Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
3 September 2026
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Assault of a Federal EmployeeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man pleaded guilty today for assaulting a federal employee at Pioneer Courthouse.
Jett Avery Thomas, 42, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault on a federal employee involving physical contact, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, on the morning of July 3, 2023, Thomas threw an object at the Pioneer Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland. After a court security officer attempted to address him, Thomas climbed over the fence and charged up the front steps of the courthouse. The officer retreated into the courthouse and attempted to secure the door behind him. Before he could do so, Thomas grabbed the door, forced it open, and assaulted the officer by punching him in the head. The struggle continued outside the door, where Thomas continued assaulting the officer, striking him with a hard object and placing him in a chokehold. The officer accessed his service weapon and fired two shots into Thomas’ torso.
Thomas was arrested, provided first aid, and transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries. The officer was also transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries and later released.
On August 1, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 3-count indictment charging Thomas with aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault on a federal employee involving physical contact.
Thomas faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
He will be sentenced on December 16, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.
This case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the Federal Protective Service and Portland Police Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Polk County Woman Admits to Smuggling Methamphetamine into Federal Prison for Her Inmate HusbandRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the court records, on August 21, 2022, Calvente went to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (“FCC Coleman”) in Sumter Countyto visit her husband, R.C, who was an inmate at the facility. As Calvente entered the prison, she told correctional officers that she did not have any prohibited items on her person, including narcotics. When Calvente entered the visitation room, however, staff observed her retrieving an unknown object from her waistband and placing it between her legs. Correctional officers promptly escorted Calvente out of the visitation room. Before a search could take place, Calvente handed the officers an object wrapped in a black latex material that contained over 24 grams of methamphetamine. Calvente then admitted that she had introduced contraband into prison facilities for her husband on prior occasions.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Watson and Anthony C. Marek.
Plentywood woman sentenced to more than 7 years in prison for trafficking methRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Plentywood woman who mailed herself methamphetamine was sentenced today to seven years and four months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Marie Viola Nesbit, 60, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Nesbit mailed packages of methamphetamine to two houses in Plentywood, with the intention of selling the meth. Law enforcement first investigated when the U.S. Postal Service flagged two packages as suspicious. Using a warrant, agents searched the parcels and found a half pound of methamphetamine.
Law enforcement monitored the packages while they were delivered to the two Plentywood addresses. The occupants of the two homes told investigators Nesbit had mailed them. In an interview with agents later that day, Nesbit said she mailed the packages from California because she didn’t want to get caught traveling back to Montana with them. She also admitted she planned to sell the meth.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey prosecuted the case. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Montana DCI, Montana Highway Patrol, and the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
Operator of Sham Produce Companies Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cocaine Importation and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Carlos Salazar-Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for using sham companies to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine concealed in fruit and electronics shipments to the Atlanta area and then laundering the proceeds back to Mexico.
“Salazar-Garcia laundered money for Mexican drug traffickers and attempted to smuggle nearly 200 pounds of cocaine into our country,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “But federal law enforcement officers working collaboratively across agencies and jurisdictions spoiled his scheme, seized his drugs, and haled him into court to face the significant consequences.”
“Drug traffickers think they can hide behind fake produce companies and secret shipments of electronics, but they are wrong,” said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Arizona. “Carlos Salazar-Garcia tried to use these schemes to poison our communities and launder over a million dollars, but he underestimated our persistence and partnerships. By working together across borders, HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners successfully dismantled his network, and now he will spend his time in federal prison thinking about the consequences.”
“Whether cocaine is hidden in fruit, electronics, or behind the façade of legitimate businesses, drug traffickers will continue looking for new ways to move their poison,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “What they cannot hide is the determination of the Homeland Security Task Force and our law enforcement partners. This investigation uncovered a calculated effort to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine, and today’s sentence ensures the defendant is held accountable for his role in that operation.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In December 2022, federal agents in Laredo, Texas inspected a shipment from Mexico and located 119 pounds of cocaine concealed among electronic transformers destined for a farmers market in Clayton County, Georgia. The investigation revealed that a sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia coordinated the shipment.
In November 2023, agents at the U.S./Mexico border in McAllen, Texas intercepted approximately 66 pounds of cocaine concealed in a shipment of limes. Agents learned that the limes were destined for another sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia. Additional investigation revealed that, through a variety of financial transactions, Salazar-Garcia and co-defendant Andrea Principe laundered over a million dollars in drug proceeds to Mexico.
Yesterday, Carlos Salazar-Garcia, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Salazar-Garcia pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine importation, and money laundering charges on April 20, 2026.
Andrea Principe, 37, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pled guilty on June 30, 2026, to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She will be sentenced on October 15, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. and former Assistant United States Attorney Amy Palumbo prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Kenneth Ray Beams, 41, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for production or attempted production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Beams to 360 months’ imprisonment on the production count and 120 months’ imprisonment on the possession count. The sentences will be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Beams’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Judge Rossiter ordered Beams to pay a $2,500 special assessment on each count pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
In May 2025, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted serving an arrest warrant on Beams for an unrelated felony charge at a residence in Omaha. While law enforcement was at the residence, multiple parties expressed concern to the officers about children in the home being physically and sexually abused. At the time, the residence’s owner permitted Beams to live at the home where the 15-year-old Minor Victim also resided. Minor Victim was forensically interviewed at Project Harmony. Minor Victim disclosed the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of Beams. Beams sexually assaulted Minor Victim on numerous occasions. Concerns reported to Minor Victim’s parent were ignored and Beams’s abuse of Minor Victim was permitted to continue. Investigators forensically examined Beams’s cell phone and found images and videos of Beams and Minor Victim. Beams recorded himself sexually abusing Minor victim and exposing Minor Victim to methamphetamine.
“This appropriate and just sentence will provide the community with the protection it deserves from a predator like Beams,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and FBI did the community an exceptional service with this investigation, and the federal prosecutor fought for and obtained a righteous conviction and sentence that will keep Nebraska safer for the next 30 years.”
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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
North Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jerell Emmanuel Risher, 36, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine.
Evidence presented in court showed that on March 7, 2024, investigators intercepted a package that was shipped from California to a North Charleston address under a false name. The package contained nearly five kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Investigators delivered the package under surveillance, and Risher picked it up from the location. When police tried to stop him, Risher sped away, reaching 111 mph, running several red lights, and throwing the package from his vehicle. He left the vehicle on a dead-end road, climbed two fences, and ran onto a school campus while classes were in session. Investigators later obtained his phone and saw he tracked the package 13 times the day it was intercepted.
Then, on Sept.17, 2024, while on bond for a state drug trafficking offense, Risher sold a law enforcement source 112 grams of pure methamphetamine at a North Charleston business.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Risher to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, the North Charleston Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.Missouri State Representative Candidate Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine to Frame OpponentRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Missouri state representative candidate has been charged by criminal complaint for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance to plant on his political opponent.
Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, of Joplin, Mo., was charged in a one-count complaint for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance. Ross is currently running for the state seat in House District 161 and won the Republican primary last month.
As alleged in the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was contacted by the Joplin Police Department (JPD) regarding a “public corruption” matter in Joplin, Mo. According to the initial information provided by JPD, the former campaign manager for Ross (C.S.), was asked by Ross to plant drugs on his opponent (L.S.). C.S. provided law enforcement with a black nylon glove that he claimed was given to him by Ross. A small, plastic bag was inside the glove. Inside of the bag was a small amount of white powder. A Nartec Inc. Cocaine Test Kit was used on the powder, which indicated a positive match for cocaine.
Additionally, inside of the glove was a pink and white capsule. The capsule was identified as Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine 20 mg extended release, also known as Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance. C.S. told investigators that he and Ross exchanged text messages, in which Ross requested for C.S. to place the bag of drugs inside of the purse or vehicle of L.S. while Ross was out of state on vacation.
“The American people deserve confidence in an electoral process that has served our nation for generations,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Candidates are expected to conduct their campaigns with integrity, honesty, and respect for their opponents, allowing voters to make informed decisions without fear of misinformation or undue influence. The Western District of Missouri will continue to uphold fairness, transparency, and integrity in elections and will pursue violations of public trust when warranted”.
“The conduct alleged in these charges are substantial and serious,” said Chris Ormerod, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kansas City Field Office. “Our citizens deserve to know that the election process is done with transparency and fairness. As this case moves through the judicial process, it’s important that it proceeds fairly, impartially and in accordance with the rule of law.”
The charges contained in the complaint are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joplin Police Department.
Missoula man sentenced to over 3 years for trafficking fentanyl into MontanaRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Missoula man who made repeated drugs runs to Washington state was sentenced today to three years and four months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Eric Joseph Wright, 46, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Wright was making regular trips to Washington state to pick up illicit drugs to bring back to Montana. A tip to law enforcement led officers to pull over Wright on Feb. 2, 2026, where they found three ounces of fentanyl under the vehicle’s passenger seat.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Minnesota man sentenced to 40 years for sexually abusing two girls on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Minnesota man who sexually abused two children on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
After a one-and-a-half-day trial in February 2026, a jury found Robert Dean Dust, 35, guilty of two counts of abusive sexual contact of a child and one count of aggravated sexual abuse.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Dust began sexually abusing two girls in Lodge Grass starting around 2010. The two girls reported the abuse to law enforcement in May 2024.
The girls both said Dust repeatedly sexually abused them in their home beginning when they were 4 and 5 years old and he was 20. Both victims described how Dust made them perform sexual acts on him and how he performed sexual acts on them. The girls said Dust’s abuse continued until around 2015.
Law enforcement interviewed Dust on Oct. 18, 2024, and he initially denied the abuse. Eventually he admitted to sexually abusing one of the girls. At trial, prosecutors proved that Dust abused both girls. The second girl testified that she knew Dust did inappropriate things with the first girl in his bedroom and that she did not want to “be next.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.
Minnesota Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Ever Cano Ruacho, 36, and Jimmie Collazo, Jr., 35, both of St. Paul, Minnesota, were sentenced on August 20 and August 27, 2026, respectively, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Ruacho to 188 months’ imprisonment and Collazo, Jr. to 125 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ruacho’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. After Collazo, Jr.’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release.
On October 16, 2025, a Lincoln Police Officer made a traffic stop of a Chevy pickup driven by Ruacho for a traffic violation on Interstate 80 in Lancaster County. Collazo, Jr. was in the front passenger seat. Both passengers consented to a search of the pickup. The arresting officer found approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine packaged in 40, three-pound packages hidden in factory voids throughout the pickup. A cigarette container holding .8 grams methamphetamine was located in the center console. Ruacho said they were traveling from Colorado to Minneapolis. Collazo, Jr. said they were traveling from Colorado to Chicago.
One of the three-pound packages of suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab. A forensic scientist there found the package to contain at least 1,200 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Investigators found four cell phones in the vehicle. Ruacho and Collazo, Jr. consented to a search of their cell phones. Data on the cell phones showed communications between Ruacho and Collazo, Jr., as well as messages and photos consistent with narcotics use, narcotics trafficking, and the exchange of money and/or narcotics dating back to approximately May 20, 2025, and continuing up through the date of their arrest.
“Anyone who tries to traffic this amount of narcotics through Nebraska and on Interstate 80 in particular is going to have a very hard time getting past the Lincoln and Lancaster County Task Force! They are always on the job, keeping us all safer,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful to them for their tireless efforts.”
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF).
Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Claim with the IRSRead the Press Release
A Minnesota man pleaded guilty yesterday to filing a false claim with the IRS.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Philip Nelson Green filed false individual income tax returns with the IRS for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each of these tax returns reported multiple false or fraudulent items, including false wage information, itemized deductions, withholding amounts and child and dependent care expenses. For the years 2021 and 2022, Green filed false tax returns that collectively sought more than $500,000 in refunds he was not entitled to receive.
Green pleaded guilty to one count of making a false claim. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2027 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Charles A. O’Reilly and Daniel R. Glenn of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Maui Man Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Justin Nelson, 43, of Kihei, Maui, appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Wes Reber Porter and entered a plea of guilty to bank robbery. Sentencing is set for December 18, 2026 before Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor.
According to court records, on August 27, 2025, Nelson entered a First Hawaiian Bank branch in Kihei, carrying a white bag and a black airsoft pistol that appeared to be a real handgun. Nelson approached the bank tellers, pointed the pistol at one of the bank tellers, and demanded cash. Believing the pistol was a real handgun, the tellers gave Nelson $4,885. Shortly thereafter, Maui Police Department officers located Nelson and arrested him. At the time of his arrest, Nelson had some of the stolen cash and the black airsoft pistol.
Nelson faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates is prosecuting the case.
Massachusetts Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Connection with $10 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield, Mass., to her execution of an approximately $10 million Ponzi scheme involving over 200 victims.
Barbara A. Hirshfield, 83, of Lexington, Mass. pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 7, 2026. Hirshfield was charged in July 2026.
Hirshfield owned and operated Ideal Financial Services, Inc. (Ideal) in West Springfield, Mass., as well as Ideal Financial Holdings (Ideal Holdings). Ideal purported to operate a motor vehicle and small loan business and raised money from investors by selling promissory notes that guaranteed investors high rates of returns. Investors were led to believe that their money would be used to fund Ideal’s lending business and that the returns on their investments would be generated from borrowers’ loan payments.
In 2012, the Massachusetts Division of Banks (MDB) became concerned about Ideal’s finances and required Ideal to cease soliciting and accepting outside investment funds to finance its business. Hirshfield did not disclose to investors that the MDB had required Ideal to cease fundraising. Instead, Hirshfield continued to raise outside funds through the sale of promissory notes.
In 2014, after MDB remained concerned about Ideal’s finances, the MDB revoked Ideal’s licenses to issue motor vehicle and small loans – effectively preventing the company from continuing the lending business, its primary source of revenue. Hirshfield did not disclose to investors that the MDB had revoked Ideal’s licenses, nor did she disclose that Ideal was no longer generating revenue by issuing loans. Instead, Hirshfield continued to solicit investments through the sale of promissory notes.
By at least 2019, Ideal was generating little to no revenue from lending and instead relied almost entirely on money raised from new investments. Rather than disclosing the company’s financial condition, Hirshfield continued marketing promissory notes. Hirshfield used money obtained from new investments to make interest and principal payments owed to earlier investors, operating Ideal as a Ponzi scheme. Hirshfield continued operating the Ponzi scheme until approximately June 2025, when she was no longer able to make interest payments or repay the principal owed on outstanding promissory notes.
In late 2024, Ideal failed to make promised interest payments to investors. Rather than disclose the company’s true financial condition, Hirshfield blamed payment delays on banking issues, fraud, data breaches and stolen or lost checks, while continuing to solicit additional investments through emails offering increasingly high rates of return.
The scheme resulted in losses of approximately $10,930,940 to approximately 204 victims. More than 25 victims suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the fraud.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Securities Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Marlborough Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Marlborough man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester for allegedly attempting to pay $150 to have sex with a purported 15-year-old minor.
James Gill, 39, of Marlborough, was indicted on one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor. Gill was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in July 2026. An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging documents, Gill allegedly responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex. During subsequent text messages and a phone call with an undercover agent posing as the sister of a purported 15-year-old girl, the agent stated that the minor was available to engage in commercial sex acts. Gill allegedly agreed to pay $150 to have sex with the minor and stated that he intended to video record the sexual encounter. It is further alleged that Gill requested photographs of the purported minor and sent a nude photograph of himself to be shown to her. Gill was arrested upon his arrival at a prearranged hotel to meet the purported minor.
The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a child provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting 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.
Madison Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis Bell, 56, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 40 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Bell pleaded guilty to this charge on May 18, 2026.
On April 8, 2022, a woman reported that her gun had been stolen from the trunk of her car. The gun was returned to the woman approximately one year later. DNA testing of the gun revealed Bell’s DNA on the handgrip and the trigger. At sentencing Bell admitted that he had stolen the gun to pay a drug debt.
Bell is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions; including convictions for false imprisonment, burglary, possession of narcotics, and possessing a firearm as a felon.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson stressed that the goal of sentencing was to protect the community and found that Bell was an acute risk to public safety. Judge Peterson said that Bell’s pattern of sustained harassment of and violence against women, including six convictions since 2020, was an aggravating factor.
The charge against Bell was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department 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.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime
Largo, Maryland Man Sentenced in D.C. to Nine Years in Prison for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Marshall Day, 40, of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 108 months in federal prison in connection with his possession of six videos on his cell phone that depicted child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Day, aka “KingDaddy89” and “Mike LeRoy,” pleaded March 12, 2026, before Judge Jia M. Cobb to one count of transportation of child pornography. In addition to the 108-month prison sentence, Judge Cobb ordered Day to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, on Oct. 8, 2025, Day logged into a fetish website and attempted to arrange a sexual encounter. One of the people with whom Day exchanged messages asked Day if he was “into taboo” because he had a “girl in his life.” Day replied that he was “very much into taboo” and had “no hard limits.” As the chat continued, the individual explained that he had a nine-year-old daughter and “when we play its more like a game.”
After further text messages, on October 9, Day exchanged phone numbers with the person and arranged to meet in the District’s Chinatown neighborhood so that he could sexually abuse the purported girl. On October 10, Day arrived at the prearranged meeting spot. A man sitting nearby asked Day if he was “Mike.” When Day indicated that he was, law enforcement from the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department’s Child Exploitation Task Force arrested him.
While traveling from Maryland to the District, Day had his cell phone in his possession. In the phone’s download folder, Day had stored six videos depicting child sex abuse that he had downloaded during the previous two days and a pair of still images of child pornography he had downloaded earlier that year. Day acknowledged that he had no legal justification for having the files on his phone as he traveled from Maryland into the District that day.
This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Kelley.
It was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
25cr343
Follow us on X, Instagram, and YouTube
Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc
Justice Department Seeks Relief for Maryland Military Families from Illegal FeesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department has issued a letter urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
Under Maryland’s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service.
“Relocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “If a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.”
The Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration’s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward.
For more information about the Department’s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Jury Convicts Sean Alfortish for Role in Staged Collision SchemeRead the Press Release
New Orleans – Today, U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that a jury returned a verdict of guilty for Sean Alfortish (“Alfortish”), convicting him of his role in a years-long scheme to defraud trucking and insurance companies.
Specifically, Sean Alfortish was found guilty of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. The jury did not reach a verdict on charges against Alfortish and codefendant Leon Parker (“Parker”) relating to the murder of Cornelius Garrison, III (“Garrison”), a cooperating witness for the FBI. Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter declared a mistrial on those counts.
Alfortish was also convicted on one count of obstruction of justice and one count of witness tampering relating to Garrison. Specifically, Alfortish was convicted of offering to move Garrison out of the country and offering him $500,000 to take the fall for the staged wrecks scheme. Alfortish was found not guilty on two counts alleging that he had paid an inmate in St. Charles Parish Jail to lie under oath.
In total, Alfortish faces a total statutory sentence of 90 years. Parker previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and two counts of mail fraud. He faces a total statutory sentence of 60 years.
“Today’s verdict is an important step towards justice for the victims of this scheme,” said U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. “Alfortish and Parker exploited the courts to benefit themselves and their confederates. The jury’s verdict demonstrates the dedication of the Department of Justice to preserving the integrity of our justice system.”
“The FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office worked hundreds of hours to make sure justice would be done for Mr. Garrison and his family, and for the people of Louisiana,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “We will continue our work to expose criminal wrongdoing, undeterred.”
This verdict was the result of countless hours of hard work by the investigators, support teams, and prosecutors assigned to this case. The dedication to duty and cooperation between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice Criminal Division, and FBI New Orleans, paved the way for today’s successful outcome.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle, and the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section of the Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police with this matter, and extend their thanks for the assistance of the United States Marshals Service, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne, Senior Litigation Counsel; Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman; and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorneys J. Ryan McLaren and Samir Paul, of the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section.
Jury Convicts Orleans Parish Man of Brandishing a Firearm During a CarjackingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – On September 1, 2026, DEVON FRITH, (“FRITH”), age 27, of New Orleans, was found guilty of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026.
This is the second federal conviction for carjacking the United States government has obtained from FRITH.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on June 4, 2022, on the Westbank of New Orleans, FRITH brandished a firearm and stole a motor scooter. Approximately ten months later, FRITH brandished a weapon and stole a motor vehicle from another victim. FRITH later pleaded guilty to the second carjacking.
FRITH was convicted in Count 1 for carjacking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2119(1). At sentencing for Count 1, FRITH faces up to 15 years in jail. Count 2 was using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). At sentencing for Count 2, FRITH faces a mandatory minimum 7 years, up to life in prison, which must be run consecutive to Count 1.
United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Trummel and David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
***
Jury Convicts Omaha Man for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on August 26, 2026, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. The verdicts followed a two-and-a-half-day trial in front of United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2026. Cardenas Portugal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Cardenas Portugal’s charges stem from his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers contact the source via Telegram, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger and order the drugs. The source then sends a local courier previously supplied with drugs to meet the customer and complete the transaction.
The evidence at trial established that in February 2025, an undercover officer ordered one pound of methamphetamine from the Mexican source of supply. The same day the source sent the undercover to Cardenas Portugal’s Omaha residence where Cardenas Portugal sold the officer one pound of methamphetamine. A few weeks later officers executed a search warrant on the residence and seized approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine and evidence of drug trafficking.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.
Judge Deals 30-Year Federal Sentence to Texas Felon who Trafficked Fentanyl in State PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A convicted felon already serving a state prison sentence was sentenced in a U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Verndale Ray Seals, 36, was convicted in 2016 for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. While imprisoned, Seals helped organize an extensive conspiracy smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into TDCJ prisons. Seals operated a network sourcing fentanyl and other drugs to produce drug-soaked sheets of paper that were distributed inside the prisons.
Seals was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, along with several co-conspirators. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Seals to serve a 30-year federal prison sentence, which will begin at the conclusion of his state sentence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and TDCJ investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case.
###
Iowa Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Three Iowa men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms-related offenses.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, three men engaged in distribution of methamphetamine across the Quad Cities area. The men were responsible for providing approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine for distribution in the Quad Cities.
On March 17, 2026, Jacob Daniel Sheley, 27, of Clinton, also known as “Chili,” was sentenced to a 25-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During a February 2025 search warrant at Sheley’s Clinton residence, law enforcement found methamphetamine, cocaine, a loaded firearm, and more than $6000 in drug proceeds. In 2020, Sheley was convicted of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in the Iowa District Court for Clinton County.
On June 16, 2026, Jacob Daniel Timmsen, 35, of Durant, was sentenced to 284 months, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Timmsen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking, and possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing fentanyl.
On September 1, 2026, Cody Scott Sheese, 27, of Davenport, also known as “Cody Tuttle” and “Nugget,” was sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheese pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Sheese was on supervised release at the time of this offense. Sheese’s supervised release was revoked and was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment to run consecutive to the 20-year prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Bettendorf Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, Muscatine Police Department, Davenport Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles:
- rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders;
- strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and
- accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.
These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Inside job thwarted: Federal agents interrupt employee’s alleged armed robbery plot targeting Golden ChickRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Grand Prairie woman was indicted Sept. 1 for attempting to interfere with commerce by robbery after allegedly planning an armed robbery of the Golden Chick restaurant where she worked.
According to the criminal complaint, Laura Gonzalez, 44, engaged in a series of communications between Aug. 3 and Aug. 6 with an individual she believed could assist her in committing a robbery. Unbeknownst to Gonzalez, the individual was working undercover with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who connected her with a special agent. Gonzalez allegedly sought their help to rob the Golden Chick restaurant located at 3051 East Mayfield Road in Grand Prairie, Texas.
“Thanks to the ATF’s swift action and thorough investigation, a dangerous scheme was stopped before anyone was harmed,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Our priority is keeping the public safe, and when someone plots violence in this district, even before a single shot is fired or a door is breached, they should expect to face serious federal consequences.”
“An employee entrusted with access to a business attempted to use that position to orchestrate an armed robbery, putting her co-workers and the public at risk,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner. “This investigation demonstrates the importance of proactive investigative work in stopping violent crimes before they occur. ATF will continue to work to identify and disrupt those who use firearms or threaten violence to further criminal activity.”
The complaint alleges that Gonzalez provided detailed information to facilitate the planned robbery, including employee schedules, the location and status of the safe, camera placement, expected cash on hand and instructions on how to enter through an unlocked rear door. She also allegedly produced a hand‑drawn sketch of the interior layout and repeatedly encouraged that the robbery take place in the early morning hours while employees were present.
Gonzalez allegedly discussed the use of firearms, stated she would be present at the restaurant during the robbery to reduce suspicion and sought a share of the anticipated proceeds, estimated at $3,000 to $4,000. On Aug. 6, she allegedly sent a video from inside the restaurant showing the route to the safe and Digital Video Recorder camera unit.
ATF agents arrested Gonzalez Aug. 6 before any robbery occurred. According to the affidavit, Golden Chick is a multistate restaurant chain that operates along major travel corridors and relies on interstate supply chains and internet‑based services; therefore, the conduct described would have affected interstate commerce.
If convicted, Gonzalez faces up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years post-release supervision.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Violent Crime section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Indian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Illegal Gambling RingRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An Indian national pleaded guilty in federal court for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.
Sunilkumar N. Patel, 53, a resident of the state of New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
Patel admitted that he and his co-conspirators, in aggregate, obtained approximately $9,362,114 in gross proceeds from their wire fraud scheme and their illegal gambling businesses and then conducted various financial transactions for the purpose of laundering the proceeds.
On May 14, 2025, Patel was charged, along with eight other individuals, in a 72-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with money laundering.
Through Patel’s guilty plea, he admitted that he and his co-conspirators ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades. Patel and his co-conspirators hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield.: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7th St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West.
Under federal statutes, Patel is subject to a sentence of up to 20, 20, five, 20, and 20 years in federal prison without parole, respectively, for each count to which he pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Springfield, Missouri Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Missouri Police Department, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Illegal Alien from India Charged with Wholesale Drug Distribution from a Round Table Pizza Restaurant in Tulare CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against Kawal Preet Singh, 50, an Indian national unlawfully present in the United States, charging him with distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Singh sold wholesale quantities of methamphetamine from a Round Table Pizza restaurant he operated in Dinuba, while armed with illegal firearms.
According to court documents, an investigation into Indian Organized Crime in the Central Valley identified Singh as a subject of the investigation. On Aug. 18, 2026, federal agents searched Singh’s home and business and seized more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine as well as three firearms and more than $10,000 in cash.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman‑Hughes is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Singh faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, for drug trafficking and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison consecutive to any other sentence up to life in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the
full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Central Valley HSTF is composed of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Honduran national, illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for violating immigration laws.
On April 21, 2026, Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty by a federal trial jury of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported.
On March 4, 2026, officers with the Independence, Missouri Police Department arrested Cerrato-Avilez for giving false information during a traffic stop when he would not provide complete information about his date of birth. After using fingerprints to confirm Cerrato-Avilez’s identity, officers learned he had previously been removed from the United States.
The Independence Police Department contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, who took custody of Cerrato-Avilez. In conjunction with ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, it was determined that Cerrato-Avilez had illegally entered the United States in April of 2013 and was removed to Honduras later that same month.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Nichols and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by the Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations divisions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Illegal Alien with Two Prior Deportations and Felony Convictions Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware to 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed from the country on two prior occasions. The government recommended a sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment.
“When individuals knowingly disregard our nation's laws, repeatedly reenter the country unlawfully after being formally deported, and engage in felony criminal activity, they will face serious legal consequences,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This 18-month sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant's persistent violations and underscores that we will prioritize the prosecution of repeat offenders who compromise public safety."
According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on January 21, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Fugitive Operations Team arrested Victor Alfonso Cabada-Landeros in a targeted operation.
Cabada-Landeros has prior felony convictions for Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substances Act and for illegally returning to the United States after a removal. This is his second conviction for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
Cabada-Landeros was previously deported to Mexico on or about February 18, 2015, and again on or about November 9, 2019.
Cabada-Landeros pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence, he will be deported to Mexico for a 3rd time.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
###
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for SNAP and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston was sentenced yesterday for stealing SNAP benefits and unlawfully using a U.S. citizen’s Social Security number.
Victor Suazo Reynoso, 69, was sentenced by Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Reynoso was also ordered to pay $18,434 in restitution to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and $54,931 to MassHealth. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In May 2026, the defendant pleaded guilty to illegal acquisition of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits and false representation of a Social Security number. Reynoso was charged and arrested in March 2026.
Reynoso used the name, birthdate and Social Security number of a United States citizen to apply for and receive a Massachusetts driver’s license and more than $18,000 in SNAP benefits and $54,000 in MassHealth benefits. SNAP is a federal program administered by the states that provides funds for low-income individuals and families to purchase food. MassHealth is a federal and state program that provides medical benefits to low-income individuals.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Selling Firearm and Fentanyl to Undercover Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An illegal alien from the Dominican Republic, who is an associate of the D Street Projects gang in the South Boston area, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to selling a firearm and fentanyl to an undercover law enforcement agent.
Junior Martinez-Perello, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Jan. 6, 2027. In July 2025, Martinez-Perello was arrested and charged.
In May 2025, Martinez-Perello communicated with undercover law enforcement about selling 100 grams of fentanyl and a firearm. On May 30, 2025, Martinez-Perello agreed to meet in Boston for a drug and gun deal. Martinez-Perello informed the undercover agent that he would always have firearms available and not to be concerned about purchasing firearms from him, and that he would be able to obtain and distribute half-kilogram quantities of fentanyl in the near future.
During the controlled purchase, Martinez-Perello explained how the safety feature worked on the firearm. At one point during the sale, Martinez-Perello pointed the loaded firearm towards the ground, manipulated the firearm in a fashion that was consistent with rendering the firearm safe and attempting to remove the live ammunition from the firearm. During this process, Martinez-Perello disengaged the safety mechanism on the firearm and fired one round into the floor.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Illegal Alien Gang Member Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute in Fresno CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against Joaquin “Rascal” Aranda, 40, a Mexican national illegally residing in Sanger, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in October 2025, an investigation began into the Sureño criminal street gang operating in Fresno County. Investigators identified Aranda as a high-ranking Reedley Sureño gang member and conducted three undercover purchases of methamphetamine from him between January and May 2026. On May 28, 2026, agents executed a search warrant at Aranda’s residence and recovered more methamphetamine along with digital scales, spoons, and baggies. In total, Aranda was found with 297.52 grams of methamphetamine throughout the investigation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman‑Hughes is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Aranda faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Central Valley HSTF is composed of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Kleider Enrique Garcia Ochoa, age 31, of Venezuela, who is present in the United States without authorization, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his conviction for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall. U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson further sentenced Ochoa to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. He is also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completion of his sentence.
According to admissions made during his plea, Ochoa used social media applications and the name “Conociendo” to convince someone he believed was a 15-year-old boy in Denham Springs, Louisiana, to have an illegal sexual relationship with him. Ochoa agreed to travel to Denham Springs, Louisiana, to pick up the supposed 15-year-old boy to engage in sexual acts. An undercover law enforcement officer posed as the 15-year-old boy and officers arrested Ochoa when he arrived at the location. During his conduct, Ochoa sent the undercover officer a picture of himself and his genitals and requested that the supposed 15-year-old boy send him sexually explicit images of himself. Ochoa also asked for the undercover officer’s location and expressed his desire to engage in illegal sex acts in person.
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen L. Ross leads the prosecution.
“This was excellent work by our prosecutors and law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Wall. “Anyone who attempts to sexually exploit our children in the Middle District of Louisiana needs to know that they will be held accountable. We will continue to pursue these predators relentlessly.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Hooksett Man Indicted for Possessing Child Sex Abuse Material and Obscene MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Hookset man Derald Solomon, 51, has been indicted by a federal grand jury, charged with one count of possessing child sex abuse materials (CSAM), commonly known as child pornography, and one count of possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct that is obscene, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Solomon was arrested on August 5, 2026 by criminal complaint and will be arraigned in federal court on the indictment at a later date.
According to the charging documents and the public record, in May 2025, the FBI searched Solomon’s home in Hookset after determining that a computer with an IP Address registered at that address was sharing CSAM through a peer-to-peer file sharing program. During the search, law enforcement seized Solomon’s electronic devices for further forensic analysis. That analysis revealed that, in Solomon’s browser history, he visited websites known to contain child pornography. Some of the web addresses contained words like “12yo,” “PREteen,” and “Child%20porno.” Investigators also found multiple CSAM images of real children, including some of a minor relative, as well as other visual depictions of apparent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement found these and other files in a folder directory with the file path “Picture Backups\Derald’s Photo Library.”
The charges of possession of child pornography and possession of obscene material each carry a maximum prison term of 20 years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case with valuable assistance from the Hooksett and Derry Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. Hunter and Christopher Mignanelli are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Homeland Security Task Force Yields 30 Year Prison Sentence for Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization LeaderRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Navarro Diaz was the head of an organization in Colombia that transported cocaine and marijuana from the Pacific coast of Colombia to Costa Rica. Over a two-year period, Panamanian, Colombian, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities interdicted four of his organization’s vessels. The investigation revealed that Navarro Diaz discussed the smuggling operations in heavily coded language and had talked about the seizures in coded language after three of the events. The cocaine was intended to be smuggled from Costa Rica through Central America and Mexico prior to importation into the United States. Navarro Diaz was previously convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and pleaded guilty to that offense in 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Colombian National Police. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and September 2024 extradition from Colombia of Navarro Diaz. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Hanapepe Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison Following Jury Conviction for Producing, Receiving, and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Roger Biggs, 40, of Hanapepe, Hawaii, was sentenced on September 3, 2026, by Chief United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 540 months in federal prison for the production, receipt, and possession of child pornography, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Biggs was also required to pay $123,300 in fines, assessments, and restitution. Biggs was previously convicted in a federal jury trial in May 2026.
Following an extensive FBI investigation, evidence presented at his trial proved Biggs was a serial, self-described “groomer” who targeted children, many of whom were mentally vulnerable. Biggs contacted these children through direct message communications on social media platforms, sending thousands of messages to his victims. In one such message, he admitted to his victim: “i [sic] prey on vulnerable children.” Biggs groomed the children by sending them photographs of himself, gifts, and money and by engaging in sexually explicit communications with them. He then convinced at least one child to produce and send him images and videos of the child involved in sexually explicit conduct.
Among his many victims were two 14-year-olds on the U.S. mainland, one of whom Biggs traveled to meet in person. Biggs was also convicted of possessing child pornography on his cellular phone, including at least one image of a prepubescent minor under the age of 12.
At sentencing, Chief Judge Watson characterized Biggs’s conduct as abhorrent, disgusting, and criminal. Before issuing his 45-year sentence, Chief Judge Watson also highlighted Biggs’s inappropriate post-trial communication with a minor victim while incarcerated and awaiting sentencing, as well as his complete lack of remorse for his criminal activity.
“Roger Biggs earned every year of today’s 45-year sentence with his repugnant, sick, and depraved conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “As we have repeatedly said, we will never waver in our commitment to protect Hawaii’s children. Our message remains simple and clear: we will doggedly pursue child predators like Biggs, and they will face the full force of a federal prosecution and a punishing sentence for preying upon our young and most vulnerable citizens.”
“Mr. Biggs spent years grooming and exploiting children, and not even a conviction stopped him from continuing to harass his victims,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Today’s outcome is a testament to the tireless work of our special agents and federal partners. Let this serve as a message to those who exploit our children: the FBI will find you, and we will use every resource available to bring justice to your doorstep.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
Hampton Man Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Hampton man Jamie Melendez, age 37, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury this week on one count of failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Melendez will appear in federal court in Concord on a later date.
According to the charging documents, Melendez was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Despite this, he traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender in the State of New Hampshire as required by SORNA.
The charging statute provides a sentence of up to 10 years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The 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.
The United States Marshals Service is investigating this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hampton Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Guyanese National Sentenced in Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Kenneth Blair (54, Clermont) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 30 months in federal prison for bank fraud. Blair pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $15,475, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, from as early as August 2020, and continuing through July 2021, in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, Blair and others devised a scheme to defraud financial institutions by making materially false and fraudulent representations. Blair’s role in the bank fraud scheme included preparing and submitting fictitious and fraudulent paystubs for his clients in the names of companies to show fabricated income from employers as well as altered bank statements showing vastly overstated account balances. This caused the mortgage lenders to approve and fund mortgage loans for otherwise unqualified borrowers in exchange for undisclosed payments to Blair from his clients. The fraudulent mortgage loans were subsequently purchased and guaranteed by government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as the Federal Housing Administration.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Blain Goff.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Guilty Pleas Entered for Pensacola-Area Gun & Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, and Loredana Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Perry also pleaded guilty to additional charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This pair of repeat offenders has demonstrated an outright refusal to lead law-abiding lives, and the only way we can guarantee the safety of our community is by ensuring they are kept off our streets and behind federal bars where they belong. My office will continue to back up the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions like this to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.”
Court documents reflect that on January 14, 2026, federal agents executed an arrest warrant on Perry at a hotel in Pensacola, Florida. When law enforcement made entry into Perry’s hotel room to effectuate the arrest, they observed drug paraphernalia littered throughout the room, along with a “speed loader” tool to quickly load ammunition into firearm magazines. Bassolino, another occupant of the hotel room, admitted that narcotics were present and gave consent to search the room. During their search, law enforcement discovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, and a loaded firearm. Both Bassolino and Perry are convicted felons who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, with Perry most recently being convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl in July 2025.
Due to a prior serious drug felony conviction, Perry faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count. Perry also faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence given in this case, for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession by a convicted felon count.
Bassolino faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of forty years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count.
Bassolino and Perry are scheduled for sentencing on November 3, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm respectively, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Grand jury indicts former community school superintendent, business partner in $8 million fraud schemeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted the former superintendent and operator of a local community school and a business partner with wire fraud and other crimes related to an $8 million fraud and kickback scheme.
Leondo Ramone Davenport, 50, of Cincinnati, and Jonathan Larry Ballew, 62, of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested this morning by federal agents.
“We’re putting an end to fraudsters exploiting public trust and profiting off of the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Offenders should know that my Office will work hard to ensure that those responsible for fraud end up paying the price and come to understand that the juice is not worth the squeeze.”
“This indictment alleges a brazen scheme that stole from both taxpayers and students,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Education dollars exist to support the learning and development of American children—not to fund the lifestyles of unscrupulous school officials. The Fraud Division commends the work of our federal and state partners whose efforts were essential in bringing these charges and ensuring that those who abuse positions of trust are held accountable.”
“Fraud against the government is fraud against every taxpayer and we are all victims of these schemes,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “The FBI and Department of Justice are committed to rooting out fraud and holding accountable those who conduct illegal activities.”
“This was an egregious kickback scheme by individuals using taxpayer resources to enrich themselves,” Auditor Faber said. “Thanks to the good work of the U.S. Attorney, the FBI and our other partners in law enforcement for pursuing justice in this case. Our investigation also continues, and we look forward to working alongside the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office to ensure everyone involved in these crimes is held accountable for their actions.”
Davenport served as the superintendent of Dohn Community High School from 2015 to 2019. Through an LLC he incorporated, Dohn served as the operator of the school from 2019 until 2024.
Dohn was incorporated in Ohio as a not-for-profit organization around 1999 to serve as an addiction recovery program for high school students. It operated as a community school under Ohio law from approximately 2001 until 2025. In Ohio, a community school created under state law is a public school, independent of any school district.
Ballew incorporated at least four entities allegedly purporting to provide educational services, training, technology, staffing, and school construction and remodeling services to Dohn.
The eight-count indictment alleges that, from 2021 to 2024, Davenport and Ballew participated in a kickback scheme to defraud the school. Ballew allegedly submitted false and fraudulent invoices to Dohn on behalf of the entities he controlled. Davenport allegedly authorized Dohn to pay the invoices and received a kickback in return. In total, during this time, Davenport allegedly authorized Dohn to pay over $8 million to Ballew and Ballew correspondingly paid over $4 million back to Davenport.
The charging document details that the defendants allegedly spent the money on luxury automobiles and rental properties. For example, in October 2023, Davenport and Ballew both signed a two-year rental agreement for a luxury vacation property near Miami, Florida, for $30,000 per month.
Davenport and Ballew are each charged with wire fraud, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, which carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer is representing the United States in this case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Georgia Sisters Plead Guilty to Roles in $2M Pandemic Benefits Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Two Georgia women have pleaded guilty to their roles in a scheme to defraud the federal government by causing pandemic unemployment benefit funds to be paid on ineligible claims that had been held or denied for suspected fraud.
Sisters Joirean Creel, 35, of Duluth, and Adriane Creel, 24, of Stone Mountain, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Honest Services Wire Fraud. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan D. Greenberg accepted their guilty pleas Aug. 31.
According to allegations in court documents, the defendants were both hired to work as remote teleservices representatives through a subcontractor for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). The agency administered Ohio’s unemployment insurance program, which included federally funded unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of their jobs, the defendants were given access to an online system to process and manage unemployment benefits for the claimants. They were supposed to use the system only for their job providing customer service to claimants by phone. Instead, the two women abused their positions and system access to solicit and accept bribes and kickbacks that caused $1.96 million in benefits to be paid. However, the claims paid had been previously flagged as suspected of being fraudulent. The defendants used their system access to nullify and void the suspected fraudulent claims even though they were not authorized to do so. They also fraudulently obtained additional unemployment benefits for themselves by submitting applications in their own names. The defendants submitted their applications to other states including New York, Pennsylvania, and Nevada, despite being employed to help ODJFS administer the unemployment insurance system. In addition, investigators discovered that Joirean Creel was also employed by the U.S. Postal Service while claiming to be unemployed.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized and forfeited a Mercedes Benz GL450. In total, ODJFS lost more than $2 million as a result of the conspiracy.
This investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, the FBI Cleveland Division, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Pittsburgh Division-Cleveland Field Office.
The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Assistant United States Attorneys Elliot Morrison and Erica Barnhill for the Northern District of Ohio lead the prosecution.
Government Considers Appeal of Sentence of Albany Man Sentenced to 92 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Nearly 4,000 Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
Devonte Skinner, age 34, of Albany, Louisiana, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall. U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick further sentenced Skinner to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on February 21, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a controlled purchase of 3,792 pills pressed to resemble 30 mg oxycodone and containing 539.2 grams of fentanyl from Skinner and another individual using a confidential source (CS). The CS met Skinner in a restaurant parking lot on O’Neal Lane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Skinner was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle and exchanged the pills and money with the CS.
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese led the prosecution.
“I am very pleased with the dedicated work of our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Wall. “Fentanyl continues to pose a grave threat to communities throughout Louisiana and distributing this substance in such quantities risks devastating harm. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account the criminal act and the defendant’s prior criminal history, called for a sentencing range of 262 to 327 months. Although we respect the Court’s role in sentencing, we have concerns that a sentence far below the guidelines range sends a harmful message. Unfortunately, our district has experienced hundreds of fentanyl overdoses over the past few years. Recently, we are beginning to see a reduction in those numbers, which gives us some optimism that the message of the dangerousness of fentanyl is finally gaining traction. The defendant’s conduct has to be viewed in the same light as if he had fired 3,972 rounds of ammunition on our public streets. A 92-month sentence is insufficient, and our office is reviewing the judgment closely and considering all options, including appeal.”
“Fentanyl traffickers endanger our communities with every pill they put on the street,” said HSI New Orleans Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright. “This investigation and conviction reflect HSI’s continued commitment to working with our federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who distribute deadly narcotics in Louisiana. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, we will continue using every lawful tool available to disrupt criminal networks and protect the public from the devastation caused by fentanyl.”
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the U.S. Coast Guard, Investigative Service (CGIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (CBP OFO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol (CBP BP) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for Middle District of Louisiana.
Forsyth County Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years After Kidnapping Store Clerk in the Course of a RobberyRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A Winston-Salem, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to more than 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
DEANGELO SHAMOND TOOMER, aged 41, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment plus 5 years post release supervision on the kidnapping charge by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior/Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. Judge Eagles also sentenced TOOMER to 180 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision on the firearm charge, to run concurrently.
According to court records, on January 8, 2025, at approximately 12:28 a.m., TOOMER entered the Speedway Gas Station located at 2700 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, armed with a gun. TOOMER approached the store clerk at gunpoint and demanded money from her cash register and Newport cigarettes. TOOMER then forced the clerk to write a sign to hang on the front door stating the store was closed for restocking and then led her at gunpoint to her car where he told her they were both leaving and she was driving. Law enforcement was alerted to the scene after receiving a 911 call for a wellness check when customers noticed the gas station was unattended.
Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department were able to obtain real time tracking data from the clerk’s vehicle. At approximately 5:57 a.m., members of the Winston-Salem Police Department observed the clerk’s vehicle to be in Unicoi County, Tennessee. With the assistance of the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement located the vehicle. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office activated their lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over, but TOOMER, who was driving, fled, resulting in a vehicle pursuit. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office had to forcibly bring the vehicle to a stop. The clerk was found with her hands and ankles bound by shoelaces in the backseat. A gun that TOOMER tossed out the window during his flight was also recovered. The gun was loaded and had one round in the chamber.
TOOMER, who is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, has a criminal record that dates back to 2001, and includes several felony convictions, including Felony Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill, Felony Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, Felony Strong Arm Robbery, Felony Burglary, Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Felony Fraud against a Financial Institution, and Felony Possession of Contraband.
The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office (TN), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from Ford Motor Company-Global Security and Vehicle Telematics, the Unicoi Police Department (TN), Erwin Police Department (TN), and Green County Sheriff’s Office (TN). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy M. Williams-Durham.
###
Former SBA and IRS Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Taking Bribes in $3.5 Million COVID Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Attallah Williams, a former U.S. Small Business Administration and Internal Revenue Service employee, has been sentenced to federal prison for taking bribes to submit and approve more than $3.5 million in fraudulent pandemic relief payments.
“Williams misused her public office to steal taxpayer money intended to promote employment during a national crisis, and she deepened her fraud by recruiting accomplices through Instagram,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will continue to work tirelessly to uncover and hold accountable those who violate the public’s trust and loot the treasury.”
“Williams turned positions of public trust into an opportunity to enrich herself, using her federal access and social media to recruit others and funnel millions of dollars in fraudulent pandemic relief into her scheme,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to pursue those who exploit their positions for personal gain and steal money meant to support the American people.”
“Attallah Williams used her positions at the SBA and IRS to steal millions from COVID-19 relief programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Those who defrauded these programs may believe they escaped detection, but this case proves that IRS Criminal Investigation and its federal law enforcement partners will continue holding those responsible for defrauding COVID-19 relief programs accountable.”
“The Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney is proud to work with our federal law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who misuse taxpayer dollars for their own gain, especially government employees,” said DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston. “Defendant Williams was convicted of abusing her positions within the federal government to take money earmarked to help struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This sentence should send a strong message to anyone who steals public funds that they will be punished accordingly.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Williams orchestrated a three-year scheme to fraudulently obtain funds from four separate emergency pandemic relief programs:
First, Williams submitted fraudulent applications to the SBA to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) in the names of businesses that were not operational.
Second, Williams submitted a fraudulent application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, guaranteed by the SBA, for a business that was not operational.
Third, Williams obtained a position as an SBA loan officer, enabling her to use her insider access to approve fraudulent applications to the EIDL Advance grant program. Williams advertised on Instagram to recruit accomplices who, under her guidance, submitted applications using the names of nonexistent or ineligible businesses. Williams then used her position to improperly approve those applications in exchange for a share of the proceeds. Williams also encouraged her conspirators to recruit additional participants, promising them referral fees for every person brought into the scheme.
Fourth, Williams left the SBA and obtained a position as an IRS tax examining technician. Williams again advertised on social media to recruit accomplices who, under her instructions and with her assistance, submitted fraudulent tax documents to the IRS to claim payments under the Employee Retention Tax Credit program, with Williams receiving a fee for each application.
In total, Williams submitted false claims for more than $3.5 million of pandemic emergency assistance funds intended to help struggling businesses, resulting in $3,272,000 being distributed before the scheme was disrupted.
On September 1, 2026, Attallah Williams, 33, of Hampton, Georgia, was sentenced to six years, six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $3,272,000 in restitution. She pled guilty on February 11, 2026, to conspiracy to defraud the United States through fraudulent claims.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with valuable assistance from the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted Pandemic Program 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 SBA Office of the Inspector General Complaint Submission at: https://sbax.sba.gov/oigcss.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Barrington Christian Academy Teacher Indicted on Federal Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment charging former Barrington Christian Academy teacher and athletics coach Sean Cassidy, 53, of Pawtucket, with coercion and enticement of a minor; falsely presenting as a federal employee; two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; and possession of child pornography.
The indictment, returned on September 2, 2026, includes two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor stemming from alleged conduct in 2011 and a charge of possession of child pornography. These charges are in addition to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor and falsely presenting as a federal employee, which were initially charged by federal criminal complaint following Cassidy’s arrest on federal charges in August.
According to the federal criminal complaint previously filed in the matter, Cassidy allegedly used his position as a teacher and athletics coach to develop a relationship with a minor student and falsely represented himself as an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also used multiple online platforms—email, messaging services, and encrypted accounts—to communicate with the minor under various fictitious identities. Cassidy allegedly directed the minor to engage in acts, including taking partially nude photographs of herself, claiming they were part of an FBI “training program.”
“Children should never have to fear the adults entrusted with their safety and education. The allegations in this indictment are abhorrent and represent a profound betrayal of that trust,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “We will relentlessly pursue those who prey upon children and use every available resource to hold them accountable.”
“Cassidy stands accused of a litany of crimes against children who were entrusted to his care. This is every parent’s nightmare – a trusted coach, teacher, and trainer allegedly using his trust and access to children to manipulate and eventually exploit kids,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “This case came to HSI’s attention through a tip from a vigilant parent through our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force partners. HSI works around the clock with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes against children, but we can only do this work with the help of the parents, friends, teachers, and members of the public who are ready to come forward when they see something they know is wrong.”
The indictment further alleges that Cassidy sexually exploited a minor on two occasions in 2011 for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Cassidy is also charged with knowingly possessing or accessing, with intent to view, child pornography through approximately June 1, 2026.
Cassidy is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Coercion and enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Each count of sexual exploitation of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years and a maximum sentence of thirty years. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of twenty years, and falsely presenting as a federal employee carries a maximum sentence of three years.
Cassidy was previously arrested on June 1 and July 17, 2026, on related Rhode Island state charges. The federal investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are continuing to review evidence and evaluate reports of Cassidy’s contacts with additional minors.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise Barton.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from local law enforcement partners.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Florence County Men Plead Guilty to Stealing Firearms from Florence ArmoryRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Benjamin Lee Mercer, Sr., 54, of Florence, has pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a dealer and illegally possessing firearms.
Mercer’s co-defendant and son, Benjamin Lee Mercer, Jr., 31, of Florence, previously pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a dealer and brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that around 2:52 a.m. on May 12, 2024, two men—later identified as Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr.—burglarized the Palmetto State Armory, a federal firearms licensee in Florence. They stole 152 firearms. On May 22, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a trailer in Darlington associated with Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr. and found 15 firearms, all of which were stolen from the Palmetto State Armory. Shortly before executing the search warrant, law enforcement saw Mercer, Sr. get into a truck and leave the trailer. Law enforcement followed Mercer, Sr., but he fled and evaded law enforcement. During the pursuit, Mercer, Sr. was captured on video discarding a firearm. Law enforcement recovered the firearm and confirmed it was stolen from the Palmetto State Armory.
On June 17, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange a controlled purchase of 21 firearms from Mercer, Jr. at the Darlington trailer. During the buy, Mercer, Jr. pulled out a handgun, pistol whipped the informant, and threatened to kill the informant. Ultimately, the informant threw their car keys and the buy money on the ground, which Mercer, Jr. took and then left in the informant’s car. Law enforcement caught up to Mercer, Jr., and a high-speed chase ensued through Darlington and Florence counties. During the chase, Mercer, Jr. pointed a firearm out of the driver’s side window and repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Mercer, Jr. fled to an apartment in Florence, where he barricaded himself inside but ultimately surrendered to law enforcement. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the apartment, where they found a loaded handgun along with the buy money taken from the informant.
Mercer, Jr. faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Mercer, Sr. faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence both defendants after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the Florence Police Department, and the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.###
Final Defendants Convicted in Macon’s Operation Mobile Order SentencedRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The final two defendants involved in an armed drug trafficking network affiliated with a criminal street gang were sentenced to federal prison because of Operation Mobile Order, an investigation led by the FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, which resulted in the seizure of dozens of firearms, including a machine gun.
“This heavily armed drug trafficking organization was a major threat in Macon, and our region is now safer because every member has been brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Targeting dangerous criminal organizations like those dismantled in Operation Mobile Order remains a top priority for our office and law enforcement partners at every level. These offenders have been held accountable for the harm they caused to our community.”
“Operation Mobile Order dismantled a violent drug trafficking organization that treated a Macon neighborhood like a retail storefront for cocaine, backed by an arsenal of firearms,” said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “This investigation shows the FBI’s commitment to targeting criminal networks that fuel addiction, violence, and fear in our communities. We will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to make Central Georgia a safer place to live.”
“Operation Mobile Order represents the best in local and federal law enforcement partnerships,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. “Together, FBI agents and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigators worked tirelessly to bring this cadre of criminals to justice. Our community is much better off with these peddlers of poison off our streets.”
The following defendants were sentenced today, on September 3:
Eddie Reese, 54, of Atlanta, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on June 18, 2025.
Alton Oliver, aka “Alo,” aka “Lo,” 43, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Jan. 8.
The following defendant was sentenced on August 10:
Tanya Card, 51, of Macon, was sentenced to serve six months in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on Dec. 2, 2025.
The following defendant was sentenced on June 4:
Roddreckious Williams, 33, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 151 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base and one count of distribution of cocaine on Jan. 21.
The following defendants were sentenced on May 19:
Roosevelt Cole, aka “Froball,” 52, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 170 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6.
Marvin Huff, aka “Black,” 50, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 125 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8.
Trayvon Simmons, aka “Abo,” 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6.
The following defendant was sentenced to prison on April 2:
Antonyo Daniels, aka “Tony,” 31, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 250 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8.
The following defendants were sentenced to prison on March 2:
Devonta Jackson, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 155 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.
Laderion Jacobs, aka “Johnny,” aka “Johnny Cain,” 30, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.
Ladarrious King, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.
The following defendant was sentenced to prison on Feb. 5:
Leroy Mintz, aka “Booman,” 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Nov. 20, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements in court, in 2022 and 2023, the FBI conducted Operation Mobile Order, a Macon-centered investigation targeting an armed drug trafficking organization led by Reese. Many members of the organization are validated Blue Band Gang (BBG) members who affiliate with the Crips criminal organization. During the investigation, the FBI ran nine controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine and intercepted phone calls and text messages, detailing transactions involving kilograms of cocaine from an Atlanta supplier.
The main drug distribution site, also known as a trap house, was located on Richard Street in Macon. This busy location functioned similarly to a restaurant, with members of the organization assigned shifts to distribute drugs. Recorded calls captured Reese discussing drug overdoses in the community, claiming that if the drugs causing those overdoses had come from his Richard Street operation, “everyone in Macon would be dead.”
The FBI executed 11 federal search warrants in Macon, Warner Robins, and Atlanta on Nov. 20, 2023, including at the Richard Street trap house, seizing cocaine, 26 firearms, a ballistic vest, and $93,247. One of the locations searched included Oliver’s home on Williamson Road in Macon. There, agents found a machine gun plus five firearms. In addition, agents found quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine at Oliver’s. The ballistic vest belonged to Daniels.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government.
Federal prison sentences handed down for firearm-related chargesRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, Georgia: Three men have been sentenced to prison following firearms related plea agreements.
The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:
- Jordan Williams-Carswell, 26, of North Augusta, South Carolina, was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machinegun. Court documents and testimony show that in January 2024, Williams-Carswell was illegally in possession of a Glock Model 20, 10 mm pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD). A MCD allows a firearm to fire multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger, converting a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun.
- Jordan James Perkins, 24, of Sardis, Georgia, was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In June 2025, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop and Perkins fled. While eluding law enforcement, Perkins discarded a Glock, Model 29, 10 mm pistol from the vehicle, which deputies later discovered during a search of the area.
- Pierre Horton, 36, of Augusta, was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In November 2025, Horton was found in possession of a Smith & Wesson, SD40, .40 caliber pistol during a traffic stop by Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.
“These sentences demonstrate the commitment this office and our law enforcement partners take to safeguard our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Illegally possessed and modified guns are a threat to neighborhoods far and wide; and those who endanger the public will face the consequences for their crimes.”
“These cases send a clear message: illegally possessing or modifying firearms carries serious consequences,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Graves. “The strong partnership among ATF, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was essential to holding these defendants accountable and protecting the citizens of the Augusta area.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr. and Joshua Kyle Davis.
Federal jury convicts prior felon on new child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury convicted John Richard Wade, 51, of Hornell, NY, of receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
Wade was previously convicted in 2011 on federal charges of possession of child pornography and was on supervised release for those offenses when he committed these newest offenses. On April 11, 2024, probation officers searched Wade’s residence, seizing multiple unmonitored devices, including four laptops and a hard drive, suspected marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. An initial review recovered multiple videos of suspected child pornography on the seized hard drive, which was found hidden under some clothes in a laundry bin. A subsequent examination recovered over 40,000 images and videos of child pornography on the hard drive. Investigators also located the web browser Tore on the hard drive. Tore is frequently used by individuals in possession of child pornography to receive and distribute child pornography from the internet.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas M. Testani and Melissa M. Marangola. The verdict is the result of an investigation by the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II and the U.S Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Clifford Jackson.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., who presided over the trial of the case.
# # # #
Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty Plea to Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Christopher Carl Brown (43, of Mississippi) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Brown faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, in 2025, Brown was an inmate in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (“FCC Coleman”) where he was serving a sentence for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. On July 3, 2025, a Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officer discovered Brown in possession of a sock containing a pill bottle. Inside the bottle were four plastic bags containing over 10 grams of methamphetamine. These drugs were intended for distribution inside FCC Coleman.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah Watson and Angela Palacios.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Chinese National for Voter Fraud in MassachusettsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A federal grand jury has indicted a Chinese national residing in Andover, Mass., on charges stemming from an alleged scheme to use another Chinese national’s identity to register to vote and cast a ballot in the 2024 presidential election. The defendant was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in August.
Yupeng Sun, 33, was indicted on one count of fraudulent voter registration and one count of fraudulent voting. Sun was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Aug. 19, 2026 and subsequently released on conditions. He will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to court filings, on Oct. 10, 2024, Sun submitted an online voter registration through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website impersonating another Chinese national residing in Massachusetts with legal permanent resident (LPR) status. On Oct. 31, 2024, Sun allegedly continued to impersonate the other Chinese national and submitted an early voting ballot at Malden City Hall for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
After registering to vote and voting, Sun allegedly submitted several anonymous tips in April and May 2026 to Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stating that the victim “illegally voted in the 2024 U.S. presidential election” and noting that “[h]e is not a U.S. citizen but a permanent resident.” It is further alleged that Sun impersonated the same Chinese national and his Chinese national wife in fraudulent forms submitted to USCIS in April 2024 requesting to abandon their LPR status. When the couple returned from an international trip in June 2024, they were subjected to secondary inspection at Logan Airport in Boston, had their Green Cards confiscated, and were placed into removal proceedings allegedly as a result of Sun’s submission of fraudulent forms.
The charges of fraudulent registration and fraudulent voting each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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 Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Lexington Police Department and the Andover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting 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.
Federal Court Dismisses Another Attempt to Stymie Sable Offshore Corporation’s Oil and Gas OperationsRead the Press Release
Note, a press release posted earlier today, Sept. 3, was mistakenly a reprint of an Aug. 21 press release about a related decision. Below is the correct press release regarding a decision issued on Monday, Aug. 31, in this matter.
On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed with prejudice the complaint in Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum — one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.’s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. This ruling follows another, related ruling issued last month.
“States cannot stop the Executive Branch from acting pursuant to Congress’s authorization, especially when it comes to ensuring American energy dominance,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “The Department is pleased with the court’s decision. This Department of Justice will never allow California or ideological groups to undermine our Nation’s national security and economic prosperity interests in ensuring availability of this critical resource for Americans.”
“This is another victory for American energy independence,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Two weeks ago, this same court affirmed the federal government’s authority to protect energy security from state overreach through a Defense Production Act order restarting this critical domestic source of oil. This week’s decision protects this critical resource against special interest groups who sought to stymie that same oil production through a lawsuit alleging violations of federal law. We are committed to unleashing American energy, as President Donald J. Trump has directed the Department of Justice and all federal agencies to do.”
Following a decade of inactivity, Sable last year sought to restart offshore oil and gas production on Platform Harmony in the Santa Ynez Unit. Plaintiff environmental groups sued, challenging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)’s April 2025 decision not to require revision of the development and production plan for Platform Harmony related to Sable’s restart plans. In its decision dismissing the case for lack of standing, the court held that the plaintiffs have not alleged a procedural injury and their theory of causation is “far too hypothetical and attenuated” and “not fairly traceable to BOEM and Sable.”
The court instead explained that plaintiffs’ asserted injuries stem from offshore oil and gas operations generally, not from BOEM’s decision. The court further held that the plaintiffs’ injuries are not redressable because BOEM has substantial discretion in deciding whether to require revision of the plan.
Attorneys with ENRD’s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.