal prison and deportation.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Richards.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After a Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Mexican national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Miguel Gomez-Sanchez, 45, to 10 months in prison. Gomez-Sanchez pleaded guilty on June 26, 2025.
According to court records, on May 10, 2025, Gomez-Sanchez was arrested by the Maine State Police for operating under the influence on I-95. Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) determined Gomez-Sanchez had previously been removed from the U.S. several times. He was most recently removed in 2022 after being convicted for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.
ICE ERO investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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Man Pleads Guity to Murder in Drive-By ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Korriek Akinola, 24, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to murder for his role in a 2023 drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of Joshua White, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Akinola pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of second-degree murder while armed on August 18, 2025. Sentencing is scheduled for October 24, 2025, before the Honorable Neal Kravitz.
On June 6, 2023, the defendant and another individual were in a white Infiniti SUV near the Shell gas station located at 4700 South Capitol Street SE. While there, they spotted the victim, Joshua White, riding around in the parking lot on a Veo bike. Akinola and the other individual drove to a separate location and switched vehicles to a stolen black Honda Accord. The defendant left his cell phone in the white Infiniti SUV and switched out the hard tag on black Honda Accord for a temporary tag, in an effort to conceal his movement. Akinola and the other individual then drove back to the Shell gas station, where Mr. White was still located. The defendant drove into the parking lot of the Shell gas station and accelerated rapidly toward the victim. Akinola and the other individual shot at Mr. White, who was hit by gunfire multiple times. The defendant then sped away, leaving Mr. White to die in the parking lot.
Akinola evaded arrest from the police on multiple dates, but he was ultimately arrested by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force on July 24, 2023.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Hall and Natalie Hynum.
Mississippi Medicaid Recipients Agree to Pay over $170,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations of Health Care Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS - Patrick A. Lemon, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced that former Medicaid recipients, Rajwinder Kaur and Kawaldeep Singh; Narinder Kaur and Prabhdeep Momi; Bobby and Priyalpreet Babber; Gurinder and Mehaknoor Babber; and Navdeep Basra, have agreed to pay a collective total of $173,627.00 to resolve allegations that they knowingly falsified income to unlawfully create eligibility for Mississippi Medicaid health care benefits for their dependents.
The Medicaid Program is a state and federally funded health benefit program intended to assist low-income individuals and families. The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (MDOM) is the single state agency responsible for administering health care benefits for eligible, low-income individuals in Mississippi.
According to the United States, despite Medicaid’s low-income requirement, these recipients, who were either officers, registered agents, members or owners of convenience stores, gas stations, liquor stores, restaurants or other businesses, falsely represented on various Mississippi Medicaid health care benefit applications and renewals that their respective household derived a nominal amount of income from employment. As such, the United States alleges that they misrepresented their earned income, causing the MDOM to pay health care coverage benefits to which they were not entitled.
Individuals who fraudulently obtain Medicaid benefits that they are not entitled to divert funds meant to pay for services for legitimate enrollees, including the elderly and disabled,” stated Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Working with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to investigate Medicaid enrollment fraud schemes to protect the integrity of this vital, taxpayer-funded program.
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deidre Colson and Keesha Middleton for the Southern District of Mississippi handled the cases.
Claims resolved by settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland to stalking his victim using facilities of interstate or foreign commerce.
According to court records, for a period lasting until approximately August 2021, Brent Ouellette, 33, engaged in a course of conduct against his victim that included posting sexually explicit videos or pictures of his victim online without consent, contacting his victim posing as other people, and obtaining his victim’s social media login information.
Ouellette faces a maximum prison term of five years and a fine up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
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Law Enforcement Officers Honored for Investigations of Conspiracy to Murder Border Patrol Agents and Violent Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, recognized six local and federal law enforcement officers for their work on significant investigations as recipients of the 2025 Guardian of Justice Award.
The award recipients were honored on Aug. 21, 2025, during the 23rd Annual Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee Training Seminar in Springfield, Mo. The prestigious law enforcement award is presented annually by the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent Isaac McPheeters was recognized for his investigation of two members of the self-styled 2nd American Militia who conspired to go “to war with border patrol.” The conspiracy to murder Border Patrol officers and immigrants was thwarted after one of the conspirators attempted to murder FBI agents by firing at them as they executed a search warrant on the eve of their planned trip to the United States – Mexico border.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent Jerry Wine, along with ATF Task Force Officers David Schroeder (Greene County Sheriff’s Office), Justin Gargus (Christian County Sheriff’s Office), Eric Pinegar (Springfield Police Department), and Evan Nicholson (Springfield Police Department) were recognized for their efforts in reducing violent gun crime and gang activity in the Springfield, Mo. area.
“I would like to congratulate and commend the agents and task force officers for their effort on these investigations. As a result of their hard work and dedication, these violent individuals are off the streets and citizens of the Western District are safer,” said U.S. Attorney Price.
Conspiracy to Murder Border Patrol
After a two-week jury trial in October and November 2024, Bryan C. Perry, of Clarksville, Tenn., and Jonathan S. O’Dell, of Warsaw, Mo., were found guilty of their 2022 conspiracy to murder officers and employees of the United States government. They also were found guilty of seven counts of the attempted murder of FBI special agents, seven counts of assaulting FBI special agents with a deadly weapon, three counts of assaulting FBI special agents, 14 counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of damaging federal property.
Perry was also found guilty of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing body armor by a violent felon, and one count of threatening to injure another person. Additionally, O’Dell was found guilty of one count of threatening to injure another person and 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. O’Dell and Perry are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26, 2025.
Special Agent McPheeters coordinated with numerous local and federal agencies in Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas, at various stages of the complex investigation. When O’Dell escaped from custody in October 2023, Special Agent McPheeters and the FBI coordinated a wide-ranging search with numerous law enforcement agencies across the state of Missouri resulting in O’Dell’s apprehension within 48 hours.
“Violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated and recognition of the work to stop these individuals from carrying out their planned attack is greatly appreciated. The FBI will do everything it can to ensure the safety and security of all law enforcement from danger,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus.
Springfield Area Gun Violence
In November 2021, the ATF started investigating numerous shooting incidents including drive-by shootings and homicides in the Springfield, Mo., area involving juveniles and young adults. The shootings were in neighborhoods or crowded areas, endangering innocent citizens. Using crime gun data, social media profiles, and police reports, the ATF was able to identify multiple suspects responsible for the uptick in violent firearms offenses in the area. To date, approximately seven homicides and multiple drive-by shootings have been linked to these groups and their activities.
Many of the shooting suspects were identified as gang members and/or rappers. The primary gangs involved in these shootings were “F**k The Opps” (FTO) and “Only Da Brothers” (ODB). ATF’s investigations into the gangs have included street investigations, surveillance operations, search warrants, adoption of state firearm cases, examining federal firearm licensee paperwork, analyzing crime gun data, close coordination with local law enforcement and other federal law enforcement agencies, studying and understanding these gangs/groups, their associations and their social media, tracing firearms, submitting firearms to local crime laboratories and the ATF’s Firearms & Ammunition Technology Division, and directly assisting in local violent crime and homicide investigations. The ATF has provided vigorous trial support and have testified extensively at sentencing hearings.
As a result of the ATF’s investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted numerous gang members or associates, including the two identified leaders of FTO, Ezekiel King and Jardell Williams, both of Springfield, Mo. King and Williams were each sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. Of the gang members indicted, nine have been sentenced to federal prison, two were sentenced to supervised release, and nine are pending sentencing after pleading guilty. The indictment of multiple members of FTO and ODB has coincided with a sharp drop in shooting calls in the Greene County, Mo., area.
“This case is the gold standard for what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement work side by side to confront violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “By leveraging our collective resources through a task force, and utilizing crime gun intelligence tools such as NIBIN, we delivered prison sentences for those violent gang members who threatened the safety of our communities and a significant reduction in crime.”
Guardian of Justice Award
The annual Guardian of Justice Award recognizes a state or local officer as well as a federal agent for investigative excellence, selfless collaboration, tireless trial support, commendable diligence and professionalism, and noteworthy assistance to prosecution. The prestigious law enforcement award is presented by the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee each year during the law enforcement training seminar.
Last of Multiple Individuals Sentenced for Federal Kidnapping ConvictionRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Semaj Ayers, 23, of Detroit was sentenced yesterday to 110 months in federal prison following a conviction for federal kidnapping, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced today.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge James M. Deir of the ATF in Michigan.
Semaj Ayers entered a guilty plea to kidnapping on March 18, 2025. In total seven people were charged with conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping from this incident. Six people have been convicted. Cortez Blake, 23, and Nasir Lewis, 24, were convicted of kidnapping at trial, while Maijah Greene, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap; Shatonnia Kimbrough, 21, Armond Williams, 22, and Ayers pleaded guilty to kidnapping. The final defendant, Karamoh Turner, was acquitted at trial.
During the trial of Blake and Lewis, the jury heard evidence that the defendants worked with others to kidnap and beat their victim. The kidnappers wrongly believed the victim took part in a carjacking and the kidnapping was to retaliate and extract information from the victim. According to the testimony, a group of armed men took the victim from Sinai-Grace Hospital. The kidnappers first drove the victim to an empty lot in Detroit where the victim was beaten. The kidnappers then took the victim to a residence controlled by Blake, where the victim was held at gunpoint and beaten intermittently for hours. Finally, the victim was abandoned miles away on the roadside.
At trial, the government proved that the victim was held against her will at gunpoint in a house in Detroit where she was physically beaten. This was done in part to get information from her. Cellphones were used to recruit and direct others to join the kidnapping of the victim.
Two additional people were convicted of the carjacking that precipitated the kidnapping. Jamar Lee-Stinson pleaded guilty to carjacking and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 141 months in prison in May 2024. Amiaya Bryant also pleaded guilty to carjacking and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 120 months in prison in June 2024.
“Gang violence destroys the ability of innocent people in our community to simply go about their business. These defendants tried to take vengeance against another group and committed horrible violent crimes. And they kidnapped the wrong person to boot,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “We will do everything in our power to end this violence. The sentences imposed here—and the prosecutions we are bringing—are just the beginning.”
“Pure and simple, Ayers and his accomplices are predators who failed. They represent the worst of the worst in our community. They wrongfully imprisoned and tortured a member of our community. ATF is the federal violent crime police, and we are relentless in holding violent offenders accountable for their poor choices,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “In the end, Ayers should pack his bags and prepare to be reunited with his buddies as they seek redemption in federal prison for a long time.”
The United States Attorney’s Office and the ATF are focused on prosecuting those individuals who are using firearms to commit violent acts against people in the Eastern District of Michigan. The strategy is a part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN continues to be the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is an evidence-based program that focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to pursue lasting reductions in crime.
These charges are just some of the tangible results of this joint effort. The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to reduce violence in our communities. Along with ATF, this case has been investigated with the assistance of the Office of Inspector General – U.S. Department of Labor, the United States Marshals Service, the Detroit Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit, and the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Jacksonville felon charged with federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Jacksonville convicted felon has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Cody Nerren, 34, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that on April 24, 2025, Nerren was found in possession of a firearm in Cherokee County. Further investigation revealed Nerren had been previously convicted of several felonies and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.
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).
If convicted, Nerren faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Jackson Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Domique Desha Mathews, 30, was found by the Ridgeland Police Department to be in possession of two firearms during a traffic stop. One of the firearms was a Glock pistol with an attached machinegun conversion device a/k/a a switch, which converts a pistol into a functioning machinegun and is a violation of federal and state law. Mathews has a previous felony conviction for attempted house burglary. As a convicted felon he is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Mathews was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 11, 2025. He pled guilty to the federal charge on May 21, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen 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).
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery with FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man pleaded guilty on Wednesday, August 20th in federal court to the attempted robbery of a dollar store in Jackson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 2, 2022, Torrance Stewart, 31, entered a local business with the intent to rob the store with a firearm. Stewart brandished a pistol and threatened the store clerk into retrieving money from the cash register. When the register malfunctioned, Stewart fled on foot. Jackson Police Department (JPD) officers responded and apprehended Stewart in a nearby neighborhood.
Torrance Stewart is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement.
The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive is investigating the case with assistance from the Jackson Police Department.
This case was investigated as 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).
Indictment Charges 3 Connecticut Residents Involved in Check Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging MICHELLE FREEMAN, also known as “Thunder,” 37, of Waterbury, LESHANDA LONG, 43, of Hamden, and OMAR EADDY, 40, of Bridgeport, with participating in a stolen check and bank fraud scheme.
As alleged in the indictment and court documents, Freeman, Long, and Eaddy engaged in a scheme that involved the theft of checks from mailboxes and the manipulation of the stolen checks to make them payable to individuals who served as “check runners.” The check runners would then cash the fraudulent checks and provide the cash to the conspirators. Freeman led the conspiracy and was responsible for counterfeiting the fraudulent checks, which were primarily drawn from small business accounts in Connecticut. Long and Eaddy recruited the check runners to cash the checks at banks and check cashing locations.
The indictment, which was returned on August 20, 2025, charges Freeman, Long, and Eaddy with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.
Freeman, Long, and Eaddy were arrested on criminal complaints on May 6, 2025. They are each released on a $100,000 bond and are scheduled to be arraigned on August 26.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Connecticut Organized Financial Fraud (CUT OFF) Task Force, which includes personnel from the Milford, Westport, Fairfield, West Haven, Stamford, West Hartford, and Bridgeport Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Boyles.
Indian citizen living in McKinney, charged with federal tax violation in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – An Indian citizen living in McKinney has been charged with a federal tax violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Anil Surabhi, 43, an Indian citizen with permanent resident status in the United States, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with attempting to evade taxes.
The indictment alleges that Surabhi, while controlling an IT services company headquartered in Georgia, used funds from the company to fund his private personal investments, pay personal expenses, and make investments in real estate. Surabhi did not report those funds as income on his individual income tax returns.
If convicted, Surabhi faces up to 5 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Indian National Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 19, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Roshan Shah (age: 21), a citizen of India who was in Canada pursuant to a student visa before entering the United States pursuant to a visitor’s visa. Shah was charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).
According to the indictment and related criminal complaint, Shah traveled to different states and picked up cash and gold from various fraud victims. He then transferred those fraud proceeds to other members of the conspiracy. Shah was arrested after he attempted to pick up gold from fraud victims in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Unknown co-conspirators posing as law enforcement had convinced the victims that they were victims of a massive scheme in the United States and that they needed to transfer their assets to gold, which a courier would pick up and put in a safety deposit box in Washington, D.C., purportedly for safe keeping. The victims had previously given over $500,000 worth of gold to couriers the victims believed to be working with the federal government.
This case was investigated by the New Berlin Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary J. Corey.
An indictment and a criminal complaint are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Independence Man Charged with Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
Jordan Michael Million, age 23, from Independence, Iowa, has been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. The charges are contained in an Indictment, unsealed on August 20, 2025, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that between April 2024 and December 2024, Million received child pornography. It further alleges that, between April 2024 and December 2024, Million possessed child pornography on an Apple cellular telephone and that, between October 2024 and December 2024, Million possessed child pornography on a Motorola cellular telephone.
If convicted on all charges, Million faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, $84,300 in special assessments, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Million appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Marshalltown Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Independence Police Department, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cedar Bend Humane Society.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2048.
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Honduran national, illegally living in Canton, indicted for unlawfully returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Canton, has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jefferson Funes-Mejia, 32, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.
The indictment alleges that on April 16, 2025, Funes-Majia was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been previously deported.
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).
If convicted, Funes-Mejia faces up to 10 years in federal prison and deportation.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Honduran National Guilty of Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Walter Omar Casco-Lopez (“Casco-Lopez”), age 36, a native of Honduras, pleaded guilty on August 19, 2025, to illegal reentry of a removed alien, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, Casco-Lopez, an illegal alien, was found in Orleans Parish on November 4, 2019. He had previously been removed to Honduras on or about October 12, 2011.
The defendant faces a maximum penalty of two (2) years of incarceration, followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
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).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Hammond Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
HAMMOND - On August 22, 2025, a federal Grand Jury in Hammond, Indiana approved a three count Indictment charging David Michael Reyes with production, distribution, and possession of child pornography in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
Reyes was employed as the Director of Buildings and Grounds within the Hammond City School System at the time of his arrest on August 15, 2025, and has been in custody since that date.
“Today’s charges stem from the quick and coordinated efforts of local and federal law enforcement, with the full cooperation of the Hammond City School System,” announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. “While an indictment is merely an allegation, it is imperative that we ensure we are addressing the full extent of criminal activity when allegations of crimes against children are involved. I am therefore calling upon members of our community who may have information concerning the charges in this Indictment, or similar allegations involving this Defendant, to provide that information to Homeland Security Investigations.”
“The Defendant’s role within the school system placed him in a position of authority, and the allegations against him, if proven, would represent a profound abuse of that trust,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “HSI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who prey upon children are held accountable and brought to justice.”
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. The exploitation count is punishable by a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The distribution count is punishable by a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years, while the possession count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Hammond Police Department, the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes against Children Unit (ICAC) and the Hammond City School District. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Wardrip.
If you believe that you or someone you know may have been victimized by David Reyes or otherwise have information about the charges against him, please contact Homeland Security Investigations by phone at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.
Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Harboring an Illegal Alien Who Crossed from Canada into the United StatesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Guatemalan national was sentenced for bringing in and harboring an illegal alien, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Esdras Aaron Calel-Cumes, 30, a Guatemalan man unlawfully residing in Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante to time served. Calel-Cumes is in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for deportation to Guatemala. Calel-Cumes’ co-defendant Xiloj-Ambrocio was charged with one count of illegal entry and deported back to Guatemala.
“Individuals who cross our borders illegally will be held accountable. This case demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting our law enforcement partners along New Hampshire’s northern border,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “We will continue to bring federal prosecutions when appropriate to protect the integrity of our borders and the safety of our communities.”
“We will continue to vigorously patrol the New Hampshire/Canada border to interdict and investigate smuggling cases like this one,” said Acting Patrol Agent in Charge William Laymon of the Beecher Falls, VT Border Patrol Station. “Illegal entry and alien smuggling are federal crimes, and we will seek criminal prosecution on those who commit them.”
On September 9, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected Calel-Cumes’ co-defendant, Luis Felipe Xiloj-Ambrocio, crossing illegally from Canada to the United States in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. Calel-Cumes traveled from Massachusetts to pick up Xiloj-Ambrocio. At the time of their apprehension by law enforcement, Calel-Cumes and Xiloj-Ambrocio were driving south on U.S. Route 3.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Greene County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Stephen Wendell Lutes, age 32, of Greene County, New York, pled guilty today to sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
In pleading guilty today, Lutes admitted that he sexually abused a girl from the time she was approximately 5 years old until she was approximately 8 years old (“V1”). He acknowledged further that he created recordings of some of that abuse. Lutes also admitted to creating a video depicting both V1 and a different child of approximately the same age (“V2”) naked in a bathtub.
In addition to the sexual exploitation of V1 and V2, Lutes also admitted that during the same approximate period of his sexual abuse of V1 that he knowingly viewed and downloaded child pornography depicting other children unknown to him via social media applications and possessed such material on his cellphone.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Lutes admitted to heinous sexual exploitation and child pornography crimes. My Office is committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting child sex predators in coordination with our federal and state partners. The community is safer because Lutes will be behind bars for years to come.”
HIS Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “With today's guilty plea, the defendant admitted to his abhorrent exploitation of two children. While no amount of justice can undo the trauma of his crimes, I thank HSI Albany and our partners with the New York State Police and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York for utilizing every tool at our disposal to confront threats against children and vulnerable communities.”
At sentencing scheduled for December 22, 2025, Lutes faces a mandatory minimum imprisonment term of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years for each of three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years for the receipt of child pornography count, and a maximum of 20 years on the possession of child pornography count. In addition to an imprisonment term, the district judge will be required to impose a term of post imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Lutes also will be required to pay restitution to his victims, may be fined up to $250,000, and will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
HSI and the New York State Police investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Mikayla Espinosa and Michael D. Gadarian are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Grandview Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Grandview, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.
John L. Arrocha, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 5 years in federal prison without parole. On Jan. 29, 2025, Arrocha pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On June 2, 2024, Kansas City, Missouri Police officers were called to a business in the 4300 block of Main Street, Kansas City, Mo., on a reported trespasser causing a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers encountered Arrocha, who refused to leave the business property. As officers attempted to arrest Arrocha for trespassing, Arrocha resisted while making threats to kill the officers that were arresting him. During a search of Arrocha following arrest, officers found a North American Arms, Guardian .380 caliber pistol which had been reported stolen out of Claycomo, Mo. A criminal history check revealed that Arrocha was a convicted felon.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Georgia Man Guilty of Conspiracy to Defraud Former Political Candidate and Four Other Louisiana ResidentsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that, on August 14, 2025, CHASE DUNCAN CAMPBELL (“CAMPBELL”), a resident of Cobb County, Georgia, pled guilty before United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
According to court documents, from as early as November 2020, and continuing through at least May 2024, CAMPBELL, and others, conspired to: defraud Candidate 1 with fake campaign services; defraud Victim 1 out of approximately $236,867 in fake real estate purchases and associated costs; defraud Victim 2 out of approximately $83,268.05 in fraudulent claims of real estate and title work; and defraud Victims 3 and 4 out of approximately $112,328.18 in connection with a fake legal defense scheme. Among other things, CAMPBELL, and others, utilized numerous fake aliases and occupations, “burner” numbers for text messages and calls, and fraudulent invoices to defraud their victims.
CAMPBELL faces up to five (5) years in prison, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100 mandatory special assessment fee. CAMPBELL has agreed to pay restitution of approximately $446,302.23 to his victims.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney, Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.
Gambian Man, First Non-U.S. National Convicted of Torture, Sentenced to over 67 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Michael Sang Correa, 46, was sentenced today to 67 years and six months in prison after being convicted in the District of Colorado of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture. Correa’s actions included burning victims’ flesh with molten plastic and subjecting them to repeated, vicious beatings over the course of weeks using a variety of weapons.
“Today, Michael Correa has finally been held accountable for the brutal violence he inflicted on others,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “The United States will not be a safe haven for individuals who seek to conceal their egregious human rights violations. We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to secure this sentence, and we thank the brave victims whose testimony helped ensure that justice is done.”
“The victims of these crimes carried the weight of unimaginable suffering for years, not knowing whether they would ever see their torturer held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. “Today’s sentence delivers a measure of justice for them and affirms that the United States stands firmly with those whose human rights have been violated. This prosecution and sentence should serve as a deterrent for criminals who think they might escape accountability by coming to Colorado.”
“Mr. Correa’s crimes were barbaric and uncivilized; they have no place in the modern world,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver. “I hope this sentence can bring some kind of closure for his victims and their families. A standard was set with this trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations will hunt down and bring to justice those that commit these horrific crimes.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Correa served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which reported to The Gambia’s former President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture and personally tortured five victims, who were targeted based on suspicions that they had plotted against Jammeh. In today’s proceedings, several victims described the lasting physical and psychological harm that they have suffered as a result of Correa’s actions.
In March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to Mile 2 Prison, the main prison in The Gambia. Over the following weeks, the victims endured severe abuse, including beatings, stabbings, burnings, and electrocutions. One victim testified that his thigh was burned with molten plastic and that he was suspended in a bag and dropped to the ground. Another victim described being suffocated with a plastic bag over his head and having the barrel of a pistol placed in his mouth. Other victims testified to being electrocuted, beaten while hung upside down, struck in the head with a hammer or pistol, and burned with cigarettes. Testimony at trial established Correa played a central role in carrying out these acts of torture.
Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa and entered the United States in December 2016. He evaded apprehension until 2019, when ICE arrested him and placed him in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. national on federal torture charges.
The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman and Chief of the Cybercrime and National Security Section Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado and Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email [email protected] or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Gambian Man, First Non-U.S. National Convicted of Torture, Sentenced to More Than 67 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Michael Sang Correa, 46, was sentenced today to 810 months in prison by Senior Judge Christine M. Arguello for the District of Colorado after being convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture. Correa’s actions included burning victims’ flesh with molten plastic and subjecting them to repeated, vicious beatings over the course of weeks using a variety of weapons.
“Today, Michael Correa has finally been held accountable for the brutal violence he inflicted on others,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “The United States will not be a safe haven for individuals who seek to conceal their egregious human rights violations. We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to secure this sentence, and we thank the brave victims whose testimony helped ensure that justice is done.”
“The victims of these crimes carried the weight of unimaginable suffering for years, not knowing whether they would ever see their torturer held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. “Today’s sentence delivers a measure of justice for them and affirms that the United States stands firmly with those whose human rights have been violated. This prosecution and sentence should serve as a deterrent for criminals who think they might escape accountability by coming to Colorado.”
“Mr. Correa’s crimes were barbaric and uncivilized; they have no place in the modern world,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver. “I hope this sentence can bring some kind of closure for his victims and their families. A standard was set with this trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations will hunt down and bring to justice those that commit these horrific crimes.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Correa served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which reported to The Gambia’s former President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture and personally tortured five victims, who were targeted based on suspicions that they had plotted against Jammeh. In today’s proceedings, several victims described the lasting physical and psychological harm that they have suffered as a result of Correa’s actions.
In March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to Mile 2 Prison, the main prison in The Gambia. Over the following weeks, the victims endured severe abuse, including beatings, stabbings, burnings, and electrocutions. One victim testified that his thigh was burned with molten plastic and that he was suspended in a bag and dropped to the ground. Another victim described being suffocated with a plastic bag over his head and having the barrel of a pistol placed in his mouth. Other victims testified to being electrocuted, beaten while hung upside down, struck in the head with a hammer or pistol, and burned with cigarettes. Testimony at trial established Correa played a central role in carrying out these acts of torture.
Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa and entered the United States in December 2016. He evaded apprehension until 2019, when ICE arrested him and placed him in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. national on federal torture charges.
The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman and Chief of the Cybercrime and National Security Section Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado and Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email [email protected] or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Fulton County Man Charged with Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ryan Michael Mowrey, age 38, of Caroga Lake, New York, was ordered detained today after being charged on Tuesday with distribution of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement.
The complaint alleges that in June 2025, Mowrey communicated with an adult seeking to engage in sexual activity with someone he believed was an 11-year-old girl. After planning to meet in late April 2025 to engage in sexual activity with the child, Mowrey asked to reschedule, and the other person discontinued contact. On May 6, 2025, Mowrey re-engaged in conversation and sent the adult a video of child pornography to prove that he could be trusted. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Acting United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “As alleged, Mowrey sent child pornography to someone he believed had access to an 11-year-old girl. At least several times per week we charge someone engaging in this kind of despicable crime. We will not stop until we have rid our communities of people who have a sexual interest in children.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: “As alleged, Mr. Mowrey engaged in predatory behavior targeting children and is now facing serious federal charges. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate these disturbing individuals and ensure they are brought to justice for their heinous crimes.”
The charge filed against Mowrey carries a maximum term of 40 years in prison, a mandatory minimum term of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Tennessee Deputy Indicted for Enticement of a Minor and Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a three-count indictment charging Johnathan Nathaniel Allen, 26, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for enticement of a minor and production of child sexual abuse material.
The indictment alleges that in September 2024 Allen used accounts on Reddit and TextMe to contact a 13-year-old girl in South Carolina. Allen, who was 25 at the time and a deputy with a county sheriff’s office since 2021, posed on the platform as a 14-year-old boy named Josh. Allen used an account on Reddit, and he used that social media account to target minors for sexual exploitation, one of whom was the minor victim. Allen also obtained a virtual phone number through the TextMe platform to facilitate the scheme. Allen targeted and communicated with the victim through both platforms, he told her that he loved her, and he caused the production of sexually explicit content depicting the minor. Allen told the victim that he was proud of her, and that she learned something new she could do. He also requested her to perform additional sex acts, and he told her to delete the messages so no one else would see them.
Allen faces a mandatory 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. He also faces supervision for a period of life following any prison sentence, and sex offender registry requirements. He is currently in custody on state charges. He will be arraigned in federal court on Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the York County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Hamilton County, TN Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”
Former Social Security Employee Sentenced for Trying to Lure Beneficiary into ProstitutionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Social Security Administration (SSA) employee was sentenced today for attempting to coerce a beneficiary into crossing state lines to engage in prostitution.
Dae Sung Kim, 36, of Auburn, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six months in prison and five years of supervised release. In February 2025, Kim pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to induce a person to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.“Public servants are entrusted to assist people, not exploit them. This was a brazen abuse of power by a federal employee who used his position and access to sensitive information to prey on a vulnerable woman who had just lost her job. This kind of predatory behavior has no place in public service, or anywhere else,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This case represents yet another example of my office’s commitment to reduce the demand for commercial exploitation. Mr. Kim attempted to purchase access to the victim’s body and used her vulnerability and his privilege to do so.”
“This was a shocking abuse of power by someone entrusted to serve the public. The defendant, while employed as an SSA claims specialist, attempted to exploit a vulnerable, disabled mother seeking to apply for reinstatement of disability benefits after losing her job. This predatory behavior is intolerable,” said Michelle Anderson, Acting Inspector General, Social Security Administration.
In March 2024, Kim handled an in-person visit at the Gardner SSA field office from a woman seeking Social Security benefits after losing her job. Approximately 20 minutes later, after redirecting the beneficiary to another SSA field office closer to her residence in another state, Kim utilized his access to her personally identifiable information in the SSA’s computer system to find the beneficiary’s phone number and call her from his personal cell phone. On the call, Kim said he understood the beneficiary was in a “difficult situation” and that “maybe they could work something out that would benefit them both.”
During the ensuing investigation, Kim clarified in text messages and a consensually monitored phone conversation that he was proposing to pay the beneficiary for sex and attempted to negotiate a price.
Kim continued his solicitation over a period of several months through text messages with undercover law enforcement impersonating the beneficiary, including several requests for nude photographs that were declined. Eventually, Kim proposed that the beneficiary travel from her home outside of Massachusetts to a hotel parking lot in Fitchburg, Mass., to have sex in a car in exchange for $100. When Kim traveled to the hotel parking lot to meet the individual in October 2024, he was confronted by law enforcement.U.S. Attorney Foley and Acting SSA Inspector General Anderson made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fitchburg and Gardner Police Departments. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan D. O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Former Noel Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Somali national pleaded guilty in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of kidnapping resulting in death.
Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 43, who was a permanent resident alien in the United States, residing in Noel, Mo., at the time of the kidnapping, admitted to kidnapping J.M., which resulted in her death.
J.M.’s body was discovered on July 29, 2019, near Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Mo., and Noel, after an individual reported observing a pink suitcase in a roadside ditch with feet sticking out. Law enforcement located J.M.’s severely decomposed body lying next to the pink suitcase. A salesclerk from the African Grocery Store in Noel later reported that Mahamed had purchased a pink suitcase sometime before J.M.’s body was discovered.
J.M. was last seen alive on July 16, 2019, when law enforcement officers responded to a call at her home. J.M. reported to 911 that Mahamed had held her at knife point and tried to force her to have sexual intercourse with him. J.M. repeatedly told the 911 operator that she was worried Mahamed would harm her three young children who were in the apartment with him. The children were identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1 (four years old), Jane Doe 2 (two years old), and Jane Doe 3 (six months old).
J.M. and her children were reported missing on July 17, 2019, after attempts to contact J.M. on the phone and in-person failed.
On approximately July 28, 2019, or July 29, 2019, Mahamed called his cousin and told her he was bringing J.M.’s children to her in Minnesota. When she asked why he was bringing the children, Mahamed noted that something bad had happened and he could be in trouble.
J.M.’s children were located at a residence in Des Moines, Iowa, and taken into state custody on Aug. 8, 2019. The reporting party told law enforcement officers that Mahamed arrived at her Des Moines residence with the children on Aug. 5, 2019. She discovered Mahamed had left in the early morning hours on Aug. 8, 2019, without the children.
After abandoning the children in Iowa, Mahamed left the United States and was a fugitive from justice until he was located and expelled from Guatemala on July 27, 2021. He has been detained in federal custody since his return to the United States.
DNA analysis confirmed that the body was J.M.’s and her blood was discovered on multiple items recovered from a vehicle utilized by Mahamed.
Under federal statutes, Mahamed is subject to a sentence of up to a life term 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. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Rochester, Minn., Police Department, and the Des Moines, Iowa, Police Department.
Former Columbus, Ohio, Lawyer Sentenced for Making False Statements to FBIRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former Columbus, Ohio, lawyer has been sentenced in the Southern District of Ohio to two years of probation and a $15,000 fine on his conviction for making false statements to the FBI, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Sarah D. Morrison imposed the sentence on Dennis W. McNamara, 74, of Columbus, on August 21, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, McNamara—then a practicing lawyer in the Southern District of Ohio—represented a cooperating witness who provided information into a drug trafficking and sex trafficking organization operating in Columbus. At the time, McNamara was separately engaged in a sexual relationship with a female sex worker. McNamara informed the sex worker that he represented the cooperating witness and provided the woman with details of his client’s cooperation, placing his client at great risk of potential harm. When agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation questioned him regarding his disclosures, McNamara lied to agents about having revealed the information.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Morrison emphasized the seriousness of the offense.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio was recused from the investigation and prosecution of this matter; the matter then was assigned to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes special agents and officers from the FBI, Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Columbus Division of Police, as well as the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of McNamara.
Former California Superior Court Judge Charged with Sexual Assault and Obstruction OffensesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that a federal grand jury in Fresno returned a five-count indictment yesterday charging former California Superior Court Judge Adolfo Corona, 66, with federal offenses for sexually assaulting a court employee (Victim 1), making false statements to cover up the assault, and with obstructing the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted another court employee (Victim 2) in his chambers.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant of the Eastern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that on March 14, 2024, Corona, while serving as a California Superior Court Judge, led Victim 1 into a courthouse stairwell where he sexually assaulted her. The indictment further alleges that Corona, during separate interviews with the FBI and court administrators, made false statements about the circumstances of his assault on Victim 1. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Corona obstructed the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted Victim 2. Corona was alone with Victim 2 in his chambers for approximately two hours on Dec. 5, 2023, and she was later found alone in the judge’s chambers after being passed out. The indictment charges that Corona falsely told the FBI that he left Victim 2 alone in his chambers while he drove to pick up a motorcycle. Corona allegedly attempted to persuade a motorcycle dealership employee to change company records to falsely reflect that he had picked up his motorcycle in order to corroborate his alibi.
If convicted, Corona faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on the sexual assault charge and 20 years on each of the obstruction charges. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar for the Eastern District of California and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact their local FBI office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov.
Former California Superior Court Judge Charged with Sexual Assault and Obstruction OffensesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that a federal grand jury in Fresno, California, returned a five-count indictment yesterday charging former California Superior Court Judge Adolfo Corona, 66, with federal offenses for sexually assaulting a 33-year-old court employee (Victim 1), making false statements to cover up the assault, and with obstructing the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted a 43-year-old court employee (Victim 2) in his chambers.
The indictment alleges that on March 14, 2024, Corona, while serving as a California Superior Court Judge, led Victim 1 into a courthouse stairwell where he sexually assaulted her. The indictment further alleges that Corona, during separate interviews with the FBI and court administrators, made false statements about the circumstances of his assault on Victim 1. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Corona obstructed the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted Victim 2. Corona was alone with Victim 2 in his chambers for approximately two hours on Dec. 5, 2023, and she was later found alone in the judge’s chambers after being passed out. The indictment charges that Corona falsely told the FBI that he left Victim 2 alone in his chambers while he drove to pick up a motorcycle. It also charges that Corona attempted to persuade a motorcycle dealership employee to change company records to falsely reflect that he had picked up his motorcycle in order to corroborate his alibi.
If convicted, Corona faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on the sexual assault charge and 20 years on each of the obstruction charges. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar for the Eastern District of California and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Man Sentenced to over Six Years for Witness Retaliation AssaultRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A Florida man was sentenced today to six years and 10 months in prison for assaulting an individual in retaliation for testimony that the victim provided during the assailant’s trial for his involvement in a home invasion robbery scheme.
“Instead of accepting responsibility for his criminal conduct that resulted in a 47-year sentence, St Felix physically attacked and berated a trial witness,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Witness retaliation threatens the very foundation of our justice system, which relies on truthful witness testimony. We will aggressively prosecute any attempt to retaliate against federal witnesses.”
“Retaliation against witnesses, no matter when or where it occurs, will not be tolerated. And individuals who assault government witnesses should expect prosecution and punishment,” said U.S. Attorney Clifton T. Barrett for the Middle District of North Carolina. “I commend the agents, attorneys, and USAO staff for their commitment and excellent work on cases stemming from this series of internationally organized home invasions.”
“St Felix tried to silence the very process that held him accountable,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Retaliating against a witness strikes at the heart of the justice system. Those who think they can silence or intimidate witnesses will quickly learn the FBI will come after them.”
“St Felix led a ring of violent cryptocurrency thieves and when he was sentenced to 47 years, he physically attacked a trial witness, cowardly choosing to blame someone else for his crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “This additional prison time means he will likely be in his 70s before possibly walking free again. While we know his victims will never fully recover, we hope this sentence provides them some sense of justice.”
Remy Ra St Felix, 25, of West Palm Beach, pleaded guilty in the Middle District of North Carolina on May 6 to one count of retaliation against a witness for testimony in a criminal trial.
St Felix was charged in a nine-count superseding indictment for crimes stemming from a scheme to steal cryptocurrency during home invasion robberies. St Felix elected to go to trial and was found guilty on all counts. St Felix was subsequently sentenced to 47 years in prison. For this additional sentence, 36 months are to run concurrent to the current sentence and 46 months are to run consecutive to it. In addition to his sentence of incarceration, St Felix was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, the United States called a witness (“Witness-1”) at St Felix’s trial who testified about St Felix’s involvement in the home invasion robbery scheme.
On Oct. 8, 2024, after St Felix had been sentenced, Witness-1 was seated, restrained with leg shackles, a belly chain, and handcuffs, in the “booking area” of a Detention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. St Felix was allowed out of a holding cell in the same area and assaulted Witness-1 with a series of punches, striking Witness-1 in the face, head, and body. While assaulting Witness-1, St Felix called Witness-1 a “rat” and told Witness-1 that he was responsible for St Felix’s 47-year sentence. That evening, St Felix called his mother and his girlfriend and gloated about assaulting Witness-1.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Iverson for the Middle District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
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Florida Man Sentenced to over Six Years for Witness Retaliation AssaultRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced today to six years and 10 months in prison for assaulting an individual in retaliation for testimony that the victim provided during the assailant’s trial for his involvement in a home invasion robbery scheme.
“Instead of accepting responsibility for his criminal conduct that resulted in a 47-year sentence, St Felix physically attacked and berated a trial witness,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Witness retaliation threatens the very foundation of our justice system, which relies on truthful witness testimony. We will aggressively prosecute any attempt to retaliate against federal witnesses.”
“Retaliation against witnesses, no matter when or where it occurs, will not be tolerated. And individuals who assault government witnesses should expect prosecution and punishment,” said U.S. Attorney Clifton T. Barrett for the Middle District of North Carolina. “I commend the agents, attorneys, and USAO staff for their commitment and excellent work on cases stemming from this series of internationally organized home invasions.”
“St Felix tried to silence the very process that held him accountable,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Retaliating against a witness strikes at the heart of the justice system. Those who think they can silence or intimidate witnesses will quickly learn the FBI will come after them.”
“St Felix led a ring of violent cryptocurrency thieves and when he was sentenced to 47 years, he physically attacked a trial witness, cowardly choosing to blame someone else for his crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “This additional prison time means he will likely be in his 70s before possibly walking free again. While we know his victims will never fully recover, we hope this sentence provides them some sense of justice.”
Remy Ra St Felix, 25, of West Palm Beach, pleaded guilty in the Middle District of North Carolina on May 6 to one count of retaliation against a witness for testimony in a criminal trial.
St Felix was charged in a nine-count superseding indictment for crimes stemming from a scheme to steal cryptocurrency during home invasion robberies. St Felix elected to go to trial and was found guilty on all counts. St Felix was subsequently sentenced to 47 years in prison. For this additional sentence, 36 months are to run concurrent to the current sentence and 46 months are to run consecutive to it. In addition to his sentence of incarceration, St Felix was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, the United States called a witness (“Witness-1”) at St Felix’s trial who testified about St Felix’s involvement in the home invasion robbery scheme.
On Oct. 8, 2024, after St Felix had been sentenced, Witness-1 was seated, restrained with leg shackles, a belly chain, and handcuffs, in the “booking area” of a Detention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. St Felix was allowed out of a holding cell in the same area and assaulted Witness-1 with a series of punches, striking Witness-1 in the face, head, and body. While assaulting Witness-1, St Felix called Witness-1 a “rat” and told Witness-1 that he was responsible for St Felix’s 47-year sentence. That evening, St Felix called his mother and his girlfriend and gloated about assaulting Witness-1.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Iverson for the Middle District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Farmington Woman Pleads Guilty to Dangerous Assault on MotorcyclistRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington woman pleaded guilty on July 30, 2025, to federal charges for intentionally causing a motorcyclist to crash following an argument.
According to court records, on September 2, 2024, Tenille Quintawna Peshlakai, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, argued with the victim at a gas station before driving away. Peshlakai then turned around, caught up to the victim, and swerved her vehicle to block his path. This forced the victim to lay down his motorcycle and crash into Peshlakai’s vehicle. Peshlakai fled the scene before law enforcement or medical personnel arrived.
Peshlakai pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. At sentencing, Peshlakai faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Peshlakai will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement (Peshlakai).pdfFederal Charges Filed Against Pensacola Man for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Joshua Dean Hardy, 26, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for two counts of unlawful possession of firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA), namely two unregistered and unserialized silencers and a destructive device, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Hardy is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, on August 28, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
If convicted as charged, Hardy faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment as it relates to each of the NFA violations, and another five years for his possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The 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.
Elk Grove Man Charged with Covid Relief FraudRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment, unsealed Thursday, charging Oleg Gregorvich Fursov, 52, of Elk Grove, with wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Fursov fraudulently obtained more than $1 million as part of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to purportedly assist his business in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Fursov used the funds for his own personal use.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Fursov faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Dominican Republic Man Pleads Guilty for Role in a Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Dominican man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in connection with a drug trafficking organization distributing large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Raynerson Marcos De La Paz Matos, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for December 2, 2025.
According to court documents, law enforcement purchased fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine from the drug trafficking organization in Manchester on 10 occasions. These purchases resulted in the total seizure of more than 350 grams of fentanyl, more than 40 grams of cocaine, and more than 25 grams of crack cocaine. On September 11, 2024, law enforcement searched two residences on Cilley Road and Dubuque Street in Manchester. The search of the Cilley Road residence yielded a total of more than 1,600 grams of fentanyl, more than 480 grams of cocaine, and drug proceeds totaling $4,675. The search of the Dubuque Street residence yielded drug proceeds totaling $54,370 and assorted jewelry with an estimated value of $161,675.
The charging statute provides a sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five (5) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $10,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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District of Arizona Charges 170 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from August 16, 2025, through August 22, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 170 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 85 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 70 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 11 cases against 15 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Gonzalo Rafael Morales-Jimenez: On August 18, 2025, Gonzalo Rafael Morales-Jimenez, was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. Morales-Jimenez had been previously removed from the United States in 2018 after being convicted of Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, and Theft by Extortion, Aggravated Assault, and Misconduct Involving Weapons, all felony offenses, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County. The Court ordered all terms of incarceration for the various counts to run concurrently with one another, with the longest sentence being over 10 years in prison. [Case Number: 25-MJ-09342]
United States v. Alan William Fischbach: On August 19, 2025, Alan William Fischbach and two Mexican nationals, Rosario Robles-Morales and Jose Antonio Florez-Ramirez, were charged by criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens. On August 19, Fischbach was observed picking up two loads of illegal aliens and taking them to a motel in Tucson. Robles-Morales and Florez-Ramirez had served as foot guides for the illegal aliens, leading them across the international border into the United States. In total, 10 smuggled illegal aliens were discovered. [Case Number: 25-MJ-09352]
United States v. Pedro Carrillo-Miranda: On August 19, 2025, Pedro Carrillo-Miranda was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. Carrillo-Miranda had been previously removed from the United States in 2002 after being convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse, a felony offense, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County. In that case, Carrillo-Miranda was sentenced to three months in prison, followed by lifetime probation. [Case Number: 25-MJ-09357]
United States v. Cesar Eduardo Parra-Ray: On August 20, 2025, a Department of Public Safety (DPS) Sergeant performed a traffic stop on Cesar Eduardo Parra-Rey, who was identified by his Mexico driver's license. After speaking with Parra-Rey, DPS suspected that he was engaged in a human smuggling event and contacted U.S. Border Patrol for assistance. When they arrived, Border Patrol Agents determined that Parra-Rey is a citizen of Mexico with a Border Crossing Card that allows him to enter and pass through the United States legally. However, agents also determined that Parra-Rey’s three passengers were all citizens of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Parra-Rey was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. [Case Number: 25-MJ-09372]
United States v. Bryan Valenzuela-Caldera: On August 22, 2025, Bryan Valenzuela-Caldera was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. Valenzuela-Caldera was observed in Nogales, Arizona on multiple days, driving in unusual patterns close to the border. On August 20, Border Patrol Agents initiated a vehicle stop based on their observations, but Valenzuela-Caldera failed to yield, taking several turns and driving through Nogales, Arizona. As he drove, Valenzuela-Caldera struck a civilian vehicle, and then attempted to push the vehicle out of the way by pressing the accelerator of his truck. He then reversed and drove away, ending up on a dead-end road. As agents followed him, Valenzuela-Caldera reversed into one of their Border Patrol vehicles, then got out of his truck and fled on foot. He was eventually apprehended, and two illegal aliens were found inside his truck. [Case Number: 25-MJ-09414]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-139_August 22 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to New Charges of Sexually Exploiting Children on Long IslandRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal courthouse in Central Islip, Anthony Pangallo, a previously convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and, during the plea hearing, admitted to soliciting and receiving sexually explicit images and videos from four young female victims. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert. When sentenced, Pangallo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment and up to 50 years in prison.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, announced the guilty plea.
“Our Office will continue its relentless pursuit of sexual predators who target minors, and work to secure lengthy prison sentences to protect the public and vulnerable children from these depraved individuals,” stated U.S. Attorney Nocella. “This defendant’s conduct was especially abhorrent because, despite being a registered sex offender following a prior state conviction, he continued to target multiple young victims.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department, the Westport Police Department and the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office, Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District.
“Anthony Pangallo pretended to be a teenager to gain the trust of prepubescent girls before sexually grooming and forcing elicit explicit content from them. As a registered sex offender, Pangallo has continued to repeatedly exploit and abuse minors to fulfill his own perverted desires,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “The FBI maintains its steadfast commitment to protect our community’s vulnerable populations from sexual predators.”
As set forth in court filings and statements during today’s plea proceeding, Pangallo was initially arrested on May 20, 2021, at his residence in Rego Park, New York, on state charges filed in Westport, Connecticut. The Connecticut charges, which remain pending, involved a 15-year-old female victim, who Pangallo met online and manipulated into sending him sexually explicit images of herself. Subsequent investigation, which included a lawful search of Pangallo’s cellphone, revealed numerous online communications with other minor females from whom the defendant solicited sexually explicit images. Specifically, four children from Long Island—a 12-year-old and three 13-year-olds—were identified as victims, leading to the federal charges in this case. During his communications with these minors, Pangallo pretended to be a teenager, manipulated the victims into believing that they were in a relationship together, and then pressured them into sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. At the time that he committed these crimes, Pangallo was registered as a sex offender due to a prior conviction in August 2009 for sexual assault of a minor in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
This prosecution is 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, 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.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Paul G. Scotti is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ANTHONY PANGALLO
Age: 41
Rego Park, QueensE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-233 (S-1)(JS)
City Man Charged with Carjacking a Couple at Gunpoint in West PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Xavier Peterson, 19, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, arising from an armed carjacking earlier this year.
Peterson was ordered detained in federal custody at a detention hearing this afternoon.
The indictment alleges that, on April 4, 2025, the defendant carjacked a couple at gunpoint, forcing them out of their vehicle, which he then stole.
As detailed in court filings, on the night of April 4, Victim 1 parked his Subaru Crosstrek in West Philadelphia, to drop off his girlfriend, Victim 2. A masked male approached the couple, pointed a handgun at them, and forced them out of the car. The carjacker then drove away from the scene.
Approximately 40 minutes after the carjacking, Victim 2 received a notification that her credit card, which had been in the Crosstrek, was used in Upper Darby, Pa. Law enforcement in Delaware County began searching for the carjacked vehicle.
About an hour after the carjacking, a Haverford police officer saw the stolen car speeding on West Chester Pike towards the Blue Route. When the officer proceeded to pull the vehicle over on Interstate 476, court filings allege, the defendant fled from the driver’s seat on foot, while the vehicle’s three passengers remained in the car. About five minutes after Peterson fled, officers found him hiding in the underbrush next to the highway, and subsequently located a loaded semiautomatic handgun lying nearby.
If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, the Haverford Township Police Department, the Radnor Township Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Miller.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Chinese National Sentenced to Prison for Deploying Destructive Computer Code on Ohio-based Company’s Global NetworkRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND - A Chinese national who inflicted severe damage to the computer network systems of a global corporation where he was formerly employed has been sentenced to prison.
Davis Lu, 55, a citizen of China residing in Houston and authorized to legally work in the U.S., was sentenced to 48 months (four years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker Aug. 21. A federal jury convicted Lu in March of intentionally damaging protected computers for his role in creating destructive computer code that he deployed on his former employer’s network. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. Restitution is to be determined at a later date.
“The defendant breached his employer’s trust by using his access and technical knowledge to sabotage company networks, wreaking havoc and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses for a U.S. company,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “However, the defendant’s technical savvy and subterfuge did not save him from the consequences of his actions. The Criminal Division is committed to identifying and prosecuting those who attack U.S. companies, whether from within or without, to hold them responsible for their actions.”
“The extreme chaos caused by just one person who used his creative mind and technical talents to thwart his employer’s business operations was not only disruptive – it was criminal. Those who weaponize their knowledge to inflict damage will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We would like to acknowledge and thank the FBI Cleveland Division for their incredible expertise in investigating computer crimes to bring criminals like Mr. Lu to justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lu was employed as a software developer for the victim company headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio, from November 2007 to October 2019. In 2018, Lu began to sabotage his employer’s systems after a corporate realignment reduced his responsibilities and system access. By Aug. 4, 2019, he introduced malicious code that caused system crashes and prevented user logins. Specifically, he created what are known as “infinite loops,” that resulted in server crashes or hangs, making it unavailable to users. Lu also created code to delete coworker profiles, and implemented a “kill switch” that would lock out all users if his name was removed from the company’s directory.
On Sept. 9, 2019, the kill switch was triggered when Lu was terminated from the company and his computer credentials were disabled. With the “kill switch” activated, thousands of company users were impacted globally. Lu named his kill switch code “IsDLEnabledinAD”, which was an abbreviation for “Is Davis Lu enabled in Active Directory.”
Investigators learned that the defendant named another malware program “Hakai,” a Japanese word meaning “destruction,” and “HunShui,” a Chinese word meaning “sleep” or “lethargy.” Additionally, on the day he was directed to turn in his company laptop, Lu deleted encrypted data and ran a command that made the data unrecoverable by forensic software. His internet search history revealed he had researched methods to escalate privileges, hide processes, and rapidly delete files, indicating an intent to obstruct efforts of his co-workers to resolve the system disruptions. Lu’s employer suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses as a result of his actions.
"The FBI works relentlessly every day to ensure that cyber actors who deploy malicious code and harm American businesses face the consequences of their actions,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “I am proud of the FBI cyber team’s work which led to this sentencing and hope it sends a strong message to others who may consider engaging in similar unlawful activities. This case also underscores the importance of identifying insider threats early and highlights the need for proactive engagement with your local FBI field office to mitigate risks and prevent further harm.”
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division.
“Davis Lu was intent on inflicting widescale damage to his employer with reckless disregard,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “The FBI is committed to protecting businesses from cyber intrusions and crippling threats to their companies, not only from unknown attackers, but also when the criminal is a once-trusted employee whose skill and intellect was used for malicious purposes. We will continue to defend the homeland and its American businesses to identify and investigate cyber criminals who seek to harm companies, and we will bring them to justice.”
Senior Counsel Candina S. Heath of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), and Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Riedl and Brian S. Deckert for the Northern District of Ohio, prosecuted the case.
The Department of Justice’s CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Chinese National Sentenced to 24 months in prison for Scam Targeting Elderly AmericansRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Jiaci Liu, a Chinese national, was sentenced in federal court today to 24 months in prison for engaging in a multinational fraud conspiracy targeting seniors, including a 63-year-old man from Poway who exposed the scam by reporting his suspicions to authorities.
Today’s sentence is in addition to three months Liu already served in state custody before his case was charged federally. Liu was originally arrested in February 2024 and charged by the San Diego District Attorney’s Office. He was transferred to federal custody in May 2024, when he was charged by federal criminal complaint for his role in the conspiracy. Crimes are sometimes transferred from state to federal prosecutors because federal law allows for the prosecution of offenses that involve victims beyond the state’s jurisdiction.
According to publicly filed documents, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force (ETJF) learned of the fraud scheme after the victim reported to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department that he had been duped as part of a complex scam in which conspirators posed as technical support specialists, bank representatives and government officials.
Specifically, while the Poway victim was on his personal computer, a pop-up window appeared indicating there was a possible virus on his computer and instructing him to contact a phone number. When he contacted the number, he was transferred through a series of co-conspirators pretending to work in tech support. The victim was informed that his computer had viruses and was transferred to another conspirator who claimed to be from the victim’s bank. During that interaction, the victim was told there were unauthorized transfers from his bank and was instructed to immediately withdraw all his money for safekeeping.
The victim went to his bank and withdrew $28,000. The victim was then told by the conspirators that someone from the U.S. Marshals Service would come to his house to pick up the money. After the interaction, the victim became suspicious and contacted the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, which informed the victim to contact them if anyone showed up to pick up the money.
Defendant Jiaci Liu arrived at the victim’s residence attempting to take the victim’s money. The victim called police, who arrived and found Liu outside the victim’s home. After Liu was arrested, his cellphone was seized and searched. Investigators located evidence that in just one week of the conspiracy, in June 2023, Liu had traveled throughout Southern California and Arizona and personally taken over $202,000 directly from elderly victims. The victims were from mid- to late-70s, but with one victim 83-years-old.
As the government argued in its sentencing papers, each of the victims had worked a lifetime to save money for a dignified retirement. But because of Liu and his co-conspirators, they lost substantial sums of money, including at least one victim who had suffered significant financial hardship.
In imposing Liu’s sentence, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta found that the scheme involved “sophisticated means” and caused substantial financial hardship to the elderly victims. Judge Ohta also highlighted that the in-person pickups from elderly victims was particularly concerning because it had the potential for physical injury or an altercation between the defendant and the elderly victims.
“Scamming the elderly is a reprehensible crime that robs individuals of their hard-earned savings and the dignity they deserve in their golden years,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “There’s a cruelty in being willing to con your way to a victim’s door, look your victim in the eye, and physically take their life savings from them. This office will not tolerate deceitful and cruel criminals exploiting seniors.”
“Thanks to the courage of one potential victim alerting law enforcement, today’s sentencing ensures that Liu will be held accountable for his actions in a multinational tech support scam,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “This case demonstrates the effectiveness of the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force through its collaborative partnerships in protecting our most vulnerable communities. The FBI is proud to play a role in that mission.”
This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr1238-JO
Jiaci Liu Age: 35 China
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Criminal Forfeiture – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(2)(A), and Title 28, U.S.C., Section 2461(c)
Maximum Penalties: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego County Sheriff’s DepartmentSan Diego Police Department
San Diego Elder Justice Task Force
Cedar Rapids Felon Who Ran from Police and Tossed Gun Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a felon pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Bruce Jovon Williams, age 34, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at a prior hearing showed that, on August 28, 2024, in Cedar Rapids, a woman reported to law enforcement that Williams had physically assaulted her and hit her with a gun. Law enforcement officers found and approached Williams. When Williams saw the officers, Williams ran into a nearby backyard and hid in a small garage. He refused to leave the garage and was apprehended by a K9. In the backyard, near the small garage, law enforcement officers found a firearm. Williams has two felony convictions for theft in the second degree.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Williams remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Williams faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, comprised of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-108.
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California Man Pleads Guilty for Role in $15.9M COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A California man pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) out of $15.9 million in loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs.
“The defendant orchestrated a scheme where he worked with purported business owners to submit dozens of loan applications to steal millions of dollars of Covid-19 relief funds,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s egregious scheme relied on layers of deception to steal taxpayer money to buy himself luxury vehicles, residential properties, and jewelry. The Criminal Division remains dedicated to holding fraudsters who steal from the public fisc to account for their greed.”
“The defendant in this case fraudulently obtained $15.9 million from federal funding programs intended to provide government relief to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and instead diverted vital relief funds for his own personal benefit,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS-CI is proud to partner with our federal law enforcement organizations to investigate and ensure relief funds are spent in accordance with their original intended purposes."
“Exploiting pandemic relief meant for struggling Americans is not only morally reprehensible, it’s a betrayal of public trust,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “This defendant orchestrated a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme, weaponizing federal COVID-19 assistance programs for his personal gain. The FBI will always work to make sure those who steal from programs designed to help others are held accountable.”
“The defendant in this case submitted dozens of fraudulent loan applications to obtain millions of dollars from government programs designed to assist struggling businesses during the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), New York Region. “Today's guilty plea brings him to justice. The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who stole from COVID-19 relief programs in order to enrich themselves, and threatened the stability of our Nation's financial system.”
“Providing false information to gain access to SBA programs intended for disaster victims is unacceptable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Huang of the Small Business Association Office of Inspector General’s (SBA-OIG) Western Region. “OIG is focused on rooting out bad actors in these vital SBA programs. I want to thank the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”
According to court documents, from April 2020 to April 2022, Emanuel Tucker, 45, of Canyon Lake, California, and other co-conspirators, submitted several dozen fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications on behalf of various companies that he owned and controlled. These applications contained material misrepresentations about the companies, including the number of employees, average monthly payroll, gross revenue, cost of goods, and supporting documents. The defendant used the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase a variety of luxury items, such as a Cadillac Escalade, a Bently Continental, and a Ferrari F8 Tributo, multiple million-dollar houses, and various jewelry, including a $63,000 diamond ring and a $400,000 diamond necklace.
Tucker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Tucker faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The IRS-CI, FBI, SBA-OIG, FDIC OIG, Federal Reserve Board Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Department of Energy Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Siji Moore and Kashan Pathan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
Battle Creek Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Guilty Plea Entered on National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that Nazzarie Carmouche-Heath, 29, of Battle Creek, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Carmouche-Heath is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.
“I hope everyone knows by now how deadly fentanyl is. Our office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute the drug dealers who sell it. We especially look for cases like this, where the fentanyl was disguised as legitimate medication, a situation that can lead to accidental overdoses by the unsuspecting.” said U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey.
In pleading guilty, Carmouche-Heath admitted that in March 2025, at his residence in Battle Creek, he possessed and intended to sell 4,714 blue pills, which were designed to look like the opioid analgesic Oxycodone (M/30), but in fact contained fentanyl, weighing over 470 grams. Carmouche-Heathe also possessed and intended to sell over 600 grams of fentanyl in powder form. He also possessed two firearms found near the fentanyl stash. According to court documents, Carmouche-Heath pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
“Our country continues to be plagued by fentanyl poisonings caused by these counterfeit pills. This defendant entered his guilty plea on August 21, which is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. Our communities can rejoice in taking another piece of this deadly drug trade off the streets, which will prevent future potential overdoses and tragedy. DEA’s strategic partnerships with the Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD) and other law enforcement agencies are instrumental in stopping this nationwide threat,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derek Ress.
DEA and BCPD are investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan McGraw is prosecuting it.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiate 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 Neighborhoods (PSN).
August Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Wilmer Ulvin Aguilar-Miranda. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Aguilar-Miranda, 30, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2013. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Heign is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-308
Christopher Ray Barrett; Jessica Marie Johnson; Katelyn Mary LeBlanc. Carjacking; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witnesses, Victims, and Informants (second superseding). Barrett, 40, Johnson, 37, both of Tulsa, and LeBlanc, 27, a transient, are charged with taking a vehicle by force. They further conspired to intimidate and persuade witnesses and victims not to cooperate with the investigation. Barrett is charged with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and for possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Flesher and Jessica Wright are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-024
Joshua Lee Cornog. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Cornog, 43, of Commerce, is charged with intentionally possessing with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-314
Jerry Charles Creek, Jr. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country (Counts 1 & 3); Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country (Counts 2 & 7); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Count 4); Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country (Counts 5 & 9); Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country (Count 6); Kidnapping in Indian Country (Count 8) (superseding). Creek, 53, of Collinsville, is charged with strangling and assaulting an intimate partner, which resulted in serious bodily injury. He is charged with using a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Nov. 2023 and Apr. 2024. Plus, sexually assaulting the victim by force and threat in Nov. 2023 and Mar. 2024. Additionally, it is alleged that Creek assaulted the victim with intent to commit murder and held her against her will. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-259*
Cameron David Joshua Cox. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Cox, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly receiving, possessing, and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-307
Henry Joseph Jaquez. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition (Count 1); Kidnapping in Indian Country (Count 2); Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country (Count 3); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 4 & 6); Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 5); Abusive Sexual Contact by Force and Threat in Indian Country (Count 7). Jaquez, 42, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing several firearms and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. In Aug. 2025, Jaquez allegedly kidnapped, strangled, and assaulted the victim with a taser and a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-296
Marcus Antonio Jones. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Jones, 46, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-313
John David Landrum. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Landrum, 45, of Quapaw, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wyandotte Nation Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-306
Antonio Juan Paredes. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Paredes, 35, of Tulsa, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from March to July 2025. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-305
Issac Eli Pigeon. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Kidnapping in Indian Country. Pigeon, 23, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with breaking into an occupied home with the intent of committing a crime. He is further charged with kidnapping the victim and keeping them from leaving. The FBI, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-312
Sidney Peter Rivas; Marcus Allen Bearpaw; Michael Anthony Collum; Lindsey Stark Cornell; William Boyd Jones; Jennifer Suzanne Swanson; Juan Carlos Perez-Hernandez. Continuing Criminal Enterprise (Count 1); Drug Conspiracy (Counts 2 through 4); Money Laundering Conspiracy (Count 5); Concealment Money Laundering (Count 6); International Concealment Money Laundering (Counts 7 through 9). Rivas, 46, incarcerated, is charged with organizing, leading, and profiting from the distribution of methamphetamine while in prison. Rivas, Bearpaw, 30, incarcerated, Collum, 41, of Noble, Cornell, 45, of Grove, Jones, 39, and Swanson, 48, of Lindsay, and Perez-Hernandez, 43, is incarcaerate and an El Salvador national, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and or heroin. Additionally, Rivas, Cornell, Jones, and Swanson are charged with conspiring with others to obtain physical and digital currency from the drug distribution and transferring it to other locations in the United States and Mexico. Rivas and Cornell are charged with concealing or disguising funds received from the unlawful activity. Lastly, Rivas, Cornell, and Swanson are charged with concealing or disguising funds from the unlawful activity and transferring them to Mexico. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the IRS, and the Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-295
Alejandro Aguilar Rodriguez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Aguilar Rodriguez, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jan. 2025. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-303Jimmy Ray Spencer. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Spencer, 67, of Sapulpa, is charged with possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-294
Jesus Vargas-Gutierrez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Vargas-Gutierrez, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jan. 2019. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-304Gualberto Vega. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Vega, 31, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Further, Vega is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition after being convicted of a felony and in furtherance of drug trafficking. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Scaife is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-302Raphiel Andrew Williams. Cyberstalking (Counts 1 & 2). Williams, 26, of Tulsa, is charged with causing reasonable fear or substantial emotional distress by using an electronic communication service with intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate two victims. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Steve Briden are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-301
Ismael Moreno Zuniga. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Moreno Zuniga, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-300
* Jerry Chares Creek, Jr., was tried by a federal jury in November 2025. He was acquitted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; both counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; and Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country. Creek was found guilty of all other charges.
Atwater Prison Inmate Indicted for Threatening to Kill Prosecutor’s FamilyRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Thursday against Stanislav Yelizarov, 35, an inmate in the United States Penitentiary, Atwater, charging him with threatening the family of a federal official, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Yelizarov had been previously convicted in the District of Maryland and was undergoing further proceedings in the District of Maryland and the Fourth Circuit. The prosecutor in those cases was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Maryland.
On March 23, 2024, Yelizarov, using a recorded prison telephone line, communicated a threat to the Assistant U.S. Attorney that he intended to kill the prosecutor’s “whole family.” Yelizarov had previously sent threatening letters to the prosecutor.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California was assisted by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Yelizarov faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Arizona Woman Pleads Guilty to Endangering Children in Drunken High-Speed CrashRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona woman pleaded guilty to assimilated federal charges after a high-speed, alcohol-fueled crash that endangered three young children.
According to court records, on May 4, 2024, Avedale Johnson, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, drove intoxicated at speeds over 100 mph on U.S. Highway 491 with three unbelted children under 12 in her car, crashed into another vehicle, and fled from law enforcement. The three unbelted children were unharmed during the incident. Johnson later admitted to drinking vodka before the incident.
Johnson pleaded guilty to abandonment or abuse of a child (no death or great bodily harm). Johnson will be subject to up to three years in prison and five years of supervised probation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.
Arizona Man Sentenced to Prison Term for Deadly Drunk Driving CrashRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was sentenced to 40 months in prison for causing a high-speed drunk driving crash on the Navajo Nation that killed two passengers and seriously injured another.
According to court records, on November 14, 2024, Marvin Albert Wauneka, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, drank heavily before reporting to work, where he was too intoxicated to perform his job. Wauneka then went to a Wal-Mart, continued drinking, and later drove and continued to drink with four passengers at speeds of 85 to 100 miles per hour on Navajo Route 54, where he lost control and caused a single-vehicle rollover crash.
The scene of the rolloverTwo passengers were killed at the scene, a third suffered serious injuries but was able to escape the wreckage, and a fourth passenger escaped without serious harm. Wauneka’s blood alcohol content was measured at .298 upon arrival at the hospital.
Wauneka, who has a prior DWI conviction, pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He was previously convicted in Navajo Nation Tribal Court and sentenced to 167 days in custody for this offense. Upon his release from prison, Wauneka will be subject to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
Albany County Man Indicted for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nicholas Sherlock, age 33, of Watervliet, New York, was ordered detained today after being indicted for receiving child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement.
The indictment, issued Tuesday, alleges that between August 2024 and May 2025, Sherlock received numerous graphic image and video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on a social media application via the Internet. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “As alleged, Sherlock received child sexual abuse material over the internet. This is unfortunately a type of crime that is far too common. Every day we work hard to rid our communities of people who have a sexual interest in children. All such people belong in prison.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “The allegations against Mr. Sherlock are repulsive, and the FBI is committed to dedicating every resource necessary to investigate these disturbing cases involving horrific images of our most vulnerable.”
The charge filed against Sherlock carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum term of 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Also, Sherlock would have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.