Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
16 June 2025
Sanford Man Sentenced for Possessing A MachinegunRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Timothy Aden-Alan Calhoun (27, Orlando) to 2 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession of a machinegun. The court also ordered Calhoun to forfeit the firearm he possessed. Calhoun pleaded guilty on February 25, 2025.
According to court documents, officers from the Maitland Police Department stopped Calhoun for a traffic violation while he was operating a stolen motorcycle. During a search incident to his arrest, an officer located a Glock 19 with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device installed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was contacted and confirmed that the firearm was converted into a fully automatic weapon.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maitland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Rochester business owner sentenced for food stamp fraudRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Zina Amba Mbile Mbile, 46, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of food stamp fraud, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $246,890.00 in restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who handled the case, stated that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) uses federal tax dollars to help low-income individuals purchase food. Eligible individuals are provided with a debit card from which they can make food purchases at authorized food stores. Businesses authorized to accepts SNAP benefits, can only do so for the sale of eligible food products. It is unlawful to accept SNAP benefits for non-food items such as cigarettes, beer, or for cash. Between March 1, 2020, and July 23, 2024, Mbile, who operated the Beni Food convenience store on Dewey Avenue in Rochester, accepted SNAP benefits from customers in exchange for non-food items, such as cosmetic products. Mbile also exchanged cash for food stamp benefits, resulting in a profit for Mbile. In total, Mbile fraudulently caused $246,890.00 to be deposited into Beni Food’s bank accounts for food that was never purchased.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Charmeka Parker, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Monroe County Department of Human Services, under the direction of Commissioner Thalia Wright.
# # # #
Rio Rancho Woman Faces Federal Charges for Trafficking over 120 Pounds of FentanylRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Rio Rancho woman faces federal drug trafficking charges after a significant seizure during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 within the Laguna Pueblo Reservation.
According to court documents, on June 11, 2025, a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for excessive window tint within the Laguna Reservation. The officer detected the odor of marijuana and observed drug paraphernalia in plain view upon approaching the vehicle. The driver, Jordan Baldwin, 22, admitted to possessing marijuana and was asked to exit the vehicle. Baldwin also admitted to using a straw found in her possession to snort cocaine.
The officer conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle, locating additional drug paraphernalia and Xanax pills in the front passenger area. In the trunk, the officer discovered a large black duffle bag containing a substantial quantity of blue pills, which, based on his training and experience, he believed to be fentanyl. Field tests later confirmed the pills as fentanyl, with a gross weight of 122.22 pounds, equating to approximately 504,140 pills.
Black duffle bag containing fentanyl pills Fentanyl pills on a scaleBaldwin is charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 400 grams and more of fentanyl and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Baldwin faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Port Charlotte Man Indicted for Production and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Tyler Russell Kuhn (29, Port Charlotte) with one count of production and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material. If convicted on all counts, Kuhn faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment and court records, in October 2019, Kuhn engaged in an online conversation with another individual. During the conversation, Kuhn produced a video and image of child sexual abuse material involving himself and a toddler. Kuhn distributed this video and image over the internet, to the individual to whom he was speaking.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Tampa and Houston Field Offices. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Philippine national indicted for aggravated identity theft and false impersonation of a U.S. citizen while on a cruise shipRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging a Philippine national legally residing in the U.S. with stealing the identity of a U.S. citizen and falsely impersonating the victim while on a cruise ship in Alaska.
According to court documents, between May 11-14, 2025, Enrico Ronquillo, 37, falsely represented himself as a U.S. citizen on a cruise ship for entry into the vessel’s manifest. Ronquillo allegedly used a counterfeit California driver’s license and California birth certificate that contained the victim’s personal information while aboard the ship. The indictment further alleges that Ronquillo made and used a fraudulent IRS Form W-9 that contained the victim’s name, signature, address and social security number while aboard the ship.
Ronquillo is charged with one count of false impersonation of a citizen of the U.S., one count of making and using a false document, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count, and up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the other two counts. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Kymberly Fernandez, Area Port Director, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Port of Anchorage made the announcement.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Juneau Resident Agency, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are investigating the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers, Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Transportation Security Administration Office of Law Enforcement, Federal Air Marshals Service and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Reed is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime and drug trafficking. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
UPDATE: This release has been updated to include the Transportation Security Administration Office of Law Enforcement, Federal Air Marshals Service as an investigating agency.
###
Peter McNeilly Appointed as United States Attorney for the District of ColoradoRead the Press Release
DENVER – Peter McNeilly has been appointed as the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Mr. McNeilly was sworn in by United States District Judge Daniel D. Domenico on June 16, 2025.
Mr. McNeilly has been an Assistant United States Attorney in Colorado since 2014. During his time as a federal prosecutor, Mr. McNeilly has focused on pursuing members of Mexican drug cartels, combatting the deadly fentanyl epidemic, and reducing violent crime. Mr. McNeilly’s work prosecuting fentanyl cases—and particularly cases involving fatal overdoses—has made him one of the leading experts on fentanyl prosecutions in Colorado and a resource for other federal prosecutors throughout the country. As a supervisor within the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he has overseen the creation and expansion of federal task forces which focus on transnational organized crime and violent crime. Mr. McNeilly has previously served as the Deputy United States Attorney, the Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section, the District of Colorado’s Opioid Coordinator, and the Lead Strike Force Attorney for the Denver Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force.
Mr. McNeilly is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. McNeilly supported commanders and advanced the rule of law as a Marine judge advocate on active duty before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and he has continued that work in the reserves for his entire time with the office. On active duty, he prosecuted complex cases throughout the Marine Corps’ western region, including sexual assaults, child exploitation, financial crimes, and crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the reserves, Mr. McNeilly has served as a prosecutor, as a legal advisor on the staff for a three-star commanding general, and he is currently in his second tour as a military judge.
As United States Attorney, Mr. McNeilly will oversee all federal criminal prosecutions as well as all civil litigation undertaken on behalf of the United States Government in Colorado. Mr. McNeilly leads a dedicated team of more than 160 attorneys, professional staff, and government contractors.
Mr. McNeilly’s senior leadership team includes J. Bishop Grewell, who will serve as First Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Appellate Division, and Marcy Cook, who will serve as Deputy United States Attorney.
Pennsylvania Man Charged with Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 32, of Pennsylvania, has been charged with six counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, between July 2020 and July 2021, Salako allegedly participated in a money laundering conspiracy involving fraudulent applications for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and for unemployment insurance benefits to more than 30 states that obtained more than $5.6 million in government benefits using over 1,000 stolen or fake identities. Salako and his co-conspirators allegedly moved fraud proceeds through several intermediate accounts using various methods, eventually spending the money or transferring it overseas as currency or in the form of goods such as cars or solar panels.
The indictment further alleges that between January 4, 2021, and March 20, 2021, Salako submitted approximately 15 fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), using stolen or false identities. Salako allegedly used names and addresses of residents of Colorado, which he looked up on personal information search websites such as TruthFinder, to submit applications using the Colorado residents’ actual identifiers. The CDLE paid one unemployment insurance claim submitted by Salako, in the amount of $649, and paid an additional $15,431 to bank accounts controlled by Salako based on claims submitted by a co-conspirator.
The indictment further alleges that in addition to submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to Colorado, Salako submitted and aided and abetted in the submission of fraudulent claims in other states using stolen or false identities, including Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York, at least 10 fraudulent applications for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans to the SBA, using stolen or false identities, and a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan application in the name of Turn-Turn-Turn Woodturning, using the stolen identity of a Nevada resident.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded eligibility for unemployment benefits.
The defendant made his initial appearance in Colorado on June 13, 2025, before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and CDLE. The case is being prosecuted by the Economic Crime Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Case Number: 25-cr-00162-CNS
Passaic County Convicted Felon Admits to Trafficking Fentanyl and Heroin and Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey man admitted to possessing quantities of fentanyl and heroin he intended to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Luis Polanco, 35, of Wayne, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an Indictment charging him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Law enforcement investigated Polanco for his drug distribution in Passaic, New Jersey, including from his residence. Polanco was arrested after law enforcement searched his residence and vehicle, which revealed Polanco to be in possession of controlled substances that tested positive for more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin, as well as other paraphernalia used for packaging drugs. Law enforcement also recovered a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun, 158 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition and four rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
The drug charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million. The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, which must be imposed consecutively to any other sentence imposed, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for October 21, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., Newark Field Division, as well as the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, the Wayne Township Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Joseph Rooney, and the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of under the direction of Officer In Charge Patrick Murray, with the investigation leading to this guilty plea.
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).
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Goldman of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.
###
Defense counsel: Jason F. Orlando, Esq.
polanco.indictment.pdfPakistan native arrested, charged with illegal reentryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Saima Qamar, 55, a citizen of Canada and native of Pakistan, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Qamar was detained by the Lewiston Police Department, which reached out to U.S. Border Patrol for assistance in identifying the defendant. A records check determined that Qamar was a citizen of Canada and national of Pakistan who was illegally present in the United States after previously having been removed in April 2019.
Qamar made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol Niagara Falls Station, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Brady Waikal.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Oregon City Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Officer During Weekend Riot Near Local ICE OfficeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—An Oregon City, Oregon man made his first appearance in federal court today after he was charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during a declared riot Saturday near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
Joshua Ames Cartrette, 46, has been charged by criminal complaint with misdemeanor assault of a federal officer.
According to court documents, on June 14, 2025, thousands of people engaged in peaceful protests in Portland. In the afternoon, several hundred people gathered in protest at an ICE office in South Portland where some individuals targeted the building with mortar fireworks, rocks, bricks, and glass bottles. The gathering was later declared a riot by local law enforcement. At approximately 5:50pm, individuals breached the exterior door of the ICE office before being pushed back by federal officers. Additional federal officers, including Customs and Border Protection Tactical Unit (BORTAC) agents, were dispatched to the location.
Later the same evening, a BORTAC agent observed Cartrette push another agent and kick multiple deployed tear gas canisters toward other agents.
Cartrette made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was released on conditions pending future court proceedings.
Misdemeanor assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to one year in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Protective Service (FPS) and FBI. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Omaha Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Carinda M. Blair, 39, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 11, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Blair to 78 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Blair’s release from prison, she will begin a two-year term of supervised release.
Blair was charged as a result of her involvement with a Mexico Source of Supply (SOS) of methamphetamine and was a local courier who was distributing the SOS’s methamphetamine in Nebraska and Iowa.
On August 17, 2023, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration surveillance observed a suspected drug courier go to Blair’s Omaha apartment and conduct a drug deal. In a subsequent search warrant on the Mexico SOS’s phone number, messages confirmed that Blair had arranged the drug deal with the SOS. Messages indicated that Blair was a regular customer of the SOS beginning in March of 2023 and was consistently buying ounces of methamphetamine from the SOS on a weekly basis.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Nine Members of Lopez Human Smuggling Organization Plead Guilty to Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Nine of the 10 members of the Lopez Human Smuggling Organization indicted in June 2023 have pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a multi-year investigation into their roles in an extensive alien smuggling conspiracy. All nine defendants admitted to conspiring to bring, harbor, and transport groups of undocumented individuals into and within the United States for financial gain.
The defendants are identified as Rosa Adriana Lopez-Escobar, 43, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; Deysi Marisela Lopez-Ambrosio, 27, illegal residing in Long Beach, California; Franklin Leonardo Chilel-Ramirez, 39, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; Junior Vanegas Portillo, 22, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; Jose Denilson Lopez Chilel, 26, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; and Mildred Yanira Lopez-Ambrosio, 23, illegal residing in Long Beach, California, all citizens of Guatemala, as well as Jose Gianluca Lopez-Perez, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, Sebastian Rolando Cortez, 22, of Tempe, Arizona, and Carlos Chavez-Hernandez, 22, of Avondale, Arizona.
According to court records, between October 2021 and April 2023, these individuals operated in Luna County, New Mexico, and elsewhere, coordinating and executing the transportation and harboring of undocumented aliens. The organization used peer-to-peer money transfer apps to facilitate payments among co-conspirators and instructed others to pick up and move groups of undocumented individuals in exchange for money.
The organization coordinated pick-ups near the U.S.-Mexico border, including attempts to move individuals from Animas, New Mexico, to Phoenix, Arizona. In one instance, a defendant was apprehended by Border Patrol while en route to pick up a group of undocumented aliens.
To date, four defendants have been sentenced. Junior Vanegas Portillo was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Sebastian Rolando Cortez was sentenced to one year of probation. Carlos Chavez-Hernandez was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release. Jose Denilson Lopez Chilel was sentenced to 45 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Sentencing for the remaining defendants is pending.
As part of his plea agreement, Jose Denilson Lopez Chilel agreed to forfeit several items used in furtherance of the conspiracy. These include two firearms, ammunition, a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, a 2017 Ford Mustang, a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2020 Polaris Can-Am Side by Side UTV.
Ronaldo Galindo Lopez-Escobar, 47, of Guatemala City, Guatemala, the alleged leader of the Lopez Crime Family, remains a fugitive.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.
HSI New Mexico led U.S. investigative efforts, with enforcement assistance from HSI in Arizona and the Central District of California. HSI received investigative assistance from U.S. Border Patrol Deming, Lordsburg, Blythe, El Centro, Yuma, and Tucson, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. The Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division also provided support in this matter.
The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Castellano and Alyson Hehr as part of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by MLARS; Office of Enforcement Operations; and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 380 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 340 U.S. convictions; more than 290 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Stealing Social Security FundsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Laura Virginia Howard, age 76, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one-count Felony Information of Theft of Public Monies, punishable by up to ten years in prison, and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Information alleged that between February 28, 2007, and June 26, 2024, Howard willfully and knowingly embezzled, stole, and converted for her own use and the use of others, money and things of value exceeding $1,000.00 of the United States and the Social Security Administration paid to a retirement claimant, to which Howard knew she was not entitled.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Social Security Administration—Office of the Inspector General.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Satter, Kara Traster, and Jonathan Soverly represented the United States.
Mexican national guilty of immigration violations in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas –A Mexican national has pleaded guilty to an immigration violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Rigoberto Rodriguez-Moreno, 44, a Mexican national illegally residing in Lufkin, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously deported person before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson on June 16, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on March 4, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security and Investigations (HSI) received information that Rodriguez-Moreno was being held in the Angelina County Jail on a state arrest warrant. An HSI investigation determined that Rodriguez-Moreno was previously deported from the United States to Mexico on October 4, 2017, and did not have permission to return to the United States.
Immigration records reveal this was the second time Rodriguez-Moreno was deported. The first deportation occurred in 1999. He has previous federal convictions for bringing in and harboring illegal aliens in 1999 and illegal reentry by a deported person in 2015.
Rodriguez-Moreno faces up to 20 years in federal prison and deportation at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing 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 U.S. Probation Office. Rodriguez-Moreno still faces unrelated state charges in Angelina County.
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).
This case was investigated by the Lufkin Homeland Security Investigations and the Angelina County Sheriff's Office. This case was prosecuted by the Lufkin Division of the U.S Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
Mexican national admits to transporting child sexual abuse material across state lines to MexicoRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old Mexican national has pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
On March 12, Raul Velasco-Leon was traveling from Tennessee and approached the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge attempting to enter Mexico. While on the primary lane, authorities selected Velasco-Leon for further inspection and referred him to secondary.
They conducted a search of his belongings and found what appeared to be a piece of youth-sized clothing with the words “Girl Power” tucked inside a jean pocket. Law enforcement also discovered multiple electronic devices, including 10 USB flash drives, two cell phones and a laptop. On one of the devices, they discovered six files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of minor victims approximately 10 years of age.
The files contained approximately five photographs and one video that contained CSAM. The five images, displayed via video chat, depicted female minor victims showing their genital areas. The video had a split screen with the adult male, later determined to be Velasco-Leon, masturbating while the top of the screen displayed a montage of CSAM including a female minor victim being forced to perform oral sex on an adult male.
Velasco-Leon admitted he had been engaged in a video chat and when he saw the CSAM, he would watch and screen record it.
U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Velasco-Leon faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
“This case is about protecting kids both north and south of the border from the defendant’s predatory behavior,” said Ganjei. “Although Velasco-Leon was about to depart the United States for Mexico, given his conduct, his stay in the U.S. is about to become much, much longer.”
“This guilty plea is a critical step in holding Velasco-Leon accountable for the disturbing crimes he committed,” said Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mauro Lopez of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Laredo. “HSI remains committed to identifying, investigating and bringing to justice those who exploit children. We will continue working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure predators face the full consequences of their actions and that victims are not forgotten.”
ICE-HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine A. Cortez is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Mexican Drug Trafficker Caught with Tens of Thousands of Fentanyl Pills, Cocaine, Heroin, and Stolen Guns Sentenced to Federal Prison in Washington StateRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Jose Efrain Gonzalez-Rodriguez, age 24, of Mexico, who was unlawfully present in the United States, was sentenced after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and firearm charges. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 120 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in May and June of 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration developed information that Gonzalez-Rodriguez was working for a drug trafficking organization out of Mexico that was responsible for transporting drugs from California to Spokane and distributing them across Eastern Washington.
On June 24, 2024, after execution of a search warrant on Gonzalez-Rodriguez’s vehicle, agents located almost 2 pounds of methamphetamine and 6,855 fentanyl pills. Investigators also executed a search warrant at Gonzalez-Rodriguez’s apartment in Spokane where they located an additional 59,529 fentanyl pills, almost 3 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 1 pound of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin. Additionally, 4 four pistols were found in the kitchen wrapped in tape and plastic for transport. Two of the firearms had been reported stolen.
“Fentanyl is killing people across Eastern Washington. Those who traffic in this poison—along with other deadly drugs and illegal firearms—will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “Mr. Gonzalez-Rodriguez brought significant quantities of poison and stolen weapons into our community, putting lives at risk. This sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes and the commitment of our office and law enforcement partners to disrupt violent drug trafficking networks.”
“This case highlights the intersection of drug trafficking, firearms, and illegal immigration,“ said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Mr. Gonzalez Rodriguez endangered our community on all three of these fronts and this sentence ensures his accountability, thanks to DEA and our partners.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Spokane Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement and Narcotics (RAVEN) task force and the United States Border Patrol.
Case 2:24-cr-00091-TOR
Member of Makah Tribe indicted federally for knife assault of intimate partnerRead the Press Release
Seattle – A grand jury returned a two-count indictment last week charging 19-year-old Peyton Blaise Watson with stabbing his intimate partner in the neck, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Watson, a member of the Makah Tribe, allegedly assaulted the victim on property within the Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation. Watson is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Watson remains detained at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac. Trial is scheduled for August 18, 2025.
According to records filed in the case, in the early morning hours of May 9, 2025, Lower Elwha Police and Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a home on the Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation where a witness called 911 to report that Watson had stabbed an adult female victim in the neck. Officers found the victim standing a few feet from Watson. Once Watson was taken from the room, the victim began crying and identified Watson as her assailant and that he had stabbed her in the neck. The victim was taken by ambulance to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles where she required surgery. Watson was booked into the Clallam County Jail on tribal charges.
The FBI joined the investigation and secured items of evidence from the scene including a black folding knife about three inches long. The knife contained blood residue.
The victim was hospitalized for five days as she recovered from her injuries, including damage to her esophagus and nerve damage. She was able to describe for investigators how Watson attacked her and allegedly threatened to kill her.
Assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in severe bodily injury are punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a 250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Lower Elwha Klallam Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ajay Ravindran. Ms. Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.
Massachusetts CPA Pleads Guilty to $19 Million Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Feeding Hills, Mass. woman pleaded guilty on June 13, 2025 in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to defrauding commercial lenders by providing false and fraudulent rent rolls and forged lease agreements for properties located in Springfield, Mass.; East Longmeadow, Mass.; and Enfield, Conn.
Christine Gendron, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Sept. 30, 2025. In a related case, on April 22, 2025, Louis R. Masaschi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. United States Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled Masaschi’s sentencing for July 23, 2025.
Gendron was a certified public accountant who worked as the Financial Manager for JLL Realty Developers, LLC (JLLRD), a limited liability company for which her sister, Jeanette Norman, and brother-in-law, Masaschi, served as partners. Masaschi and, allegedly Norman, were partners in dozens of limited liability companies, including JLLRD, through which they owned primarily commercial and some residential property in Western Massachusetts, Connecticut and elsewhere. Gendron conspired with Masaschi, and allegedly Norman, to defraud various financial institutions and a commercial lender.
Specifically, Masaschi, Gendron, and allegedly Norman, provided materially false, fictitious and fraudulent financial information, including false rent rolls and forged lease agreements, to obtain loans for their companies. After receiving the loans, Masaschi, and allegedly Norman and their companies made some or no payments and ultimately defaulted on the loans, causing substantial losses to the financial institutions and commercial lenders totaling more than $19 million.
Jeanette Norman has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial, scheduled for October 2025.
The charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss. 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 today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Madera Man Sentenced to over 21 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Emilio Hernandez Yesca, 31, of Madera, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 21 years and 10 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, the charges arose out of a months-long investigation into a drug trafficking organization. At the center of the organization were Hernandez and co-defendant Jorge Perez, 28, of Madera. Between October 2020 and March 2021, the two conspired to distribute thousands of fentanyl pills and pounds of methamphetamine. As part of their plan, they sold 1,400 fentanyl pills in two separate drug deals in October and November 2020. Then, in February 2021, they sold a pound of methamphetamine. On March 2, law enforcement stopped the drug-dealing partners in a car on their way to deliver 5,000 fentanyl pills and 3 pounds of methamphetamine. They had a loaded firearm under the driver’s seat of the car.
Perez was sentenced to 11 years and 10 months in prison on Jan. 27, 2025.
This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Chowchilla Police Department, the Madera Police Department, and the Madera Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
Milhorn Sentenced for DUI Death on Natchez Trace ParkwayRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – Connor Milhorn, 20, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to 20 years in prison for driving under the influence and manslaughter on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
According to court documents, Milhorn previously pled guilty before Judge Aycock to Aggravated DUI for causing death to another and to Aggravated DUI for causing serious bodily injury to a minor child. He was sentenced today to 240 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for the offenses.
On May 11, 2024, National Park Service Rangers were dispatched to a collision involving a Hummer H3 and a Toyota Tundra. Upon arriving on the scene, they found the driver of the Tundra deceased and his minor child severely injured in the backseat. The child was transported by helicopter to Memphis, Tennessee for life saving medical care.
The investigation by the Rangers resulted in them learning that Milhorn was operating his Hummer at a high rate of speed and under the influence of alcohol while driving on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Milhorn’s vehicle collided head on with the Tundra resulting in the death and serious injury at issue in the case.
“No sentence can replace what was taken from the victim’s family in this matter by the selfish actions of the defendant who chose to drink and drive,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Thanks to the diligent work of the National Park Service’s Law Enforcement Rangers and their Investigative Services Branch, as well as hard work by District Attorney Jason Herring and his staff, a measure of justice has been obtained. The Department of Justice is committed to fully punishing anyone who takes the life of another by choosing to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
“This conviction is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication to justice by the Natchez Trace Parkway’s Law Enforcement Officers,” said U.S. Park Ranger Josh McDonald with the National Park Service. “Our rangers worked hand in hand with Federal and state authorities to obtain this sentence, and we, again, offer our condolences to the Langford family. The Natchez Trace Parkway reminds the public of the devastating impact that driving under the influence can have on families. The law enforcement officers of the Natchez Trace Parkway remain dedicated to the apprehension and prosecution of those who chose to place themselves and the public in danger.”
This case was investigated by the Natchez Trace Parkway Law Enforcement Rangers. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Setnenced for Firearm Possession and Illegal Re-Entry After RemovalRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A citizen of Mexico was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal re-entry into the United States after having been removed or deported.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, Erik Sel Camacho-Lara, 31, was arrested by the Ridgeland Police Department for possession of a stolen firearm after law enforcement responded to a call for service at a Ridgeland residence. The caller was a minor child that resided in the home. The minor child told Ridgeland Police that Camacho-Lara was armed and had possibly discharged a firearm inside the home. Responding officers were forced to make entry into the home to apprehend Camacho-Lara. Officers opened a bedroom door inside the home and heard the slide of a semi-automatic handgun being manipulated. Once inside the room, Officers saw Camacho-Lara holding a handgun. After speaking with officers, Camacho-Lara surrendered the firearm and was taken into custody. The United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations then took over the investigation. A biometric verification confirmed Camacho-Lara’s identity and revealed that he had been previously removed from the United States on April 2, 2013, by United States Border Patrol Agents in Texas. Camacho-Lara pleaded guilty to the charged conduct on March 6, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana, made the announcement.
The United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Ridgeland Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the Mississippi Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening an Elected OfficialRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to making threats to an elected official.
Justin David Gaglio, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Sept. 9, 2025. Gaglio was charged in October 2024.
Beginning in or around January 2023, Gaglio began contacting the elected official via online submissions through the elected official’s website. Between January 2023 and September 2024, Gaglio submitted over 80 separate messages to the elected official via the website, sometimes sending multiple messages within minutes of each other.
On or about Sept. 8, 2024, Gaglio submitted a contact request to the elected official’s website in which he threatened to violently murder the elected official and the elected official’s family.
The charge of transmitting interstate threats carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, three 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.
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 today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capital Police, the Massachusetts State Police and the Lynn and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea E. Porter of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 2 Years and 7 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms and a Machine GunRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A local man was sentenced on June 12, 2025, to 2 years and 7 months in federal prison for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and illegal possession of a machine gun.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Caleb Pace, 29, was sentenced to 2 years and 7 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a Glock, Model 17, 9-millimeter pistol; a Kel-Tec, Model P50, 5.7 x 28-millimeter pistol; a Glock Switch (machine gun conversion device); and ammunition.
On March 22, 2024, LMPD Detectives were conducting surveillance at 314 N 43rd Street. Pace was observed on a surveillance camera armed with firearms. Detectives conducted a vehicle stop, and a search of the vehicle produced three firearms including the firearms that Pace was observed possessing on the surveillance camera. Pace was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On December 17, 2010, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Pace was convicted of burglary in the second degree.
On February 10, 2015, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Pace was convicted of burglary in the third degree, complicity to wanton endangerment in the first degree (seven counts), complicity to criminal mischief in the first degree, and assault under extreme emotional disturbance.
“This is great work by ATF and LMPD to take another dangerous felon off the streets of Louisville. Equally important, a pistol capable of automatic fire was seized by law enforcement and will no longer be passed around among those wishing to do significant harm to others,” said U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner.
“Machine gun conversion devices - commonly known as ‘Glock switches’- are illegal to possess under federal law. These devices enable a semi-automatic pistol to fire fully automatic, discharging approximately 30 rounds in just two seconds. Their possession presents a serious threat to public safety and to law enforcement officers. The ATF remains committed to working closely with the United States Attorney’s Office and our local partners to prioritize investigations and enforcement actions targeting individuals who possess or use these dangerous devices,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the Louisville Division.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF and LMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case.
This conviction is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is also a part of the Prohibited Firearm Possessor Initiative (PFP), a collaborative partnership between all levels of law enforcement and prosecutors to reduce violent crime and firearm offenses. On January 23, 2024, Louisville Metro initiated a gun crime reduction initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting illegal firearm possession. The PFP partners include the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
###
Local attorney sentenced to 8 years in prison for child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Stephen Chinn, 41, of Columbus, was sentenced in federal court here today to 96 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.
According to court documents, in May 2023, Chinn uploaded child pornography to the internet that depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct including sex acts with adults and animals. These uploads were flagged by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
When investigators executed a search warrant in August 2023 at Chinn’s Grandview Heights residence, they discovered a desktop computer containing more than 4,000 child sexual abuse images.
In addition, a forensic analysis of Chinn’s computer revealed he had downloaded and saved other child sexual abuse material in August 2023. The material included prepubescent children engaged in bestiality and sexual intercourse with adults, as well as minor victims subjected to sadistic and masochistic abuse. Forensic data revealed that much of this content was downloaded from a Russian social media site known to be used for the download and exchange of child sexual abuse material.
At the time, Chinn was employed as a public defender in Franklin County.
Chinn was initially arrested and charged locally with Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor and Pandering Obscenity. Chinn was released on bond in that matter. He was charged federally in September 2023, and the federal indictment superseded the charges in his local case. Chinn pleaded guilty to federal charges in August 2024.
The case was investigated by the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Grandview Heights Police Chief Ryan Starns; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla D. Favor announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that William Arthur Parrott, 54, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 12, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Parrott to 300 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Parrott’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
Parrott was convicted on the conspiracy charge by a Lincoln jury on January 30, 2025, after a three-day jury trial. Evidence presented at trial included testimony from three persons involved in drug distribution with Parrott between March of 2020 and November of 2022. In addition, the Government presented text messages sent between Parrott and one of the witnesses concerning drug transactions; drugs found during a search of the witness’s hotel room; information regarding searches of residences associated with other co-conspirators; a tracker placed on a co-conspirator’s vehicle; and surveillance done by narcotics investigators.
Parrott was held responsible for the distribution of approximately 11 kilograms of methamphetamine. He received sentencing enhancements for possession of a gun in connection with the drug offense and for using his Lincoln residence for the purpose of drug distribution
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Leader of Multi-Million Dollar International Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking Ring ConvictedRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Monica Dominguez Torres, 36, of Mexico, pleaded guilty on June 13, 2025, to federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Dominguez led a transnational criminal organization that operated methamphetamine conversion laboratories in the Atlanta area and laundered millions of dollars of drug proceeds to Mexico.
“Dominguez’s elaborate criminal operation has been dismantled, and more than $3.5 million of illicit drug proceeds have been seized as a result of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners’ diligent work,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute individuals like Dominguez who seek an undeserved life of luxury by trafficking deadly drugs in our community.”
Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated, “Through hard work, this drug trafficking and money laundering network has been removed from our streets. This criminal organization had no regard for the destructive impact on our communities.”
“This conviction sends a strong message to those who think they can live a life of luxury funded by illegal activities,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Thanks to the dedicated collaboration between HSI and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels, we were able to dismantle Monica Dominguez Torres’s multi-million dollar drug trafficking and money laundering ring, seizing millions in illicit proceeds and bringing her to justice.”
“Monica Torres led a transnational organized crime organization, which like others of its nature, threatens the national and economic security of the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents, along with our other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners of the Atlanta Strike Force are working together to find, investigate, and bring to justice those who endanger American citizens lives through their drug trafficking and other illicit crimes.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges and other information presented in court: Monica Dominguez Torres’s organization operated methamphetamine conversion laboratories where liquid methamphetamine, obtained from sources in Mexico, was converted into hundreds of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine to be sold in the Atlanta area and elsewhere. Dominguez and her associates also used residences in the Atlanta area to collect and count millions of dollars in cash from these drug sales. The proceeds were laundered and sent to coconspirators in Mexico.
As part of the criminal operation, Dominguez and her associates purchased millions of dollars’ worth of real estate, vehicles, and luxury goods – all designed to conceal the illicit source of their wealth. The investigation revealed that Dominguez purchased five separate residences, including a seven-bedroom waterfront home in Jonesboro, Georgia. Three of these residences were purchased with bulk cash brought directly to the transaction. Dominguez and others also purchased nine luxury vehicles worth approximately $780,000. Dominguez also spent lavishly on high-end goods, including nearly $400,000 at Louis Vuitton and more than $425,000 at Burberry over roughly four and a half years.
During the investigation, agents seized nearly $3.6 million in cash from Dominguez’s residences, stash locations, and associates. When agents arrested Dominguez at her Conyers, Georgia home in February 2024, they seized more than $1.7 million in cash, five firearms, and three vehicles.
Dominguez is scheduled to be sentenced on September 15, 2025, at 1:30 pm, before Chief United States District Judge Leigh Martin May. Regarding her drug trafficking conviction, Dominguez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life in prison, a maximum $10,000,000 fine, and a minimum of five years of supervised release. The money laundering conviction carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a maximum $500,000 fine or twice the value of the laundered funds, up to three years of supervised release, and forfeiture of property involved in the offense.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, with valuable assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, Georgia State Patrol, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova, Deputy Chief of the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section, and Nicholas L. Evert are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to eliminate the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The specific mission of the David G. Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force (Atlanta Strike Force) is to eliminate transnational organized crime syndicates and major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the Northern District of Georgia. To accomplish this mission, the Atlanta Strike Force will target these organizations’ leaders, focusing on targets designated as Consolidated Priority Organization Targets, Regional Priority Organization Targets, and their associates. The Atlanta Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, USMS, USPIS, and IRS, as well as numerous state and local agencies; and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Justice Department Highlights Enforcement Efforts Protecting Older Americans from Transnational Fraud Schemes in Recognition of 2025 World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Note: The cases underlined hyperlink to press releases
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that the Justice Department is reinvigorating efforts to protect older Americans from transnational schemes that cost billions of dollars, often stealing their life savings. In the past few weeks alone, investigators and prosecutors have arrested and filed cases against foreign fraudsters and domestic actors who have knowingly facilitated foreign-based crimes.
“Prosecutors across the country are stepping up the fight against malicious schemes that target older Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are working with domestic law enforcement and foreign counterparts every day to hold criminals accountable and ensure that justice is done for our seniors both here at home and abroad.”
These include cases involving romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Romance fraud is a confidence scheme where a perpetrator feigns romantic interest with a victim only to later extract money or property under false pretenses. Lottery fraud schemes trick victims into believing they have won a non-existent lottery or sweepstakes prize in order to extract fake fees, taxes, or other fabricated charges from the victim. Tech support fraud scams involve perpetrators tricking victims into believing that their computer or phone has a problem, often through fake pop-up messages, and to later seek funds from the victims in order to “fix” the “problem.” Grandparent scams, another type of confidence scheme, involve scammers impersonating a grandchild or close family member who experiences a fictitious emergency and needs money from the victim as soon as possible.
Transnational Elder Fraud
Lottery Fraud
United States v. Troy Murray; United States v. Cutter Murray. On June 11, the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch filed an Information in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida charging Troy Murray also known as “Steve Dixson” with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Branch also filed Troy Murray’s agreement to plead guilty. According to court documents, Troy Murray sold to lottery fraud scammers, including Jamaicans, his lead list database containing the names, and personal information of over seven million elderly American consumers. Scammers then used these lists to defraud those elderly victims. Additionally, Cutter Murray, Troy Murray’s son, will plead guilty to one count of money laundering for receiving and then laundering $1.6 million of the fraudulent funds Troy Murray obtained. Several purchases were in excess of $10,000. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
United States v. Dennis Anderson; United States v. Frank Angelori. On June 9, the Consumer Protection Branch filed court documents charging Dennis Anderson and Frank Angelori for facilitating additional Jamaica-based elder fraud. According to court documents, Anderson and Angelori were lead list brokers and business partners, who from as early as 2015 until at least March 2020, knowingly sold lists containing consumer names and contact information of mostly older Americans to Jamaican clients who perpetrate lottery fraud on senior citizens. These cases were investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
United States v. Deeno Jackson. On May 30, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced an indictment charging Deeno Jackson, 27, a citizen of Jamaica with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to court documents, Jackson and others engaged in a lottery fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in Arizona and throughout the United States. One victim lost over $400,000 from the scheme.
United States v. Jimmy Smith. On April 1, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced charges against Jimmy Smith, 30, a citizen of Jamaica, who resided in Hinesville, Georgia. According to court documents, Smith and others defrauded at least four victims residing in Connecticut, New York, Texas, and California, by telling them they had won a Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes and needed to pay taxes or money to claim the prize.
Romance Fraud
United States v. Charles Uchenna Nwadavid. On April 9, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Massachusetts announced charges against Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a citizen of Nigeria who was arrested after landing at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. In January 2024, a grand jury indicted Nawadavid on one count of mail fraud and two counts of money laundering. Between approximately 2016 to September 2019, Nwadavid allegedly participated in romance scams that tricked victims into sending money abroad.
United States v. Otuo Amponsah et al. On May 13, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio unsealed charges against Otuo Amponsah, Anna Amponsah, Hannah Adom, Portia Joe, Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, and Dwayne Asafo Adjei for their participation in conspiracies to commit wire fraud and money laundering. According to court documents, from December 2017 through March 2024, the defendants used various wire fraud and romance fraud schemes — often targeting elderly individuals in the United States — to obtain funds from victims by means of false pretenses. The defendants shared funds obtained from victims with co-conspirators in the Republic of Ghana and elsewhere. This case was investigated by the FBI.
United States v. Clinton Ogedegbe. On April 15, a grand jury in the Western District of North Carolina returned an indictment against Clinton Ogedegbe, charging him with one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of concealment money laundering. According to court documents, from July 2023 through at least February 2024, Ogedegbe and his co-conspirators carried out a scheme to launder the proceeds of romance fraud schemes typically targeting elderly and other vulnerable victims. This case was investigated by the FBI.
United States v. Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng also known as “Dada Joe Remix.” On May 30, a grand jury indictment was unsealed in the District of Arizona charging Joseph Boateng also known as “Dada Joe Remix,” a citizen of Ghana, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, from at least 2013 through March 2023, Boateng and his co-conspirators engaged in a romance/inheritance scheme that targeted elderly American victims and others around the world. The co-conspirators falsely represented that they had gold and jewels and that to release such items, taxes and fees or other costs would be required. Ghanian authorities arrested Boateng on May 28 pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. This case was investigated by the FBI.
United States v. 679,981.22 Tether, et al. On June 3, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced the filing of a civil forfeiture complaint against 679,981.22 in the Tether cryptocurrency suspected of being fraudulently obtained as part of a romance/investment scam. According to court documents, one victim was targeted via LinkedIn and another victim was targeted though the dating App “Coffee Meets Bagel.”
United States v. John Muriuku Wamuigah. On May 22, Malaysia extradited Kenyan national John Muriuku Wamuigah to stand trial in the District of Connecticut on a wire fraud charge. According to court documents, Mamuiga and others executed a scheme to defraud using business email compromise and romance scams. The scheme involved exploitation of elderly victims through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules.
United States v. Dwayne Asafo Adjei et al. On June 4, a superseding indictment sought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio was unsealed. It charges David Onyinye Abuanekwu, Dwayne Asafo Adjei, Nancy Adom, Eric Aidoo, and Nader Wasif with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies. According to court documents, from December 2017 through March 2024, the defendants used various wire fraud and romance fraud schemes — often targeting elderly individuals in the United States — to obtain funds from victims by means of false pretenses. The defendants shared in funds obtained from victims with co-conspirators in the Republic of Ghana and elsewhere. This case was investigated by the FBI.
Tech Support / Imposter Fraud
United States v. Rakeshkumar Patel. On May 21, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware announced Indian national Rakeshkumar Patel’s guilty plea to one count of wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scam targeting Americans. According to court documents, the scheme involved at least $2.1 million in loss from victims who were contacted over the phone by fraudsters posing as federal agents who convinced victims their identities had been stolen and that they were under federal investigation.
United States v. Nanjun Song et al. On May 21, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island announced the indictment of eight individuals for their roles in orchestrating and executing an elaborate transnational fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly citizens in the United States and Canada. According to court documents, pop-up messages on seniors’ computers making various false claims lured victims to call live agents, who informed the victims that their financial assets were at risk or could be garnished, among other false claims. Law enforcement identified approximately 300 individuals in at least 37 states who suffered known losses exceeding $5 million.
United States v. Atharva Shailesh Sathawane. On May 27, a grand jury in the Northern District of Florida charged Atharva “Andy” Sathawane with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, Sathawane and his co-conspirators defrauded elderly victims throughout the United States into providing money and gold in response to fraudulent telephone calls and electronic messages. This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and the Gainesville Police Department.
Grandparent Scams
United States v. Johnny Cepeda. On May 30, a grand jury in the District of New Jersey indicted Jhonny Cepeda of New York, NY, with wire fraud conspiracy. According to court documents, Cepeda served as a courier in a “grandparent” or “family-in-need-of-bail” scam operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic. The scam targeted elderly Americans, deceiving numerous victims into believing that a loved one had been arrested and urgently needed cash for bail and other legal services. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.
Mail Fraud
United States v. Georg Ingenbleek. On May 14, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced that Georg Ingenbleek, 58, a citizen of Germany, was extradited to the United States to face an indictment charging him with two counts of mail fraud. According to court documents, from at least 2011 through 2016, Ingenbleek orchestrated a massive mail fraud scheme targeting elderly and otherwise vulnerable victims with false and fraudulent psychic solicitations. Ingenbleek had been a fugitive since being indicted in 2020.
Domestic Elder Fraud
While prosecuting perpetrators who believe they are hidden abroad is one focus of the Department’s work, the Department also remains focused on domestic actors who prey on American seniors and domestic actors who facilitate foreign-based schemes. Fraud can erode American seniors’ trust in markets and other important public institutions, furthering a feeling of isolation and helplessness for individuals who worked for decades to have a secure retirement.
Matters Relating to Domestic Perpetrators
United States v. Kenneth W. Mattson. On May 22, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northen District of California announced the arrest of Kenneth Mattson, who is charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. According to court documents, for more than a decade, Mattson allegedly solicited and obtained millions of dollars in investments from hundreds of investors — many of whom were nearing or in retirement — in what he represented were legitimate and safe interests of limited partnerships that owned real estate. Those representations were false: although many of the partnerships were real entities, Mattson’s victims, referred to in the indictment as “off-books investors,” never had interests in those partnerships.
United States v. Jon Kubler. On May 23, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced charges against Jon Kubler of Redondo Beach, California. According to court documents, from December 2017 to April 2023, Kubler orchestrated a $4 million investment scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims. Despite not being licensed as an investment adviser, Kubler allegedly provided investment planning and management services to victims who were unsophisticated investors, elderly, and the beneficiaries of settlements or life insurance proceeds.
United States v. Sunil Patel et al. On April 15, a grand jury in the Southern District of New York charged Sunil Patel, Ratansha Vakil, and Lakhmichand Lohani with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud. According to court documents, from April 2023 through December 2023, the defendants laundered the proceeds of an elder fraud scheme, in which the defendants’ co-conspirators made phone calls to elderly victims, told them their assets or personal information was at risk, and directed them to send their money in the form of cashiers’ checks to limited liability companies controlled by the defendants. This case was investigated by the FBI.
United States v. Kendall Grey. On June 10, Kendall Grey pled guilty to one count of bank fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. According to court documents, from July 2022 through January 2023, in his role as a bank insider, Grey facilitated a retirement account scam. Scammers involved in the scheme tricked an investment management company into authorizing a distribution to an imposter posing as the true accountholder. They created phony identification documents for the victim accountholder in order to open bank accounts in the victim’s name, which were used to receive and launder the stolen funds.
Recovering Victim Loss
In addition to holding fraudsters to account, the Department is committed to recovering money for victims whenever possible. Victims face many challenges in financially recovering from fraud schemes — and that is even more true for older victims. Many retired seniors are no longer earning income and cannot count on market appreciation to grow their retirement savings. Perpetrators may have already spent or forwarded victim funds beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement. Victims may not have the resources to pursue legal action or hire legal representation. These, and other reasons, make it critically important that the Department do whatever it takes to achieve substantial victim restitution in cases we investigate and prosecute.
Today, the Attorney General announced the successful conclusion of the Consumer Data Victim Compensation Fund, managed by the Consumer Protection Branch of the Civil Division. In 2021, the Department of Justice reached Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) with two separate data companies, Epsilon Data Management and KBM Group, under the terms of which the two companies admitted to selling or renting the data of millions of American consumers to the perpetrators of mass mailing fraud schemes. Such schemes typically involved letters sent by mail falsely promising large cash prizes or other rewards in exchange for payment of a fee. In 2022, a third consumer data company, Wiland Inc., signed a Non-Prosecution Agreement with the Department of Justice that included an additional $4.4 million in victim compensation.
As a part of their DPAs, Epsilon and KBM funded the operation of a Claims Administrator to more effectively reimburse victims. In total, as of June 2025, the fund has returned over $129 million to over 100,000 victims across the country.
National Elder Fraud Hotline
In addition to returning money to victims of elder fraud, the Department also supports older victims through its National Elder Fraud Hotline campaign. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is a free, national resource for older adults and their loved ones experiencing financial fraud. Supported by the Office for Victims of Crime, the National Elder Fraud Hotline is staffed by professionals who have experience working with older adults. Staff are continuously updated on the latest scams, are trained to make referrals and warm hand-offs for resources and services in the older adult’s local area and can assist older adults in placing a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a report which has the potential to freeze funds (although freezing funds cannot be guaranteed).
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
For more information about the department’s efforts to help older Americans and to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and fraud, please visit the department’s Elder Justice webpage (at elderjustice.gov). For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance working with foreign authorities to secure the arrest and extradition to the United States of perpetrators abroad.
The Department notes that for all cases discussed above, facts included in a Complaint, Information, or Indictment are only allegations, and all defendants are innocent until proven guilty by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Declines Prosecution of Private Equity Firm Following Voluntary Disclosure of Sanctions Violations and Related Offenses Committed by Acquired CompanyRead the Press Release
Note: View a copy of the White Deer declination letter, Unicat non-prosecution agreement, and Mani Erfan's plea agreement.
The Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) today announced that they declined the prosecution of private equity firm White Deer Management LLC (White Deer) and its affiliates after the firm discovered and voluntarily self-disclosed criminal violations of U.S. sanctions and export laws committed by a company it acquired, Texas-based Unicat Catalyst Technologies LLC (Unicat).
NSD and SDTX also announced that the Justice Department entered into a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with Unicat, and that, on Aug. 19, 2024, the former chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder of Unicat, Mani Erfan, pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions against Iran and other countries and foreign governments, as well as concealment and international promotional money laundering. As part of his plea, Erfan also agreed to pay a money judgment in the amount of $1,600,000.
“After acquiring a company with a hidden history of sanctions violations, this private equity firm uncovered the misconduct, stopped it, and quickly reported it to the government, leading to the successful prosecution of a senior executive,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Our decision to decline prosecution of the acquiror and extend a non-prosecution agreement to the acquired entity in this case reflects the National Security Division’s strong commitment to rewarding responsible corporate leadership.”
“Illegally exporting sensitive items to Venezuela and Iran to help them evade sanctions directly undermines U.S. foreign policy and threatens our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Houston. “HSI will not sit by idly while businesses or individuals operating in the U.S. blatantly help our nation’s adversaries procure sensitive technologies or weapons and today’s announcement of a $3 million fine and the imposition of criminal charges is just another example of that enduring commitment.”
As detailed in court documents and in the Department’s agreements with White Deer and Unicat, from approximately 2014 through 2021, Mani Erfan, Unicat’s former CEO, conspired with others, including at least one other Unicat employee, to cause Unicat to submit bids and make sales to customers in Iran, Venezuela, Syria, and Cuba in violation of U.S. economic sanctions. In total, Erfan caused Unicat to make a total of 23 unlawful sales of chemical catalysts used in oil refining and steel production to customers in Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba. Some of the sales were effected through exports of catalysts from the United States and further violated U.S. export control laws.
To further the conspiracy, the conspirators made false statements in export documents and financial records about the true identities and locations of Unicat’s customers and falsely assured some Unicat employees that the company’s business with customers subject to U.S. economic sanctions was lawful. Unicat obtained approximately $3.33 million in revenue from its unlawful sales.
Erfan and Unicat employees additionally falsified invoices to reduce the tariffs assessed on catalysts that Unicat imported from China. By undervaluing these imports, Unicat caused a loss of revenue of approximately $1.66 million in duties, taxes, and fees. Further, during negotiations to sell Unicat to White Deer, Unicat’s prior owners provided representations and warranties to White Deer attesting to Unicat’s compliance with U.S. sanctions and export control laws.
The scheme came to light in June 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, after White Deer acquired Unicat and a second company based in the United Kingdom, and Unicat’s new CEO was able to travel to the United States to visit Unicat and begin to integrate the operations of the company. During his visit, the new CEO learned that Unicat had a pending transaction with an Iranian customer and immediately ordered the deal’s cancellation. Over the next month, White Deer and Unicat’s new CEO retained counsel to investigate, and learned that Unicat had engaged in a series of transactions with counterparties subject to different U.S. sanctions programs. Before the investigation was complete, but after determining that Unicat employees had engaged in potentially criminal violations of U.S. sanctions laws, White Deer and Unicat’s new management submitted a voluntary self-disclosure to NSD.
Pursuant to the NPA, Unicat agreed to pay forfeiture totaling $3,325,052.10, representing the proceeds of its violations of U.S. sanctions and export control laws. In parallel resolutions coordinated between the Justice Department, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Unicat agreed to pay $3,882,797 to OFAC for its apparent violations of U.S. sanctions laws, and agreed with OEE to pay a penalty of $391,183 for its violation of U.S. export control laws. OFAC agreed to credit Unicat’s payment of forfeiture pursuant to the NPA against the OFAC penalty, and OEE has agreed to credit Unicat’s payment to OFAC against the OEE penalty. In a separate administrative resolution with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Unicat agreed to pay $1,655,189.57, in underpaid duties, taxes, and fees.
NSD and SDTX declined White Deer’s prosecution and entered into the NPA with Unicat after considering the factors set forth in the Department’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations, the National Security Division Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD Enforcement Policy), and pursuant to the provisions of the NSD Enforcement Policy that apply to Voluntary Self-Disclosures in Connection with Acquisitions (the NSD M&A Policy).
The NSD M&A Policy provides that when a company (1) completes a lawful bona fide acquisition of another entity, (2) voluntarily and timely self-discloses to NSD potentially criminal violations of laws affecting U.S. national security committed by the acquired entity, (3) fully cooperates with NSD’s investigation, and (4) timely and appropriately remediates the misconduct, NSD generally will not seek a guilty plea from the acquiror, and there is a presumption that NSD will decline to prosecute the acquiror. The NSD M&A Policy further provides that while a presumption of declination is not available to the acquired entity, NSD will credit the acquiror’s timely voluntary self-disclosure to the acquired entity and will consider whether the acquired entity otherwise satisfies the NSD Enforcement Policy’s requirements to obtain the benefits of the Policy.
NSD and SDTX determined that White Deer’s acquisition of Unicat was a lawful bona fide acquisition, and that White Deer’s self-disclosure was timely under all of the relevant circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic and in the context of White Deer’s acquisition of Unicat and efforts to integrate the company’s operations into another acquired entity. White Deer and Unicat fully cooperated with the government’s subsequent investigation by proactively identifying, collecting, and disclosing relevant evidence to investigators, including foreign language evidence and evidence located overseas, and providing detailed and timely responses to the government’s requests for information and evidence. White Deer’s and Unicat’s cooperation materially assisted the government’s investigation, leading to the successful prosecution of Unicat’s former CEO. Unicat remediated the root cause of the misconduct in less than one year from the date of its discovery by terminating culpable employees, disciplining other employees involved in the misconduct, seeking reimbursement from Unicat’s sellers, and designing and implementing a comprehensive and robust internal controls and compliance program that has proven effective in practice at identifying and preventing similar potential misconduct.
This resolution marks the first time since the creation of the Justice Department’s Mergers and Acquisitions Policy in March 2024 that the Department has declined the prosecution of an acquiror for self-disclosing criminal conduct discovered at an acquired entity.
Trial Attorneys Adam P. Barry and Yifei Zheng of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Mark McIntyre and John Marck for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
ICE-HSI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and BIS investigated the case.
Justice Department Addresses Racial Discrimination in Lawsuit Challenging Race-Based Admissions at United States Naval AcademyRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced a joint filing with the plaintiff challenging former race-based admissions practices at the U.S. Naval Academy to dismiss the lawsuit based on the federal government’s commitments to end those practices permanently. The lawsuit challenged race-based admissions at the Academy as unconstitutional under the Fifth Amendment.
“This Department is committed to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity throughout the federal government,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are proud to partner with the Department of Defense to permanently end race-based admissions at the United States Naval Academy and ensure that admission to this prestigious institution is based exclusively on merit.”
The joint filing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit also asks that court to vacate the district court decision on appeal, which upheld race-based admissions, because the appeal has become moot. As explained in the filing, the “Naval Academy changed its admissions policy so that race and ethnicity are no longer considered in any way at any point” and those changes “are intended to be permanent.” And the policy “changes reflect the judgment of the United States—based on the military’s experience and expertise, and after reviewing the record in this case—that the consideration of race and ethnicity in admissions at the Naval Academy does not promote military cohesiveness, lethality, recruitment, retention, or legitimacy; national security; or any other governmental interest.”
Combatting unlawful discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. Additional information about the Civil Division is available at https://www.justice.gov/civil.
Read the full filing HERE.
Jury Convicts Newburgh Felon of Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Andre Decker, age 45, of Newburgh, New York, was convicted on Friday of possessing a firearm as a felon following a 4-day jury trial.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and United States Marshal David McNulty made the announcement.
The trial proof established that Decker, who was previously convicted of a violent felony involving a firearm, absconded from federal probation supervision and was the subject of an arrest warrant. On November 27, 2023, when Deputy United States Marshals attempted to apprehend Decker, he fled the apartment he shared with his girlfriend and led law enforcement on a foot chase wearing only his underwear. Decker broke into a neighboring apartment and hid in a closet where he was quickly located and arrested. The defendant possessed two loaded firearms in his apartment.
U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Andre Decker couldn’t hide from the U.S. Marshals, and he couldn’t escape this trial conviction, either. Decker’s extensive criminal history and utter disregard for the law warranted zealous prosecution for his conduct in this case, and that’s just what he got. I thank the U.S. Marshals and Albany Police Department for their work in apprehending the defendant and keeping him off the streets.”
U.S. Marshal David McNulty stated: “Mr. Decker is a danger to our community. We are proud to have secured his capture and wish to thank both the community, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and all our fellow law enforcement agencies whose cooperation was so important in this case.”
Sentencing is scheduled for October 15, 2025, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Decker faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The United States Marshal Service and Albany Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikayla Espinosa and Ashlyn Miranda prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Investor Pleads Guilty to Filing False Form with IRS to Shield $30 Million in Capital Gains under Puerto Rico Tax Incentive ProgramRead the Press Release
MIAMI - On June 13, Suresh Gajwani, 78, pleaded guilty to making a false and fraudulent statement to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
According to the facts admitted at the change of plea hearing, in 2018, Gajwani was a resident of Miami-Dade County. In October 2019, Gajwani owned a company that held stocks and options that had substantially appreciated in value by tens of millions of dollars. In anticipation of the tax on those gains, Gajwani sought to take advantage of a tax incentive program offered pursuant to Puerto Rico Act 60. Under the program, bona fide residents of Puerto Rico could apply for an exemption from federal taxes on certain capital gains realized after the individual became a Puerto Rican resident. Gajwani did not become a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico until January 1, 2020, which was after the stock portfolio had accrued built-in gains.
Gajwani was advised by an accountant and attorney to convert his company to a small business corporation (known as an S Corporation) under the Internal Revenue Code to take advantage of the Puerto Rico capital gains tax exemption. Gajwani was also advised by an attorney that built-in gains for U.S. residents accrued prior to becoming a resident of Puerto Rico could be exempt from federal taxes.
In order to convert the company retroactively, in January 2020, Gajwani submitted a false document to the IRS that claimed that the company had intended to convert as of January 1, 2019. Gajwani knew that he did not intend to treat the company as an S Corporation as of January 1, 2019, and that the real reason for the submission of the paperwork to the IRS was to avoid paying capital gains taxes. Based upon Gajwani’s false statement, the IRS granted Gajwani’s request.
In 2019, Gajwani’s company had a portfolio with approximately $30 million in built-in gains. Had the IRS not allowed Gajwani’s company to convert to an S Corporation retroactively, the company would have owed approximately $7 million in capital gains taxes for 2019.
Gajwani is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, by Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Gajwani faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison, and he has agreed to repay approximately $15.3 million in restitution (taxes, interest, and penalties) to the IRS.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Emmanuel Gomez, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Michael N. Berger and Trial Attorney Curtis Weidler of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20117.
###
Illegal Alien Sentenced to more than Three Years in Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
Anniston, Alabama – A St. Clair County woman has been sentenced on multiple drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Claudia Montano Gonzalez, 43, a native and citizen of Mexico, to 39 months in prison. In October 2024, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the plea agreement, in October 2023, Gonzalez sold fentanyl at the Buc-ees travel center in Leeds, Alabama. Gonzalez’s husband and co-defendant, David Angel Alejandres, facilitated the transaction from Mexico, but Gonzalez delivered the fentanyl. After obtaining a search warrant for Gonzalez’s residence in Pell City, agents recovered approximately one kilogram of fentanyl.
In June 2024, David Alejandres was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Alejandres remains at large.
The Drug Enforcement Agency is investigating the case with the assistance of the Pell City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany T. Byrd is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Husband & wife plead guilty to wire fraud related to pandemic relief fundsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A West Chester couple pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to committing wire fraud to obtain pandemic relief funds. The husband and wife were owners or associates of multiple transportation firms.
Ajay Chawla, 60, and his wife, Ruhi Chawla, 50, admitted that they fraudulently received more than $900,000 in pandemic relief funds. Specifically, they received four Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loans and three Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
According to their court documents, on their loan applications, the Chawlas falsely reported the number of employees and gross revenues for their businesses: Prime Transportation and Logistics Inc., ABC Trucking Inc., Apex Truck Lines LLC and A1 Diesel Truck Repair LLC. Ajay Chawla also submitted a false statement to Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the ownership of Apex Truck Lines.
“The investigative efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and its partners, along with the prosecutorial work of the U.S. Attorney's Office, demonstrate the commitment to pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting those who try to defraud the American people," said TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge Kelly Moening.
“Today’s guilty pleas underscore our steadfast commitment to identifying and addressing fraud that undermines the integrity of Department of Transportation programs and requirements,” said Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region. “Greed has no place in pandemic relief programs, and together with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue to hold offenders accountable.”
The couple were charged in March 2025 by a bill of information.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case, which was investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
# # #
Huntington Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Mikayla Lanay Johnson, 27, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 11, 2024, Johnson sold approximately 4 grams of crack and 4.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant. Johnson admitted to the transaction, to arranging it beforehand, and to conducting it at her Huntington residence.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-150.
###
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Curtis Lavall Capers, 36, of Huntington, was sentenced today to eight years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of quantities of fentanyl and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 15, 2022, Capers sold quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a 7th Avenue residence in Huntington. Capers admitted to the transaction and to arranging it with the confidential informant beforehand.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Taylor and Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-87.
###
Hopkinsville, Kentucky Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Hopkinsville, Kentucky man was sentenced on June 11, 2025, to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd, Cincinnati Field Office, IRS Criminal Division, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department, and Sheriff Tyler DeArmond of the Christian County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, Troy Clark, 45, sold methamphetamine on three separate occasions. Specifically, Clark sold 46.46 grams of pure methamphetamine on November 24, 2021, 100.1 grams of pure methamphetamine on December 3, 2021, and 104.18 grams of pure methamphetamine on January 25, 2022. On January 27, 2022, a state search warrant was executed at Clark’s residence. Clark was in possession of approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine that he intended to distribute.
For his role in the offenses, Clark was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty, the IRS-CI, Kentucky State Police, the Hopkinsville Police Department, and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
###
Hickman Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jesse T. Hill, 35, of Hickman, Nebraska, entered a plea of guilty to an Information alleging that he committed conspiracy to commit bank fraud in front of United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca. Judge DeLuca scheduled Hill’s sentencing for September 11, 2025, at 3 p.m. before United States District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis. Hill faces a maximum possible penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $ 1 million, and a mandatory special assessment of $100. Hill additionally has agreed to pay restitution and forfeit his interest, if any, in a property in Puerto Rico, a PC-12/47E Pilatus Aircraft, and funds in a Charles Schwab account.
Individual 1 operated a real estate business in Nebraska. Individual 1 died on November 2, 2022.
Hill was an investment advisor operating in Nebraska. In 2013, Hill organized JT Equity Trading, LLC which operated as a hedge fund until 2018. Hill then organized First SOJO Capital Group, LLC (“First SOJO”) in 2019. First SOJO was a Registered Investment Advisor in Nebraska that managed two pooled investment vehicles: Outlier Fund I, LP and Outlier Fund II, LP. First SOJO used the services of Piedmont Fund Services from late 2021 until April 2022, when Piedmont Fund Services terminated their relationship with Hill due to significant investment losses. At no point in time did Piedmont Fund Services provide services to Individual 1 or any of Individual 1’s controlled entities.
Beginning in November 2020, Hill and Individual 1 began attempting to obtain loans from financial institutions throughout Nebraska and western Iowa. The loans were sought in the name of Individual 1 and/or Individual 1’s entities. It was represented that these loans were to be used for real estate investments and the alleged collateral for the loans was an investment account of Individual 1 and/or Individual 1’s entity that was managed by Hill. Hill and Individual 1 would grant a surety with the financial institution, typically in the form of a control agreement, a commercial security agreement, or an assignment of account. Hill would falsely claim that Individual 1 and/or Individual 1’s entities were clients of his through his own investment entities JT Equity or First SOJO. Hill would prepare and present fraudulent invoices from JT Equity or Piedmont Fund Services to the financial institutions. Hill would falsely represent values of alleged funds that Individual 1 and/or an entity of Individual 1 had in an account that Hill managed. Hill would falsely represent that no other financial institution had a security interest in these fictitious accounts. Throughout the process of obtaining or attempting to obtain the loans, Hill and Individual 1 would engage with each financial institution to facilitate the loan process to include meeting with the financial institution in person, communicating by telephone, communicating by text message, or communicating by email. Hill knew that the representations being made to the financial institutions in order to obtain loans by Individual 1 and/or Individual 1’s entity were false and were being done with the intent to defraud.
As a result of this scheme, Hill and Individual 1 attempted to obtain at least $45,650,000.00 in loans from at least 19 different financial institutions.
The majority of the funds that were fraudulently obtained went into a failed investment scheme. A portion of the proceeds from fraudulent loans obtained later in the scheme were used to pay off or pay down fraudulent loans obtained earlier in the scheme. Proceeds were deposited in a Charles Schwab account, were used to purchase a property in Puerto Rico, and were used to purchase an ownership interest in a PC-12/47E Pilatus Aircraft.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - Office of the Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of the Inspector General, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System - Office of the Inspector General with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln Police Department, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Forged Immigration Document and Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in West Springfield, Mass. pleaded guilty on June 13, 2025 in federal court in Springfield, to possessing a forged immigration document and unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Prior to these charges, the defendant reentered the United States unlawfully four times; was previously convicted in Arizona of human smuggling; was charged in Illinois with domestic battery/bodily harm; and was twice charged with assault on a police officer in Massachusetts.
Jose Martinez-Lopez, a/k/a “Amalio Mendez-Molina,” 33, pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of a forged immigration document and unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Aug. 20, 2025. Martinez-Lopez was arrested in March 2025.
On Aug. 28, 2009, Martinez-Lopez was removed from the United States to Guatemala after he entered the United States illegally at an unknow prior date. Sometime after his removal, Martinez-Lopez unlawfully reentered the United States and was subsequently deported on May 10, 2011.
After his deportation, Martinez-Lopez re-entered the United States illegally for a third time. On Aug. 8, 2011, he was found guilty in Phoenix, Ariz. of human smuggling conspiracy and sentenced to a one-year probationary period. On Aug. 23, 2011, Martinez-Lopez was again removed from the United States.
Sometime after his removal, Martinez-Lopez re-entered the United States illegally for a fourth time. On Nov. 25, 2022 and June 17, 2023, Martinez-Lopez was twice arrested in Cook County, Ill. for domestic battery/bodily harm. Both times, immigration authorities lodged detainers, but Martinez-Lopez was released from state court custody before any removal action could be taken.
On March 10, 2025, Martinez-Lopez was arrested in West Springfield for assault and battery on a police officer, which led to his apprehension by immigration authorities. At the time of the arrest, Martinez-Lopez possessed a forged permanent resident card in the name of “Amalio Mendez-Molina.” On March 11, 2025, Martinez-Lopez admitted to immigration authorities that he was unlawfully present in the United States and had re-entered the United States illegally in 2021.
The charge of possession of a forged immigration document provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Gresham Man Charge with Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Officer During Weekend Riot Near Local ICE OfficeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Gresham, Oregon man made his first appearance in federal court today after he was charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during a declared riot Saturday near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
Ginovanni Joseph Brumbelow, 21, has been charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer.
According to court documents, on June 14, 2025, thousands of people engaged in peaceful protests in Portland. In the afternoon, several hundred people gathered in protest at an ICE office in South Portland where some individuals targeted the building with mortar fireworks, rocks, bricks, and glass bottles. The gathering was later declared a riot by local law enforcement. At approximately 5:50pm, individuals breached the exterior door of the ICE office before being pushed back by federal officers. Additional federal officers, including Customs and Border Protection Tactical Unit (BORTAC) agents, were dispatched to the location.
At around 8:00pm the same evening, a BORTAC agent was assisting with the arrest of a rioter when he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. The agent released the individual he was arresting and turned to observe a male rioter, later identified to be Brumbelow, directing a pointed wooden stake at him. Surveillance footage later reviewed by investigators confirmed the positions of Brumbelow and the agent amid the riot when the assault occurred.
Brumbelow made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was released on conditions pending his arraignment on July 16, 2025.
Assaulting a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Protective Service (FPS) and FBI. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Grand Jury for the District of NebraskaRead the Press Release
Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 12 unsealed Indictments charging 14 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Katherine L. Woitaszewski, age 39, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Woitaszewski with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning as early as December 1, 2024, and continuing to on or about May 27, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Woitaszewski with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 27, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Samuel Rosberg, age 24, of Creighton, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Rosberg with possession of an unregistered firearm, identified as a silencer, on or about June 3, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Rosberg with possession of an unregistered firearm, identified as an LC Smith double barrel shotgun with less than 18-inch barrel, on or about June 3, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Rosberg with possession of an unregistered firearm, identified as an Excel shotgun with less than 18-inch barrel, on or about June 3, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a $100 special assessment.
Leah Burleigh, age 22, and Johnathon Davenport, age 33, both of Lincoln, Nebraska, are charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Burleigh with straw purchasing of a firearm on or about January 25, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Burleigh and Davenport with making a false statement during acquisition of a firearm on or about January 25, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Davenport with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on, about, or between January 25, 2025, through January 29, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a $100 special assessment.
Romeo Edilzar Yaxcal-Tiul, age 26, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Yaxcal-Tiul with false representation of a Social Security number on or about October 2, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Yaxcal-Tiul with use of false immigration identification documents on or about October 2, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Yaxcal-Tiul with resisting a federal officer on or about June 1, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 1 year imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $25 special assessment.
Angela Rocio Urrutia Cruz, age 35, and Miguel Angel Salazar-Zuniga, age 33, both of Omaha, Nebraska, are charged in a seven-count Indictment. Count I charges Urrutia Cruz and Salazar-Zuniga with conspiracy to encourage or induce illegal entry from about May 1, 2022, to May 28, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Counts II-VII charge Urrutia Cruz and Salazar-Zuniga with encouraging or inducing illegal entry on or about May 1, 2022, to May 28, 2025. The maximum possible penalty on each count if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Israel Perez, age 47
Manuel Ramirez Ambrocio, age 24
Amilcar Lopez Saenz, age 36
Usiel Demeio Velasquez-Velasquez, age 35
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Juan Carlos Garcia, age 46
Raymundo Robles-Santiago, 46
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following an aggravated felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Teodoro Martinez-Sandoval, age 43
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Amy Donato at 402-661-3700 for further information.
Gilford Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Gilford man was sentenced today in federal court for drug offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Spiros Athanasopoulos, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Paul J. Barbadoro to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In February 2025, Athanasopoulos pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
“This sentence reflects the serious danger posed by those who traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine, especially when they also attempt to flee law enforcement and endanger the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Our office remains committed to holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of these drugs.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a large-scale drug trafficking organization, or an individual like Spiros Athanasopoulos who was distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine out of his home in Gilford, New Hampshire, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to put those who have furthered the scourge of drugs in our neighborhoods out of business,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Investigations like this prove the essential value of strong law enforcement partnerships as we work together to make our communities safer.”
“Drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division. “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. DEA’s top priority is combatting the drug epidemic by working with our local, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes these poisons.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021, Athanasopoulos fled from the New Hampton Police Department on a stolen motorcycle. The chase ended in a crash and law enforcement recovered a jar containing fentanyl and methamphetamine that Athanasopoulos threw from his backpack during the chase. Later that evening, law enforcement searched Athanasopoulos’s home and found large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as money, several firearms, and body armor. Laboratory testing confirmed that Athanasopoulos possessed more than 100 grams of fentanyl and more than 200 grams of methamphetamine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Gilford Police Department and the New Hampton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuted the case.
###
Forrest County Siblings Sentenced in Federal Court for COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Forrest County man and woman were sentenced today in federal court for their role in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Thaddieus Cooper, 31, was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Artista Garner, 37, was sentenced to probation for a term of three years. Both were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,600 to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Garner, 37, of Hattiesburg, assisted her brother, Cooper, 31, in applying for unemployment insurance benefits with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. As an inmate in the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), Cooper was not entitled to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Cooper was serving a sentence of six years in MDOC custody for armed robbery. Garner used the unemployment funds for her personal benefit and transferred some of the funds to Cooper via his commissary fund.
The unemployment insurance benefits were federally subsidized through the CARES Act in response to the pandemic.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Cooper and Garner on September 10, 2024. Both Cooper and Garner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on January 30, 2025.
“These sentences demonstrate that those who defraud the government will be held accountable,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick Lemon. “These defendants took advantage of a program developed to help families facing difficult times. The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to uncover and prosecute pandemic-related fraud wherever it occurs.”
"Artista Garner engaged in a scheme to defraud the Mississippi Department of Employment Security by filing for unemployment insurance benefits on behalf of co-defendant, Thaddieus Cooper. Cooper was incarcerated that the time and thus ineligible for unemployment benefits. Garner and Cooper stole taxpayer funds from a program intended to assist American workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. "We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our other law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of U.S. Department of Labor programs.”
“The dedicated team at the State Auditor’s office is proud to work with federal prosecutors to deliver record results for taxpayers,” said State Auditor Shad White. “Thank you to my team of investigators and to the prosecutors for bringing this case to a close.”
The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force (NUIFTF). In response to the unprecedented scope of Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud, the Department of Justice established the NUIFTF. The NUIFTF is a prosecutor-led multi-agency task force with representatives from FBI, DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, HSI, DHS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, SSA-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and other agencies. Members of the NUIFTF are working with state workforce agencies, financial institutions, and other law enforcement partners across the country to fight UI fraud, and consumers should be vigilant in light of these threats and take the appropriate steps to safeguard themselves.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization that expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former State Employee Sentenced for Taking Bribes to Approve Fraudulent Claims for Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit resident was sentenced today for her role in a scheme to steal unemployment assistance funds, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. Danielle Moore, 41, was sentenced to 41 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in wire fraud.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division; Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General; and Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
Moore was sentenced by United States District Judge Susan K. DeClercq.
Moore was employed by the State of Michigan (SOM), Michigan Works Agency (MWA) and was assigned to work as a claims examiner for the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (MUIA) during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. She admitted to taking bribes to process fraudulent claims. As a result of Moore’s crimes, the State of Michigan paid out approximately $1,507,057.08 in fraudulent unemployment claims that should have been disbursed to unemployed Americans during a historic time of need.
Moore was also ordered to pay $1,507,057.08 in restitution.
United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “We remain committed to prosecuting those who choose to profit through the theft of government funds earmarked for those members of our community who are truly in need.”
“Ms. Moore, as a former state employee, betrayed the public’s trust by taking advantage of her position and conspiring to steal funds meant to support unemployed workers during a national crisis,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Her actions were not only criminal but also a direct insult to the countless families and businesses struggling to survive the economic fallout of the pandemic. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who chooses to defraud essential relief programs and exploit moments of national vulnerability for personal gain.”
“Former State of Michigan employee Danielle Moore engaged in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme by facilitating the approval of at least 40 fraudulent claims for incarcerated individuals. Moore abused her position by accessing sensitive employment information and state data systems for her own personal financial gain. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who seek to exploit this critical benefit program, particularly when an insider threat is involved,” said Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
“UIA holds its employees to lofty ethical standards. When a staff member breaks that trust for personal gain, it is particularly disappointing,” said Jason Palmer, Director of the Michigan UIA. “Danielle Moore used her insider status to help steal money meant for fellow Michiganders who relied on their jobless benefits to survive. She failed her colleagues and failed the taxpayers of Michigan and is now being held accountable for her selfish acts.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Wyse. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force, and the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
Former Bank Teller Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Stealing More Than $180,000Read the Press Release
BOSTON – A Saugus man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for embezzling bank funds while working as a teller at a Boston branch of a national bank.
Derek Aut, 29, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 25 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Aut was also ordered to pay $183,677.73 in restitution. In March 2025, Aut pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a bank employee and aggravated identity theft.
While working as a bank teller in Boston, Aut stole from the bank accounts of two customers by forging the victims’ names on withdrawal slips, among other things. When one of the victims noticed money missing from her account, Aut attempted to cover his theft by taking money from the other victim’s account and depositing it into the first victim’s account. In total, Aut caused the bank losses of more than $180,000.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Florida Resident Sentenced in Rhode Island for Possessing a Machinegun and an Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Florida resident who often stayed at a residence in Coventry has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, having been convicted of possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Joshua Pavao, 45, previously admitted to a federal judge that he possessed an unregistered semi-automatic weapon modified to function as a fully automatic machine gun which had a barrel length of 10 and 5/8 inches, substantially less than the 16 inches required by law.
Court documents reflect that in December 2023, Pavao engaged East Providence Police, who were investigating a report of shots fired, in a high-speed car chase that resulted in multiple motor vehicle crashes. Pavao fled on foot from his vehicle but was quickly apprehended. Upon his arrest officers discovered three loaded firearms and a multitude of ammunition and loaded pistol magazines in and around his vehicle and nearby.
Shortly after Pavao’s arrest, Coventry Police Department and East Providence Police Department Detectives and ATF agents executed a court-authorized search of a duffle bag belonging to Pavao that he stored inside a garage at the Coventry residence where he frequently visited. From inside the duffle bag, law enforcement seized eight long guns, four of which were outfitted with an auto sear machine gun conversion device rendering them machine guns.
Pavao, who pled guilty in February 2025, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy on June 5, 2025, to 30 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matter was investigated by the East Providence Police Department, with valuable assistance provided by the Coventry Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
###
Florida Man Sentenced to 100 Months’ Imprisonment for Wire Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Robert Rahrle, age 35, formerly of Florida and now residing in the Northern District of New York, was sentenced last week to 100 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for wire fraud and tax evasion. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Harry T. Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Rahrle admitted that from 2017 through 2024, he ran a fraudulent online gift basket website called iCare Gifting Solutions LLC. iCare purported to cater to families of incarcerated individuals, promising to send care packages into prisons. iCare charged hundreds of customers approximately $50 per gift basket but never sent the gift packages.
In addition to defrauding iCare’s customers, Rahrle evaded his federal taxes. He self-prepared and filed tax returns for tax years 2017 and 2018 that falsely reported business losses and failed to report hundreds of thousands of dollars of gross receipts.
Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Rahrle to pay a $2,000,000 money judgment and $178,651 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service with restitution to the individual victims of Rahrle’s fraud offense to be determined at a later date.
U.S. Attorney Sarcone said: “Driven by greed, Rahrle operated a years’ long fraud scheme scamming people out of millions of dollars. For that he will pay a high price a spend the next 8 years in federal prison. My office will vigorously pursue consumer scam artists like the defendant to protect the public and the public fisc.”
“Mr. Rahrle took advantage of those who wanted to help others and literally did not deliver what was promised. While care packages were left unsent, he pocketed the money with little regard of the consequences. This sentence sees to it that Mr. Rahrle will spend a lot of time behind bars, and perhaps he’ll learn firsthand the potential value of a legitimate care package business,” said Harry T. Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI New York.
This case was investigated by IRS-CI, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Criminal Investigation Division of the U.S. Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.
Five Defendants including Postal worker, await sentencing for possessing stolen mail keys, theft of stolen mail matter, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, in separate cases.Read the Press Release
UPDATE: Davion Chelsea Easterling and Corey Jamario Gunter are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall for sentencing on Thursday, September 25, 2025, beginning at 10 a.m. at the U.S. District Court, Augusta Division, located at 600 James Brown Boulevard, Augusta, Georgia 30901. Victims and the public are welcome to attend.
AUGUSTA, GA: Five Richmond County residents face various terms of years in prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a master key for postal service mailboxes and other felony counts occurring in 2023. This investigation is on-going.
Davion Chelsea Easterling, 26, and Corey Jamario Gunter, 24, both of Augusta, await sentencing after pleading guilty to Aiding and Abetting Possession of a Stolen Mail Key. The plea agreements subject each defendant to a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Cameron Martinas Curry, 22, and Quavaun Enreco Rhodes, 22, both of Augusta, await sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Mail Key, Possessing Stolen Mail Matter, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. The plea agreements subject each defendant to a statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Earl Demetrius Overton, 32, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft related to stolen mail. The plea agreement subjects the defendant to a statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
As described in court documents and testimony, Easterling was employed by the U.S. Postal Service and shared a residence with Gunter. An investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in 2023, led to a search of their residence pursuant to a state search warrant, where investigators found large quantities of stolen mail and multiple postal bins, along with a master key used to access postal service boxes. The investigation revealed that mail was stolen from a USPS Blue Box, located at the U.S. Post Office, 3108 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta, Georgia.
The plea agreements concede that the number of mail-theft victims in the case is greater than 10, and the defendants abandoned any claim to the mail so it could be returned to individual senders. Gunter also agreed to forfeit a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol seized during the search.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing hearings for Easterling and Gunter upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.
Pertaining to Curry and Rhodes, as described in court documents and testimony, the defendants were detained by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic stop after suspecting that the defendants had stolen mail from a USPS Blue Box, located at the U.S. Post Office, 125 Commercial Boulevard, Martinez, Georgia. Upon contact with the defendants, the deputies observed what appeared to be stolen U.S. Mail inside the vehicle. An investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service determined that there was no forced entry on the USPS Blue Box. The vehicle was searched but no key was found. After canvassing the area, a pair of U.S. Postal Master Keys were found less than thirty yards from the vehicle.
As the investigation continued, a federal search warrant was obtained for both defendant’s phones and agents found several check images with a face value totaling $485,000. Additionally, numerous text messages and screenshots revealed that they were in the business of stealing checks from the mail and depositing, altering, or selling them for the purpose of Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen will schedule sentencing hearings for Curry and Rhodes upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.
Pertaining to Overton, as described in court documents and testimony, the defendant was arrested by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, pursuant to an arrest warrant, while driving a vehicle. The defendant was found to be in possession of a firearm and is a prohibited person because of a previous felony conviction.
A follow up search warrant of the defendant’s home revealed numerous stolen checks, stolen mail, and various debit cards belonging to other people. Additional investigation revealed that Overton was stealing checks from the mail and depositing, altering, or selling them for the purpose of Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule a sentencing hearing for Overton upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.
“Mail theft has become an epidemic, and it is exceptionally costly to individuals and businesses victimized by these illegal activities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons. “These prosecutions hold accountable these defendants – including one who betrayed the trust granted by her U.S. Postal Service employment.”
“These cases are examples of individuals who made a decision to engage in criminal misconduct involving the U.S. mail that will not go unpunished,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting our customers and preserving the integrity of the mail.”
“The vast majority of U.S. Postal Service employees are honest, hardworking individuals who would never violate the public trust in this manner,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “But for those who do, our special agents, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate these federal crimes to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail. These guilty pleas are a testament to the dedication of the investigative and legal teams and should send a strong message to any employee who thinks of conspiring with others to steal arrow keys and betray the public’s trust.”
“Possessing stolen mail keys and engaging in the theft of personal and private correspondence is not only a breach of trust but a crime against the public,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These convictions send a clear message: law enforcement will not tolerate the theft of our nation's mail, and those who abuse their position of trust will be held accountable.”
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Kyle Davis and David Estes.
The United States Attorney’s Office urges the public that if you believe you are a victim of mail theft from the Martinez Post Office, or the Peach Orchard Road Post Office between the dates of March 1, 2023 and November 30, 2023, and you have not been contacted by the United States Attorney’s Office, please file a report by June 30, 2025, with the United States Postal Inspection Service at USPIS.gov/report, referencing USPIS Case Numbers 4183320-MT and 4207963-MT Mail theft victims who have been contacted by the United States Attorney’s Office are encouraged to submit victim impact statements as outlined in their notice and/or appear at future sentencings. As these defendants are not currently scheduled for sentencing, the United States Attorney’s Office intends to post hearings dates and times on its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr.
Five Charged Following Encounters with Federal Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that criminal charges have been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska against five individuals following their encounters with federal law enforcement during the service of a civil search warrant on Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 10, 2025.
Marvin Aleman Zepeda, age 37, is charged in a one-count Criminal Complaint. Count I alleges that Zepeda used a deadly or dangerous weapon to assault, resist, or impede a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a special assessment of $100.
Osmar Lorenzo-Genchi, age 20, is charged in a two-count Criminal Complaint. Count I alleges that Lorenzo-Genchi used a deadly or dangerous weapon to assault, resist, or impede a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a special assessment of $100. Count II charges willfully injuring or committing any depredation against any property of the United States in excess of $1,000.00. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a special assessment of $100.
Alejandra Lopez-Garcia, age 28, is charged in a two-count Information. Count I alleges that Lopez-Garcia assaulted, resisted, or impeded a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25. Count II charges willfully injuring or committing any depredation against any property of the United States. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25.
Aliyah Reyna Lozano, age 18, is charged in a one-count Information. Count I alleges that Lozano assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25.
Aaron Urbanski, age 36, is charged in a two-count Information. Count I alleges that Urbanski assaulted, resisted, or impeded a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25. Count II charges willfully injuring or committing any depredation against any property of the United States. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25.
Criminal Complaints and Informations are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Omaha Field Office said, “The FBI is supporting ICE and working with all our DOJ partners in immigration enforcement operations across the country. Assaulting a law enforcement officer engaged in their lawful duties or damaging government property is not protected under the First Amendment — it is a criminal offense which we will investigate and apprehend those responsible. As part of our newly formed Homeland Security Task Force, we are working with our partners to protect our community by eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations operating in Nebraska and Iowa.”
These cases are part of the Take Back America Task Force, led by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Contact Amy Donato at 402-661-3700 for further information.
Eugene Man Accused of Damaging Federal Government PropertyRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— Kielan Robert Eugene Fitzsimonds, 33, of Eugene has been charged with willful depredation of government property for breaking the window of a federal government vehicle.
According to court documents, on June 8, 2025, Fitzsimonds is alleged to have intentionally thrown rocks at a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) vehicle parked at a federal building in Eugene. The rocks shattered the vehicle’s back window and dented its trunk and hood.
On June 10, 2025, a federal agent discovered the damaged vehicle and found a large rock in the back seat. Investigators obtained surveillance footage from the building which showed a man, later identified as Fitzsimonds, attempting to enter the building and throwing objects at vehicles in the parking lot.
Fitzsimonds made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Eight Members and Associates of the Transnational 18th Street Gang Charged with Racketeering Crimes in QueensRead the Press Release
Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging eight members and associates of the 18th Street gang, a violent transnational criminal organization, with serious crimes. Six defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy, including predicate acts involving narcotics and firearms trafficking, production and sale of fraudulent identification documents, and extortion. Seven defendants are also charged with assaults in aid of racketeering. One defendant is charged with being an alien in possession of a 9mm semiautomatic pistol and ammunition.
Seven defendants were taken into custody in New York City and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl M. Pollak. Another defendant, currently in custody on separate criminal charges, is expected to be arraigned tomorrow.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Melinda Katz, Queens District Attorney, announced the arrests and charges.
“This indictment represents a significant step in our ongoing effort to dismantle violent gang networks in our communities,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The 18th Street gang exploited a Queens neighborhood as a hub for violence and illicit activity. Today’s arrests show the community that my Office and our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to put these violent criminals behind bars.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI New York Metro Safe Streets Task Force, the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General – New York Office, the United States Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, New York City Field Office, for their invaluable assistance with the case.
“These violent members and associates of the 18th Street gang allegedly relied on violence—including assault of innocent civilians and rival gang members—to exert and maintain control over a busy commercial corridor along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. Those arrested today acted and behaved with callous and cruel disregard for those around them. Our actions today represent yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to crushing the violent transnational gangs plaguing our communities,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.
“The defendants in this case are accused of unleashing terror onto Queens communities through brutal assaults, extortion, fraud, and drug trafficking—all in furtherance of the 18th Street gang’s agenda. Every resident deserves to feel safe walking down the street, without having to worry about gang violence. My office will continue to combat violent criminal enterprises and assist partner investigations to dismantle gangs as they try to establish themselves in our neighborhoods, stated Queens District Attorney Katz. “We thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the FBI and the NYPD for their hard work in this case.”
As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the 18th Street gang is a violent transnational criminal organization with members and associates throughout the United States and Central America. The gang is divided into several “cliques.” The defendants are members and associates of the “54 Tiny Locos” clique, which controls a busy commercial corridor along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. For years, 18th Street has maintained control over this area through violence, including assaults on perceived rival gang members that often result in harm to innocent civilians. The gang financed its operations through drug-dealing and various other crimes, including trafficking in fraudulent identification documents and counterfeit currency. The gang’s production and sale of fraudulent documents—including fake passports, permanent resident cards, Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cards—was a primary driver of income for its members and associates. Members of 18th Street, including the defendants, also committed extortion by charging “rent” to other illicit businesses operating in the area, including unregulated brothels.
Certain of the defendants are also charged in connection with three assaults in-aid-of racketeering in Queens, New York, that wounded four individuals.
The December 2021 Assault
As alleged, on December 31, 2021, members of 18th Street, including Bonilla Ramos, Ramirez, and a co-conspirator, assaulted two victims, including John Doe #1, outside of a bar in Queens, New York, after asking if they were in a gang. The defendants violently beat both John Doe #1 and his friend, including twice smashing John Doe #1’s head with a glass bottle of tequila, leaving him with severe lacerations to his face and nerve damage.
The January 2022 Assault
As alleged, on January 15, 2022, members of 18th Street attacked two victims, John Doe #2 and John Doe #3, outside a bar in Queens, New York. A co-conspirator stabbed John Doe #2 while two other defendants held him in place. John Doe #2 sustained serious injuries, including injuries to his lung. The defendants then attacked a second victim, John Doe #3, with large wooden planks, causing lacerations that required sutures. The serious injuries to John Doe #2, the victim who was stabbed, were reflected in the blood left behind after the assault.
The June 2024 Assault
As alleged, on June 20, 2024, members of 18th Street attacked a victim, John Doe #4, who they believed was a rival gang member, in a parking lot in Queens, New York. The assailants, including certain of the defendants, beat John Doe #4 with a bike lock and a metal chair, among other things. John Doe #4 received medical care for lacerations to his head, which required sutures.
The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eradicating transnational criminal organizations, combating violent crime, and restoring the rule of law.
This prosecution also is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF targets the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the U.S., using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. More info is available here: www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gang Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren A. Bowman, Andy Palacio, and Kamil R. Ammari are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
FELIX BONILLA RAMOS (also known as “Chabelo” and “Ferras”)
Age: 36
Corona, New YorkURIEL LOPEZ (also known as “Tanke”)
Age: 30
Jackson Heights, New YorkREFUGIO MARTINEZ (also known as “Cuco”)
Age: 32
Elmhurst, New YorkMARGARITO ORTEGA (also known as “Pinocchio”)
Age: 38
Elmhurst, New YorkORLANDO RAMIREZ (also known as “Niñote”)
Age: 24
Elmhurst, New YorkGERMAN RODRIGUEZ (also known as “Loco”)
Age: 34
Woodhaven, New YorkDAVID VASQUEZ CORONA (also known as “Teba”)
Age: 29
Elmhurst, New YorkMARCO VIDAL MENDEZ (also known as “Matute”)
Age: 36
Formerly of Elmhurst, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-196