Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Thursday 16 July 2026
Billings man sentenced to five years for drug-related crimesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who was dealing cocaine armed with a handgun from a strip mall parking lot was sentenced yesterday, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Satchel Vernard McDonald, 29, who pleaded guilty in February 2026, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was also sentenced to five years in prison and five years of supervised release on one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The two sentences will run consecutively.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that McDonald, armed with a handgun, was selling cocaine from his car in the parking lot of a Billings shopping plaza.
The Billings Police Department received a complaint on Dec. 28, 2023, from a local business on Central Avenue that they suspected drug deals were happening in the parking lot. The business had seen the same Ford Mustang repeatedly pull into the parking lot, meet with other cars, and then leave shortly after.
Investigators eventually spotted the Mustang and learned that it was registered to McDonald, who had an address nearby. On Jan. 6, 2024, Montana Highway Patrol pulled McDonald over for speeding. In an interview with law enforcement, McDonald acknowledged he had cocaine and a handgun in his car. He also told investigators he had been dealing cocaine for about six months and that he had cocaine, firearms, and a large quantity of cash at his residence.
Investigators obtained a warrant and searched McDonald’s house, where they found an additional handgun, an assault-style rifle, a shotgun, $27,877 in cash, a Rolex, and just under a pound of cocaine.
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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, the Montana Highway Patrol, and the ATF conducted the investigation.
XXX
Billings man pleads guilty to trafficking methamphetamine on Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS - A Billings man who trafficked methamphetamine on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
The defendant, Charles Jesse Sanchez, Jr., 61, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Sanchez faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided at the change of plea hearing and sentencing will be set for a later date. U.S. District Judge Kathleen S. Lane will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sanchez remained detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Charles “Chuck” Sanchez is known to distribute methamphetamine in Billings, and on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Using a confidential source, BIA and FBI purchased four ounces of methamphetamine from Sanchez on June 19, 2023. The source messaged Sanchez and met with him in Billings. Sanchez provided the methamphetamine hidden inside a package of baby wipes. The source showed agents Facebook messages coordinating the purchase of meth from Sanchez.
Sanchez was previously convicted in U.S. District Court for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine (2000) and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (2017).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.
XXX
Bellevue, Washington, tax preparer who falsified tax returns sentenced to 18 months in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 65-year-old Bellevue, Washington tax preparer was sentenced to 18 months in prison late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Seattle for three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Thanjavur Manavalan, the owner and operator of Mano Accounting Services, was convicted following an eight-day jury trial in March 2026. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, Manavalan showed “complete disrespect for the law.” This was a “long standing fraud scheme that ended only when the IRS showed up at your front door.”
“This defendant lined his pockets and grew his business by filing fraudulent tax returns on behalf of his clients,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “He cheated the tax system out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. My office is committed to going after fraud wherever it occurs, especially for those who expand their business through lies and deception.”
“Mr. Manavalan’s actions were deliberate and violated the trust placed in him by his clients and community,” said Carrie Nordyke, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “The sentencing reflects the seriousness of his conduct and underscores our commitment to holding tax professionals accountable for their choices.”
According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Manavalan falsified a variety of items on clients’ tax returns, including charitable contributions, proceeds and initial price (basis) of investments sold, business losses, rental income, and private loans. Manavalan’s tax preparation business attracted clients who worked in the tech field, many of whom were originally from India, and they testified that they trusted Manavalan to compute and file their taxes correctly.
Prosecutors noted that Manavalan’s tax prep business filed thousands of returns and grew substantially over the course of the fraud scheme. By saving his clients money on their taxes, Manavalan developed a reputation that helped build his business, helping his firm’s year-over-year growth spike from about fifty additional tax returns to almost 300. He was paid per return, so the business growth meant he earned more money.
The trial detailed more than a dozen tax returns for tax years 2018-2020 alleged to contain false and fraudulent information. Judge King found that the total tax loss to the U.S. Treasury exceeded $250,000.
In asking for a two-year prison sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court, “This is not a story of greedy taxpayers flocking to a naïve preparer, or inexperienced staff mis-categorizing information, or innocent mistakes by Manavalan, or some combination of those excuses. Manavalan deliberately falsified the fifteen returns as part of his broader scheme to improve client results, and thus his bottom line.”
In addition to restitution of $115,672, Manavalan was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. Judge King ordered him to be on one year of supervised release following his prison term.
Manavalan has owned and operated Mano Accounting Services since 2004. He has indicated he is closing his business.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David T. Martin and Carolyn Forstein.
Barry County Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Drug Trafficking and Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Purdy, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, and illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Dennis E. McMullen, 69, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Brian C. Wimes to eight years in federal prison for possessing fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin with the intent to distribute, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, followed by five years of supervised release. McMullen pleaded guilty to the offenses on Sept. 29, 2025.
On July 30, 2024, investigators with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team (ODET), and Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) executed a search warrant on McMullen’s residence following a controlled purchase of fentanyl from McMullen. Investigators searched the residence and discovered various controlled substances, paraphernalia, and a firearm. In the kitchen, investigators seized plastic baggies containing suspected controlled substances, including a baggie located inside a plastic tub of candy, an additional white rock-like substance, and scales.
In the residence’s upstairs bedroom, investigators located a Jennings model J-22 .22 caliber pistol, several boxes of ammunition, and two additional baggies of a white powder-like substance. Investigators also located a bag of a white powder-like substance from the console area of a vehicle parked outside. The suspected controlled substances were sent to a DEA laboratory for analysis, which resulted in the following substances being identified: 8.1 grams of fentanyl and lidocaine; 2.007 grams of fentanyl (found in the tub of candy); 2.169 grams of fentanyl; 2.501 grams of fentanyl and lidocaine; 5.2 grams of fentanyl, lidocaine, and acetaminophen; 31.874 grams of cocaine; .087 grams of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, lidocaine, and xylazine; and .754 grams of fentanyl, lidocaine, and acetaminophen.
According to court documents, McMullen has a criminal history that extends back decades, including prior felony convictions for forgery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, money laundering, and solicitation to kill a federal witness.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wyatt A. Cross and Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, and the Barry County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Baltimore Man Sentenced for Selling FentanylRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Baltimore, Maryland man will spend the next five years in federal prison for selling fentanyl in Harrison County, West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Paul Samuel Williams, 27, was sentenced today to 60 months for distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Williams, also known as “G,” sold 51 grams of fentanyl for $3,500 in the parking lot of a business in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Williams has a criminal history that includes multiple drug convictions.
Williams will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Rhee prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Annandale man sentenced for trafficking “boot” and unlawfully possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Annandale man was sentenced today to five years and four months in prison for possession with intent to distribute N-isopropyl butylone (boot) and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on May 2, 2024, pursuant to a warrant, law enforcement searched the residence of Tyrice Stanton, 37. From Stanton’s bedroom, investigators recovered 36 individually packaged bags of boot, a Schedule 1 controlled substance, in addition to another larger package of boot, for a total of 41.63 grams. Investigators also recovered a privately-made firearm with an extended magazine and a laser light, another handgun, ammunition, four ammunition magazines, and brass knuckles.
On May 22, 2024, after Stanton was charged with armed drug trafficking and had been released, he was photographed in possession of a rifle. On June 26, 2024, while executing a search warrant, investigators found Stanton in possession of another handgun.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Fairfax County Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Walutes Jr. prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-234.
Amsterdam Woman Pleads Guilty to Attempted Bank FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – On July 7, 2026, Nikki Vancuren, age 51, of Amsterdam, New York, pled guilty to attempted bank fraud. This action is a part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone, made the announcement.
As part of her guilty plea, Vancuren admitted that she used fraudulent passport cards to withdraw or attempt to withdraw money from others’ accounts at banks in New York State for several months in 2022 and 2023. This included on January 19, 2023, when she presented a fraudulent passport card showing identifying information for a real person but the defendant’s photograph and tried to withdraw $4,000 from an NBT bank in Johnson City, New York.
“The Department of Justice’s Fraud Division was established to crack down on cases like this,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone. “Those who seek personal profit by defrauding the system will be caught and held accountable. Because of her repeated actions, Ms. Vancuren is now facing up to 30 years in federal prison. I commend the Special Agents at HSI and their local partners for investigating this case and bringing the defendant to justice.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said, “By repeatedly using fraudulent passport cards to access bank accounts that did not belong to her, this defendant attacked the integrity of our financial system and put innocent account holders at risk. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that HSI Albany and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate those who perpetrate fraud. These crimes erode community trust and financial stability, and HSI remains firmly committed to uncovering, disrupting, and bringing to justice individuals involved in fraud wherever we find it.”At sentencing on November 4, 2026, the defendant is facing up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years.
This case was investigated by HSI with assistance from Broome County Sheriff’s Office and the Vestal Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Mikayla Espinosa.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Albany Woman Pleads Guilty to Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Drasana Johnson, age 28, of Albany, has plead guilty to conducting a monetary transaction involving over $850,000 in stolen government funds, approximately $200,000 of which she used to purchase a residential property. This action is a part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region, made the announcement.
As Johnson admitted in pleading guilty, in May 2023, she conducted several transactions for Asjid Parvez, another federal defendant guilty of stealing nearly $1 million in federal funds, including the purchase of an $878,698 teller check. The defendant admitted that she personally obtained over $150,000 in connection with the offense.
“Hardworking American taxpayers fund countless programs across the nation to aid our fellow Americans, and in this case, to aid hardworking farmers feeding our country. This defendant’s shameless actions defrauded those systems and now she will face up to 10 years in prison,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III.
“Ms. Johnson boldly stole almost $1 million from government funds designed to help our farmers,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli. “Americans expect government funds to be used as intended, and this investigation proves the FBI will work with our partners at every level of law enforcement to ensure they are.”
“The defendant in this case defrauded a government assistance program made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. The program was designed to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain Farm Service Agency direct and/or guaranteed loans and to expedite assistance for those whose agricultural operations were at financial risk. This investigation should send a message of deterrence that USDA-OIG and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding those accountable who defraud government programs,” said Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge, USDA-OIG.
At sentencing scheduled for 11/5/2026 at 11:00 AM in Albany, NY before U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Johnson faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison, 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 charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.Alabama man pleads guilty to his role in international drug trafficking ring involving pharmaceuticalsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Leeladhar H. Tandel, 44, of Mobile, AL, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Between July 2024 March 2025, Tandel conspired with others to sell Tapentadol, Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Carisoprodol, and Zolpidem. During the conspiracy, MEDDZONLINE.COM, PHARMACYSTORESONLINE.com, and related websites were part of a larger organized drug trafficking organization operating domestically and internationally using similar versions of the same website under different domain names. After orders were received, the organization sent bulk shipments of drugs via international mail to a US based bulk re-shipper. The drugs were then sent to smaller re-shippers, who were paid for each package they mailed out to customers.
Tandel was a smaller re-shipper. In June 2024, the DEA Buffalo District Office became aware of Tandel operating in the Mobile, Alabama region. On June 6, 2024, DEA Buffalo conducted an undercover purchase of 60 Zolpidem pills at a cost of $489.60 on PHARMACYSTORESONLINE.com. In May 2025, law enforcement recovered 40 packages that had originated in Summerdale, AL, which had previously been mailed out by Tandel. The packages included nine parcels containing 1,620 suspected Tramadol pills; 14 parcels containing 2,100 suspected Zolpidem pills; 13 parcels containing 2,100 suspected Alprazolam pills; and four parcels containing 1,080 suspected Tapentadol pills. The packaging was indicative of shipments being mailed out to customers of the online websites. Labels showed the scope of customers spanning the entire country and individuals such as Tandel played a key role in aiding the online websites to provide controlled substances to their customers in the USA.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Offices in St. Louis, MO, Atlanta, GA, and Mobile, AL.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 8, 2026, before Judge Arcara.
# # # #
2022 Murder of Audora Williams Yields Guilty Verdict for Her Children’s FatherRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Wonell Jones, Jr., 38, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Audora Williams in her apartment on July 19, 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Jones was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon on July 16, 2026. Superior Court Judge J. Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for October 30, 2026.
“Jones flouted a protective order, put in place to keep Audora Williams and her children safe, and proceeded to murder Williams, with her children just feet away,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He shot Williams over 20 times, traumatizing these children, and changing the trajectory of their lives. Today’s verdict, guilty on all charges, is a step toward justice for Williams and a clear affirmation that such brutality will be met with unwavering accountability.”
According to the government’s evidence, on July 19, 2022, around 1:30 p.m., in the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE, Jones returned to Audora Williams’s apartment following a grocery run with one of her young sons. At the time, there were eight children in the apartment, three were Jones’s, three were Williams’s, and a toddler and a baby were shared by Jones and Williams. Shortly after returning, Jones, who was not supposed to be at the home or in contact with Williams because of a temporary protective order she had against him, with a protective order trial scheduled just days later, closed the door to Williams’s room and began a loud argument with her. Jones could be heard accusing Williams of cheating and growing louder and angrier and then the gunshots began. Jones then partially stepped out of the room and fired more shots before exiting the apartment, leaving the kids behind, and ultimately fleeing to Florida.
Surveillance video shows Jones entering the building and apartment with Williams’s child. The defendant shot Audora Williams more than 20 times, using two different guns.
Jones was arrested and held in Florida on August 29, 2022, and extradited to the District of Columbia on October 26, 2022, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Horton and Shaniqua Butler.
2022 CF1 006394
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Wolf Point woman sentenced to over 4 years in prison for trafficking meth from Billings motelRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Wolf Point woman who was dealing meth out of a Billings motel room was sentenced Tuesday to four years and eight months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Destinee Fate Rowe, 27, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Rowe, while on probation with the state of Montana, was dealing methamphetamine in Billings. An informant told law enforcement Rowe was operating out of a room at the Vegas Hotel, which law enforcement then searched and found an ounce and a half of meth. About a week later, investigators received another tip that Rowe was now dealing meth out of the Econo Lodge in Billings. A search of the room and her vehicle turned up another ounce and a half of meth, which Rowe acknowledged she was selling.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey prosecuted the case. The ATF and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
Washington State Man Sentenced in D.C. for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – James Davis, 36, of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“James Davis exploited online anonymity to engage in the abuse of children and to seek out other predators,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “When investigators closed in, he attempted to destroy evidence rather than take responsibility. This office will continue to track down offenders who believe they can hide behind digital shadows.”
Davis, who used the online screen name “Ulphednar,” pleaded guilty on Jan. 7, 2026, before Judge Amir H. Ali to distribution of child pornography. In addition to the five-year prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Davis to serve 10 years of supervised release.
According to court papers, the investigation began when a law enforcement officer, working in an undercover capacity for the Metropolitan Police Department-FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, encountered Davis on a website used to trade child sexual abuse material.
Davis began exchanging messages with the undercover officer and later continued the conversation on a messaging application. During those exchanges, Davis said he had sexually abused a minor over a period of years and sent images depicting the abuse.
Davis exchanged similar material with other users of the messaging application and discussed a shared sexual interest in children.
On April 11, 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at Davis’s residence. As agents arrived, Davis attempted to destroy a cellphone that contained evidence of the offense. Davis later waived his Miranda rights and admitted to trading child sexual abuse material online.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation Task Force, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI’s Seattle Field Office.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Shinskie of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
25cr132
Follow us on X, Instagram, and YouTube
Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc
Venezuelan illegal alien pleads guilty to assaulting federal officerRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An illegal alien from Venezuela pleaded guilty in federal court here today to assaulting a federal officer.
Kendry Jose Cubian-Perez, 40, admitted to punching a federal officer during apprehension.
According to court documents, on May 8, law enforcement officials were conducting surveillance of a residence in Powell, attempting to apprehend a known criminal alien. Cubian-Perez exited the residence and entered a vehicle registered to the target of the enforcement operation.
When an apprehension team officer turned on their emergency vehicle lights, Cubian-Perez attempted to flee. The defendant encountered an Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officer and punched the officer in the face, causing the officer’s tooth to puncture his bottom lip. Cubian-Perez tried to escape as the officer and others on scene responded to apprehend him and place him in handcuffs.
Cubian-Perez was charged by criminal complaint on May 8 and indicted by a federal grand jury the same month.
Assault of a federal officer inflicting bodily injury is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycroft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this 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.
# # #
U.S. Attorney Urges Senate to Confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney GeneralRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – Today, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft issued a public statement urging the Senate to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General.
“As U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, I strongly support the confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General," said U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft. “Under his leadership, U.S. Attorneys across the country are laser-focused on the right priorities: combating violent crime, dismantling gangs, targeting transnational criminal organizations, and securing our communities. These are the fights that matter most for the safety of the American people. I urge the Senate to confirm him swiftly.”
Two TD Bank Insiders Sentenced to Prison for Facilitating Money Laundering, FraudRead the Press Release
A New York-based former employee of TD Bank, N.A. was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for facilitating a money laundering network’s movement of millions of dollars through TD Bank accounts. A second New York-based former employee of TD Bank, N.A. and another financial institution was sentenced yesterday to 24 months in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution and making false bank entries or reports as a bank employee.
According to court documents, Wilfredo Aquino, 47, of Manhattan, New York, leveraged his position as a TD Bank assistant store manager to facilitate a money laundering network’s movement of hundreds of millions of dollars through TD Bank accounts from 2019 to February 2021. During that time, the leader of the network, Da Ying Sze, also known as David, and his co-conspirators moved approximately $474 million through TD Bank accounts by depositing cash at TD Bank stores in New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere. In February 2022, David pleaded guilty to coordinating a $653 million money laundering conspiracy, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and bribing bank employees in connection with financial transactions.
During David’s money laundering scheme, Aquino processed approximately 1,680 official bank checks at TD Bank for David and his co-conspirators, totaling more than approximately $92 million. Nearly all of these bank checks were funded with a corresponding cash deposit exceeding $10,000, which triggered TD Bank’s legal requirement to file a currency transaction report (CTR). Although Aquino knew that David was conducting these cash deposits, Aquino never identified David as the “conductor” on the CTR. Aquino also knew that TD Bank had closed other accounts linked to David for suspicious activity; one colleague even warned Aquino that David’s activity “looks like money laundering.” In February 2021, Aquino facilitated three of David’s money laundering transactions, totaling almost $2 million in cash, in a third party’s account. He failed to report David as the conductor of the transactions, thus concealing David’s role in the money laundering scheme.
Aquino accepted numerous retail gift cards from David totaling over $11,000 in return for his facilitation of this scheme, including for the three transactions in February 2021.
In January 2026, Aquino pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder monetary instruments.
According to court documents, from January 2021 through May 2021, Edward Low, also known as “a Mang Wah Low” and “Eddie Low,” 31, of Flushing, New York, accepted bribes and leveraged his position as a TD Bank, N.A. retail employee to fraudulently obtain confidential customer information that he passed to outside co-conspirators, who used it to take over accounts and steal money from customers. Low also processed some of their illicit transactions. In total, Low received at least $26,700 in bribes and facilitated $484,572.16 in fraud at TD Bank.
Then, from May 2022 through August 2022, while employed at another financial institution, Low accepted a bribe to falsify bank records to open an account in the name of a shell company. Low’s co-conspirators then used that account to commit at least $47,195 of fraud.
In February 2026, Low pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution and making false bank entries or reports as a bank employee.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey; Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Newark Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG) New York Region made the announcement.
The IRS-CI Newark Field Office and the FDIC OIG New York Region investigated the cases. The Department also thanks the Morristown Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.
Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea R. Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Pesce, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the District of New Jersey, prosecuted the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
Two Defendants Charged with Felony Murder, Child Abuse, Animal CrueltyRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. — U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes today announced that a federal grand jury has returned an eight-count indictment charging a couple with allegedly starving their son to death and abusing their pets, causing the death of one of their dogs.
The federal indictment in Case No. 4:26-CR-00011, filed on July 15, charges the following individuals:
Emma Bradshaw, 22, of Carson City, Nevada, and Ladarrion McCray, 23, of Valdosta, Georgia, are both charged with one count of felony murder by child abuse; one count of cruelty to children in the first degree; one count of making false statements; one count of animal crushing; one count of aggravated animal cruelty; and two counts of animal cruelty. They each face a maximum of life in prison.
The defendants will have their initial appearances at times determined by the Court.
According to the indictment and statements made in court, the defendants are alleged to have willfully deprived their son of necessary sustenance between Jan. 14 and Jan. 28, which jeopardized the child’s health and well-being, resulting in the death of their child on Jan. 28. At the time of the alleged conduct, both defendants were residing in housing on Fort Benning. McCray was an active-duty soldier who had recently been transferred to Fort Benning. Bradshaw joined McCray on post shortly after his arrival. At the time Bradshaw arrived at Fort Benning, she was pregnant with their child.
Bradshaw and McCray allegedly abused their three dogs, a female dachshund, a male hound, and a female doberman, by failing to provide adequate food, water, sanitary conditions, and ventilation. On Jan. 28, 2026, members of CID executed a search warrant at the residence the defendants shared on post. While executing that search warrant, they located two dogs, the male hound and female doberman, who appeared severely malnourished. The third dog, the dachshund, was located deceased in a trash barrel outside of the home. The two surviving animals were brought to an animal shelter on Fort Benning, where medical evaluation revealed they were experiencing severe malnourishment and significant muscle wasting. A necropsy was conducted on the dachshund, which concluded the animal died of starvation.
Bradshaw and McCray are accused of lying to the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division special agents by claiming their child showed no signs of illness before his death. They also allegedly told investigators that their Dachshund died from illness and was buried at a park off Fort Benning. However, the indictment alleges both knew their son was suffering from severe malnourishment prior to his death, and that the dog's remains were placed in a garbage bag and disposed of in the household trash near their residence. McCray is currently subject to discharge proceedings to remove him from military service as a result of the alleged conduct.
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the case. Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis is prosecuting the case for the Government.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Thirty Charged in Takedown of Gang-Associated Crack Cocaine Street MarketRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging 30 alleged West Coast Crips gang members and associates with distributing large amounts of cocaine base to customers at an open-air crack market on Imperial Avenue about a mile and a half east of Petco Park.
In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 350 members of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force – Gang Group, plus federal, state, and local law enforcement officials executed 21 search warrants on homes and vehicles in San Diego and arrested 28 defendants. As of 1 p.m, two defendants were still being sought.
Surveillance recording of hand-to-hand transactions allegedly being conducted by defendants Elton Wilson (in the reflective vest) and Eric Grady (white shirt at the bottom of the photograph) at the Imperial Avenue Crack Market. All photos are contained in court documents.
The investigation began in 2024 and focused on West Coast Crips (WCC) gang members suspected of drug trafficking and committing acts of violence in San Diego at and near the Crips-controlled outdoor drug market located at 2900 Imperial Avenue, pictured below.
According to court documents, the market functioned as both a retail outlet and a wholesale hub, supplying users directly while also feeding a network of low-level dealers who spread across East Village, downtown, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights, and beyond to redistribute crack cocaine.
Investigators believe thousands of customers repeatedly purchased cocaine base at the Imperial Avenue Crack Market in 2025. Those customers would approach Crips members staffing the market and buy cocaine base with cash. Investigators estimate that about 20 pounds of cocaine - with an estimated street value of at least $550,000 - were sold at the Imperial Avenue Crack Market weekly.
Including seizures today and throughout this investigation, authorities have confiscated more than 11 pounds of cocaine; more than $14,000 in U.S. currency; two handguns and a money counting device. According to wiretapped conversations between coconspirators, defendants frequently sold out their inventory and would then look to replenish their supply.
For most of the investigation, a surveillance camera was trained on the Imperial Avenue Crack Market, capturing daily activity consistent with the sale of cocaine base, cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine.
According to court documents, the conspirators fell into three categories based on their roles: (1) street-level dealers who sold crack cocaine at the Imperial Avenue Crack Market; (2) suppliers who provided powder cocaine to be converted into crack cocaine for sale at the market; and (3) purchasers who bought crack cocaine at the market for redistribution elsewhere, including in San Diego's East Village neighborhood near Petco Park.
Investigators also identified associated gang activity occurring at or near the Imperial Avenue Crack Market. For example, WCC members celebrate “set day,” a gang holiday, every year on or around March 30 in recognition of their claim of the 30th Street corridor as WCC territory. On the evening of March 30, 2025, as captured in the photo above, WCC members and associates congregated at and around the Imperial Avenue Crack Market, effectively shutting off traffic through the area, and defied commands from San Diego Police Department officers to disperse.
The Imperial Avenue Crack Market was also a backdrop for violence. In one instance, on the evening of January 9, 2026, a car drove up to, and stopped in front of, the Imperial Avenue Crack Market. An occupant got out of the car and fired four or five gunshots at people congregating near the market, striking at least two. The occupant then returned to the car, which sped away.
“With these 30 indictments, the message is simple: San Diego is a paradise, but it’s not a gangster’s paradise,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.
“Today marks another important milestone in the FBI’s mission to wipe out gang violence in America,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation ENCRIPTED – led by FBI San Diego with our federal and regional partners – marked a full-scale op targeting local Crips street gang members and their affiliates perpetrating criminal activities, including drug trafficking, violent crime, and more.
Twelve tactical FBI teams and partners targeted 23 locations and executed 28 arrests – building on the 1,200+ alleged gangs and criminal enterprises this FBI has disrupted so far in 2026 alone. This FBI is not letting up."“Today's operation sends a clear message: the FBI will not allow violent gangs to threaten our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Crips street gangs and affiliated members have allegedly committed numerous violent crimes while trafficking drugs, harming and intimidating our neighborhoods. This takedown shows the power of determined investigative work and strong collaboration with the San Diego Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, and our federal, state and local partners. We united the full strength of our agencies to dismantle this violent network and ensure they face justice. The FBI remains committed to working with our partners to keep San Diegans safe.”
“Gang activity has no place in our city,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl. “Disrupting large-scale operations like this is what will keep San Diego one of the safest big cities in the nation. I am incredibly proud of the work being done by the Violent Crime Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to dismantle this operation.”
“The Chula Vista Police Department is proud to be part of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force. This investigation highlights the importance of strong partnerships, as this criminal network impacted communities across San Diego County. We commend the coordinated efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners in bringing those responsible to justice,” said Captain Henry Martin of the Chula Vista Police Department. “The charges are the result of a year-long investigation that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, undercover agents, and confidential sources.”
“This investigation highlights the dedication and teamwork of our law enforcement partners in confronting organized drug trafficking in our city,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy. “HSI is proud to support this collaborative effort, targeting those responsible for fueling addiction and violence. By working together, we are helping to restore safety and peace of mind to the community and remain committed to supporting initiatives that disrupt criminal activity and protect San Diego’s neighborhoods.”
Many of the defendants charged in the conspiracy have significant criminal histories, underscoring how the market became a haven for repeat offenders.
At least 22 of the defendants have prior felony convictions, mostly for drug sales. Five defendants are presently subject to some form of post-conviction supervision. Rynell Baker, one of the alleged leaders of the Crack Market conspiracy, was convicted of first-degree murder in 1994, paroled in 2021, and discharged from parole in 2022. Four of the defendants— Elton Wilson, Roshawn Walls, Shawn King, and Alejandro McFadden—have prior federal convictions that qualify as serious drug felonies. At least three others also have prior federal criminal convictions—Darnell Butler and Jerry Davis (RICO conspiracy), and Kendall Evans (Felon in Possession of Ammunition).
Cash, cocaine base, and marijuana found in defendant Grady’s car after he was arrested by police
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Keith D. Ellison, Mario Peia, and David Kete.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 26CR2402
Name AgeCityElton Wilson58San DiegoRynell Baker55San DiegoEric Grady55San DiegoLorenzo Miller43San DiegoFUGITIVE Elmer Salgado-Pineda25National CityJulio Rangel38San DiegoJulio Rangel Jr.19San DiegoFelipe Benitez33San DiegoMichael Pollard46San DiegoDarnell Butler39San DiegoFUGITIVE Stephanie Singleton57San DiegoDerrick Taylor60San DiegoJames Wright76San DiegoLeray Shine52San DiegoRoshawn Maurice Walls56San DiegoAundray Eatmon48San DiegoKirk Patterson47San DiegoBrandon Antwaun Jones39San DiegoShawn Monique King56San DiegoAnthony Suffern65San DiegoPatrick Davis51San DiegoLarry Haynes64San DiegoNancy McSwain58San DiegoKendall Evans42San DiegoJerry Davis38San DiegoWendy Williamson57San DiegoAlejandro McFadden55San DiegoNorman Martin58San DiegoSUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Cocaine Base, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841 (b) (1) (ii), 841 (b) (1) (iii)
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Violent Crimes Task Force – Gang Group (VCTF-GG), which includes investigators from the following agencies:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- San Diego Police Department
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- California Department of Corrections
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
- Chula Vista Police Department
- National City Police Department
- U.S. Bureau of Prisons
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service
- San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and INTERPOL, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
Tallahassee Man Sent to Federal Prison for Theft of Government Funds in Stolen Valor ProsecutionRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida - Michel Duane Dyson, 46, of Tallahassee, Florida, who misrepresented himself as a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran to fraudulently collect Veteran’s Administration (VA) benefits, has been sentenced to a 48-month term of federal imprisonment for his misrepresentations and receipt of VA funds. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence today.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The brave men and women of our Armed Forces have made innumerable sacrifices throughout our nation’s history to preserve and protect the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans, and acts of stolen valor by fraudsters, like this defendant, are despicable. This defendant fraudulently claimed military service to gain benefits reserved for our nation’s warriors, but thanks to the excellent investigative work by federal law enforcement partners and the successful prosecution by my office, he’ll spend years in federal prison for his crimes.”
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Court records show that in April 2022, Dyson fraudulently applied for Veterans Affairs benefits based on his claims that he actively served in the U.S. Army, further claiming that he served in combat and had been awarded both the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Dyson was never an active or reserve member of any branch of the armed forces. Investigators later determined that, during part of the time Dyson claimed service in the Army, he was incarcerated in Massachusetts for a sex offense. Nonetheless, as a result of his fraudulent misrepresentations, from April 2022 until June 2025, Dyson was able to secure VA benefits in the form of medical treatment provided either through VA medical facilities or contracted medical providers. In May 2025, Dyson further attempted to fraudulently obtain additional VA housing benefits, at which point his deception was uncovered. Records in the investigation revealed that Dyson had similarly attempted to obtain VA benefits in the Boston, Massachusetts area in 2013, but had been denied.
As part of the sentence, upon release from prison, Dyson will be required to serve three years on supervised release and was ordered to pay $28,118.37 in restitution to the VA.
“This sentence holds the defendant accountable for falsely claiming military service to obtain VA benefits intended for veterans who earned them through their sacrifice and service,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Greg Wentz with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG remains committed to safeguarding veteran programs against fraud so that benefits reach the individuals they were created to serve.”
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Suspected gang member and prior felon arrested, charged with drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Otis Williams a/k/a Skino, 39, Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of drug trafficking, and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, which carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life.
According to the criminal complaint, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit have been investigating the criminal activities of the Black Soprano Family (BSF) Gang, a violent street gang operating in and around the City of Buffalo. The FBI has identified numerous gang members as well as gang territory located on the east side of Buffalo. BSF members have been arrested by several police departments for violent criminal acts, including drug and firearm trafficking. They commit violent criminal acts to protect gang-controlled territory and associated houses. Williams and others have been identified as suspected gang members, in part because of various gang-related tattoos indicating gang membership and their associations with other known BSF gang members. Law enforcement has also determined that Williams is a narcotics trafficker who supplies various individuals within the Western District of New York.
On July 14, 2026, investigators executed a search warrant at William’s Ericson Avenue residence, seizing a handgun, approximately 88 grams of crack cocaine, quantities of suspected cocaine and fentanyl, suspected ecstasy pills, drug paraphernalia, and three cell phones. Williams was convicted of felony charges in 2008, 2015, and 2016, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm
Williams made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained pending a detention hearing on July 21, 2026.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis A. Testani, Katerina Powers and Joshua A. Violanti. The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis II and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields.
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.
# # # #
Spokane Valley Man Arrested After a Joint FBI, DEA, Spokane Valley and Steven’s County Drug Trafficking InvestigationRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on Friday July 10, 2026, Jack Alexander Gentry, 45, of Spokane Valley, was arrested after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Gentry faces a ten-year mandatory minimum jail sentence based upon the quantities of drugs he has been alleged to have distributed.
At the time of his arrest, agents located and seized 14 firearms one of which has been identified as a personally manufactured gun or ghost gun, countless rounds of ammunition, magazines, gun parts and approximately $28,000 in cash, as well as distribution amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, the Spokane Valley Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office. Gentry is currently in federal custody pending resolution of his federal charges.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
2:26-CR-75-TOR
Six Lubbock Methamphetamine Traffickers Sentenced to Combined 143 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that the final defendant in a significant Lubbock, Texas, methamphetamine trafficking organization was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison on July 8.
Waylon Williams, 42, pled guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine in January 2026.
“These lengthy prison sentences assure North Texans that the federal government is partnering – through the Homeland Security Task Forces – with our great state and local law enforcement officers to dismantle drug traffickers and their networks,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that ruins lives and destroys families. Thanks to the hard work of our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners, these individuals have been held accountable for their crimes.”
Five others charged in the same case were previously sentenced to prison terms for their respective roles in the methamphetamine trafficking:
- Charles Clay Pruitt, 48, of Lubbock, was sentenced in April 2026 to 480 months (40 years).
- Jason Lee Garza, also known as “J-Bird”, 50, of Lubbock, was sentenced in June 2026 to 420 months (35 years).
- Brody Wayne Duncan, 32, of Post, Texas, was sentenced in May 2026 to 240 months (20 years).
- Matthew Young, 50, of Lubbock, was sentenced in April 2026 to 188 months (15.6 years) in federal prison.
- Veronica Pena aka Veronica Zambrano, 51, of Lubbock, was sentenced in May 2026 to 180 months (15 years) in federal prison.
Williams, Pruitt, Garza, Duncan, and Pena were sentenced by United States District Judge James Wesley Hendrix. Young was sentenced by Fifth Circuit Judge Andrew S. Oldham, sitting by assignment.
Court documents reflect that beginning as early as 2020, the defendants conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in Lubbock and Post. Agents investigated the conspiracy over several months, culminating in the execution of several search warrants resulting in the seizure of approximately 985 grams of methamphetamine, $9,816 in currency, and multiple firearms. Searches of the defendants’ cellular phones revealed extensive communications where they would coordinate their methamphetamine trafficking operation. One set of messages between the conspirators also discussed destroying evidence prior to law enforcement’s execution of a search warrant.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Lubbock Police Department, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Garza County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Anti-Gang Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Rancourt prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting, the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
###
Seminole County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffery Ryan Black, age 29, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Black with knowingly possessing one semi-automatic rifle, 65 rounds of ammunition, and three cartridge casings on January 23, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, 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.
Black will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Seacoast Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Large Quantities of Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
Seacoast Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Large Quantities of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl
CONCORD – Michael Michaud, 55, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine and fentanyl, and two counts of possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute them, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe scheduled Michaud’s sentencing for November 4, 2026.
According to the court documents and statements made in court, beginning in 2022, the DEA began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. During the investigation, multiple DEA cooperating sources reported that Michaud was a significant source of narcotics, personally selling distributable quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in the Seacoast area. The DEA conducted multiple controlled drug purchases from Michaud and his coconspirators, purchasing more than a pound of methamphetamine and more than a pound of fentanyl. In November 2025, law enforcement pulled over Michaud while he was driving with his girlfriend. Michaud possessed substantial qualities of methamphetamine and fentanyl packaged for distribution and was arrested.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance each carry a sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration, not less than 3 years of supervised release, and a fine up to $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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).
Savannah man sentenced to more than 35 years in prison for machinegun and drug chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Savannah man has been sentenced to prison in federal court after being convicted for firearm- and drug-related crimes.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Maurice Williams, aka “Bando,” 23, of Savannah, was sentenced to 421 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted of two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Illegal Possession of a Machinegun and Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone and Marijuana. Williams also pled guilty to two additional counts of Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun and two counts of Distribution of Fentanyl.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Court documents and testimony show that in September 2023, an extensive investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began which included undercover purchases of firearms and drugs.
These controlled purchases included weapons of various models, including Glock handguns which were equipped with machinegun conversion devices, or MCD’s. An MCD allows a firearm to fire multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger, transforming a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun.
Throughout the investigation, undercover agents completed multiple purchases of firearms and drugs, including hundreds of pills containing fentanyl.
During a September 2024 traffic stop by Savannah Police, Williams was found in possession of a Glock Model 21, .45 caliber pistol with an attached MCD, oxycodone, and more than 300 grams of marijuana.
“The extensive illegal activity this defendant was involved in, peddling illicit drugs and selling dangerous weapons will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Along with our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring that felons that terrorize our community face long, federal prison sentences without opportunities for parole.”
“I want to thank our officers and federal partners for their hard work on this case,” said Savannah Police Chief Lenny B. Gunther. “Savannah is a safer place for having removed drugs, illegal guns, and a criminal from our community.”
“Today's sentencing highlights the importance of our ongoing partnerships in law enforcement,” said ATF Resident Agent in Charge Chase Anastasio. “By working together, we can effectively target and disrupt the flow of illegal firearms and drugs in our neighborhoods."
This case was investigated by the ATF, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Savannah Police Department’s Strategic Investigations Unit and Community Response Team and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Makeia R. Jonese.
Rockland Congruity LLC Agrees to Pay $2.6 Million to Resolve Allegations of PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Rockland Congruity LLC (Rockland), a Delaware limited liability company with a principal place of business in Pembroke, Mass., has agreed to pay $2,687,700 to resolve allegations that it fraudulently obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was ineligible.
Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and the Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses through the PPP, which the Small Business Administration (SBA) administered. The PPP provided for loans in two “draws”—first draw loans became available in March 2020, and second draw loans became available in January 2021. To be eligible for PPP loans, businesses were required to certify on their loan applications that they met certain size standards based on, for example, the number of employees they, and their affiliated entities, collectively employed. In determining number of employees, businesses generally were required to count all employees of U.S. and foreign affiliates. Businesses with more than 300 employees were not eligible for second draw loans.
As part of the settlement, Rockland admitted that, in March 2021, it received a $1,709,099 second draw PPP loan. Rockland certified that it was eligible for the loan under the PPP regulations in effect at the time of the application and represented on its application that it had 96 employees, including affiliates’ employees. Rockland later sought and received forgiveness of the full amount of that loan. Prior to 2021 and through 2022, Rockland was a subsidiary of Procurri Corporation Limited, a company with global operations. When it applied for the loan and when it applied for forgiveness, Rockland had more than 300 employees, when considering employees of Procurri, and was ineligible for the PPP loan.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and the U.S. Small Business Administration made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julien M. Mundele of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter.
Rochester man going to prison for 12 years on drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Todd J. Romig, 29, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 50 kilograms or more of marijuana, and possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Between June 2024, and April 10, 2025, Romig conspired with others to sell marijuana. He obtained multi-pound quantities of high-end marijuana and resold it to customers at a markup. On April 10, 2025, Rochester Police Officers responded to a report of shots fired at a Monroe Avenue apartment building. Officers went to the second floor and heard someone yelling inside one of the apartments. They knocked on a door and Romig confirmed from inside that he had yelled. As officers made entry into the apartment, Romig was in an upstairs loft. He was directed to come down and was then detained while the officers cleared the apartment and looked for possible victims or other suspects. During their sweep, officers observed two large open cardboard boxes filled to the top with vacuum sealed packages of what appeared to be marijuana, spent bullet casings and a rifle. As a result, officers obtained a search warrant during which they seized 34 pounds of marijuana, ammunition, a loaded magazine, a loaded rifle, and $50,672 in cash, which were proceeds from prior sales of marijuana. During the investigation, another approximately 146 pounds of marijuana was seized from a Union Street residence in Spencerport, NY, where Romig also stored marijuana.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Everardo A. Rodriguez. The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Ogden Police Department, under the direction of Chief Travis Gray.
# # # #
Redi-Bag USA and CEO Agree to Pay $7.3M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Evaded Customs DutiesRead the Press Release
New York Packaging II LLC doing business as Redi-Bag USA, a New York-based supplier of custom bags, liners, and packaging, along with the company’s CEO, Jeffrey Rabiea, have agreed to pay a total of $7.3 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by misrepresenting on customs entry forms the country of origin of polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs), thereby evading antidumping duties owed to the United States.
“Companies that benefit from access to U.S. markets must follow U.S. law, including by paying import duties that protect American manufacturers and workers from unfair foreign competition,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who evade duties owed to the United States.”
“Antidumping duties help protect American taxpayers, workers, and businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “This settlement agreement shows that our Office will continue to vigorously investigate and pursue allegations that businesses are evading those duties through unlawful conduct.”
“CBP ensures that all companies comply with U.S. customs and trade laws,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “With this settlement, we are protecting the integrity of our nation’s borders and holding those who attempt to evade customs duties accountable. We continue to work closely with our partners to safeguard fair trade and support lawful commerce.”
To enter goods into the United States, an importer must declare, among other things, the country of origin of the goods, the value of the goods, whether the goods are subject to duties, and the amount of duties owed. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects applicable duties, including antidumping duties assessed by the Department of Commerce. Antidumping duties protect against foreign companies “dumping” products on U.S. markets at prices below cost. During the relevant time period, PRCBs from the People’s Republic of China (China) were subject to antidumping duties.
The settlement resolves allegations that Redi-Bag USA and Mr. Rabiea knew that PRCBs they imported and supplied to customers across the United States were manufactured in China and transshipped through Hong Kong. Redi-Bag USA and Mr. Rabiea nevertheless misrepresented on customs entry forms that the country of origin of the PRCBs was Hong Kong, thus evading antidumping duties assessed by the United States under Antidumping Duty Order No. A-570-886 (ADD Order). When applicable, the ADD Order imposed an antidumping duty of up to 77.57% on the value of PRCBs manufactured in China and imported into the United States.
The United States alleged that Redi-Bag USA and Mr. Rabiea concealed the PRCBs’ true country of origin by hiding information from others, including the company’s customs broker and CBP, by directing employees to cover up “Made in China” markings, directing the manufacturer to remove “Made in China” markings, and directing the cancelation of orders after learning the orders would be inspected by customs authorities.
The settlement with Redi-Bag USA and Mr. Rabiea resolves a civil lawsuit filed by relator John Maierhoffer, a former contracted sales representative for Redi-Bag USA, under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and is captioned United States ex rel. Maierhoffer v. New York Packaging II LLC, et al., Civil No. 21-20170 (D.N.J.). As part of today’s resolution, Mr. Maierhoffer will receive approximately $1,332,250 of the settlement proceeds.
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
In 2025, the Department of Justice launched a cross-agency Trade Fraud Task Force to enhance efforts to combat and prevent trade fraud that deprives the government of vital revenue, threatens critical domestic industries, undermines consumer confidence, and weakens national security. The Task Force augments existing coordination mechanisms within the Department of Justice, leveraging expertise from both the Civil and Criminal Divisions, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, to aggressively pursue enforcement actions against any parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties, as well as smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the American economy. The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Department’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at [email protected] using the form available here.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, with assistance from CBP’s Office of Associate Chief Counsel, New York, Northeast Region; CBP’s Office of Trade, Trade Regulatory Audit; and CBP’s Industrial & Manufacturing Materials Center, Office of Field Operations.
Trial Attorney Gavin Thole of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Simunovich for the District of New Jersey handled the case.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Promoter of Abusive Tax Shelter Indicted for Tax Crimes and for Retaliating Against Federal OfficialsRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed on Monday in the Eastern District of Texas charging a Texas man with various tax crimes related to the use, promotion, and sale of an abusive tax shelter. He was also charged with filing false retaliatory liens against federal officials.
According to the indictment, Roger Napoleon Grant of Plano, Texas, used an abusive trust tax shelter to conceal his income from the IRS. He also allegedly promoted and sold this tax shelter to others. The tax shelter allegedly consisted of a multi-tiered trust structure typically consisting of at least two sham trusts and a purported charitable foundation. Grant allegedly told his clients that by implementing this structure, any income assigned to the trusts would be tax free. The indictment alleges that Grant typically charged clients between $12,500 to $50,000 to purchase the abusive trust tax shelter from him.
For the years 2017 through 2022, Grant allegedly assigned income he earned from promoting this tax shelter to a purported business trust. Though Grant reported about $80,521 in total income between 2017 and 2022, he received millions into a bank account held in the name of the purported business trust during that period. Grant had exclusive authority over this account, which he routinely used to pay for his personal expenses.
Grant was allegedly responsible for preparing and distributing the purported trust and foundation instruments for clients and providing clients with information and ongoing support related to their use of the tax shelter. Grant allegedly assured his clients that despite this reassignment of income, the clients’ business operations would not change and that his clients, as trustees, would retain complete control over their businesses and the income that their businesses generated.
Grant allegedly knew that the deductions reported on both his and his client’s trust tax returns were fraudulent and used to conceal his and his clients’ true income from the IRS.
In April 2025, Grant learned about the criminal investigation against him. According to the indictment, Grant retaliated by filing false liens against government officials, including the Attorney General of the United States, the Acting IRS Commissioner, the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, the Clerk of Court for the District of Colorado, and an attorney with the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
Grant is charged with five counts of tax evasion, 10 counts of aiding and assisting the filing of false income tax returns, and 10 counts of filing false retaliatory liens. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each tax evasion count, three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the filing of false income tax returns, and 10 years in prison for each count of filing false retaliatory liens.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs of the Eastern District of Texas made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Boris Bourget and Trial Attorney Lauren K. Pope of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Prior felon going to prison on drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Stacy Spencer, 60, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearm, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
In 2021, the DEA and Niagara Falls Police Department began an investigation into Spencer, which included four controlled purchases of cocaine. On May 2, 2022, law enforcement executed search warrants at Spencer’s residence and at an Ontario Avenue residence in Niagara Falls, which Spencer utilized for his drug trafficking related activities. During the execution of a search warrant at the Ontario Avenue residence, officers located a locked safe in the basement, which contained approximately 93.5 grams of cocaine, and a pistol. They also recovered approximately $6,385 in cash from Spencer. In October 1993 and October 2009, Spencer was convicted of felony crimes in Niagara and Erie Counties, respectively, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler. The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Nick Ligammari.
# # # #
Previously Removed Illegal Alien from Mexico and Utah Man Arrested and Charged After Law Enforcement Seized Meth and Heroin in UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a previously removed illegal alien from Mexico and a Utah County man with drug crimes after law enforcement seized a large quantity of methamphetamine and heroin during a traffic stop and at a residence in Lehi, Utah.
Martiano Ralph Estrada, 51, of Orem, Utah, and Alejandro Alberto Alvarado-Gutierrez, 34, of Mexico, residing illegally in Lehi, were charged and arrested on July 8, 2026.
According to court documents, on June 29, 2026, law enforcement stopped Estrada for a traffic violation. Estrada was the driver and Alvarado-Gutierrez was the front passenger. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found approximately 31 grams of methamphetamine and 33 grams of heroin hidden under the steering wheel of the vehicle. Law enforcement also searched a residence in Lehi and located an additional 223 grams of heroin and 1,108 grams of methamphetamine. At the residence, law enforcement also located packaging for two cell phones which matched the phones found on Alvarado-Gutierrez during the traffic stop. A brief search of the phones revealed messages that appeared to be about drug distribution. In total, law enforcement seized 1,139 grams of methamphetamine and 256 grams of heroin.
According to court documents, Alvarado-Gutierrez is not a citizen of the United States and was previously removed from the United States in November 2025.
Estrada and Alvarado-Gutierrez are charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Alvarado-Gutierrez is also charged with reentry of a previously removed alien. Their initial appearance on the indictment was July 13, 2026. Estrada’s detention hearing is scheduled for July 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Alvarado-Gutierrez is scheduled for a three-day jury trial on September 18, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Utah County Major Crimes Task Force.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Pete Reichman for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pennsylvania Man Indicted for Federal Child Exploitation Crimes in Alachua County, FloridaRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Joshua Barber, 39, of Butler, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor for purpose of producing visual depictions; one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity; one count of cyberstalking; six counts of threatening communications; and one count of repeated harassing communication. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Barber appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 4, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.
If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on count one; a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on count two; up to 10 years’ imprisonment on count three; up to five years’ imprisonment on counts four through nine; and up to two years’ imprisonment on count ten.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Panama City Beach Felon Indicted on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Joseph Primus Gainer, 44, of Panama City Beach, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Gainer appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Gainer faces enhanced penalties of up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the drug count due to a prior drug trafficking conviction and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the firearm count.
The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Panama City Beach Police Department, and the Panama City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Owner of Long Island Bus Company Sentenced to Prison for Multi Million-Dollar Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, John B. Mensch, the owner and chief executive officer of a bus conglomerate based in Medford, Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury to 18 months in prison for bank fraud conspiracy. Judge Choudhury also ordered Mensch to pay restitution in the amount of $9,326,366.03. Mensch pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2024.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, New York Field Office (USSS), announced the sentence.
“John Mensch kept a failing business afloat by manipulating the banking system and exploiting the trust that financial institutions place in their customers,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “By cycling worthless checks through multiple bank accounts, the defendant obtained millions of dollars in funds that did not exist, creating the illusion of financial stability while concealing the company’s insolvency. Today’s sentence should serve to warn fraudsters like the defendant that the loss of freedom and restitution to victims is the price of their crimes. This Office will continue to hold accountable those who abuse the financial system through sophisticated fraud schemes.”
“John Mensch’s feedback loop of fraud stole more than nine million dollars and manipulated financial institutions to keep his bankrupt business afloat. The FBI continues to hold accountable fraudsters who abuse our economic system for personal enrichment,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
“This was not a victimless crime. It was a sophisticated scheme involving millions of dollars in fraudulent checks to benefit the defendant, while threatening the integrity of the banking system and harming his creditors, customers and employees,” stated USSS Special Agent in Charge McCool. “This sentencing should serve as a warning to other criminal fraudsters: We will catch you and you will be held accountable. Thanks to our partners in the New York law enforcement community and the Eastern District of New York for your collaboration in bringing justice in this case.”
Mensch was the owner and operator of East End, a transportation company that provided busing services for students on Long Island and elsewhere. Between 2017 and September 2018, East End maintained numerous accounts—and was granted expedited check-clearing privileges—at banks located in Suffolk County, New York, and Orange County, New York. Those privileges allowed East End to obtain near-immediate access to the deposited funds before the underlying checks had cleared. Mensch and other East End executives abused those privileges by engaging in an elaborate “check-kiting” scheme, passing fraudulent checks between East End’s various accounts to keep East End operational despite being effectively insolvent.
Specifically, Mensch and other East End executives drew checks on East End’s bank accounts at Financial Institution #1, despite those accounts containing insufficient funds to cover the checks. Those bad checks were then deposited into East End’s bank accounts at Financial Institution #2, which, unaware that the checks would eventually bounce, allowed East End immediate access to the funds. East End withdrew those funds to meet various financial obligations and then, before the checks bounced, conducted the same process in the reverse, drawing bad checks on its Financial Institution #2 accounts and depositing them into its Financial Institution #1 accounts to create the false impression that funds were available to cover the earlier checks. This circular flow of worthless checks continued, with the banks advancing East End non-existent funds for several months until the scheme was detected in September 2018. By that time, East End had obtained nearly $10 million dollars from Financial Institution #1 and Financial Institution #2, all of which it had spent while continuing to operate at a deficit.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Adam R. Toporovsky is in charge of the prosecution, with help from Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson.
The Defendant:
JOHN B. MENSCH
Age: 55
Quogue, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-334 (NJC)
Operators of Transnational Elder Fraud Scheme Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Four Dominican nationals have pleaded guilty, and another has been sentenced, for their roles in connection with a transnational “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that tricked hundreds of elderly victims in the United States into believing that their grandchildren or other close family members were in trouble and needed money. In total, the investigation identified over 400 victims with an average age of 84, including at least 50 in Massachusetts, and more than $5 million in losses.
Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, 34; Joel Jose Cruz Rodriguez, a/k/a “Paflow,” 34; Edward Jose Puello Garcia, 45; and Joel Francisco Mathilda Leon, 27, have each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and one count of money laundering conspiracy. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024. They were arrested in August 2025 in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States, extradited, and detained pending trial.
A fifth defendant, Luis German Santos Burgos, 33, was sentenced on June 25, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the elder fraud operation.
A sixth defendant, Gerardo Heriberto Nuñez Nuñez, 41, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy for his role in laundering scam proceeds from the United States to the Dominican Republic.
According to the charging documents, the defendants, led by Castanos Garcia, ran a sophisticated “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that tricked hundreds of elderly victims in the United States into believing that their grandchildren and other close family members were in trouble and needed money. Once the defendants obtained the money, they laundered their illicit proceeds back to the Dominican Republic.
Castanos Garcia oversaw call centers in the Dominican Republic, where he employed co-conspirators who spoke English and carried out what are commonly known as “grandparent scams.” These scams would begin with an “Opener” employee, who would call victims and pretend to be a grandchild who was in an accident. Then, a “Closer” would allegedly follow up with another call, pretending to be the grandchild’s attorney, asking for a sum of money to pay for the grandchild’s attorney’s fees. Castanos Garcia ran these call center locations with the help of several managers, including Cruz Rodriguez and Puello Garcia, who supervised, instructed and paid the employees.
Callers for Castanos Garcia’s call centers would instruct elderly victims to provide cash to “runners” in the United States, including Joel Francisco Mathilda Leon. Most often, the callers would instruct victims to give the packages with cash to rideshare drivers who were ordered to the victim’s house by a runner. Runners would then have the unsuspecting rideshare drivers deliver the packages to the runners at nearby locations. In some cases, the callers would direct the victims to ship packages of cash to specified addresses via mail or commercial carriers.
Often times, the call center would call victims again and ask for additional funds for their grandchildren, sometimes two or three additional times. For example, callers would claim that there had been a “mix up” or that a “pregnant women’s baby was lost in the crash.”
At times, co-conspirators would order unwitting rideshare drivers to drive the elderly victims to the bank to withdraw additional funds.
Castanos Garcia directed the runners to deposit the victims’ money into bank accounts or deliver it to co-conspirators. The operators of the scheme relied on money launderers in the United States and the Dominican Republic, including Nuñez Nuñez, to transmit proceeds from victims in the United States to Castanos Garcia and others in the Dominican Republic. As alleged in the indictment, Nuñez Nuñez provided call center operators with access to bank accounts in the names of purported businesses, into which runners deposited scam proceeds. He also arranged for the runners to hand-deliver cash from victims to individuals in New York and elsewhere. Nuñez Nuñez then provided cash to the call center operators in the Dominican Republic.
Santos Burgos ran another grandparent scam call center in the Dominican Republic and coordinated with Castanos Garcia to send U.S.-based runners to pick up scam proceeds for their respective operations.
Members of the public who believe they may be victims of this case, or other elder fraud scams, should contact [email protected] or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Suspected fraud can also be reported on the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center.
The charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the loss to the victim. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, whichever is greater. 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 Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
ADDENDUM
Defendant
Alleged Role
Charges
Status
Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, 34, of the Dominican RepublicCall Center OperatorConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.In custody; pleaded guiltyJoel Jose Cruz Rodriguez, a/k/a “Paflow,” 34, of the Dominican RepublicCall Center ManagerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.In custody; pleaded guiltyEdward Jose Puello Garcia, 45, of the Dominican RepublicCall Center ManagerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.In custody; pleaded guiltyJoan Manuel Mathilda Leon, 28, of the Dominican Republic and the Bronx, N.Y.Recruited and oversaw “runners”; runnerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.In custodyLuis German Santos
Burgos, a/k/a “Mambo Flow,” 33, of the Dominican Republic and Dorchester, Mass.
Call Center AffiliateConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.Sentenced to 48 months prisonGerardo Heriberto Nuñez Nuñez, 41, of the Dominican RepublicMoney LaundererMoney laundering conspiracy.In custody; agreed to plead guiltyRansel Starlin Tavarez Jimenez, 27, of the Bronx, N.Y.Recruited and organized “runners”; runnerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.At-largeJoel Francisco Mathilda Leon, 27, of the Bronx, N.Y.RunnerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.In custody; pleaded guiltyAndry Joel Baez Santana, 32, of the Bronx, N.Y.RunnerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.In custodyJose Osvaldo Polanco Batista, a/k/a “Obbi,” 29, of Winter Park, Fla.RunnerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.In custodyChaman Samael Silverio Balbuena, a/k/a “Chammy,” 31, of Defiance, Mo.RunnerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.In custodyManuel Nicolas Rivera Cueto, 26, of Santa Clara, Cal.RunnerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.In custodyJose Arony Fermin Vasquez, a/k/a “Chiky,” 31, of N.J.RunnerConspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy.At-largeOahu Man Pleads Guilty to Transferring Money to Iran in Violation of U.S. SanctionsRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Arash Einolghozati, 37, of Waialua, Oahu, pled guilty on July 13, 2026 in federal court to transferring funds from the United States to Iran without a license, in violation of U.S. sanctions. Sentencing is set for October 29, 2026.
According to court records, beginning as early as March 2017, and continuing until at least April 2022, Einolghozati engaged in multiple money transfers intended to move money from the United States to Iran. Einolghozati sent both government-issued currency and cryptocurrency from within the United States to recipients that he knew were in Iran or to recipients who would further transfer the funds to individuals in Iran. In each case, Einolghozati knew that it was unlawful to send the funds without a license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control but did so anyway. As described in the plea agreement, Einolghozati transferred more than $150,000 to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Einolghozati faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese is prosecuting the case.
Norfolk Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Noah Hale, 21, of Norfolk, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 9, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Hale to a total of 420 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hale’s release from prison, he will begin a lifetime term of supervised release. Hale was additionally ordered to pay $3,460 in restitution and $3,000 which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of cases.
In February 2024, FBI Omaha was contacted regarding an investigation into a trend where individuals groom and subsequently entice victims, often minors, into a variety of concerning behaviors. These behaviors included engaging in and recording self-harm and producing sexually explicit images of themselves at the request of the predator. Noah Hale was identified as a suspect during the investigation. The FBI received several tips that associated Hale using various social media accounts where he requested, posted, and/or sent child pornography.
A search warrant for Hale’s residence and his devices was executed on February 29, 2024. A review of those devices revealed approximately 2,300 media files that were flagged as files of interest. Most of these files appeared to be original content created by females Hale victimized. The files depicted females, a majority of whom were apparent minors, engaged in various circumstances to include: self-harm and self-mutilating behavior, child pornography, and “fan signs” which are files in which the female had written names associated with Hale on their body or on a sign.
FBI underwent extensive efforts to locate the females identified in these files. Thirty minor females, between the ages of 11 and 17, from across the United States and in at least one other country were able to be identified from the 2,300 files. It was discovered that Hale would use various tactics of enticing, love bombing or threatening these minors with physical and sexual harm in order to convince them to produce images or videos of themselves for Hale. The files produced at Hale’s request were often sadistic and degrading.
“Hale is every parent’s worst nightmare: the type of predator who can gain access to their children even when they are in their own homes with their loved ones all around them,” said United States Attorney Lesley Woods. “This type of predator grooms, manipulates, and threatens children and by the time they realize what is going on, the predator has them convinced of the lie that they have to comply with his sick demands. Hale deserves every minute of his federal prison time. May he never talk to another child online so long as he lives.”
After the sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Criminals like Noah Hale are a horrific and chilling example of how child predators use technology to locate and victimize the most vulnerable members of our community. We will never stop using every investigative resource we have to identify and apprehend subjects like Hale and ensure he will not be in a position to harm another child for a very long time. We appreciate all the work of our law enforcement partners in this case to help bring some measure of justice on behalf of those victimized.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Nineteen Individuals Plead Guilty to Statewide Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida– Nineteen individuals have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. These individuals include Qornelious Campbell (33, Winter Haven), Kenneth Cole II (27, Winter Haven), Kenisha Coffer (27, Minneola), D’Andranika Crews (22, Lakeland), Ebony Fields (28, Winter Haven), Victoria Ferrer (24, Lakeland), Aaliyah Gotay-Woods (25, Bartow), Bre’asia Harris (28, Winter Haven), Jaun Hillman (53, Winter Haven), Keith Honors, Jr. (41, Lakeland), Kendrick Iles (22, Plant City), Arkuria Lewis (24, Lakeland), Deven Little (30, Lakeland), Josie Lopez (31, Haines City), Clarissa Morris (26, Lakeland), Tamiria Perry (29, Winter Haven), Tamaries Richardson (32, Bartow), Kalei Spicer (24, Live Oak), and Tyler Jacob (26, Winter Haven). Jacob also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, witness tampering, and destruction of evidence. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, in 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into a violent street gang known as the “Trap Boys,” who were operating throughout the Middle District of Florida. This investigation and subsequent arrests were predicated upon several retaliatory shootings between the Trap Boys and other violent street gangs. During these arrests, several members of the gang were found to be in possession of large quantities of checks, debit cards, financial statements, and identification cards in the names of third parties. Further investigation of these materials revealed that from at least July 2021, and continuing through November 2023, a group of individuals had engaged in a conspiracy to defraud banks, credit unions, individual persons, and various businesses throughout Florida, including Winter Haven, Auburndale, Riverview, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Tampa, and Miami.
As part of this conspiracy, the co-conspirators stole checks from individuals and businesses. Using check writing software, the co-conspirators then altered those checks and created fictitious checks, changing the banks, businesses, and the check amounts. Using automated systems and online databases, the co-conspirators then learned of the banking information of various businesses, including their transaction history, account balances, check numbers and other information. Members of the conspiracy then recruited accomplices who provided members of this conspiracy with their own bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, debit cards, and their own individual bank account log credentials and passwords. The co-conspirators then deposited the fraudulently created checks at dozens of banks and credit unions throughout the Middle District of Florida.
Over the course of this conspiracy, approximately 26 banks and more than 200 victims were defrauded, including insurance companies, law firms, construction companies, tile companies, auto shop businesses, public school districts, colleges, and state agencies.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
Nine Criminal Aliens from Venezuela Plead Guilty for Roles in Sex Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
Nine criminal aliens from Venezuela have pleaded guilty to human trafficking, alien smuggling, and money laundering charges related to a sex trafficking ring operated in several motels in Nashville, Tennessee.
According to court documents, the defendants orchestrated a human trafficking and smuggling scheme targeting vulnerable Venezuelan women, recruiting them to the U.S. with promises of employment. After arranging and facilitating their smuggling into the U.S., the defendants directed the women to Nashville. Once there, the women were told they owed an inflated smuggling debt, which they could only repay through commercial sex work. Those who resisted faced threats of physical harm against themselves and their families in Venezuela. The defendants profited by taking a cut of the women’s earnings in addition to collecting on the inflated smuggling debts.
“Human smuggling and trafficking operations represent a dangerous convergence of exploitation and lawlessness,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These perpetrators profited off human suffering while chipping away at the integrity of our border. These convictions show that protecting vulnerable individuals and securing our border are not competing goals.”
“This criminal organization exploited vulnerable women, enriched itself through coercion and violence, and showed complete disregard for human dignity and the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold human traffickers accountable, dismantle transnational criminal organizations operating in our communities, and ensure justice for victims."
“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to the pursuit and dismantlement of transnational criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable people for profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting of HSI Nashville. “The outcome of this Homeland Security Task Force investigation is a testament to the positive impact law enforcement can have when working in collaboration towards the common goal of holding these criminals accountable.”
“This case demonstrates the Homeland Security Task Force’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from human trafficking and smuggling schemes that exploit vulnerable people for financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “FBI Nashville, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle criminal networks that threaten public safety.”
“This case is a stark reminder human trafficking and smuggling operations prey on our communities most vulnerable, using violence and intimidation to exploit innocent lives for profit,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Gaskins of IRS Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office. “By dismantling this network, we send a clear message to those who target victims with threats and coercion. We remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect victims and bring perpetrators to justice.”
“We have said it before, and these guilty pleas reiterate: if you lure vulnerable people to this country with lies, force them into sexual exploitation, and profit from their suffering, we will find you, dismantle your operation, and hold you accountable,” said Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “This case is a powerful reminder that when our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners stand together, there is no haven for human traffickers.”
Yilibeth Carmen Rivero-de Caldera (“Rivero”) and her son, Kleiver Daniel Mota Rivero (“Mota”), led and managed the human trafficking and smuggling scheme. Rivero enlisted her adult children and their spouses, Mota’s girlfriend, and others to take on various roles in the scheme. Rivero, Mota, and defendant Ramon De Jesus Velasquez Martinez (“Velasquez”) used threats of violence, including wielding firearms, to intimidate and force compliance from the women trafficked by the organization. To further intimidate the women, Mota and other defendants engaged in conduct that made the victims believe Mota was affiliated with a Venezuelan prison gang and openly spoke about Mota’s prior prison term for homicide in Venezuela.
Rivero, Mota, Velasquez, and the six other defendants — Wilmarys Del Valle Manzano Solorzano (“Manzano”), Endrik Alexander Morales-Rivero (“Morales”), Ariannys Beatriz Gutierrez-Carrillo (“Gutierrez”), Frankyanna Del Valle Romero-Rivero (“Romero”), Jesus Enrique Castillo Rodriguez (“Castillo”), and Yuribetzi Del Valle Gomez Machuca (“Gomez”) — arranged or otherwise aided the smuggling of the victims into the United States, posted online commercial sex advertisements for the victims, set up commercial sex appointments with men who responded to the postings, and collected the proceeds of the commercial sex acts.
Rivero, Mota, Romero, and Morales pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy, conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for financial gain, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Castillo pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Gutierrez, Gomez, and Velasquez pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy. Manzano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The charges Rivero, Mota, Romero, Morales, Castillo, Gutierrez, Gomez, and Velasquez pleaded guilty to carry a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison. Manzano pleaded guilty to charges that carry a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced during the week of Nov. 16. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Trial Attorneys Lindsey Roberson, Jessica Arco, and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Risinger for the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole- of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The Nashville HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), United States Secret Service (USSS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other federal agencies, working in collaboration with our state and local partners, with the prosecutions being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The investigation and charges are further supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 419 U.S. convictions; more than 363 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Photo of the Somatel Hotel where Trafficking Occurred Additional Photo of the Somatel Hotel where Trafficking Occurred Photo of the Super8 Hotel where Trafficking Occurred Additional Photo of the Super8 Hotel where Trafficking OccurredNine Criminal Aliens from Venezuela Plead Guilty for Roles in Sex Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
Nine criminal aliens from Venezuela have pleaded guilty to human trafficking, alien smuggling, and money laundering charges related to a sex trafficking ring operated in several motels in Nashville, Tennessee.
According to court documents, the defendants orchestrated a human trafficking and smuggling scheme targeting vulnerable Venezuelan women, recruiting them to the U.S. with promises of employment. After arranging and facilitating their smuggling into the U.S., the defendants directed the women to Nashville. Once there, the women were told they owed an inflated smuggling debt, which they could only repay through commercial sex work. Those who resisted faced threats of physical harm against themselves and their families in Venezuela. The defendants profited by taking a cut of the women’s earnings in addition to collecting on the inflated smuggling debts.
“Human smuggling and trafficking operations represent a dangerous convergence of exploitation and lawlessness,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These perpetrators profited off human suffering while chipping away at the integrity of our border. These convictions show that protecting vulnerable individuals and securing our border are not competing goals.”
“This criminal organization exploited vulnerable women, enriched itself through coercion and violence, and showed complete disregard for human dignity and the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold human traffickers accountable, dismantle transnational criminal organizations operating in our communities, and ensure justice for victims."
“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to the pursuit and dismantlement of transnational criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable people for profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting of HSI Nashville. “The outcome of this Homeland Security Task Force investigation is a testament to the positive impact law enforcement can have when working in collaboration towards the common goal of holding these criminals accountable.”
“This case demonstrates the Homeland Security Task Force’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from human trafficking and smuggling schemes that exploit vulnerable people for financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “FBI Nashville, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle criminal networks that threaten public safety.”
“This case is a stark reminder human trafficking and smuggling operations prey on our communities most vulnerable, using violence and intimidation to exploit innocent lives for profit,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Gaskins of IRS Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office. “By dismantling this network, we send a clear message to those who target victims with threats and coercion. We remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect victims and bring perpetrators to justice.”
“We have said it before, and these guilty pleas reiterate: if you lure vulnerable people to this country with lies, force them into sexual exploitation, and profit from their suffering, we will find you, dismantle your operation, and hold you accountable,” said Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “This case is a powerful reminder that when our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners stand together, there is no haven for human traffickers.”
Yilibeth Carmen Rivero-de Caldera (“Rivero”) and her son, Kleiver Daniel Mota Rivero (“Mota”), led and managed the human trafficking and smuggling scheme. Rivero enlisted her adult children and their spouses, Mota’s girlfriend, and others to take on various roles in the scheme. Rivero, Mota, and defendant Ramon De Jesus Velasquez Martinez (“Velasquez”) used threats of violence, including wielding firearms, to intimidate and force compliance from the women trafficked by the organization. To further intimidate the women, Mota and other defendants engaged in conduct that made the victims believe Mota was affiliated with a Venezuelan prison gang and openly spoke about Mota’s prior prison term for homicide in Venezuela.
Rivero, Mota, Velasquez, and the six other defendants — Wilmarys Del Valle Manzano Solorzano (“Manzano”), Endrik Alexander Morales-Rivero (“Morales”), Ariannys Beatriz Gutierrez-Carrillo (“Gutierrez”), Frankyanna Del Valle Romero-Rivero (“Romero”), Jesus Enrique Castillo Rodriguez (“Castillo”), and Yuribetzi Del Valle Gomez Machuca (“Gomez”) — arranged or otherwise aided the smuggling of the victims into the United States, posted online commercial sex advertisements for the victims, set up commercial sex appointments with men who responded to the postings, and collected the proceeds of the commercial sex acts.
Rivero, Mota, Romero, and Morales pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy, conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for financial gain, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Castillo pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Gutierrez, Gomez, and Velasquez pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy. Manzano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The charges Rivero, Mota, Romero, Morales, Castillo, Gutierrez, Gomez, and Velasquez pleaded guilty to carry a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison. Manzano pleaded guilty to charges that carry a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced during the week of Nov. 16. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Trial Attorneys Lindsey Roberson, Jessica Arco, and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Risinger for the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole- of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The Nashville HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), United States Secret Service (USSS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other federal agencies, working in collaboration with our state and local partners, with the prosecutions being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The investigation and charges are further supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 419 U.S. convictions; more than 363 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
#####
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine and Committing Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LIONEL WINDING, JR. (“WINDING”), age 21, was sentenced on July 14, 2026 by Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, along with a $700 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to seven federal drug and gun offenses, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
WINDING was sentenced for his convictions that included, one count of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846; two counts of distributing various quantities of fentanyl, two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(D); and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, over the course of five transactions between November 2024 and January 2025, WINDING, and his co-conspirators, sold fentanyl, methamphetamine, and firearms to individuals he believed to be legitimate purchasers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. WINDING was personally armed with a handgun during two of those transactions. WINDING was arrested on January 30, 2025. Law enforcement officers searched the motel room where he was staying and recovered cocaine and marijuana that WINDING intended to sell, and a Glock Model 22 firearm equipped with a drum magazine that was loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. `
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
***
Nevada Businesswoman Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulent Scheme Seeking Millions in COVID-19 Tax CreditsRead the Press Release
A Nevada woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false COVID-19 employment tax credits. The government recommended a sentence of 40 months’ imprisonment.
“The Fraud Division will not tolerate anyone who steals from public benefits programs designed to support Americans in need,” said Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin M. McDonald. “If you attempt to defraud these programs, we will come after you with the full force of federal law. We are committed to safeguarding America’s tax dollars and the programs they are meant to support.”
“Today’s sentence, once again, highlights our District’s commitment to the American taxpayer that when people commit fraud, they will face the legal consequences of those criminal acts,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Adonia Stiles, of Las Vegas, was a real estate agent, tax preparer, and clothing store owner. Stiles conspired with others to file false tax returns fraudulently seeking refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and sick and family leave credit. Congress created both the ERC and the sick and family leave credit to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Stiles caused one of her co-conspirators, Candies Goode-McCoy, to file 11 false employment tax returns for Stiles’s clothing store seeking a total of more than $800,000 in refundable tax credits. Stiles also referred 18 other people to Goode-McCoy, for whom Goode-McCoy filed over 150 false employment tax returns. Goode-McCoy claimed $15 million in fraudulent tax credits on behalf of these taxpayers, which resulted in the United States paying out more than $7 million in refunds. In exchange for making these referrals to Goode McCoy, Stiles received at least $135,000. She did not report this income on her individual income tax returns. In April 2026, Goode-McCoy was sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey ordered Stiles to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $7,079,121.48 in restitution to the United States.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case.
Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez of the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Nevada Businesswoman Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulent Scheme Seeking Millions in COVID-19 Tax CreditsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Nevada woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false COVID-19 employment tax credits. The government recommended a sentence of 40 months’ imprisonment.
“The Fraud Division will not tolerate anyone who steals from public benefits programs designed to support Americans in need,” said Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin M. McDonald. “If you attempt to defraud these programs, we will come after you with the full force of federal law. We are committed to safeguarding America’s tax dollars and the programs they are meant to support.”
“Today’s sentence, once again, highlights our District’s commitment to the American taxpayer that when people commit fraud, they will face the legal consequences of those criminal acts,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Adonia Stiles, of Las Vegas, was a real estate agent, tax preparer, and clothing store owner. Stiles conspired with others to file false tax returns fraudulently seeking refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and sick and family leave credit. Congress created both the ERC and the sick and family leave credit to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Stiles caused one of her co-conspirators, Candies Goode-McCoy, to file 11 false employment tax returns for Stiles’s clothing store seeking a total of more than $800,000 in refundable tax credits. Stiles also referred 18 other people to Goode-McCoy, for whom Goode-McCoy filed over 150 false employment tax returns. Goode-McCoy claimed $15 million in fraudulent tax credits on behalf of these taxpayers, which resulted in the United States paying out more than $7 million in refunds. In exchange for making these referrals to Goode McCoy, Stiles received at least $135,000. She did not report this income on her individual income tax returns. In April 2026, Goode-McCoy was sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey ordered Stiles to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $7,079,121.48 in restitution to the United States.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case.
Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez of the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
###
Montgomery County Schoolteacher Sentenced to More Than a Decade in Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland woman is headed to federal prison for more than 12 years in connection with a drug-trafficking transaction that left a victim dead.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Sarah Katherine Magid, 36, of Burtonsville, to 151 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Judge Xinis also ordered Magid to pay a restitution amount of $25,090, for costs associated with the victim’s burial.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division, and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
According to court documents, in March 2024, Magid distributed fentanyl that resulted in the death of a victim. During the investigation, law enforcement discovered text messages between Magid and the victim pertaining to distributing fentanyl. Specifically, a forensic analysis of the victim’s cell phone revealed a text conversation and subsequent meeting between Magid and the victim.
The messages uncovered a drug transaction involving pills that were pressed to appear like oxycodone hydrochloride pills, but they actually contained fentanyl. After the meeting and transaction, the victim was found deceased. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia determined the victim died from fentanyl toxicity.
Additionally, in July 2024, a complainant reported to law enforcement that Magid, a Montgomery County first-grade schoolteacher, exited her classroom to sell drugs to people outside of the school. Law enforcement subsequently identified text messages from Magid’s phone indicating that she dealt drugs during work hours.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA and MCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright who prosecuted this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
# # #
Montezuma Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography and Cyber StalkingRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Montezuma man was sentenced on July 8, 2026, to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography and 11 counts of cyber stalking.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Jack James Erselius, 20, procured and created computer-generated child pornography images of 13 different victims under the age of 18. Law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of Erselius’ Story County residence. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices showed that Erselius used the devices to create AI-generated images containing child sexual abuse material of real girls with their clothes removed. Erselius would send screenshots of satellite views of victims’ homes, their family’s contact information, and live updates on victim’s locations to the people online that Erselius solicited to stalk and rape the victims.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Erselius will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Erselius also ordered to pay $5,979.46 in restitution and a special assessment of $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The University of Iowa Police Department and Johnson County Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Missoula woman sentenced to over five years in prison for trafficking methRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Missoula woman who fled from a city park after trying to sell meth was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Jody Lynn Pope, 30, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Pope, who also goes by Jody Lynn Nygaard, was dealing methamphetamine in Missoula. Law enforcement used an informant to set up a buy from Pope at Franklin Park on Dec. 10, 2025. Pope arrived in a vehicle driven by Brandon Gregory Genet, who sped away from the park when he spotted law enforcement. Genet was sentenced to prison on July 7, 2026, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Law enforcement found Pope on Dec. 11, 2025, who acknowledged to officers she had gone to Franklin Park the night before to sell 3 ounces of meth and that she had already sold 8 ounces of meth the previous week.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI's Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force and DEA conducted the investigation.
Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— A Mexican national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced to federal prison last week for conspiring to distribute over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 800 grams of fentanyl pills.
Carlos Manuel Perez Lopez, 43, was sentenced to 136 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
“Bulk narcotics distributors like Carlos Manuel Perez Lopez profiteer from the misery of their customers’ addictions,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Multi-agency collaboration and coordination between state and federal authorities are a powerful force multiplier in combatting narcotics traffickers. This investigation is a shining example of how combined federal and state enforcement efforts can thwart drug traffickers’ efforts to poison our community. Drug dealers in Oregon are on notice.”
“Mr. Perez Lopez put profits ahead of human life by distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine into our communities,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “DEA and our partners are relentlessly pursuing those responsible, disrupting the supply chain, and bringing traffickers to justice. Every fentanyl seizure represents lives protected. Through Fentanyl Free America, we remain committed to making our communities safer and building a future free from the threat of fentanyl.”
According to court documents, in September 2024, DEA task force investigators identified Perez Lopez as a large-scale local drug distributor.
On September 13, 2024, after learning Perez Lopez was expecting to receive a drug shipment, investigators followed Perez Lopez to a meeting at a truck stop in Aurora, Oregon, where Perez Lopez met briefly with two men near a blue semi-truck bearing license plates from Mexico and a Texas temporary tag.
Investigators stopped Perez Lopez near Tigard, Oregon. Perez Lopez was the driver and sole occupant of the Camry. Investigators detained Perez Lopez and then searched the car after a drug detecting canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in the car. Below is a photo of the drugs that were seized from the trunk:
Inside the Camry, investigators seized over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine and 820.4 gross grams of fentanyl pills.
Meanwhile other investigators were following the semi-truck as it traveled northbound on I-5 from the truck stop. Soon after investigators stopped Perez Lopez, the semi-truck left the highway and parked at a public rest stop near Wilsonville, Oregon, barely three miles from the truck stop. The occupants of the semi-truck fled the truck, leaving it running and abandoned at the rest stop. Investigators lawfully searched the cab of the truck where they found and later seized approximately 209.68 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in suitcases. Below is an image of the drugs seized from the semi-truck:
On September 14, 2024, Perez Lopez was charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
On April 1, 2026, Perez Lopez pleaded guilty to a superseding information alleging conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the DEA, Tigard Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Sherwood Police Department, and the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul T. Maloney.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Prohibited Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican national was sentenced to federal prison last Thursday for illegal possession of a firearm and illegal reentry.
Ramon Oscar Morales-Valencia, 47, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and 3 years’ supervised release. His sentence will run concurrent with his recent Marion County drug possession conviction.
“Illegal possession of firearms and narcotics by prohibited individuals fuels gun violence in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “Combatting gun violence is a priority, and my office will pursue those who think they are above the law.”
“As if his illegal reentry into the United States was not enough, Morales-Valencia intentionally chose to further break our nation’s laws by illegally possessing a firearm and methamphetamine,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “The unlawful possession of firearms and narcotics by prohibited individuals poses a serious threat to the safety of our communities, and ATF will continue to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who endanger our citizens.”
According to court documents, Morales-Valencia was formally removed from the United States in 2010. On April 19, 2025, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies initiated a traffic stop on an SUV Morales-Valencia was driving. He stopped the SUV and stepped from the vehicle, removing a Ruger 9mm pistol from his waistband and setting it on the driver’s seat. Deputies recovered the firearm as well as methamphetamine from the SUV.
Morales-Valencia pleaded guilty in state court to possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 29 months. On September 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Morales-Valencia with alien in possession of a firearm and illegal reentry.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives and Firearms with the assistance of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Mechanicsburg Business Owner Sentenced to Prison for Failing to Pay Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Omar Barron, age 49, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months plus one day by United States District Judge Keli M. Neary, for failing to account for and pay employment taxes.
According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Barron owns Miracle Steel, Inc., a structural steel business located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. In 2024, Barron was charged with failing to account for and pay over employment taxes on behalf of Miracle Steel for 2018 and 2019 and two quarters of 2020. As part of a guilty plea, Barron admitted to failing to pay over $980,784.95 in employment taxes during his commission of the offense. As part of the sentence, Judge Neary ordered Barron pay the full outstanding tax liability as restitution.
“Business owners have a responsibility to withhold income taxes for their employees and then remit those taxes to the Internal Revenue Service,” stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office.
The investigation was conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Terz.
Massachusetts Man Charged with Nashua Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Massachusetts Man Charged With Nashua Bank Robbery
CONCORD – A Massachusetts man has been charged in federal court with bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. He was arrested on July 8, 2026, and appears before the court this afternoon.
Joseph Sawyer, 52, of Townsend, Massachusetts, allegedly robbed at gunpoint the St. Mary’s Bank located at 4 Northwest Boulevard in Nashua on June 12, 2026. According to the criminal complaint, the FBI identified Sawyer as the suspect after investigating a similar bank robbery that occurred two weeks later in Boonton, New Jersey.
If convicted, Sawyer faces up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
FBI Boston is leading the investigation. The Nashua Police Department, FBI New Jersey, FBI Albany, New Jersey State Police, New York State Police, Warren County (NY) Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the District of New Jersey, Northern District of New York, and District of Massachusetts provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon is prosecuting the case.
Maryland Felon Pleads Guilty in D.C. to Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joseph Thompson, 37, a previously convicted felon residing in Oxon Hill, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Thompson pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. Judge Mehta scheduled sentencing for Nov. 18, 2026.
According to court papers, on March 7, 2025, members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Robbery Suppression Unit were on patrol in the 4600 block of Livingston Road SE when they saw Thompson standing outside the South Capitol Liquor Store. As officers approached, Thompson abruptly ended a conversation and entered the store.
An officer addressed Thompson and noticed a heavy, rectangular object in Thompson's jacket pocket after his unzipped coat shifted open. As another officer remarked to Thompson that his pocket looked heavy, Thompson broke into a sprint. Officers chased him and during the pursuit Thompson tossed a firearm into the street.
Officers recovered a loaded .45-caliber pistol with one round in the chamber and 13 additional rounds in the magazine. The firearm was not registered in the District, and Thompson did not have a concealed carry permit.
Thompson has a previous 2017 felony conviction out of Arlington County, Virginia, for which he was sentenced to five years in prison, therefore making it unlawful for him to possess any firearm.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office.
The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
25cr72
Follow us on X, Instagram, and YouTube
Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc