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27 May 2025
Augusta “Ghost Preparer” Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A man who operated a “ghost” tax preparation business in Augusta, Georgia awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Allen Brown, 41, of Augusta, Georgia, pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Brown now faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
As described in the plea agreement, in 2022 and 2023, Brown and several other individuals operated a “ghost” tax preparation business at 1850 Gordon Highway, Suite C, Augusta, Georgia, and at two other Augusta locations including a church and Brown’s residence. Brown operated as a “ghost” preparer because, contrary to IRS requirements he failed to identify himself as a paid preparer on the federal income tax returns that he prepared and filed for his clients. As a “ghost” preparer, Brown fabricated income to qualify his clients for tax credits, claimed fake deductions to boost the size of the refund, and charged clients a fee based on a percentage of the tax refund. Brown did not provide his clients with a copy of the tax returns he prepared, nor did he review the returns with clients before electronically filing them with the IRS. Brown and other “ghost” preparers who worked with him falsified 63 federal income tax returns for clients, causing the U.S. Department of Treasury to issue $1,003,631 in false tax refunds. The tax fraud scheme Brown executed entailed offering clients two filing options, the “Standard” option or the “I’m Not Scared” option. The “Standard” option generally resulted in a fraudulent tax refund of $2,000 - $9,000. The “I’m Not Scared” option resulted in a fraudulent tax refund of $14,000 - $30,000. For the “I’m Not Scared” option, Brown instructed his “ghost” preparers to falsely claim Fuel Tax Credits and falsely report gross income and other expenses on Schedule C and medical and dental expenses on Schedule A with the tax returns. For the “Standard” option, Brown instructed “ghost” preparers to falsely claim Sick and Family Leave Credits and other false items. Brown required his clients to pay him a ten-percent fee of each refund obtained.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs, III.
Augusta “Ghost Preparer” Pleads Guilty to Preparing and Filing False Tax Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A woman who operated a “ghost” tax preparation business in Augusta, Georgia awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to preparing and filing false income tax returns, IRS Forms 1040, for clients.
Kim Brown, 40, of Augusta, Georgia, pled guilty to two counts of Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation and Filing of False Income Tax Returns, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Brown now faces a possible sentence of up to 3 years’ imprisonment for each of the tax fraud counts to which she has pleaded guilty, a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
As described in the plea agreement, Brown operated a “ghost” tax preparation business out of her Augusta, Georgia, residence. Brown operated as a “ghost” preparer because, contrary to IRS requirements she failed to identify herself as a paid preparer on the tax returns that she prepared and filed for her clients. As a “ghost” preparer, Brown fabricated income to qualify her clients for tax credits, claimed fake deductions to boost the size of the refund, and charged clients a fee based on a percentage of the tax refund. Brown did not provide her clients with a copy of the tax returns she prepared, nor did she review the returns with clients before electronically filing them with the IRS. Brown and another individual “ghost” prepared 22 false tax returns that caused the U.S. Department of Treasury to issue $541,912 in false tax refunds.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs, III.
Anchorage man pleads guilty to filming minors in his home to produce, possess child pornographyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man pleaded guilty today to possessing child pornography and to producing child pornography of multiple minor victims known to him, including images of his hands-on sexual abuse of one of the minors.
According to court documents, in 2017, Richard Dougherty, 43, began sexually abusing a minor under the age of 16 that was in his care. Dougherty took photos and videos of the sexual abuse, creating child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
Between January 2003 and April 2023, Dougherty possessed, accessed with intent to view, received and distributed CSAM. Some of the CSAM Dougherty distributed were visual depictions, including video, of him sexually abusing the minor victim.
Dougherty also concealed a cell phone within the walls behind bathroom mirrors in his home. He ran cables to the phones and modified the mirrors so he could secretly view and surreptitiously record people in the bathroom. Among the visual depictions Dougherty produced this way were nude images of four victims under the age of 18.
Throughout the course of the investigation, the defendant knowingly possessed over 600 images of CSAM.
He will be scheduled to be sentenced on a later date and faces 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Pacific Northwest operations and Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Alaska State Troopers investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case.
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25 May 2025
United States Citizen Arrested for Attempted Firebombing of U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv, IsraelRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Joseph Neumeyer, a dual U.S. and German citizen was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport by FBI special agents and a complaint was unsealed in the Eastern District of New York charging Neumeyer with attempting to destroy, by means of fire or explosive, the Branch Office of the United States Embassy located in Tel Aviv, Israel. Neumeyer was deported by Israeli authorities to the United States. Neumeyer made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo of the Eastern District of New York and was ordered detained.
As alleged in the complaint, Neumeyer arrived in Israel in April 2025. On May 19, Neumeyer, 28, arrived outside of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv carrying a dark-colored backpack. Without provocation Neumeyer spit on an Embassy guard as he walked past. Neumeyer managed to break free as the guard attempted to detain him, leaving behind his backpack. A search of Neumeyer’s backpack revealed three rudimentary improvised incendiary devices commonly known as Molotov cocktails. Law enforcement tracked Neumeyer to his hotel, where he was arrested. Neumeyer’s social media revealed that earlier in the day on May 19, he posted, “join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f---k the west.” Law enforcement authorities confirmed the presence of flammable fluid in the devices. Other social media posts from an account believed to be used by Neumeyer revealed his threats to assassinate President Trump. On May 25, Israeli authorities returned Neumeyer to the United States.
“This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump’s life,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.”
“As alleged, Neumeyer, armed with potentially lethal devices, sought to cause chaos and destruction at the U.S.Embassy in Tel Aviv,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella for the Eastern District of New York. “His arrest and prosecution clearly show that my Office and the Department of Justice will not tolerate violence in our homeland or violence targeting U.S. interests abroad.”
“The defendant is charged with attempting to firebomb the U.S. Embassy and making threats to President Trump,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This despicable and violent behavior will not be tolerated at home or abroad, and the FBI, working with our partners, will bring him to face justice for his dangerous actions.”
If convicted, Neumeyer faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine in the amount of $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating this case with assistance from the FBI New York Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI Legal Attaché’s Office in Israel provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department thanks our Israeli law enforcement partners, whose actions ensured that no lives were lost.
Acting Deputy Chief Frank Rangoussis of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Oken for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Ryan White of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Citizen Arrested for Attempted Firebombing of U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Tel AvivRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Joseph Neumeyer, a dual U.S. and German citizen, with attempting to destroy, by means of fire or explosive, the Branch Office of the United States Embassy located in Tel Aviv, Israel. Neumeyer was deported by Israel to the Eastern District of New York on May 24, 2025 and made his initial court appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. Neumeyer was ordered detained pending trial.
United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi; Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; and Steven J. Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charge.
“This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump’s life,” stated Attorney General Bondi. “The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Justice Department thanks our Israeli law enforcement partners, whose actions ensured that no lives were lost.
“As alleged, Neumeyer, armed with potentially lethal devices, sought to cause chaos and destruction at the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “His arrest and prosecution clearly show that my Office and the Department of Justice will not tolerate violence in our homeland or violence targeting U.S. interests abroad.”
Mr. Nocella also thanked the FBI’s New York Field Office for their assistance. Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Tel Aviv, the U.S. Embassy Branch Office Tel Aviv, Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the government of Israel, Israel National Police, Enforcement and the Foreigners Administration at the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority for their valuable cooperation. U.S. Customs and Border Protection also provided logistical assistance for the defendant’s arrest at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“Neumeyer not only made threats against Americans and U.S. diplomatic missions, but also allegedly attempted to carry out those threats by bringing potentially deadly devices to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Jensen. “Let his arrest carry an unmistakable message: The FBI and our partners will aggressively pursue those who attempt to harm U.S. citizens and interests abroad.”
As alleged in the complaint, Neumeyer arrived in Israel in April 2025. On May 19, 2025, Neumeyer posted on his Facebook account “join me this afternoon in Tel Aviv we are burning down the US. embassy” and “join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America. Death to Americans and f—k the west.” That same day, Neumeyer arrived outside the Branch Office of the Embassy of the United States in Tel Aviv carrying a backpack. Neumeyer approached an Embassy guard and spat on the guard. The guard attempted to detain Neumeyer who uttered profanities before turning and fleeing, leaving his backpack behind. Law enforcement recovered from Neumeyer’s backpack several bottles that had been turned into improvised incendiary devices, commonly known as “Molotov cocktails.” Authorities confirmed the presence of flammable fluid in the bottles. Law enforcement tracked Neumeyer to the hotel where he was staying, and he was placed under arrest.Neumeyer’s social media accounts also contained threatening posts that, among other things, called for the assassination of President Donald J. Trump.
The charge in the complaint is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Neumeyer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey R. Oken is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Acting Deputy Chief Frank Rangoussis of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Trial Attorney Ryan White of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The Defendant:
JOSEPH PATRICK NEUMEYER
us_v._neumeyer_complaint.pdf
Age: 28
Colorado
23 May 2025
Waterbury Woman Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NEYSA VAZQUEZ-FERRER, 35, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for her participation in a Waterbury drug trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury. One organization operated in the area of William Street and the other operated in the area of Maple Avenue. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers. The organizations shared sources of supply and worked together to further their operations.
Vazquez-Ferrer managed a stash location for the Maple Street organization where she packaged bags of individual dose capsules of crack cocaine. She also enlisted her two teenage daughters to package and deliver narcotics.
Seventeen individuals were charged with federal offenses as a result of the investigation. Vazquez-Ferrer and several codefendants were arrested on November 29, 2023. In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine, more than 900 vials (“caps”) of crack, approximately 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin, two stolen firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and more than $39,000 in cash.
On January 31, 2025, Vazquez-Ferrer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Vazquez-Ferrer, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on July 11.
The FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task includes members from the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, the Naugatuck Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police, Wolcott Police Department, and Meriden Police Department have assisted the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
Virginia Man Sentenced for Torching His Car on U.S. Capitol Grounds as Former President Carter Laid in StateRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Adrian J. Hinton, 36, of Lorton, Virginia, was sentenced today to one year of supervised release, plus 125 hours of community service, for setting his car ablaze with “napalm” on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the U.S. Capitol Police.
Hinton pleaded guilty on Jan. 31, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta to a charge of destruction of government property.
According to court documents, on January 8, 2025, Hinton drove his vehicle from Virginia into Washington, D.C., arriving shortly before 5 p.m. on U.S. Capitol Grounds. Hinton parked on First Street NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and Maryland Avenue near the memorial to Ulysses S Grant.
Several minutes later, he removed a bottle containing an unknown liquid from his car. He spread the liquid on the top of the vehicle and ignited it. Bystanders reported the burning car to the U.S. Capitol Police. Along with USCP officers, agents responded from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives.
Bomb technicians rendered the scene safe. Officers found no explosives or accelerants in the vehicle but found matches, a bottle, and a knife adjacent to the vehicle. After waiving his Miranda rights and agreeing to speak with law enforcement, Hinton told agents he had developed a plan to set his vehicle on fire near the U.S. Capitol to draw attention to his displeasure with the recent election results. Hinton said he had researched how to make homemade napalm with a mixture of household fluids.
On January 8, 2025, President Carter was laying in state at the Capitol Rotunda and numerous elected officials were visiting the Capitol Rotunda.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
Venezuelan National Residing Unlawfully in the U.S. Charged with Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A Venezuelan man residing in Perrysburg, Ohio, has been accused of lying on immigration forms and on applications to purchase a firearm. Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, 24, was charged by criminal complaint today for possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States, making false statements during the purchase of a firearm and for using false documents.
According to the criminal complaint and underlying affidavit, Perrysburg Schools reported to the Perrysburg Police Department that they had received information that Labrador-Sierra, a student attending Perrysburg High School, was actually a 24-year-old man who enrolled under false pretenses. Labrador-Sierra is also alleged to have submitted false material information to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services about his date of birth in connection with applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization Documents in 2024 and 2025.
The complaint further alleges that Labrador-Sierra does not have lawful status to purchase, own or possess a firearm in the United States, and that he submitted false information on the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473 to purchase a firearm. Among the alleged false statements he submitted when he purchased a Taurus 9mm, semiautomatic pistol from a licensed firearms dealer, were that he attested to being a United States citizen or national.
If convicted, Labrador-Sierra faces up to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by an alien; 10 years in prison for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm; and up to five years in prison for using false documents.
This case is being investigated by the City of Perrysburg Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector−Sandusky Bay Station, the FBI Toledo Field Office, the ATF, with assistance from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Dobson.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with knowledge and information about this matter, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visit fbi.gov/tips.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Utah Drug Trafficking Ringleader Sentenced to 22 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Llobani Federico Figueroa, aka “Pablo,” 33, of Magna, Utah, was sentenced to 264 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to operating a continuing criminal enterprise in the District of Utah, which had ties to California and Mexico.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr., comes after Figueroa pleaded guilty on December 11, 2024, to continuing a criminal enterprise and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In addition to the sentence, Figueroa was ordered by the court to 10 years’ supervised release and forfeited over $300,961.00 in U.S. currency, three firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition, and two vehicles.According to court documents and statements made at Llobani’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Figueroa, beginning at the age of 18, engaged in over a decade-long series of drug trafficking offenses. However, between at least December 2022 and August 2023, Llobani engaged in continuous drug trafficking. Specifically, according to court documents, Figueroa was the primary conduit among multiple Californian and Mexico-based sources of supply and broker/distributors in the District of Utah. Figueroa admitted that he regularly obtained methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. He then caused those controlled substances to be transported to Utah by courier, and he maintained various locations in which the controlled substances were stored and sold. His drug trafficking enterprise involved five or more people, including his co-defendants and others. See prior press release here: Utah Fugitive and Alleged Drug Trafficking Ringleader Among 28 Defendants Charged in Major Multi-Agency Operation.
Llobani further admitted his role in the drug trafficking organization was as a manager or supervisor and he recruited other participants and organized couriers to distribute controlled substances on his behalf. He then delegated other responsibilities to his coconspirators and admitted his organization could not have functioned without the involvement and assistance of these others.
In addition to Figueroa’s prior convictions, he is the subject of three pending criminal cases with the state of Utah. The pending charges include, but are not limited to, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, a first degree felony; distribution of methamphetamine, a federal class A felony; and manslaughter, a second degree felony.
“As a decades-long drug-trafficker, Mr. Figueroa has been a threat and danger to the people of our state,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah. “His well-deserved decades-long sentence will serve as a reminder that those who peddle poison into our communities in violation of federal law for their own financial gain will face justice and forfeit their ill-gotten gains.”
“An individual struggling with substance abuse isn't just a statistic. It’s someone’s son, daughter, a friend. Too many families have been devastated by an epidemic that Mr. Figueroa directly contributed to,” said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Drugs and violent crime go hand-in-hand. The FBI is committed to dismantling criminal organizations in our steadfast effort to keep our communities safe.”
“This operation exemplifies the dedication and skill of our street crimes unit,” said West Valley City Police Chief, Colleen Jacobs. “Their meticulous investigation was key in the arrest of a significant drug trafficker, and led to the dismantling of a major source of illicit drugs in our state. This success underscores our unwavering commitment to public safety and the relentless pursuit of those who endanger our neighborhoods.”
The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Safe Streets Violent Task Force and West Valley City Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Unlicensed Adviser Charged in $4 Million Investment Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly and Vulnerable VictimsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today that federal charges were filed against Jon Patrick Kubler, 52, of Redondo Beach, California, for allegedly orchestrating a $4 million investment scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims.
James C. Barnacle, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations in the criminal indictment, from December 2017 to April 2023, Kubler defrauded about 30 investors out of more than $4 million through an investment fraud scheme.
Despite not being licensed as an investment adviser, Kubler allegedly provided investment planning and management services to victims who were unsophisticated investors, elderly, and the beneficiaries of settlements or life insurance proceeds. Throughout the scheme, Kubler allegedly made false and fraudulent representations to victims, concealed and omitted material facts, and told deceptive half-truths to induce victims to invest in commercial real estate through companies he owned and operated, including Aksarben Evolution, LLC and Green Saddle, LLC.
To further the scheme and to convince investors their investments were profitable, Kubler allegedly made Ponzi-style payments to victims, using new investors’ money to pay existing investors, purporting the pay-outs were the result of successful investing and not funds from new victims Kubler had solicited. It is further alleged that Kubler used a portion of the investors’ money to pay for personal expenses and to make cash withdrawals, among others.
According to allegations in the indictment, in 2022, a victim investor received a letter from U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding its investigation into alleged securities fraud by Kubler. In an effort to conceal the scheme and that he was being investigated by the SEC, Kubler misled the victim by telling her that she did not need to respond to the SEC and that it was normal to receive a letter from the SEC after receiving a large settlement from a third party, as the victim had.
Kubler is charged with securities fraud and transactional money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the securities fraud offense and 10 years for the transactional money laundering offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI in Charlotte for its investigation of the case.
In addition to the criminal charges, in September 2023, the SEC announced that it obtained a temporary asset freeze, restraining order, and other emergency relief in the U.S. District court in the District of Nebraska against Kubler and several of the entities under his control, for allegedly engaging in a multi-year Ponzi scheme that misappropriated and misused investors’ funds. A final judgment was entered on January 22, 2025, in which Kubler agreed to be permanently enjoined from violating the securities laws and to pay disgorgement and civil penalties.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick and Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Seizes More than $868,247 in Alleged Proceeds of a Cryptocurrency Confidence SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The United States has seized over $868,247 worth of cryptocurrency from perpetrators of a cryptocurrency confidence scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro; Deputy Chief Claudia Quiroz of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section; and Special Agent in Charge David K. Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office.
Cryptocurrency confidence investment schemes begin by criminals contacting potential victims through seemingly misdirected text messages, dating applications, or professional meetup or investment groups. Next, using various means of manipulation, the criminal gains the victim’s affection and trust. The perpetrator then recommends cryptocurrency investment by touting their own, or an associate’s, success in the field.
Means of carrying out the scheme vary, but a common tactic is to direct a victim to a fake investment platform hosted on a website. These websites, and the investment platforms hosted there, are created by criminals to mimic legitimate platforms. The subject assists the victim with opening a cryptocurrency account, often on an exchange based in the U.S., and then walks the victim through transferring money from a bank account to that cryptocurrency account. Next, the victim will receive instructions on how to transfer their cryptocurrency assets to the fake investment platform.
On its surface, the fraudulent platforms often show lucrative returns, encouraging further investment; underneath, all deposited funds are routed to a cryptocurrency wallet address controlled completely by the perpetrators.
The perpetrators frequently allow victims to withdraw some of their “profits” early in the scheme to engender trust and help convince victims of the legitimacy of the platform. As the scheme continues, victims are unable to withdraw their funds and are provided various excuses as to why. Ultimately, victims are locked out of their accounts and lose all their funds.
Anyone who believes they are a victim of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, and investment scams – should contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov.
The FBI Honolulu Field Office is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit are providing invaluable assistance. The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Columbia Acting Deputy Chief Kevin Rosenberg and Asset Forfeiture Coordinator Rick Blaylock Jr., along with Trial Attorneys Gaelin Bernstein and Stefanie Schwartz from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Department of Justice, and Daniel Zytnick with the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice.
United States Recovers Approximately $2.5 Million of Cryptocurrency Involved in Fraudulent Confidence SchemesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – United States District Court Judge Amir H. Ali has ordered forfeiture of approximately $2.5 million worth of virtual currency involved in cryptocurrency confidence schemes to the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Chief John Lynch of the Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section of the Department of Justice, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the San Diego Field Office.
“Whether they are in our district’s streets or hiding behind a computer screen abroad, the United States will continue to hold fraudsters and grifters responsible, seize money they scam from hardworking Americans, and use our authority to compensate victims,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro.
“Cryptocurrency confidence schemes defraud and manipulate vulnerable victims into losing devastating amounts of money,” said Moy of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “We hope today’s announcement brings a measure of justice to the victims and serves as a reminder, the FBI will hold fraudsters accountable, no matter where they are located.”
Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams, and fraud scams – should contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov.
In this case and others, the United States of America utilizes asset forfeiture to punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of property used in or acquired through illegal activities; to promote and enhance cooperation among federal and foreign law enforcement agencies; and most importantly, to recover assets that may be used to compensate victims. For more information, please visit https://www.justice.gov/afp.
This matter was investigated by the FBI San Diego Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit provided valuable assistance. The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Blaylock Jr., Asset Forfeiture Coordinator, and Kevin Rosenberg, Acting Deputy Chief of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia—along with Trial Attorney Stefanie Schwartz and Gaelin Bernstein from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Department of Justice. Supervisory Paralegal Gina Torres provided valuable assistance.
United States Files Forfeiture Action to Recover $6.7 Million in Stolen FundsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) filed a civil forfeiture action to recover more than $6.7 million in funds alleged to be proceeds of a financial fraud scheme.
“Civil forfeiture is a powerful and important tool in cases like this, and it allows the government to move quickly to seize the stolen funds, seek legal ownership of them, and then promptly return them to the victims,” said Katie de Villiers, Chief of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Division for the District of Oregon. “This was only possible here because the crime was reported to law enforcement. The most important takeaway for the public is that if you find yourself the victim of a similar scam, do not delay in contacting law enforcement.”
As alleged in the forfeiture complaint, in February 2025, the City of Portland was targeted by a business impersonation scheme. The scammer, posing as an employee of a company contracted by the city, gained access to a payment system and changed the contractor’s bank account information to an account provided by the scammer. In March 2025, the City of Portland notified law enforcement that a payment intended for the contractor had been diverted to an unauthorized bank account.
On April 16, 2025, the USAO and FBI sought and obtained a federal seizure warrant. The same day, the FBI executed the warrant and seized $6,748,680 of fraudulently-obtained funds. The FBI was able to swiftly seize proceeds of the crime, which were still located in the unauthorized account.
Federal law enforcement uses civil forfeiture to recover proceeds of a crime and attempt to return those proceeds to victims quickly. This is especially important in online-related scams where scammers are often overseas and unable to be identified, hindering a criminal prosecution and forfeiture.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Portland Police Bureau. The civil forfeiture action is being handled by Julia E. Jarrett and Katherine A. Rykken, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
The accusations in the complaint, and the description of the complaint, constitute only allegations that certain property is subject to forfeiture. The United States must prove, by a standard of preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas Adds 334 New Immigration Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 334 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 16 through May 22.
Among the new cases, Salvadoran felon Erick Douglas Serrano-Aleman was arrested by Van Horn Border Patrol agents for being an illegal alien present in the U.S. A criminal complaint indicates Serrano-Aleman was previously convicted of transporting and selling a controlled substance as well as accessory. In 2004, he was convicted for illegal re-entry in Nogales, Arizona. Serrano-Aleman has been deported twice and allegedly claims to be a member of the Sureño 13 gang.
In El Paso, multiple alleged human smugglers were arrested, including U.S. citizen Ernesto Covarrubias and Tanya Joselyn De La Paz-Nunez, a Mexican national in possession of a legal B1/B2 Visa Border Crossing Card. Covarrubias, as the vehicle driver, and De La Paz-Nunez allegedly picked up five illegal aliens inside a pecan orchard near the Tornillo Port of Entry, intending to transport them to a stash house.
U.S. citizen Gabriela Ivon Trejo-Gonzalez was arrested after U.S. Border Patrol agents allegedly observed six individuals crawl through a breach in the border fence near the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry and board Trejo-Gonzalez’s vehicle. The defendant allegedly drove away at a high rate of speed and continued in an attempt to evade law enforcement before becoming inoperable. Trejo-Gonzalez allegedly claimed she would be paid $500 per alien. She was convicted for alien smuggling in New Mexico in June 2023 and probation violation in October 2023.
Juan Pedro Carmona-Cerritos, a Mexican felon, was arrested in El Paso and charged with illegal re-entry. Carmona-Cerritos was last removed from the U.S. in April 2009. He was previously convicted of child abuse in 2004 and second degree reckless homicide in 2005 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for which he was sentenced to a total of approximately three years in prison. Guatemalan national Ramon Cortes-Velasquez was also arrested for illegal re-entry in El Paso, having been convicted of assault causing bodily injury to a family member in February and removed from the U.S. to Guatemala in March.
Mexican nationals Jose Rolando Arenas-Aleman and J Angel Nava-Sanchez were arrested near Del Rio. According to court documents, Arenas-Aleman was arrested May 14 by U.S. Border Patrol agents for being an illegal alien present in the United States. He had previously been removed to Mexico for the second time through Laredo on Sept. 6, 2024 following his second conviction for Driving While Intoxicated. Nava-Sanchez was arrested May 15 after allegedly crossing the Rio Grande River near Del Rio. Nava-Sanchez was convicted twice in Tarrant County. He was found sentenced to 45 days in jail for a DWI in July 2022 and 29 days in jail in August 2018, for assault causing bodily injury to a family member.
A U.S. citizen was arrested May 19 during a traffic stop on Highway 85 near Dilley. A criminal complaint alleges that Alex Guadalupe Nieto was the driver of a vehicle transporting six illegal aliens. The complaint alleges that Nieto stated he and another individual drove from Houston, picking up the six illegal aliens on the side of the road, and that he had expected to be paid $500.00 to transport the aliens.
In Austin, Mexican national Juan Robledo-Trevino aka Octavio Garcia-Sanchez was taken into federal custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after being arrested and sentenced to 10 days in the Travis County Jail for failure to identify. Robledo-Trevino has two prior convictions for illegal re-entry, and four previous DWI convictions. He’s been removed from the U.S. to Mexico four times, most recently in November 2016, and voluntarily returned to Mexico twice.
Mexican national Jose Hernandez-Martinez was taken into ICE custody in Austin where he had been arrested for his second DWI and spent 20 days in the Travis County Jail. Hernandez-Martinez has a prior illegal entry conviction along with convictions for theft and assault causing bodily injury to a family member. He voluntarily returned to Mexico in 2006, and has been twice removed from the U.S.
Edgar Aguilar-Mejia, a Guatemalan national, was also taken into ICE custody in Austin. Aguilar-Mejia was convicted twice in 2023 for illegal re-entry and has been removed from the U.S. three times before, as recent as April 2024.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 134 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 134 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On May 16, Elizabeth Janeth Ramirez-Martinez, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Ramirez-Martinez was stopped at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry by Customs and Border Protection officers, who found a Vietnamese national crammed into a compartment in the dash of her vehicle. The undocumented immigrant told officers that before they made their way to the border, the defendant had placed him in the compartment and secured it using screws.
- On May 19, Fernanda Barrios Monzon, a legal permanent resident of the U.S., was arrested and charged with Bringing in Unlawful Aliens without Presentation and Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, the defendant drove her vehicle through the San Ysidro Port of Entry but was stopped when a Customs and Border Protection officer noticed a man lying on the floor of the vehicle, under the feet of the defendant’s children. The officer further discovered 271 pounds of methamphetamine hidden throughout the vehicle.
- On May 20, Gustavo Hernandez Oliveros, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the U.S. According to a complaint, Border Patrol agents located Hernandez Oliveros hiding in brush about two miles north of the border and two miles east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. He was previously deported in November 2018.
Also recently, a number of defendants with criminal records were convicted by a jury or sentenced for border-related crimes such as illegally re-entering the U.S. after previous deportation. Here are a few of those cases:
- On May 23, Jair Valdez-Hernandez, a Mexican national who was previously convicted of felony attempted carjacking in 2017, was sentenced in federal court to 10 months in custody for illegally entering the U.S. After illegally reentering the U.S., in July 2024, Valdez-Hernandez was convicted of corporal injury to a spouse/cohabitant and within the two months following that conviction was arrested twice for violating domestic violence protective orders.
- On May 23, Rogelio Herrera-Rodriguez, a Mexican national who was previously convicted of voluntary manslaughter and corporal injury to a spouse causing great bodily injury and removed from the United States, was sentenced in federal court to 24 months for again reentering the U.S. illegally.
- On May 23, Sacramento Sagrero-Pahua, a Mexican national, was sentenced in federal court to 36 months in custody for bringing aliens to the United States for financial gain. On August 26, 2023, Sagrero-Pahua guided a group of eight illegal aliens into the United States near Otay Mountain before being caught by Border Patrol agents. Among the group Sagrero-Pahua guided was an armed guard, who brought a gun with him to protect the group as it traveled toward the U.S.-Mexico border.
- On May 19, 2025, Oscar Eduardo Audelo-Rodriguez, a Mexican national, who admitted to fleeing border patrol agents by boat in Mission Bay, was sentenced in federal court to 8 months in custody for alien smuggling.
Pursuant to the Department’s Operation Take Back America priorities, federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
In the one-week period ending May 23, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 74 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 6 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 45 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 260 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for felon in possession of a firearm, drug possession, sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.
In one significant case, a criminal complaint was filed on May 21, 2025, charging Francisco Javier Menchaca-Rodriguez, an alien unlawfully present in the United States, with being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On May 19, 2025, the Clovis Police Department (CPD) notified the HSI Office in Roswell that Menchaca-Rodriguez had been involved in a domestic violence incident with his girlfriend on May 18, 2025. During an interview, the girlfriend reported that Menchaca-Rodriguez threatened her with a firearm. After being advised of his Miranda rights, which he waived, the defendant admitted to possessing the firearm during the argument.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison Names Leadership Team, Reorganizes Criminal DivisionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison announced today the appointment of a new executive leadership team to guide the District of New Mexico’s mission, along with a restructuring of the Albuquerque office’s Criminal Division to best advance the Administration’s priorities.
Mr. Ellison named Kimberly Brawley as First Assistant U.S. Attorney, overseeing the Criminal, Civil, and Administrative Divisions. Ms. Brawley joined the office in 2007 and has worked across all sections of the Criminal Division. From 2013 to 2018, she supervised the General Crimes Section, which handled violent crimes, firearms offenses, narcotics, and immigration cases. Since 2018 she has prosecuted white collar, national security, and civil rights cases. Ms. Brawley earned her B.A. with honors from New Mexico State University and graduated cum laude from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Before becoming an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she clerked for the office and practiced civil defense litigation in the private sector.
Christopher McNair will serve as Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney. Mr. McNair joined the office 2018 and has primarily handled firearms, violent crime, and immigration offenses. Mr. McNair graduated magna cum laude from the University of New Mexico School of Law and earned his B.A. from the University of New Mexico.
Roberto Ortega has been appointed as Chief of the Civil Division. Mr. Ortega has over 35 years of legal experience, including 25 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. He has prosecuted a wide range of federal criminal cases and now focuses on defending the United States in civil litigation. Mr. Ortega holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law. He is also an active community leader, having served on several local boards, including the UNM Alumni Association and the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation. He and his wife, Dr. Loretta Cordova de Ortega, have four children.
Niki Tapia-Brito will lead the Albuquerque Office’s Criminal Division as Chief. Ms. Tapia-Brito joined the office in 2011, after serving for 10 years as a prosecutor in the 7th and 2nd Judicial District Attorneys’ Offices. Throughout her career with the office, Ms. Tapia-Brito has prosecuted federal cases in the Indian Crimes, Violent Crimes, Civil Rights and Public Integrity sections. Ms. Tapia-Brito earned her B.A. from Stanford University and a JD at University of New Mexico School of Law.
In the Las Cruces Branch Office, Richard Williams will serve as Chief of the Criminal Division. He joined the office in 2001 as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2002. From July 2008 to July 2022, Mr. Williams served in supervisory roles, including Deputy Branch Chief and Section Supervisor. Throughout his career with the office, he has led numerous criminal investigations and prosecutions involving immigration, firearms, narcotics, money laundering, murder and other violent crimes, white-collar offenses, and various federal violations. He has also argued multiple appeals before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, securing two successful topside appeals. In recognition of his appellate work, Mr. Williams received the EOUSA Director’s Award for Superior Performance in 2010. Before joining the office, he practiced commercial litigation as an associate at Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. in Houston, Texas. Mr. Williams earned his J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law and his B.A. cum laude from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas.
Paige Messec will continue to serve as the Chief of the Appellate Division, which she has headed since 2018. Ms. Messec joined the office in 2008 and served in the Immigration, General Crimes, and White Collar sections of the Criminal Division before moving to the Appellate Division in 2015. She received her undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Georgetown University and law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School. Before joining the office, she clerked for Judge Harris L Hartz on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jeremy Peña has been appointed as Senior Litigation Counsel for the Albuquerque Criminal Division. Mr. Peña joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2011, starting in the General Crimes Section and moving to the White Collar Section that same year. In 2014, he received the U.S. Attorney’s Award for the trial conviction of Sheriff Thomas Rodella. He has prosecuted some of the Office’s most complex cases, including Ayudando Guardians and the recent trial conviction of Solomon Peña. Mr. Peña graduated from Pomona College and the University of Chicago Law School. He was an Assistant District Attorney for five years before becoming an AUSA.
In the Las Cruces Branch Office, Terri Abernathy will continue to serve as Senior Litigation Counsel for the Criminal Division, a position she has held since 2010. In this role, Ms. Abernathy is responsible for coordinating the training of Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Las Cruces Office. She has been with the office since 2000 and serves as the District’s Border Security Coordinator. Over her 25-year career, Ms. Abernathy has prosecuted complex narcotics cases and more than a thousand immigration cases. Before joining the office, she clerked for Circuit Judge Bobby R. Baldock of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and is a graduate of Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri.
In addition to his executive leadership team, Mr. Ellison announced a restructured Criminal Division in the Albuquerque Office, now organized into four sections:
- Narcotics and Organized Crimes: Led by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Ramirez and Deputy Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Lou Mattei.
- White Collar Crimes: Led by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Federici.
- Violent and General Crimes: Led by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Hurtado and Deputy Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec.
- Indian Country Crimes: Led by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McGinley.
The Las Cruces Branch Office is organized into two sections:
- Organized and General Crimes: Led by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Joni Stahl.
- Violent and General Crimes: Led by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Armijo.
Public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. With this new leadership team in place, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to vigorously enforcing the law, protecting our communities, and upholding the rights of all New Mexicans. The office will continue to collaborate closely with local, state, tribal, and federal partners to address violent crime, combat drug trafficking, and strengthen border security.
Two Texas Residents Operating a Visa Racket Indicted for Visa Fraud, Money Laundering, and RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Two Texas residents, Abdul Hadi Murshid, 39, and Muhammad Salman Nasir, 35, both originally from Pakistan, a law firm, and a business entity were charged by indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States, visa fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) conspiracy, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham. Murshid and Nasir were also charged with unlawfully obtaining and attempting to obtain United States citizenship.
According to the indictment, Abdul Hadi Murshid, Muhammad Salman Nasir, the Law Offices of D. Robert Jones PLLC, and Reliable Ventures, Inc. engaged in a scheme to commit visa fraud to enrich themselves and others, and to cause individuals to fraudulently obtain entry into and immigration status in the United States. It is alleged that Murshid, Nasir, and others submitted and caused to be submitted false and fraudulent visa applications for individuals who were not United States citizens (hereinafter referred to as “visa seekers”), and applications to adjust status of the visa seekers so the visa seekers could enter and remain in the United States.
“These defendants are charged with engaging in extensive measures to hide a massive, multi-year, immigration fraud scheme through which they reaped substantial personal financial gain,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham. “Pursuing criminal charges to deter and punish this type of flagrant disregard for the lawful immigration process is a top priority of this Office.”
“The defendants allegedly oversaw an international criminal enterprise for years that repeatedly undermined our nation’s immigration laws. These laws are necessary to protect national security and safeguard the lawful immigration process,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will hold any individual accountable that misuses their position of trust for personal profit.”
As part of the scheme, the indictment alleges that the defendants exploited the EB-2, EB-3, and H-1B visa programs. Specifically, the defendants caused classified advertisements to be placed in a daily periodical for non-existent jobs. These advertisements were placed in order to satisfy a Department of Labor (“DOL”) requirement to offer the position to United States citizens before hiring foreign nationals. Once they received the fraudulently obtained certification for from the Department of Labor, the defendants filed a petition to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) to obtain an immigrant visa for the visa seekers. At the time the petitions were submitted, the defendants also submitted an application for legal permanent residence so that the visa seekers could also obtain a green card. According to the indictment, to make the non-existent jobs look legitimate, the defendants received payment from visa seekers, then returned a portion of the money back to the visa seekers as purported payroll.
The defendants made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford on May 23, 2025, and the government moved for their detention. The detention hearings are scheduled for May 30, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian McKay.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Murshid, Nasir, and the business entities are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison. Murshid faces denaturalization if convicted of unlawfully obtaining and attempting to obtain his United States citizenship.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General provided significant assistance to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ted Hocter, Tiffany H. Eggers, and Jongwoo Chung are prosecuting the case.
Two People Charged in Robbery and Attempted Robbery of Postal CarriersRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Brisa Sierra-Silva, 25, and Christopher Johnson, 35, have been indicted in connection with the March 4, 2024, attempted robbery of a postal carrier and the subsequent robbery of a different postal carrier on the same day. Sierra-Silva is charged with one count each of robbery and attempted robbery. Johnson is charged with one count of attempted robbery.
Sierra-Silva was arrested and made her initial appearance in federal court on April 25, 2025. Johnson was arrested and made his initial appearance on May 21, 2025.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation is being conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Al Buchman.
CASE NUMBER: 25-cr-00132-CNS
Three people sentenced to prison for scheme to bill Medicare for millions of dollars in unnecessary medical equipmentRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Three people have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a multi-million-dollar Medicare billing scheme.
According to court documents, in November 2018, Jeremie Vargas Ramirez, 50, of Vienna, Jordana Lee Arpa, 42, of Vienna, and several other business partners agreed to create Kynetic Medical Group, doing business as NOVA DME, a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier. Ramirez was the de facto owner of NOVA DME and handled the day-to-day business operations, including business development, advertising, marketing, and billing. Arpa and Ramirez agreed that Arpa would be named as President and CEO of NOVA DME to conceal from Medicare that Ramirez was NOVA DME's true owner.
NOVA DME was approved in June 2021 to operate as a Medicare provider based on Arpa’s false statements, and Arpa, on behalf of NOVA DME, acknowledged Medicare's prohibition on direct solicitation to beneficiaries. Arpa’s false statements facilitated the fraud scheme.
In early 2021, Ramirez enlisted Dennis William Karnes, 56, of Lake Elsinore, California, to help make NOVA DME more profitable. Karnes had worked in the DME industry since at least 2000 and had taught classes on wheelchair sales and billing. Ramirez asked Karnes for DME "leads," a list of insured customers who needed and were prescribed DME.
Karnes assisted in procuring "leads" from foreign-based coconspirators, but many of these leads were for Medicare beneficiaries who did not need or want DME. Karnes introduced Ramirez to co-conspirators in Mexico and Russia. Though the standard industry practice is to vet leads to ensure they are legitimate before billing Medicare or other insurers, Karnes and Ramirez knew the leads were not vetted. Based on the frequency of complaints and returns, they also knew that many of the leads were fraudulent, though NOVA DME still submitted claims for reimbursement to Medicare.
Karnes acted as a health care consultant to Ramirez and NOVA DME. Even though Karnes knew Ramirez and NOVA DME submitted claims for unnecessary and unwanted DME for Medicare beneficiaries, if Medicare denied a claim, Karnes often altered and resubmitted claims for approval.
Around February 2022, Karnes introduced Ramirez to a Russian-based co-conspirator who owns and controls multiple DME companies throughout the United States. Karnes also knew that all the owner’s U.S.-based companies were eventually closed, some due to suspicions of billing fraud. From around January 2022 until June 2024, Karnes was responsible for transferring money on behalf of the companies because he was U.S. based and could conduct financial transactions without arousing as much suspicion as would a Russian-based businessperson. In addition to Karnes, a Russian-based associate was responsible for all Medicare billing for the companies.
From approximately February 2022 until December 2023, with Ramirez's permission, the Russian-based owner and associate submitted claims for Medicare beneficiaries on behalf of NOVA DME. Medicare sent payment for approved claims to NOVA DME via check or direct deposit. They then directed Karnes how much money to collect from Ramirez for the leads and where to send the money. At the Russian-based owner’s direction, Karnes instructed Ramirez to make regular payments to the Russian-based owner via a shell company called Sharp Ventures, LLC, which facilitated the laundering of Medicare fraud proceeds to Russia and elsewhere outside the United States. The payments ranged from $10,000 to $50,000 on a roughly weekly basis.
DME recipients and their caretakers returned the DME and complained directly to Ramirez that they did not request or need the DME they received. Ramirez frequently relayed those reports of returned DME and customer complaints to Karnes.
From January 2022 through December 2023 NOVA DME billed Medicare approximately $13,526,920 and was paid approximately $7,610,462, of which at least $4,060,000 to the Russian-based owner via Sharp Ventures, LLC at Karnes' direction. Over the same period, Medicare received at least 508 complaints from at least 491 Medicare beneficiaries about NOVA DME. The complainants reported beneficiaries did not receive services from the provider, did not know the provider, returned the items but did not receive a refunds, and suspected identity theft.
From this scheme, NOVA DME, Ramirez, and Arpa received at least $2,256,787 in fraudulent proceeds from Medicare. Karnes personally profited at least $888,500.
Ramirez pled guilty on Jan. 31 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. On April 18, he was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $2,256,787.
Karnes pled guilty on Jan. 31 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. On May 2, he was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $2,256,787.
Arpa pled guilty on Feb. 7 to conspiracy to making false statements relating to healthcare matters. She was sentenced today to six months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $2,256,787.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Emily Odom, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division; and Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary H. Ray prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1: 25-CR-13 (Ramirez); 1: 25-CR-14 (Karnes); and 1: 25-CR-15 (Arpa).
Three Sentenced for $30 Million COVID-19 Unemployment FraudRead the Press Release
Three individuals were sentenced yesterday for their participation in a scheme to defraud the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL), out of tens of millions of dollars in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Macovian Doston, 31, of Vienna, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.
Shatara Hubbard, 36, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to 6 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.
Torella Wynn, 33, of Cordele, Georgia, was sentenced to one year in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court, from March 2020 through November 2022, Doston, Hubbard, Wynn and their co-conspirators caused more than 5,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to be filed with the GaDOL, resulting in at least $30 million in stolen benefits.
To execute the scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators created fictitious employers and fabricated lists of purported employees using personally identifiable information (PII) from thousands of identity theft victims and filed fraudulent unemployment insurance claims on the GaDOL website. The conspirators obtained PII for use in the scheme from a variety of sources, including by paying an employee of an Atlanta-area health care and hospital network to unlawfully obtain patients’ PII from the hospital’s databases, and by purchasing PII from other sources over the internet. Using victims’ PII, Doston, Hubbard, Wynn and their co-conspirators caused the stolen UI funds to be disbursed via prepaid debit cards mailed to various locations.
“The defendants orchestrated a $30 million fraud by using stolen identities to obtain thousands of unemployment insurance payouts under false pretenses,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively combat complex frauds that waste public funds. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for their diligence and dedication to seeking justice for the United States.”
“Macovian Doston, Shatara Hubbard, and Torella Wynn engaged in a scheme to defraud the GaDOL by creating several fictitious employer accounts. After creating the fictitious accounts, the defendants submitted thousands of fraudulent UI claims to GaDOL to obtain UI benefits in the names of identity theft victims and other unwitting individuals who were not entitled to such benefits. The identity theft victims and unwitting participants were purported employees of several fictitious companies, which were created to execute this fraud scheme. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the UI system from those who exploit this benefit program,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
“These sentences underline our dedication to holding people accountable who exploit federal relief programs for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “As proven in this case, our criminal investigators and the legal teams at the Department of Justice will diligently pursue anyone who attempts to commit fraud and exploit programs created to help legitimate people and businesses affected by the global pandemic.”
“DHS OIG will continue to investigate the misuse of COVID pandemic funds and together with our law enforcement partners, hold fraudsters accountable.” said U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, PH.d.
The court previously sentenced four other co-conspirators that were charged in the Nov. 8, 2022 indictment. In Oct. 2024, Tyshion Nautese Hicks, 32, of Vienna, Georgia was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In Sept. 2024, Kenya Whitehead, 37, of Cordele, Georgia was sentenced to 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In Oct. 2024, A’Darrion Alexander, 29, of Warner Robins, Georgia was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In May 2024, Membrish Brown, 29, of Vienna, Georgia was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, USPS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, HSI, and DHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Lyndie Freeman, Siji Moore, Matthew Kahn, and Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The United States Attorney’s Office and City of Spokane Announce Appointment of a Special Assistant United States Attorney to Prosecute Drug Trafficking in the City of SpokaneRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – The United States’s Attorney’s Office and the City of Spokane jointly announced today the appointment of a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) for the Eastern District of Washington. The SAUSA, Annika Tangvald, will prosecute cases in federal court relating to illegal narcotics impacting the City of Spokane. Ms. Tangvald was sworn into office by Acting United States Attorney Rich Barker on May 19, 2025.
In making this announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Barker reiterated his office’s commitment to combating the opioid epidemic. “We see the impact of fentanyl and other drugs in almost every case we prosecute – including violent crime, firearms trafficking, prosecution of transnational gangs and cartels, and even in some of our fraud and human trafficking cases. Having a dedicated prosecutor for these cases allows the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring more cases specifically focused on the City of Spokane. SAUSA Tangvald, who I worked with as an AUSA in this office, is a talented lawyer and she will be working with some of the finest prosecutors in the United States to ensure those who distribute large amounts of drugs into the Spokane community are held responsible.” Acting U.S. Attorney Barker added, “I am so grateful to the City for their collaboration to make this joint vision a reality.”
“The City of Spokane Prosecutor’s Office is committed to a multi-prong approach to end the fentanyl epidemic our community faces,” stated Justin Bingham, Prosecutor for the City of Spokane. “Partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office will greatly strengthen our current efforts to hold drug-related offenders accountable. I’m excited to see the positive impacts this joint position will bring to Spokane.”
“Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tangvald will help fill a critical gap in our system. Her role in prosecuting fentanyl-related crimes is a vital step forward in our fight against the opioid crisis,” Mayor Lisa Brown said. “With dedicated resources and sharper focus, this move will protect our community, hold traffickers accountable, and ultimately save lives.”
(L to R: City of Spokane Prosecutor Justin Bingham, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown, Acting U.S Attorney Richard Barker)
SAUSA Tangvald is a Spokane native with deep roots in Eastern Washington. Since 2023, Tangvald has served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Spokane County where she prosecuted criminal cases in Spokane County Superior Court. Prior to her time as a county prosecutor, Tangvald was a law clerk at the U.S Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Washington. She is a graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law.
“I am honored to be returning to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and to serve in this unique role,” stated SAUSA Tangvald. “Becoming a federal prosecutor has been a dream of mine, and I look forward to working with the City and with the United States Attorney’s Office to improving public safety in the city I love.”
About the U.S. Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney's Office is responsible for representing the federal government in almost all litigation involving the United States in the Eastern District of Washington, which is comprised of the 20 Washington counties east of the Cascade Mountains. The U.S. Attorney’s Office handles all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, as well as civil lawsuits by and against the U.S. government. It is the mission and the pledge of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to represent the United States with determination, professionalism, and integrity. The District’s headquarters is located in Spokane, Washington, with branch offices in Richland and Yakima.
About the City of Spokane
The City of Spokane, home to more than 229,000 people, is located in the heart of the Inland Northwest. Our 2,000 employees strive to deliver efficient and effective services that facilitate economic opportunity and enhance the quality of life for all our residents. For more information, visit www.spokanecity.org and follow us @spokanecity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Spokane City Council unanimously approved funding for the SAUSA position in late 2024.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Texas man pleaded guilty today in federal court to stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Adrian Hill, 44, of Dallas, Texas unlawfully acquired and used more than $210,600 in SNAP benefits from approximately August 2022 through November 2023. Hill admitted to selling the benefits to others and using them for himself. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low- and middle-income families buy food, thus reducing hunger.
Hill pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Tampa Resident Charged with Sending A Threatening Message to Kill on Social MediaRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Elizabeth Danielle Rowe (24, Tampa), a/k/a Simon Roe, with transmitting interstate a true threat to injure. If convicted, Rowe faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, on January 24, 2025, Rowe sent the following message on a social media platform to victim A.A.: “I am coming to kill you. I will kill your pets first while you watch. Die expletive.”
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.
Southern California Edison Agrees to Pay United States $82.5 Million to Resolve Lawsuit Stemming from 2020 Bobcat FireRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Southern California Edison (SCE) has agreed to pay the United States $82.5 million – the largest-ever wildfire cost recovery settlement by the United States in the Central District of California – to resolve claims on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service to recoup costs and damages associated with the 2020 Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest, the Justice Department announced today.
The Bobcat Fire ignited in September 2020 and burned more than 114,000 acres – approximately 175 square miles – of which nearly 100,000 acres were in the Angeles National Forest.
“This record settlement against Southern California Edison provides meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the widespread damage to public lands,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “My office will continue to aggressively pursue recovery for suppression costs and environmental damages from any entity that causes harm to the public’s forests and other precious national resources.”
The United States filed a lawsuit in September 2023 on behalf of the Forest Service against SCE and Utility Tree Service to recover costs incurred fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the extensive damages that it caused to the Angeles National Forest.
The United States alleged that the Bobcat Fire ignited when trees that were not properly maintained by SCE and its tree maintenance contractor came into contact with power lines, causing the blaze to ignite. The wildfire started on September 6, 2020, and resulted in damage to public lands. It caused years of closure of more than 100 miles of trails and numerous campgrounds. It also had a detrimental impact on habitats and wildlife, including to the federally endangered wildlife-mountain yellow-legged frog, federally threatened fish and birds, and irreplaceable cultural and heritage resources.
SCE agreed to pay the $82.5 million settlement within 60 days of the effective date of the settlement agreement, which was May 14, without admitting wrongdoing or fault.
“These settlements are essential in restoring our landscapes after wildfires,” said Acting U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Jason Kuiken.
“We are grateful to receive these settlement funds, which mark an important step toward recovery and restoration,” said Deputy Forest Supervisor Tony Martinez of the Angeles National Forest. “These resources will help us rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats, and strengthen our forests’ resilience to future wildfires.”
The United States Forest Service investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Quist and Joseph Tursi of the Complex and Defensive Litigation Section negotiated the settlement in this case.
Seekonk Postmaster Arrested for Theft of Government MoneyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former Postmaster for the Seekonk Post Office has been arrested and charged in connection with the theft of over $19,000 through no-fee money orders.
Bethany LeBlanc, 48, of Seekonk, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of theft of government money. LeBlanc was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.
According to the charging documents, LeBlanc served as the Postmaster of the Seekonk Post Office from November 2023 to about February 2025. Prior to holding this position, she worked for the United States Postal Service in a variety of roles including carrier, window clerk and customer service manager.
As Postmaster of the Seekonk Post Office, LeBlanc had the authority to issue and approve “no fee” money orders. Money orders are generated by the USPS and serve as a safe alternative to sending cash or a check through the mail. “No fee” money orders are issued solely for the purpose of paying USPS-related expenses and, thus, no fee is charged.
As alleged in the charging documents, LeBlanc generated a total of 25 no fee money orders to herself, totaling approximately $19,917. To avoid detection, LeBlanc allegedly presented false invoices for USPS expenses to clerks at the Seekonk Post Office, who would then issue the money orders for LeBlanc. It is further alleged that LeBlanc entered false information on the money orders. For two money orders, she allegedly entered “Fire Dept. Box” in the memo section to give the appearance that these money orders were used to pay for Post Office related expenses. For many money orders, LeBlanc entered the names of her relatives and associates to make it appear as if the funds were coming from sources other than the USPS. LeBlanc is accused of allegedly using the stolen proceeds for personal expenses, including thousands of dollars spent at casinos.
The charge of theft of government money provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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 Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Salvadoran National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national residing in Chelsea, Mass. has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Miguel Chavez, a/k/a “Miguel Angel Chavez Figueroa,” 55, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Chavez was arrested on April 25, 2025.
According to the indictment, Chavez was deported from the United States to El Salvador on Nov. 22, 2013. It is alleged that sometime after his November 2013 removal, Chavez illegally reentered the United States without permission.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien after a conviction for an aggravated felony provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Zacks of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
SDTX charges another 282 people with immigration and related crimes in support of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 277 cases have been filed from May 16-22 in border-security related matters in the Southern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The filed cases include 21 involving human smuggling. A total of 165 people are charged with illegally entering the country, while another 88 face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. Other relevant cases charged this week relate to other immigration crimes.
Those charged by criminal complaint include two Mexican males found near Roma after being recently removed. Rogelio Torres and William Rocael have prior convictions for burglary and aggravated assault, respectively, and had been removed from the country just this year, according to the allegations. Another charged includes Roberto Martinez who had already previously received an 84-month sentence for the same crime. Regardless, he was found near Cuevitas after his removal in 2020. Five more Mexican males – Jose Salvador Orozco-Olivares, Jesus Misael Espinoza-Garza, Rigoberto Santana-Guerra, Gaspar Garcia-De La O and Celso Jassel Cantu-Mendiola are also charged with illegal reentry after being removed on dates ranging from 2018-2024 but found again in the Rio Grande Valley area this past week. They are also alleged to also have prior felonies. All of these individuals could face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.
As part of the ongoing efforts, charges are also being filed against those that have failed to register and be fingerprinted. In one such case this week, Victor Manuel Herrera-Herrera admitted he had illegally entered the United States in April 2024 near Brownsville and has remained in the country since that time without having registered or been fingerprinted as required by law.
In addition to the new cases, the sixth and final person admitted her role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in death. Cynthia Gabriela Muniz Carreon and five others were part of a transnational human smuggling organization responsible for moving illegal aliens across the southern border of Texas. Their actions led to the death of a Guatemalan man and several other dangerous events, including a rollover crash. Although many of the aliens were from Guatemala, the smuggling group instructed them to falsely claim Mexican nationality which ensured they would be removed to Mexico instead of their home country, making it faster and easier for the organization to smuggle them back into the United States. Ledgers revealed the organization generated approximately $79,000 in smuggling proceeds between April 12 and 17, 2024, alone. All six face up to life in federal prison.
In McAllen, an illegal alien was sent to prison for 36 months after distributing cocaine with children in his vehicle. On Aug. 14, 2024, law enforcement conducted surveillance on Heriberto Marin-Hebert and observed him making hand-to-hand exchanges around McAllen. They conducted a traffic stop, at which time he threw a box containing of cocaine in a ditch in an attempt to avoid detection. Authorities found multiple individually wrapped baggies of cocaine in the box as well as additional baggies of cocaine, drug scales, drug paraphernalia, two firearms and over $12,000 in cash at his residence.
A Mexican national received 135 months for smuggling methamphetamine and heroin into the country in Brownsville federal court this week. Ramon Gustavo Alfaro Velez drove his Ford F-150 to the Veterans International Port of Entry. Authorities referred him to a secondary inspection, uncovering 43 bundles hidden within a non-factory compartment beneath the bed liner which contained a white substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, weighing 139 kilograms. Velez admitted he was being paid $4,000 to travel to Dallas, collect narcotics proceeds and transport them to Mexico. He also admitted he had knowingly transported proceeds into Mexico on at least five prior occasions.
Also sentenced was a human smuggler for transporting aliens in his pickup truck after they had crossed the Rio Grande River via raft. Julian Alberto Soto tried to evade law enforcement by fleeing an attempted traffic stop at a high rate of speed. He eventually stopped, and authorities discovered all 10 passengers in his vehicle were in the country illegally. The court noted his involvement in a separate smuggling attempt involving 20 illegal aliens and found Soto’s repeated involvement in human smuggling warranted a sentence that would promote respect for the law and deter future illegal conduct. Judge Crane emphasized that the repeated violations took place in Roma and the close timing of these incidents demonstrated a pattern of recurring behavior. He received 46 months.
In Houston, an illegal alien was ordered to serve 54 months this week for unlawfully returning to the United States. His term of imprisonment will run consecutively to another sentence for driving while intoxicated he received after running through a stop sign in August 2022. Rodolfo Hernandez-Marchan has previous convictions for illegal reentry, evading arrest and assault of a family member.
Another human smuggler - a 38-year-old resident of Chatanooga, Tennessee - was ordered to serve 18 months after unlawfully transporting illegal aliens through the Falfurrias Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. Upon his arrival, Josef Alquan Rutley claimed he was traveling to Laredo, denied having any passengers and said he was looking for a load. An x-ray scan revealed 22 illegal aliens locked inside the trailer with no means of escape. All were from the countries of Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Santa Rosa County Sisters Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling over $844,000Read the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Kimberly Lovitt, 52, of Pace, Florida, and Amy Williams, 46, of Milton, Florida, were sentenced to 36 months and 18 months, respectively, in federal prison on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns stemming from their embezzlement of funds from their employer. Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentences.
“Abuse of trust, embezzlement, and tax evasion warrant significant criminal consequences” said Acting U.S. Attorney Spaven. “The defendants’ years-long theft from their employer and the extreme efforts to conceal their criminal proceeds are both illegal and offensive to all hardworking Americans, especially those who own and operate local businesses. It is fitting and proper that they are not only incarcerated, but that they pay restitution and unpaid taxes for their criminal conduct.”
Beginning in early 2016 and continuing into 2021, Lovitt conspired with her sister, Williams, to embezzle over $844,000 from their employer, a locally owned business in Pensacola, Florida. Lovitt worked as the officer manager and Williams worked as the receptionist. They used their positions to steal money from their employer by using corporate credit cards for unauthorized personal purchases. Lovitt used her position to create false documentation and manipulate accounting records to cover up their scheme. Lovitt also failed to report the embezzled money as income on her federal income tax returns.
“The defendants’ theft through embezzlement caused great financial strain on their employer and put other employees’ jobs at risk,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, Tampa Field Office. “The sentencings today serve as an example of what individuals can expect when they lie, cheat, and steal and then try to hide the ill-gotten gains from the IRS.”
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp prosecuted the case after a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation as part of the Emerald Coast Financial Crimes Task Force.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Rensselaer County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Cardwell, age 40, of Rensselaer County, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, to be followed by 25 years of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Cardwell admitted that he sexually abused an approximately 7-year-old girl over a period of months in 2023 and early 2024, and created sexually explicit images of that victim. Cardwell also acknowledged that he had a collection of approximately 1,000 CSAM files that he obtained on the internet, including pictures of prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also ordered $30,000 in restitution to victims and forfeiture of the property used to commit the offenses. Cardwell will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “The sentence today reflects the egregiousness of Cardwell’s conduct and ensures the public will be protected against future crimes by him for decades to come. I appreciate the hard work of the FBI and our state and local partners on this important prosecution.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli stated: “This sentence reinforces the message that the victimization of innocent children will not be tolerated by law enforcement. The FBI will continue to meticulously investigate these crimes, which cause irreparable harm and trauma to the victims.”
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the New York State Police, and the Troy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Previously convicted sex offender sentenced to twenty years in federal prison for possession of prepubescent child pornographyRead the Press Release
A previously convicted sex offender was sentenced to twenty years in federal prison for possession of prepubescent child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Ronnie Craig Lance, 54, of Amarillo, was charged in October 2024 and pled guilty in mid-January 2025, to federal charges of possessing prepubescent child pornography. According to court documents, Lance admitted to possessing nearly 1400 videos and over 71,000 images of child sex abuse material on his personal laptop and other devices. On May 20, 2025, he was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, who also ordered that Lance pay restitution of $140,000 to certain victims and serve lifetime supervision following his prison term.
Court records indicate that in 2011, while previously residing in Lubbock, Texas, Lance was found to be in possession of child pornography, resulting in federal charges. He was convicted after his guilty plea in June 2011 and was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings in September 2011.
Acting U.S. Attorney Meacham praised the work of the law enforcement agencies that conducted the investigation, including Homeland Security Investigations –Amarillo and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Frausto prosecuted the instant case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam assisted in the prosecution of the earlier case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative that was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Previously Deported Mexican National Indicted for Illegally Possessing Firearm After Shots Fired from VehicleRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Hilario Diaz-Velazquez (32, Mexico) with illegal reentry after deportation and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. If convicted, Diaz-Velazquez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
According to court records, on March 30, 2025, the Palmetto Police Department responded to a call for service regarding shots fired on 14th Street in Palmetto. An officer from the Palmetto Police Department witnessed gunshots from a vehicle, and officers arrested the vehicle’s occupants. The occupants were arrested on state charges and two firearms were seized from the vehicle. One of the occupants was identified as Diaz-Velazquez. A review of Diaz-Velazquez’s immigration history showed that he was previously deported from the United States on November 26, 2012.
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).
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Palmetto Police Department, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
Phoenix Woman Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Narcotics Trafficking and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Betty Nora Anderson, 65, of Phoenix, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 100 months in prison, followed by 60 months of supervised release. Anderson previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Falsification of Records in a Bankruptcy Proceeding.
In September 2022, United States Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Anderson as she attempted to smuggle 4.54 kilograms of fentanyl and 13.42 kilograms of methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico in her vehicle. After her arrest, Anderson was permitted to reside in the community pending the disposition of her case; however, she absconded twice from court supervision, ultimately leading to her pre-trial incarceration.
In March 2023, while a fugitive from justice in the case, Anderson filed a petition for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona. Anderson’s petition contained false and misleading statements, which resulted in the discharge of debts that Anderson owed to her creditors. As part of her sentence in this case, Anderson was ordered to make restitution to those creditors in the amount of $52,358.00, the approximate total of her debt.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations in Nogales, Arizona conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Lizano and Micah Schmit, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-02124-RM-JR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-082_Anderson# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Panama City Commercial Fisherman Sentenced for Killing Dolphins in the Gulf of AmericaRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Zackery Brandon Barfield, 31, of Panama City, Florida, was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a $51,000 fine for three counts of poisoning and shooting dolphins in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. The sentence was announced by Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“The Gulf of America is a vital natural resource,” said Acting United States Attorney Spaven. “The defendant’s selfish acts are more than illegally poisoning and shooting protected animals – they are serious crimes against public resources, threats to the local ecosystem, and a devastating harm to a highly intelligent and charismatic species. With our dedicated law enforcement partners, we will ensure that the coastal waters remain safe for our citizens and its wildlife.”
According to court filings and statements made in court, Barfield has been a licensed charter and commercial fishing captain in the Panama City area for his entire adult life. From 2022-2023, he poisoned and shot bottlenose dolphins on multiple occasions.
In the summer of 2022, Barfield grew frustrated with dolphins eating red snapper from the lines of his charter fishing clients. He began placing methomyl inside baitfish to poison the dolphins that surfaced near his boat. Methomyl is a highly toxic pesticide that acts on the nervous system of humans, mammals, and other animals, and is restricted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control flies in non-residential settings. Barfield recognized methomyl’s toxicity and impact on the environment but continued to feed poisoned baitfish to the dolphins for months.
While captaining fishing trips in December 2022 and the summer of 2023, Barfield saw dolphins eating snapper from his client’s fishing lines. On both occasions, he used a 12-gauge shotgun to shoot the dolphins that surfaced near his vessel, killing one immediately. On other occasions, Barfield shot, but did not immediately kill, dolphins near his vessel. On one trip he shot a dolphin while two elementary-aged children were on board, and another with more than a dozen fisherman on board.
“Barfield was a longtime charter and commercial fishing captain,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “He knew the regulations protecting dolphins, yet he killed them anyway — once in front of children. This sentence demonstrates our commitment to enforcing the rule of law. It should deter others from engaging in such conduct.”
“These cruel and unnecessary deaths may have gone unsolved without the determination and expertise of our investigator and the close working relationship we have with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida,” said Paige Casey, Acting Assistant Director, NOAA OLE Southeast Division. “The subject’s actions were intentional and heartless, and we'll continue to pursue any harmful acts against marine mammals. Egregious crimes such as in this case have serious consequences.”
Barfield’s prison sentence will be followed by a 1-year term of supervised release.
“We are proud to work alongside our partner agencies to bring Zachary Barfield to justice,” said Captain Mike Godwin, FWC Investigations Northwest Region. “His actions were cruel, illegal, and a threat to the Gulf’s marine life. This case shows the power of teamwork and our shared commitment to protecting Florida’s wildlife and holding offenders accountable.”
The National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement conducted the investigation with assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The case was prosecuted by Environmental Crimes Section Senior Trial Attorney Patrick Duggan and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Public reporting of crimes is a crucial aspect of law enforcement. If you are aware of a violation of federal marine resource laws or federal pesticide laws, please contact NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964 or EPA’s National Response Center at (800) 424-8802.
Owner of Durable Medical Equipment Companies Agrees to Plead Guilty in Nearly $30 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of Pharmagears, LLC (Pharmagears) and RR Medco, LLC (RR Medco) has agreed to plead to guilty in connection with a nearly $30 million health care fraud conspiracy involving medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME), including orthotics such as back and knee braces.
Raju Sharma, 61, of Sharon, Mass., has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. Per the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of 10 years in prison and more than $15.8 million in restitution.
Sharma was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in February 2025 and subsequently released on conditions pending trial. He was later ordered detained in April 2025 after the Court found that he violated the conditions of his release by contacting a potential witness.
According to the charging documents, between February 2021 and February 2025, Sharma – on behalf of Pharmagears and RR Medco – entered into contracts with telemarketing companies that generated DME orders by targeting Medicare beneficiaries. It is alleged that Sharma then billed Medicare for this medically unnecessary DME, which the Medicare beneficiaries often did not want or could not use; and/or a medical practitioner ordered without having met or examined the beneficiary; or were ordered by the fraudulent use of practitioners’ national provider identifiers without their knowledge or assent. It is further alleged that these DME orders were obtained in violation of the anti-kickback statute, because although Sharma agreed in the contracts to pay the marketing companies a flat fee for their services, Sharma in fact paid the marketing companies on a per-lead, or per-order, basis.
According to the charging documents, Sharma worked with multiple other co-conspirators, including family and acquaintances, to open and operate additional DME companies in the same fraudulent manner. In total, the companies owned, operated, or connected with Sharma billed Medicare approximately $29.6 million for these fraudulent DME orders and were paid approximately $15.8 million.
Sharma made substantial profits from this alleged fraud, which he used to purchase luxury goods, including two Ferraris, a Mercedes-Benz Model S and at least three Rolex watches. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the defendant has agreed to forfeit these luxury goods, as well as over $250,000 in cash investigators seized from his bank accounts.
The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, 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; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service and the Sharon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Graber and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Onondaga County Man Arrested for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Kurt Dobler, age 31, had an initial appearance yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Mitchell J. Katz on a charge that he received child pornography. Dobler was detained pending further proceedings. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
The complaint alleges that Dobler received child pornography on social media applications, including depictions of very young children being raped, and that child pornography files were found on his cellphone.
The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. Dobler is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge filed against Dobler carries a mandatory minimum imprisonment term of 15 years, a maximum imprisonment term of 40 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between five years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “This arrest continues to demonstrate HSI’s hard work to address the scourge of child pornography in our community. The defendant’s actions, as alleged, involved his receipt of disturbing depictions of the exploitation of very young children.”
“Kurt Dobler’s arrest underscores HSI’s unwavering commitment to those most vulnerable: our children. The abhorrent crimes of which the defendant is accused have no place in our society,” said Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Buffalo. “I commend HSI Syracuse personnel, alongside our law enforcement partners, for their relentless pursuit of justice on behalf of defenseless New Yorkers.”
HSI is investigating this case in coordination with the New York State Police, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. United States Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection assisted in the search. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Oneida County Man Sentenced for Failing to Update His Sex Offender Registration and for Filing False Reports with the United States Probation OfficeRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – John F. Reap, 58, of Rome, New York, was sentenced yesterday in federal court to 33 months in prison for failing to update his sex offender registration as required by law, and for filing false reports with the United States Probation Office announced United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and United States Marshal David L. McNulty.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Reap, a previously convicted federal sex offender, admitted that between January 26, 2023 and May 8, 2024, he knowingly failed to report his e-mail address to the Sex Offender Registry, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Reap also admitted that during the same period he filed false reports with the United States Probation Office regarding the same e-mail address and his lack of compliance with registration requirements. In addition to pleading guilty to violating SORNA and filing false reports, Reap also admitted that he violated the terms of his supervised release including using an unauthorized, internet-capable phone and maintaining the undisclosed email account.
Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a consecutive 12-month imprisonment term for Reap’s violations of supervised release and a 10-year-term of supervised release to follow Reap’s release from prison. Reap will also be required to continue to register as a sex offender upon his release.
United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “Despite his attempts to conceal his conduct, the defendant’s crimes were uncovered because of diligent investigative work by law enforcement. I commend all those involved in holding this defendant accountable.”
The United States Marshals Service and the U.S. Probation Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adrian LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Norman Man Sentenced to Serve 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JACOB EDWARD KAMOLZ, 39, of Norman, has been sentenced to serve 300 months in federal prison for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On September 17, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a four-count Indictment against Kamolz, charging him with production, attempted production, possession, and distribution of child pornography. According to public record, in August 2024, Kamolz connected with an FBI Online Covert Employee (OCE) who purported to be a juvenile on a social media messaging application. Over the course of several days, Kamolz sent child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the OCE and requested that they send CSAM in return. Public record further reflects that, after his arrest, the FBI determined Kamolz produced CSAM with a child using his cell phone.
On December 17, 2024, Kamolz pleaded guilty and admitted he used a minor to produce CSAM.
At the sentencing hearing on May 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Kamolz to serve 300 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life. In announcing his sentence, Judge Heaton emphasized the nature and circumstances of the offense.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Nine Charged in Four Indictments Related to ATM Jackpotting ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned four Indictments charging nine defendants with offenses related to larceny through several ATM jackpotting schemes in Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington.
Jackpotting is a type of cyberattack where criminals exploit vulnerabilities in ATMs to force them to dispense cash without debiting an account.
The four indictments were filed on Monday, May 19, and charged the defendants with Conspiracy to Commit Bank Burglary, Attempted Bank Burglary, Conspiracy to Access a Protected Computer, and Attempted Access of a Protected Computer. The maximum sentences range from 5 to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of up to 3 years. The defendants are all citizens of Venezuela.
Yoinber Alfonso Morey Morey, 27, is alleged to have committed the charged crimes from on or about March 1, 2025, and continuing through on or about April 10, 2025, in Hall and Lancaster counties.
Jose David Alvarez-Jimenez, 28, Yohalex Garcia-Valladares, 30, Alexander Jose Mayora-Blanco, 24, and Johan Rodriguez-Hernandez, 32, are alleged to have committed the charged crimes from on or about January 1, 2025 and continuing through on or about February 11, 2025, in Adams County, Nebraska, and Kit Carson County, Colorado.
Ivan Jose Angulo Flores, 23, and Jose Antonio Aliendres Garcia, 38, are alleged to have committed the charged crimes from on or about March 1, 2025 and continuing through on or about May 1, 2025, in Adams County, Nebraska; Bates County, Missouri; and Appanoose County, Iowa.
Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera, 26, and Alfredo Pinto-Mendoza, 23, are alleged to have committed the charged crimes from on or about March 1, 2025 and continuing through on or about May 1, 2025, in Lincoln County, Nebraska; Walla Walla County, Washington; and Umatilla County, Oregon.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “These indictments are the direct result of the investigative teamwork between FBI Omaha and our local law enforcement partners here in Nebraska to safeguard our community. The dedication of the North Platte Police Department, the Adams County Sheriff's Office, the Grand Island Police Department, as well as Papillon Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol's participation on FBI Omaha's Cyber Task Force, was integral to the arrests of the defendants. Our partnership with local and state law enforcement agencies is a force multiplier in bringing criminals to justice and protecting the American people.”
Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Murder and Assault Gets Shooter 29 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Guy Johnson, 57, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 29 years in prison for the 2020 murder of Kriston Robinson, 28, in Southeast Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department.
On March 10, 2025, a jury found Johnson guilty of one count each of second-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm, as well as two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Superior Court Judge Danya A. Dayson presided over the trial and today’s sentencing. The 29-year sentence includes 10 years for assault with the intent to kill while armed committed against the surviving victim.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 3:17 a.m., on March 25, 2020, defendant Johnson shot multiple times into a white Kia Forte occupied by 28-year-old Kriston Robinson and the surviving victim. One of the shots struck Robinson in the head killing her nearly instantly. The surviving victim fled from the car and escaped injury.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including former Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Kimak.
It was tried and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory Evans and Anthony Cocuzza.
Memphis Man Sentenced to over Three Years of Federal Imprisonment for Possession of a Glock SwitchRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Kalen Thompson, 25, to 40 months in federal prison for possession of a machine gun. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on September 15, 2023, detectives with the Memphis Police Department went to an address in Memphis looking for a robbery suspect. They encountered Thompson under the carport area in possession of a 9mm Glock pistol with a conversion device (“switch”) attached, which made the firearm fully automatic. Officers ran the serial number of the weapon and determined Thompson had stolen the firearm in January 2023 and added the conversion device.
In February 2025, Thompson pled guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun. On May 22, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Thompson to 40 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by detectives with the Memphis Police Department and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
May Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Alejandro Aldave. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 1 and 2); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Count 3); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 4). Aldave, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with maintaining a residence to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. McConney is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-173
Daniel Allen Ash; Amber Dawn Murphy. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country (Count 1); Child Neglect in Indian Country (Counts 2 through 5); Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; (Count 6); Second Degree Murder in Indian Country (Count 7); Child Neglect in Indian Country (Counts 8 through 11) Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country (Count 12) (superseding). Both from Commerce, Ash, 32, and Murphy, 30, a member of the Cherokee Nation, are charged with unlawfully killing a minor child in Sep. 2024 and willfully neglecting the health, safety, and welfare of four minor children. Ash is further charged with engaging in a sexual act with a minor child under 12 years old. Additionally, he is charged with possessing visual images depicting the sexual abuse of at least one prepubescent minor. The FBI and Quapaw Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-088
David Moses Castro-Rivera. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Castro-Rivera, 22, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in June 2021. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dill is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-183Javier Cortez Banda. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Banda, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2020. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Whipple is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-184
James Devon Davis. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition After Conviction for a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence. Davis, 29, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony and a domestic violence misdemeanor. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-177
Bradley Ray Dick. Child Abuse in Indian Country. Dick, 47, of Claremore and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with willfully and maliciously injuring a child under the age of 18. The FBI and the Claremore Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Heign is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-176
Stephen Dale Homer. Production of Child Pornography; International Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Homer, 57, of McAlester and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with using a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of child sexual abuse material. He also coerced a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct outside of the United States for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the sexually explicit conduct. This visual depiction was then transported to the United States. Additionally, Homer is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. The FBI Tulsa, FBI Charlotte, the Federal Air Marshal Service, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case with assistance from the Western District of North Carolina USAO. 25-CR-171
Robert Marcus Johnston. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Johnston, 19, of Tulsa and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with assaulting a minor victim by strangulation. The FBI and Sapulpa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-169
Kaci Anne-Rene Lima. Bank Fraud (Counts 1 through 3); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 4 through 6). Lima, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with fraudulently obtaining funds from the victim's bank account without permission. Further, Lima used the victim’s identity while committing a felony. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Catoosa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-179
Jorge Antonio Lopez Vasquez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez Vasquez, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in July 2018. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-180Olajuwon Hasan Myers. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Myers, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-178
Ricardo Plateado-Martinez; Rosa Maria Olmos; Rafael Gonzalez; Joel Rosales Pina. Drug Conspiracy; Conspiracy to Commit International Money Laundering; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance (third superseding). Plateado-Martinez, 34, of Broken Arrow; Olmos, 35, of Broken Arrow; Gonzales, 31, of Beaumont; and Pina, 40, a Mexican National are charged with conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Plateado-Martinez, Olmos, Gonzalez, and Pina are charged with conspiring to move money internationally with the intent to promote methamphetamine distribution and the conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Pina is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute drugs. Gonzalez, and Pina are charged with conspiring to import more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from Mexico. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Broken Arrow Police Department, and Oklahoma City Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case.
24-CR-131Jordan Frazier Payne. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Child Neglect in Indian Country. Payne, 31, of Grove, is charged with unlawfully killing the minor victim by blunt force trauma to the head. Further, Payne is charged with willfully failing to provide medical care for the minor victim. The FBI, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Grove Police Department, and the Jay Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster and Emily Dewhurst are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-168*
Adan Orozco-Godines. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Orozco-Godines, 38, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2016. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-182
Lekeith Deshawn Russell. Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony (Counts 1 and 2); Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 3). Russell, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to possess methamphetamine through the mail. He is further charged with attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-172
*A federal jury tried Jordan Frazier Payne in November 2025 and acquitted him.
Marion Man Who Trafficked Fentanyl and Cocaine Sentenced to Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who distributed fentanyl and cocaine was sentenced May 22, 2025, to more than seven years in federal prison.
Kendrick Ankum, age 52, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 27, 2025, guilty plea to Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at the guilty plea and sentencing hearing showed that on four occasions between March 28, 2024, and April 25, 2024, Ankum distributed fentanyl and cocaine to a confidential source. On May 16, 2024, investigators searched Ankum’s properties. At his Marion residence, officers located four firearms, 2,518 pills containing fentanyl, and over 750 grams of cocaine.
Ankum was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Ankum was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ankum is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-86.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Man Charged in Connection with CARES Act Loan FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Joseph Ronald Trenkle, 54, formerly of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado and currently of Dorado, Puerto Rico, has been charged in a criminal information with one count each of wire fraud and money laundering.
According to the information, between April 30, 2020, and February 25, 2022, Trenkle applied for and received $1,850,000 in COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and $2,999,995 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds from an SBA-approved lender. The information alleges that after first obtaining an EIDL loan in March 2020, Trenkle made two requests to increase the amount of his EIDL and made false representations as part of each of request. The information further alleges that Trenkle submitted two fraudulent PPP loan applications, and also submitted fraudulent applications for PPP loan forgiveness for each PPP loan.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules. Additionally, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defendant made his initial appearance on May 22, 2025, in Denver in front of Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung.
The charges contained in the information are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Fansler.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Case Number: 25-cr-00150-RMR
Leticia Russi-Shareno Sentenced to Three Years Probation for Labor Union EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Leticia Russi-Shareno, 60, of Kenmore, New York, was sentenced yesterday by Chief United States District Court Judge Christina Reiss to a term of three years’ probation and ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution. Russi-Shareno previously pleaded guilty to a charge of Wire Fraud on December 10, 2024.
According to court documents, between approximately August 2019 and December 2020, Russi-Shareno served as president of Local 2076 of the American Federation of Government Employees. Local 2076 is a labor union whose members are employees of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security working in Vermont and upstate New York. As president, Russi-Shareno had check signing authority on Local 2076’s Vermont bank account and also received a debit card to make official purchases on behalf of the union.
According to court documents, during her presidency, Russi-Shareno embezzled approximately $36,000.00 from Local 2076’s coffers by using the union’s debit card to make ATM withdrawals of funds for personal expenses; using the debit card to make purchases for her personal benefit; and by falsifying paperwork to obtain duplicate reimbursements for expenses incurred on behalf of Local 2076. Russi-Shareno also cashed or deposited into her own account several checks that the national AFGE union had issued to Local 2076.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Boston and Buffalo Regional Office of the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards and the Department of Homeland Security.
Russi-Shareno was represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. The prosecutors were Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas J. Aliberti and Gregory Waples.
Lawton Couple Pleads Guilty for their Roles in Child Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – NIA HALL, 30, and JACKIE DUNCAN, 35, both of Lawton, have pleaded guilty for conspiring to commit sex trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On January 21, 2025, a federal Grand Jury returned a three-count Indictment against Hall and Duncan, charging them with sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. According to public record, in May 2024, two juveniles ran away from a juvenile group home in Lawton, Oklahoma, and were entered into law enforcement databases as missing juveniles. One of the juveniles was located by officers with the Plano Police Department on July 16, 2024, at a motel in Collin County, Texas, where she disclosed that she and the other missing juvenile had been sex-trafficked. The juvenile told officers that after she and the other juvenile had fled the group home, they were approached by two people, later identified as Hall and Duncan, at a gas station. The juveniles began living with Hall and Duncan, who soon after transported the juveniles to various cities in Texas, where they performed sex acts for money, which Hall and Duncan kept. In return, the juveniles were provided food and shelter. The juvenile told authorities she had recently escaped Hall and Duncan’s car in the Dallas area. On September 30, 2024, the second juvenile was found and recovered in San Antonio, Texas. She recounted a similar story of being sex-trafficked by Hall and Duncan in exchange for food and shelter. During the investigation, local and federal law enforcement reviewed sex advertisements associated with Hall. These advertisements contained photos of the juveniles. Hall and Duncan were arrested on December 16, 2024.
On May 19, 2025, Hall pleaded guilty to Count 3 of the Indictment, and admitted she knowingly worked with Duncan to recruit and transport the juveniles for purposes of commercial sex acts, and that she knew the victims were under the age of 18. Duncan pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment on April 30, 2025, and admitted he knowingly recruited two minors under the age of 18 to cause them to engage in commercial sex acts, and that he aided and abetted Hall to do the same.
At sentencing, Hall and Duncan face up to life in federal prison, Duncan faces at least 10 years in federal prison, and both face fines of up to $250,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, FBI, Lawton Police Department, Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs Control, Fort Smith Police Department, Arkansas State Police, San Antonio Police Department, Plano Police Department, and Fort Worth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Ganz and Brandon Hale are prosecuting the case.
This case is also the result of an investigation by the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation Task Force, which is led by HSI. The Tornado Alley Child Exploitation Task Force is an implementation of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Lawrence Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for COVID Relief Fraud and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining and misusing COVID-19 relief funds and stealing Social Security benefits totaling over $200,000.
Randolph Dominguez, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 15 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Dominguez was also ordered to pay $274,119 in restitution. In January 2025, Dominguez pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money.
In June 2020, Dominguez submitted a loan application on behalf of an interpreter business he owned and operated, Dominguez SP Interpreters, to the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which provided loans to small businesses that suffered substantial economic injury due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dominguez fraudulently obtained approximately $90,000 in EIDL funds from the SBA from June 2020 through July 2021 when he claimed falsely on EIDL applications that his gross business revenue was $600,000 the previous year, when it was only $16,989. Further, Dominguez improperly spent all of the EIDL funds received on non-business expenses, including $16,192.22 to purchase an SUV, and several purchases at smoke shops, liquor stores, gun ranges and an adult bookstore and website. In addition, in May 2021, Dominguez applied for an additional $200,600 EIDL loan modification increase based on the false business revenue amount, which was rejected when SBA detected his fraud.
Similarly, in June 2021, Dominguez obtained a $3,500 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, which was another temporary loan program intended to provide relief for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic so that they could retain employees and cover overhead. Dominguez also spent the PPP loan for an improper business purpose – an all-inclusive vacation in Cancun, Mexico.
Separately, from April 2001 through April 2023, Dominguez stole approximately $163,642 in Social Security benefits. Dominguez’s father was receiving Social Security benefits at the time of his death in March 2001. His death was never reported to the Social Security Administration. Instead, the deceased’s address was changed in 2006 to Dominguez’s residence and the agency continued to pay monthly benefits on his behalf. Dominguez used his deceased father’s debit card to withdraw the improperly paid benefits at ATMs and to make purchases more than 22 years after his death.
Finally, Dominguez claimed his deceased father as a dependent on his 2019 federal and state income tax returns to fraudulently obtain tax credits. As a special condition of the term of supervised release, Dominguez was ordered to work with the Internal Revenue Service to correct all inaccurate tax returns.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.Latimer County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dustin Lee Harp, age 41, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment or Information.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office.
On January 7, 2025, Harp pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, between December 12, 2020, and December 9, 2021, Harp received a semi-automatic rifle despite being charged in the District Court of Latimer County, Oklahoma, for a crime punishable by imprisonment of more than a year.
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.
The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Harp was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Operating Sports Betting Ponzi Scheme That Stole More Than $8.5M from VictimsRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Matthew J. Turnipseede, 51, of Las Vegas, Nevada, has been sentenced to more than five years in prison (65 months) by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher A. Boyko after admitting to orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded business investors out of over $8.5 million. He was also ordered to pay $4,731,165.10 in restitution. Turnipseede pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud in November 2024.
According to the indictment, from March 2015 to May 2021, Turnipseede induced approximately 72 individuals in Ohio and elsewhere to invest over $8.5 million in his betting companies, Edgewize and Moneyline Analytics. He promised that their funds would be used to make sophisticated sports wagers which used an algorithm that generated double-digit returns. Turnipseede also told investors that he would not take compensation for placing wagers, but instead would retain a percentage of winning profits.
In truth, none of Turnipseede’s companies ever generated the promised profits. Instead, the defendant used the investors’ money to maintain the businesses, seek additional sources of funds, and pay off earlier investors.
To perpetuate the scheme, the defendant emailed the victim-investors periodic updates describing how successful Edgewize and Moneyline Analytics were. He also emailed the victim-investors falsified financial statements purporting to show substantial gains on their investments. When a victim wanted to withdraw some, or all, of their funds, Turnipseede would use money invested by other victims to cover the withdrawal request. The scheme collapsed in May 2021 when Turnipseede declared bankruptcy, still owing his investors over $4.7 million in principal alone.
The defendant also admitted to using investor funds for his personal expenses such as family trips, spa treatments, lease payments on multiple vehicles, and country club membership dues.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica D. Barnhill and Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio.
Jury Convicts Canadian Citizen of Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Joseph Osei, a/k/a/ “Kyngjo,” age 30, a Canadian citizen formerly of Albany, was convicted today following a five-day jury trial of four counts of mail fraud, one count of access device fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities. Jurors deliberated for less than 2 hours before returning a guilty verdict on all counts.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), made the announcement.
The trial evidence showed that from August 2020 through November 2020, Osei fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits from the New York State Department of Labor worth more than $100,000. Additional evidence also included Osei’s schemes to defraud the state workforce agencies of California, Rhode Island, and Arizona using stolen identities to apply for and obtain pandemic unemployment insurance benefits.
U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Joseph Osei stole real people’s identities to illegally exploit lifeline programs set up to help Americans during the pandemic. Osei worked hard to commit unemployment fraud, and federal and state investigators worked even harder to uncover his scheme, culminating in today’s quick guilty verdict. Today’s result marks more than 45 convictions of pandemic fraudsters that my office has obtained with its law enforcement partners.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward stated: “The pandemic relief programs were created as lifelines during an unprecedented period in our history. The actions of the defendant not only diverted funds from those in need but also victimized unsuspecting people by stealing their personal identifying information. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will relentlessly pursue those who misuse the mail for fraud and bring them to justice.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “HSI Albany is proud to have played a role in ensuring Joseph Osei faces the consequences of his egregious crimes. Together with our local, state and federal partners, New Yorkers’ well-being will always be our foremost priority.”
Sentencing is scheduled for September 23, 2025. The mail fraud convictions carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The access device fraud conviction carries a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 15 years. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by USPIS, HSI, and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office and the New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.