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Wednesday 2 July 2025
Brothers Sentenced for Violent Assault and Firearm Confrontation on Navajo NationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Two brothers from Fruitland, New Mexico were sentenced for their roles in a violent assault and subsequent confrontation with law enforcement on the Navajo Nation.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on March 23, 2024, Justin Tso, 38, and his brother Walliford Tso, 37, enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, went to the residence of John Doe, where Doe lived with his girlfriend and her son. As the brothers were departing the home, Justin took a machete without permission and walked away. John Doe armed himself with an axe and demanded the return of the machete. In response, Justin and Walliford charged at John Doe, leading to a violent altercation.
The brothers pursued John Doe back into the residence, where they assaulted him in front of his family, punching him and throwing objects, including a tire rim, pipe, and large rock. John Doe was able to escape and call police. During the incident, the brothers caused significant property damage, including smashing car windows and damaging vehicles.
Navajo Nation Police responded to the scene. During the attempt to apprehend the suspects, Walliford pointed a rifle at officers before surrendering. Walliford and Justin were both found to be intoxicated at the time of the incident.
Walliford and Justin each pled guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and were sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.
Brooksville Man Sentenced for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Darrence White (29, Brooksville) to 20 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. White pleaded guilty on April 7, 2025.
According to court documents, on March 11, 2023, a deputy with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which White was a passenger. The deputy detected a strong odor of narcotics emitting from the vehicle and removed the occupants, including White. An officer located a bag in the glove compartment that contained methamphetamine, fentanyl, and a blue latex glove. During a subsequent search of White, officers recovered additional controlled substances and a blue latex glove like the one from the glovebox.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
Bristol Woman Pleads Guilty to PerjuryRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia woman, who lied under oath during her boyfriend’s supervised release revocation hearing, pled guilty today in federal court in Abingdon.
Blaklee Buchanan, 27, pled guilty today to one count of making false material declarations under oath before a court of the United States. At sentencing, Buchanan faces up to five years in prison. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for October 28, 2025.
According to court documents, on June 13, 2023, Buchanan was placed under oath as a witness in a supervised release revocation hearing in the case of United States v. Bradford Loudy. At the time, Loudy and Buchanan were in a romantic relationship.
While testifying under oath, Buchanan was asked about events that occurred on March 23, 2023.
Specifically, Buchanan was asked if Loudy physically assaulted her on that day. Buchanan said, “He never touched me.” Buchanan was also asked if Loudy hit her with a sandal. Buchan answered, “No.”
To questions if Loudy bashed her head against a retaining wall, push her down, kicked her, and hit her, Buchanan answered, “No.”
Loudy’s assault of Buchanan was witnessed by at least two other people, who also testified about it. When asked, “…you’re saying these ladies just made up this story about your boyfriend beating you” Buchanan said, “Yes. I have no clue who they are. He doesn’t beat me. He did not beat me. He did not hit me.”
“No, he did not assault me on May or March 23.”
This testimony was false because Loudy did physically assault Buchanan on March 23, as witnessed by two other people.
Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee made the announcement today.
Assistant United States Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Brazilian National Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Milford has been indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Wadriam Jose Ferreira Do Carmo, 23, is charged with unlawful reentry of deported alien. The defendant was previously charged by criminal complaint on May 19, 2025.
On June 2, 2023, United States Border Patrol arrested Ferreira Do Carmo after determining he illegally entered the United States. He was subsequently deported from the United States on July 20, 2023. Thereafter, on an unknown date and at an unknown location, Ferreira Do Carmo allegedly reentered the United States without being inspected.
On May 6, 2024, immigration authorities became aware that Ferreira Do Carmo was unlawfully present in the United States after he was arrested by local law enforcement in Sherborn on an outstanding warrant.
On May 19, 2025, immigration authorities conducted surveillance of Ferreira Do Carmo at his last known residence in Milford. There, it is alleged that Ferreira was observed arriving to the residence in a white van, exiting the van and fleeing towards the residence. Once Ferreira Do Carmo was inside the residence, law enforcement allegedly heard the sound of a window slamming inside the apartment which caused items to fall onto the porch. When law enforcement approached and knocked on the door, Ferreira Do Carmo allegedly refused to answer the door or leave the residence.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston; and John E. King, Chief of the Milton Police Department made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Bonita Man Pleads Guilty in $5.8 Million Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Jacobo Melcer, a Bonita resident and businessowner, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he conspired with others to defraud Medicare of millions of dollars and to pay unlawful kickbacks for patient referrals.
According to his plea agreement, Melcer submitted more than $5.88 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare through his ownership and operation of two durable medical equipment (DME) companies, which sold orthotics – including back, wrist, and knee braces – to Medicare beneficiaries.
Melcer admitted that in operating the DME companies, he paid unlawful kickback payments to multiple companies for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries and prescriptions for DME, knowing that the prescriptions were signed by physicians who had no legitimate doctor-patient relationship with the beneficiary and had not conducted a legitimate medical evaluation of the beneficiary.
In total, Melcer admitted that he paid more than $227,000 in kickbacks, and fraudulently billed Medicare $5,885,382 and was paid $3,479,303. As part of his guilty plea, Melcer agreed to forfeit and pay restitution in the amount of $3,479,303.
Melcer further admitted that he created and sold two DME companies to a co-conspirator for the sole purpose of putting the ownership under a nominee owner to conceal the true ownership from Medicare due to Medicare suspending the co-conspirator as a Medicare provider and the co-conspirator’s inability to continue to submit claims to Medicare.
Melcer’s sentencing is scheduled for October 10, 2025. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blanca Quintero of the Southern District of California.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr2568-DMS
Jacobo Melcer Age: 85 Bonita, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud and Pay Illegal Remunerations – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $500,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Belmont County man sentenced to 60 years in prison for sexually exploiting multiple childrenRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Dennis Stopar, 65, of Flushing, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 720 months in prison for sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography.
According to court documents, between 2022 and 2023, Stopar sexually assaulted at least nine minor victims, both male and female, and created hundreds of videos and images of the horrific abuse. At the time of the sexual assaults, most of the minor victims were in foster care of a family member of Stopar.
In December 2023, while investigating a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child pornography being uploaded to a Dropbox account at an address in Belmont County, law enforcement encountered Stopar. Further investigation revealed Stopar, a convicted sex offender, possessed child pornography he had created of one of the minor victims on his phone. Stopar was arrested and his electronic devices were subsequently processed via a federal search warrant, and he was charged federally in April 2024.
Forensic examinations on his devices revealed Stopar had filmed the sexual assaults of at least seven of the minor victims he had access to. Approximately 160 images and 12 videos of the identified victims being sexually assaulted by Stopar were recovered.
Stopar’s prior sex offense is a rape conviction for sexually abusing a victim beginning when the victim was approximately 6 years old until the victim was 16 years old.
The defendant pleaded guilty in this case in December 2024.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Belmont County Sheriff James G. Zusack announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
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Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jermaine Antoine Johnson, 35, of Beckley, was sentenced today to eight years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Johnson admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl as well as cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in Beckley and elsewhere within the Southern District of West Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson participated in the DTO conspiracy in April and May 2024. Johnson admitted to supplying others with controlled substances that they distributed. As part of his guilty plea, Johnson also admitted that he and a co-conspirator traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, on May 20, 2024, where they purchased approximately $6,000 worth of fentanyl. Johnson and his co-conspirator returned to West Virginia the next day and discussed increasing the volume of the purchased fentanyl by adding such cutting agents as sugar and brown sugar.
Johnson has a long criminal history that includes prior convictions for malicious assault, battery on a correctional officer, first degree robbery, possession with intent to deliver narcotics, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Johnson is among 12 individuals indicted on charges alleging the defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base within the Southern District of West Virginia from in or about June 2023 to in or about May 2024. All 12 pleaded guilty, including two defendants who pleaded guilty to separate charges in lieu of the offenses alleged in the indictment.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-90.
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Bail bondsmen and former federal officer indicted in immigration-related bribery caseRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Four people are now in custody on allegations they exchanged money to lift immigration detainers on individuals held in custody, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Houston residents Leopoldo Perrault Benitez, 53, Anthony Benitez, 32, Isaac Sierra, 51, and Jose Angel Muniz, 51, La Porte, made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray, at which time the indictment was unsealed. They were ordered into custody pending further criminal proceedings.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment June 24. It alleges Leopoldo Benitez was the owner of A Way Out Bail Bonds in Houston. His son - Anthony Benitez - was an employee, while Sierra worked at International Bonding Company, according to the charges. Muniz was allegedly a deportation officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO).
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the charges allege the three bail bondsmen paid Muniz to lift immigration detainers on illegal aliens in ICE custody awaiting removal.
“The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of corruption by federal officers extremely seriously, particularly those entrusted with keeping our border secure and nation safe,” said Ganjei. “There is no room whatsoever for bribery or side deals when it comes to immigration enforcement.”
If convicted, all four face up to 15 years in prison and a fine equal to the equivalent value of the bribes offered and received or $250,000, whichever is greater.
ICE - Office of Professional Responsibility, FBI and Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Associates of Bounty Hunter Bloods Gang Indicted for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Five New Jersey men, including associates of a New Jersey gang associated with the Bounty Hunter Bloods criminal street gang were charged by a superseding indictment with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
The Indictment charges Carl Napier, a/k/a “Smash” (“Napier”), Hamir Wright, a/k/a “Lil Smash” (“Wright”), Alexis Tejada (“Tejada”), Jihad Bibbs, Sr. (“Bibbs”), and Jamie Archer-Monroe, a/k/a “Raziq” (“Archer-Monroe”), all of Somerset County and Middlesex County, New Jersey, with a racketeering conspiracy that included multiple murders, fraud schemes, and narcotics distribution. Napier and Bibbs are in federal custody on previously filed related federal charges. Tejada and Archer-Monroe were arrested and appeared in federal court in Newark before the Hon. Stacy Adams, U.SM.J. for initial appearances. Wright is in state custody on previously filed unrelated charges and will appear in federal court at a later date.
The charges are the result of a long-running investigation, coordinated between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Brunswick Police Department, and the Franklin Township Police Department.
“There will be zero tolerance for violent crime and gang activity in the state of New Jersey. My office will continue to use all resources to find and prosecute those who instill fear in our citizens and undermine the safety of our communities. These criminals do not run our streets — the law does, and my office will enforce it without hesitation.”
- U.S. Attorney Alina Habba
“The apprehension of these individuals is a momentous step towards making New Jersey safer, one day at a time. By freeing these communities from those who allegedly distribute drugs, firearms, and use violence as a means of coercion, the FBI continues its mission to combat violent crime,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Napier and Wright, each were allegedly associates of the Bounty Hunter Bloods, who operated under the umbrella of the neighborhood street gangs known as “Parkside” in Somerset and “The Ville” in New Brunswick. Some of the charged defendants are alleged to have also engaged in numerous violent acts on behalf of and for the benefit of the gang, including assaults, shootings, and murders, some of which targeted rival gang members. For example, on or about March 12, 2024, Napier and Wright, while with other gang members in New Brunswick, got into a confrontation regarding narcotics distribution with purported rival gang members and shot at them, killing Victim 1 and resulting in injury to Victim 2.
In addition to this violent act, the defendants, are alleged to have routinely distributed narcotics and trafficked firearms in and around the gang’s territory in both New Brunswick and Somerset.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Stefanie Roddy, investigators of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, investigators of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor John McDonald, the New Brunswick Police Department, under the direction of Chief Vincent Sabo and the Franklin Township Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Quovella Mayweather, for the investigation leading to the charges. U.S. Attorney Habba and SAC Roddy would also like to thank the Central New Jersey Safe Streets Task Force, Woodbridge Police Department, Raritan Township Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph, Deputy Chief of the District of New Jersey’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the Office’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel:
Carl Napier- Steve Altman
Jihad Bibb, Sr.- Michael Policastro
Alexis Tejada- Joseph R. Rubino
Jamie Archer-Monroe- Stephen Dratch
napier.indictment.pdfAlien Smuggler Sentenced for Role in Fatal Crash Following High-Speed PursuitRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Sergio Josue Palomera of Chula Vista was sentenced in federal court today to 71 months in prison for smuggling undocumented immigrants in a manner that resulted in the deaths of the two people he was smuggling.
On October 22, 2024, Palomera picked up two undocumented immigrants —a man and a woman—in his car near the U.S.–Mexico border in Otay Mesa. Border Patrol agents saw this load-up using remote video surveillance, and an agent responded to the location. The agent saw Palomera’s car traveling west on State Route 905 and activated his lights and sirens to pull the car over.
According to his plea agreement, Palomera initially slowed down and began to move over onto a highway offramp, as if yielding to the Border Patrol agent’s attempt to pull him over. Palomera then quickly accelerated, drove through a red traffic light, and re-entered the highway in an attempt to flee. By the time the agent could safely proceed through the traffic light and onto the highway, Palomera had gained considerable distance. As he lost sight of the car, the agent decided to terminate the pursuit. Soon after, he saw a cloud of dust in the direction Palomera had been fleeing.
Palomera was traveling over 110 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone. In less than minute, Palomera lost control of the car and it rolled over. The smuggled woman was ejected from the car and died instantly. The smuggled man suffered a traumatic head injury and died from his injuries later that evening in the hospital.
At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson emphasized the “very aggravated” nature of the offense, noting that the crime “has deprived a little girl of her mother, has deprived that little girl’s father of his wife, and has deprived another family of their son.”
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said: “This defendant treated human lives as disposable cargo - and two people paid the ultimate price. This sentence reflects the grave consequences of putting profit over people. We will continue to hold smugglers accountable for the death and suffering their crimes inflict.”
“We are glad Mr. Palomera will be held accountable for his irresponsible and senseless actions,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Stalnaker. “This case emphasizes the dangers and possible consequences of entrusting your life to a human smuggler.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Fawcett.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 24cr2466
Sergio Josue Palomera Age: 23 Chula Vista, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Transportation of Certain Aliens Resulting in Death – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) and (B)(iv)
Maximum penalty: Death or life in prison; $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
United States Border Patrol
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Alabama Man with Gun who Fled and Crashed into Police Car Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.
Chrishawn Lloyd Stuckey, age 43, from Birmingham, Alabama, received the prison term after a February 7, 2025 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Stuckey was intoxicated while at a Wal-Mart in Waterloo, Iowa. He left the store and drove erratically. When a law enforcement officer attempted to stop his car, Stuckey refused to pull over. Stuckey instead got onto an on-ramp to the highway. Officers used a car maneuver to force Stuckey to stop. Stuckey then put his car in reverse and backed up into a squad car, damaging it. Officers found a loaded stolen firearm in Stuckey’s car. Stuckey has felony convictions for trafficking in stolen weapons and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Stuckey was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Stuckey was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Stuckey is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-2017.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Tuesday 1 July 2025
Wyoming man sentenced to 3 years in prison for attempted robbery on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Wyoming man who attempted a robbery on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced yesterday to 36 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Jesse Alex Sutherland, 37, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of attempted robbery.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on the evening of November 21, 2023, the defendant, Jesse Alex Sutherland, went with a co-defendant to a remote residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The co-defendant was armed with an AR-15 style rifle. The two men met with a third person outside the home. While still outside the residence the co-defendant fired one round into the ground and six into the air. He and the defendant then broke into the residence. The two men assaulted the two occupants of the home, and the co-defendant struck them with the rifle while demanding access to a safe.
Sutherland was seen on surveillance video before and after the attempted robbery. He was arrested shortly thereafter wearing the same hoodie he wore during the attempted robbery.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, BIA and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law & Justice.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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West Tennessee Gang Member Sentenced for Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Mekevin Woods, 23, of Bolivar, Tennessee, to 38 months in federal prison for possessing a machinegun conversion device, also known as a “switch.” Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. announced the sentence today.
According to evidence presented in court, on December 23, 2023, an officer with the Bolivar Police Department (BPD) attempted a traffic stop of a gray 2022 Infiniti Q60. When the driver refused to stop, he led the BPD officer on a high-speed pursuit reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone. Finally, Woods, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, traveled into oncoming traffic, jumped from the vehicle, and fled on foot. While fleeing, the officer observed Woods with a firearm in his right hand.
Officers with the Bolivar Police Department ultimately arrested Woods with the assistance of a K-9 unit and located a Glock handgun loaded with 32 rounds in an extended magazine with a machinegun conversion device attached to the firearm. Officers also determined the vehicle was stolen out of Memphis. Woods was identified as a member of the TMO 45 gang, a hybrid street gang comprised of both adult and juvenile members, that is involved in firearms and narcotics trafficking and is responsible for several shooting incidents in the Fayette and Hardeman County area.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jackson Resident Agency; and the Bolivar Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Christie Hopper prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Weiser Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BOISE – Cody Michael Howells, 35, of Weiser, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, the investigation began when the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (“ICAC”) received CyberTip reports from an online social media platform. A CyberTip is a report submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC gathers leads and tips regarding suspected online crimes against children and forwards them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. ICAC determined that numerous files of child sexual abuse material had been uploaded to an account, later identified as belonging to Howells. ICAC subsequently executed a federal search warrant at Howell’s residence in Weiser. During an interview, Howells admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material. ICAC located additional files of child sexual abuse material on Howell’s cellphone. At the time, Howells was on parole for Lewd Conduct with a Minor Under 16.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Howells to lifetime supervised release following his prison sentence and ordered him to pay $30,000 in restitution to victims in the images he possessed. Howells will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Idaho ICAC Task Force, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rupert Police Department, and the Weiser Police Department, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Robins prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Virginia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Benefits SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Alonzo Brown, 27, of Richmond, Virginia, to 45 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a conspiracy and scheme to defraud the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) and California Employment Development Department (CA-EDD). Judge Griggsby also ordered Brown to pay $310,428.08 of restitution to the victims and forfeit all money, property, and/or assets derived from the scheme, including a money judgment of $310,428.08.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington Field Office.
According to the guilty plea, from at least June 2020 through March 2021, Brown conspired with Michael Cooley, 26, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and Isiah Lewis, 35, of Prince George’s County, to devise and execute a scheme to defraud individuals and multiple state workforce agencies, including in Maryland and California, of more than $800,000 in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, successfully obtaining more than $300,000. The scheme was sophisticated and used personal identifiable information — such as name, date of birth, and social security number — from more than 60 individuals to file online UI applications in Maryland and California, using anonymous email addresses to obscure their identities and avoid detection.
Griggsby sentenced Cooley to 87 months in federal prison for his role in the scheme back in April.
This case is part of the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force, a Strike Force that is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information about the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bijon A. Mostoufi and Jared M. Beim, who are prosecuting this federal case, and Joanna B.N. Huber, who is supporting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office to participate in Collinsville naturalization ceremonyRead the Press Release
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – The U.S. District Court and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, both of the Southern District of Illinois, will take part in a naturalization ceremony to welcome new citizens in Collinsville on Wednesday.
“As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s independence on Friday, we’re reminded of our country’s long-standing tradition of accepting immigrants from all over the world through the naturalization process,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “It’s with great enthusiasm that we acknowledge the efforts by our friends and neighbors who have prioritized entering the U.S. legally. Together, we are bound by our shared values of liberty and freedom.”
The event is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2, at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. Sixty-one candidates from 27 countries are slated to take the Oath of Allegiance during the ceremony.
Naturalization resources are available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Participates in National Health Care Fraud Takedown Resulting in $2 Million Civil SettlementRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced a $2 million civil settlement to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act. The settlement is a joint agreement between the United States, Riverpark Operations, LLC (Riverpark), Avamere Group, LLC (Avamere), and the Oregon Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (Oregon DOJ MFCU) on behalf of the state of Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) administers Oregon's Medicaid program using a combination of state and federal funding. This civil settlement is part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.
Riverpark and its parent company Avamere have agreed to pay the United States $2 million and perform corrective actions to resolve allegations that Riverpark fraudulently billed Medicare and Oregon Medicaid for grossly substandard nursing home services. Riverpark operates a 119-bed skilled nursing home facility in Eugene, Oregon, under the name Avamere Riverpark of Eugene. During November and December 2017, and between September 2018 and July 2019, Riverpark is alleged to have provided grossly substandard services to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who resided at the facility when staffing levels did not meet minimum staffing requirements. Among other things, the United States and the Oregon DOJ MFCU allege that, during these timeframes, Riverpark's failure to adequately staff the facility resulted in residents experiencing increased instances and severity of preventable urinary tract infections, pressure sores, and falls.
In connection with the settlement, Riverpark and Avamere have entered into a Quality-of-Care Corporate Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), which will remain in effect for five years to address quality of care and resident safety within the skilled nursing facility.
This civil settlement is part of the Justice Department’s national healthcare fraud takedown that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in alleged false billings and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the Takedown, seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets. Descriptions of each case involved in the strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.
The District of Oregon worked with HHS-OIG and the Oregon DOJ MFCU to investigate and resolve this matter.
The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
If you suspect Medicare or Medicaid fraud, please report it by phone at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or via email at [email protected].
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces 5 Individuals Charged as Part of Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud TakedownRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Today, United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky announced criminal charges against five defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicaid and divert controlled substances. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from conspiracy to illegally use a DEA registration number issued to another, conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge, health care fraud, theft of medical products, tampering with consumer products, obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, and burglary involving controlled substances.
“Health care providers must be trusted to appropriately prescribe highly-addictive medications only to those in need. Doing otherwise only exacerbates the opioid epidemic that has ravaged our Commonwealth and destroyed families,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “As alleged in each of the charging documents, these defendants breached that trust and illegally diverted controlled substances. While these defendants are professionally obligated to help communities, the charging documents allege that they have unfortunately done the opposite. They will be held to account.”
“This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”
The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Bumgarner are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in alleged false billings and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets in connection with the takedown.
The following individuals were charged in the Western District of Kentucky:
Ashley Barnett, 41, of Louisville, Kentucky, Laura Webb, 37, of Springfield, Kentucky, and Rachel Goldstein, 43, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, were charged by information. According to the information, Barnett and Webb, both doctors of veterinary medicine, were charged in a conspiracy to illegally use a DEA registration number issued to another. In addition, Barnett and Goldstein were charged with conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge. As part of the conspiracy, Barnett, Goldstein, and others conspired to issue prescriptions for over 25,000 Schedule II controlled substances, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, in the names of various canines, including some deceased and fictitious canines, when in reality, Barnett and Goldstein were the recipients of the controlled substances. Barnett was also charged with theft of medical products for taking and concealing buprenorphine from her employer prior to the controlled substances being made available for retail purchase by a consumer. Finally, Barnett and Goldstein were charged with health care fraud in connection with a scheme whereby Barnett requested Goldstein fill Goldstein’s dextroamphetamine prescription, a Schedule II controlled substance, and provide it to Barnett. Goldstein caused the submission of the claim for the dextroamphetamine prescription to Medicaid. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
Kristina Coomer, 43, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged by information with theft of medical products. According to the information, Coomer, an employee of a retail pharmacy in the supply chain for oxycodone, took, carried away, and concealed oxycodone from the pharmacy, prior to the controlled substances being made available for retail purchase by a consumer. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
Matthew Ryan Elkins, 40, of Crestwood, Kentucky, was charged by indictment with tampering with consumer products, obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, and burglary involving controlled substances. According to the indictment, Elkins, an advanced practice registered nurse-certified registered nurse anesthetist, tampered with one pre-filled, capped syringe containing fentanyl citrate and bupivacaine, prescribed to a patient by removing a portion of the listed ingredients and replaced it with another liquid. Elkins was also charged with obtaining and attempting to obtain three injectable vials containing a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, by misrepresentation, deception, and subterfuge. Finally, Elkins was charged with burglary involving controlled substances when he entered a business registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration with the intent to steal any material and compound containing any quantity of a controlled substance. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin McKenzie of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
Nationwide, cases are being prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys' Offices in the Western and Eastern Districts of Kentucky, the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Arizona, Central District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Columbia, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Georgia, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Maine, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Northern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nevada, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Western District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, District of North Dakota, Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District of South Carolina, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Washington, and Northern District of West Virginia; and State Attorneys General’s Offices for California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. The Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team used cutting-edge data analytics to identify and support the investigations that led to these charges.
The Western District of Kentucky, in particular, worked with the following law enforcement organizations to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the enforcement period: the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Kentucky State Police, the Louisville Metro Police Department, and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Inspector General.
Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website: https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/2025-national-health-care-fraud-takedown.
A complaint, information, or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Shelbyville, Kentucky Men Found Guilty of Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – On June 27, 2025, following a five-day trial, a federal jury convicted two Shelbyville, Kentucky men of possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possessing firearms as convicted felons.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, U.S. Marshal Gary B. Burman of the of the U.S. Marshal Service for the Western District of Kentucky, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on December 15, 2022, Benjamin Quintero Martinez, 31, and Rodolfo Reyes Martinez, 27, aided and abetted by each other and others, possessed with intent to distribute over 1 kilogram of fentanyl, including possessing a pill press used to manufacture illicit pills containing fentanyl, over 200 grams of methamphetamine, and over 200 grams of cocaine. The defendants also possessed 7 firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Both defendants were prohibited from possessing firearms because they had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On July 7, 2014, in Shelby Circuit Court, Quintero Martinez was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance, cocaine, less than 4 grams, 1st degree, 1st offense, and tampering with physical evidence.
On January 4, 2016, in Henry Circuit Court, Quintero Martinez was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree, 1st offense (two counts).
On May 22, 2017, in Shelby Circuit Court, Quintero Martinez was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of handgun by a convicted felon, tampering with physical evidence, and trafficking in a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.
On June 29, 2017, in Shelby Circuit Court, Quintero Martinez, was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance, methamphetamine, less than 2 grams, 1st degree, 1st offense.
On February 28, 2019, in Marshall Circuit Court, Reyes Martinez was convicted of complicity to escape, 2nd degree.
On July 19, 2022, in Shelby Circuit Court, Reyes Martinez, was convicted of convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Both are scheduled for sentencing on September 25, 2025, before a United States District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Quintero Martinez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years, Reyes Martinez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and both face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The ATF, USMS, and LMPD investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Dahl and Josh Porter are prosecuting the case with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic.
This conviction is a 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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Two Men Sentenced After Robbing Dispensary with a FirearmRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Ronald Buckley, Jr., 39, for Robbery in Indian Country and Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and Terrance Vohn Morrow, 41, for Accessory After the Fact to Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery.
Buckley was ordered to serve 150 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Morrow was ordered to serve 21 months' imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Their sentences will be served in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In May 2024, Tulsa Police officers were dispatched to a robbery at a marijuana dispensary. Officers spoke with witnesses who described the suspect producing a handgun, demanding money, and weed. Surveillance footage captured the robbery and the suspect leaving in a vehicle that was waiting for him. Law enforcement discovered that Buckley had robbed the dispensary, and during the robbery, he had discharged the handgun.
The investigation further revealed that Buckley was seen getting into Morrow’s vehicle. After Buckley was arrested, Morrow moved his vehicle into a heavily wooded area, attempting to hide it.
During the robbery, court records show that Buckley was under the supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for a previous robbery. He is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Flynn and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Transient Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyrone Noble, age 58, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment charged Noble with knowingly possessing a 12-gauge shotgun and five rounds of ammunition on December 2, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Noble will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Three more sentenced in wide-ranging scheme to monopolize international transit industryRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Three Texas residents have been sentenced in connection with a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency industry in the Los Indios border region, located near Harlingen and Brownsville, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
They and others controlled the transmigrate industry through fear, monopolization and extortion of competitors and laundered proceeds from the conspiracies.
Pedro Antonio Calvillo Hernandez, 50, McAllen, and Mireya Miranda, 59, San Antonio, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for transmigrante forwarding agency services and conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market. Hernandez also admitted to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion and received 37 months, while Miranda was ordered to serve 10 months on home detention. Jose de Jesus Tapia Fernandez, 47, Brownsville, was sentenced to 31 months in prison after pleading guilty to a money laundering conspiracy through which extortion proceeds were laundered.
Hernandez and Miranda must also pay a $75,000 fine, while Fernandez was ordered to pay $50,000. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
“Price fixing is an attempt to distort the market in favor of the fixer and to the detriment of basically everyone else. Although such market manipulation is bad enough, it is even worse when brought about through threats and violence,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will work tirelessly to prosecute such criminal syndicates and to ensure markets along the Texas-Mexico border remain free, fair, and open.”
“The danger and the harm to the American people by the use of violence and extortion to fix prices and monopolize the market for an essential service in the Texas border region cannot be understated,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s sentences demonstrate the Antitrust Division’s commitment to pursuing incarceration for both white-collar and violent criminals who seek to exploit America’s free markets.”
“The FBI remains committed to combatting the use of threats, violence and corrupt business practices such as price-fixing that harm honest business owners and undermine fair competition,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will leverage each other’s expertise and capabilities to dismantle every facet of transnational criminal organizations.”
“These sentencings reaffirm our unwavering commitment to safeguarding economic integrity at our nation’s borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio. “By dismantling an enterprise that thrived on extortion and price fixing, we are ensuring that honest businesses can compete on a level playing field. This case exemplifies how corruption in niche industries can have far-reaching effects, and HSI will continue to pursue those who abuse the system for profit.”
Transmigrantes transport used vehicles and goods from the United States through Mexico for resale in Central America. Only a few U.S. border crossings, including the Los Indios Bridge, allow transmigrantes to enter Mexico.
Transmigrante forwarding agencies are U.S.-based businesses that help clients complete customs paperwork to export vehicles into Mexico. Co-conspirators fixed prices for forwarding services and created a centralized entity, known as the “pool,” to collect and divide revenue among conspirators. They used the pool to eliminate competition and raise prices.
Some also conspired to force forwarding agencies to pay money to the pool and to pay other extortion fees including a “piso” for every transaction processed in the industry as well as a fine for operating in the market outside of rules. The conspirators perpetrated acts of intimidation, coercion and violence in furtherance of the antitrust and extortion conspiracies.
To date, five others have been convicted, four of whom have already been sentenced in the case, including the leader - Carlos Martinez, 39, McAllen, who received an 11-year prison term.
Three others - Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart and Diego Ceballos-Soto were also charged in the superseding indictment and remain fugitives. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, ICE-HSI and FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorneys Anne Veldhuis, Brittany E. McClure and Michael G. Lepage and Senior Litigation Counsel John Davis of the Antitrust Division and VCRS Trial Attorney Christina Taylor.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
Three Defendants Sentenced in Wide-Ranging Scheme to Monopolize International Transit Industry, Fix Prices, Extort Competitors, and Launder MoneyRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice today announced that three additional defendants were sentenced in connection with a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency industry in the Los Indios, Texas, border region, located near Harlingen and Brownsville, Texas. The defendants controlled the transmigrate industry through fear, monopolization, and extortion of competitors, and laundered proceeds from the conspiracies.
Pedro Antonio Calvillo Hernandez, age 50 of McAllen, Texas, was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $50,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for transmigrante forwarding agency services, conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market, and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.
Jose de Jesus Tapia Fernandez, age 47 of Brownsville, Texas was sentenced to time served, or 31 months in prison, and a three-year term of supervised release after pleading guilty to a money laundering conspiracy through which extortion proceeds were laundered.
Mireya Miranda, age 59 of San Antonio, Texas, was sentenced to 10 months of home detention, and a $75,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for transmigrante forwarding agency services; and conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market.
“The danger and the harm to the American people by the use of violence and extortion to fix prices and monopolize the market for an essential service in the Texas border region cannot be understated,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s sentences demonstrate the Antitrust Division’s commitment to pursuing incarceration for both white-collar and violent criminals who seek to exploit America’s free markets.”
“Price fixing is an attempt to distort the market in favor of the fixer and to the detriment of basically everyone else. Although such market manipulation is bad enough, it is even worse when brought about through threats and violence,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. “The Southern District of Texas will work tirelessly to prosecute such criminal syndicates and to ensure markets along the Texas-Mexico border remain free, fair, and open.”
“The FBI is proud of the hard work and collaboration with partners that led to today’s sentencing,” said Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “We remain absolutely committed to thwarting criminal enterprises that function without regard for the rule of law and whose practices of market manipulation include the use of violence and intimidation.”
“These sentencings reaffirm our unwavering commitment to safeguarding economic integrity at our nation’s borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio. “By dismantling an enterprise that thrived on extortion and price fixing, we are ensuring that honest businesses can compete on a level playing field. This case exemplifies how corruption in niche industries can have far-reaching effects, and HSI will continue to pursue those who abuse the system for profit.”
Transmigrantes transport used vehicles and other goods from the United States through Mexico for resale in Central America. There are only a few locations where transmigrantes can legally cross from the United States into Mexico, one of those being the Los Indios Bridge in Texas. Transmigrante forwarding agencies are U.S.-based businesses that provide services to transmigrante clients, including helping those clients complete the customs paperwork required to export vehicles into Mexico.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the co-defendants fixed prices for transmigrante forwarding agency services and created a centralized entity known as the “Pool” to collect and divide revenues among the conspirators, limit competition from other agencies, and increase prices for their services. Some co-defendants also conspired to force forwarding agencies to pay money to the Pool and to pay other extortion fees, including a “piso” for every transaction processed in the industry as well as a “fine” for operating in the market outside of Pool rules. The conspirators perpetrated acts of intimidation, coercion, and violence in furtherance of the antitrust and extortion conspiracies. Co-defendants Carlos Martinez and Tapia also conspired to launder the extortion proceeds.
Calvillo, Tapia, and Miranda must also pay restitution to the victims of the conspiracies. The Court will determine the final restitution amount owed to victims of the conspiracies at a hearing set for Sept. 3.
Four co-defendants have previously been sentenced in this case. One other co-defendant has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Three other defendants, Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart, and Diego Ceballos-Soto were also charged in the superseding indictment and remain fugitives. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Anne Veldhuis, Brittany E. McClure, and Michael G. Lepage and Senior Litigation Counsel John Davis of the Antitrust Division; Trial Attorney Christina Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS); and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
The New England Strike Force Joins Nationwide Crackdown on Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
CONCORD- Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack, together with Acting U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Drescher of the District of Vermont and Craig M. Wolff of the District of Maine, announces a sweeping enforcement action aimed at combatting health care fraud across New England. The enforcement action is a result of the collaboration and partnership between the Districts of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, and the New England Strike Force.
The New England Strike Force charged six defendants in connection with unrelated allegations including conspiracies to defraud the State of New Hampshire’s Medicaid program (NH Medicaid), Medicare, and other federal benefit programs, totaling over $14 million. The charges filed in federal court throughout New England are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from various schemes, including a previously convicted social worker who submitted claims to NH Medicaid following his disbarment from billing federal health care programs, a conspiracy to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for wrist, knee, and back braces and other equipment that were medically unnecessary, and a conspiracy to fulfill illegitimate prescriptions for drugs including Ozempic.
The schemes charged in the District of New Hampshire include:
Previously Convicted Felon Charged in New Scheme Fraudulently Billing Medicaid and Exploiting a Vulnerable Patient
- United States v. Erik Alonso: Erik Alonso, age 54, of Miami, Florida, was charged by indictment with eight counts of health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to submit claims to NH Medicaid, despite being barred from billing federally funded health care programs following a previous heath care fraud related conviction in 2015. Alonso failed to disclose his exclusion to his employer, a Laconia, New Hampshire-based telehealth psychotherapy provider, and purportedly provided psychotherapy treatments to NH Medicaid beneficiaries between March 2022 and July 2024 via telehealth. In addition, Alonso allegedly exploited a psychotherapy patient by using purported psychotherapy sessions to seek and obtain assistance from that client with personal tasks, including preparing an application for a presidential pardon of his prior conviction and assisting him with applying for licensure in other New England states. The case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Danielle Sakowski, Thomas Campbell, and John Howard, and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
Straw Owner of Health Care Company Used to Commit Fraud and Launder Illicit Proceeds
- United States v. Leo Anzivino Jr.: Leo Anzivino, Jr., age 34, of Teaticket, MA, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of money laundering in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $6 million in Medicare funds. According to the indictment, Anzivino, Jr. acted as the straw owner of a durable medical equipment (“DME”) company, Advanced Medical Supply (Advanced), and conspired with others to cause the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME. The indictment further alleges that Anzivino falsified bank account documents, including beneficial ownership information, and conspired to launder fraudulent funds from the DME scheme to conceal and disguise the nature, source, origin, and control of the proceeds of the DME fraud. Anzivino, Jr., made four transfers from one Advanced account at a New Hampshire bank to another Advanced account at a Massachusetts bank, totaling over $3 million dollars, to conceal a co-conspirator’s control over the funds. The government seized approximately $353,768.29 in assets tied to the alleged scheme. This case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Danielle Sakowski, Thomas Campbell, and Tiffany Wynn, and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
The schemes charged in the District of Vermont include:
Global Pharma and Money Laundering Scheme
- United States v. Manthan Rohit Shah: Manthan Rohit Shah, 37, of Mumbai, India, was charged by indictment with misbranding prescription medication, conspiring to import controlled substances, and conspiring to commit international concealment money laundering. As alleged in the indictment, Shah owned and operated Company-1, a pharma company based in Mumbai, India. Company-1 allegedly shipped controlled substances and misbranded pharmaceutical drugs, including drugs that contained potentially potent, dangerous, and/or addictive substances, into New England and across the United States. Shah and Company-1 used fake prescriptions to provide a veneer of legitimacy for customer orders, despite the customers never obtaining such prescriptions. Shah undertook various acts in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. For example, on or about May 6, 2025, Shah sent a text message to an undercover law enforcement agent regarding Company-1’s fulfillment of illegitimate prescriptions for 50 pens of the drug Ozempic, costing approximately $6,200, to be shipped from a location outside the United States to an address in Vermont. Shah also conspired with others to direct the shipment of pharmaceutical drugs without valid prescriptions to a network of online pharmacies and call centers that fulfilled orders placed by customers in New England and across the United States. Shah then conspired with others to launder the funds from financial accounts in the United States, through shell companies, and to Shah’s company in India. The case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Patrick Brown, John Howard, and Thomas Campbell.
Health Care Scheme Involving Purchase of Tulum Penthouse, High-Volume Cash Withdrawals
- United States v. Evelyn Herrera: Evelyn Herrera, 61, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $6.5 million in Medicare funds. According to the charging documents, Herrera, the owner of Merida Medical Supplies Inc., a purported DME company, submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare from individuals residing across New England for wrist, knee, and back braces and other equipment, which were medically unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement by Medicare. After the funds from these fraudulent services were deposited into a bank account controlled by Herrera, she allegedly conducted financial transactions and attempted to conceal the source, origin, and control of the health care fraud proceeds generated by Merida. For example, Herrera allegedly sent an international wire from her bank account, indicating it was to be used to purchase property in Mexico, and sent other funds to a cryptocurrency wallet that she controlled. During the scheme, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a payment suspension to Herrera for suspected fraud, after which Herrerra allegedly attempted to withdraw large amounts of cash from a bank and siphon funds off to other individuals. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, Thomas Campbell, and Tiffany Wynn. The complaint was filed in the District of Vermont.
Health Care CEO Indicted in Cross-Border Health Care Fraud Scheme
- United States v. Donald Jani: Donald Jani, 39, of Maharashtra, India, was charged by indictment with health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $1.9 million in Medicare funds. According to the indictment, Jani, the CEO of CSS Pain Relief, Inc., a purported DME company, submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME. Jani and his co-conspirators allegedly used the personal identifying information of elderly and disabled New England residents to fraudulently bill Medicare. As part of the conspiracy, Jani unlawfully used the personal identifying information of medical providers in the District of Vermont and elsewhere to create the false appearance that the DME claims were premised on legitimate medical orders. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, John Howard and Thomas Campbell. The indictment was brought in the District of Vermont.
The scheme charged in the District of Maine includes:
Individual Charged in Health Care and Identity Theft Scheme
- United States v. Joseph Dobie: Joseph Dobie, 36, of Lewiston, Maine, was charged by complaint with aggravated identity theft, false statements relating to health care matters, and unlawful use of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits in connection with an identity-theft scheme. As alleged in the complaint, Dobie used a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain Medicaid and SNAP benefits in Maine, while simultaneously receiving SNAP benefits in New York. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Scott. The complaint was filed in the District of Maine.
Additionally, the New England Strike Force provided valuable support in a nationwide investigation:
Operation Gold Rush: Transnational Criminal Organization-Led Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme
Outside of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, the New England Strike Force also supported a nationwide investigation, Operation Gold Rush, which resulted in charges in the Eastern District of New York, the Northern District of Illinois, the Central District of California, the Middle District of Florida, and the District of New Jersey against 19 defendants in connection with the largest loss amount ever charged in a health care fraud case brought by the Department at $10.6 billion. Twelve of these defendants have been arrested, including four defendants who were apprehended in Estonia as a result of international cooperation with Estonian law enforcement and seven defendants who were arrested at U.S. airports and the U.S. border with Mexico, cutting off their intended escape routes as they attempted to avoid capture. The criminal case is being prosecuted by DOJ Fraud Section Assistant Chiefs Kevin Lowell and Shankar Ramamurthy, and Trial Attorneys Sara Porter, Andres Almendarez, Leonid Sandlar, Monica Cooper, Thomas Campbell, Danielle Sakowski, and Matthew Belz. Trial Attorney Sara Porter initiated the investigation, which has been supported by members of multiple Strike Forces. The civil forfeiture proceeding is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson of the District of Connecticut and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Chelsea Rooney. Office of Public Affairs | National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 324 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $14.6 Billion in Alleged Fraud | United States Department of Justice
These charges are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown. Descriptions of each case involved in the national enforcement action are available at Criminal Division | 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.
The New England Strike Force’s cases are the result of investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; and the United States Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
Leveraging advanced data analytics, forensic accounting, interagency collaboration, and subject-matter expertise, the New England Strike Force investigates and prosecutes complex health care fraud and money laundering schemes across the region, focusing on both individuals and corporations engaged in criminal conduct. DOJ Fraud Section Assistant Chief Kevin Lowell leads the Strike Force.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
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Texas Man Sentenced for Stealing Mail from Albany Postal FacilityRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sean A. Walter, age 31, of Humble, Texas, was sentenced yesterday to eighteen months of imprisonment for stealing business checks out of the U.S. Mail by repeatedly and unlawfully entering a mail sorting facility in Albany.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG)- Northeast Region; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Walter to serve three years of post-imprisonment supervised release, to pay a $5,500 fine, and to pay $181,920.90 in restitution.
In previously pleading guilty, Walter admitted that on six occasions in 2023 and 2024, he unlawfully entered the USPS Albany Processing and Distribution Center (PDC) on Karner Road, to steal mail that he believed contained business checks. For instance, at approximately 12:56 a.m. on January 23, 2024, Walter entered the Albany PDC by forcefully pulling up a retractable overhead door to the facility. Once inside, he went to a large room where USPS employees were sorting mail and then stole a variety of mail. Walter placed the stolen mail in his backpack and exited the Albany PDC at around 2:31 a.m. He then re-entered the Albany PDC two more times that night stealing additional mail each time.
According to the criminal complaint in this case, Walter was arrested on May 14, 2024, after being confronted by security guards inside of the Albany PDC and fleeing to a nearby motel.
The mail that Walter stole included checks drawn on bank accounts belonging to entities in Upstate New York, including a town government, a bank, a volunteer fire department, and several small businesses. Walter sold these stolen checks to others and understood that these checks would then be altered and forged in ways that allowed them to be successfully negotiated by people other than the checks’ intended payees.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone stated: “This sentence holds Sean Walter accountable for repeatedly trespassing onto government property, stealing mailed checks, and causing financial loss to local businesses and governments. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who threaten and disrupt the orderly distribution of mail.”
USPS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi stated: “The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is dedicated to protecting the U.S Mail and the U.S. Postal Service. The special agents of the USPS OIG will tirelessly investigate those who choose to steal U.S Mail and defraud the American public. The sentence imposed on the defendant will serve as a reminder that there are severe consequences when individuals commit crimes targeting the U.S Mail. The USPS OIG is thankful for the great longstanding relationships we have developed with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat mail theft.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward stated: “Yesterday’s sentencing of Mr. Walter stands as a testament to the United States Postal Inspection Service’s dedication to ensuring the sanctity of the U.S. mail and safety and security of postal facilities. The Inspection Service will continue to work with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York to prosecute anyone guilty of compromising the public’s trust in the mail.”
USPS-OIG and USPIS investigated the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett prosecuted the case.
Stockton Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Nationwide Sexual Exploitation of Minors Using Social MediaRead the Press Release
Elmer Yusay Ngo, 29, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 50 years of supervised release for child exploitation, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court records, Ngo utilized social media to sexually exploit female minors nationwide. This sexual exploitation included attempting to coerce, entice, and persuade the minors to produce child pornography of themselves at Ngo’s direction. Ngo persistently sought out minor females and engaged in similar patterns of behavior, which included befriending the minor on social media, obtaining at least one nude or partially nude image of the minor, using that image as leverage to demand the minors engage in video calls while nude, and ordering the minors to perform various sexual acts on themselves while on video. Ngo would keep his end of the video call blacked out so that the minors could not see his face.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internet Against Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from state and local police departments nationwide. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin F. Scott prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about Internet safety education.
Statement on the Verdict in U.S. V. Sean CombsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel, on the verdict in U.S. v. Sean Combs:
Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society. Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma. New Yorkers and all Americans want this scourge stopped and perpetrators brought to justice.
Prosecuting sex crimes requires brave victims to come forward and tell their harrowing stories. We and our law enforcement partners recognize the hardships victims endure and have prioritized a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting these cases.
Today we recognize the important work of the SDNY’s Civil Rights Unit as well as the tireless efforts of the women and men at HSI who are devoted to combatting human trafficking. We thank the Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York, Digital Forensic Unit and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement (CASE) Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. We would also like to thank our partners at the NYPD for their assistance in this matter and for sharing our victim-centered approach to combatting sex crimes.
Somerset Man Indicted for Fentanyl and Heroin Distribution Leading to the Death of a VictimRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Somerset County man with drug offenses including distribution of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in the death of a victim, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Thomas Kane Miller, 40, of Somerset, New Jersey was charged by criminal indictment with one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and a fentanyl precursor (4-ANPP), one count of distribution of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in the death of a victim, and two counts of distribution of fentanyl and heroin. Miller’s initial appearance and arraignment are scheduled for June 30, 2025, before Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court.
“The fentanyl epidemic has devastated communities across the country. Too many lives have been lost, too many families have been broken. This poison has no place on our streets. This office is unwavering in its pursuit of justice, and will relentlessly hold accountable anyone who traffics fentanyl or other deadly drugs in New Jersey — ensuring they face the full weight of the law for the destruction they cause. The District of New Jersey continues to emphasize opioid enforcement, including with its Fentanyl Precursor Interception Strike Force that seeks to stem the tide of chemical precursors and adulterants used to manufacture fentanyl, and bring to justice individuals who sell this poison on our streets.”
- U.S. Attorney Alina Habba
“Today’s indictment against Thomas Miller reflects the determination the DEA and our law enforcement partners have in targeting those individuals who continue to poison our communities with fentanyl,” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “Mr. Miller’s victim was more than just another statistic; it’s a life cut short by greed. The DEA is committed to holding these individuals accountable, especially when their actions result in the tragic loss of life.”
“This tragic loss of life is a stark reminder fentanyl-related deaths continue to plague our communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations New York acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “The lethal dangers posed by the illegal narcotics that traffickers are introducing to our communities cannot be overstated. This is why HSI New York, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations that prioritize profit over American lives.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In October 2022, Miller distributed a mixture of fentanyl and heroin to an individual who died as a result of using the substance. Law enforcement located the deceased victim at a residence in Plainfield, New Jersey. Inside the residence were two wax folds containing fentanyl and heroin bearing a unique stamp which law enforcement linked to Miller. Shortly before the victim’s death, the victim and Miller were communicating about arranging to meet.
Approximately 10 days before the victim’s death, Miller was found in possession of multiple wax folds bearing the same unique stamp and containing fentanyl, heroin, and a fentanyl precursor. Miller also distributed fentanyl and heroin on two other occasions in December 2022 and January 2023, in Middlesex and Somerset Counties.
The count of drug distribution resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $1 million. The counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, and distribution of fentanyl and heroin, each carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the New York DEA Strike Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino, III, special agents of HSI New York, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor John P. McDonald, and members of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, with the investigation, leading to the charges.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The arrest was the result of an investigation by the New York Strike Force, a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano of the Health Care Fraud and Opioid Enforcement Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Timothy Donahue, Esq., Michael Alexander Thomas, Esq.
miller.indictment.pdfSixth Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms 45-Year Sentence for Memphis Man Convicted of Fentanyl and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the 540-month federal prison sentence handed down to Kendrick Watson, 44, following his conviction on drug and firearm offenses at a February 2024 jury trial in the Western District of Tennessee. Interim United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. announced the sentence today.
On appeal, Watson raised multiple issues regarding the denial of his motions to suppress and to dismiss, the sufficiency of the jury instructions, the sufficiency of the evidence presented at trial, and the reasonableness of his sentence. On June 16, 2024, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions and sentence in all respects.
According to the opinion, United States Postal Inspectors intercepted a parcel arriving in Memphis, Tennessee, opened it pursuant to a search warrant, and seized one kilogram of cocaine. Investigators then delivered the parcel to an address in Memphis, where Watson took the parcel inside. A SWAT team entered the address pursuant to a second search warrant and located the parcel (unopened), five firearms, ammunition, approximately $52,000 in cash, fentanyl, methamphetamine, a handpress with fentanyl residue on it, digital scales, multiple cell phones, a book titled “I.C.E. Eye See Everything the True Life of Kendrick Watson: All Facts No Fiction,” and paperwork in Watson’s name.
Watson filed multiple pre-trial motions, including two motions to suppress, three motions to dismiss, and two motions to exclude seized evidence. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of the motions to suppress, stating that there was a substantial basis for the issuing judge to have found probable cause. The Court also affirmed the denial of the motions to dismiss, noting that Watson’s arguments were speculative and lacked evidentiary and legal support.
The Sixth Circuit further upheld the 540-month sentence, which included a 25-year mandatory term of imprisonment due to a prior federal conviction for possessing a gun during a crime of violence, as procedurally and substantively reasonable.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory Allen and Naya Bedini prosecuted this case and handled the appeal on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.
William Danery Sebastian, age 34, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison with five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Sebastian must also register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison.
Sebastian was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from an undercover chat operation in March 2024, when Sebastian started a conversation with a person he thought was a 15-year-old female on Facebook. The conversation turned sexual in nature and Sebastian asked the 15-year-old to meet up to have a sexual encounter. Sebastian arrived at the meet location where he was arrested by law enforcement. Unbeknownst to Sebastian, he had actually been chatting with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old female.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Sebastian was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux City Man Who Escaped from Custody Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A man who escaped custody pled guilty June 30, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.
Curtis Koesters, 45, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of escape from custody.
At the plea hearing, Koesters admitted that in October 2024, he began pre-release confinement at the Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Koesters had been in federal prison for a previous federal conviction of felon in possession of a firearm. On November 4, 2024, Koesters did not return to the Center as required after leaving to look for employment. In December 2024, after several weeks on the run, Koesters was arrested in Woodbury County, Iowa, and charged with multiple traffic violations.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Koesters remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Koesters faces a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4087. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Seven Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing and Trafficking 240 Firearms from Indianapolis Shipping CenterRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS— The following seven individuals have been sentenced for their roles in a firearms theft and trafficking conspiracy:
DefendantCharge(s)SentenceZackary Doss, 27- Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
- Possession of a Firearm by a Felon
2.5 years imprisonment
3 years of supervised release
Dominique Ellison, 37- Possession of a Firearm by a Felon
1.5 years imprisonment
3 years of supervised release
Antonio Grant, 33- Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
- Possession of a Firearm by a Felon
- Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
- Possession of Stolen Firearms
4.5 years imprisonment
3 years of supervised release
Kevin Jones, Jr, 23- Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
- Possession or Sale of Stolen Firearms
3.5 years imprisonment
3 years of supervised release
Malyk Mendez, 32- Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
1.5 years imprisonment
1 year of supervised release
Bruce Williams, 33- Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
- Possession of a Firearm by a Felon
9 years imprisonment
3 years of supervised release
According to court documents, Bruce Williams and Ryan Hurt—then employees at an Indianapolis shipping facility—masterminded a scheme to steal firearms and sell them for profit, utilizing accomplices Malyk Mendez and convicted felon Antonio Grant, among others. Firearms were ultimately sold to individuals including Kevin Jones, Jr., and convicted felons Dominique Ellison and Zackary Doss. Jones and Doss, in turn, then sold the firearms to numerous other individuals.
Between January and March 2022, the group made off with 240 firearms from four separate shipments headed for different states. The conspiracy began to unravel when ATF agents noticed a disturbing pattern: firearms sent through the Indianapolis terminal were missing key inventory.
A breakdown of stolen firearms, varying in make and models, is as follows:
- 9 mm semi-automatic handguns (174)
- .38 caliber revolvers (13)
- .22 caliber revolvers (2)
- .45 caliber semi-automatic handguns (38)
- semi-automatic rifles (5)
- 10mm semi-automatic handguns (8)
Williams and Hurt kept some firearms from the thefts for themselves but recruited others, including codefendants, to assist in locating buyers for the stolen guns. Williams also personally sold a substantial number of the stolen firearms.
Of the 240 firearms that were stolen, only 61 firearms have been recovered as of May 5, 2025; over three years since the thefts occurred. Five of those firearms were recovered from Williams and Hurt upon their arrests.
The other firearms recovered have been found in a wide array of criminal activity and locations; Indianapolis, Lafayette, Gary, Chicago, Florida, and Oklahoma, to name a few. The criminal activity has included felons possessing firearms, drug trafficking, domestic violence incidents, vehicle pursuits, shootings, carjackings, and homicides.
“Stolen firearms are a major source of crime guns for violent offenders and pose a serious threat to public safety,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we’re committed to stopping gun traffickers, recovering stolen weapons, and keeping them out of the hands of dangerous individuals.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pamela S. Domash and Bradley P. Shepard, who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Schuylkill County Man Charged with Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mark Thompson, age 49, of Ashland, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking offenses.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that beginning in January of 2025, to on or about April 25, 2025, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Thompson conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that on or about April 8, 2025, Thompson distributed and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (“FBI”), the Shenandoah Police Department, and the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is imprisonment for twenty years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Schuylkill County Man Charged with Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Darious Felder, age 34, of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking offenses.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that beginning from on or about January, 2025, to on or about April 25, 2025, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Felder conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that on three separate occasions in March and April of 2025, Felder distributed and possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (“FBI”), the Shenandoah Police Department, and the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is imprisonment for forty years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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San Antonio Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting 25 Illegal Aliens Inside Tanker TrailerRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio today to 120 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.
According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2024, Richard Rindeikis, 44, was driving a truck connected to a tanker trailer when he was subjected to inspection at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Carrizo Springs. He claimed the tanker was empty and, when he couldn’t locate his driver’s license, was referred to secondary inspection. USBP agents observed that the hatches on top of the tanker trailer were closed and completely secured. When they opened the hatches, they discovered numerous people sitting inside the tanker. A total of 25 illegal aliens from Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico, were removed and Rindeikis was placed under arrest. He was indicted for two counts and pleaded guilty to count one on Feb. 5, 2025.
“This district has seen far too many instances of human smuggling like this one end in tragedy. If not for the excellent work by the U.S. Border Patrol in this case, we may have seen another,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “My office will continue to pursue, prosecute, and seek to punish those who selfishly value profit over human life.”
“This sentencing is a grim reminder of the extreme measures smugglers will take for profit, endangering the lives of vulnerable individuals in the process,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “Smuggling human beings inside a tanker trailer is not only illegal, but also inhumane. Thanks to the swift work of law enforcement, the victims were rescued before tragedy struck. HSI remains relentless in our mission to dismantle smuggling networks and protect human life at every turn.”
HSI and USBP investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Duarte II prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, 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).
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Sacramento County Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a ChildRead the Press Release
Mark Sigl, 63, of Antelope, pleaded guilty today to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, in March 2024, Sigl communicated with an individual he believed to be the father of a 10-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover officer. Sigl communicated his desire to perform sex acts on the child and planned to meet the undercover officer and child at a designated site to do so. When Sigl came to the designated site, he was arrested by law enforcement officers. Several sex items were recovered from his vehicle parked outside.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the Sacramento Valley High Tech Crimes Taskforce. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case.
Sigl is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Oct. 7, 2025. Sigl faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Sabine County woman sentenced to federal prison for credit union theft, ordered to pay over $330,000 in restitutionRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Milam woman has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for stealing from her employer in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Haley Maxine Snodgrass, 29, pleaded guilty to credit union theft and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 1, 2025. Judge Crone also ordered Snodgrass to pay restitution in the amount of $330,351.39.
According to information presented in court, in April 2023, an auditor with Doches Credit Union requested a sample of loans from the Hemphill branch for review. The review showed missing paperwork and unusual transactions on loans that were approved by Haley Maxine Snodgrass. Snodgrass had been employed by the Doches Credit Union since 2016, first as a teller and then as a branch manager.
An investigation conducted by a third party revealed that Snodgrass used a variety of schemes to take money from the credit union for personal gain. This included creating fraudulent loans, refinancing legitimate loans without the consent of the credit union member, misappropriating loan payments, and conducting unauthorized transactions on member accounts.
As part of her plea, Snodgrass admitted that she embezzled and willfully misapplied approximately $281,097.97 in money, funds, and assets belonging to Doches Credit Union with the intent to defraud the credit union. She also admitted that the amount of restitution owed was $330,351.39.
This case was investigated by FBI’s Lufkin Field Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.
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Romanian Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Access Device FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DORU ADAMESC, a/k/a “Petru Golban,” (“ADAMESC”), age 33, a Romanian national, was sentenced on June 26, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(b)(2).
According to court documents, on May 19, 2024, and May 20, 2024, ADAMESC, and a co-conspirator, purchased items at retail establishments so that they could approach the credit card reading machines. ADAMESC’s co-conspirator then distracted the cashiers while ADAMESC covertly installed card skimmers on the credit card reading machines. ADAMESC was arrested on June 5, 2024, when he returned to one of the stores to attempt to retrieve a skimming device. A search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of two large magnets, commonly used to activate the Bluetooth capabilities on skimming devices. ADAMESC’s cellular phones also were seized; one phone contained a photo of approximately 60 gift cards spread out on a counter. Such gift cards are typically re-encoded with stolen card numbers in order to make fraudulent purchases or withdrawals.
Additionally, law enforcement officers seized six credit card skimmers before ADAMESC was able to retrieve them. These skimmers captured approximately 421 credit, debit, and Electronic Benefit Transfer (“EBT”) card numbers.
“We appreciate the collaboration with our law enforcement partners for their hard work on this investigation. Those who are involved in fraud regarding USDA taxpayer funded programs will be investigated by our office and brought to justice to protect the integrity of those programs,” said USDA-OIG Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Wilkins.
“This case is an excellent example of law enforcement professionals on the federal, state and local levels working together,” St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith said. “Thanks to the hard work of the detectives with the STPSO Financial Crimes Unit and the partnerships they have built with our federal, state and local partners, we were able to identify and arrest this individual, who is now being brought to justice. Installing skimming devices to steal innocent people’s financial information is not only illegal — it’s a violation of trust. I’m proud of the relentless effort our team put in to protect the people of St. Tammany Parish and beyond.”
U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown sentenced ADAMESC to serve 27 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Judge Brown further imposed a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; the United States Secret Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office; the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office; and the New Orleans Police Department, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Roaring Spring Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple narcotics offenses related to a six-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Clearfield counties, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Joshua Pote, 42, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Pote was a distributor for a drug trafficking organization based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, that sold large quantities of methamphetamine and smaller quantities of heroin and fentanyl to various individuals throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania. Pote distributed methamphetamine to various users during the conspiracy.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for November 4, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The court ordered that Pote remain detained pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the United States Postal Service—Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Pennsylvania State Police.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Brian K. Trent, 30, of Bradley, was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 12, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Stanaford area of Raleigh County and found Trent and another individual passed out in the vehicle. Officers also saw a firearm between the driver’s seat and the center console of the vehicle. Officers determined that the vehicle was reported stolen in South Carolina, and that Trent was wanted on an active misdemeanor warrant and a parole violation. Officers searched Trent and the vehicle and seized a Taurus model G2 9mm pistol, a North American .22-caliber magnum revolver, a Marlin model 60 .22-caliber rifle, a Noble model 60H 12-gauge shotgun, a Taurus .32-caliber revolver, and approximately 27.7 grams of fentanyl. Officers later determined that one of the seized firearms had been reported stolen in Fayette County.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Trent knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for destruction of property in Raleigh County Circuit Court on November 29, 2016.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-58.
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Prior sex offender going to prison for more than 38 years for raping a 14-year-oldRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kelvin Hunt, 48, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of production of child pornography following a prior conviction, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, was sentenced to serve 465 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who handled the case, stated that in March 1995, Hunt was convicted in Monroe County Court of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison. On February 2, 2024, he entered the home of a 14-year-old minor victim in Rochester, and forcibly raped her. Hunt then took the minor victim’s cell phone and took sexually explicit photos of her. After producing the pornographic images, Hunt forced the minor victim to another location, where he forcibly raped her again. On February 4, 2024, law enforcement located Hunt, took him into custody, and executed a search warrant on the hotel room he was staying in. Investigators seized a loaded semi-automatic handgun, and approximately 71 grams of heroin.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, and the United States Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina.
Philadelphia Man Who Bypassed Airport Security Checkpoint and Unlawfully Boarded a Flight SentencedRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jonathan “Jon” Beaulieu, 32, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Hey to one year of probation and restitution in the amount of $59,143 for entering an airport area in violation of security requirements.
Beaulieu was charged by information in January of this year and pleaded guilty in February.
As detailed in court filings and statements in court, on June 26, 2024, at approximately 12:12 a.m., witness J.M. was working as a security guard at Philadelphia International Airport. She was assigned to the Terminal C exit lane to prevent unauthorized people from entering what’s known as the airport’s “sterile area” – the terminals beyond the TSA security checkpoint.
At that time, the defendant approached the exit lane and stated that he left his phone in the airport and needed to retrieve it. J.M. called police dispatch and told them that Beaulieu was trying to get into the airport to get his phone. After the dispatcher informed the witness that the police couldn’t look for Beaulieu’s phone, he started to walk past the witness into the airport. The witness repeatedly told Beaulieu that he could not enter the airport.
Beaulieu then dropped a $50 bill onto the witness’s desk and asked her if that would get him into the airport. J.M. left the bill on the desk and again told Beaulieu that he could not enter the airport’s sterile area. She called the police again and informed dispatch that Beaulieu was now attempting to go around her and into the airport.
After a few minutes of arguing with the witness, Beaulieu walked around her, entered the airport’s sterile area, and walked away. J.M. called the police, informed dispatch that there was a security breach, and described Beaulieu. The flash information was broadcast over police radio and officers started searching the terminals.
Airport security personnel checking the facility’s cameras saw that Beaulieu had boarded a plane at Gate A-20. Upon responding to the gate, Philadelphia police found that the plane doors were closed and the plane was preparing for departure. The captain of the plane was then informed that there was a passenger aboard who had bypassed security, and the plane returned to the gate. All passengers were removed and Beaulieu was located and arrested. Due to the boarding of an unscreened passenger, the entire plane had to be searched, resulting in the flight’s cancellation. American Airlines reported that the cost of the flight cancellation was $59,143.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everett Witherell.
Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to attempting to meet a minor for sexRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Pennsylvania man pled guilty today to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to court documents, on May 1, Keith Allen Pinkard, 67, of Middletown, sent a private message to another user on a social media platform, unaware that the other user was an undercover FBI special agent. Pinkard told the user that he was seeking “a new playmate” for an “ongoing adventure.” The two discussed their interests, including Pinkard’s interest in young girls, leading to discussion of the other user’s purported nine-year-old daughter. Pinkard expressed interest in meeting the other user in person and engaging in sex acts with the purported nine-year-old girl. Pinkard said he was ready to commit “to a regular thing” with the user and the purported child, and that he wanted to present the child with a gift before going to the child’s bedroom. Pinkard and the other user arranged to meet at a coffee shop the following week and then walk together to the other user’s residence, where the purported child would be waiting.
On May 6, Pinkard arrived at the agreed upon location in Virginia, where he was arrested by FBI agents. In his vehicle were a gift bag containing a coloring book, colored pencils, and two packs of candy, as well as an Easter-themed basket with candy. He also had an image of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct on his cellphone.
Pinkard is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 30. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-183.
Pearl River Community Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Habitual Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Pearl River Community man was sentenced to 37 months in prison for habitual domestic violence.
According to court documents, Eric Shane Dan, 48, using his fist, struck his spouse causing a laceration to her face which required medical treatment. Dan was previously convicted of domestic assault on two separate occasions.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Choctaw Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
Participant in Fraud Conspiracy Sentenced to 63 MonthsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Alexis M. Sanford announced that Kaushalkumar Chaudhary, age 30, of India, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud.
Chaudhary was a courier or “money mule” for a conspiracy that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims. Individuals in India and the United States used the internet and cell phones to contact victims and make false claims using a variety of schemes. These schemes included that the victims’ social security account numbers had been compromised, that they were under federal investigation, or some other false reason why they should convert their financial holdings into cash, gold, and/or silver. Conspirators often claimed to be members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission, or some other government or law enforcement agency and falsely asserted that they could assist the victims in protecting their money.
Chaudhary, acting at the direction of his coconspirators, would travel to the victims’ homes or other pre-arranged meeting locations and retrieve the cash, gold, or silver from the victims. He would then drive to meet coconspirators at designated locations and receive a share of the proceeds as his payment. The balance of the stolen money would be transmitted to other coconspirators both inside and outside of the United States. Chaudhary picked up $70,000 in gold bars from one victim and retrieved money and valuables from thirteen other victims in various states in 2023 and 2024. He was responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss and was ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $524,947.
“My office stands ready to investigate and prosecute elder financial abuse in all its forms and will continue to hold perpetrators accountable and seek full restitution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sanford. “Potential victims should stay vigilant—resist the pressure to act quickly, be cautious of unsolicited calls and emails, and remember that law enforcement and federal officials will never retrieve valuable items from you for protection.”
“No American deserves to be the victim of financial crime, but it is especially abhorrent when the perpetrator wasn’t in the country legally in the first place,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Chaudhary’s actions defrauded 14 victims of over $500,000. Once he has served his sentence, he will rightfully be deported to his home country. I’m proud of our agents and their work with the Battle Creek Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan to see justice served in this case.”
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case and received valuable assistance from the Battle Creek Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Stella prosecuted the case.
Federal law enforcement provides a number of tips on how to protect yourself from similar internet or email scams, including:
- Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, e-mails, and mailings.
- Never give or send any sensitive information (including your date of birth, account numbers, or passwords), credit or debit card numbers, or money or other valuables to unverified people or businesses.
- Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a false sense of urgency to lure people to immediate action.
- If you recognize a scam attempt, immediately end all communication with the perpetrator.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses.
More information about the Department’s efforts to help older Americans is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage, which can be found at elderjustice.gov. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at www.ovc.gov.
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Pensacola Man Sentenced in Drug and Firearm CaseRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Dillon Devontrez Royster, 31, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the substantial efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest, and help bring this drug trafficker to justice. This is yet another important case by my office fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by aggressively pursuing criminal offenders who victimize our communities. We will not stop until we have rid our streets of these criminals who peddle in violence and addiction.”
“This is a huge win for public safety in Northwest Florida,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Harrell. “Armed drug trafficking is a serious crime – this investigation demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together to remove an armed drug trafficker from our communities.”
On April 17, 2024, members of the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed a search warrant at Dillion Royster’s residence. During the search, law enforcement found approximately 1,851 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of fentanyl, and numerous firearms.
This sentence was the result of a joint investigation by Escambia County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp 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).
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 available 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.
Pensacola Man Sentenced for Possession of Loaded Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Christ’Avian X’Zayvia Rayshon Sheard, 19, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to court records, on April 2, 2024, Sheard was located in a vehicle parked at Sanders Beach. Sheard was in possession of marijuana as well as a loaded Taurus 9 millimeter pistol. Sheard was a convicted felon at the time, with a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault by threat with a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America is a promise by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will do everything in our power to stop those who are victimizing our communities, and keeping a violent felon like this one off the streets is exactly what they meant. I am proud of the work of our brave state and federal law enforcement partners who investigated this case, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders to keep our communities safe.”
“Pensacola Police is committed to reducing guns crimes and will continue to work with our federal law enforcement partners to hold everyone accountable that chooses to illegally possess a firearm in our city,” said Chief Randall of the Pensacola Police Department.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
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.
Pensacola Man Incarcerated for Narcotics Trafficking & Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Marcus Devon Rayford, 42, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 60 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the substantial efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest, and help bring this drug trafficker to justice. These offenses are not victimless crimes; the victims are the members of our community who experience the addiction and violence that too often follows from drug traffickers flooding our streets with this poison. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to Take Back America with the aggressive pursuit of drug traffickers victimizing our communities, and that is exactly what my office will continue to do.”
In January 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives initiated a criminal investigation into an armed drug trafficking organization in Pensacola, Florida. The investigation revealed that Marcus Rayford was a key member within the organization with law enforcement observing him distributing firearms and narcotics on numerous occasions. In December 2024, state and federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at Marcus Rayford’s residence and located five firearms, cocaine base, cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, and heroin.
These sentences were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp 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).
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 available 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.
Oshkosh Man Sentenced to Federal Prison and Ordered to Forfeit over $500,000 After Drug Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on June 30, 2025, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Peter J. Henkle (age: 51), of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to 72 months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
According to court records, in August 2024, investigators with the Oshkosh Police Department executed a search warrant at Henkle’s residence and located over 950 grams of cocaine, over 7½ pounds of marijuana, and $321,880 cash. Investigators also located and obtained orders to seize large sums of money in Henkle’s bank accounts and additionally seized numerous vehicles that were purchased with drug proceeds. Henkle admitted to obtaining and distributing numerous kilograms of cocaine over the course of approximately two years.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Griesbach ordered Henkle to forfeit to the government $579,207, two Harley Davidson motorcycles, a 2019 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack, and a 2020 Ford F250 Lariat Tremor. Judge Griesbach further ordered Henkle to pay a fine of $50,000.
This case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department – Vice and Narcotics Unit and the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group – Drug Unit (LWAM), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros.
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Norman Man Sentenced to Serve 10 Months in Federal Prison for Falsely Claiming Dependents to Fraudulently Receive Nearly $27,000 in Veteran's BenefitsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – GORDON BELLAMY, Jr., 45, of Norman, has been sentenced to serve 10 months in federal prison for falsely claiming dependents to fraudulently receive nearly $27,000 in Veterans disability benefits to which he was not entitled, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
“Veterans disability benefits are intended to support injured patriots who make incredible sacrifices to defend our country,” said U.S. Attorney Troester. “Mr. Bellamy’s false claims are not only criminal, but offensive. We remain committed to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who defraud and steal the benefits honestly earned by our veterans.”
On March 19, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned an 11-count Indictment against Bellamy, charging him with theft of public money, making a false statement, and nine counts of making a false representation of a Social Security number. According to public records, from March 1, 2020, through January 31, 2024, Bellamy willfully and knowingly received thousands of dollars’ worth of disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to which he was not entitled. The Indictment alleges that Bellamy submitted VA applications for disability benefits with a number of fraudulent dependents, causing his monthly disability award to be falsely inflated. In all, Bellamy fraudulently received $26,940.13 from the VA.
On August 19, 2024, Bellamy pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the Indictment and admitted he knowingly made a false statement to the VA by submitting an application for VA benefits on which he falsely claimed to be the biological father of a child that was not his.
At the sentencing hearing on June 27, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Bellamy to serve ten months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Goodwin also ordered Bellamy to pay $26,940.13 in restitution to the VA. In announcing his sentence, Judge Goodwin noted Bellamy’s history of financial crimes, including his second federal prosecution for conduct involving dishonesty. Public record reflects that Bellamy has a previous conviction for computer access fraud in the Western District of Oklahoma, case number CF-22-350, for which he was sentenced to serve 20 months in federal prison.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle London prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.